The company from Vicenza, Italy, has traditionally made no secret of the fact that Fantic likes a lot of suspension travel. No wonder: Fantic has been building motocross bikes since 1968 and has also risen to the top with correspondingly long travel. long-travel enduro bikes like the Integra Race into the e-bike market.
However, the Italians do not want to neglect weight in their designs either. With 720 watt hours, 90 Newton metres and less than 20 kilograms, the All Mountain XTF is said to be the lightest bike in its class. Fantic is now taking lightweight construction to the extreme and is presenting the BIKE Festival in Riva presents the Rampage. Contrary to what the name initially suggests, it is a light eMTB weighing from 15.5 kilos with short suspension travel, ultra-light equipment and a TQ motor.
The facts about the Fantic Rampage
- Motor: TQ HPR 50 (50 Newton metres)
- Battery: TQ, 360 watt hours, limited removability
- Optional range extender with 160 watt hours
- Two bottle cages in the frame
- Suspension travel: 120 or 140 millimetres
- Wheel size: 29 inch
- Full carbon frame with carbon rocker
- Five models from 5490 euros
- Four sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Weight: Between 15.5 and 19 kg, depending on model and equipment (manufacturer's specification)
With its first ever full-suspension mountain bike in the cross-country sector, Fantic aims to bridge the gap between highly motorised power eMTBs and bikes without a motor. The target weight: under 16 kilograms. The choice therefore fell on a bike with reduced suspension travel and sporty aspirations, as well as the lightweight drive system from TQ.
Fantic Rampage: Weight-optimised full carbon frame and AXS gearstick with cable
The Rampage therefore comes with a full carbon frame including carbon rocker. For weight reasons, the rearmost bearing at the rear (Horst link) has been omitted and, as with competitors from Scott or Red deer on flexing chainstays. The design language of the new frame was particularly important to the Italians. The design should inspire and create an emotional connection to the bike.
The integrated cables, which do not run through the headset but through the head tube into the frame, are now almost unusual. Fantic also uses a cable connection to the motor on models with an electronic Sram rear derailleur, which we have never seen on a production bike before: Very good, so you never have to keep an eye on the battery on the rear derailleur.
The With its maximum 50 Newton metres and 300 watts, the TQ drive is now a known quantity. Maximum power is not its strong point, but it is without doubt the quietest e-drive on the market, and the top tube display and unobtrusive remote also score points. Unlike the competition from Rotwild, Scott or Thömus, the cross-country E-MTB from Fantic relies on a removable battery. The process requires some tools and is not designed for regular battery removal, but the battery can be removed or replaced without a workshop if necessary.
Fantic Rampage: Models, equipment and geometries
The Fantic Rampage will be available in two different versions. The 1.2 model with 120 millimetres of travel is designed for particularly efficient propulsion, while the 1.4 model with 140 millimetres offers a little more safety and downhill fun. Both models use the same frame, the differences in geometry are due to two different dropouts at the rear.
Fantic Rampage 1.2: Pure lightweight construction
The sporty 1.2 with 120 millimetres of suspension travel is the top model in the product range. Both models for 8290 and 11590 euros are optimised for minimum weight. The tyre width is very narrow here at just 2.2 inches, but the 1.2 scores points with its 430 millimetre short chainstays and should therefore offer very agile handling. Depending on the frame size, the head angle is between 66 and 67 degrees and is therefore modern, but the reach of 463 millimetres in size L and the seat angle of 74 degrees are rather conservative. In terms of the dropper post, sizes S and M have to make do with 100 millimetres, while sizes L and XL have 125 and 150 millimetres respectively.
Fantic Rampage 1.4: Light E-MTB for trail and tour
The slightly less sporty Rampage 1.4 with 140 millimetres of travel is likely to be the more forgiving and forgiving bike. The price is also a little more attractive, with three versions available for 5490, 6690 and 9490 euros. Here, the tyre width is a respectable 2.4 inches and the chainstay length increases to a still manageable 437 millimetres due to the different dropout. At 64.5 to 65.5 and 75 degrees respectively, the head and seat angles are slightly more modern than those of the cross-country brother, but the reach is also short at 463 millimetres in size L. Unfortunately, you also have to make do with little dropper post travel. The S and M frames have 100 millimetres of travel, while the L and XL frames have 125 and 150 millimetres respectively. The fact that Fantic relies on SR-Suntour suspension for all 1.4 models is somewhat unusual. However, the developers justify this with the best possible price-performance ratio.
Conclusion Adrian Kaether, EMTB editor
With the Rampage, Fantic not only offers the most affordable bike with a quiet TQ drive on the market to date, but also makes its own mark in the still young category of cross-country e-bikes with wired AXS gears, steering angles that grow with the rider and a battery that can at least be removed with a little effort. The geometry is somewhat more conservative than that of the competition, but the Fantic should feel very comfortable on winding trails.
Adrian Kaether
Editor
