{"id":48877,"date":"2023-04-27T17:00:43","date_gmt":"2023-04-27T15:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=726242"},"modified":"2023-04-27T17:35:42","modified_gmt":"2023-04-27T15:35:42","slug":"karbon-bikes-launches-sub-19kg-full-fat-enduro-emtb","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/karbon-bikes-launches-sub-19kg-full-fat-enduro-emtb\/","title":{"rendered":"Karbon Bikes launches sub-19kg \u2018full-fat\u2019 enduro eMTB"},"content":{"rendered":"

Carbon components and mid-capacity motor keep weight in check <\/p>

By Tom Marvin\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 27 April 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Massachusetts brand Karbon Bikes claims its Powerline SL is one of the lightest \u2018full-fat\u2019 enduro-focused electric mountain bikes on the market, coming in at a claimed 18.6kg.<\/p>\n

Electric mountain bikes<\/a> tend to be relatively heavy, with their motor and battery adding bulk. Factor in longer-travel suspension components (because, why not?) and tyres fit to handle rugged terrain, and it\u2019s no wonder many weigh in at the 20 to 24kg mark.<\/p>\n

The Powerline SL features, unsurprisingly, a carbon frame<\/a> built from high-modulus carbon fibres. It has internal cable routing, routed through the head tube \u2013 something we\u2019re seeing more often in 2023, especially on eMTBs.<\/p>\n

\""Karbon\"<\/picture><\/div>
Karbon has gone to town on the paintjob.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Tom Marvin \/ OurMedia<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Karbon\"<\/picture><\/div>
Karbon\u2019s own integrated bar\/stem looks really smart.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Tom Marvin \/ OurMedia<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Karbon\"<\/picture><\/div>
Cables disappear into the head tube for clean lines.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Tom Marvin \/ OurMedia<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Karbon\"<\/picture><\/div>
A burly fork proves the Powerline SL is meant for serious riding.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Tom Marvin \/ OurMedia<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

At the front, Karbon supplies a 160mm fork, and this is paired with 150mm of rear-wheel travel via a 4-bar suspension linkage<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Karbon has gone to Bafang for its electric bike motor<\/a> and battery, in a similar move to the Vitus E-Mythique we also saw at Sea Otter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Bafang motors might be appearing on more ebikes this year.<\/span><\/figcaption> Tom Marvin \/ OurMedia<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

In this case, it\u2019s the Bafang M820 motor, paired with a 410Wh battery. It kicks out 75Nm of torque \u2013 this sits below the 85\/90Nm torque we see in many \u2018full-fat\u2019 eMTBs, but is more than the 50\/60Nm found commonly on lighter-weight rigs such as the Orbea Rise<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The system has an on-bar remote to toggle between modes. It contains LEDs to signify power mode selection and battery level.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Bafang on-bar controller shows power mode and battery levels via LEDs.<\/span><\/figcaption> Tom Marvin \/ OurMedia<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The Powerline SL has up-to-date geometry<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The size-Large bike has a generous reach of 480mm, while there\u2019s a 64-degree head angle and a 77-degree seat angle. The rear chainstays are fairly long, at 457mm.<\/p>\n

This is paired with a number of Karbon\u2019s own carbon components, including a very tidy-looking combined bar and stem, and its own hoops.<\/p>\n

These have a 40mm external width and 34mm internal width, which should provide ample support for the 2.5in (f) and 2.4in (r) Goodyear Newton tyres. The rim itself is asymmetric, enabling a stiffer construction, and is built around Karbon\u2019s own hub set.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Karbon has its own wheels, and is working with Goodyear on the rubber front.<\/span><\/figcaption> Tom Marvin \/ OurMedia<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The launch-edition bikes will come with a RockShox Zeb fork<\/a> and Deluxe shock, as well as SRAM\u2019s new T-Type XO transmission<\/a> and Code brakes.<\/p>\n

Neat finishing touches include the ribbed rubberised chainstay protection, there to protect the rather special paintjob.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
A flat protects the main pivot, while there\u2019s smart-looking chainstay protection, too<\/span><\/figcaption> Tom Marvin \/ OurMedia<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The Karbon Powerline SL will initially be available only in the US, with an official launch in July.<\/p>\n

It will join two other current Powerline families \u2013 the Powerline 840 and Powerline 700, the number representing the Wh capacity of the batteries \u2013 as well as the Stampede enduro bike, Krusher trail bike and Azur XC bike.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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