The ingredients of the Storck are a sporty carbon frame set, the geometry of which is based on the Grix gravel bike (without the "e"), and the X20 drive from Mahle, which is hidden between the large cassette and the brake disc in the rear wheel hub. The battery is just as inconspicuously integrated into the down tube, and you have to look very closely to recognise the Storck as a motorised off-road bike. With the lightweight Sram Red drivetrain and many carbon components, the e:Grix weighs just under eleven kilograms, making it the lightest bike in our comparison.
The Storck e:Grix Pro is a lightweight
The weight advantage is definitely noticeable when riding without assistance, because the bike then accelerates better and can be moved a little more briskly than many competitors who rely on mid-mounted motors.
A sporty riding style, where you only switch on the assistance in an emergency, is the best option with this concept. If you want to use the motor assistance, you can call up a decent wattage: In the highest support level, the rear wheel pushes with a lot of torque, which also works well on very steep climbs.
The Mahle X20 engine as minimum support
The fact that the Mahle hub motor starts with a minimal delay due to its design and continues to run for a blink of an eye as soon as the crank stops again is a matter of getting used to. We did, however, find the somewhat rough start at the highest level a little annoying. For this reason alone, the Mahle is better suited as a minimum support.
If you're planning long tours in the mountains, you'll have to be economical with your energy anyway, as the 242 Wh battery (without the range extender) runs out relatively early at full power. As the e:Grix frame does not yet have a UDH derailleur hanger, our test bike is still fitted with the 1x12 drivetrain from SRAM. It should be available with the new Red 1x13 from next year.
Storck e:Grix Pro: Technical data, equipment, motor & price
Geometry
- Seat/top/head tube: 490/550/125 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR: 546/376 millimetres/1.45
- Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 610/544 millimetres/1.12
- Wheelbase/caster: 1014/66 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/gear shift: Sram Red XPLR (1x12; 40, 10-44 t.)
- Brakes: Sram Red (160/160 mm)
- Tyres: Schwalbe G-One Allround (40 mm)
- Impellers: Zeitjaeger Platinum 40 X
- Impeller weights: 1414/3215 grams (f./h.)
Engine
- Model: Mahle X20 (hub motor)
- Top performance: 230 watts
- Maximum torque: 23 Nm
- Battery capacity: 242 Wh (+171 Wh range extender)
- Support levels: 3
Advantages and disadvantages of the Storck e:Grix Pro
- Plus: Lightweight, unobtrusive integrated drive
- Minus: Small battery
Jens Klötzer
Editor
