McLaren (The Supercar Maker) Unveils 'The Most Powerful Trail Legal eMTB'
McLaren - yes, that McLaren of supercar and the Formula 1 fame - have launched a range of electric mountain bikes. The Extreme 600 and Sport 600 models are hailed as the most powerful street-legal electric bikes, with up to 852W of peak power.
The press release is keen to stress how the new "electric hyperbikes" are very much McLaren and not some rebadged catalogue frame. "Designed by the same teams responsible for supercars like the electrified lightweight McLaren Artura hybrid supercar, the first-ever McLaren e-bikes embrace signature McLaren attributes such as carbon fibre construction and next-generation electrification to deliver an authentically McLaren high-performance experience."
Did we mention it's a McLaren?
We've asked, but so far there's no word on such trivial details as what motor it uses, how big the battery is or how much it weighs. McLaren didn't send any geometry numbers, sizes or prices either. McLaren would say the bikes feature hand-laid carbon-fibre frames and "five" power settings: Off, Eco, Trail, Sport, and Race - okay, four power settings if you don't include "off". The full-suspension Extreme model has a 29” front wheel, 27.5” rear wheel, 145m of rear travel, and 160mm of fork travel. The Sport model is a 29" hardtail (which could be a little spicy with 825 W of power).
The eye-catching one-piece handlebar has an integrated display and front light. Also, nothing says "We've never built an e-bike before" like G2 brakes.
But the weirdest feature is surely the bulbous one-piece cockpit with integrated light and display. The press release says the graphics "mimic those of the cars’ driver displays. Ensuring maximum rider engagement and user-friendliness, telemetry information including speed, battery life and range is shown on a full-colour integrated LCD panel on the handlebars." I've never been in a McLaren car, but I'm guessing their driver displays look a bit less Fisher-Price.
There are four models in total – Extreme 600, Extreme 250, Sport 600, and Sport 250 – where Extreme is the full-suspension version shown, Sport is the hardtail and the number refers to the (nominal) motor power. I'd guess the 250 models use a standard Bosch or Shimano motor.
From the photos, we can tell the Extreme model uses a Horst-link suspension design and has a removable battery. It's running SRAM Transmission gearing with a RockShox Lyrik fork and Deluxe shock.
The rider in these photos is clearly a shredder, but it always looks to me like he's going to the shops.
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Will it burn ...... all by itself like this
uk.motor1.com/news/691974/mclaren-artura-burns-fire-uk
McLaren: "Hold my finely aged wine"
Amazing.
Typical PB reader behaviour. Didn't read the explanation of why price wasn't included.
Some might remember n+ related to their dual hub motor bikes, whose wheels were laced radial,
or the bit "cheesy" situation with the original supplier of the first Mercedes AMG F1 Bike (Asfalt from Switzerland, both parties finding an agreement only after a big media echo, full story, in German, here: www.20min.ch/story/jungunternehmer-einigen-sich-nach-kopiervorwurf-an-mercedes-437535762511
Ultra premium is one of the few segments in may categories of consumer durable goods and services that is still growing. Everyone chasing the dentists and crypto kings and the fools who want people to think they're more wealthy than they actually are.
Yamaha has also jumped on the bandwagon. KTM at one point. Didn't Porsche try this once too? Who's next? Apple iBike? Tesla MXB? Balenciaga spandex kits with SKIMS collab to hide the gut?
Also, can you share if the Bafang motors have the same clutch "rattle" problem when coasting on descents that Shimano and Bosch have?
BTW, from the images above, are you able to identify that McLaren is using a Bafang motor? I had wondered if it might be one, given that Bafangs are known for putting out some pretty impressive power numbers, but I don't know them well enough just to spot a de-badged example in a photo, given the variety of models they make.
I noticed some obvious rattling with the bafang, figured it was wiring related and moved some stuff around don't notice it anymore maybe I got used to it...maybe I fixed it...not paying attention to be honest.
My friends with "pro" ebikes costing twice as much have all had to replace their motors already. The Bafang is going strong by comparison with more riding and more abuse.
With careful parts selection my total cost was $6000 Canadian. Many on sale and some used parts hand build asian sourced carbon rims and a Linkglide drivetrain. I still blow through chains however.
Performance wise:
It blows the doors off everything. uphill/down/flat. I have to turn it off when riding with others on ebikes. I'm a stronger rider but switching bikes I get dropped and find their bikes skittish on the trail by comparison. Mine feels fast and stable, theirs feel fast but not in control
It's heavy and that's a GOOD thing. With that much power the weight is irrelevant to pedalling..However it adds stability and smoothness to the ride. The reasoning is the suspension is sprung closer to suspending the chassis rather than the unstable 200lb mass on top of it. The first thing everyone comments on when they ride it is how good my suspension is tuned...it's not my tuning it's the weight keeping the bike from jumping around under you. Bike snobs don't understand this however and still pick it up and scoff at the weight say something about motorcycle then proceed to talk about how great their electric shifter is.
Downhill its super stable with cannonball momentum oftentimes I have to scrub speed before a double else I huck to flat. Visiting an enduro park I set a few fastest times of the day on it...without need to pedal significantly just holding momentum. It was way faster than my scott ransom meat bike due to the stability and gravity powering the additional mass.
I'd highly recommend building your own vs buying one from industry, I find them overpriced and lacking in durability and performance by comparison with expensive fragile parts that are unnecessary when you have a motor to assist. I break everything and the frame has been beaten badly and is built like a baseball bat. You can PM me for more info
All that stated I'm both cycling fit and physically strong and am able to throw around a 70lb bike without much difficulty other peoples mileage may vary.
Also noone is fooled about the "not a catalogue" bike. Lightcarbon has had this exact frame in their catalogue for the last 3 years
www.pinkbike.com/news/slack-randoms-audis-10000-emtb-top-gun-musical-bike-builds-the-fall-of-rollerblading-and-more.html
i still have nightmares with these pics.
There is no need for all the extra power ….90nm is more than enough even for the most experienced and or professional riders. The bike industry needs to be mindful here as emtb s keep gaining market share. Its seems we’re gradually drifting closer to a full on moto x theme. Stay in your lane McLaren or hire some proper bike industry engineers !
"benefit" for a build spec like this....... time to wake up !!
bentleytrike.ca/products/carbon-fibre-mclaren-balance-bike
*readers* -yeah this bike sucks I’d never buy one cuz pinkbike said it sucks
** dentists and doctors still complain about having to pay msrp because they “are loyal customers”, maybe supercar owners will be different
Full Suspension with 250w motor 121nm, 11.150 euros
Hardtail with 250w motor 121nm, 8400 euro's
no information about the bikes with the more powerful motor.
they proudly announce that they spent 1000 hours designing the frames themselves
that's a couple of months for 3 people, nothing to be proud of
yes the bikes are really equipped with G2 brakes
source: the McLaren web site
It would be a bit dweeby still, but so much better than this...
Also: no cable tourism? Amateurs... People love that!
I mean…it is what it is. Pretty lame, but you’ll never see one.
Maybe check your local legislation. It exceeds the legal power limit for pedal-equipped e-bikes by 350 W in NSW and 600 W in the rest of Australia...
Yeah hilarious
Why would we want a dashboard?