PEDAL POWER +
In the UK, there’s a large divide between motorcyclists and cyclists, yet this hasn’t always been the case, and certainly isn’t in most other European countries. Any motorcyclists are also avid cyclists, with mountain biking appearing to be a popular pastime amongst bikers who otherwise wouldn’t be heard praising a pushbike or one who rides them… and I’ve always been a little confused as to why there isn’t more commonality between the two groups of two-wheeled users, especially given that we share so many problems.
So, it could probably be argued that an electrically-assisted mountain bike is perhaps the most apt form of push bike to be talking about in a motorcycle magazine… over to you, Charlie.
“Several motorcycle manufacturers have their own range of E-Bikes, including Yamaha, Ducati and Husqvarna, so it would be rude to not fish from our own motorcycle brand-pool. A call to GasGas and the G Enduro 3.0 and G Trail 3.0 E-MTB arrived for us to follow the chaps on as closely as our power-assisted pedalling would allow. After all, as famous as this Island may be for road racing to motorcyclists, it is also well known in cycling circles, boasting at least nine MTB-specific parks and countless trails within its 227 square miles.
Considering the other bikes on this test, Simon and I understood we were bringing knives to a gunfight – especially given that we would class ourselves as keen amateurs on the pedals. But this was the challenge and GasGas fitted us out perfectly with two stunning eMTBs, the G Enduro 3.0 and the G Trail 3.0, both proving to tackle the trails and elevations of the Mountain course extremely well and be not only fun, but also an eyeopening experience to ride.
Although sharing some components, there are key differences in the two e-bikes, the G Enduro 3.0 having higher-quality parts, such as suspension and braking, that justify the £5999 price tag, some £1200 more than the G Trail model. Arguably, the G Trail is the model that really stands out with its white frame and red detailing, almost the exact negative image of the G Enduro which is the more common red with white that matched the EC250F on test.
When talking E-Bikes, among the first numbers that you look for are the power figures from the motor. Interestingly, both bikes are powered by Yamaha motors, which on the face of it may come as a surprise, but given that Yamaha has been in this E-Game for over 30 years – supplying common cycling brands such as Giant – it is less of an eyebrow raiser. In fact, the battery and control panel of GasGas’s G Enduro 3.0 is the same as Yamaha’s newly-released YDX Moto 07 E-MTB, with the GasGas G Trail sharing the same motor as Yamaha’s Wabash RT and Crosscore RC, a gravel bike and commuter respectively.
The G Enduro has a real punchy power delivery, sporting the Yamaha PW-X3, 250 W, with a whacking 85Nm of torque. The slightly less powerful PW-ST is no slouch, again 250 W and 70Nm of torque which we were soon to discover was more than enough to get us up the trickiest of trails and achieve everything the boys did on the motorcycles, albeit a tad slower but not as far behind as you might think.
I would not try to convince anyone that riding mountain bikes, be they electric or not, is better than the motorcycles that the chaps were disappearing into the distance on.
However, there are benefits which include access to some long and stunning trails that you simply can’t access with an engine.
It is worth noting that there is a temporary law over the course of the TT and Manx racing periods that ‘Bicycles’ are not allowed on the Mountain road at any time, and this includes E-Bikes. Having reached the roadside at Windy Corner after our first climb that was fine by me and made perfect sense, given the increase in traffic that the Manx racing had attracted and no speed limit across the mountain, I was happy to stick to the trails.
Our first serious trail started just behind the Creg and wound its way up to Windy Corner, a 1362-foot climb with the chaps to one of the most iconic parts of the mountain course. True to form it lashed it down as we met at the base of the path, not a problem for me, being head-to-toe in Spada waterproof MTB gear, but the freshly-doused shale and slate terrain created quite a challenge for us all to get going.
Like any bike it is a case of getting used to the power delivery, thus for the E-Bikes we needed enough assistance to push forward but not so much to spin the wheels. Once underway, the whirring of the electric motors made a pleasant futuristic soundtrack as the bikes continued to progress, the 29-inch wheels rolling over what would usually be extremely challenging obstacles with he inertia of travelling downhill let alone when ascending.
The climb was not effortless, but that power assist meant that it took far less time to catch your breath when you got to the top which, pleasingly, wasn’t far behind the motorcycles.
Despite it being a slippery and gnarly ride for us all, the E-Bikes did more than hold their own and once at the top the rain stopped, Manannan’s Cloak lifted and the sun drenched the landscape, rewarding all of our efforts with the most spectacular views across the Island and, indeed, the course.
Heading for a different trail, the boys were away on the forbidden Tarmac, leaving Simon and I with some serious downhill fun to look forward to! This is where the E-MTB came into its own, the additional weight from a normal MTB making it feel far better planted as it hopped and drove through the now drying loose gravel, slate and shale. Large drops and big rocks were easily overcome by both bikes, though the Fox Float 38 Factory forks sported on the G Enduro gave a better ride with the 170mm of travel as opposed to the Trail’s 150mm via the Fox Float 36s in place.
I was exhilarated by the experience, throwing the bike into corners with total confidence in Michelin’s E-Wild tyres that we had fitted to stay in keeping with the other bikes on test. I can genuinely say that I felt like I descended from Windy Corner, and indeed down into Kirk Michael later in the day, quicker than I would on any of the motorbikes we had on test, such was my confidence in the E-Bikes and tyres.
It was great to prove just how accessible areas across the mountain are to mountain bikes and you don’t have to go electric, but there is nothing wrong with getting some assistance to maximise the enjoyment of your day. Even if you are not in the market to buy an E-MTB, maybe hiring one for the TT or Manx next year will make you think again?