There are few things that the Raubling-based bike manufacturer Corratec is as proud of as its sporting successes. Whether it's the racing bike team or the successes of mountain bike sprint specialist Simon Gegenheimer in the otherwise little-known Eliminator discipline, this is where the heart of the company beats. No wonder that Corratec is taking the new Bosch SX drive as an opportunity to expand its e-bike fleet with three new models that also appeal to sporty riders with e-support.
The three bikes go by the names RS 140 EL (Trail/All Mountain Fully), X Vert EL Pro (E-Hardtail) and E-Gravel EL (gravel bike) and all come with Bosch's new Perfomrance Line SX drive, which delivers up to 400 watts and 40 Newton metres continuously and even up to 600 watts and 55 Newton metres for short periods. The new Bosch is characterised by its progressive support: the small Bosch only delivers a lot of power when the rider pedals hard, and thus aims to tap into a sporty e-bike target group.
All three bikes are powered by Bosch's new 400 watt-hour battery. All three bikes are compatible with the Power-More 250 range extender for longer tours - the frame thread and charging socket are already prepared accordingly. What all three models also have in common is that there will only be one equipment variant for each, with threads for a side stand, the bikes should also perform well in everyday use. Planned availability: From 2024.
The Light E-MTB Corratec RS 140 EL at a glance
- Motor: Bosch Performance Line SX (40 Nm / 400 watts continuous load, briefly up to 55 Nm / 600 watts)
- Battery: Bosch 400 watt hours, removable
- Suspension travel: 150/140 mm
- Wheel size: 29 inch
- Aluminium frame
- Sizes: 39, 42, 47, 52 centimetres (seat tube length)
- Under 20 kilos (manufacturer's specification)
- A model for 6599 euros
RS 140 EL: Stable E-Fully for trail and all-mountain riding
The highlight for serious terrain is the Corratec RS 140 EL, an E-MTB Fully with 150/140 millimetre suspension travel for your trail and all-mountain use. Corratec has opted for an aluminium frame so that the price doesn't skyrocket too high, but the weight should still be under 20 kilograms according to the manufacturer. Considering the convenient classic battery removal at the front, that's quite an announcement.
The bike will only be available in one version for 6599 euros RRP. The equipment ranks in the upper middle class. The highlight is the Select+ suspension with Lyrik fork and Deluxe shock from Rockshox; the damping technology at the front is already identical to the top-of-the-range Lyrik Ultimate model. The Crossmaxx XL wheels come from Mavic, the gears are shifted with Sram's GX in the classic mechanical version and the brakes are the new Code Stealth brakes from Sram. The geometry is modern, but the bike is rather long, not least at the rear, and thus clearly prioritises riding stability uphill and downhill over playful handling.
The geometry of the Corratec RS 140 EL
- Reach: 440, 460, 485, 510 mm
- Stack: 638
- Steering angle: 65°
- Seat angle: 77°
- Chainstay length: 464 mm
- Wheelbase: 1275 mm (size 47)
Corratec X-Vert EL: High-quality hardtail with Bosch Performance Line SX motor
If you are travelling in less extreme terrain or use the bike a lot in everyday life, you can also opt for the hardtail X-Vert EL in addition to the fully RS 140 EL. The e-MTB also has an aluminium frame, 29-inch wheels, Bosch's SX motor and a classic removable 400 battery.
The equipment is upmarket for a hardtail: Tele support, Pike fork with 130 millimetres of travel, Sram GX drivetrain, Sram Level brakes and Mavic wheels are high-quality, but the price for the only model is correspondingly high at 5499 euros. Nevertheless, the targeted weight of less than 17 kilos sounds attractive, and with the equipment in combination with a slack head angle of 66 degrees, even light trail excursions should not be a problem.
The C-Finder
Another key feature of the new bikes is the C-Finder. The chip integrated into the frame, based on Apple's Air-Tag, allows you to keep an eye on your bike at all times. The feature was already supplied ex works on many e-bikes in 2024. The tracking device is permanently integrated into the frame. The tracker does not need to be charged. It gets its power directly from the main battery and remains active for several months even when the bike is not being ridden.
The advantage of this solution is that it works quite smoothly in most parts of the world due to the widespread use of Apple devices and does not incur any monthly costs. The disadvantage: The system can only be used with an Apple device; the Apple Finder only works to a very limited extent for Android. In cooperation with Axa insurance, Corratec also offers discounted insurance rates for bikes with C-Finder, which should make the bikes even more useful for everyday use.
By the way: Tracking solutions are now available for many e-bikes. Most recently, for example on many bikes from the new Canyon fleet. Bosch also offers a corresponding solution with the Connect module, which would be compatible with the SX drive and is even superior to the Air tags in terms of functional details. Unlike the Apple solution, however, this is associated with permanent costs: 40 euros per year or 5 euros per month are due, with other tracking providers the price level is similar.
Adrian Kaether
Editor
