Touring riders in particular have been waiting for this innovation: Red deer comes with a removable battery that can be taken out for charging. This is made possible by a new carbon down tube that is shaped like a U-profile. The battery is secured in this profile with a bolt. In addition, it now offers 660 instead of 518 watt hours of capacity and can therefore significantly extend the reach. The battery can therefore be removed at any time, whether for charging at a hut or for swapping on a longer tour. The new energy reservoir comes from the German battery giant BMZ and has a further ten cells inside. This makes the battery around half a kilo heavier.
The R.E+ is powered by the new Brose Drive-S motor. This now has significantly more power and is easier to modulate. All Rotwild models from the mid-price segment upwards will come with the new down tube and removable battery in 2018. As the down tube is not an integral part of the main frame on earlier models either, the ensemble can even be retrofitted to all old Rotwild models.
The R.E+ enduro model still comes with e-optimised components from Fox and DT-Swiss. The new, larger battery weighs around half a kilo more, but the total weight of the enduro bike should still be around 22 kilos. There are three models of the 160-millimetre R.E+ FS enduro bike to choose from: The 7800 euro Ultra and the 6400 euro Pro feature the new removable 660 Wh battery. The € 5700 Core has a fixed 518 Wh battery.
We have already had the opportunity to test the R.E+ extensively. Apart from the top performance of the new Brose Drive-S unit - the Read the full Drive-S ride report in EMTB 3/17 - Rotwild's flagship bike has also grown up in terms of riding characteristics: With its long front end and powerful Fox suspension, the RE+ rides like a board on fast tracks. Compared to its predecessor, the components have been significantly refined: Schwalbe Magic Mary tyres with the new Addix rubber compound and Apex reinforcement in the new 2.6 inch width, stiff E-MTB wheels from DT Swiss and the Sram EX1 drivetrain ensure a harmonious component mix on the top model. The tyres in particular stand out positively in the ride test: The 2.6-inch width offers the safety of plus-size tyres without their disadvantages.
