{"id":54825,"date":"2023-09-20T12:00:05","date_gmt":"2023-09-20T10:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=747062"},"modified":"2023-09-20T12:35:32","modified_gmt":"2023-09-20T10:35:32","slug":"moots-releases-its-first-carbon-fibre-bike-and-its-electric","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/moots-releases-its-first-carbon-fibre-bike-and-its-electric\/","title":{"rendered":"Moots releases its first carbon fibre bike \u2013 and it\u2019s electric"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Moots Express is an adventure-ready ebike <\/p>

By Stan Portus\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 20 September 2023 at 10:00 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Moots is best known as one of the world\u2019s premier titanium bike manufacturers, so its latest bike will likely surprise many.<\/p>\n

The new Express is Moots\u2019 first ebike, and it\u2019s also made from carbon fibre.<\/p>\n

The electric gravel bike is currently available in one build option and colour, and costs $9,999.<\/p>\n

Why has Moots made an electric bike and why is it carbon?<\/h2>\n
\"Moots\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
An electric gravel bike was missing from the Moots line-up.<\/span><\/figcaption> Moots<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Speaking to BikeRadar, Moots president Nate Bradley says the brand was interested in designing an electric bike<\/a> from around 2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cCustomers were asking regularly, \u2018When is Moots going to make an ebike?\u2019 or \u2018What\u2019s Moots\u2019 stance on ebikes?\u2019,\u201d says Bradley.<\/p>\n

Bradley describes Moots as a leader in gravel bikes<\/a>: \u201cWe have a five-bike line-up that ranges from the competitive edge of gravel racing<\/a> up to multi-day gravel expedition, so we have a gravel bike for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the high-end ebike market grew, a gravel ebike was the void in Moots\u2019 line-up. Bradley says Moots spotted how brands that weren\u2019t prominent in gravel were taking their first stabs at electric gravel bikes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Moots\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Moots says its customers were asking for an ebike.<\/span><\/figcaption> Moots<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The combination of interest from consumers and seeing other brands moving into the gravel ebike market led Moots to begin developing the Express in earnest around 2020, before the project was placed on hold during the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

Bradley says Moots can\u2019t move quickly with development due to its size, but that the company tries to keep up with progressions in the bike industry, rather than being forced to react to developments later down the line.<\/p>\n

Electrification of bikes is a case in point, with Moots noticing more products coming to the cycling market in the last two years that are focused on electric assistance, including SRAM T-Type<\/a>, according to Bradley.<\/p>\n

Bradley says Moots is keeping an eye on where the market leads and that he expects the premium end of the bike industry to see an increase in ebikes.<\/p>\n

\"Moots\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Moots felt it could make a better ebike from a composite material than titanium.<\/span><\/figcaption> Moots<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Committing to making an electric gravel bike raised the question of frame materials<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe felt we could make a better ebike out of a composite material than we could if we made it out of titanium,\u201d says Bradley.<\/p>\n

If Moots opted to make an ebike from titanium, Bradley says it was going to have to over-build it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t going to be light and it wasn\u2019t going to have compliance. It was going to be a really rigid bike,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Bradley says Moots could have made a titanium electric gravel, but the company \u201cwouldn\u2019t feel great about it, and it would probably never see the light of day\u201d.<\/p>\n

But Bradley says Moots was aware making a carbon gravel bike<\/a> was a risk: \u201cWe knew this was going to hurt and we knew this was going to be a big ask from the public.\u201d<\/p>\n

This may explain why Moots presents the Express as embodying the brand\u2019s \u201ccore concept of pushing harder and going further\u201d and its history of creating bikes \u201cthat take you as far and as long as your heart desires\u201d.<\/p>\n

It represents a bid, possibly, to convince consumers that a change in frame material doesn\u2019t mean a change in ethos.<\/p>\n

\"Moots\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Carbon fibre enabled Moots to make a lighter bike.<\/span><\/figcaption> Moots<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The Express frame isn\u2019t made in the USA, like Moots\u2019 titanium bike frames, but Bradley says the brand\u2019s composite parts have always been made abroad.<\/p>\n

He says Moots works with two composite companies, in Taiwan and China. He has \u201calways been very proud of what we\u2019ve got from them\u201d and that being manufactured outside the USA does not mean the Express is \u201can inferior product by any means\u201d.<\/p>\n

Bradley says Moots is committed to expanding the Express range by introducing more colours, build options and customisation, even if there isn\u2019t a time frame for developments yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis product will end up speaking for itself on whether it makes sense for it to survive in our line-up or if it doesn\u2019t. We\u2019re either not going to have the audience or we\u2019re going to have this audience and they\u2019re going to tell us they don\u2019t like blue,\u201d says Bradley.<\/p>\n

Moots Express Shimano EP801 motor<\/h2>\n
\"Moots\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
The Moots Express has a Shimano EP801 motor.<\/span><\/figcaption> Moots<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The Moots Express is built around a Shimano EP801 electric bike motor<\/a>, which delivers 60Nm of power.<\/p>\n

The motor\u2019s power curve can be tuned through the Shimano E-tube app. This means you should be able to balance the level of torque assistance from the motor with your pedalling torque to match how you like to ride.<\/p>\n

The Shimano EP801 drive unit is powered by a 504Wh battery, which Moots says can be removed easily from the bike\u2019s frame via one bolt under the battery access panel.<\/p>\n

\"Moots\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
The 504Wh battery can be removed from the down tube.<\/span><\/figcaption> Moots<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The Express has a range of more than 100 miles, according to Moots, depending on a variety of factors such as the level of assistance used, elevation gain and rider weight.<\/p>\n

Moots claims the range of the Express means it will \u201cdeliver more ride distance than nearly any bike on the market today\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Express is specced with Shimano components throughout, with a Shimano LinkGlide chain, cassette and chainring designed to match the extra torque of an electric bike.<\/p>\n

\"Moots\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
The drivetrain has a 47-tooth chainring and 11-50-tooth cassette.<\/span><\/figcaption> Moots<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The bike has a 1x drivetrain<\/a> with a 47-tooth chainring and an 11-speed, 11-50-tooth cassette.<\/p>\n

The handlebar has two shifters for \u201cintuitive ease of use\u201d. The right shifter controls the rear derailleur and the left shifter enables you to increase or decrease the motor\u2019s power assistance.<\/p>\n

Moots Express frame features<\/h2>\n
\"Moots\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
The Express has mounts across the frame and fork, and comes with 700x50mm tyres.<\/span><\/figcaption> Moots<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The front triangle of the Express has two water bottle cage mounts.<\/p>\n

The bottle cage mount on the down tube has three points, so you can attach a cage in a higher or lower position.<\/p>\n

Moots says the lower position means you can free up space in the frame to accommodate a frame bag.<\/p>\n

\"Moots\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Moots has specced the ebike with the same handlebar and stem as its other bikes.<\/span><\/figcaption> Moots<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The fork has three mounting points on either side so you can affix more bikepacking bags<\/a> to the Express.<\/p>\n

The bike has internally routed cables and hoses utilising its MOD (Moots Own Design) carbon handlebar and stem.<\/p>\n

\"Moots\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
The flared bar has a screen and there is a motor control in the top tube.<\/span><\/figcaption> Moots<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Moots launched its MOD components when it released the Routt CRD in August this year.<\/p>\n

The bike is completed with Shimano GRX carbon gravel bike wheels<\/a> wrapped in 700x50mm Panaracer GravelKing+ gravel tyres<\/a> with \u201cplenty of clearance to spare\u201d.<\/p>\n

Bradley says it can comfortably fit 2.1in mountain bike tyres<\/a> on 29in wheels, depending on how round or square the profile of the tyre is.<\/p>\n

The Express has a claimed weight of 33lb (approximately 15kg) in a size medium.<\/p>\n

It is available in four sizes: small, medium, large and extra-large.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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