• Intense Cycles Tazer
    Intense Cycles Tazer
Close×

1. Integration
Pretty much the only major e-mountain bike brand not to tout an integrated downtube battery this year is Merida. Integrating the battery into the downtube makes a lot of sense from an aesthetic and a structural point of view – it also helps to keep weight low on the bike, thus improving handling.
The major challenge for manufacturers and distributors, however, will be making sure that replacement and spare batteries are available to consumers when they need them.

2. Bigger is better
MBA has specifically focused on mid- to long-travel e-mountain bikes in this feature, and there’s a reason for that: it’s where the bulk of the performance E-MTB development is happening. While there are shorter-travel e-mountain bikes available – notably from Merida and Haibike – the bulk of the market is playing around the 150mm trail/all-mountain space.

3. Progressive geometry
Long, low and slack is the name of the game – albeit with a few tweaks for E-mountain bikes. Bottom brackets skew slightly higher, to avoid smashing the motor into rocks and suchlike. Chainstay length seems to be directly affected by the motor selection, with Shimano STEPS and Brose motors apparently enabling shorter chainstays (and theoretically snappier handling).

Bicycling Australia

Lizzie Deignan wins the first-ever Paris-Roubaix Femmes, while Sonny Colbrelli wins epic men’s battle.

The 2022 Checkpoint legitimately feels like several bikes in one - all road, adventure, gravel and super commuter. The design, finish, attention to detail and subtleties all add up to make a fantastic looking and exceptional performing adventure machine.

Orbea Lift Covers Off Latest Orca Aero