GasGas MXC: The new trail e-bike with Sram Eagle Powertrain in a short test

Motorbike specialist GasGas caused a stir last year with the Enduro ECC. Not only was the bike one of the first four E-MTBs, with which Sram presented its Powertrain drivetrain. The GasGas was also an eye-catcher for many other reasons: Moto-look fenders on the frame, its own special chassis from White Power in collaboration with DVO, bright colours and accents.

However, with super-long chainstays and an extra-long wheelbase, the Enduro ECC is clearly designed for e-racing such as the Enduro World Cup E-EDR. Perhaps not the best choice for everyday fun. A second bike therefore quietly appeared on the GasGas website in winter: The MXC comes as a playful trail e-bike with shorter chainstays, 160 / 140 millimetres of suspension travel, a wheel mix and, in the top models, also with the special suspension from the DVO/WP cooperation. In the smallest size S, which is more like a small M, we have already been able to get a first impression of the top model MXC 6.

The GasGas MXC: The facts

• Carbon frame
• 160 / 140 mm suspension travel
• 29 / 27.5 inch (Mullet)
• Motor: Eagle Powertrain (Sram/Brose, 90 Nm)
• Battery: Sram, 630 Wh, removable
• Exclusive DVO-WP running gear
• Three models from 6999 to 9999 euros
• Three frame sizes: S, M, L
• Weight: 23.3 kg (EMTB measurement, top model MXC 6, size S/M)
• Permissible total weight: 130 kilograms
• ASTM category: 4 (Enduro, jumps up to 120 cm)

Drivetrain with Brose power: Sram Eagle Powertrain

Motorbike manufacturer GasGas is increasingly looking to gain a foothold in the bicycle sector. The Spaniards now have their own racing team with prominent names such as Johannes Fischbach and Alex Marin at the start. And last year, GasGas was one of the launch partners for Sram's new Eagle Powertrain system. The basic idea behind it: Sram networks all electronic components on the bike with the motor, battery, gears, dropper post and even the suspension. The aim is to utilise the strengths of the individual parts even better, simplify the operating logic and enable new features such as automatic shifting.

>>Here is the detailed presentation of the Eagle Powertrain drive including Auto-Shift feature

The power for the drive system comes from Brose's Drive S Mag motor, which is operated with software from Sram. The drive has long been familiar from bikes such as Specialized and Rotwild, and the pleasant soundscape and high torque of 90 Newton metres have many fans. The drive is powered by a 600 watt-hour battery that can be removed from the front in the classic way, and is operated via a reduced top tube display and Sram's minimalist pod controller. The equipment variants with electronic Eagle Transmission (MXC 5 and 6) change gears automatically on request, both uphill and downhill.

DVO meets WP: The special chassis in the GasGas MXC

The first prototype was unveiled at Eurobike 2023 and immediately caused a stir: A new suspension system! A real rarity in a bike world dominated by the giants Fox and Rockshox. Behind the suspension with the red adjustment knobs is a co-operation between the American mountain bike suspension manufacturer DVO and the moto suspension company White Power, better known as WP. Like GasGas, Husqvarna and KTM Motorrad, WP is part of the Austrian Pierer Group. Certainly one of the reasons for the suspension co-operation, in particular on the ECC enduro race bikes from GasGas, which the Spaniards have now also transferred to the MXC.

The DVO-WP suspension has several special features. In addition to the spring preload, which in the MXC is classically adjustable via the air pressure of the suspension elements, the suspension also has another basic setting, at least in the top version: the OTT spring for adjusting the response behaviour in the fork and the second so-called bladder air chamber for regulating the oil flow in the damper. Both technologies are already familiar from DVO's mountain bike suspension systems.

WP, known from KTM motorbike suspensions among other things, is responsible for the damping of the suspension elements with the so-called Cone-Valve. This is a special valve technology designed to prevent the suspension elements from hardening on fast, hard impacts and thus relieve the rider somewhat on braking bumps or in rough terrain. The damper and fork are also adjustable in high and low-speed compression and simple rebound. All in all, an extremely complex system. At least there is a detailed setup guide for the many different parameters. However, it's not as simple as just sitting on it and riding off.

Fun instead of balanced? The geometry of the GasGas MXC

While the Enduro ECC is the serious racer, the MXC is clearly a playmate. The front of the bike is high, the reach rather compact depending on the size. Short chainstays should ensure fun handling. A special feature of GasGas: in addition to the main frame, the rear triangle also grows with the sizes. This should ensure an identical riding experience for both tall and short riders. The MXC is only available in three sizes from S to L, but the bikes are more like somewhat small M to XL bikes. Our test bike in size S fits riders over 1.70 metres, while the L should also work for riders over 1.90 metres.

The geometry at a glance

• Size: S / M / L
• Seat tube length: 400 / 440 / 470 mm
• Wheelbase: 1228 / 1262 / 1299 mm
• Reach: 445 / 470 / 495 mm
• Stack: 644 / 658 / 671 mm
• Steering angle: 64.5 degrees
• Seat angle: 74 degrees
• Chainstay length: 442 / 445 / 450 mm
• Bottom bracket drop: -31.5 mm

From 6999 euros: Three high-priced models at a glance

The GasGas MXC is only available with a full carbon frame, with prices starting at € 6999 for the MXC 4. The DVO-WP special suspension is not yet available here, but Lyrik Select+ and Superdeluxe Select+ from Rockshox with the modern and extensively adjustable Charger 3 damping are. The top-of-the-range suspension on the MXC 4 is accompanied by more affordable parts. Shifting is mechanical with a GX/SX shifting mix from Sram, braking with Sram's "favourable code" DB8. The wheels and seat post are from GasGas.

The MXC 5 with DVO-WP suspension is a little more sophisticated, even if it has the simpler fork without OTT. It comes with an electric GX Eagle transmission, the Sram G2 RS and GasGas wheels and dropper post, but at a price of € 8999, it's not something to cheer about. The top-of-the-range model costs another thousand euros more and goes one better with the X0 Transmission, Code brakes and aluminium wheels from Newmen, but the GasGas bikes certainly don't win the price-performance award. It would appear that the special suspension is one of the main factors weighing heavily on the price list. After all, all models are approved for enduro use in accordance with ASTM category 4.

Suspension & bike quick check: How the MXC 6 rides

Just jump on and roll off? Unfortunately, not so easy with the GasGas MXC 6, which we were able to ride in size S for a few days. Despite a good setup guide and weight-dependent recommendations for all of the 10 (!) adjustable parameters, the suspension setup alone took a good half an hour. But then the GasGas shows a funny character on the trails. You stand rather compact but well integrated behind the high front end, the short chainstays and the small but not unsuitable frame in our case give the bike lively handling.

A little unexpected for us: Anyone who sits on a bike with Auto-Shift for longer really learns to appreciate the automatic transmission. Downhill in particular, the shifting system significantly enhances the flow experience when you can simply concentrate on the trail and trust that the right gear will be engaged after the next bend. Uphill, the Brose motor of the Powertrain system pushes powerfully but not quite as quietly as you would expect from other Brose motors. However, the front wheel needs to be actively kept in check on steep ramps due to the slack seat angle and high front end. The 600 battery was sufficient for full-throttle tours up to 1000 metres in altitude with an 85-kilo rider and demanding uphills. For only 600 watt hours, this is a good value in practice, but if you want significantly more, you have to save battery.

And the suspension? After some initial setup difficulties, it did a very good job overall. However, harmonising the long fork and the short rear travel is not easy. The damping feels very different to classic MTB forks from Fox and Rockshox. The fork in particular works very defined at first, but changes character drastically on fast, hard hits. If you hammer through deep brake holes into a berm at high speed, you will be surprised by a lot of spring movement. This ensures a high level of riding comfort and still feels surprisingly controlled. Too bad: The fork damping is quite noisy, and the bike rattles a little despite the firmly bolted battery and quiet motor. This wastes potential downhill and doesn't look quite as high-quality as you would wish for at a price of 9999 euros.

EMTB conclusion: Not ultimately balanced, but fun to ride

Hardly any other bike is as much of a mullet as the GasGas MXC. Small rear wheel and short rear suspension travel, long fork and large front wheel, plus the short chainstays: This makes the GasGas a fun playmate for the home trail, and with the long fork and large front wheel, even short but technically demanding sections are no problem. Unfortunately, the price is high, some details don't seem to have been fully developed and the complex suspension setup is likely to be a challenge for many dealers and customers. - Adrian Kaether, EMTB editor