Rotwild R.X 1000 on test: Carefree all-mountain with giant battery and Pinion gearbox

No exposed rear derailleur, no wear-prone sprockets, shift whenever you want: that's the promise of Pinion's MGU. The unit consisting of an electric motor and 12-speed gearbox is the outstanding innovation of the e-bike year 2023 (Test and detailed presentation of the Pinion MGU). No wonder that the innovative Rotwild brand has been on board with this project right from the start. Now the first production bikes of the R.X 1000 with this MGU are set to roll into the shops. We were able to test the 150-millimetre touring bike - and for the first time an MGU in its final production state.

Rotwild is positioning the R.X 1000 alongside its sporty trail eMTBs with Shimano drivetrain (The Rotwild R.X 735 on test) as an unproblematic, solid touring bike. Firstly, there is the Pinion drive. The MGU should make wear and maintenance worries largely a thing of the past and also prevent stress and defects with its uncomplicated shifting logic and automatic functions. Secondly, there is the huge battery with 960 watt hours. There are hardly any range worries. The third component is the carbon chassis with moderate geometry. The frame was largely modelled exactly on the R.X 750 with Brose drive, which was presented at the beginning of 2019.

The facts about the Rotwild R.X 1000 Ultra

• Motor: Pinion MGU E1.12, 85 Nm max. torque
• Battery: FIT, 960 Wh (removable)
• Frame material: Carbon
• Suspension travel: 150 mm
• Wheel size: 29 / 27.5 inch
• Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Price: 11,999 euros
• Weight: 24.4 kg (test bike in size L, without pedals, EMTB measurement)

Carefree and low-maintenance: the gearstick

Compared to a classic combination of electric motor and derailleur gears, the MGU offers a whole range of advantages. Costly wear on the chain and cassette is significantly minimised. In addition, the exposed rear derailleur is completely eliminated. This should ensure consistent shifting performance over the years. The sprung mass on the rear wheel is reduced, which centres the weight in the middle of the bike. What's more, the 12-speed gearbox shifts at any time, even when stationary. So much for the theory. In practice, the pre-series MGU still had some disadvantages. Pinion wanted to make improvements.

The e-bike drive

The Pinion MGU is a unit consisting of motor and integrated gear shifting - that is revolutionary. Power and torque are powerful. On top, Rotwild installs a battery with a massive 962 watt hours. The battery can be folded forwards out of the down tube in seconds using a key.

How the Pinion MGU from series production rides

The most noticeable change that we have now noticed with the final production MGU in the R.X 1000 is the tuning of the engine thrust. Even in the highest mode, the engine is smooth and easy to control. Top! Only the lack of overrun gives rise to a somewhat unrounded on-off feeling in some situations. However, Pinion has announced that there will be improvements as part of a software update.

We could not recognise any serious difference in the noise level. In some gears, particularly the slight uphill gear ratio from gear four downwards, the standard product is also significantly louder than the competition from Bosch and Shimano. Every test rider criticised the harsh, noticeable motor noise. To Pinion's credit, the motor becomes significantly quieter in higher gears and is then no longer noticeable. Contrary to the usual competition, the motor does not rattle on downhill rides either - although this advantage is unfortunately cancelled out by a loud rattling chain on the Rotwild test bike.

The shift behaviour of the standard product has not changed significantly either. Basically, the gearbox changes gears very smoothly, even under load. This happens faster and more smoothly than with a derailleur system, especially when jumping to a higher gear ratio. However, the two-stage gearbox (3 x 4 gears) has to shift both gears simultaneously when jumping from fourth to fifth and from eighth to ninth gear. If you pedal with commitment, these gear changes noticeably interrupt the driving flow, as they take a little longer and the power flow briefly falters as a result. All in all, the disadvantages of the system are rather subjective in nature, while the factual advantages are clearly on the table. We advise anyone interested to take an individual test ride. This is even more essential for bikes with Pinion-MGU than for classic E-MTBs.

The geometry of the Rotwild R.X 1000 Ultra

For an E-MTB in this power and travel class, the R.X 1000 is surprisingly short. The geometry is designed for leisurely tours rather than rough terrain and looks a little dusty from a modern trail bike perspective. The seat tube is very long and the riding position is slightly stretched.

EMTB measurements at a glance (frame size L)

• Seat tube length: 465 mm
• Wheelbase: 1238 mm
• Reach: 461 mm
• Stack: 645 mm
• Steering angle: 65.5 degrees
• Seat angle: 75 degrees
• Chainstay length: 445 mm

The equipment of the Rotwild E-MTB

• Fork / shock: Fox 36 Factory Fit4 / Float X Factory
• Gear system: Pinion MGU, 12-speed
• Brakes: Magura MT7, 203/203 mm
• Wheels: DT Swiss HX 1501
• Tyres: Schwalbe Magic Mary Super Ground Soft, 29 x 2.4" / Hans Dampf Super Trail Soft, 27.5 x 2.6"
• Special features: E-cable runs integrated through handlebars and stem, Monkeylink mount for front light, carbon handlebars

Practical test: How the Rotwild R.X 1000 Ultra

On tour

While modern e-MTBs are becoming longer and flatter in order to equip them for extreme descents and high speeds, the R.X 1000 refuses to follow this trend. This is also noticeable in the practical test. The riding position is sporty, the steering is direct and neutral. This makes the bike very easy to steer and control. The massive battery comes into its own on long tours. In our standardised range test, the R.X 1000 climbed over 2000 metres in altitude in the highest support mode - that's quite a lot.

Uphill

On steep climbs, the Rotwild retains its uncomplicated character. The rear suspension generates a lot of traction and still keeps the rider in an active and central riding position. You need this, because with the short chainstays, you can definitely feel a tendency for the front wheel to rise on extremely steep sections. The Pinion motor always feels powerful. The modulation of the motor thrust in the latest software version is also successful. The only negative aspect is the lack of trail. This is because technical passages that require you to stop pedalling are not as smooth with this characteristic as with other motors. However, Pinion has announced that it will also update the software in this respect.

Downhill

The short wheelbase, light wheels and centralised weight distribution help prevent the battery-powered monster from becoming a sluggish ship. However, at 24.4 kilos, the Rotwild cannot be described as playful. Off-road, it wants to be ridden in a more dignified manner, in which case it offers the rider decent riding safety thanks to the successful equipment and the strong chassis. If you're not looking for best times or wild stunts, the R.X 1000 can also be used to tackle challenging trails. Top: The bike remains easy to control even when ridden with restraint. The equipment is top notch.

One exciting aspect of the Pinion MGU is the automatic shifting features. A desired cadence can be selected using the Pre-Select function. When rolling, the system automatically engages the gear that matches the speed. In theory, this means that you always have the perfect gear to hand on descents without having to worry about it.

EMTB review Rotwild R.X 1000

Strengths

• Low-maintenance Pinion drive
• Shifting also when stationary, automatic when rolling
• High-traction, well-balanced chassis
• Enormous range

Weaknesses

• High weight (system-related) at a high price
• Distinctive rattling in the field
• Not a proven trail expert
• Long seat tube

The EMTB conclusion

Uncomplicated, balanced, exceptional: these attributes make the R.X 1000 a very special touring bike. Comfort comes before sporty trail handling, but the Rotwild can also cope with challenging terrain. The Pinion drivetrain is particularly low-maintenance and minimally prone to faults. This makes the Rotwild a carefree workhorse in an elegant guise.