E-volution
ELECTRIC TECH GETS BETTER – & WEIRDER!
E-bikes remain big news, as the technology continues to evolve and brands that were initially reluctant sense the wind has shifted and it’s time to get involved. Designs are branching into all kinds of new areas, too!
1 NICOLAI EBOXX ULTRA
Nicolai have gained respect for doing things their way, but the jury’s out on the new Eboxx Ultra – an e-bike that blurs the uncomfortable line between e-MTBs and e-motorbikes. Weighing 55kg, delivering 275Nm of torque from a 10kw motor and reaching pedal-assist speeds of up to 45kph, its immense power means it’s classed as a motor vehicle, so can’t be ridden on MTB trails. A world apart from Nicolai’s regular Bosch-driven, 85Nm Eboxx, it gives an idea of how far brands are willing to take the e-concept. www.nicolai-bicycles.com
2 YETI 160E
It’s been a long time coming, but Yeti have finally unveiled their first e-bike. With 29in wheels, 160mm of travel and a Shimano EP8 motor and 630Wh battery, the 160E is said to have been built for enduro racing. Significantly, it marks the debut of a new suspension system. It was the design and implementation of this ‘Sixfinity’ platform that delayed the bike for so long, with the first version being developed way back in 2016. Sixfinity works similarly to the Switch Infinity system on Yeti’s non-e bikes, with the linkage rotating up and then down as the bike compresses into its travel. However, the twin stanchions of that design are replaced with a long ‘switch link’ between the short lower link and upper rocker. Yeti say this gives them similar control over the kinematics, while delivering the chassis strength and stiffness required for an e-bike. A unique touch is their new thermoplastic e-bike bar, which has in-built cable routing and is claimed to deliver the feel of a good alloy bar with a carbon-like stiffness-toweight ratio. There are two models, priced at £9,499 and £11,899. www.silverfish-uk.com
3 SCOTT PATRON ERIDE
Scott embraced e-bikes early on – we first tested one of their e-MTBs back
in 2014 – and their current Genius eRIDE (trail) and Ransom eRIDE (enduro) are pretty sorted. With the new Patron eRIDE they’ve gone in a slightly different direction, focusing on integration – including a hidden shock, front and rear mudguards, and built-in rear lights. It’s got Bosch’s latest, bigger 750Wh battery (see #5), powering a Performance Line CX motor, which – unusually – is positioned vertically, above the bottom bracket, apparently to protect it from impacts. With 160mm of travel and enduro-style geometry, the Patron eRIDE is designed to give “more support than a Genius eRIDE” but have a nimbler ride than the Ransom eRIDE. UK pricing starts from £5,499. www.scott-sports.com
4 ORANGE PHASE AD3
Six years in the making, this adaptive MTB, developed with help from brain-injured former EWS racer Lorraine Truong and others, has been built with the aim of helping more people discover, or rediscover, their love of mountain biking. It’s based on Orange’s Phase e-MTB, but has two forks – each of which slides into its own head tube, connected to the mainframe via cantilever linkage arms, with a second linkage controlling the steering – along with a bucket seat for improved core stability. The Paradox motor can be set up to provide pedalling assistance or work with a throttle, as required. Orange say the bike is amazingly capable in technical terrain, straightforward to use for people with a wide range of abilities and, for many users, can be mounted without assistance. It’s also hugely customisable.
Amazing stuff from the Halifax-based brand! www.orangebikes.com
5 BOSCH SMART SYSTEM
Following on from last year’s launch of their fourth-generation Performance Line CX motor, Bosch’s new Smart System introduces a bigger-capacity 750Wh PowerTube battery (boasting 20 per cent more range), a streamlined Kiox 300 display and a new Flow phone app. This offers almost endless customisation of power output and pedalling assistance, letting you easily and quickly set the level of support you want for each ride. It’ll also track your progress to view on a map or share as a GPX route file afterwards. www.bosch.com
6 AXEVO E-BIKE SPARES
Warranty periods for e-bike motors tend to be frustratingly short (just two years for Bosch and Shimano) and bike shops that offer proper drive-unit servicing are as rare as hens’ teeth, leaving expensive motor replacement as the usual solution when the miles tot up and things start to go wrong. So, it’s good to see small Italian start-up Axevo Technology offering a comprehensive set of spare parts for Shimano and Bosch motors, should you want to get involved in some repairs yourself. www.axevotech.eu
7 AROSNO E-SNOWMOBILE
No major trade show is complete without a few head-turning moments, and this pedal-assist snowbike on display at Eurobike made ours spin. We guess we only have a winter of closed French ski lifts to blame for the birth of this unique 45kg, 250w, half-bike-halfsnowmobile miracle! www.arosno.com