First Ride: Ghost Hybride SL AMR X S7.7+ LC eMTB
Ghost Bikes are from a small town called Waldsassen, Germany, close to the Czech border. With a huge heritage in XC racing, as well as downhill and 4X, the brand is now stepping aggressively into the eMTB market with what promises to be a cracker.
Every now and then a bike turns up with nearly every feature you have been longing for. On paper, the SL AMR X has it all: Long reach, short stem, wide bar – check. Big front wheel, smaller but fatter rear wheel, an 'MXer Concept' – check (many people were already trying out this solution when Canyon launched their mismatched Spectral:ON). Steep seat tube and a long-ish chainstay for aggressive climbing – check. An external and easy to swap battery, Shimano's smooth motor and SRAM's clever EX1 drivetrain – check. Extra short 155mm cranks for clearance – check.
Every now and then a bike turns up with nearly every feature you have been longing for. On paper, the SL AMR X has it all: Long reach, short stem, wide bar – check. Big front wheel, smaller but fatter rear wheel, an 'MXer Concept' – check (many people were already trying out this solution when Canyon launched their mismatched Spectral:ON). Steep seat tube and a long-ish chainstay for aggressive climbing – check. An external and easy to swap battery, Shimano's smooth motor and SRAM's clever EX1 drivetrain – check. Extra short 155mm cranks for clearance – check.
Ghost Hybride SL AMR X
Intended use: trail/enduro
Travel: 140mm rear / 160mm front
Wheel size: "MXer Concept" 29"/27.5+
Frame construction: Carbon front triangle with aluminium rear.
Suspension: RockShox Super Deluxe Coil / Lyrik DPA RCT3
Motor: Shimano STEPS E8000
Battery: Shimano external 504wh
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Price: TBA (dependant on territory)
More info: ghost-bikes.com
Intended use: trail/enduro
Travel: 140mm rear / 160mm front
Wheel size: "MXer Concept" 29"/27.5+
Frame construction: Carbon front triangle with aluminium rear.
Suspension: RockShox Super Deluxe Coil / Lyrik DPA RCT3
Motor: Shimano STEPS E8000
Battery: Shimano external 504wh
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Price: TBA (dependant on territory)
More info: ghost-bikes.com
A kinematic shaped around a coil shock at the rear and Dual Position air-sprung Lyrik up front? Well, that wasn't on the wishlist, but we'll try it. Pretty much everything I have been asking for on an eMTB, bar the world's longest and most complicated name, the Ghost Hybride SL AMR X S7.7+ LC, is on this bike.
Construction, Features and Motor
The front triangle of the SL AMR X is a carbon affair, but there are no fancy internal battery packs here, just the small and easy to exchange external Shimano battery. The motor is a STEPS E8000 from Shimano, a system that has been faultless to date, and one that appears to have taken the market share in a short period judging by the bikes I have been sent to test. There is a small, but important, drivetrain difference with the 155mm custom cranks marked with Ghost's GND51 moniker, a great move; many have requested shorter cranks, but 170mm was the limit from Shimano. Canyon managed to make a special order for 165mm arms for their Spectral:ON, but these Germans have gone one better.
![Ghost SL AMR Review - Ghost have specced their own super short 155mm cranks something that aggresive eMTB riders have been asking for.]()
![Ghost SL AMR Review - An E13 top guide cheep the chain on and a rubberises guard protects and quietens the chainstay.]()
The rear triangle is alloy and houses a 27.5+ Maxxis Minion DHRII tire, which is mated with a 29" front wheel and Maxxis Shorty 2.5" WT tire. Ghost have dubbed this their 'MXer Concept.' Other features include everything that we have come to expect from modern bikes like internal cable routing, rubberized chain slap protectors and a small top guide chain device from E13 to keep the chain on.
![Ghost SL AMR Review - Maxxis Minion DHRII 2.8]()
![Ghost SL AMR Review - The 2.5 WT Shorty from Maxxis is an aggressive option at the front.]()
![Ghost SL AMR Review - Cockpit and Shimano head unit]()
![Ghost SL AMR Review - The stem and carbon handlebar are from Ghost and take the new G1D moniker.]()
The front triangle of the SL AMR X is a carbon affair, but there are no fancy internal battery packs here, just the small and easy to exchange external Shimano battery. The motor is a STEPS E8000 from Shimano, a system that has been faultless to date, and one that appears to have taken the market share in a short period judging by the bikes I have been sent to test. There is a small, but important, drivetrain difference with the 155mm custom cranks marked with Ghost's GND51 moniker, a great move; many have requested shorter cranks, but 170mm was the limit from Shimano. Canyon managed to make a special order for 165mm arms for their Spectral:ON, but these Germans have gone one better.
Ghost have specced their own super-short 155mm cranks, something that aggressive eMTB riders have been asking for.
An E13 top guide to keep the chain on and a rubberized guard protects and quietens the chainstay.
The rear triangle is alloy and houses a 27.5+ Maxxis Minion DHRII tire, which is mated with a 29" front wheel and Maxxis Shorty 2.5" WT tire. Ghost have dubbed this their 'MXer Concept.' Other features include everything that we have come to expect from modern bikes like internal cable routing, rubberized chain slap protectors and a small top guide chain device from E13 to keep the chain on.
Maxxis Minion DHRII 2.8"
The 2.5" WT Shorty from Maxxis is an aggressive option at the front.
Cockpit and Shimano head unit.
The stem and carbon handlebar are from Ghost and take the new GND51 moniker.
Build
Starting at the top there is a Ghost GroundFiftyOne GND51 handlebar and stem. The suspension is top of the line from RockShox with a Lyrik RCT3 Charger cartridge and Dual Position Air assembly which is matched to a Super Deluxe Coil RCT with rebound and low-speed compression adjustments.
Wheels are another eMTB specific component from DT Swiss. Their Hybrid H1700 wheels feature thicker spoke heads and nipples, a thicker rim wall at the spoke bed and a steel freehub body to take on the extra wattage of an eMTB. The rear rim is wider at 35mm internal to work with the 27.5+ x 2.8" Minion DHRII.
![Ghost SL AMR Review - Ergon provide the contact points with saddle and grips]()
![Ghost SL AMR Review - DT Swiss H1700 eMTB specific wheelset]()
![Ghost SL AMR Review - ...30mm DT Swiss eMTB H1700 wheelset]()
Ergon provides the contact points with an SME30 saddle and GA2 grips (a grip that I still cannot get, err, to grips with), and a KS LEV dropper post actuated by a thumb lever that fits nicely on to the handlebar next to Shimano's computer controlling undercarriage.
![Ghost SL AMR Review - Power mode and dropper post controls]()
![Ghost SL AMR Review - Ergon grips and SRAM EX1 shifter]()
![Ghost SL AMR Review - Ghost opted for the small and simple external battery from Shimano]()
![Ghost SL AMR Review - SRAM s EX1 is the only drivetrain choice for eMTB.]()
Starting at the top there is a Ghost GroundFiftyOne GND51 handlebar and stem. The suspension is top of the line from RockShox with a Lyrik RCT3 Charger cartridge and Dual Position Air assembly which is matched to a Super Deluxe Coil RCT with rebound and low-speed compression adjustments.
Wheels are another eMTB specific component from DT Swiss. Their Hybrid H1700 wheels feature thicker spoke heads and nipples, a thicker rim wall at the spoke bed and a steel freehub body to take on the extra wattage of an eMTB. The rear rim is wider at 35mm internal to work with the 27.5+ x 2.8" Minion DHRII.
Ergon provide the contact points with saddle and grips.
DT Swiss H1700 eMTB specific wheelset is spec'd...
...with a 30mm wide front rim and 35mm rear.
Ergon provides the contact points with an SME30 saddle and GA2 grips (a grip that I still cannot get, err, to grips with), and a KS LEV dropper post actuated by a thumb lever that fits nicely on to the handlebar next to Shimano's computer controlling undercarriage.
Power mode and dropper post controls.
Ergon grips and SRAM EX1 shifter.
Ghost opted for the small and simple external battery from Shimano.
SRAM's EX1 is the only drivetrain choice for eMTB, but I still snapped the derailleur cage while I was genuinely "just riding along."
Geometry & Sizing
As well as giving the bike with one of the longest names ever, they have also gone big in the geometry department with S to XL sizes and a reach range of 415mm all the way to 499mm. All sizes are fitted with a 45mm stem and 780mm wide carbon GND51 handlebar.
The chainstay has been left at a medium length for an eMTB at 455mm, this is combined with the steepest seat angle I have found on an eMTB to date at 75.5º. This combination, mixed with the Dual Position Air Lyrik, promises a machine that should lead the pack on steep and technical climbs.
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As well as giving the bike with one of the longest names ever, they have also gone big in the geometry department with S to XL sizes and a reach range of 415mm all the way to 499mm. All sizes are fitted with a 45mm stem and 780mm wide carbon GND51 handlebar.
The chainstay has been left at a medium length for an eMTB at 455mm, this is combined with the steepest seat angle I have found on an eMTB to date at 75.5º. This combination, mixed with the Dual Position Air Lyrik, promises a machine that should lead the pack on steep and technical climbs.
Suspension Design
![Ghost SL AMR Review - non-drive side shot]()
The SL AMR X uses a standard four-bar linkage which has become the most popular suspension system on the market, and with good reason – a quick session on the computer to manipulate each of the pivots by a few millimeters here and there and you can almost precisely tune each aspect of the bike individually to the others.
![Ghost SL AMR Review - Rocker link and Super Deluxe Coil]()
![Ghost SL AMR Review - The Dual Position Air is an interesting choice.]()
This bike is built around a coil shock, something that Ghost has been pushing for years on their trail and all-mountain bikes as a higher performance solution to air. A Super Deluxe RCT Coil is found out back to control 140mm of travel, matched with a 160mm Lyrik Dual Position Adjust fork. I thought the DPA system had vanished from RockShox's lineup, but it is still around and with the twist of a dial you can drop the travel from 160mm to 130mm to make huge differences to the climbing dynamic of the bike.
The SL AMR X uses a standard four-bar linkage which has become the most popular suspension system on the market, and with good reason – a quick session on the computer to manipulate each of the pivots by a few millimeters here and there and you can almost precisely tune each aspect of the bike individually to the others.
Rocker link and Super Deluxe Coil.
The Dual Position Air is an interesting choice.
This bike is built around a coil shock, something that Ghost has been pushing for years on their trail and all-mountain bikes as a higher performance solution to air. A Super Deluxe RCT Coil is found out back to control 140mm of travel, matched with a 160mm Lyrik Dual Position Adjust fork. I thought the DPA system had vanished from RockShox's lineup, but it is still around and with the twist of a dial you can drop the travel from 160mm to 130mm to make huge differences to the climbing dynamic of the bike.
Specifications
![Ghost SL AMR Review - A rare Dual Position Air Lyrik RCT3 heads up the bike.]()
| Specifications | ||
| Release Date | May 2018 | |
| Price | ||
| Travel | 160mm / 140mm | |
| Rear Shock | RockShox Super Deluxe Coil RCT 140 mm | |
| Fork | RockShox Lyrik RCT3 Dual Position Air 160 mm | |
| Cassette | SRAM XG 899 11-48 | |
| Crankarms | Ground Fiftyone 155mm | |
| Chainguide | Ground Fiftyone 34T | |
| Rear Derailleur | SRAM EX1 8-S | |
| Chain | SRAM EX1 8-S | |
| Shifter Pods | SRAM EX1 8-S | |
| Handlebar | Ground Fiftyone Carbon 780 mm Rise 35 mm Dia. 35 mm | |
| Stem | Ground Fiftyone Team 35mm dia. | |
| Brakes | SRAM Code R Piston 200 mm Disc | |
| Wheelset | DT Swiss H 1700 Spline 30 mm Wheelset 15x110 mm // DT Swiss H 1700 Spline 35 mm Wheelset 12x148 mm | |
| Tires | Maxxis Shorty 3C MaxxTerra Exo 29x2.5 // Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C MaxxTerra Exo 27.5x2.8 | |
| Seat | Ergon SME30 | |
| Seatpost | Kind Shock LEV Integra 31.6 mm | |
A rare Dual Position Air Lyrik RCT3 heads up the bike.
Climbing
Out of the gate, the geometry put me in a more central position on the bike which meant I was conquering climbs with ease requiring less effort to keep the front wheel down, alleviating strain on my aging lower back. Dropping the forks down using the DPA Lyrik makes a huge amount of difference to the climbing position and further aids on steep tech climbs.
It was refreshing to step back on to an eMTB with a SRAM EX1 drivetrain, which is simply smoother and more reliable than anything else out there. The one gear change per shifter click, fewer gears, wider range, and steel cassette and chain are everything an eMTB needs. Shimano aren't fools though, and when they finally release something to work harmoniously with their motor, I'm sure it will be fantastic, it might even take the Di2 tech found on commuter bikes which eases off the power for a split second at the same time as you change gears. Also, Shimano, while we are here, can we have the smaller push-button mode selector for the off-road motors too? Thanks, Paul.
![Ghost SL AMR Review - climbing]()
Out of the gate, the geometry put me in a more central position on the bike which meant I was conquering climbs with ease requiring less effort to keep the front wheel down, alleviating strain on my aging lower back. Dropping the forks down using the DPA Lyrik makes a huge amount of difference to the climbing position and further aids on steep tech climbs.
It was refreshing to step back on to an eMTB with a SRAM EX1 drivetrain, which is simply smoother and more reliable than anything else out there. The one gear change per shifter click, fewer gears, wider range, and steel cassette and chain are everything an eMTB needs. Shimano aren't fools though, and when they finally release something to work harmoniously with their motor, I'm sure it will be fantastic, it might even take the Di2 tech found on commuter bikes which eases off the power for a split second at the same time as you change gears. Also, Shimano, while we are here, can we have the smaller push-button mode selector for the off-road motors too? Thanks, Paul.
Descending
The SL AMR X had a comfortable and upright riding position, but, the head angle felt steeper at 66º degrees as soon as you drop into descending trail compared to the other test rigs in the shed. The fork took some tweaking to get the correct ride height with air, tokens, and LSC, but when I was comfortable things started to truck on. The bikes corners well with the -30mm bottom bracket drop and wheel selection with the Shorty tearing into soft terrain. It was wet during the first ride and I would be swapping for a Minion DHF or similar on my usually dry and rocky trails.
Unfortunately, a broken derailleur, followed by an injured thumb a few days after means that a full review of the SL AMR X is on hold, but we are looking forward to putting it through its paces against its rivals later on this summer, as the initial impression appears to have ticked all of the boxes.
![Ghost SL AMR Review - cornering]()
The SL AMR X had a comfortable and upright riding position, but, the head angle felt steeper at 66º degrees as soon as you drop into descending trail compared to the other test rigs in the shed. The fork took some tweaking to get the correct ride height with air, tokens, and LSC, but when I was comfortable things started to truck on. The bikes corners well with the -30mm bottom bracket drop and wheel selection with the Shorty tearing into soft terrain. It was wet during the first ride and I would be swapping for a Minion DHF or similar on my usually dry and rocky trails.
Unfortunately, a broken derailleur, followed by an injured thumb a few days after means that a full review of the SL AMR X is on hold, but we are looking forward to putting it through its paces against its rivals later on this summer, as the initial impression appears to have ticked all of the boxes.
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I've ridden dpa and non-dpa back-to-back and couldn't tell a difference in responsiveness or plushness or anything like that. The only difference is one extra o-ring. IMO dpa is an excellent design and I'm surprised that it's not more popular with other brands, perhaps Sram has a patent?
Fox's Talas is a different beast and more complicated than it should be to address a problem that doesn't exist by allowing riders to use less travel on downhills.
What performance am I giving up that can compeat with that?
Also I found them over dampened compared to the non DPA version, super wallowy though mid stoke with the LSC on firm.
we weren't riding anything hard but climbs were long and steep, she was struggling hard as she isn't as fit as im (or rather she doesn't have muscles). on majority of climbs she had to walk her bike uphill and i either did the same or was waiting for her at the top. she felt like shit because of that (as she said she was letting me down and in general didnt feel good about herself) and had pretty much no fun from riding
if she was on a ebike the trip would be much more enjoyable for both of us
You could just, you know, both get fitter and stronger. Imagine that!
getting stronger is not that easy and even tho she goes to gym couple of times a week it was still really hard for her
@IntoTheEverflow
no why? she would be able to keep up with me
@Levin192
the point is that she wont ever get fit enough, she rides a bike once a month and i want to have fun riding with her
How on earth do you recover?
walking kilometers uphill takes ages
And please don't tell me that smartphones and computers and other stuff use the same materials, I know it already. But it looks like doing without them in our modern world is kind of a little more problematic than doing without a mtbike that has a motor and f**n battery on it. But I guess if the electricity produced to charge the battery comes from some "green" renewable energy system it makes it all a bit better, which in Poland shouldn't be a problem since, as everyone knows, you guys totally stepped out of the coal business ages ago...
www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/01/child-labour-behind-smart-phone-and-electric-car-batteries
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4764208/Child-miners-aged-four-living-hell-Earth.html
And from Poland with love : www.euronews.com/2017/11/30/poland-among-europe-s-worst-for-smog
i dont care if im bored, i dont want her to feel like shit because even tho she tries she cant get as fit as me and i want her and me to have fun the entire time and not only downhill and even then its mostly me because she is tired as f*ck
the rest of your post is a non-issue for me, i define what is justifiable purchase for me, not you or anyone else
also with ebike should would be able to ride more often with me
But that is not the point. I thought that way he will be happy and radiant by the time his gf made it up the hill and she will feel less shit and he has something sensible to do in the meantime.
For about 50% of my rides I have the motor turned off, 35% of the rest on 'eco' which gives minimal boost, and the rest on 'medium' for big hills (here in Switzerland climbs in and out of valleys can get pretty vertical and I'd have been pushing my AM bike). 'Turbo' gives too much power and actually makes it harder to climb some things offroad, although I do use it on occasion. A motor is not a free ticket, and at the end of a long ride you are still knackered - eMTBs are still a workout.
Not only did the eBike help me get my fitness back, but it's awesome for sessioning quick laps when I have the time, without being absent from my family and kids for whole days or weekends. I can quickly tear up a huge hill in the evening and sneak in a few DH laps on my fav singletrack without pissing off my other half - I am fresh at the top so can really enjoy the descents and I can do it in 1/4 of the time it would take me to do it unassisted.
Same with me.... Bravo!!!
You sound pretty selfish as you can "quickly tear up a huge hill in the evening and sneak in a few DH laps on my fav singletrack without pissing off my other half " but you don't care to piss off all other riders?
why would anyone be pissed at him?
unless someone is retarded enough to care what someone else is riding, but i guess there is no cure for being an idiot
And I'm glad you get to do more DH laps since the motor does the big part of the uphill riding job, which allows you to spend more time with your wife and kids, but as I read such profound arguments, I can't help wondering how much time the congolese kid who dug the cobalt that was used to build your emtb's battery spends with his dad, on his monthly day off at the mine.
But I guess it's always the same song you hear from the emtb crowd "more, more more mooooaaarrr downhill, right now right here, I don't care what it takes, I just have to have it". Kind of a sad tune tbh.
Also, the whole "it's pedal assist not replacement" argument is kind of weak. Have you ever seriously ridden an MX on a proper course ? It's really physical, so I guess it can count as workout too. Probably not as much as a triathlon, but then again emtbiking neither. Everything is relative.
FYI : www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/01/child-labour-behind-smart-phone-and-electric-car-batteries
and so on
if you care so much just buy a battery/bike from a company that doesn't exploit kid labor (or any other illegal activities)
many electronic companies already source only "legal" materials (like Intel)
Otherwise you sound like the stupid stereotypical associated with the flag next to your name. Don’t make poland look bad!
oh i get it
you are just another ebike hater with no real arguments
everything you wrote so far is bullshit lol
Easier than the same route on a normal bike???
Yes, electric powered bikes have a place. No fit, older, lazy, beginners...
Just don’t want to be in that place.
But they have all the "cool" gear covering their undefined chubby body?
And they go fast Up the hill when it is tarmac or fire road and push the vehicle on the downs?
f*ck off
Having both mtb and emopeds on the same trails is dangerous because of the difference of speed. This has been a well know issue in the cities. In nyc ebikes have been outlawed because of several accidents w other bikes and walkers.
Asmodai you are tick headed
Riding an ebike is not riding a bike. Most people riding e mtb are wealthy 30’s chubbys that think to be able to short cut their way into the sport.
I would totally be for more bikes, expecially in the cities, except ebikes are dangerous as statistics well show.
Both because of speed and because they are ridden by incompetent a*sholes.
ebikes are legal in new york
riding an ebike is literally the same as riding normal bike you just get more power to fill your physical weakness or laziness and both are fine
also lets ban trucks because they are only idiots are driving them and because of the weight and speed difference they are dangerous for everyone else
I can bet that majority of mtb ride much faster as e-mtb riders. So, your arguments are very weak...
Not skilled - faster, is a bad combo.
I have no ideological hook ups against bike with motors. I did think they could be a great solutions for cities - never thought it could be a sport segment- however they ended up being dangerous. Too much of a speed difference. They made it illegal in nyc for a reason – anybody who lives there and ride a bike can tell you of close calls.
They are not ridden by people that have been riding mtb for years. They are clueless of the basics of trail co-existence.
And enough of "it is great so everyone can enjoy bikes" bs.
If somebody has a severe injury but still wants to ride, then I can see it.
If you are in your 70's then I can see a reason.
Anything else - out of shape, lazy, want my bf/gf to ride w me etc. etc. it is not a good reason.
I do not want these people to ruin it for all.... they are going to disappear in short time, however the damage could be pretty big...
Co-existence is not possible in most cases.
Do you want to ride on top of the dolomites.... earn it.
Do you want to buy your way trough life? Get an e bike.
Anyone on a road bike......
Now shut up....
The whole of the biking industry is marketed to the 30+ gang as those are people with a disposable income to buy the expensive bikes and it is what keeps the industry alive.
If you think Ebikes are lame that's fair enough but if you are part of the cult that thinks it ruins the spirit of MTB or some other such bullshit then you should be riding a rigid Klunker down the trails.
Come to Finale, stay at my house, use one of my test bikes, race up some of the technical/trialsy climbs around here, then tell me how easy it is after 70kms...
I both 'get' and don't get e-bikes.
Being a mechanic in a large store that sells a fair amount of them and sees a disproportionate amount of them coming back in, I can 100% say I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole. That goes for the cheap nasty e-bikes, Shimano and Bosch systems alike. Remember when dropper posts first came out and people wouldn't stop talking about them, but in truth they sucked? But now we finally have some fairly cheap/reliable options available? I hope to god the same is true of e-bikes, mostly for my own sake, haha.
Also as a young fit guy, I'd rather ride 40km on a regular bike than 70k on an e-bike. Just saying.
People buy what they want to buy. If people want Ebikes to go cycling on, they will buy Ebikes. If no one buys them to go cycling on, companies will stop making them. At this point, it looks to me like you're in a minority.
www.pinkbike.com/video/480130
This way how to mount the battery on an e-bike is a bingo. So called Power tube is not practical/not useful. It just looks better. Bravo Ghost engineers!!!! Chapeau!!!!