Hottest Bikes of the Lake District Demo Weekend

There were some phenomenal bikes available to demo all weekend at the Lake District Demo Weekend. But there were a few that really caught our eye and some which are already firm favourites with our staff. Check out our ‘Hottest Picks’ of bikes from the weekend…

 

This bike blew us away whenthe Whyte guys rolled up to Wheelbase HQ with a fleet of E-Lyte 150 Works’s for us to blast over to Ambleside and back on via some tasty Lakeland Tech. Fast, light and powerful, the top of the range E-Lyte 150 Works masterfully blends the very best natural mountain bike handling and ride feel with the power and capability of full power electric mountain bikes (eMTBs). Weighing just 19.2kg (size M) with 55Nm of torque, 600W of peak power, and a total combined battery capacity of 650Wh, it has the power – and the range – to do it all: the climb, the singletrack, the all-day epic, the home trail hot laps, the drop-ins, the descents, the tech and the climbs back out. E-Lyte 150 Works: lightweight, mid-torque, full power. The trail bike without equal, we love it!

Spec Highlights

• 150mm front + 142mm rear of custom-tuned suspension travel.
• Uni-directional carbon fibre frame is light and reassuringly strong.
• Bosch Performance Line SX lightweight, mid-torque (55Nm), full power (600W) motor.
• 650Wh of combined battery (400Wh internal + 250Wh PowerMore range extender) so you can ride further.
• 29er wheels front and rear for balanced handling.

 

 

Cube AMS Hybrid One44 C:68X TM 400X 2024

We have all grown to love this bike here at Wheelbase and for good reason. If you’ve ever wanted that little extra boost up a climb without worrying about the weight, the AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X TM is the bike you’ve been waiting for. You might guess from its elegantly sculpted frame – made from Cube’s premium C:68X® carbon – that it’s something special, and you’d be right.

Bosch’s new SX drive combines with a 400Wh battery, built-in system controller and bar-mounted Mini Remote to deliver up to 55Nm of additional torque via Sram’s GX Eagle Transmission 1×12 electronic gears. A Fox 36 Performance fork and Float X Performance shock deliver progressive mountain-flattening travel. Newmen Evolution SL A.30 wheels are fitted with Schwalbe Magic Mary and Nobby Nic 2.4in tyres, and held in check with a pair of Magura’s powerful MT7 hydraulic disc brakes. And if you thought all this adds up to blistering pace, you’re not wrong!

Spec Highlights

• Fox 36 Float Performance GRIP, 3-Position w/ Micro Adjust, Tapered, 15x110mm, 140mm
• Fox Float X Performance, 210x55mm, Adjustable LSR w/ 2-Pos- Lever
• Newmen Evolution SL A.30 Wheelset witted with Schwalbe Magic Mary, Super Trail, Addix Soft, Kevlar, 2.4 tyres
• Bosch Drive Unit Performance SX (55Nm) Cruise (250 Watt), Smart System
• Sram GX Eagle AXS Transmission 12-Speed drivetrain
• Magura MT7 hydraulic disc brakes

 

Yeti SB160 29 T3 2024

Next up in the weekend’s pick of Hot Bikes is a staff firm favourite, the Yeti SB160. Upholding a time-tested, race-bred ethos that says nothing should hold a rider back from the sheer joy of untethered speed. The SB160 is built off one of the most successful race platforms in EWS history, the sb160 is race bred and honed to be the fastest bike when charging hard in technical terrrain like that found here in the Lake District.

Forget what you know when it comes to suspension kinematics — according to Yeti the clock doesn’t lie and proves more progressive leverage rates aren’t faster! The SB160’s kinematics have been refined for the longer travel of the SB160’s chassis with increased bottom out control while maintaining a relatively linear progression curve. Why a linear curve? Riders experience more predictable damping characteristics throughout the travel. Predictability whether in a competition setting or riding an epic ridgeline can make the difference in success between the tapes or dropping your mates through the singletrack.

The Yeti factory team wanted even more confidence at pace. To achieve this, they refined geometry with little more reach, rebalanced front and rear centres, and size-specific chainstays and seat tube angles. It’s their most confidence inspiring geometry to date and it’s optimised by frame size, ensuring athletes of all sizes and styles are in a position that prioritises speed and efficiency.

Spec Highlights

• TURQ Series Carbon Fibre Frame with Switch Infinity Suspension, Threaded BB, Fully enclosed internal cable routing, Sealed Enduro Max pivot bearings.
• Premium Fox suspension – Fox Factory 38 Grip2 170mm fork and Fox Factory X2 Shock
• Raceface ARC Wheelset with Maxxis Assegai and Minion DHR EX+ tyres
• Burgtec finishing kit and Fox Factory Transfer dropper post.
• Reliable, smooth shifting from a SRAM X0 AXS Eagle groupset
• Extremely powerful and superbly modulated SRAM Code RSC 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes

Cannondale Moterra Neo SL 2 2024

We also had the pleasure of our friends at Cannondale bringing along their new Moterra Neo SL, another trail eBike that’s high on power and low on weight. Aimed at providing an engaging, nimble ride experience that will tame the tech and find the flow. However packing 85Nm of torque, 600W+ of peak output, and 601Wh of power into a machine weighing as little as 20.6kg /45.4lbs, when it comes to full-power fun and lightweight agility – the Moterra Neo SL in a class of its own! Quite literally… it has more watts per kilo than any other on the market! The lightweight carbon fibre frame features Cannondale’s weight-saving FlexPivot technology which is key to achieving this.

The Moterra Neo SL has four different levels of boost, easily adjustable on the fly, help you choose between maximum range, monstrous power, or your ideal blend of both. Whether mild or wild, your ride will be whatever you want it to be, no more and no less. It’s not just about power and weight, the Moterra SL’s suspension is specially tuned for the kind of high-speed sessions this bike encourages.

The burly FlexPivot stays are also at the heart of it’s suspension design, acting as a Horst pivot, it creates a true four-bar system, that’s been dialled for incredible traction, confident braking, and a playful feel that just begs to be pushed harder.

Spec Highlights

• Light and durable, full carbon, 150mm travel FlexPivot frame with Proportional Response suspension kinematics
• Premium Fox suspension – 160mm Performance Float 36 fork & Performance Elite Float X rear shock
• Reliable, smooth shifting, Shimano XT/Deore 12-speed w/ e*thirteen e*spec Plus cranks
• Powerful, dependable Shimano Deore 6120 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes
• Cannondale-tuned Shimano EP801 motor & custom, high-energy-density 601Wh internal battery

 

WHnit comes to getting back up to the top of the next epic descent and having the most fun on the way down. We are all in agreeance that the Merida eOne-Sixty 875 is the best bike to do it on! The aluminium frame offers great value and maximum battery range, thanks to a powerful Shimano EP801 drive unit paired with a removable 750 Wh battery. A 360 Wh range extender is available separately. With this set up the only reason to stop will be because you have to. Ther capable, updated geometry has been influenced by the success of the original eOne-Sixty and the award winning One-Sixty; its handling will help conquer the toughest of climbs and the steepest descents.

 

The proven FAST kinematic suspension will take care of anything the trail throws at it and the low maintenance flexstay suspension offers size-tuned progression to maximise performance for all riders and it can be run with the latest coil shocks. The flip chip design enables you to run with mixed size 29″ front and 27.5″ rear wheels as standard or switch to a focussed full 29er setup without compromising the geometry that’s been designed for the toughest enduro trails. All in one of the best hard hitting eMTBs on the market with unbelievable value for money!

Spec Highlights

• Hydroformed 6061 Double butted aluminium with integrated battery
• RockShox Super Deluxe SelectRear Shock
• Rock Shox ZEB Select 170mm Fork
• Shimano XT 4 piston hydraulic disc brakesBrake Levers
• Shimano XT Grpoupset
• Merida Expert TR II Tubeless ready wheelset with Maxxis Assegai and Maxxis DHR II EXO+ Tyres
• 750Wh Battery
• Shimano Steps EP801; 85Nm Motor