M1, or rather the parent Fritzmeier Group, has often played a pioneering role. In the 70s, Fritzmeier built the "Gold" Rosi skis, in the 80s the Bavarians set standards in windsurfing with Mistral, and in the 90s they built one of the first monocoque MTB frames with the Magma.
With the Spitzing, M1 wants to be at the forefront again. At least when it comes to pure drive power. The S-Pedelec version, which is subject to authorisation, features the Cleanmobile drive, which has been boosted to 500 watts and accelerates the vehicle to almost 50 km/h with powerful pressure. And thanks to the five support levels, the power output can be adjusted from almost zero to "quite strenuous".
The powerhouse is packaged in a futuristically shaped carbon fibre chassis. Even the rear swing arm is made of carbon fibre. The huge 880 watt-hour battery sits in a kind of aluminium bag with a low centre of gravity.
Both in terms of geometry and the choice of components, M1 relies on a flawless mountain bike concept. 120 millimetres of suspension travel, sporty geometry and fat plus tyres - everything is uncompromisingly designed for off-road use. The lights, the rear-view mirror and all the other components that are installed here to fulfil the requirements for approval therefore look like foreign objects. This begs the question: does an S-pedelec of this calibre make any sense off-road at all?
With its thick plus wheels and comfortable chassis, it glides over gravel and easier terrain. You sit comfortably and have a firm grip on all the controls. However, the more technical the terrain, the more uncomfortable you feel on this bike. Due to the high overall weight, it pushes straight ahead in bends and narrow trails require a lot of physical effort. The wide, angular top tube hits your thighs uncomfortably. On steep climbs, the gearing reaches its limits early on. The large 48 mm chainring at the front simply does not allow for steep ramps. Even the enormous torque of the TQ motor is of no use here.
Conclusion: a strong, fast powerhouse for gravel roads, but not for technical terrain.
Please note: The Spitzing Plus S-Pedelec is considered a motor vehicle and is therefore not authorised beyond the scope of road traffic regulations.
Drive
Motor/position Cleanmobile PIN 120/centre motor, 500 watts
Max. Torque 120 Nm
Battery Lithium-ion, 880 Wh
Switching/translation 11-speed Shimano XT (36 x 11), 48 chainring
Display/size Kingmeter display
Equipment
Frame material/sizes Carbon main frame + swingarm / M and L
Fork/damper Manitou Magnum Pro/Manitou MC Leod
Front/rear suspension travel 120/120 mm
Telescopic support LEV DX
Brake/disc fore/aft Magura MT5/203/180 mm
Impellers 27.5 inch DT Swiss XM 551
Tyres Schwalbe Nobby Nic EVO 3.0
Info
www.m1-sporttechnik.de
Model M1 Spitzing Plus S-Pedelec
Weight/weight distribution 27.7 kg/13.71 kg (VR), 14 kg (HR)
Price 7899 Euro
