E-Eurobike Media Days
It seemed as if there were as many e-bikes as regular mountain bikes at this year's Eurobike Media Days in Kronplatz, Italy. Motor-makers are developing more powerful and responsive systems, and geometry is evolving towards the more aggressive, gravity side of the sport. Here's a selection of the bikes that stood out:
BH
The Xenion Lynx 5 features Bosch's Performance CX motor with an Orion display and its new integrated power pack. The motor has been rotated by 51 degrees in order to create shorter chainstay lengths. You can choose to run the bike with 27.5" Plus or 29" tires.
Dave Weagle's Split Pivot system at the rear dropout of the 120 mm travel bike keeps suspension and braking influences in check.
Compared to some of their competitors, the power pack is inserted from the top and actually attached to the cover to keep things rattle-free.
BMC
Looking at the stout construction, BMC is taking their first attempt at e-mountain bikes quite seriously. The Trailfox AMP is trying to emulate the feeling of their all-mountain lineup in an electrified package, with the same geometry as their regular bikes (except for a slightly higher bottom bracket for added clearance) and 60 percent larger bearings to deal with the extra load. After testing all systems on the market, BMC ended up with Shimano's Step system, feeling that it offered the best solution overall. Three models are available. This blue Trailfox AMP is the limited edition, with Shimano Di2 shifting.
The massive down tube is not only housing the battery back but features an internal double-u structure for added stiffness.
The 150 mm travel AMP with 27.5" Plus tires sure looks like it can take a beating.
Brose/MAXX
Brose added some more kick to their motor and is now offering the sporty Drive S version, with 15 percent more power and a higher cadence area. Presented in a MAXX FAB4 EL with 150 mm of travel, their bikes are highly customizable in terms of colors with various spec options.
Four types of batteries are available, starting at 360 watts and going up to 800 watts.
Brose didn't only work on adding power, but fine-tuned the sensitivity of the system by upgrading their sensors for a better natural riding feeling and less wheel spin.
Fantic
Rather known for their trials motorcycle background, Fantic's XF1 Integra Enduro Race with its 29" front and 27.5" rear wheel, and massive, 180 mm of travel can't hide its heritage. Brose's 250 Watt motor, with 90 Nm of torque, is protected by a custom full motor protection flange.
A burly chassis with a slack head angle is asking for speed.
Also available in a 160 mm travel version, a detail like the mud flap covering the shock is a nice feature.
Focus
Already available as a 2017 model, the Focus Jam2 (150 mm travel front, 140 mm rear) is using a Shimano motor and a proprietary battery system with a 380 Wh battery hidden in the down tube, saving around 2,000 grams compared to other systems. On rides where that energy isn't going to give enough range, an extra battery pack can be attached to the down tube, doubling the distance you can travel, while still only weighing what a regular e-bike would.
A rail on top of the down tube can take a second 380 Wh battery pack when needed.
Once connected to the plug (that also acts as a charging port), only the second battery pack is powering the motor, making the system as modular as possible.
KTM Bikes
With e-bikes in their lineup almost since the very beginning, KTM's latest version of the 160 mm travel Macina Kapoho is looking very refined, especially with the integration of the Bosch power pack in the down tube. Taking a new step in terms of wheel choice, they're using a 29" tire up front and 27.5" Plus in the rear - calling it DiMMix (Dimension Mix) technology - for precise steering in the front and added traction in the rear.
The Bosch PowerTube battery is a welcome sight for sore eyes.
A wide linkage adds stiffness to the structure.
Nicolai
Nicolai likes to do things differently and one look at the IONG16 EBOXX with 160 mm of travel proves that. The ultra long Geometron geometry, borrowed from their regular bike range is embedded in the design. The bottom bracket has been raised to a zero drop for added pedal clearance.
A regular battery back is hidden inside the massive down tube, which is molded from magnesium, then powder coated to avoid corrosion, and bolted to the main frame.
The seat- and chainstays are adaptable in length by the so-called "Mutators" to adapt to different tire diameters, all the way up to 3" wide. Nicolai's custom chainguide can be adjusted to the varying chainstays.
Scott
The new 6061 aluminum Scott E-Scale can be used with Plus tires or 29" wheels. With Bosch's Performance CX system, you get a new E-MTB riding mode, offering a more natural power transfer by measuring a multitude of factors like cadence, power output and speed.
Bosch's integrated PowerTube battery pack is delivering 500 Wh of power.
Plug and play.
Simplon
With a full carbon fiber frame and cleanly integrated Shimano Steps E8000 system with removable battery pack, the Simplon Steamer Carbon delivers 150 mm of travel. With a total weight of 21.5 kg, the Steamer is relatively lightweight and it can fit tires with a maximum width of 2.6". Available in four frame sizes and two colors (metallic lime glossy/carbon matte, titanium matte/carbon matte).
A massive carbon fiber structure for high steering precision.
The four-bar rear suspension is utilizing conical bearings for added durability and drives a metric, trunnion mount RockShox shock.
Shimano/Pro
Shimano was showing an ebike system that hides the speed sensor in the rear dropout of the frame and integrates the signalling magnet on the brake rotor. There will be 160 and 180 mm rotors available at the XT and XTR level.
Pro
Pro is splitting their saddles into e-bike-specific and regular-bike saddles. Since e-bike riders spend more time sitting in the saddle, the Volture features a longer nose, a wider back area and a strong carbon base.
A selection of aftermarket accessories, like race plates, camera mounts, or a fender, can be attached directly to the underside of the Volture, thanks to some mounting holes.
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I believe a bike shall always be powered by the rider first and foremost, yet I see that as with the 650B - 29er - + sizes - Fat Tire Bikes, they are a part of the scene now, I jmyself ust hope that they don't evolve into an E-Enduro / E-DH / E-XC racing series!!
If they get people out and about, cool. Who knows, their gearbox tech may lead to better Gearboxes for our Pedal Bikes etc. I am sure regardless if one likes it or not, they are to some extent advancing some bicycle related tech.
- Just my .2 cents
Why do you hope that? There are already e-bike race series, is it hurting you? It'll always be it's own series so what is the problem?
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I mean, I know they have probably tested it to death but Christ. Deffo want to be checking them before every ride (yes, like the user manual says)
I know how easy it is for people to be lazy rather than work at anything (I am excluding people with a genuine need of these for which I have no complaints at all)......and most people will take the easy option. I fear its e-bikes forever from here on in. I assume pinkbike will be reviewing nothing but ebikes in a couple of years.
pink-e-bike.com
On my local trail i allready saw some of them. they go uphill with speeds around 20kph. most "normal" bikers wont be able to keep up a pace like that and will be in the way of ebikers (from an ebikers point of view). And this will result in problems and/or incidents.
Also. those bikes will get more and more powerfull engines in the future meaning they will go faster as well. there are allready ebikes that go like 80kph. What would you do about it? set rules for trails? Who is going to check if your E-bike followes those rules?
That is the concern. right now its not that apparent since emtbs are very expensive. but what if they will be around the price of a non motorized bike?
People going slower is a problem powered or not. If I go downhill I will inevitably catch people up. And I will be maybe going much faster, and dh it's harder to slow down. So that argument is mute. It's easier to slow down uphill, and 20kph is still much slower than the difference potential V downhill.
Theres nothing wrong with e-bikes themselves i just fear that knowing how lazy people can be (some not all) this will be the future of mtb's. And the mtb's i like will be left to gather dust in the same manner the industry ditched 26" wheels.
I was doing the Kinder Scout Enduro in the Peak District. There's one long and technical climb (extra techie due to some maintenance work). I met a guy at the bottom, said 'Hi', changed to an easy gear and off we went sweating up the climb.
He was well built, in his late 30s, looked like I imagine -real men- should, and I was so happy to be able to keep up with him over the rock slabs, ruts and scree!
There's a little flat section, just a pedal strokes long, enough to catch a breath in the middle of the climb where I've noticed he was on a single speed bike...
I was in a good shape, but this totally crashed me, I had to keep up with him on the way up almost on the granny ring, this dude was a beast!
But your point is the one I come across the most.. it seems it's not about the speed really, it's about the fact he beat you with no effort. And this is the general feeling of most people which I don't get. If some XC whippet went past that fast you wouldn't mind, but because he hasn't trained and earned it you hate it. I dont ride for 'training', I ride for fun. And this adds the fun.
I like how Scott's bike is shot against the banner 'no shortcuts'