Author: John Dodgin

 

We love the Orbea Gain range of e-road bikes for their versatility, clean looks and powerful, efficient hub motors which provide an authentic-feeling level of assistance,  encouraging us to ride further and faster on terrain that we may perhaps of avoided on a traditional ‘acoustic’ road bike.

Lee Williams from Orbea U.K. recently spent time with us at Wheelbase Lake District to deliver some really useful product training on the 2023 range of Orbea bikes; we took the opportunity to speak to him about the Gain range and he very kindly gave us the lowdown on this sublime hub-driven e-road and gravel bike. Check out the video below…

Watch our Orbea Gain Bike Check Video NOW

 

As well as the alloy option which we featured in the video there’s also a range of all-new revised carbon models for 2023; launched in February this year we put together a comprehensive overview of the range, which you can read below…

The all-new Orbea Gain e-road bike is almost indistinguishable from its non e-bike cousins.

 

We’ve seen a trend on the e-mountain bike side of things recently where more and more brands are offering an ‘e-bike lite’ option in their range; think e-MTB with a smaller, more compact and less-powerful motor along with a slimmer battery. Orbea were one of the first to the party with their Rise a bike that looks and feels like an authentic non-e mountain bike. That range of e-mtb’s has been incredibly popular with our customers, particularly those who have been mountain biking for a long time and don’t enjoy the extra weight and difference in bike-handling that a ‘full-fat’ e-mountain bike with a more powerful but heavier motor can give.

The Orbea Rise doesn’t just look like a non-e-bike it rides like one too, only with all the benefits of that discrete motor.

 

Now, you could argue that those sort of ride-qualities and the effect an e-bike motor has on them are even more crucial when it comes to e-road bikes. The slightest changes can be felt so much more on the road, were the slightest change in pedalling cadence or power-input effects how you feel and perform on the bike. This is where the all-new Orbea Gain comes in.

Orbea have nailed it here. Producing an authentic-feeling road bike that just happens to provide motor assistance when you need it.

 

The 2023 range of Gain e-road bikes are all about maintaining the natural, authentic road bike feel; rider and bike performing together in harmony albeit with the subtle but most-welcome assistance of a compact, lightweight Mahle hub motor. Orbea teamed up with motor manufacturers Mahle to sensitively tune the Gain’s drive system to create an e-road bike that gives natural assistance which is almost completely silent and so discrete it’s almost invisible, blending into your riding experience and leaving you feeling like you’re fitter than ever and able to enjoy the simple act of riding a bicycle more than ever before.

Orbea teamed up with Mahle to develop a uniquely-tuned Mahle X20 hub motor.

 

The Orbea engineers worked hard behind the scenes to develop this next-gen Gain into a more authentic-feeling road bike with the sole aim of creating an e-road bike with a motor that produces power in perfect synergy with the pedalling input of the rider. This e-bike is for road cyclists who still want to feel like they’re doing the majority of the work, with assistance that is hardly noticeable but is just enough to help take the sting out of the steepest gradients. Orbea have mastered this brilliantly by working closely with Mahle to tune exactly how the hub motor behaves; think a less sudden kick of power, more a subtle ‘amplification’ of your own power input.

The Mahle X20 motor produces power in perfect synergy with the pedalling input of the rider.

 

The tuned Mahle motor mirrors how you would typically accelerate on an ‘acoustic’ road bike, providing maximum assistance at around 75-95 pedal revolutions per minute with Orbea’s custom firmware ensuring that as you put more watts into the pedals or increase the cadence (causing you to increase power), the Gain will respond smoothly as it provides more assistance.

Imagine the feeling of dancing up the climbs on your road bike with your pedalling power amplified to similar levels as the pros!

 

Those of you who have ridden any form of e-bike in the U.K. be it mountain, road or commuter bike, will have experienced that sudden cut off once you reach 15mph; this is to comply with the law and ensure your e-bike operates with the stipulated speed limit. With this in mind Orbea have also tuned their Mahle system to gradually decrease power rather than abruptly stop for a more natural feel; needless to say the range of Gain bikes are considerably lighter than a typical e-bike and so when that power does decrease it’s not nearly as drastic and you’ll feel comfortable pedalling at 15mph+ until you get to the next gradient that requires a little assistance from the Mahle hub motor. Another major advantage of a hub-motor is that when the motor does reach 15mph and cut out you don’t experience any feeling of drag as you pedal; something which can be felt in some cases on bottom bracket mounted motors.

Even when the motor cuts out to adhere to U.K. speed limits the feeling is less drastic then on previous models.

 

Charging the Orbea Gain’s internal battery is quick and simple, with the charging port accessed at the bottom bracket.

 

Continuing the theme of the Gain being an authentic looking and feeling road bike which just happens to have a motor discretely stowed within it, the Orbea designers were focused on making this e-road bike as distraction-free as possible. Testament to this is the sophisticated way they’ve integrated the e-bike motor display and controls into the bike; the control centre display, neatly recessed into the top tube just behind the headtube and a simple glance down will let you know which assistance mode you’re in. When it comes to motor mode selection and toggling through them the Gain includes a simple button on the top tube making mode selection quick and easy. On the carbon Gains Orbea have spec’d neat blip-style Mahle shifters which are located on the bar tops just at the point where the bar tape ends, meaning that there’s no need to remove your hands from the bars.

The Mahle system’s display and control buttons are neatly integrated and blend in seamlessly with the rest of the bike.

 

Looking beyond the Mahle drive system and on to the Gain’s chassis we find some really well-suited stats when it comes to the bike’s geometry; while the Gain features geometry inspired by a conventional road bike the designers at Orbea have made a few small changes to ensure you have the most comfortable ride possible without compromising on aerodynamics and riding performance. Upfront the fork features a little more trial to increase stability at speed for a more secure feeling and superior bike-handling. We’ve included a geometry chart further down this feature so you can see all the details.

When it comes to bike-handling the geometry of the Orbea Gain helps it hit that sweet spot of feeling agile and alive while being stable and predictable.

 

The Orbea Gain range is split between two frame options with a choice of a carbon chassis or models constructed from Orbea’s Hydro aluminium and there’s a wide choice of specifications throughout the entire range from a top-of-the range Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 spec’d carbon Gain to a more affordable Shimano Claris spec’d aluminium Gain at the other end of the spectrum.

There’s pretty much an Orbea Gain to suit everyone, within the extensive range.

 

The versatility of the Gain, it’s modern road geometry and its liberal clearance for fatter tyres lends itself well to being a great all-rounder capable of taking on light gravel-riding duties too. With this is mind Orbea have included three different options within the range that are spec’d for this kind of riding, with each featuring a simple 1X drivetrain and fatter, gravel-specific tyres. One of these gravel-specific Gain bikes features a Hydro aluminium frame too making this a really affordable option if you’re looking for a gravel bike with e-bike motor assistance – a great option if you’re thinking of heading off on an epic bikepacking trip!

The Orbea Gain is more than ready for gravel bike action too.

 

We’ve included the alloy Gain models below with their U.K. prices and full component specifications. The alloy Orbea Gain bikes are available now at Wheelbase to purchase online and in-store; you can even configure your own, with different specification options on Orbea’s MyO tool.

Gain D30i RRP £4,299.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: Mahle motor hub X35 Plus
• Battery: Mahle 36V/6.9A 248Wh ANT+
• Display: Mahle Pulsar One monochrome ANT+ LEV
• Remote: Mahle iWoc ONE
• Charger: Mahle X35
• Front Light: Front position light, on display holder, COB Led, On/Off, 60 Lumen, ECE50.
• Rear Light: Lezyne FENDER STVZO seatpost mounting 11 lumens
• Frame: Orbea Gain Hydro 6061 Hydroform Aluminum 2021, ICR cable routing, Forged BB, safety screw, 135×9 QR, Flat Mount disc mount, 700×40 maximun tyre, 1” ½ semi integrated head set, 41×86,5 Pressfit botton bracket.
• Fork: Gain Hydro carbon fork, full carbon, 1-1/8” – 1.5” tappered head tube compatible, 700×40 maximun tyre, flat mount disc mount, Thru axle 12x100mm
• Crankset: Shimano 105 R7100 34x50t
• Headset: Acros Alloy 1-1/2” Internal Cable Routing
• Handlebar: OC Road Performance RP20 Alu SL, Reach 80, Drop 125
• Stem: OC Road Performance RP21, -6º
• Shifters: Shimano Di2 R7170
• Brakes: Shimano R7170 Hydraulic Disc
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano 105 Di2 R7150
• Front Derailleur: Shimano 105 Di2 R7150
• Chain: Shimano M7100
• Wheels: Alloy, Tubeless, 700c, 21c
• Front Hub: Orbea Thru Axle 12x100mm M12x2 P1 Lite
• Rear Hub: Orbea Thru Axle 12x142mm M12x2 P1 Lite
• Cassette: Shimano 105 R7100 11-34t 12-Speed
• Tyres: Hutchinson Fusion 5 Performance TLR 700×30
• Seatpost: Alloy, 27.2mm, Setback 0, for integrated light
• Saddle: Fizik Aliante R5

 

Gain D30 1X RRP £3,799.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: Mahle motor hub X35 Plus
• Battery: Mahle 36V/6.9A 248Wh ANT+
• Display: Mahle Pulsar One monochrome ANT+ LEV
• Remote: Mahle iWoc ONE
• Charger: Mahle X35
• Front Light: Front position light, on display holder, COB Led, On/Off, 60 Lumen, ECE50.
• Rear Light: Lezyne FENDER STVZO seatpost mounting 11 lumens
• Frame: Orbea Gain Hydro 6061 Hydroform Aluminum 2021, ICR cable routing, Forged BB, safety screw, 135×9 QR, Flat Mount disc mount, 700×40 maximun tyre, 1” ½ semi integrated head set, 41×86,5 Pressfit botton bracket.
• Fork: Gain Hydro carbon fork, full carbon, 1-1/8” – 1.5” tappered head tube compatible, 700×40 maximun tyre, flat mount disc mount, Thru axle 12x100mm
• Crankset: Shimano GRX RX600 40t
• Headset: Acros Alloy 1-1/2” Internal Cable Routing
• Handlebar: OC Gravel GR30, Reach 80, Drop 125
• Stem: OC Road Performance RP21, -6º
• Shifters: Shimano ST-RX600
• Brakes: Shimano RX400 Hydraulic disc
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano RX812 GS
• Front Derailleur: N/A
• Chain: KMC X11
• Wheels: Alloy, Tubeless, 700c, 21c
• Front Hub: Orbea Thru Axle 12x100mm M12x2 P1 Lite
• Rear Hub: Orbea Thru Axle 12x142mm M12x2 P1 Lite
• Cassette: Shimano CS-M8000 11-40t 11-Speed
• Tyres: Schwalbe G-ONE Bite, 40-622, 700x38C, Performance Line RaceGuard, TLE, ADDIX Classic Skin
• Seatpost: Alloy, 27.2mm, Setback 0, for integrated light
• Saddle: Fizik Aliante R5

 

Gain D30 RRP £3,599.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: Mahle motor hub X35 Plus
• Battery: Mahle 36V/6.9A 248Wh ANT+
• Display: Mahle Pulsar One monochrome ANT+ LEV
• Remote: Mahle iWoc ONE
• Charger: Mahle X35
• Front Light: Front position light, on display holder, COB Led, On/Off, 60 Lumen, ECE50.
• Rear Light: Lezyne FENDER STVZO seatpost mounting 11 lumens
• Frame: Orbea Gain Hydro 6061 Hydroform Aluminum 2021, ICR cable routing, Forged BB, safety screw, 135×9 QR, Flat Mount disc mount, 700×40 maximun tyre, 1” ½ semi integrated head set, 41×86,5 Pressfit botton bracket.
• Fork: Gain Hydro carbon fork, full carbon, 1-1/8” – 1.5” tappered head tube compatible, 700×40 maximun tyre, flat mount disc mount, Thru axle 12x100mm
• Crankset: Shimano 105 R7000 34x50t
• Headset: Acros Alloy 1-1/2” Internal Cable Routing
• Handlebar: OC Road Performance RP20 Alu SL, Reach 80, Drop 125
• Stem: OC Road Performance RP21, -6º
• Shifters: Shimano ST-7020
• Brakes: Shimano R7070 Hydraulic Disc
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano 105 R7000 GS
• Front Derailleur: Shimano 105 R7000
• Chain: Shimano 105 R7000 GS
• Wheels: Alloy, Tubeless, 700c, 21c
• Front Hub: Orbea Thru Axle 12x100mm M12x2 P1 Lite
• Rear Hub: Orbea Thru Axle 12x142mm M12x2 P1 Lite
• Cassette: Shimano 105 R7000 11-32t 11-Speed
• Tyres: Hutchinson Fusion 5 Performance TLR 700×30
• Seatpost: Alloy, 27.2mm, Setback 0, for integrated light
• Saddle: Fizik Aliante R5

 

Gain D40 RRP £3,299

Full Specification:

• Motor: Mahle motor hub X35 Plus
• Battery: Mahle 36V/6.9A 248Wh ANT+
• Display: Mahle Pulsar One monochrome ANT+ LEV
• Remote: Mahle iWoc ONE
• Charger: Mahle X35
• Front Light: Front position light, on display holder, COB Led, On/Off, 60 Lumen, ECE50.
• Rear Light: Lezyne FENDER STVZO seatpost mounting 11 lumens
• Frame: Orbea Gain Hydro 6061 Hydroform Aluminum 2021, ICR cable routing, Forged BB, safety screw, 135×9 QR, Flat Mount disc mount, 700×40 maximun tyre, 1” ½ semi integrated head set, 41×86,5 Pressfit botton bracket.
• Fork: Gain Hydro carbon fork, full carbon, 1-1/8” – 1.5” tappered head tube compatible, 700×40 maximun tyre, flat mount disc mount, Thru axle 12x100mm
• Crankset: Shimano Tiagra 4700 34x50T
• Headset: Acros Alloy 1-1/2” Internal Cable Routing
• Handlebar: OC Road Performance RP30, Reach 80, Drop 125
• Stem: OC Road Performance RP21, -6º
• Shifters: Shimano Tiagra ST-4770
• Brakes: Shimano Tiagra 4770 Hydraulic Disc
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Tiagra 4700 GS
• Front Derailleur: Shimano Tiagra 4700
• Chain: KMC X10
• Wheels: Alloy, Tubeless, 700c, 21c
• Front Hub: Orbea Thru Axle 12x100mm M12x2 P1 Lite
• Rear Hub: Orbea Thru Axle 12x142mm M12x2 P1 Lite
• Cassette: Shimano Tiagra HG-500 11-32t 10-Speed
• Tyres: Hutchinson Fusion 5 Performance TLR 700×30
• Seatpost: Alloy, 27.2mm, Setback 0, for integrated light
• Saddle: Fizik Aliante R5

 

 

Gain D50 RRP £2,899.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: Mahle motor hub X35 Plus
• Battery: Mahle 36V/6.9A 248Wh ANT+
• Display: Mahle Pulsar One monochrome ANT+ LEV
• Remote: Mahle iWoc ONE
• Charger: Mahle X35
• Front Light: Front position light, on display holder, COB Led, On/Off, 60 Lumen, ECE50.
• Rear Light: Lezyne FENDER STVZO seatpost mounting 11 lumens
• Frame: Orbea Gain Hydro 6061 Hydroform Aluminum 2021, ICR cable routing, Forged BB, safety screw, 135×9 QR, Flat Mount disc mount, 700×40 maximun tyre, 1” ½ semi integrated head set, 41×86,5 Pressfit botton bracket.
• Fork: Gain Hydro carbon fork, full carbon, 1-1/8” – 1.5” tappered head tube compatible, 700×40 maximun tyre, flat mount disc mount, Thru axle 12x100mm
• Crankset: Shimano Claris R2000 34x50t
• Headset: Acros Alloy 1-1/2” Internal Cable Routing
• Handlebar: OC Road Performance RP30, Reach 80, Drop 125
• Stem: OC Road Performance RP21, -6º
• Shifters: Shimano Claris ST-R2000
• Brakes: Shimano BR-RS305 Mechanical Disc
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Claris RD-R2000-GS
• Front Derailleur: Shimano Claris FD-R2000-F
• Chain: KMC X8
• Wheels: Alloy, Tubeless, 700c, 21c
• Front Hub: Orbea Thru Axle 12x100mm M12x2 P1 Lite
• Rear Hub: Orbea Thru Axle 12x142mm M12x2 P1 Lite
• Cassette: Shimano HG50 11-32t 8-Speed
• Tyres: Hutchinson Fusion 5 Performance TLR 700×30
• Seatpost: Alloy, 27.2mm, Setback 0, for integrated light
• Saddle: Fizik Aliante R5

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos provided by Orbea

 

Have you seen our weekly Fast Bike feature? Missed some of our best bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Blogs too!

Click the link below and search our archive…

 

 

 

We’ve got HUGE savings on Focus Jam2 e-mountain bikes! ⚡️ Re-charge your riding with a premium Focus full-suspension e-MTB…

 

Focus Jam2 7.9 2022 Was £5,699.00 Now £4,999.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: Shimano Steps EP8, 36V / 250 W / 85 Nm
• Battery: 720 Wh
• Display: Shimano Steps EM800
• Frame: 7005 hydroformed aluminium, 3D forging, 150 mm F.O.L.D. GEN2 kinematics, 148×12 mm thru axle, internal cable routing, USB-C port, post mount 203 mm
• Rear Shock: FOX Float X Performance, 210/55 mm, hardware: 25.0 x 8.0 mm, no Bushing, 150mm travel
• Fork: FOX 36 Float Rhythm 29, Grip Remote, 110×15 mm, 44 mm rake, 150mm travel
• Wheelset: RaceFace AR30 Offset rims with Novatec hubs
• Front Tyre: MAXXIS MINION DHF II, 2.6
• Rear Tyre: MAXXIS MINION DHF II, 2.6
• Shifter: Shimano Deore XT M8100, 12-speed
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT M8100, 12-speed
• Cranks: Shimano FC-EM600, 12-speed, 36T
• Cassette: Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed, 10-51T
• Saddle: Proxim W400
• Seatpost: Post Moderne dropper post PM-214, 34.9 mm
• Handlebar: Aluminium, 800 mm, rise: 30 mm, backsweep: 9°
• Stem: FOCUS C.I.S. integrated, 50 mm, 0°, 35 mm, aluminium
• Grips: FOCUS Locker SL
• Brake Set: Shimano XT M8120, 4 piston

 

Focus Jam2 7.8 2022 Was £4,799.00 Now £3,799.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: Shimano Steps EP8, 36V / 250 W / 85 Nm
• Battery: 720 Wh
• Display: Shimano Steps EM800
• Frame: 7005 hydroformed aluminium, 3D forging, 150 mm F.O.L.D. GEN2 kinematics, 148×12 mm thru axle, internal cable routing, USB-C port, post mount 203 mm
• Rear Shock: Rock Shox Deluxe Select, 210/55 mm, hardware: 25.0 x 8.0 mm, no Bushing, 150mm travel
• Fork: Rock Shox 35 Gold RL 29 Boost, 110×15 mm, 44 mm rake, 150 mm travel
• Wheelset: RaceFace AR30 Offset rims with Novatec hubs
• Front Tyre: MAXXIS MINION DHF 2.6
• Rear Tyre: MAXXIS MINION DHF 2.6
• Shifter: Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed
• Cranks: Samox EC40 ISIS, 36T
• Cassette: Shimano Deore CS-M6100, 12-speed 10-51T
• Saddle: Focus Race SL
• Seatpost: Post Moderne dropper post PM-214, 34.9 mm
• Handlebar: Aluminium, 800 mm, rise: 30 mm, backsweep: 9°
• Stem: FOCUS C.I.S. integrated, 50 mm, 0°, 35 mm, aluminium
• Grips: FOCUS Locker SL
• Brake Set: Shimano MT520, 4 piston

 

Focus Jam2 6.8 2022 Was £4,799.00 Now £3,799.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX, Gen 4, 85Nm, 250W
• Battery: Bosch PowerTube, 625Wh
• Display: Bosch Purion
• Frame: 7005 hydroformed aluminium, 3D forging, 150 mm F.O.L.D. kinematic, 148×12 mm thru axle, internal cable routing, post mount 203 mm
• Rear Shock: FOX Float DPS, 210/55mm, 25.0 x 8mm, 150mm travel
• Fork: FOX 34 Float Rhythm 29, Grip Remote, 110 x 15mm, 150mm travel
• Wheelset: 29” RaceFace AR30 Offset with Novatec Hubs
• Front Tyre: MAXXIS MINION DHF 2.6
• Rear Tyre: MAXXIS MINION DHF 2.6
• Shifter: Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT M8100, 12-speed
• Cranks: FSA CK-320, aluminium, 36T
• Cassette: Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed 10-51T
• Saddle: Proxim W350
• Seatpost: Post Moderne dropper post PM-171, 31.6mm
• Handlebar: Focus, aluminium, 800mm, 35mm rise, 9° backsweep
• Stem: Focus C.I.S. integrated, 50mm, 0°, 35mm, aluminium
• Grips: FOCUS Locker SL
• Brake Set: Shimano BR-MT520, four-piston

 

Wheelbase were lucky enough to spend some time with Basque bike brand Orbea earlier this year, riding some of their key e-mountain bikes in the foothills of the amazing Pyrenean mountains in Northern Spain. One such bike was the fabulous Orbea Wild – their full-on Enduro e-MTB featuring 160mm of plush suspension travel, sublime trail geometry and the super-efficient Bosch e-bike drive system. After a fantastic ride onboard Orbea’s top-of-the-range M-Team featuring Bosch’s new CX-R race-specific motor, tuned specifically for EWS-E e-MTB racing we were super impressed at how the bike performed on tight, steep technical trails!

 

As well as an account of our own riding experience on the Wild we thought it would be useful to run through the full range and pick out the key highlights of this super-fun Enduro e-MTB. So for tons of technical info and the full specification of each Wild in the range please read on…

 

Orbea Wild Fast Facts:

• Intended use: Trail, Enduro, Big Mountain
• Drive system: Bosch CX (CX-R on M-LTD Model)
• Battery Size: 750Wh (M-LTD and H30 feature 625Wh as standard)
• Frame Material: Orbea Wild OMR Carbon (M Models) / Orbea Wild Hydro Alloy (H Models)
• Suspension Configuration: ‘E-Optimized’ e-bike-specific suspension kinematics
• Suspension Travel: 160mm Rear / 160mm Fork (M-LTD features 170mm Fork)
• Wheel Size: 29”

 

The key highlights behind the Wild’s brilliant performance…

Bosch Drive Unit

All of the bikes in the Orbea Wild range feature a super-efficient Bosch Performance Line CX motor controlled by their Smart System and paired with a choice of 750Wh or 650Wh internal battery. The German brand remain at the forefront of e-bike motor design and their role in this specialist industry since the very early days of development mean that their products are some of the most sophisticated and durable in the bicycle industry.

With the Wild positioned as Orbea’s nailed-on Enduro e-bike it’s interesting to see the Spanish brand fitting their top of the range Wild M-LTD bike with the new CX-R motor, Bosch’s lightest and most powerful e-bike motor which was developed specifically to meet the demands of EWS-E, the E-MTB Enduro Racing category.

I was lucky enough to try this very model during my time at Orbea earlier this year; riding straight out of a remote Pyrenean village and up a steep, wooded valley onto a mountain-top plateau the Wild made short work of the elevation with the Bosch CX-R feeling even more responsive and powerful than the standard motor. On the way back down, as I went to stomp down on the pedals coming out of tight dog-leg turns the pick-up of the motor was instantaneous with a big injection of power.

 

 

Battery Size Options

As well as the standard specification of each Wild model listed, there’s also an opportunity to customise your own bike through Orbea’s MyO platform where you are able to configure multiple component choices and select your own custom colours (see Orbea website for more details). One such option is battery size; most of the stock Wild bikes feature the larger capacity 750Wh battery with the lighter 625Wh option only spec’d as standard on the M-LTD (race-focused) bike and the H30 alloy base model.

Orbea’s clever SBS battery system as part of overall frame design means the 650Wh battery and larger 750Wh battery options are both compatible with ALL frame sizes which is great; while most people want the freedom and security of the larger capacity 750Wh battery, those of you who aren’t so concerned with ‘range anxiety’ may prefer the lighter 650Wh option which weighs 900g less making it a great option for Enduro races.

 

E-Optimised Rigidity

One of the major factors behind the Wild’s supreme handling is the frame’s rigidity. Orbea’s ‘E-Optimised’ design principle helps create a frame which has been carefully tuned to be stiff enough to handle the extra forces generated by the additional weight of the motor and battery. While some other bike brands compromise the overall rigidity of their frames to accommodate removal of the bike’s battery Orbea have chosen to stow the battery internally within a completely sealed downtube with no cut-outs, calling this their ‘SBS’ (Secure Battery System) design. By engineering a straight downtube from bottom bracket to headtube without any unnecessary curves or cut-outs there are no negative effects on overall frame stiffness.

 

Steep & Deep – Accommodating long travel dropper posts

Orbea had previously introduced their ‘Steep & Deep’ concept on the Rallon non-e Enduro bike and it’s great to see it here on the Wild too. Despite the added complications of the location of the motor at the bottom bracket area Orbea have managed to successfully implement the same design approach. With its short, straight and steep-angled seat tube there’s enough space on all frame sizes to accommodate a long-travel dropper seatpost, allowing you to get the saddle right out of the way quickly when the trails get steep and you need to throw your weight over the back of the bike.

 

E-Optimised Geometry

The Wild’s carefully refined frame geometry makes a major contribution to how fun and agile this bike feels on steep, technical trails. Calling it ‘E-Optimised Geometry’ Orbea’s aim was to develop an e-mountain bike featuring geometry that wasn’t negatively impacted by the inclusion of the bike’s drive system. In fact the Wild is above all a fantastically capable Enduro bike which largely shares the ‘Evolved Geometry’ found on their non-e Rallon; it just happens to also include a Bosch drive system.

In some cases accommodating an e-bike motor at the bottom bracket area can impact chainstay length, with the need to increase their length, which in turn negatively affects the bike’s handling. It’s not unusual to see a smaller diameter 27.5” rear wheel being spec’d to work around this issue, however this can compromise rear-wheel traction and/or rider’s weight distribution on really steep climbs (I can attest to this having looped-out on just such a bike when I was riding in Turbo mode in attempt to clear a short, sharp, steep climb!). Instead the Wild has been spec’d with short 448mm chainstays which can still accommodate a large diameter 29” wheel while providing natural handling and enhanced traction.

 

Continuing the theme of sorted, progressive trail geometry this newest generation Wild is now longer and slacker than ever, giving you more confidence at speed; a low standover helps you move more freely around the bike when the trails get steep and techy while the straight, short seat tube which accommodates that long-travel dropper post opens up more frame sizing options allowing you to choose your preferred reach rather than sizing for standover.

When I rode the Wild on unfamiliar trails in the Spanish Pyrenees the bike’s geometry really came into its own. Our guide took use down some of his favourite local trails which he’s been crafting for years and introduced us to a steep, wooded descent featuring over 30 super-tight berms! I was taken aback by just how agile the Wild was on this terrain, allowing me to throw the bike around each turn; the responsive steering was particularly sublime!

 

E-Optimised Kinematics

Continuing the ‘E-Optimised’ theme which sees Orbea tuning every component part of the Wild to perform at their best when factoring in the extra forces generated by the higher speeds and weight of a e-bike, the Spanish brand have developed their own e-bike-specific suspension kinematics for the Wild.

E-bike suspension brings some unique design challenges; the addition of a powerful motor means that the suspension configuration needs to provide maximum traction to manage the extra forces transferred to the rear wheel. At the same time the Wild’s suspension needs to be able to handle the big hits that go hand in hand with the higher speeds and additional weight of an e-MTB. Orbea have carefully tuned the suspension to behave most naturally in the middle part of the bike’s travel where it spends 90% of its time helping to make the Wild come to life, giving an agile and responsive quality and preventing the suspension from anesthetizing your ride.

 

Concentric Boost II

Another major consideration in suspension design is the negative effect of braking heavily, with the potential for this to effectively lock out the suspension just when you need it most. Orbea have negated this with their Concentric Boost II configuration which sees a concentric pivot assembly at the rear axle that effectively decouples braking forces from the suspension’s action. Featuring on previous Orbea bikes the all-new Concentric Boost II version has fewer parts and reduces overall weight while also being laterally stiffer and more sensitive.

 

The Orbea Wild range marks a significant point in the evolution of the e-mountain bike, where an e-bike’s sorted trail geometry and sophisticated suspension kinematics takes precedent over the integration of the motor and battery; or to put it another way, rather than letting the e-MTB’s drive system lead the way through the design process brands like Orbea are now beginning to re-focus their efforts on designing an incredibly capable, fun and agile mountain bike that features a brilliantly integrated e-bike drive system almost as a secondary concern. As the Spanish brand say in their own marketing blurb ‘We could tell you how Wild has the most powerful motor or battery capacity on the market. But we aren’t going to. Wild takes us beyond such trivialities and into a world beyond power, where the ride is paramount, where the trails are endless and full of flow. Leave heavy, numb e-bikes behind and free your Wild.’

 

Orbea Wild M-LTD Was £10,999.00 NOW £6,999.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: BOSCH Performance Line CX-R BDU3741
• Battery: BOSCH Powertube 625Wh Horizontal BBP3760
• Display: BOSCH System Controller BCR3100
• Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote BRC3300
• Charger: Bosch Charger 4A (230V) BPC3400
• Frame: Orbea Wild OMR 2023, 160mm travel, 29″ wheels, Concentric Boost 12×148
• Headset: Alloy 1-1/2″, Black Oxidated Bearing
• Rear Shock: Fox Float X2 Factory Trunnion 2-Position Adjust Kashima custom tune 205x65mm
• Fork: Fox 38 Float Factory 170 Grip2 QR15x110 Kashima
• Wheelset: OQUO Mountain Control MC32LTD Carbon
• Front Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Shifter: Shimano XTR M9100
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XTR M9100 SGS Shadow Plus
• Cranks: e*thirteen Race Carbon
• Cassette: Shimano XTR M9100 10-51t 12-Speed
• Saddle: Fizik Terra Aidon X1 145mm
• Dropper Seatpost: Fox Transfer Factory Kashima Dropper 31.6
• Dropper Seatpost Lever: Shimano SL-MT-800 I-Spec EV
• Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC10 Carbon, Rise 20, Width 800
• Stem: OC Mountain Control MC10 Alu SL, 0º
• Brake Set: Shimano XTR M9120Hydraulic Disc

 

Orbea Wild M-Team Was £8,999.00 NOW £5,999.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: BOSCH Performance Line CX BDU3741
• Battery: BOSCH Powertube 750Wh Horizontal BBP3770
• Display: BOSCH System Controller BCR3100
• Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote BRC3300
• Charger: Bosch Charger 4A (230V) BPC3400
• Frame: Orbea Wild OMR 2023, 160mm travel, 29″ wheels, Concentric Boost 12×148
• Headset: Alloy 1-1/2″, Black Oxidated Bearing
• Rear Shock: Fox Float X2 Factory Trunnion 2-Position Adjust Kashima custom tune 205x65mm
• Fork: Fox 38 Float Factory 160 Grip2 QR15x110 Kashima E-Bike Optimized
• Wheelset: OQUO Mountain Control MC32TEAM eBIKE
• Front Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Shifter: Shimano XT M8100 I-Spec EV
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
• Cranks: e*thirteen Plus Alu
• Cassette: Shimano CS-M8100 10-51t 12-Speed
• Saddle: Fizik Aidon 208x145mm manganese rail
• Dropper Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20, 31.6mm, Dropper
• Dropper Seatpost Lever: Shimano SL-MT500 I-Spec EV
• Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC10 Carbon, Rise 20, Width 800
• Stem: OC Mountain Control MC10 Alu SL, 0º
• Brake Set: Shimano XT M8120 Hydraulic Disc

 

Orbea Wild H10 Was £6,499.00 now £4,499.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: BOSCH Performance Line CX BDU3741
• Battery: BOSCH Powertube 750Wh Horizontal BBP3770
• Display: BOSCH System Controller BCR3100
• Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote BRC3300
• Charger: Bosch Charger 4A (230V) BPC3400
• Frame: Orbea Wild Hydro 2023, 160mm travel, 29″ wheels, Concentric Boost 12×148
• Headset: Alloy 1-1/2″, Black Oxidated Bearing
• Rear Shock: ox Float X Performance Trunnion 2-Position Adjust custom tune 205x65mm
• Fork: Fox 38 Float Performance 160 Grip 3-Position QR15x110 E-Bike Optimized
• Wheelset: OQUO Mountain Control MC32TEAM eBIKE
• Front Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Shifter: Shimano Deore M6100 I-Spec EV
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
• Cranks: e*thirteen Plus Alu
• Cassette: Shimano CS-M7100 10-51t 12-Speed
• Saddle: Fizik Aidon 208x145mm manganese rail
• Dropper Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20, 31.6mm
• Dropper Seatpost Lever: Shimano SL-MT500 I-Spec EV
• Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC20 Alu SL, Rise20, Width 800
• Stem: OC Mountain Control MC20, 0º
• Brake Set: Shimano M6120 Hydraulic Disc

 

Orbea Wild H20 Was £5,899.00 NOW £3,999.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: BOSCH Performance Line CX BDU3741
• Battery: BOSCH Powertube 750Wh Horizontal BBP3770
• Display: BOSCH System Controller BCR3100
• Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote BRC3300
• Charger: Bosch Charger 4A (230V) BPC3400
• Frame: Orbea Wild Hydro 2023, 160mm travel, 29″ wheels, Concentric Boost 12×148
• Headset: FSA 1-1/2″ Integrated Aluminium Cup
• Rear Shock: Fox Float DPS Performance Trunnion 3-Position Evol LV custom tune 205x65mm
• Fork: RockShox 35 Silver TK Q15x110 Solo Air 160mm
• Wheelset: Race Face AR 30c Tubeless Ready
• Front Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Shifter: Shimano Deore M6100
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
• Cranks: e*thirteen Plus Alu
• Cassette: Shimano CS-M7100 10-51t 12-Speed
• Saddle: Selle Royal Vivo 145x269mm
• Dropper Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20, 31.6mm, Dropper
• Dropper Seatpost Lever: OC Horizontal
• Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC30, Rise20, Width 800
• Stem: OC Mountain Control MC20, 0º
• Brake Set: SRAM DB8 Black Hydraulic Disc

 

Orbea Wild H30 Was £5,299.00 NOW £3,499.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: BOSCH Performance Line CX BDU3741
• Battery: BOSCH Powertube 625Wh Horizontal BBP3760
• Display: BOSCH System Controller BCR3100
• Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote BRC3300
• Charger: Bosch Charger 4A (230V) BPC3400
• Frame: Orbea Wild Hydro 2023, 160mm travel, 29″ wheels, Concentric Boost 12×148
• Headset: FSA 1-1/2″ Integrated Aluminium Cup
• Rear Shock: Fox Float DPS Performance Trunnion 3-Position Evol LV custom tune 205x65mm
• Fork: RockShox 35 Silver TK Q15x110 Solo Air 160mm
• Wheelset: Race Face AR 30c Tubeless Ready
• Front Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
• Shifter: Shimano Deore M6100
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
• Cranks: e*thirteen Plus Alu
• Cassette: Shimano CS-M6100 10-51t 12-Speed
• Saddle: Selle Royal Vivo 145x269mm
• Dropper Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20, 31.6mm, Dropper
• Dropper Seatpost Lever: OC Horizontal
• Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC30, Rise20, Width 800
• Stem: OC Mountain Control MC20, 0º
• Brake Set: Shimano MT410 Hydraulic Disc

 

 

The Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR e-mountain bike is today’s star of our regular fast bike feature! Following our successful BIG Demo Weekend back in March some of the best brands available at Wheelbase came together again in May for our BIG Demo Day at Hamsterley Forest in the North East of England; one of the brands in most demand was Mondraker, with the Crafty Carbon RR proving to be particularly popular with our customers. Our freelance photographer James Vincent managed to wrestle one away from the demo fleet just long enough to shoot it for this feature, so lets get into the details…

E-mountain bikes are now so firmly established within most brand’s range of bikes that in a lot of cases there’s multiple models to choose from, enabling you to find one that perfectly suits your style of riding. Mondraker are one such brand, who now offer e-MTB options across a wide choice of mountain bikes including their trail, enduro and even their long-travel ‘super enduro’ models. The Crafty Carbon RR sits within their enduro sub-range of e-mtbs and features plenty of plush suspension, with a magic mix of components as  well as Mondraker’s iconic ‘Forward Geometry’; if you forget about the e-bike motor for a second and just consider the bike itself, then it’s clear to see that this is an authentic enduro bike!

The Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR is a capable Enduro bike that just happens to have an e-mtb motor.

 

The Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR features a full carbon frame sporting 150mm of suspension travel on the rear facilitated by the Spanish brand’s excellent Zero Suspension kinematics, matched up with a burly Fox 38 fork upfront featuring 160mm travel which is ready to absorb the sort of big hits that this bike will quickly coax you into riding. This rather pimped-up model in the Crafty range included Fox Factory Kashima coating on the Fox fork, rear shock and even the Transfer dropper post, with fork and rear shock tuned specifically to accommodate the increased forces of an e-MTB.

Constructed from Mondraker’s Crafty Stealth Air Carbon the Crafty RR also features the Spanish brand’s sorted ‘Forward Geometry’.

 

At the heart of the Crafty Carbon RR is Bosch’s brilliant 4th generation Performance Line CX Smart System setup with a large capacity 750Wh battery making ‘range anxiety’ a thing of the past. This latest iteration of Bosch’s market-leading motor is 48% smaller than its predecessor and at 2.9kg is 25% lighter too. With reduced drag thanks to a dramatic redesign of its internals the Performance Line CX motor is also now more efficient, increasing battery life by up to 18% and freeing you up to ride further for longer with liberal use of EMTB and Turbo modes to get you up and over steep, technical terrain.

Bosch’s Performance Line CX motor really helps to open up your riding; you’ll be amazed what you can get up and over on the Crafty Carbon RR.

 

The Crafty Carbon RR’s 750Wh battery sits internally within the downtube, protecting it from the elements and helping to keep the bike’s centre of gravity nice and low while also enhancing the overall aesthetic of this powerful e-mountain bike. It’s worth us reinforcing the point too, that the whole drive system and that large-capacity 750Wh battery really proved itself during our Hamsterley Forest demo day, with riders asking a lot of the bike throughout the day. Despite some liberal use of Turbo mode there was always plenty of battery life showing on the Bosch Kiox 300 display at the end of each ride; when it’s finally time to replenish the battery the Crafty Carbon RR can be quickly and efficiently re-charged via a port conveniently located near the headtube.

A super-efficient Bosch Powertube 750Wh internal battery encourages you to ride further for longer.

 

The 750Wh internal battery can be quickly and efficiently re-charged via a conveniently located port near the headtube.

 

The Bosch controls are discrete and user-friendly, with a mini remote to select your chosen mode and Kiox 300 display to relay all the vital stats.

 

Moving on to the Crafty Carbon RR’s chassis, it’s not too bold of me to say that Mondraker really did revolutionise mountain bike handling when it introduced its super-short stem and longer-reach top tube ‘Forward Geometry’. Pretty much every other mountain bike brand has now followed the lead with this sort of progressive geometry; slack headtube angles combined with steeper seat tube angles and longer reach are now not as niche as they used to be, in fact they’re the norm. While Mondraker were the first brand to take this design approach it’s worth highlighting that they’ve continued to refine their frame angles and measurements throughout the years, arriving at what can rightfully claimed to be one of the most stable, nimble, confidence-inspiring rides out there.

Mondraker pioneered modern progressive geometry; their ‘Forward Geometry’ has inspired a revolution in mountain bike frame design.

 

A bike of this status, sitting high up in the Crafty Carbon sub-range of e-mountain bikes should boast a pretty bling component spec and this bike does not disappoint. Complimenting that Mondraker Stealth Air full carbon frame and powerful Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 4 Smart System motor is a premium collection of components including FOX Factory rear shock, suspension forks and dropper seatpost all featuring the super smooth Kashima coating. The bike’s drivetrain is a magic mix of SRAM components including an X01 Eagle rear derailleur paired with a positive shifting GX Eagle trigger shifter.

Elsewhere there’s a SRAM Code RSC hydraulic brake-set featuring powerful 4-piston brake calipers which quickly and efficiently scrub off speed when you need to pull on the anchors and control your speed through tight, technical terrain. With large diameter 200mm brake rotors and steel-backed sintered pads the braking system on the Crafty Carbon RR is super-dependable in all riding conditions. Rounding out the bike’s spec is a bombproof pair of Mavic E-Deemax S 29er wheels designed and constructed specifically to cope with the additional forces incurred from a top-flight e-mountain bike; shod with a pair of burly Maxxis Minion DH tyres the Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR comes ready out of the box for the sort of full-on, aggressive riding an e-MTB like this encourages you to do.

Check out our details shots below of the key components on the Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR below, with the bike’s full specification listed at the bottom of this feature…

A Fox Float-X factory shock with Kashima coating combined with Mondraker’s Zero Suspension kinematics gives 150mm of plush travel on the rear.

 

A 12-speed SRAM X01 Eagle rear derailleur performs flawlessly, quickly moving up and down the wide ratio 10-52T cassette.

 

The light-touch SRAM GX Eagle trigger shifter precisely selects your chosen gear in an instant.

 

165mm Race Face Aeffect ebike cranks adorned with a SRAM Eagle 34T chainring completes the simple yet effective drivetrain.

 

The SRAM hydraulic brake levers have a lot of fans thanks to their instant bite with minimal lever-pull.

 

Powerful SRAM Code RSC 4-piston brake calipers scrub off speed quickly and effectively in all conditions.

 

The Mavic wheelset featuring straight-pull spokes laced to Mavic Boost hubs and E-Deemax S 29 rims are fast-rolling and super-tough.

 

It’s great to see Mondraker spec’ing a pair of burly Maxxis Minion DH tyres; they’ll be able to handle all of the aggressive riding you can throw at them.

 

The Ride…

Jumping on the Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR at one of our recent Wheelbase Big Demo days gave me a real chance to get a feel for how this powerful e-mountain bike handles out on the trails. The efficient Bosch drive system helped make short work of some of the steeper climbs on my ride, quickly depositing me at the top of some of the most technically demanding downhill trails I could find.

Riding some downhills portions for the first time, with no knowledge of what was coming up meant that on occasions I had to hold back a little, but during my second ride on the same trail I was really able to let go of the anchors and see what this long-travel e-Enduro bike was capable of. All of that plush suspension, facilitated by 150mm of travel on the rear and 160mm up-front combined with those fast-rolling large-diameter 29er Mavic E-Deemax e-MTB-specific wheels shod with burly Maxxis Minion tyres quickly encouraged me to hit sections with more speed and more confidence.

The Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR is an e-MTB that can be fairly described as a ‘fun-amplifier’. What do I mean by that? Well, the bike’s fantastic suspension platform and sorted trail geometry means that you’ll get more out of your riding when the bike is pointed downhill. Despite its ‘full-fat’ e-MTB specification with the 750Wh battery powered Bosch Performance Line CX drive system the Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR felt lively and surprisingly agile. The inclusion of the Bosch system just means that you ride further, faster and with more ease!

The Crafty Carbon RR is a great-handling Enduro bike that just happens to feature a brilliantly integrated Bosch drive system.

 

Mondraker Crafty Carbon RR £8,999.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX (25km/h) Smart System
• Battery: Bosch Powertube 750Wh
• Display: Bosch Kiox 300 / Bosch Mini Remote / Bosch System Controller
• Frame: Crafty Stealth Air full Carbon, e-Bike Optimized Zero Suspension System, 150mm travel, Forward Geometry, internal non-removable battery, Boost 12x148mm rear axle, tapered head tube, one-piece Monoblock upper link, HHG internal cable routing, MAX capacity sealed bearings, oversize 17mm axles, integrated dropout speed sensor, exclusive plastic motor covers.
• Fork: Fox 38 29 Float GRIP2 Factory Kashima, 160mm, e-bike optimized, tapered steerer tube, Boost 15x110mm axle, 44mm offset, 68mm OD crown. Settings: high and low-speed compression, high and low-speed rebound, air preload.
• Rear Shock: Fox Float-X LV Factory Kashima, 205x65mm. Settings: compression 2 positions lever, low-speed compression, low-speed rebound, air preload. Trunnion top mount, 25x10mm bottom bushings.
• Wheelset: Mavic E-Deemax S 29, 30mm internal width, Maxtal welded, PFP, 28 hole, tubeless rims. Mavic straight-pull double butted, contactless lacing spokes. Mavic, Boost 15x110mm, IS 6 bolts front hub. Mavic, Boost 12x148mm, ID360 Ratchet system, IS 6 bolts, XD freehub rear hub.
• Front Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 29×2.6, tubeless ready, 3C MAXX TERRA, EXO+ Protection, 120TPI, folding bead.
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 29×2.6, tubeless ready, 3C MAXX TERRA, EXO+ Protection, 120TPI, folding bead.
• Shifter: Sram Trigger GX Eagle, 12s, X-Actuation 1:1, single click.
• Rear Derailleur: Sram X01 Eagle, Type 3 roller bearing clutch, cage lock, 1x12s, X-Actuation 1:1
• Derailleur Hanger: SRAM UDH
• Cranks: Race Face Aeffect ebike, 165mm
• Chainring: Sram X-Sync 2 Eagle 34T, alloy, narrow-wide, 104 BCD
• Chain: Sram NX Eagle, 12s, Powerlock
• Cassette: Sram XG-1275, 10-52T, 12s
• Saddle: FIZIK Terra Aidon X5 145mm
• Seatpost: Fox Transfer Factory Kashima internal, diameter 31.6mm, S size: 363.5x125mm, M/L size: 418.3x150mm, XL size: 475.1x175mm
• Handlebar: Onoff Krypton Carbon 1.0, rise: 25mm, width: 800mm, 9º backsweep, 5º upsweep, 31.8mm barbore
• Stem: Onoff Krypton FG 30mm, CNC, 31.8mm barbore
• Grips: Onoff Desert, 1lock-on, 135mm
• Brake Set: Sram Code RSC, oversized 4-piston caliper, steel-backed metal sintered pads
• Brake Rotors: Centerline 200mm IS 6 bolts one-piece rotor
• Sizes: S: 380mm / M: 420mm / L: 450mm / XL: 490mm

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

Want to see more fast bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

 

Take advantage of our FOX helmets sale and save up to 50% on selected mountain bike helmets, while stocks last.

 

We’ve got HUGE savings on Focus Sam2 and Jam2 e-mountain bikes! ⚡️ Re-charge your riding with a premium Focus full-suspension e-MTB…

Focus Sam2 6.9 2022 Was £6,199.00 Now £4,999.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX, Gen 4, 85Nm, 250W
• Battery: Bosch PowerTube, 625Wh
• Display: Bosch Purion
• Frame: 7005 hydroformed aluminium, 3D forging, 170 mm F.O.L.D. kinematic, 148×12 mm thru axle, internal cable routing, post mount 203 mm
• Rear Shock: FOX Van Performance Coil, 230/65 mm, hardware: 25,0 x 8mm, 170mm travel
• Fork: FOX 38 Float Factory 29, E-Bike, Grip 2, 110 x 15 mm, 44 mm rake, 170mm travel
• Wheelset: 29” RaceFace AR30 Offset with Novatec Hubs
• Front Tyre: Schwalbe Magic Mary, 2.6 Super Trail Soft
• Rear Tyre: Schwalbe Magic Mary, 2.6 Super Gravity Soft
• Shifter: Shimano Deore XT M8100, 12-speed
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT M8100, 12-speed
• Cranks: Samox EC40 ISIS; 34T
• Cassette: Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed; 10-51T
• Saddle: Proxim W350
• Seatpost: Post Moderne dropper post PM-171, 31.6 mm
• Handlebar: RaceFace Chester 35, aluminium, 780 mm, rise: 35 mm, backsweep: 8°
• Stem: FOCUS C.I.S. integrated, 50 mm, 0 degrees, 35 mm, aluminium
• Grips: RaceFace Getta Grip
• Brake Set: Shimano XT M8120, 4 piston

 

Focus Sam2 6.8 2022 Was £5,199.00 Now £4,099.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX, Gen 4, 85Nm, 250W
• Battery: Bosch PowerTube, 625Wh
• Display: Bosch Purion
• Frame: 7005 hydroformed aluminium, 3D forging, 170 mm F.O.L.D. kinematic, 148×12 mm thru axle, internal cable routing, post mount 203 mm
• Rear Shock: Rock Shox Super Deluxe Select+, 230/65 mm, hardware: 25,0 x 8 mm, 170mm travel
• Fork: Rock Shox ZEB 29 Boost, Charger R, DebonAir, 110×15 mm, 44 mm rake, 170 mm travel
• Wheelset: 29” RODI TRYP30 FOCUS with Novatec Hubs
• Front Tyre: Schwalbe Magic Mary, 2.6 Super Trail Soft
• Rear Tyre: Schwalbe Magic Mary, 2.6 Super Gravity Soft
• Shifter: SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed
• Cranks: Samox EC40 ISIS; 34T
• Cassette: SRAM PG-1230 Eagle, 12-speed, 10-51T
• Saddle: FOCUS Trail SL
• Seatpost: Post Moderne dropper post PM-171, 31.6 mm
• Handlebar: FOCUS Trail, aluminium, riserbar, 780mm, rise: 30mm, backsweep: 9°
• Stem: FOCUS C.I.S. integrated, 50 mm, 0 degrees, 35 mm, aluminium
• Grips: FOCUS Locker SL
• Brake Set: SRAM Code R

 

Focus Jam2 7.9 2022 Was £5,699.00 Now £4,999.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: Shimano Steps EP8, 36V / 250 W / 85 Nm
• Battery: 720 Wh
• Display: Shimano Steps EM800
• Frame: 7005 hydroformed aluminium, 3D forging, 150 mm F.O.L.D. GEN2 kinematics, 148×12 mm thru axle, internal cable routing, USB-C port, post mount 203 mm
• Rear Shock: FOX Float X Performance, 210/55 mm, hardware: 25.0 x 8.0 mm, no Bushing, 150mm travel
• Fork: FOX 36 Float Rhythm 29, Grip Remote, 110×15 mm, 44 mm rake, 150mm travel
• Wheelset: RaceFace AR30 Offset rims with Novatec hubs
• Front Tyre: MAXXIS MINION DHF II, 2.6
• Rear Tyre: MAXXIS MINION DHF II, 2.6
• Shifter: Shimano Deore XT M8100, 12-speed
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT M8100, 12-speed
• Cranks: Shimano FC-EM600, 12-speed, 36T
• Cassette: Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed, 10-51T
• Saddle: Proxim W400
• Seatpost: Post Moderne dropper post PM-214, 34.9 mm
• Handlebar: Aluminium, 800 mm, rise: 30 mm, backsweep: 9°
• Stem: FOCUS C.I.S. integrated, 50 mm, 0°, 35 mm, aluminium
• Grips: FOCUS Locker SL
• Brake Set: Shimano XT M8120, 4 piston

 

Focus Jam2 7.8 2022 Was £4,799.00 Now £3,799.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: Shimano Steps EP8, 36V / 250 W / 85 Nm
• Battery: 720 Wh
• Display: Shimano Steps EM800
• Frame: 7005 hydroformed aluminium, 3D forging, 150 mm F.O.L.D. GEN2 kinematics, 148×12 mm thru axle, internal cable routing, USB-C port, post mount 203 mm
• Rear Shock: Rock Shox Deluxe Select, 210/55 mm, hardware: 25.0 x 8.0 mm, no Bushing, 150mm travel
• Fork: Rock Shox 35 Gold RL 29 Boost, 110×15 mm, 44 mm rake, 150 mm travel
• Wheelset: RaceFace AR30 Offset rims with Novatec hubs
• Front Tyre: MAXXIS MINION DHF 2.6
• Rear Tyre: MAXXIS MINION DHF 2.6
• Shifter: Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed
• Cranks: Samox EC40 ISIS, 36T
• Cassette: Shimano Deore CS-M6100, 12-speed 10-51T
• Saddle: Focus Race SL
• Seatpost: Post Moderne dropper post PM-214, 34.9 mm
• Handlebar: Aluminium, 800 mm, rise: 30 mm, backsweep: 9°
• Stem: FOCUS C.I.S. integrated, 50 mm, 0°, 35 mm, aluminium
• Grips: FOCUS Locker SL
• Brake Set: Shimano MT520, 4 piston

 

Focus Jam2 6.8 2022 Was £4,799.00 Now £3,799.00

Full Specification:

• • Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX, Gen 4, 85Nm, 250W
  • Battery: Bosch PowerTube, 625Wh
  • Display: Bosch Purion
  • Frame: 7005 hydroformed aluminium, 3D forging, 150 mm F.O.L.D. kinematic, 148×12 mm thru axle, internal cable routing, post mount 203 mm
  • Rear Shock: FOX Float DPS, 210/55mm, 25.0 x 8mm, 150mm travel
  • Fork: FOX 34 Float Rhythm 29, Grip Remote, 110 x 15mm, 150mm travel
  • Wheelset: 29” RaceFace AR30 Offset with Novatec Hubs
  • Front Tyre: MAXXIS MINION DHF 2.6
  • Rear Tyre: MAXXIS MINION DHF 2.6
  • Shifter: Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed
  • Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT M8100, 12-speed
  • Cranks: FSA CK-320, aluminium, 36T
  • Cassette: Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed 10-51T
  • Saddle: Proxim W350
  • Seatpost: Post Moderne dropper post PM-171, 31.6mm
  • Handlebar: Focus, aluminium, 800mm, 35mm rise, 9° backsweep
  • Stem: Focus C.I.S. integrated, 50mm, 0°, 35mm, aluminium
  • Grips: FOCUS Locker SL
  • Brake Set: Shimano BR-MT520, four-piston

 

Does your cycling need a re-charge this summer? Experience road riding in a whole different way!

We’ve got some HUGE discounts on Cannondale SuperSix EVO Neo 1, 2 and 3 e-road bikes. Yes, these really are e-bikes, despite looking almost identical to their non-e-bike cousins!

These super-sleek full carbon EVO Neo 1, 2 and 3 road bikes do indeed stow away an internal battery in the downtube and a compact but powerful motor from top Spanish brand MAHLE in the rear hub. With a natural, authentic-feeling level of assist, you’ll be encouraged to ride further and faster, dancing up the hills at speeds you’ve only dreamed of. This is everything you love about road riding AMPLIFIED!

Cannondale SuperSix EVO Neo 1 Was £9,000.00 NOW £4,999.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: MAHLE ebikemotion X35 250W
• Battery: MAHLE ebikemotion X35 250W Internal
• Frame: All-New, BallisTec Carbon, internal downtube battery, integrated cable routing w/ Switchplate, dropout/axle spacing 135mm, SAVE, T47, flat mount disc, integrated seat binder
• Fork: All-New, BallisTec Carbon, SAVE, 1-1/8″ to 1-1/4″ steerer, integrated crown race, 12x100mm Speed Release thru-axle, flat mount disc, internal routing, 55mm offset (S-M) 45mm offset (L)
• Wheelset: HollowGram 45 KNOT, Carbon, 20h front, 32h rear, 45mm deep, 21mm ID, tubeless ready
• Tyres: Vittoria Rubino Pro Bright Black, 700 x 28c
• Crank: HollowGram, T47 w/ OPI SpideRing, 50/34
• Cassette: Shimano Ultegra, 11-30, 11-speed
• Front Derailleur :  Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
• Rear Derailleur : Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
• Shifters: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 hydro disc, 2×11
• Handlebar: HollowGram SystemBar SAVE, Carbon, 8 deg. pitch adjust
• Handlebar Tape: Prologo One Touch
• Stem: All-New HollowGram SAVE, alloy, -6
• Headset: Integrated Sealed Bearing, Tapered
• Brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 hydro disc, 160/160mm RT86 rotors
• Brake Levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 hydraulic disc
• Saddle: Prologo Dimension NDR, 143mm width, Tirox rails
• Seatpost: All-New HollowGram 27 SL KNOT, carbon, 2 bolt clamp, 330mm
• Connectivity: Cannondale Wheel Sensor

 

Cannondale SuperSix EVO Neo 2 Was 5,500.00 NOW £2,999.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: MAHLE ebikemotion X35 250W
• Battery: MAHLE ebikemotion X35 250W Internal
• Frame: All-New, BallisTec Carbon, internal downtube battery, integrated cable routing w/ Switchplate, dropout/axle spacing 135mm, SAVE, T47, flat mount disc, integrated seat binder
• Fork: All-New, BallisTec Carbon, SAVE, 1-1/8″ to 1-1/4″ steerer, integrated crown race, 12x100mm Speed Release thru-axle, flat mount disc, internal routing, 55mm offset (S-M) 45mm offset (L)
• Wheelset: Cannondale RDe 1.0 , 28h front, 32h rear
• Tyres: Vittoria Rubino Pro Bright Black, 700 x 28c
• Crank: HollowGram, T47 w/ OPI SpideRing, 50/34
• Cassette: Shimano 105, 11-34, 11-speed
• Front Derailleur :  Shimano Ultegra GS
• Rear Derailleur : Shimano Ultegra GS 11-speed
• Shifters: Shimano Ultegra hydro disc, 2×11
• Handlebar: HollowGram SystemBar SAVE, Carbon, 8 deg. pitch adjust
• Handlebar Tape: Cannondale Grip Bar Tape w/Gel, 3.5mm
• Stem: All-New HollowGram SAVE, alloy, -6
• Headset: Integrated Sealed Bearing, Tapered
• Brakes: Shimano Ultegra hydraulic disc
• Saddle: Prologo Dimension, Tirox rails
• Seatpost: All-New HollowGram 27 SL KNOT, carbon, 2 bolt clamp, 330mm
• Connectivity: Cannondale Wheel Sensor

 

 

 

HUGE congratulations to everyone who took part in the 2023 #JENNRIDE

This challenge saw riders take on a gruelling 100 mile mountain bike or gravel bike route around the glorious Lake District on dry trails and under blue skies, starting and finishing in Kentmere Valley, just 10 minutes from our Wheelbase Lake District store.

Big thanks to Rich Munro for organising this fantastic event, in memory of Jenn Hill with all proceeds going to charity.

Check out our huge photo gallery below, photos by James Kirby…

 

All photos by James Kirby

 

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Today our fast bike feature takes a detailed look at the premium Yeti SB160E C-Series e-mountain bike, featuring Shimano’s EP8 motor and slim internal 630Wh battery, which, beyond all the technical spec that we’ll get to in a moment, just looks stunning!

One of the reasons that the SB160E C-Series looks so good is because the guys at Yeti REALLY took their time to prototype and develop this e-MTB before getting it absolutely right both in terms of form and function. While some other bike brands quickly jumped into the e-mountain bike market with options that effectively took an existing non-e-mountain bike and simply found a way of adding an e-bike drive system, Yeti took a different approach, starting with a completely blank canvas and designing the Yeti SB160E C-Series from the ground up.

The Yeti SB160E C-Series features a whole new suspension configuration designed specifically to handle the extra forces of an e-MTB.

 

When the bike first launched, the SB160E C-Series press release made no apologies about the delay in releasing their very first e-MTB into the market. At the start of the development process they explored the potential negative impact that adding a motor to one of their current suspension configurations would have, the results confirmed their worst fears and so Yeti started with a whole new suspension platform, and they called it ‘Sixfinity’. Yeti’s Sixfinity suspension configuration features almost infinite tunability and allows Yeti to address the added power, weight and unique demands of an e-MTB. We’ll breakdown the finer details of the SB160E C-Series’ suspension platform in a minute, but first off lets take a look at the Shimano EP8 drive system…

 

The YETI SB160E C-Series features Shimano’s pleasingly compact EP8 motor which is also pretty light thanks to its magnesium casing. The motor’s small size mean’s it is neatly integrated into the bike’s chassis at the bottom bracket without affecting geometry and at the same time it helps create a nice low centre of gravity.

Not only is the Shimano EP8 motor smaller and lighter than some its nearest competitors it’s also pretty quiet AND maybe most significantly for a lot of people it feels more natural in its assistance. What do we mean by ‘natural’? Well, it gives a really authentic-feeling amount of pedal assist that simply enhances the amount of power you’re putting through the bike.

YETI built the SB160E C-Series around the light and efficient Shimano EP8 e-bike motor.

 

I recently rode another e-mountain bike with the same Shimano EP8 drive system and I found that each time I put down a little more pedal power the motor responded, amplifying my power incrementally all while staying in one of the chosen 3 modes. It’s like there’s lots of ‘sub modes’ of torque output within each mode working perfectly in sync with your own pedalling input; it’s a really sophisticated level of pedal assistance.

With the choice of Eco, Trail and Boost modes you’ll always have just the right amount of pedal assistance to match the demands of the terrain you’re riding. Eco is great for when you’re just riding along on flat terrain, Trail helps power you through technical terrain, retaining your speed as you go and Boost mode is there when you really need help to conquer those sort of short, sharp off-road inclines that would normally see you coming to a grinding halt on a conventional non-e-mountain bike.

The Shimano EP8 motor is particularly compact, boasting a lightweight Magnesium casing. 

 

Accompanying the Steps EP8 e-bike motor is an equally compact Shimano 630Wh integrated battery neatly stowed in the SB160E C-Series’ downtube. Its relatively small size has freed up the YETI engineers to create a discrete-looking, svelte e-mountain bike AND even more significantly the overall geometry of the bike is not adversely affected, with none of the compromises you might see from other brands using alternative drive systems. The 630Wh integrated battery is quick charging with a 50% charge taking 2.5 hours and a full charge taking 6 hours.  

The frame geometry and suspension configuration of the SB160E C-Series is unaffected by an unobtrusive Shimano 630Wh internal battery.

 

The YETI SB160E C-Series’ drive system is super-easy to control, with the minimal Shimano controller on the left of the handlebars and a small display unit on the handlebar by  the stem. Toggling between the motor’s ‘Eco’ ‘Trail’ and ‘Boost’ modes using the slim ,ergonomic switch changes the level of assistance immediately with the chosen mode clearly indicated on the display and there’s also an audible beep too so there’s no need to keep peering down at the display when you’re already fully focused on the trail ahead.

The whole Shimano EP8 drive system is designed to be simple and discrete; the assist switch on the left of the handlebar is barely noticeable.

 

When things get so steep and un-rideable that you have to push, you can simply press and hold the handlebar controller to engage ‘Walk’ mode; this turns the rear wheel as you push to help you move more freely uphill, giving you the feel of pushing a lighter non-e-bike. We’ve got first-hand experience of using this function on some of the notoriously difficult ‘hike-a-bike’ routes we take on here in the Lake District and needless to say we really appreciate this clever hack!

A simple Shimano EM800L display gives you all the information you need and none of the information you don’t.

 

Want to know even more about the Shimano EP8 motor? Hit the link below to read our detailed breakdown of this super-efficient, user-friendly drive system.

Learn more about the Shimano EP8 motor by reading our separate product feature HERE.

 

The key to just how well the Yeti SB160E C-Series performs as a full suspension Enduro E-MTB is their all new Sixfinity suspension platform. This configuration involves a 6-bar linkage where the lower link switches direction as the suspension progresses through its travel; the ‘switch link’ initially rotates up until it reaches the inflection point and it then switches directions and continues to rotate down creating a unique anti-squat curve. This has enabled Yeti to tune their Sixfinity platform to give the desired ride characteristics while accommodating the increased weight and speed that comes with an e-MTB motor and battery.

Floating collet axles and pinch bolts on the linkage extend bearing life and help ensure that the suspension runs smoothly.

 

Yeti make a big thing of the 160E’s anti-squat capacity, but what exactly is anti-squat? Well squat is basically your suspension’s unwanted compression, incurred from pedalling forces and anti-squat is your suspension platform’s mechanical resistance to that compression. Yeti’s superior anti-squat is achieved thanks to the clever ‘switch link’ giving the 160E a wide and flat band of high anti-squat in the pedalling zone providing a smooth, supported pedalling platform. When the switch link reaches its inflection point and rotates downwards the anti-squat quickly drops off non-linearly allowing the suspension to move more freely from chain forces later in the travel when pedalling becomes less of a priority. Yeti have optimised anti-squat to be at 100% at sag, a lower magnitude than seen on their traditional acoustic Enduro bikes, this accommodates the greater acceleration and higher speeds encountered while seated on an e-MTB helping to find the ideal balance between stability and traction.

When it comes to anti-rise Yeti have taken the e-MTB’s greater mass into consideration and tuned it to 65% at sag, a lower magnitude than on their manual or ‘acoustic’ mountain bikes. This targeted anti-rise percent strikes the perfect balance between traction and the preservation of the bike’s geometry under braking giving a really predictable handling bike on all gradients and at all speeds.

A Fox Performance Float X rear shock facilitates 160mm of plush suspension travel.

 

Let’s just go back to that ‘Sixfinity’ suspension platform and look at how adjustable it is; Sixfinity allows you to alter the leverage rate progression of the SB160E C-Series’ suspension while preserving the bike’s geometry, anti-squat and anti-rise. Quick and easy to adjust the SB160E C-Series e-MTB features 3 leverage rate settings – the middle or stock position is 30% giving a balanced ride, 25% gives a more supported and efficient feel while the 35% position gives a plusher feel and is also ideal if you’re going to run a coil shock rather than an air shock.

 

When the switch link reaches its inflection point it rotates downwards and the anti-squat quickly drops off helping the suspension to move more freely.

 

The Sixfinity suspension configuration was  specifically designed to accommodate the added power and mass of an e-MTB. 

 

Colorado-based YETI Cycles boast a rich manufacturing history dating back over 30 years within the bike industry.

 

The SB160E C-Series comes in YETI’s iconic turquoise colourway and features their distinctive Yeti motif.

 

Yeti have spec’d the SB160E C-Series with a great mix of components including front and rear FOX shocks, with the FOX Performance Float X facilitating that plush 160mm of rear wheel travel and a pair of FOX Performance 38 forks upfront giving you a whopping 170mm of travel to play with when your riding gets really rowdy. There’s a Shimano SLX 12-speed drivetrain which is super-reliable and functions flawlessly even under the additional forces generated from the EP8 motor. There’s a pair of bomb-proof DT Swiss H1900 30mm 29er wheels shod with Maxxis tyres, with an Assegai 2.5 EXO+ on the front and a Minion DHR II 2.4 DD on the rear this spec accurately reflects how the guys at Yeti see this bike being ridden – hard!

Finishing kit includes a light but strong 35x800mm Yeti Carbon handlebar, a Burgtec Enduro MK3 stem measuring 35x50mm and a classic pair of ODI Elite Pro grips continuing the collaboration between Yeti and ODI that has spanned over 30 years, right back to the early days of mountain biking. There’s also a 31.6mm OneUp dropper post with travel scaled proportionally to the frame size of the bike with small giving 180mm, Medium giving 210mm and large/x-large giving 240mm of drop.

Scroll through the remaining shots below to see the rest of the spec in detail. We’ve also included some SB160E C-Series fast facts and a full run through of the bike’s specification at the bottom of this feature…

Upfront YETI have spec’d the SB160E C-Series with a pair of FOX Performance 38 forks with 170mm of travel.

 

The FOX Performance 38 forks have been tuned specifically to cope with the extra forces incurred from an e-MTB.

 

A no-nonsense Shimano SLX 12-speed drivetrain with a wide ratio 10-15T cassette provides a huge range of gears.

 

A Shimano 12-speed trigger shifter provides light, predictable gear selection even when you’re changing gear under load.

 

The durable Shimano SLX rear derailleur can easily handle the extra forces of the EP8 motor.

 

A nicely colour-matched OneUp guide helps keep the chain secure when your riding gets particularly rowdy.

 

SRAM’s Code R 4-piston hydraulic brake calipers provide plenty of stopping power.

 

THE powerful SRAM Code R brakes can easily handle the enhanced speed of an e-mountain bike.

 

It’s no surprise to see big 220mm diameter SRAM Centreline Rotors on this super-fast e-mountain bike.

 

Need to scrub off speed in an instant? No problem with these whopping 220mm SRAM Centreline brake rotors.

 

The DT Swiss H1900 wheels with Hybrid 370 hubs are built to support a maximum system weight of 150 kg making them perfect for the YETI SB160E C-Series.

 

A Maxxis Minion DHR II provides plenty of rear wheel traction when that powerful EP8 motor kicks in.

 

The Maxxis Minion DHR II rolls pretty fast thanks to those slightly shallower central knobs.

 

Upfront there’s a Maxxis Assegai 2.5 EXO+ to keep you firmly in control even on the loosest, most unpredictable trails.

 

Those Maxxis Assegai side knobs are ready to dig in as you blast through technical singletrack.

 

The SB160E C-Series comes spec’d with a pair of 35x800mm YETI carbon handlebars.

 

Seeing these ODI Grips takes us right back to the early days of mountain biking with Missy Giove or Myles Rockwell shredding onboard their YETI bikes.

 

YETI and ODI have been together since the early days. These Elite Pro grips feel great in your hands.

 

YETI have teamed up with WTB to spec this colour matched Silverado Custom saddle.

 

The OneUp dropper seatpost gets your saddle out of the way quickly and is activated by this simple lever on the left of the handlebar.

 

The FOX mudguard is a nice touch.

 

When the SB160E C-Series launched last year the marketing team at Yeti made the prolonged prototyping and development of their first e-mountain bike the main narrative of the launch. Taking time to understand the demands incurred from the additional forces of the Shimano drive system and the increase in overall weight Yeti quickly came to the realisation that a whole new suspension platform needed to be developed if they were going to get the best out of their new bike. Pushing the development even further they put their protypes underneath their own Enduro MTB Team before Jared Graves and Jubal Davis went on to race the final production version of the SB160E at the EWS-E (Enduro World Series E-MTB); the end result was perhaps the industry’s very first dedicated e-mtb Enduro race bike. If you’re seeking an e-mtb that represents the very pinnacle of technology and race performance then the Yeti SB160E C-Series is the bike for you.

The YETI SB160E C-Series is a thoroughbred Enduro e-MTB race machine, ready to be pushed to the limits.

 

Yeti SB160E C-Series Fast Facts…

• 160mm rear travel
• 170mm fork travel
• 64.5° head angle
• 78° seat tube angle
• 29″ wheel size
• 2.6″ tyre clearance
• Boost spacing and SRAM UDH hanger
• 446mm chain stay
• Uninterrupted 31.6 seat tube offers great dropper post compatibility
• Rated to Yeti DH standards
• Floating collet axles and pinch bolts on the linkage extend bearing life and ensure optimal, consistent alignment
• Custom OneUp chain guide mount
• MD thru XL Mainframes accommodate a standard water bottle while YETI’s “hot lap” bottle will fit in a SM frame
• Custom cable ports, captured hoses and housing and ribbed chainstay guards provide a silent ride
• The frame ports are also configurable for clean setup whether you run cabled, wireless or a combination for your dropper and derailleur
• “Moto” brake compatible routing (Left Rear Brake/Right Front Brake)
• Tube in tube routing in swingarm for rear brake, speed sensor and derailleur
• Rear mud fender protects motor and linkage
• Shock drain hole to keep water and mud out
• Stock Shimano 630-Watt hour battery stock for hassle free worldwide support
• Remote charging port on the non-drive side
• EM-800 mode switch
• EM-800 full color display
• Bluetooth capable for integration with a phone or GPS
• Wire management in Downtube for ease of use

 

YETI SB160E C-Series 2023 RRP £9,899.00

Full Specification:

• Motor: Shimano EP8
• Battery: Shimano 630Wh Internal Battery
• Display: Shimano EM-800
• Assist Switch: Shimano EM800L
• Charger: Shimano E6002
• Frame: TURQ Series carbon fiber frame, Sixfinity suspension technology, internally tunneled cable routing, 148mm x 12mm BOOST dropouts, sealed enduro max pivot bearings,
• Universal derailleur hanger (UDH), and axle.
• Fork: Fox Performance 38/170MM e-Tune
• Rear Shock: Fox Performance Float X
• Wheelset: DT Swiss H1900 30mm
• Front Tyre: Maxxis Assegai 2.5 EXO+
• Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.4 DD
• Shifter: Shimano SLX 12-Speed
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano SLX 12-Speed
• Cranks: Shimano EM600 160mm
• Chain: Shimano SLX 12-Speed
• Cassette: Shimano SLX 10-51T 12-Speed
• Saddle: Silvarado Custom
• Seatpost: OneUp Dropper Post 31.6mm / SM: 180mm, MD: 210mm, LG-XL: 240mm
• Handlebar: Yeti Carbon 35x800mm
• Stem: Burgtec Enduro MK3 35x50mm
• Grips: ODI Elite Pro
• Brake Set: Sram Code R
• Brake Rotors: Sram Centreline 220/Sram Centreline 220

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Photos by James Vincent

 

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The Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli road team jumped on a ferry and headed to Ireland to take part in probably their most challenging race to date. The iconic Rás Tailteann 5 stage race always attracts an international field of riders and boasts a who’s who of previous winners that have gone on to racing success at the highest level of professional road racing around the globe. The team went into the Rás hoping to gain useful stage racing experience on the exposed roads of Ireland, what the they came home with was so much more than anyone could have hoped for!…

 

Stage 1

Stage One of the Rás Tailteann started off fast from the gun, with attack after attack sprinting off the front of the bunch; despite rider’s best efforts nothing was getting away. Unfortunately there was a crash about 30km into the stage with a few of the Wheelbase team getting caught up behind it, but thankfully everyone recovered quickly and got back on.

Eventually a successful move went with 20 riders in it including Wheelbase team riders Tom Martin and Jacob Smith; the group worked well together, establishing a 3 minute 45 second buffer to the chasing bunch. As the stage’s main Cat 1 climb approached the group of 20 started to split with 4 riders managing to break away on this gruelling climb. Tom Martin and Jacob Smith rode strongly to pull it back but eventually those 4 riders managed to stay away until the finish line; Tom and Jacob rolled in within the reduced chasing group behind while Tom Armstrong, Matt Fox and Lee Rosie finished stage 1 safely in the main pack.

 

Stage 2

IT’S A STAGE WIN FOR THE TEAM!

Stage 2 of the Rás was a rapid one right from the start with speeds averaging over 45km/h. Just like stage 1 there was constant attacking as teams and riders attempted to control the race and establish a winning break away. All of the Wheelbase boys got stuck in and worked really well as a cohesive unit to cover all of the dangerous moves. This would be the status quo for the majority of the stage before the race encountered 4 categorised climbs with around 50km to go. All 5 of the Wheelbase team made it over in the front group while other riders finally succumbed to the pace and drifted out the back of the bunch.

Coming into the final 5km of the stage everyone in the team got together and organised a sprint lead out for their punchy Australian sprinter Matt Fox, delivering him to the front of the race with just 300m to go. In an incredibly tight sprint with riders spread right across the road Matt was able to come around on the barriers to take the win on the line! Speaking after the stage Matt was clearly over the moon with his result and quickly paid tribute to his teammates who worked selflessly to position him exactly where he needed to be to take the win. Thanking the hard-working individuals behind the scenes and the team’s generous sponsors Matt was already re-focusing on the remaining 3 stages; with Tom Martin and Jacob Smith in the running for the GC lead the whole team were ready to give it their all.

 

Stage 3

TWO IN A ROW! IT’S ANOTHER STAGE WIN FOR THE TEAM.

Stage 3 proved to be a stressful one for the bunch, with crosswinds on the exposed Irish roads contributing to a nervous mood in the peloton. Just as in previous stages there were numerous attacks as the ambitions of some of the most dominant teams bubbled to the surface. Despite their best efforts no one was able to establish a break with small groups of riders being reeled back into the bunch each and every time. Inevitably the race was eventually affected by a series of small crashes, however Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli successfully navigated their way through them as they came to the realisation that Stage 3 would also come down to a bunch sprint.

The team quickly got themselves organised to give previous stage winner Matt Fox another brilliant lead out; positioned just where he needed to be and with a new-found confidence following his win the previous day Matt would take his second successive win! The whole team was buzzing after the stage and news of Matt’s win quickly spread between team staff, sponsors and Wheelbase HQ back in the Lake District, where we all celebrated the team’s amazing performance at this important international road race.

 

Stage 4

Stage 4 of the Rás was the longest day of the race at just under 180km. Following more unpredictable racing a break away group was formed and included Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli’s flying Scotsman Lee Rosie. With Lee representing the team at the front of the race Wheelbase’s remaining riders could sit tight in the main bunch, letting the overall race leader’s team chase the break and keep a manageable time gap. Tom Martin and Jacob Smith marked any remaining moves from the bunch until the last 1km of the race when everything came back together as the remaining break away riders were caught.

At this point our fast-thinking team brought their super-fast sprinter Aussie Matt Fox up to the front of the chasing peloton for the final kick to the line. Continuing his impressive run of results Matt would take 3^rd place over the line for another brilliant podium position which would also give him the overall points leader’s green jersey!

 

 

Stage 5

The 5^th and final stage of the Rás consisted of 100km rolling roads followed by four 11km laps of a finishing circuit at BlackRock just outside Dublin. The team had some good cards to play with Tom Martin and Jacob Smith wanting to improve overall on the GC and the in-form Australian Matt Foxed poised and ready for another sprint finish with one eye on his defence of the point leader’s green jersey. With this in mind Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli planned to follow all the moves and if they arrived at the finish line with the peloton all together they’d all commit to Matt for the sprint.

After the usual frantic fight for the breakaway the team ended up in the perfect position with Tom Martin, Lee Rosie and Matt Fox all in the breakaway of 13 riders, which also included eventual Rás winner Dillon Corkery from Cycling Ireland. Working well together the breakaway group established a lead of up to 3 minutes on the peloton and as they hit the finishing circuit the inevitable attacks came; with 3 Wheelbase riders in the break the team were able to use their numbers well.

Lee went with the early moves and when it came back together Tom and Matt were attentively covering any potential attacks. Eventually 5 riders broke free including Wheelbase’s Matt Fox; Tom instinctively sat in with the rest of the group, attentive to any potential attempts to bridge across, but fortunately no one was strong enough to close the gap.

With Tom Martin also focused on protecting his high overall GC position he was able to attack and break free from the chasing group on the final circuit in an attempt to secure a top 3 place in the GC. Tom would miss the podium by a handful of seconds, however he would ultimately place a brilliant 5^th place overall. At the front of the race Matt Fox sprinted to ANOTHER brilliant 3^rd place, successfully securing the points leader’s Green Jersey!

As the race came to a close and the podium ceremonies began it became clear that not only had Wheelbase secured the Green Jersey they’d also taken the overall International Team Prize as well as 5^th, 10^th and 13^th overall in the GC.

 

The Rás Tailteann was a fantastic racing experience for our young team and we’re incredibly impressed with how they performed in this iconic International stage race. None of what they achieved would have been possible without the ongoing generosity of the team’s sponsors and the tireless work of the team’s support staff. With Stu Reid injecting as much passion for road racing as he did when he was on the bike, he continues to be a fantastic tactician and guiding light behind the wheel of the team car. The riders really do owe him a lot! Likewise, massive thanks to Tim Martin who gave up his free time to travel with the team, providing endless hours of logistical support to help the team perform so well throughout the race.

Last, but most definitely not least a HUGE thank you to Irishman Damien Faulkner who stepped in at short notice to provide mechanical assistance to the team for the duration of the Rás. His contribution to the team’s success went much further than just keeping the bikes functioning, as his local knowledge, experience and connections within the Irish Road Racing scene proved to be invaluable throughout the 5 stage race. Thanks Damien!

Points Jersey – Matt Fox

Overall Team Prize

5^th, 10^th and 13^th overall on GC

2x Stage Wins – Matt Fox

2x 3^rd Place stage finishes – Matt Fox

4^th Overall U23 Jacob Smith

 

Written by Johnny Dodgin

Race Photos by Toby Watson

 

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