Thömus Lightrider E3 Pro: Swiss army knife? E-bike for SUV to bike park
Florentin Vesenbeckh
· 29.11.2024
Thömus jumped on the e-mountainbike bandwagon early on. And right from the start, the Swiss company pursued a clear direction: high-end. Even the first expansion stage of the Lightrider, version E1, relied on a high-quality carbon chassis. And this at a time when most e-bike manufacturers only used aluminium frames. The new Thömus Lightrider E3 Pro remains true to this line. The Shimano drive unit and the frame design with upright rear shock are also similar to the newcomer and its predecessors. But apart from that, the latest version has been rethought from the ground up. It is designed to be sportier and stronger on the trail than ever before - and is also equipped with some smart features.
The facts about the Thömus Lightrider E3 Pro
- Motor: Shimano EP801 or EP6
- Battery: 800 Wh, removable
- Optional: Range extender with 250 Wh
- Frame: Full carbon fibre
- Suspension travel: 150/150 mm, optionally with 160 or 170 mm fork
- Wheel size: 29 inch
- Price: from CHF 6290
- Equipment customisable in the configurator
- Weight: from 23 kilos (manufacturer's specification)
- Permissible total weight: 150 kg
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Shimano motor & large battery - with option of 1050 Wh
Thömus remains loyal to Shimano when it comes to the e-drive. The new Lightrider E3 Pro can be configured with either an EP801 or EP6 motor. The EP801 in particular is quite light for a power motor. The compact design also gives the developers a lot of freedom in terms of frame construction. However, new releases with Shimano motors have been few and far between recently. Presumably also because competitor Bosch has just presented a powerful new version with the new Performance CX.
To increase the range, the Swiss have installed a battery with 800 watt hours. The battery can be easily and quickly folded forwards out of the down tube. To secure the battery safely and rattle-free in the down tube, Thömus uses a screw connection with a solid bolt without a rattle-prone lock. Including the firmly bolted cover and the attachment, the energy carrier should weigh 4.1 kilos.
If the 800 watt hours are not enough, you can build on an additional range extender. 250 watt hours can be clicked onto the down tube via a magnetic Fidlock mount. A total of 1050 watt hours are then available. The additional battery is said to weigh 1.9 kilos, which is quite heavy for this capacity. By comparison, the PowerMore 250 from Bosch weighs 1.6 kilos.
Transformer: From Enduro to SUV
Despite its sporty silhouette, suitability for everyday use should not be neglected. In the configurator, the Thömus Lightrider E3 can also be set up as an SUV e-bike. To this end, the Swiss have given the frame some hidden mounting points. Both a kickstand and a fully-fledged mudguard with pannier rack can be fitted to the bike on request. The attachment points are deliberately placed inconspicuously and concealed.
Thömus has also integrated a lighting system. The Supernova rear light is located in the left dropout, but the bike can also be ordered without this option. In this case, a dummy plug covers the opening. The front light, which is inconspicuously integrated into the head tube logo, is always on board. However, this is not a fully-fledged headlight, but rather a position light to make it easier to be seen by other road users.
Full enduro? The geometry of the Thömus Lightrider
The new Lightrider is supposed to be more fun, more trail-orientated and more downhill than before. The geometry in particular should ensure this. The chassis has been significantly tweaked compared to its predecessor. Steeper seat angle, slacker steering angle - the classic modernisation treatment for off-road riding. The steering angle can be flattened to 63.6 degrees with the optional 170 mm suspension fork. These are radical enduro dimensions. The wheelbase of 1281 mm in size L is also impressive. However, with 160 mm or 150 mm forks, the geometry becomes more moderate. With 150 mm travel, the steering angle should end up at 64.6 degrees.
Prices, equipment and availability
The first bikes in size L will be available immediately on the Swiss company's website. Sizes S, M and XL are set to follow in spring 2025. Each variant can be ordered in one of the six colours and customised in the equipment details. Another special feature: the bike is prepared for the integrated Eightpins seatpost, but can also be fitted with classic droppers. The following options are available as basic versions:
- Shimano SLX 1×12 from CHF 6290.00
- Shimano XT 1×11 LG from CHF 6490.00
- Shimano XT 1×12 from CHF 6690.00
- Shimano XT 1x12 Di2 Freeshift from CHF 6990,-
- Shimano XTR 1x12 from CHF 7690,-
- Sram GX from CHF 6990,-
- Sram XX AXS 1x12 from CHF 7990,-
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
