The new Steamer Alu is designed as a trail bike and relies on the Steps E8000 motor from Shimano. The engineers from Vorarlberg attached great importance to a wide range of use for the Steamer, which reflects the topography of their home region: the high alpine terrain of the Silvretta and the Rätikon, as well as enjoyable trail laps of the upper Rhine Valley. The Steamer masters a wide range of trails with ease, but is not nervously playful, but relaxed. The riding position with medium reach is successful, you sit in a central and relaxed position. Long tours were just as much a pleasure for us as visits to the Flowline in the Brandnertal bike park.
At the same time, careful engineering takes into account the high drive loads (chain pull) of the hybrid. Simplon therefore makes no compromises when it comes to the rear suspension: massive double bearings on the rocker, quad bearings on the main bearing, conical bearings on the very laterally stiff rear triangle. Thanks to the drive-neutral four-bar linkage kinematics and the excellent RT3 damper, the Steamer efficiently transfers the engine power to the ground - whether on root carpets or blocked cart tracks, the Steamer delivers pure propulsion. Contemporary features such as wide Plus tyres up to 2.8", Boost hubs on the front and rear, Di2 preparation and internally routed cables complete the picture.
Top: the sturdy aluminium motor guard in case of a bump. And the centre cable guide - the rotating cable guide - decouples the kinematics from cable movements. Simplon also offers optional shorter 165 and 155 mm cranks for technical alpine riders. The icing on the cake is the optional Rockshox Pike with drop (160-140 mm). The reason: the very short rear triangle, typical of Shimano, allows the Simplon to rebound a little earlier on steep alpine ramps - one turn of the fork adjustment to 140 mm and the front wheel sticks to the ground again.
CONCLUSIONS: Clever details, outstanding engineering, modern geometry, top equipment and riding behaviour - the Steamer plays in the premier league and is an all-rounder. The price is absolutely reasonable.
Drive
Motor / Position Shimano Steps E8000 / mid-engine
Max. Torque 70 NM
Battery Lithium-ion, Shimano 1 x 500 Wh
Display Shimano
Equipment
Frame material / sizes Aluminium / S / M / L / XL
Fork / damper Rockshox Pike 160-140 mm / Rockshox Deluxe RT3 150 mm
Spring travel fore/aft 160 mm / 150 mm
Brake / Disc vo. / hi. Shimano Deore XT / 203 / 185 mm
Impellers Simplon AXM 1750-275 Boost 27.5
Tyres Schwalbe Magic Mary 2.6
Weight 21.5 kilos
Price 5299 Euro with one battery
Info www.simplon.at
