Last summer’s 3D-printed aluminum Project 4 eMTB is reborn as the now-carbon Thok TP4, a full-power all-mountain ebike that retains modular batteries so you get only the juice you want and no extra weight. Thok’s first Bosch eMTB gets fitted with the latest CX motor update, and the option for anywhere from 400Wh-1050Wh batteries to suit each buyer’s style of riding.,

Thok TP4 Italian carbon all-mountain ebike

Last year at Eurobike Thok teased us with Project 4, what they called the world’s first 3D-printed alloy full-suspension ebike.

Now, it turns out that modular eMTB project was simply the rapidly-developed test bed for Thok’s first ebike with a Bosch CX motor.

And what was made quickly with additive manufacturing in aluminum to dial in the shaping and geometry, is now being made entirely in Italy out of carbon fiber.

The new Thok TP4 is mid-travel 29er eMTB with 150mm of 4-bar rear wheel travel mated to 160mm up front. Thok calls it “enhanced all-mountain with an enduro side to it“. While building an all-new made-in-Italy eMTB platform around the new lighter, smoother, and quieter Bosch Performance Line CX motor, Thok wanted to create a technically-capable do-it-all-mountain ebike that riders could tailor to their needs with the precise battery size that they needed.

Modular battery size was a key point of the original 3D-printed project bike. And they carry that on here with an adaptable battery cradle inside the downtube that can secure 3 sizes of batteries behind the removable battery cover/downtube protector.

Slacker geometry for all-mountain eMTB versatility

Compared to Thok’s shorter travel all-mountain MIG (140/150mm) and longer-travel e-enduro TK01 (170/170mm ), the new TP4 is actually as slack or slacker than either. Thok says that was about bridging the gap between the two, while creating and even more versatile all-mountain ebike capable of riding any terrain.

Start off with a 64.5° headtube angle, 79° seattube, 459mm chainstays, and 477mm size L Reach.

And thanks to the Hi/Lo flip-chip at the forward shock mount, riders can further slacken the geometry by 0.5° (and lower BB height 9mm). Or even run it in the Hi position with a 27.5″ rear wheel for a slacker mullet conversion.

Tech details

• hi-mod carbon frame with alloy rocker, made-in-Italy
• 3.5kg bare carbon frame weight (size M, claimed)
• full 29er setup with 150mm travel rear pair to 160mm forks

• powered by the latest 85Nm Bosch Performance Line CX motor (BDU384Y)
• grip-mounted Purion 200 display
• choice of 400Wh, 600Wh, or 800Wh internal batteries
• plus optional 250Wh PowerMore range extender external battery
• tapered 1.5″ headset
• internal cables routed through the outside of the headtube
• forward shock mount flip-chip for adaptable geometry or also mullet conversions
• UDH compatibility with mechanical or electronic drivetrains

Thok TP4 ebikes – Pricing, options & availability

The new carbon Thok TP4 eMTB comes in 2 complete ebike builds – both of which come standard with the big 800Wh battery. But all buyers can opt for a smaller battery if they want, to save both money and weight.

The TP4-R is the ‘more affordable’ option at 7190€ with Fox 36 & Float X Performance suspension, a mechanical XT drivetrain, 4-piston Magura MT5, and then alloy DT H1900 wheels wrapped in the great new Schwalbe Albert Gravity Radial tires – at a claimed 24.3kg complete (size M).

The much more expensive 10,490€ TP4-LTD steps it up to Öhlins RXF36 fork, TTX2 Air shock, SRAM GX Eagle electronic T-type derailleur wired into the ebike’s battery, Magura MT7 brakes, and carbon DT Swiss HXC1501 wheels with those Schwalbe Albert Gravity Radial tires – at a claimed 24.1kg. The LTD is also actually a limited edition, and Thok only make 30 of them.

And if you prefer a smaller battery for either model, you can pick the smaller 600Wh option to then save 1.1kg & 200€, or get the lightest 400Wh battery to save 2.2kg & 400€ vs. the standard big battery setups.

Both versions are technically available to buy now. But Thok sold out the first small batch, so the next delivery comes next month in December.

ThokBikes.com

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Yamaha is officially withdrawing from the ebike and performance eMTB market in the USA from the end of this year, at least from the retail side. What that means is that your local Yamaha dealer shop in the US will be selling out whatever inventory of ebikes they have in stock – at heavily discounted prices, no less. But there won’t be any more new ebikes coming in. Yamaha USA does say they’ll still honor their extra-long warranties. But it seems the ‘ebikes in motorcycle shops’ business model just wasn’t cutting it in the US. We’ll have to wait and see what this means on a more global scale.

Yamaha withdraws from the US retail ebike market

Over the weekend we started hearing that Yamaha Motor Corporation USA – the American parent brand behind everything from Yamaha motorcycles, ATVs, golf carts, boat motors to Yamaha Power Assist Bicycles (aka ebikes) – has been informing their dealers that they are getting out of selling their own ebikes. Reddit’s r/Yamahaebikes shared an official letter sent out to dealer shops.

Apparently, after 6 years of selling ebikes through some motorcycle and some independent bike shops, including the boom & a post-COVID bust in ebike sales, the numbers just weren’t adding up. It seems Yamaha just couldn’t compete with mix of low-cost online direct sales or more established high-end eMTB sales through traditional bikeshops. So, they’re putting a stop to dealer ebike sales in the US once the current 60%-off, cashback & extended 5-year warranty of their ‘Fan Promotion’ sales clear out all the US ebike inventory.

Yamaha USA also assures that they’ll keep providing spare parts, service & customer service support flowing to keep everyone who’s bought a Yamaha ebike pedaling through their full 5-year warranty.

Possible global & OEM impacts?

Now, as to the broader impacts of this pull-out, we know a bit less.

Should we expect a similar fate to impact Yamaha ebikes in motorcycle shops more globally?

We’ve asked both our US & European Yamaha ebike contacts. And so far have only heard back from the Americans who couldn’t speak to broader impacts, but could only reiterate that “current customers can rest assured that Yamaha will continue with parts and warranty service” to keep their ebikes going.

While the same ‘ebike vs. moto vs. bike dealer’ argument could be a bigger issue globally. We’d guess that, is unlikely to have any further-reaching direct impact on Yamaha ebike Systems themselves. Yamaha has been manufacturing ebike motors since 1993. They celebrated their 30th anniversary of Power Assist System ebike motors with a special edition YDX Moro 07 last year. And we still see them in the broader OEM ebike motor market as competition to the likes of Bosch and Shimano. It’s true that we see fewer ebike brands directly spec’ing Yamaha motors as we did in the recent past from BH, Ghost, Lapierre & more. But Giant & Liv still prominently use Yamaha SyncDrive motors in their premium eMTBs.

Full text of Yamaha letter to ebike dealers via Reddit:

YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION, U.S.A.

Dear Yamaha eBike Dealer,

We want to thank you for your partnership and for your business in purchasing and retailing Yamaha eBikes, and for proudly representing the Yamaha brand. However, as you know, the combination of a post-COVID oversupply within the entire bicycle industry, coupled with a significant softening of the market, has resulted in a particularly challenging business environment where it is extremely difficult to achieve a sustainable business model. Given these market conditions, we regret to inform you that Yamaha has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the U.S. eBike business and cease wholesaling units effective the end of this year.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS) entered the U.S. eBike market in 2018, and we have enjoyed the opportunity to partner with you these past six years to sell exciting, high-quality, all-road, mountain, and fitness/lifestyle eBikes.

We will continue to support your dealership in the sell down of your inventory by extending the current “Fan Promotion” program where customers may receive up to 60% off their purchase of a new Yamaha eBike. This “Fan Promotion” program will be offered on all units retailed and warranty registered through June 30, 2025. YMUS will continue to provide parts, service, and customer support in the United States both now and in support of our limited 5-year warranty.

Finally, we wish to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to you and your staff for your dedication and support of the Yamaha eBike business.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

YamahaBicycles.com in the USA & Global.Yamaha-Motor.com globally

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Just over a week ago Merida launched their first real lightweight eMTB with the all-new eOne-Sixty SL powered by the Bosch SX ebike motor and a 400Wh internal battery. Mixing the smooth feel and ‘just enough’ power of the SX eMTB powertrain, Merida gives the e160 SL a full carbon frame with truly enduro-capable all-mountain geometry and 160mm of travel front & rear to create a do-it-all shredder for riders looking for ultimate lightweight and a more natural ride.

I spent a couple days riding this new light eMTB on familiar steep, loose & rocky trails in Catalonia, and came away truly appreciating an ebike that felt like riding a regular bike, just with several hours of fresh legs built-in!

First Rides on new lightweight Merida e160 SL Bosch SX eMTB

I’m a little torn over whether I should call this ebike the eOne-Sixty SL like Merida does on their website, or the e160 SL like is written on the top tube. But I’ll stick with the latter, if for no other reason than simplicity.

I feel like this new e160 SL is the real highlight of Merida’s 2025 move to Bosch. After years of Shimano pedal-assist power, Merida diversifies with their first move into Bosch motors. The Shimano-powered bikes aren’t going anywhere, but now German motor lovers get their options, too.

Together with this Performance Line SX-powered e160 SL, there’s a new Performance Line CX-powered e180 and a few base CX-powered eFloat commuters of various sorts. All come at a time as Bosch has seriously overhauled their premium performance ebike motors, while also adding the same small unobtrusive handlebar style mounted displays that Shimano has used for years.

Important details – Bosch SX

The heart of this e160 SL ebike then is the lightweight Bosch Performance Line SX motor that debuted last year, tucked under this custom plastic protector.

You get a nominal 250W ebike motor cranking out 55Nm of torque but at a claimed motor weight of just 2kg. That makes it 35% less torquey than the latest CX motor, and 40% lighter. But it still peaks at 600W of pedal-assist support – the same as the CX, making it double what you get out of a TQ motor, for example. The lower overall SX torque actually translates to less power drain, though.

So even though this Merida e160 SL only has a 400Wh battery inside, you’ll get a lot longer range than if you put that small of a battery into a CX-powered eMTB.

+250Wh if you need more

Yet still, if range anxiety is a concern, the Merida eOne-Sixty SL has its charging port right on the side of its seattube below the rocker link pivot. And you can strap an extra 250Wh Bosch PowerMore range extender external battery in place of the regular water bottle to carry you 62.5% further than without it.

In fact, I would probably recommend that everyone who buys this lightweight ebike plan to cough up another 400€ for that extra battery.

The greatest thing about this eMTB is probably how light it is and how that makes it handle more like a regular enduro or all-mountain bike. And I think the building 400Wh battery offers plenty of range for the majority of rides you’ll do on it – where you don’t want the penalty of an extra 1.6kg on every ride, when it’s usually not needed. But being able to increase your range by so much when you do plan on an all-day ride with more climbing than usual, just makes this a much more versatile ebike in the end.

29er eMTB with 160mm front & rear

This new lightweight 29er Merida eOne-Sixty SL ebike gets 160mm of travel front & rear in a <2kg full-carbon frame with a simple linkage-driven single-pivot suspension design and flex stays that help keep it simple & lightweight. Or 174mm in the rear if you convert it to a mullet setup via the flip-chip and a 27.5 rear wheel swap.

It looks quite a bit different, but suspension kinematics-wise it’s quite similar to the new Shimano EP8-powered eOne-Sixty that launched last spring (which was actually already a mullet with 174mm of rear wheel travel paired to a 170mm fork). Plus, this new eMTB is about 3.5kg lighter.

With its new lighter weight, this SL eMTB even feels a bit more capable off-road too, even with the shorter fork travel. It does get a half a degree slacker headtube at 64°, the same ultra-steep 78.5° seat angle, 4mm longer chainstays at 450mm, and an extra centimeter of Reach to 489mm on my size Long test ebike.

So, it’s a bit longer and slacker for more stability. But it is lighter, so it’s much easier to hop and maneuver around on the trail – and still available in 5 Agilometer sizes (XS-XL).

A few more key details… all the cables are routed in through the Wire Port cap on the Acros block-lock headset, and there’s an UDH out back. There’s a downtube protector, thick sculpted wrap-around rubber chainstay protector to silence the drivetrain, and optional short or long rear fenders to keep mud away from the main pivots.

The e160 SL has clearance for 29 x 2.4″ tires, and is rated for enduro Category 4 riding, anything shy of DH racing. Plus, Merida backs the carbon frame with a lifetime warranty.

Want more details? Check out my eOne-Sixty ebike launch story, here.

Actual weight

Okay, so the new Merida e160 SL 8000 that I tested in size L (Long or Large) weighs 20.4kg That’s set up tubeless without petals, but with the mini-tool strapped under its seat.

That’s not really light for a regular bike, but it is only about 2.5kg more than an entry-level pedal-it-yourself One-Sixty. And so for an ebike, it’s a pretty lightweight feel. 


A lot of weight savings comes from that 400Wh battery in it, which is relatively small. But it still seemed to be plenty for what I was getting up to and riding.

So how does it ride?

Riding Impressions – Lightweight All-Rounder

Merida describes this as an ebike meant to blur the divide between conventional regular bike riding and pedal-assisted ebiking. 
And it does that for sure. There’s no doubt that the Bosch SX powertrain makes you feel like you have fresh legs zipping up climbs easier than you probably should. And the complete package is still light enough that you go downhill without really feeling like being weighed down by a heavy, clunky ebike.

At just 20 kilos, it’s plenty light enough to still be maneuverable under you. This is an eMTB that’s easy to pick up and hop around on tight technical trails. And it’s really easy to get it off the ground. Riding a number of heavier, ‘full-power’ ebikes, I often feel I’m plowing into things, smashing through loose rock gardens, dragging through creek crossings. But not with this e160 SL. This ebike still feels light enough that you can pick lines easily, change direction effortlessly, and confidently tackle more challenging lines. It just feels much more natural.

But still plenty of power

Going uphill though, yes, the Bosch SX motor is less powerful than its heavier-duty CX sibling. But still it offers that same peak power of 600W, even if the torque is lower. So it’s still feels like it’s going to carry you up some of the steepest terrain. 
Sure, its torque is about 40% less than the most powerful motors out there, so it won’t feel quite as zippy.

But to just make getting back up the hill a bit quicker, a bit easier, it definitely felt like plenty of zip for me. And that lower torque in the end actually does create a more natural ride – a feeling I prefer when getting pedal-assist.

Balancing battery & range

The SX setup kind of strikes a balance between really lightweight and full-power motor support. And it manages power well with the 400Wh battery to still deliver quite long range.

I (85kg) had no problem getting 2 solid hours of riding and 900-1000 meters of climbing out of this relatively small motor and small internal battery while pushing it hard, mostly in Turbo mode. Knocking it down to eMTB mode looked like it would get me about 10% more, or 50-60% more in Tour or Eco modes.

For sure, it won’t keep up all-day with full-power eMTBs with much bigger batteries if you head high into the mountains. But it’s definitely a compromise I’m willing to make in order to have that much better maneuverability and much more playful feel to the ebike – both when going downhill and especially carving the ebike through tight technical terrain & more flowy trails. Saving 3-5kg off many of the more powerful eMTBs out there, the e160 SL just creates a much more enjoyable feel that is much more like riding a mountain bike and less like lugging a heavy ebike up & down in the forest.

Going further & countering range-anxiety

And I think it’s simply more fun to throw a lightweight eMTB off of jumps that it is a heavyweight ebike.

Now like I’ve already said, if you’re looking to ride further, you can just strap on a range extender battery. And while a 250Wh is a relatively small addition to a thousand Wh battery, when you’re already starting from just 400Wh, it’s a sizable boost. So you’re genuinely increasing your range by more than 60%! Of course, the one thing I don’t like is that the range extender takes the place of your water bottle, and on those longer ebike rides, you’re going to need more water, too. So, you’ll just have to accept wearing a hydration pack.

Hiccups

One recent Bosch update that I can really get behind is their new Purion 400 display (which looks a lot like Shimano’s similar Di2 & ebike display). It simply puts useful ebike info in an easy-to-see spot and lets the rider cycle through whatever you prefer to focus on – estimated range, speed, cadence, assist level, ride stats, etc. It’s simply much more informative than the LED indicator bars that Bosch puts on your toptube. Although sometimes it gives bad news, as well.

The one issue I had tested this Merida e160 SL 8000 was that this model includes a wired-in SRAM AXS transmission rear derailleur. While that would normally be wireless, here it’s powered directly from the ebike’s battery. But the Bosch system & SRAM don’t talk. So ultimately, when you get to 0% battery on your motor, you have 0% battery in your derailleur, too. That means when you run out of battery for the ebike, you run out of the ability to shift. It shuts down, and you’re left in whatever gear you’re in. To be fair, you get a decent warning, it runs on 0% for a bit. So definitely, when you see your ebike hit 0%, you should just turn off any pedal-assist to still get more shifting.
But once it shuts down, that’s it. Yes, you can start it back up for a second and probably get a couple extra shifts out to get back to a pedal-able gear. I was able to, but your results may vary. And ultimately, it’s going to shut down again with its lovely Bosch message of “See You” at the end. 


But easy enough to fix…

My recommendation if you get any Bosch ebike with a wired-in SRAM derailleur is just to buy an extra AXS battery to carry as a spare so you don’t ever have to worry about it again. It’ll cost you about 60€ and weigh <25g. Surely worth the peace of mind.

Parting thoughts

What I come away with is that this new e160 SL is my favorite Merida ebike, yet. It actually rides a lot like the regular 160s, which I liked a lot for the it simple, playful ride, and great slack & capable geometry.

The Merida e160 SL is not super long travel, so it’s not really e-Enduro. Although its geometry is really trying to emulate full-on enduro bikes. But it’s much more of an e-All-mountain shredder type of thing. But with light weight, long reach, long chainstays, a slack 64° head angle, and Merida’s characteristically steep seattube angle, you can comfortably ride this thing down just about any trail. And with plenty of eMTB motor support,
you can get back up just about any trail, too.

It’s probably the most versatile e-mountain-bike that Merida has made. And at this light weight and natural ride feel, it really just handles so much like a regular bike that it’s just fun for all types of trail riding and makes you feel like you always have fresh legs.

Merida-bikes.com

The post Merida e160 SL eMTB Review: Light Enough to Ride Like a Bike, But Always with Fresh Legs appeared first on Bikerumor.

The Schwinn Hurricane is back. Only this time, it’s as a low-cost eBike, and it’s marketed to young riders.

Hold on, doesn’t it seem like a bad time to release a bike named the Hurricane? On the surface, yes, but most bikes are in development for years before they are launched, so Schwinn likely named this bike long before the devastation of the recent hurricanes. Schwinn also has a history with the name. Following the success of the Tornado and Typhoon, Schwinn’s original 1978 Hurricane took naming inspiration from natural disasters, but styling inspiration from Motocross.

Although the new bike shares the same seat type, it’s substantially different than the Hurricane of yesteryear. Now, that was a bitchen bike.

Long gone are the fillet-brazed glory days of Schwinn Bicycles. Instead, this new Hurricane is a compact eBike with tiny 14″ wheels aimed at teens.

Schwinn Hurricane

Here are some pertinent details:

• 250-watt motor with a top speed of 17.5 mph
• Up to 30-mile range
• Throttle or pedal assist
• 3″ wide tires
• Throttle display
• Front and rear mechanical disc brakes
• Built-in fenders
• Automatic LED lights

Fits Some Riders

The long seat (like the OG) is designed to let you slide back (for pop-a-wheelies, I guess) and forth (for whatever else isn’t a pop-a-wheelie). But, it also allows you to find the right fit on the bike. Schwinn says it’s for riders age 13+ and up to 260lbs.

Look, I’m not trying to be a curmudgeon, but I think this age bracket should be using an actual bicycle to get around. When I was 13 I had the lungs and the legs to take my Schwinn Stingray anywhere I wanted. That was also in 1978. Kids these days.

It’s OK, I’m just saying what you’re thinking. Now get off my lawn.

Hurricane Retails and Specs (from the website)

Retail: $600

• Durable steel frame
• Aluminum rims
• JAK mechanical disc brakes
• “Moto-style” seat with foam padding
• Weight: 56lbs (seems very heavy for such a small bike)
• Steel dual crown, rigid fork
• 14″x 3″ tires
• Steel, 680mm wide handlebars with a 22.2mm clamp
• “Soft comfort”, single density grips
• Kickstand and front and rear fenders

Don’t get mad at me, check out the bikes at the link below.

SchwinnBikes.com

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The German company MAHLE SmartBike Systems specializes in ultralight, compact eBike systems. Today, they launched the new XS System. This new system consists of only essential eBike components – without an internal battery.

The XS System is meant to offer a combo of lightness, versatility, sustainability, and an “unrivaled power-to-weight ratio”. MAHLE claims the system weighs in at 2.5kg (5.5 lbs) with the smaller X20 hub motor. The system includes the eX1 External Battery, XS Smart Controller, a choice of hub motor (X20 or X30), and a Torque Sensor.

The minimalist design is something MAHLE hopes will make it easy for bike brands to adopt when designing their eBikes. Especially the brands that use compact, foldable, or unconventional bike designs. It also makes for a lighter bike if you’d rather ride it without electric assist. Just remove the battery, and pedal away. You’ll have some added resistance from the motor, but it should be closer to a normal bike weight than many other ebike systems.

eX1 External Battery

The XS System only uses one power source, the eX1 external battery. The battery weighs in at 1kg and is shaped like a water bottle. This eliminates the need for an internally integrated battery.

Custom options for the brands are widespread, as the XS System allows the addition of optional accessories like Duo, eShifters, and Pulsar One. The new system also uses the new Energy Hub charging platform. You can charge the eX1 External Battery with a regular USB-C port. This turns the eX1 into an external power source for other devices.

MAHLE ONE Ecosystem

The user of the new XS System can also connect to the MAHLE ONE digital ecosystem. This can be done using a laptop, phone, or Apple Watch. This ecosystem enables multiple functions and provides a seamless blending of user and eBike.

Check out the MAHLE Website for more info.

MAHLE-SmartBike.com

The post MAHLE SmartBike Systems Launches New XS eBike System without Internal Battery appeared first on Bikerumor.

Earlier this month, I was invited to Huntington Beach, California, to be introduced to Aventon’s new eCargo bike, the Abound SR (Short Rack). Unlike the existing Abound, this new version is a little taller, and sports a shorter wheelbase, a better stem and stack height, and a more comfortable handlebar.

The new Class 2 Abound SR gets Aventon’s new electronic control unit (ACU). This new ACU offers intelligent safety features, such as 4G and GPS Tracking, remote locking, and an alarm system. There are more features that I will get into below.

The new size of the bike makes it easier to ride and maneuver, as well as easier to park and store. Still a super capable eCargo bike, the Abound SR is great for hauling the kids to school, picking up groceries, commutes, and any all-around errands. It’s a real multitasker.

It has up to a 60-mile range and a top speed of 20mph that is unlockable to 25mph in the app. The new, lower step-through frame makes mounting and dismounting easier. It uses a 750W, 36V rear hub motor, and it also boasts a 440lbs payload capacity.

Abound SR Detail and Retail

Retail: $2199

• Frame: 6061 Aluminum Gravity Cast
• New display unit with 3 levels of pedal assist: Eco, Sport, Turbo
• Rear hub drive motor with 80Nm of torque
• Battery, Aventon 36V, 20Ah, 708Wh, LG 21700 cells
• Weight: 80lbs
• ACU – Aventon Control Unit ft. Smart Security + Ride Features
• Suspension seatpost
• Included rear rack, fenders, and mesh wheel guard
• Quill stem with BMX-style handlebars
• Tektro Hydraulic brakes
• Shimano Altus 8-speed drivetrain.
• Smart Lock kickstand
• Double-sided bottom bracket torque sensor
• Three colors: Haze, Stealth, and Cobalt

Initial Thoughts on the Abound SR

My wife and I have been toolin’ around on the original Abound eCargo bike for close to a year and are very happy with it. So when I attended the Aventon launch of the Abound SR, I was curious about what changes they were making to what I thought was an already great eCargo bike.

I found myself impressed with the changes that were made. These weren’t changes for the sake of change. The updates on the new Abound SR improve on the already great Abound platform, like the new and improved display.

It was nice to see. I am a fan of most of the recent bikes that Aventon has been releasing. For instance, besides the OG Unbound eCargo offering, there’s the Ramblas, which is a reasonably priced and fun eMTB that is full of features and great for someone curious about eMTBs.

The Aventon Control Unit (ACU)

The Aventon Control Unit (ACU) helps to keep you “connected and protected”. The security features include a remote lock, geofencing, and passcode. These safeguard your Abound SR giving you peace of mind. When you are riding your Abound SR you will be able to rely on GPS tracking, a 4G connection, and cloud synchronization, so you can get real-time bike stats.

ACU Features

• Peace of mind with a smart Password-protected login, smart locking kickstand and battery, alarm system, geofencing, remote shutdown, and theft protection.
• Connectivity: 4G/Bluetooth enabled (OTA Updates), GPS tracking including ride log and statistics, Abnormal event logging, and Power status reporting.
• Ride Tune allows the rider to fine-tune the feel and performance of the 3 levels of pedal assist for the ultimate personalized ride experience.
• All-new handlebar display unit with easy one-touch access to all bike features and pedal assist levels without having to take your hands off the bars.

The Abound SR will come with 4G connectivity free for the first year, but that means you will likely have to pay a subscription fee after the first year to maintain all of the features.

Riding the Abound SR

After arriving in Huntington Beach, it was time to ride the bike. It was a foggy morning at the beach, which was kind of nice.

The route featured 17 miles along the water through Huntington and Newport Beach, then onto a ferry to get across to Balboa Island, and back to the hotel via Pacific Coast Highway for lunch.

One thing I noticed right off the bat, was that the seapost was a little’ short for me. I’m only 6’1″ and I had the stock post 2mm past the “minimum insertion” line, and still needed more seatpost to get decent leg extension. The stock seatpost is a suspension post, which compounded the issue of it being too short.

That being said, a new (non-suspension) post is not a big expense. But, perhaps Aventon could offer longer stock suspension posts on their website. This could eliminate the guesswork of ordering one for the consumer. The short post didn’t stop me from having a bunch of fun on the ride.

Dual Torque Sensors

As we rode, I was loving the smoothness of the power delivery likely thanks to Aventon’s dual torque sensors. It’s not like the older hub motors found on less popular eBike brands. Those feel either on or off, lacking any sense of finesse. However, the Aventon dual torque sensors let you feel that you are in constant control.

The slightest input to the pedals gives immediate assistance. The harder your effort, the more pedal assistance the Unbound SR rewards you with. That was nice. On top of that, I found the new handlebar and stack height to be very comfortable as well.

The original Abound has one of those long, foldable/collapsable stems. The new Abound SR eliminated that type of stem. Aventon spec’d the SR with standard spacers, stem, and riser bar while still keeping the ability for the bike to fit a wide range of users.

Great Lights, Mediocre Suspension

The Abound SR’s integrated front and rear lights, worked great. The rear brake light and turn signals are a great touch for a bike of this price point. Honestly, both the brake light and turn signals probably made things a bit safer on the busy PCH while riding back to the hotel.

The front suspension fork wasn’t super great, but worked OK. I’m not sure about the longevity of the fork, but after a year, the one on our OG Abound is holding up pretty nicely. It hasn’t given any issues.

Also, in Aventon’s defense, all of the suspension forks I have ridden on cargo bikes at this price point aren’t great. I’m reviewing another eCargo bike from a competitor, and it likely uses the same unnamed 50mm travel fork, but the bike costs over twice the price of the Abound SR.

I just don’t think a suspension fork is an imperative spec for a 20″ wheeled cargo bike. I usually lock them out and ride like that. And, speaking of non-imperative specs, the suspension seatpost needs to be revisited.

When it came to the suspension post on the Abound SR, it was virtually unnoticeable to me and offered no real benefit to ride quality. I could’ve done without it as it was exacerbating the seatpost length issue.

I would find a dropper post a lot more useful in the eCargo bike space.

In Conclusion

I think Aventon is doing good work lately and isn’t the same Aventon of 2017. They are continuing to offer quality eBikes at accessible prices. The Abound that I own and the Abound SR that I reviewed, are both great bikes with great features at a great price point.

It’s a reasonable buy-in cost with less risk for people who are entertaining the practice of driving less and riding more. I see this as one of the biggest benefits of the eCargo bike.

I would highly recommend the Aboud SR to anybody ready to give the eCargo bike a go. I’ve gotten a few friends on the OG Abound, and they’re happy with their purchases.

The Aventon Abound SR is available for pre-order today and will ship come 11/25/24. Hit the link below to get yours now.

Aventon.com

The post Aventon Launches Affordable New Abound SR, Adds 4G Connectivity & GPS Tracking appeared first on Bikerumor.

Canada’s Rocky Mountain released the new Instinct Power Play SL line of eMTBs last week, with six flavors, three carbon and three alloy models. The new Instinct Power Play SL has their Dyname S4 Lite motor, which helps keep these bikes on the leaner side. The powertrain is said to be “smooth, light, and efficient”, offering 550W of peak power and 65Nm of torque.

Being lighter than “full-power” eMTBs, the Instinct Power Play SL features a 480Wh battery with a range that “rivals full-power eMTBs. At 43lbs (C90 model size LG), the Instinct Power Play SL could come in pounds lighter than the full-power eMTBs.

Blend that with its mid-high pivot and Smoothlink suspension design, “riders can expect increased mid-strock support and small bump compliance, resulting in a lively ride feel”. The bikes roll with 150mm front, and 145mm rear travel numbers. On all sizes except XS, stock bikes are 29/29″ (and MX compatible), while the XS comes stock with 27.5″ wheels.

This new line of bikes comes with some other unique features, like a Reach Adjust headset. This allows the rider to tune your bike centered or with a +/- 5mm offset. It’s MX wheel-compatible with Rocky Mountain’s dedicated link on sizes SM-XL.

The bikes also come with the RIDE-4 adjustment system where the rider can quickly adjust geometry with the turn of an Allen key.

Some Frame Details

• Overtime Pack 2.0 Compatible:  Get an additional 314 Wh of battery capacity that easily mounts to the downtube
• UDH/transmission Ready: All models are compatible with UDH and SRAM Eagle Transmission
• No apps, No fuss:  The Instinct Powerplay SL features Jumbotron, an integrated display, for on-the-fly power adjustments
• Fully Enclosed Internal Routing: Allows for easy cable and hose installations, with moto-style brake setups on both carbon and alloy models
• Battery: The Instinct Powerplay SL features a 480 Wh, two-bolt, removable battery
• Proportional Rear Center: A 10mm difference in chainstay length between frame sizes helps handling characteristics feel balanced and stable

Instinct Power Play SL Geometry

In addition to the reach adjust headset, the frame offers Rocky’s Ride-4 geometry adjustment chip with multiple settings.

Instinct Power Play SL Carbon 90

Retail: $11,999

Fox 36 GRIP X2 Factory, Float X Factory, Sram Code Ultimate Stealth, Sram X0 Eagle Transmission Wireless

Instinct Power Play SL Carbon 70

Retail: $9699

Fox 36 GRIP X Performance Elite, Fox Float X Performance Elite, Sram Code Silver Stealth 4 Piston, Sram GX Eagle Transmission Wireless

Instinct Power Play SL Alloy 70 BC Edition

Retail: $7999

RockShox Lyrik Select+, RockShox Super Deluxe Select+, Sram Code Bronze Stealth 4 Piston, Sram GX Eagle Transmission Wireless

Instinct Power Play SL Carbon 50

Retail: $7999

RockShox Lyrik Select 150mm, RockShox Super Deluxe Select+, Shimano XT 4 Piston, Shimano XT 12spd

Instinct Power Play SL Alloy 50

Retail: $6999

RockShox Lyrik Select, Rock Shox Super Deluxe Select, Shimano MT6120 4 Piston, Shimano XT 12spd

Instinct Power Play SL Alloy 30

Retail: $5499

RockShox Psylo Gold RC, RockShox Deluxe Select+, Shimano MT4120 4 Piston, Shimano Deore 12spd.

Check all of the details on the new Rocky Mountain Instinct Power Play SL eMTBs by hitting the link below.

Bikes.com

The post The New Rocky Mountain Instinct Power Play SL is Packed with Power, Not Pounds appeared first on Bikerumor.

FSA has a new lightweight, tough, and affordable SCi30 carbon MTB wheelset that will make upgrading your mountain bike an easier decision. Developed for all-mountain riding with a full carbon 30mm internal hookless tubeless rim, FSA built the wheels tough to even handle enduro and eMTB riding, too.

And they still managed to keep the wheelset under 1.5kg and under twelve hundred euros. There’s really not much on the market that can match that for enduro & eMTB riding!

FSA SCi30 lightweight carbon all-mountain bike wheels

Officially, the new FSA wheels are called NS SCi30, with that non-series abbreviation a key point. FSA doesn’t want to pigeonhole the new wheels into one discipline. Sure, they started development as a reasonably-priced and durable all-mountain upgrade wheelset.

But the further they got into development, FSA realized they were plenty robust to handle enduro duty, and they’ve even worked with OEMs to spec them on lightweight enduro eMTBs, too. Specifically, you can find the new carbon FSA SCi30 wheels fitted to the new top-spec Merida eOne-Sixty SL 10K that launched earlier today.

Tech details

• 30mm internal full carbon hookless tubeless rim
• 22mm deep by 36mm wide outside
• hand-built 2-cross with 28 straight pull aero bladed spokes, front & rear
• alloy 6-bolt disc brake hubs with a 6-pawl freehub
• 7 sealed cartridge bearings (2F + 5R)
• Boost thru-axle spacing
• eMTB approved, having passed “FSA’s demanding e-bike certification tests”
• 1495g claimed weight

FSA SCi30 carbon MTB wheels – Pricing, options & availability

The new light carbon FSA SCi30 mountain bike wheels were unveiled today, with a $1250 / 1150€ retail price tag for the pair. They are 29er only, and you can pick from Shimano MicroSpline or SRAM XD freehub bodies. The wheels look like they will officially be a model year 2025 product, so it likely will be a few months before you can get your hands on a set direct from FSA. And you can click below on the FSA website, but they aren’t there just yet.

Instead, the first chance to own a pair will be to buy an expensive, lightweight Merida enduro eBike now.

FullSpeedAhead.com

The post FSA SCi30 Carbon All-Mountain Wheels are Light, Affordable, also Enduro & eMTB-rated appeared first on Bikerumor.

Merida’s all-new alloy eOne-Eighty eMTB is a full-powered freeride ebike for riders who want to go full gas all the time. With 180mm of plush travel front & rear, a mullet wheel setup, and the latest generation of Bosch’s top CX motor backed by 800Wh of internal power – this is essentially a gravity bike with a built-in uplift. When the going gets tough, this new e180 is just getting started. And when it’s time to pedal back up again, the powerful Bosch motor will fly you back to the top.

It even has some new quiet-running Bosch secret weapons like Hill Start Assist, pedal-ratcheting Extended Boost, and just an all-together smoother delivery of the CX motor’s high torque.

Merida eOne-Eighty full power Bosch CX enduro eMTB

The next up in the new Bosch-powered Merida eBike family, the eOne-Eighty is the heavy-hitter. Beyond simple motor differentiation, it also happens to be the longest-travel ebike that Merida has ever produced. And it’s undoubtedly one of the heavier ones, which is why it gets a mixed 27.5/29″ mullet wheelsize combo to maintain agility.

While the new eOne-Sixty SL is a lightweight, lighter-assist all-mountain ebike for riders looking for a more natural ride feel, this eOne-Eighty is pretty much the opposite end of the trail-to-enduro spectrum. This is an extra burly bike meant to “shred the gnar”.

In fact on paper, it’s not so dissimilar to the e160 & e160SL – built to ride pretty much any technical trail, with similar geo, and a premium Bosch ebike motor.

What’s new?

Interestingly enough, the new eOne-Eighty actually features less progressive-looking geometry – a steeper headtube, shorter frame Reach, and even shorter chainstays – than the e160 family. But that’s really because Merida worked hard to give this heavier, bigger travel ebike the same light maneuverability as its short & lighter siblings.

In the end, how it feels to ride is a completely different story. This is a 7kg heavier eMTB than the e160 SL. And that means you are more likely to smash through and plow over anything in your path, much more so than its lighter sibling that is easier to manual and pop over obstacles.

Major Bosch CX upgrades

Yet, while it is undeniably heavier, it also takes full advantage of the latest functional upgrades to the Bosch Performance Line CX powertrain. Slightly reduced weight, the same overall power, but quieter & smoother pedal assist, and new smarter assist modes. Like Hill Start that basically reimagines a new type of assist like Walk Mode, where you can easily pedal from a dead stop on the steepest, loosest terrain without wheelspin and without rolling backward. Or Extended Boost that lets you smash down on the pedals in short bursts in eMTB mode only (without pedaling a full circle) to propel yourself forward with powerful pedal-assist on sections of trail when there isn’t enough clearance to pedal normally.

Plus, there’s the big new 800Wh internal battery, which can be extended even further with the same 250Wh PowerMore range extender external bottle battery.

Merida calls the new eOne-Eighty an eBike built “for riders who seek the most challenging lines, are no longer willing to compromise on big
mountain capability, and love to ride their favorite trails all day long“.

Riding the all-new Merida eOne-Eighty

Yes, this is a pretty progressive enduro ebike. And yes, with 180mm of travel at both ends, this is an eMTB that can bomb down anything from your local enduro tracks to full-on bikepark trails. But it really is a blast to ride uphill, as well.

Merida says they developed size-specific kinematics for the new eOne-Eighty so smaller, lighter riders get the same plush yet supportive suspension feel as taller, heavier riders. That means bigger bikes are more progressive so there’s increased resistance to bottoming out the bigger you go. That’s even more interesting tied to Merida’s Agilometer sizing concept, where most riders can size up or down to get a bike with longer Reach & more stability or shorter cockpits & improved agility. Now you can add increased suspension progression with longer sizes, too.

The most interesting bit here is that suspension progression moves in relatively small steps, except… The smallest XShort bike is extra plush and more linear than the others, specifically to give a much more active ride to the much smaller, younger, and lighter riders who tend to end up on Merida’s smallest bikes.

First Impressions

So back to my first impressions of riding the new Merida eOne-Eighty…

This is the first proper riding I have done on the latest iteration of the Bosch CX motor. And I can say it is a vast improvement. The new setup feels just as power

It also has the added benefit of being much quieter. No rattling, and almost silent operation in all but the maxed out Turbo mode’s full-boost. Also, the new Purion 400 display is everything I loved about Shimano’s Di2/EP8 display and more. You get easy-to-view feedback on remaining battery power, what assist mode you are in, ideal cadence range to get the best support, and an estimated remaining range for example.

As for range… we all know it is super subjective, but I’ll leave you with this. I took off on a fast-paced ride with the new eOne-Eighty trying to squeeze as much riding as I could into a very short time. So I (85kg) rode more than 38km of very steep, technical terrain with more than 1250m of climbing, pretty much entirely in full Turbo mode on the 800Wh battery. And I came back with more than 20% of battery remaining after more than 3 hours out – 2 hours & 15 mins of ride time. Realistically, most regular rides would have been more conservative. But in any case, I had plenty of power to spare after a really solid ride.

2025 Merida eOne-Eighty – Pricing, options & availability

The full-power, full-send aluminum Merida eOne-Eighty ebike comes in 4 complete build spec options, 5 sizes, and 5 different colors depending on spec. All get the same alloy frame fitted with the updated Bosch Performance Line CX motor, the 800Wh internal battery, big brakes, max adjustable travel droppers on all sizes, integrated Lezyne headlights, and DD Minion DHRII / EXO+ Assegai tire combos.

The £4900 / 5750€ eOne-Eighty 400 is the entry-level with an extra durable Shimano Cues 1x 9-speed LinkGlide drivetrain and SR Suntour Aion 38X / TriAir 2 suspension.

The £5750 / 6750€ eOne-Eighty 500 swaps in a Cues 10-speed LinkGlide drivetrain and upgrades to RockShox Zeb / Vivid Base suspension, at a claimed 27kg.

Then, at the 700 tier, for £6500 / 7650€ you get a SRAM GX Eagle mechanical drivetrain and RockShox Zeb / Vivid Select suspension, for the same 27kg claimed weight.

The top-tier Merida eOne-Eighty 900 that I tested moves up to a Shimano XT mechanical groupset and RockShox Zeb/Vivid Ultimate suspension for £7500 / 8800€, at a slightly heavier claimed 27.2kg (actual for my size L).

All four specs are available now to pick up through your local Merida dealer.

Merida-bikes.com

The post Merida eOne-Eighty eBike Embraces Full Power with Latest Bosch CX Motor: First Rides appeared first on Bikerumor.

Merida makes a powerful move to Bosch motors for their latest crop of ebikes, including this all-new lightweight all-mountain eOne-Sixty SL, its companion full-power enduro eOne-Eighty, and a new crop of eFloat city bikes. The 160mm travel is my preferred starting point to discuss the new Bosch powered bikes, because even though it is really an all-new ebike, it has something of an analog in Merida’s previous popular e160 platform.

But with a lighter carbon frame, a lighter and smoother pedal assist via Bosch’s SX motor, and the smallest battery that Merida has put in an eMTB yet… the new eOne-Sixty SL feels a lot more like a regular all-mountain bike. And it likely will appeal to mountain bikers turned off by the extra heft of most full-powered ebikes.

2025 Merida eOne-Sixty SL lightweight Bosch SX eMTB

The new carbon Merida eOne-Sixty SL is a full 29er Bosch SX-powered light-support eMTB, with a 400Wh internal battery, and the option for a 250Wh external range extender if you need it.

This past spring Merida lightened up their popular Shimano EP8-powered eOne-Sixty all-mountain to enduro ebike with a carbon frame, bigger battery options, and longer travel than its name would suggest. (Pretty much every ebike they’ve made until now had a Shimano motor, but it’s time for diversification and more choice.) Still, that eMTB still weighed between 22-23.6kg depending on how much money you could spend. Sure, it was light-ish, but still noticeably heavier than any real lightweight eMTBs.

This all-new ebike on the other hand weighs between 19.5-20.8kg, which is enough of a weight reduction to really start to feel more like a regular big mountain bike.

Tech details

The new Bosch SX-powered Merida eOne-Sixty SL ebike sticks with 160mm of travel front & rear. The <2kg carbon frame features a simple linkage-driven single-pivot suspension design with flex engineered into the seat stays for simplicity and light weight.

But you can also eke out another 14mm of rear wheel travel if you convert it to a mullet setup with a 27.5″ rear wheel and the frame’s flip-chip.

The eOne-Sixty SL also sports some properly progressive geometry – in 5 Agilometer sizes (XS-XL). With a 64° headtube angle, ultra-steep 78.5° seat angle, and long 489mm frame Reach on my large-size Long test ebike, it’s nearly identical to the Shimano-powered e160 carbon, just with 4mm shorter chainstays. It’s also tested and rated for Category 4 riding which is everything short of DH racing.

This eMTB is clearly trying to emulate full-on enduro bikes, but I think it really shines most as an all-mountain shredder.

At the heart of the new eOne-Sixty SL, of course, is the 55Nm Bosch Performance Line SX ebike motor, hidden behind a vented plastic cover. And neatly tucked inside the frame is a light 400Wh battery.

The charging port is on the left side of the seat tube, and you can also plug in a 1.6kg, 250Wh Bosch PowerMore range extender external battery if you need more support or have range anxiety. The range extender does replace the space for the max 750lm water bottle though, and you can’t run both at the same time.

Although, as an 85kg rider pushing this ebike hard, I could still get 1000m of climbing out of this small battery in its most powerful assist mode. So I suspect I would leave that extra battery at home for most rides, although it would be a nice addition for big days out on the ebike.

First Impressions Riding Santa Coloma de Farners

Merida says the new e160 SL “blurs the line between conventional and assisted riding“. It is no doubt an ebike when you realize how much faster you can get to the top of the hill with 250W of normalized power (and 600W peak power) boosting your legs. But when you head downhill again, the extra weight compared to a regular all-mountain or enduro bike seems to almost disappear.

This is certainly one of the more balanced-feeling and more capable-feeling ebikes I have tested. And while you genuinely have to put in some effort to get it up the mountain, going down is as playful and natural feeling as a regular mountain bike. There really doesn’t feel like there’s a lot of compromise here.

Stay tuned for a more in-depth review of how this 20.4kg Merida eOne-Sixty SL 8000 rides, how it feels, and what I see as its downsides.

2025 Merida eOne-Sixty SL – Pricing, options & availability

The new lightweight Merida eOne-Sixty SL ebike with its carbon frame, Bosch Performance SX motor & 400Wh internal battery comes in just 3 spec levels, 5 sizes, and 5 different colors depending on spec. All get proper all-mountain-to-enduro-ready specs with 4-piston brakes, 200+mm rotors, long-travel droppers on all sizes, and EXO+ Minion DHRII/Assegai tires.

The £6000 / 7000€ eOne-Sixty SL 6000 is the more “entry-level” with a Shimano Deore drivetrain and Marzocchi Z1/Bomber Air suspension at a claimed 20.8kg. (All € pricing is based on German retail pricing, and can vary throughout the EU.)

The eOne-Sixty SL 8000 that I tested moves up to a SRAM GX Eagle AXS wireless transmission and RockShox Lyrik/Super Deluxe Select+ suspension for £8000 / 9500€, at a claimed 20.3kg (20.4kg actual for my size L).

And lastly, the top-tier Merida eOne-Sixty SL 10K goes all-in at even more than 10K – selling for £11,500 / 13,500€ with a SRAM XX AXS transmission, Fox 36/Float X Factory suspension, and even new FSA SC i30 carbon wheels at a weight claim of just 19.5kg.

All three specs are available now to pick up through your local Merida dealer.

Merida-bikes.com

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