Forestal Reveals Its First eMTB Design With Proprietary Motor and Battery
Forestal, the Andorran brand that managed to sway Cedric Gracia away from Santa Cruz after nearly a decade despite not having a bike, has released details of its first eMTB that will be coming in October. The Andorran brand have been teasing a motorised bike for nearly a year after bursting onto the scene in April 2019, and now their concept has been revealed. While initial prototypes looked to be fairly rudimentary, the concept Forestal have sketched out could be one of the most sophisticated e-MTBs on the market. We've only seen renders at this point so we don't know if the bike even exists yet, but here's is what Forestal is hoping to release later in the year.
The brand have jumped on the trend for lighter e-bikes in the footprints of Lapierre and Specialized with a full bike that has a claimed weight of 17.4kg for a size medium. This isn't quite as light as the Levo, which comes in at 17.3kg for a large, but the Syrion boasts 170mm travel front and rear, 20mm more than the Specialized, making it a burlier proposition out on the trail. Its motor also gives out a bit more oomph, with a claimed 250 watts and 60Nm of torque vs 240 watts and 35Nm.
One of the main ways Forestal has been able to get the weight so low is by designing their own motor and battery system. Forestal has designed the EonDrive motor in conjunction with Bafang and claim it is the lightest and most compact motor on the market today. It uses titanium and magnesium for key components and the result is a drive unit that weighs 1.95 kilograms. Forestal's Aurora battery is also designed in house and provides 350Wh, but this can be boosted to 700 with a bottle cage range extender.
Another component of Forestal's electric innovations is the head unit that sits in the top tube just below the stem. This is a featured-packed computer with a 3.2 inch, touch screen display and even has a 4G internet connection. Forestal are promising the computer provides everything from anti-theft to GPS to biometrics and even chat features, but it is worth noting the footnotes that say: "Some of the announced features, as well as more to come, will be made available through future updates." Basically, it might not be as all-singing, all-dancing as it promises when it first launches in October.
A final cool feature is the handlebar-mounted control. Instead of using a shifter-style system, this is more like a thumb trigger that allows you to scroll through power modes that are indicated with a line of LEDs. Forestal have the usual Eco, Trail and Boost modes but also include a Nitro option that we assume gives a short, sharp burst of power to get up steep pitches or over obstacles.
But enough about the electrickery, what about the heart of the bike? We're looking at a carbon frame with 29 inch wheels and 170mm of travel that is built around a single pivot system that Forestal is calling Twin Levity. This no doubt helps with that low weight, but Forestal claims it also makes for a fast and active ride. Geometry-wise, it's fairly progressive with a reach in excess of 500mm on the XL. The full charts are below but some key figures are a 64° head angle and a 77° seat tube angle.
The bike is available for pre-order now in four frame sizes. The price is €7,999 with a €2,000 deposit payable now. More info, here.
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I’m going to take a photo of this post and send it to you when your body no longer will respond to your mental commands of “pedal up that steep mountain” . It WILL happen .
NO amount of training will overcome old age and inevitable decline . You WILL get old and weak and when that day arrives , please post a photo of your new E bike , so we can have a good laugh.
And you probably need a mobile contract to take advantage of the 4G.
The other thing I’ve noticed is most people hating on e-bikes haven’t actually tried them!
I see a lot of comments from people making assumptions that are wildly off the mark. Just go and try one! At least if you still hate it you’ll know the reasons
Besides, I'd be surprised if 'pedal assist' is even a thing by the time I'm that decrepit. By then, electronic motors will be small and powerful enough and batteries long lasting enough that no one will have to pretend anymore. This whole pedal assist thing currently exists solely because of technological and emotional limitations.
I'll be trying a few more before making any decisions and of course, keeping my normal bike. But, for local riding around Surrey and Aston Hill it's very tempting.
You talk about ebikers making excuses and feeling embarrassed ... I feel the non ebikers have a lot more to say in these forums - and that's where the problem lies.
But when I see those people getting all wound up it just makes me smile at their expense. Get on with your own life!
gold plated pedals.
We don't need motorbikes clasified as mountain bikes, pedal assist bikes should still be bikes. 750 W is not a bicycle.
Ah yes, as opposed to putting handlebar-mounted controls on the top tube.
That said, they are illegal on public mountain bike trails in all of TX unless motorized vehicles are specifically allowed, so they are not for me (at this time).
And this bike looks really solid, but I'd wait to see the final product.
Most interesting is the Forestal motor has 60Nm of torque compared to "only" 35Nm torque for the Levo SL motor, so power should be much closer to the Turbo Levo and Shimano motors with 70Nm of torque. On Forestal's website, they claim their Bafang motor has NO NOISE and NO DRAG. The 3.2" touchscreen looks cool and seems like a good idea being incorporated on the top tube for not being too intrusive on the handlebars, but no option for stealth look.
Will be interesting when this bike is finally released and how it rides, as it has been in the works for quite a while now. With the COVID-19 virus in full affect, really, Forestal are now starting to take orders and this bike will not be available until Oct at the earliest...I'm guessing there should be no delays to worry about...lol
Here's a link to their website: forestal.com/en/products/siryon/customize
*at least I don’t think there is
They honestly look like they don’t do anything at all
Maybe you are assuming the clevis is attached to the swingarm, rather than the clevis being attached to the top of the upper link? The swingarm is attached to the middle of the upper link.
Pinkbike readers: Burn it with fire, until it spreads like a virus.
Article about MTB in 2030
Pinkbike readers: Who even rides a bike without a motor!?
Pleeease !
Would you rather that it was made by an unknown company who has never done a bike mid drive unit?
also Cedric has been ravaging this bike hard for a while now. I would put trust in that swingarm but this is out of my price range even if i were shopping for a cool offroad moped, which i'm not (yet).
i think it looks great tho!