One more playful corner change, two targeted bunny hops over a carpet of roots, and the happiness hormones take full control of me. The unparalleled light-footedness of the non-motorised enduro has cast a spell over me. When I reach the bottom, I roll into the car park at the Geißkopf bike park, completely exhilarated. My colleague Florentin, who was on my rear wheel for the whole descent, also seems to be struggling with an overdose of happiness hormones. "Wow, that's a difference like night and day. Nothing can upset the fat bike," he enthuses about the indestructible handling of his fully-powered E-MTB.
E-Enduro versus Enduro-MTB without motor
After several comparison rides, we agree on the strengths and weaknesses of both enduro bikes. Light-footed and precise are the attributes of the organic enduro bike. Characteristics that you would look for in vain on an E-Enduro due to the additional weight of the motor and battery. On the other hand, this type of bike scores highly in terms of safety at high speeds. But what if you didn't have to choose between the superlatives of both concepts and there was something in between? A bike that combines the best of both worlds? Playful, but still blessed with smooth running and motor support.
Middle ground? E-Enduro with minimal assist drive
This is precisely the approach Minimal-assist enduro bikes like the Rotwild R.E 375. Although a smaller battery and a weaker motor limit the range of this type of e-MTB, they also give the bikes a more natural bike feeling thanks to their lower weight. However, the Rotwild occupies a special position in this class. Instead of a special, lighter and weaker unit, the product managers have opted for the classic Shimano EP8 with its full performance potential. However, the drive is set to moderate power at the factory so that the small 375 watt-hour battery is not drained too quickly. At 20.2 kilos, the weight of the R.E 375 is still well above that of an organic bike, but also well below the average weight of normal e-enduro bikes. But is that enough to satisfy the wishes of many enduro riders?
To find out whether the Rotwild really has the potential to be the perfect enduro bike, we head back up the forest track to the start of the freeride route. Back in the mix: the two classic concepts of MTB and E-MTB. To make the cross-comparison exciting, the Rocky Mountain Altitude Carbon 70 the organic bike faction. In the latest enduro test by our sister magazines BIKE and FREERIDE, the Canadian made the testers' hearts beat faster. We are also sending a real high-calibre representative of the classic E-MTB faction into the race: the brand new and 13790 euro Yeti 160E - with Shimano EP8 and 630 watt hours of battery capacity. All three high-end candidates have one thing in common: full carbon frames, 29-inch wheels, aggressive geometries and 170 millimetres of suspension travel.
Three enduro bike systems compared
170 millimetres of travel, aggressive geometries, 29-inch wheels: our three enduro mountain bikes can hardly be distinguished by these parameters. But how do motors and weight affect downhill performance? We answer this question in the article, which you can easily download as a PDF below.
Test Yeti 160E T1
13790 euros - what some people spend on a new small car is what you have to pay for an e-mountainbike from Yeti. But we are used to horrendous prices from the US cult brand. The motor in the bottom bracket area, on the other hand, is unusual. The 160E is Yeti's first foray into the highly competitive e-MTB territory. With a completely independent full carbon frame, 170/160 millimetre chassis and 29-inch wheels, the engineers from Colorado want to declare war on the established E-Enduro celebrities. The drive support of the newcomer is the responsibility of Shimano's EP8 motor. A 630 watt-hour battery supplies the unit with the necessary energy. A glance at the geometry table reveals the Yeti 160E's racing ambitions. The steering angle measures a flat 64 degrees, as befits a racy enduro bike. At 472 millimetres, the reach is on the long side and, in combination with the slack steering angle, ensures a very smooth ride. The new Yeti is available in two equipment variants for 10990 euros and 13790 euros.
You can conveniently download the complete system comparison of E-Enduros and the test report on the Yeti 160E T1 from EMTB 6/2021 as a PDF below the article. The test costs 1.99 euros.
Why not free of charge? Because quality journalism has a price. In return, we guarantee independence and objectivity. This applies in particular to the tests in EMTB. We don't pay for them, but the opposite is the case: we charge for them, namely tens of thousands of euros every year.
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Max Fuchs
Editor
