SUV bike vs E-MTB test: Centurion Numinis EQ vs Focus Thron²

Our reader survey 2022 revealed: Almost 30 per cent of EMTB readers also use their bikes in everyday life. Overall, the number of everyday users of e-MTBs is likely to be significantly higher. Of the almost 2 million e-bikes sold in Germany alone in 2021, over a third were e-MTBs. No wonder: the look, comfort and handling appeal to many users, even if only a fraction of them are likely to regularly ride off-road.

The manufacturers react and show more and more SUV bikes that are ideal for crossover use between trail and city traffic. should be equipped. We wanted to know: Does the compromise between trail and everyday use limit the Off-road capability? And is a conventional E-MTB, upgraded with special parts for the Everyday useperhaps the better and more flexible option?

SUV bike versus E-MTB: Centurion versus Focus

We request two bikes for a test duel. Centurion's Numinis EQ is already equipped with a massive luggage rack, lights and mudguards ex works, but also impresses with chunky Maxxis tyres, full suspension with good suspension components from Fox and mountain bike geometry. On paper, there's little to complain about.

The Focus Throne² stands in as a classic e-mountainbike in comparison. It offers a similar amount of suspension travel to the Centurion, has the same wheel size and the same motor and battery. As with the Centurion, the geometry should also suit beginners and touring riders well. The Focus is an example of how an e-MTB can be upgraded for everyday use.

Incidentally, if you wish, you can also order the Focus ex works as a finished SUV. However, the Focus Thron² EQP comes with weaker tyres and a tamer chassis than Centurion's EQ model.

SUV bike and E-MTB at a glance:

• Centurion Numinis R2700i EQ: 28.22 kilograms, Bosch motor with 750 watt hours, 5799 euros >> available here.
• Focus Thron² (modified): 26.76 (28.17) kilograms, Bosch motor with 750 watt hours, 6299 (approx. 6700) euros >> available here.

E-MTB suitable for everyday use: how we upgraded the Thron²

For more weather protection, we fit the Focus Thron² with the Test-winning mudguards from the last BIKE test by Crud and the most stable retrofit luggage rack for fullys that the colleagues from our touring-orientated sister magazine MYBIKE ever had in their hands. The Tour Rack from Thule. For the lighting system, we rely on the system from Monkey-Link, which supplies the lights with power directly from the e-bike battery. The advantage: only the holder for the light remains fixed to the bike, the light itself can be removed for off-road use, thus preventing damage.

All upgrade parts together cost about 400 Eurodepending on the lighting system used. If you have a little experience as a mechanic, install the additional parts in about one and a half hours, This increases the weight of the bike by around 1.5 kilogramme. You can't switch off the engine's light port to energise the front light yourself, the workshop has to do it. Depending on the bike, the mechanic will need up to an hour to do this and will charge an average of 50 to 60 euros.

>> Information on the retrofit parts used and further part recommendations for bad weather can be found here in the overview article <<

In everyday life: SUV bike superior, especially for transporting luggage

In city driving, it quickly becomes clear that the massive Centurion SUV is ahead in many respects. Especially when it comes to Luggage transport. The adaptive pannier rack on our Focus e-MTB is still the stiffest and most resilient of the full-size models. However, at more than three kilos per side, it warps noticeably.

With many small and delicate screws, it is also not designed for regular reassembly. The fact that it - like no other fully-compatible rack to date - can be cannot be combined with a rear mudguard, is likely to be a knock-out criterion for many commuters. The alternative: pack your luggage in a rucksack and fit a mudguard instead of the luggage rack. Othe: upgrade the bike to a permanent SUV with special parts from the manufacturer. Focus, for example, also offers such parts for our test bike - but this gives away a certain flexibility advantage: once the manufacturer's add-on parts have been fitted, you will hardly be able to remove them again for a spontaneous bike tour. With the parts we have selected, this is much quicker.

On the trail: points for the E-MTB

The tide turns in trail use: The E-MTB with add-on parts tends to be superior to the SUV bike. However, the Focus Thron² is just one example here and can hardly stand out from the Centurion SUV in a direct comparison. The reason: with comparable geometry and similar suspension travel to the Centurion, the Focus Thron² is still quite tame for an E-MTB. Dhe Centurion, on the other hand, is the most aggressive SUV bike we could find. If you upgrade an E-Enduro to an everyday bike, or if you opt for one of the many SUV bikes with road tyres and short suspension travel, the difference is likely to be even more drastic.

The off-road capability therefore depends largely on the model selectedand the choice is limitless, at least when it comes to E-MTBs. If you want, you can also upgrade an E-Enduro with attachments for everyday use. In contrast, the choice of models for SUV bikes is limited. Here, the end is usually at around 140 millimetres of travel, and the geometries are clearly tour-orientated.

However, the Centurion SUV has nothing to hide on the trail with its good Fox suspension, slack steering angle and grippy Maxxis tyres. A positive feature compared to the Focus: The mudguards are a little stiffer and rattle a little less. But be careful: The Centurion Numinis is very sporty for an SUV bike and is therefore not representative of this type of bike. Many SUV fullys come with tame tyre treads, weak suspension and trekking geometries. Off-road, you will hardly get a real mountain bike feeling.

>> 5 SUV e-bikes with EMTB recommendation: We have summarised which models on the market also have potential off-road in this article. <<

Conclusion Adrian Kaether, Editor EMTB

As always, it's a compromise. When upgraded for everyday use, the touring e-MTB falls short of the off-road potential of other e-MTBs. It is also not fully convincing in urban traffic. The Centurion SUV, on the other hand, surprised us with its real off-road qualities, but is also one of the most off-road capable SUVs on the market. With its short suspension travel and moderate geometry, it is still overpowered in difficult terrain. My advice: If you are looking for a bike for everyday use and trail tours, you should be clear about which use predominates. If you need to carry panniers and only ride the bike off-road half of the time, an SUV bike with everyday equipment is the better choice. If you want to let it rip off-road, you should buy a classic E-MTB in the all-mountain or enduro category. Aftermarket mudguards are not quite ideal and the luggage has to be packed in a rucksack. On the other hand, off-road use does not suffer.