We sling a leg over the Lapierre Overvolt GLP 2 Team enduro-focused e-bike, the well-priced Vitus Mythique trail bike and Propain’s Tyee CF 29 enduro rig
£7,649 Overhauled big-hit eMTB is agile and capable
Four years on from the release of the original Overvolt, Lapierre have updated their enduro-focused e-bike. The ‘GLP 2’ in the name refers to their Gravity Logic Project, aimed at improving handling. To this end, they’ve centralised the position of the battery, and have opted for a mullet wheel set-up too (29in front, 650b rear). The French brand have also taken advantage of the compact format of the fourth-generation Bosch Performance Line CX motor to update the Overvolt’s geometry. We rode the top-end Team model, but there’s a cheaper Elite too (£5,399).
The frame
The new Overvolt has a full-carbon frame that delivers 160mm of rear wheel travel via a four-bar suspension linkage, with the kinematics designed to give lots of traction on steep climbs. To keep the bike’s weight low and central for better handling, the external battery is mounted above the motor. This does interrupt the seat tube though, restricting seatpost length. The small frame comes with only a 100mm-travel dropper post, the medium a 125mm and the large and XL a 150mm.
The Gen-4 Bosch motor allows Lapierre to use much shorter chainstays than on the original Overvolt (440mm). The new bike has much more contemporary geometry too, with a longer reach, slacker 65-degree head angle and steeper 76-degree (79 on the small) seat angle. They’ve dropped the bottom bracket fairly low, but with technical climbing being a key performance goal, Lapierre didn’t want to drop it so low that pedal strikes could be a problem, even with short 160mm (S, M) or 165mm (L, XL) crank arms.
The kit
Up front you get a 160mm-travel RockShox Lyrik Ultimate fork, while the rear suspension is controlled by a Super Deluxe Select+ shock. SRAM provide wireless AXS shifting over a relatively heavy, but durable, 11-50t NX Eagle cassette. Their G2 RSC brakes seem an odd choice, even with a 220mm rotor up front; we’d prefer more powerful Codes. Own-brand carbon rims are shod with wide, sticky Maxxis rubber, with a 2.5in 29er tyre up front and 27.5x2.8in rubber on the rear. Lapierre also provide the bulk of the finishing kit, including the 760mm bar, which is quite narrow.
While its 500Wh battery capacity isn’t the most generous, the Team model comes with a spare 300Wh
cell to extend the bike’s range – and a riding pack to carry it in. A side benefit of the external battery over one integrated into the down tube is a 400g weight saving. The rear brake hose and dropper post cable run internally, as you’d expect, and there’s integrated down tube and chainstay protection, as well as a custom chain guide and motor protection. There are no bottle cage bosses though.
The ride
We rode the Overvolt on steep, rocky, technical tracks with plenty of roots too, and it proved incredibly capable. Thanks to the low battery, the front end feels significantly lighter than on most eMTBs, with a subsequent e ect on the steering that makes the bike feel good and agile, and more than happy to attack technical climbs. The front end’s relatively low weight combined with the shorter chainstays enables you to easily pop the front wheel up to clear obstacles. On the steepest tracks you need to consciously weight the front wheel to keep it pointing where you want.
The Overvolt feels just as agile on descents too but, with the front axle well out in front of you, it also provides you with plenty of confidence on steep sections. Drop your heels and push hard through the low bottom bracket, and the bike happily carves its way through corners and feels solid and stable when traction breaks. The 165mm crank length seems pretty spot-on – while there were some inevitable pedal strikes, it was far from a common occurrence in our testing. RockShox’s Lyrik is one of our favourite forks and both suspension units deliver a very smooth feel. The rear end largely remains composed yet is active enough to track the ground for ample grip, assisted by the 2.8in Minion DHR. Adding a tyre insert for the rocky tracks we rode was a good shout and something we’d recommend for aggressive or heavier riders – you don’t want a cracked carbon rim.
Power delivery from Bosch’s Gen-4 drive unit is generally very good, especially in EMTB mode. The motor seamlessly matches the e ort you’re putting in, giving you the fine control needed to regulate any rear wheel spin. It’s noisy though, and occasionally gives a fair old kick when starting o , spitting loose dirt from the rear tyre. TOM MARVIN www.lapierre-bikes.co.uk
One of the most agile ‘full-fat’ e-MTBs we’ve ridden, although we’d like punchier brakes and a wider bar