HAIBIKE SDURO ALLMTN 7.0
£4,300 Yamaha-powered solid trail all-rounder
Haibike have over 80 different e-bike models in their range. The AllMtn family consists of Bosch-powered XDURO and Yamaha-powered SDURO bikes on essentially the same chassis.
The frame
There are differences between Yamaha and Bosch bikes when it comes to the battery mount (on the SDURO, it swings in sideways rather than dropping in vertically) and motor (it’s slightly lighter) but the ‘battery on the down tube’ layout is similar. Like on the KTM, the shock drives back and down through the seat tube. But Haibike use a chainstay (not seatstay) pivot to create a true four-bar linkage, and the SDURO has 150mm of travel and space for a 2.8in plus tyre. Standover height is very tall though, and the dropper post routing is external.
The kit
While the Yamaha and Bosch motors are more closely matched to each other than to the Shimano and Brose units in terms of feel and noise, there are some differences. Bosch torque tops out at 75nm, whereas the Yamaha is 70nm in the four lower modes but stretches to 80nm in the top setting. The max cadence of 120rpm only applies in that mode though. Yamaha’s integrated stem display is small and hard to see, particularly in bright sun, and one of its two buttons controls a headlight that the SDURO doesn’t have.
Twin-ring FSA cranks (44/32t) are paired with a 10-speed SunRace block (11-40t). A 200mm front rotor helps the four-pot Magura brakes get rid of speed easily, even if the lever feel is spongy. Fox’s e-specific 34 fork shines and the shock is OK. The 40mm rims work well to support the premium Schwalbe tyres but the wheels are heavy. A 750mm bar and 55mm stem give fast reactions and decent leverage to control them.
The ride
The Yamaha motor didn’t impress on the trail. While there’s a lot of surging power in the higher modes, there’s a gritty/growly feel at the biting point. It also takes longer than the other units here to feed in power when you start pedalling in most modes – good for keeping traction, but not if you want to launch up a slope/step. The heavy wheels and overall mass have an obvious effect on acceleration too, and the Haibike works better with a continual same-speed pedalling style than a ‘kick and cruise’ approach.
Tall gearing, a high bar and limited standover make winching up steep slopes more awkward than it could be, and the integrated display means you’ll have to chop down the fork if you want to slam the front end. You’ll soon outrun the speed limiter on the motor in the big ring, and front shifts require you to back off the power. At least the chain is reinforced. The tyres need TLC on rocky terrain, and battery rattle and clatter is as bad as with the Bosch bikes.
Outside of that, the SDURO is a decent bike. The Fox fork is smooth and predictable (though we’d add volume spacers), and while the rear suspension is a bit stiff when cruising, it’s OK once you get going. Its tall ride height, 68-degree head angle and short reach make it better for cruising than gravity bombing though. If you want to crack on downhill, the 180mm XDURO Nduro would be our choice from Haibike.