{"id":12145,"date":"2022-05-16T18:19:34","date_gmt":"2022-05-16T16:19:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/mbuk\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=12145"},"modified":"2022-05-16T18:19:34","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T16:19:34","slug":"e-bike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/mbuk\/2022\/05\/16\/e-bike\/","title":{"rendered":"E-Bike"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After weeks of testing, three bikes were left in the race to be crowned MBUK BIKE OF THE YEAR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

E-BIKE<\/span><\/em><\/h6>\n\n
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WE RAMPED UP THE INTENSITY, HEADING OUT IN ALL CONDITIONS \u2013 FROM SNOW TO BOG-WET AND EVEN OCCASIONAL WINTER SUNSHINE<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

With the pressure <\/strong>on to find a worthy winner of our inaugural E-bike of the Year test, we ramped up the intensity of our testing, heading out in all conditions \u2013 from snow and freezing cold through to bog-wet and even occasional winter sunshine \u2013 and riding the widest variety of terrain allowed by each bike\u2019s battery capacity, to shine a light on the true performers. Most of the riding was done in Scotland\u2019s Tweed Valley, home to the UK\u2019s Enduro World Series (EWS) round and the famous Glentress trail centre, between them providing the kind of mix of trails any good e-MTB should be able to handle. Deciding on a final winner was a bit of a headache, and the top spot flip-flopped between two of these three bikes more often than we checked our tyre and shock pressures. As usual, picking a champion came down to the wire, but the more we rode the winning bike, the more comfortable we were with our choice.<\/p>\n\n

PACKING A PUNCH<\/h4>\n\n

It\u2019s no coincidence that our three favourite bikes \u2013 the Nukeproof Megawatt 297 Factory, Whyte E-180 RS and Mondraker Level R \u2013 all have 170mm or more of progressive suspension travel front and rear. Out back, Nukeproof and Whyte both go the four-bar Horst-link route, as with many other brands in this test. The Megawatt\u2019s \u2018V4\u2019 layout, with down-tube-mounted shock and top tube swinglink, is also used on the race-winning Mega enduro bike, while Whyte claim their design, where the shock attaches to the top tube and is driven by a rocker, is \u201cslam happy\u201d and ready to take on the gnarliest trails. Mondraker stick with their proven \u2018Zero\u2019 system, where a \u2018floating\u2019 shock is compressed by twin short links.<\/p>\n\n

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SPEC<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

MONDRAKER LEVEL R \u00a35,999<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frame <\/strong>\u2018Stealth Alloy Evo\u2019 aluminium alloy, 170mm travel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Motor\/battery\/ controller <\/strong>Bosch Performance Line CX\/Bosch PowerTube, 750Wh\/Bosch Kiox 300<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sizes <\/strong>S, M, L*, XL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fork <\/strong>Fox 38 Float GRIP EVOL, 180mm travel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shock <\/strong>Fox DHX2 Performance Elite<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wheelset <\/strong>Mavic E-Deemax 29 wheels, Maxxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip DH 29×2.5in WT tyres<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drivetrain <\/strong>SRAM GX\/NX\/SX Eagle with Race Face \u00c6ffect cranks (1×12)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brakes <\/strong>SRAM Code R, 220\/200mm rotors<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bar\/stem <\/strong>ONOFF Sulfur, 800mm\/ONOFF Sulfur, 30mm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seatpost\/saddle <\/strong>ONOFF Pija dropper\/fi\u2019zi:k Terra Aidon X5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight <\/strong>27.27kg (large, without pedals)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

www.mondraker.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n