New Stevens E-Inception 2026: The lightweight all-rounder from Hamburg with Bosch power
Adrian Kaether
· 01.11.2025
Lightweight, elegantly equipped and versatile on the trail: the first Stevens E-Inception from 2020 was a big hit. From a standing start, the Hamburg-based company catapulted itself from a solid specialist retail brand to the top of our high-end comparison test and was even able to repeat its test victory in 2022. The unique selling point at the time: the E-All-Mountain combined a generous range (720 Wh was still a lot back then!) with a really good weight.
Some time has passed since then and the E-Inception with its older Shimano motor no longer seems quite up to date. In the E-MTB sector, the development clock is apparently still ticking at a rapid pace. So it's good that Stevens is now sending a worthy successor to the test winner onto the trails. With a new Bosch drive, modern geometry and a full carbon frame.
The Stevens E-Inception 2026 at a glance
- Motor: Bosch CX, 100 Nm max. torque
- Battery: 800 Wh (removable)
- Frame material: Carbon
- Spring travel: 160/150 mm or 170/160 mm
- Wheel size: Mullet (29/27.5 inch)
- Frame sizes: R1 - R5
- Price: from 6499 to 7899 euros
- Weight: 23.6 kg (test bike in size L, BIKE measurement)
Bosch CX Gen5: Up to 100 Nm
An E-Inception with Bosch? It's been done before. Since 2022, Stevens has also offered the all-rounder with Swabian power. However, it was the bike with Bosch's Smart System and 750 battery (tested here) quite heavy and the battery is not removable. The new E-Inception solves both problems at once. The new 800 Bosch battery in the down tube is classically removable and secured with a key.
The motor itself is the new fifth-generation CX with up to 750 watts and 100 Nm at its peak. Somewhat surprisingly, instead of the Kiox 400 C, our top model also relies on a system controller, mini-remote and the Purion 400 display on the handlebars. However, the decision against the large top tube screen should bring an advantage in terms of frame weight.
Full carbon chassis: 500 grams lighter
And Stevens actually claims a weight saving of 500 grams for the frame. That's quite something when the battery was previously permanently installed. Even the shock rocker is made of carbon. Thanks to double-row ball bearings in the rear triangle, the frame should still be robust and durable. Stevens has made moderate changes to the geometry: The head angle is slacker, the reach longer. The seat angle is noticeably steeper, but remains outside the extremes.
Overall, the geometry is modern, but the head angle and reach are noticeably focussed on smoothness. The rear end, which has been shortened by 5 millimetres, should nevertheless give the bike a good amount of play, while the extremely low bottom bracket contributes to a high feeling of safety. Stevens wants to have minimised the pedal kickback slightly and made the suspension a little more sensitive in the middle section.
Three models from 6499 euros
As before, the E-Inception is available as an AM version with 160/150 mm and as an ED with 170/160 millimetres, but initially only in three models. The ED for 6999 euros forms the centre of the range. The most affordable and the top model are somewhat more versatile with 160/150 millimetres. Here is an overview of the equipment of the three bikes.
E-Inception AM 7.8.1 GTF
- Fork: Marzocchi Bomber Z1, 160 mm
- Damper: Marzocchi Bomber Air, 150 mm
- Switching group: SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission, 12-speed
- Price: 6499 Euro
E-Inception ED 8.8.1 GTF
- Fork: Fox 38 Float Performance, 170 mm
- Damper: Fox Float X Performance Elite, 160 mm
- Switching group: SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission, 12-speed
- Price: 6999 Euro
E-Inception AM 8.8.1 GTF
- Fork: Fox 36 Float Performance Elite, 160 mm
- Damper: Fox Float X Performance Elite, 150 mm
- Switching group: SRAM GX AXS Eagle Transmission, 12-speed
- Price: 7899 Euro
BIKE summary of the Stevens E-Inception
With the new Bosch motor and lightweight full-carbon chassis, Stevens has brought the top all-rounder E-Inception up to date. Only three models rather surprised us, the geometry of the bike looks exciting. The prices are aimed squarely at the mid-range. We are excited to see how the bike rides and will report back shortly. - Adrian Kaether, Editor Test & Technology
Adrian Kaether
Editor
