It simply rips on flowing singletrack

Shimano XT with an e*thirteen crank. Shimano also supplies the XT fourpiston brakes and there’s a lightweight two-position Fox Transfer SL dropper post. My demo bike, in size Large, weighed 16.5kg without pedals.

HOW IT RIDES

If you’ve ever been chased by a dog while riding your bike, and, in trying to escape, discovered an untapped reserve of speed that you never thought you had, then that’s what it’s like to ride the Rotwild R.X275. From the moment I left the car park, at the foot of Massa Marittima’s Tuscan trail network, I was on the rivet, full gas up the 400m climb like Tom Pidcock, late for school, doing his paper round, chased by an imaginary Jack Russell.

However mortal the reality of my pace compared to Super-pid, I still ended up spending the next hour with my heart rate bouncing off the limiter, egged on by the assistance of the Rotwild/tq package. Its low weight, firm suspension (even in the open mode), efficient motor and fast tyres meant there was no resisting the temptation to get out of the saddle and sprint at any little rise – something I almost never do on an e-bike. And the blissful silence and natural response of the motor – particularly as it seamlessly interacted with the speed limiter – made it easy to suspend disbelief and convince myself that I was, in fact, a considerably fitter version of myself riding an analogue bike.

On steeper ramps, where the switchbacks tightened, or a knot of roots pierced the soil, thumbing the Boost Button delivered all the extra shove I needed from the motor. Even so, it soon became obvious that finding gradual travelator climbs, rather than precipitous elevator shafts, is the key to getting the most from the smaller battery and the modest torque of the TQ motor.

Initially I was concerned that the size Large frame, with its 485mm reach and 649mm top tube, would feel too racy on the fun bits, but I needn’t have worried. The position was roomy and stretched out when seated, but never uncomfortable. It was easy to tap out a tempo along the flat, but the 130mm head tube length and stubby 50mm stem meant the cockpit fell perfectly to hand without contorting into some arseabove-your-head, tyre sniffing, yoga pose on the descents. In fact the R.X275 was remarkably adept at descending. With a trail-friendly 66° head angle and short 437mm chainstays, there was plenty of stability at speed, but it was also easy to load the front and whip the Rotwild between alternate corners.

As much as it encouraged me into the pain cave on the climbs, it delivered lungfuls of laughing gas on the way back down. That firm suspension may not be the most comfortable – particularly up front, where the FIT4 damper and need to over-pressurise the air chamber (I ran 130psi) turned my hands into claws – but it’s superbly supportive for pumping ground and loading up in turns. There’s also bags of pop, too, so I could hop between lines and gap across the roughest sections with ease.

What about the range? With the motor in support level 2 (out of three) and some use of the Boost Button on the climb, I clocked 14.37km and 451m of climbing using 44% battery. Extrapolate that out and a 78kg rider in dry conditions should be able to get 1,000m of climbing from the internal battery, or 1,500m with the range extender.

Reduce the power mode, and avoid boost temptation, and you’ll get even more. But the beauty of the Rotwild is that it’s so light that running out of battery is not the end of the world.

Rotwild has nailed the balance between weight, power, speed and handling with its R.X275. Rapid but extremely rewarding, it provides a healthy return on your energy investment, amplifying the uphill pace of a down-country bike without sacrificing any frenzied fun on the descents.

While it might not be the best e-bike for churning through the winter mire, or lapping your local enduro tracks, it simply rips on flowing singletrack, and makes every ride feel like a World Cup podium battle.