Based in Dijon, France, Lapierre Bicycles, is one of the oldest brands in the business, founded in 1946. They were also one of the early adopters of eMTB's back in 2014. This all-new Overvolt AM is targeted at all-mountain riding with 160mm of travel and 27.5+ rims and rubber.
This new platform is the first Lapierre propelled by a Shimano Steps motor and fuelled by a 'SnakePower' 500wh integrated battery. Starting at €4599 and reaching up to €6799 split across five spec levels, we headed to Corsica in exceptionally bad weather to try the AM727i.
This new platform is the first Lapierre propelled by a Shimano Steps motor and fuelled by a 'SnakePower' 500wh integrated battery. Starting at €4599 and reaching up to €6799 split across five spec levels, we headed to Corsica in exceptionally bad weather to try the AM727i.
Overvolt AM 727i Details
Intended use: trail / enduro
Travel: 160mm
Wheel size: 27.5+
Motor: Shimano STEPS E8000 motor w/ internal SnakePower battery
Frame construction: Aluminum
Sizes: S-XL
Pricing: €4599 - €6799
More info: cycles-lapierre.fr
Intended use: trail / enduro
Travel: 160mm
Wheel size: 27.5+
Motor: Shimano STEPS E8000 motor w/ internal SnakePower battery
Frame construction: Aluminum
Sizes: S-XL
Pricing: €4599 - €6799
More info: cycles-lapierre.fr
Frame Details
The Overvolt AM has the on/off switch integrated into the top tube.
A prominent chrome headtube badge from one of the oldest brands in the business; Lapierre was founded in 1946.
Woohoo, room for a bottle cage.
Compared to Lapierre's flagship Overvolt Carbon, the AM727i is almost bland. The carbon bike featured twin downtubes and a standard battery located under the seat tube and almost directly on top of the motor. The concept was to get the weight as low and centralized as possible for stability and light handling. The AM has a more conventional look and a new suspension design that tries to move the weight of the linkage and shock as low as possible, and instead integrates the battery into the downtube.
Lapierre wanted to keep the weight of the bike a low down as possible, hence the new linkage design compared to previous Lapierre offerings.
Motor and Battery
The motor is a standard Shimano STEPS E8000 unit, with stiff, 170mm Hollowtech cranks. The SnakePower battery, on the other hand, is far from standard; the huge articulated unit slides into the downtube from a sealed and lockable port near the head tube. After a couple of tries, it becomes simple and fast to remove it for charging or changing. Of course, the battery can still be charged in the bike with a charging port on the downtube.
Build Kits
Aluminum is the only option for the eMTB chassis, with four sizes S-XL. There are five models to choose from with prices ranging from €4599 - €6799. There are also all of the same options in a 29" wheeled bike, with 140mm travel.
927i €6799
827i €6499
727i €5999
627i €5499
527i €4599
Geometry
The AM727i's geometry is aimed at all-mountain riding and shaped around 27.5+ wheels. Interestingly, you can't fit 29" wheels as it is a true 27" bike with added clearance to squeeze in a 2.8" tire (most brands offer the option of 29" or 27.5+).
The prime numbers are a 65.5º head angle, 75.5º seat angle, and 445mm chainstays. Reach numbers start at 418mm on the S, up to 482 on the XL.
After jumping off the ferry on to sunny Corsica, we were greeting by 10cm of snow on the beach and the worst (or best) snowfall on the island for decades, which took a sharp toll on our riding time. But after a couple of days, things started to dry out and we could get going.
The AM727i was simple to set up with Fox's latest suspension being a breeze to get dialed in. The bike was quiet from the outset with no battery rattle, and the rubber guards to keep chainslap at bay.
Shimano's motor with the latest firmware updates has great torque sensitive power in 'Trail' mode and makes feeding in the power easier and more intuitive on techy and loose trails. That said, I struggled more on this eMTB when tackling steep climbs than the recently tested Thok and Canyon.
As we dropped into some rocky descents, we were plagued with punctures - some tougher tires would be the first upgrade over the spec'd EXO casing High Roller and Rekon. C'mon Maxxis, just make some Double Down 2.8" tires already.
Like all eMTB's, the stability from the extra weight keeps the bike planted, but there was enough support from suspension to keep the bike up in its travel and let your push as the speeds increase. Then to slow down, the bike is spec'd as all eMTB's should be with 200mm rotors and the more powerful choice of the Guide RE brakes that use an old-style Code caliper.
The AM727i traveled through and over most terrain well. The suspension needed some more support at the end of the stroke in big compressions and hits, but this could be solved with some suspension tweaking and some more time. Overall the AM727i is a package that is ready to take on nearly anything that is put in its way.
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112 Comments
so many people miss the point, its not a case of cheating, think of it as being able to ride more, go further, its not cheating cause trust me, you can get a fricking good work out on one. it also motivates some of the older generation to ride who otherwise wouldn't have the strength or motivation to do so. e-bikes are rad.
I have had a *blast*. You definitely do still get a good work out as you ride further and ride more - and it's pedal 'assist' not replacement. I rode my favorite single track last weekend for the first time in 8 months... even with the 650m climb to get to the trailhead, I was fresh for the trail and had an amazing ride - probably better than when I rode up it 'manually', as I wasn't tired by the climb and could concentrate on lines, position etc. So when I got to the bottom, I rode up and did it again.
You still have to pedal, it's not MX or a motorbike, you still have to push and control a bike... While I still have my FS 29er, the eBike has got me out doing over 300km the last 10 days, even with my injury recovery and rehab still going on.
Don't knock it until you try it.
Corsica is ‘the bomb’ indeed...
Pun intended.
they're both battery powered an ridden by c*nts
Just a joke or? As I see no American whining here
US: We don't want to read about this!
PB: Then don't click on the article.
US: We don't want to be confronted with the option to click the link that would allow us to read the article.
PB: Ok, sorted.
motorbike
[moh-ter-bahyk]
noun
a small, lightweight motorcycle.
a bicycle that is propelled by an attached motor.
Luddite
ˈlʌdʌɪt/Submit
noun
a member of any of the bands of English workers who destroyed machinery, especially in cotton and woollen mills, which they believed was threatening their jobs (1811–16).
derogatory
a person opposed to increased industrialization or new technology.
"a small-minded Luddite resisting progress"
no offence
I spent half my life snowboarding, I did as little hiking as possible, took the chair straight to the park every day.
If I lived next to a bike park I’d do as little peddling as possible and I’m sure there are many lucky bastards who do this.
There are segments of cycling based heavily around peddling just as there are skiing and even splitboarding based around hiking or just plain going uphill. But I’m not into cycling to pedal, I’m in to go down hills and off jumps, once again as I’m sure are many others. If there’s a way to help me do more of that in areas that aren’t lift accessed...I’m down. No question.
I ride in areas that are not impossible to ride to the top but if I could double the amount of runs? No brainer.
I’m not feeling negative toward these bikes at all, I am sceptical whether we’ll get to a point where they’re as good as bikes without motors on the descents but I’m excited to see where it goes.
Second to building a chairlift on every hill (which is what I’d do if I could) they seem a good idea.
I wanna go to FJMTB and do 50 runs a day.
.
Serious question though....with all the fantastic new bikes being released, why is only ebikes that seem to get reviewed on here???
really? check all reviews in past month there are many reviews and only like 2 of ebikes
Anyone want to help crowdfund it?
I thought Pinkbike was pure MTB by MTB'ers. I don't get why you push us to embrace these E-bikes.
Depending on the rider who rides the E-bike, I think they are awesome or very stupid.
>I think there's an argument to be made that staying loyal to a certain 'philosophy' also has value
but there is no need to do that, ebikes like this are also MT-Bikes, people riding them are literally the same people that also ride "normal" bikes. i have no idea why people are trying to antagonize other group which in reality doesn't even exist. cant we all just enjoy MTBs and leave this retarded "hurr durr ebikes are literally hitler" mentality behind?
I ride a Canyon Strive and a Commencal Meta Power. I enjoy riding both but during the week when I have limited time I ride the Meta Power because I can put a good amount of runs in a one and a half hour ride. Today I had four runs in 20km with 900m elevation. On the weekends when I ride with friends I ride the Strive. I don't care about loyalty I want to ride as much as a can and I ride much more since I have the ebike. Does it make me a prostitute or something?
6 out of 10 Mountain Bikes sold here are actually EBikes
Lapierre (and others) knows that fact
En 2017 (ndlr : interview réalisée fin juillet 2017) à la Roue Libre Nice, on n’a pas du vendre 5 vélos d’Enduro classiques. Par contre, on vend 400 vélos électriques par an. Ce ne sont pas tous des VTT, mais quand même.
Quick and dirty translation:
In 2017 in our Bike shop we did not sell 5 classic Enduro bikes.
On the other hand, 400 electric bicycles are sold per year. These are not all mountain bikes, but still.
I'm not fussed about EMTBs, They're not for me, but I do believe Ebikes make the best commuting/town option and people should be buying Ebikes instead of second cars.
I've got an Urban Arrow. Its rad.
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