THOK MIG-R
Italian e-bike debut shows promise
With moto-trials legend Toni Bou and ex-DH racer Stefano Migliorini helping to develop the MIG-R, this new Italian e-bike brand have some serious two-wheeled pedigree. But how does their debut o ering ride?
The frame The alloy frame’s 140mm of rear travel is controlled by a four-bar linkage, with the main pivot sitting just behind the bottom bracket and a chunky rocker link driving the shock. A 250W Shimano STEPS E8000 motor provides the pedalling assistance, and the 504Wh battery is slung low under the down tube, with support and protection provided by a plastic cover that’s held neatly in place with a rubber strap.
In terms of geometry, the MIG-R is far from revolutionary, with a 74.5-degree seat angle and 66-degree head angle. The reach is short-ish (450mm on the large), while the chainstays are long-ish, at 450mm. There’s fairly neat internal cable routing, and bottle cage mounts are provided on top of the down tube so that you can squeeze a water bottle in, under the rear shock.
The kit RockShox take care of suspension duties, with their Lyrik RC fork and Deluxe RL air shock. Shimano supply the stop-and-go kit, in the form of XT four-pot brakes and an 11-speed drivetrain – although we’d prefer an XT shifter, with its double upshifts and more solid feel, over the SLX downgrade specced here. The wheels are super-wide (40mm) SUNringlé Durocs, which support 2.8in ‘plus’ tyres – a Maxxis Minion DHF up front and Rekon+ out back.
The ride Despite its conservative geometry, the MIG-R never felt like a handful on loose or rough descents. That’s largely thanks to the weight of the battery and motor being nice and low in the frame, and the long-ish chainstays compensating for the short front centre. The chunky front tyre also helps here, providing loads of grip and boosting confidence, while the rear suspension coped admirably with everything we threw at it, remaining supple, supportive and progressive. Even above motorassistance speeds, we were able to push on the pedals and pump through sections without it falling into a wallowy mess.
To get the most out of the bike in UK conditions, we’d like to see a grippier rear tyre, as the Rekon+’s skinny tread doesn’t o er much grip in greasy conditions, up or downhill. The Shimano motor continues to impress, with a natural-feeling input of power. This helps the MIG-R on climbs, although a steeper seat angle would be appreciated on more technical ascents. That said, you’re well-postitioned between the wheels, thanks to the front-to-rear-centre balance. With a stouter tyre out back and the saddle slammed forwards, the THOK could be even more impressive uphill.
Kit-wise, the XT-based drivetrain works well enough and the four-pot brakes are decent, but we’d rather see Shimano’s E7000 switch unit used, in place of the shifter-style E8000, as it would allow room for an under-bar dropper lever. www.thokbikes.com An impressive irst effort, the MIG R takes everything in its stride with minimal complaint, but would be even better with small kit changes