We can all agree that balance bikes are too cool for school, but do you know what would make them cooler? Yep, a motor.

Mondraker has just released a 250W e-Balance bike, the first from an established mountain bike brand, meaning your young guns can not only learn those essential riding skills but also keep up with mum and dad on the trail too.

The Mondraker Grommy comes in two sizes, a 12in wheeled bike for riders aged 3-5 years old and a Grommy 16″ for ages 5-8. Just like mum and dads Mondraker, the Grommy uses a long and slack Forward Geometry and is designed to be lightweight, stable and fun.

Both sizes of the Mondraker Grommy have a run time of 60 minutes from a single charge and can reach speeds of up to 17.7km\h, though 2 other speed modes limit the bike to 8.1km/h and 12.1km/h so riders ride at a speed that suits them.

The 6061 alloy frame features internal cable routing, disc brake mounts for a 140mm Tektro cable brake, real MTB tires from VeeTire Co.

Mondraker Grommy Video

Mondraker Grommy gallery

• Grommy-12” – 190mm frame, 12-inch wheels, weighs just 7.5kg, with saddle height range 37-47cm, for riders aged 3-5 years 
• Grommy-16” – 250mm frame, 16-inch wheels, weighs just 8.5kg, with saddle height range 43-58cm, for riders aged 5-8 years 

Both models feature:

• Superlight Mondraker Alloy Frame & Fork
• Three power modes: ‘Balance’ (max speed 8.1km/h), ‘Fun’ (12.1km/h) and ‘Advanced’ (17.7km/h)
• Quick-change 4Ah battery: 60 minutes run time, 60 minutes full charge time
• Integrated base footrest
• ‘Big bike feel’ MTB standard componentry and compatibility
• Internal cable routing
• Mechanical disc brake

Mondraker has built a micro site for the Mondraker Grommy with full details of these wicked little bikes, if only they made them for big kids…

Mondraker Grommy FAQ

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What makes the Decathlon Stilus such great value?

Amazingly, Decathlon has managed to produce a full-suspension eMTB with brand name components and impressive battery and motor specifications for less than £3k.

The Stilus uses a Bosch Performance CX motor along with an integrated PowerTube 500Wh battery giving this budget eMTB amazing torque and power as well as Bosch’s excellent adaptive eMTB mode.

As well as the Bosch kit the Stilus gets decent RockShox suspension front and back providing 150mm of travel. Brakes are powerful SRAM hydraulic discs with large 200mm rotors, even the wheels and tyres are brand name items from Schwalbe and Sun.

Limited Stock

Decathlon sell out of Stilus eMTB fast, and at the time of writing they only have this value eMTB available in sizes Large and XL, but check the geometry and you might find you’re able to size up to a larger frame.

Priced at only £2699.99 we don’t know of any other full-suspension eMTB which comes close to the Stilus on value, let alone one with a Bosch motor and internal PowerTube battery.

To avoid disappointment get over to the Decathlon website now and order your Decathon Stilus for just £2699.99.

The post The unobtainable Decathlon Stilus eMTB is now back in stock! appeared first on Essential MTB.

Press Release Follows

Swiss brand Flyer’s latest eMTB features a 29″ front wheel paired to a 27.5″ rear wheel, with a full carbon frame that provides 160mm of rear travel. That’s paired with a 170mm fork, giving the bike a 64.5-degree head tube angle, 75.3-degree seat tube angle, 470mm reach, and 445mm chainstays, for a size large.

According to Product Manager Silas Furrer, “With the Uproc6 we made our vision of the perfect mountain bike come true. The bike combines the climbing capabilities of an e-bike with the downhill performance of a first-class enduro bike.”

The Uproc6 employs a Bosch Performance Line CX Gen4 motor system mated to a 625 Wh battery to provide up to 340% assistance and 85Nm of torque. The battery is secured via a 6mm Allen bolt to prevent it from any movement while riding.

The bike is spec’d for heavy enduro-style use with Double Down casing tires, heavy-duty brakes, and wheels, along with Fox’s new 38 fork or the RockShox Zeb, depending on the model.

Flyer has the Uproc6 available in three different models, with the top of the line Uproc6 9.50 selling for 10,99 EUR, complete with a Fox 38 Performance fork and Fox DPX2 Factory shock along with an SRAM X01 Eagle AXS drivetrain and Reverb AXS Seatpost, Magura MT7 brakes, DT Swiss HX 1501 Spline 30 wheels, and Maxxis tires. The Uproc 6 6.50 sells for 6,999 EUR and features a RockShox suspension package, SRAM NX group, Shimano BR-MT520 brakes, and DT Swiss H 1900 Spline 30 wheels.

• More details here.

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2020 hasn’t been a great year for many reasons, and for bicycle makers, it has been especially tricky. The COVID 19 pandemic meant press releases, launches and events have all had to be pushed back, and brands who had already planned to release bike with new components had to reschedule so as not to spill the beans.

It’s inevitable then that a few leaks have surfaced, and none more frequent than the Shimano EP8 motor. The EP8 is Shimano’s next-generation eBike motor and though unreleased has shown up in photos, on specification sheets and in patent documents.

This latest confirmation comes from Chinese frame manufacturer Light Carbon who has added a carbon fibre, full-suspension eMTB frame to its catalogue that is designed to accept the Shimano EP8 motor.

This 27.5 plus enduro frameset is available for OEM only and is made of high modulus Today T700 carbon fibre. Specifications for the frame reveal it has 150mm of rear suspension and is designed for the Shimano BTE8036 630Wh battery.

Specifications also reveal that the frame is designed to fit either the Shimano STEPS E8000 motor or the unreleased Shimano EP8 motor, confirming once again that the new Shimano drivetrain will use the same mounting and bolt position as the current model.

Light Carbon hasn’t listed specifications of the EP8, but images of the frame suggest that the Shimano EP8 will be more compact than the E8000. An integrated bash guard on the frame sits level with the downtube where the E8000 would protrude.

Shimano hasn’t officially launched the EP8 yet, but there is plenty of information about the new motor system in our Shimano EP8 FAQ here.

The post You can already buy an eMTB frame for the Shimano EP8 motor from China! appeared first on Essential MTB.

The Jealous isn’t a Hybrid in the traditional sense and actually shares a lot more in common with a hardtail XC mountain bike, but it’s clear that Radon is aiming the Jealous at riders who want to ride for leisure rather than the adrenaline rush.

With prices starting at just €2699, the Jealous is an extremely affordable eMTB and although it might not suit hardcore trail hooning the build and features are actually impressive.

The standout highlight is obviously that Gen 4 Bosch CX motor. This compact eBike motor is the same that’s found on electric bikes that cost 5 times as much and is a strong performer boasting 75Nm of torque and Bosch’s impressive eMTB mode.

Radon hasn’t cut corners on the power plant either, with the Jealous receiving a full-fat 625Wh Powertube battery neatly integrated into the downtube of the Jealous’ frame.

Base model Jealous bikes are built up with entry-level parts from Shimano, DT Swiss, Selle Royal, Schwalbe and RockShox.

But the big question is would you prefer this or the utterly fantastic Decathlon Stilus full suspension eMTB?

The post Make your buddies Radon Jealous with this €2699 Bosch Gen 4 CX eMTB hardtail appeared first on Essential MTB.

Decathlon, that huge French sports store where you can pick up a pop up tent, a set of kettlebells, and a full suspension eMTB with integrated Bosch Powertube battery for less than £3000! Yeah, your favourite sports outlet now sells a very good looking full suspension eMTB and we honestly can’t understand how they’re selling them so cheaply.

The Decathlon STILUS retails at only £2699.99, around the same price as a good suspension bike without a motor, yet those fabulous French designers have produced a suspension bike with Bosch CX motor, internal Powertube 500Wh battery and RockShox suspension. It looks really good too, with smooth flowing alloy tubes and clean welds!

At this price we expect a little cost cutting, but we honestly can’t complain at this price. Schwalbe tyres are an outstanding choice on such an affordable eMTB as is the 150mm travel RockShox 35 fork, the 4 piston SRAM Guide RE brakes and the 12-speed SRAM SX drivetrain. This really is a value packed eMTB!

So what’s the catch? Well, Decathlon is currently out of stock, and we suspect that once the STILUS is on sale again it will sell out in no time at all.

Decathlon STILUS geometry

Decathlon STILUS specifications

• Frame: 6061 alloy frame, 150mm travel, integrated battery
• Fork: 150mm travel RockShox 35
• Shock: RockShox Deluxe
• Battery: Bosch Powertube 500, 625Wh
• Motor: Bosch Performance CX Gen 3
• Rear Mech: SRAM SX 12-speed
• Brakes: SRAM Guide RE, 4 piston
• Wheels: Sun Ringle Duroc 42
• Tyres: Schwalbe Smart AM 27.5 x 2.6in
• Price: £2699.99
• From: Decathlon

The post Holy crap! Decathlon may have won the 2020 eMTB market with the sub £3k Bosch powered STILUS! appeared first on Essential MTB.

We will add more EP8 news, specifications and rumours soon so keep checking back.

The post Shimano EP8 motor is coming here’s everything we know about it so far. appeared first on Essential MTB.

Named the RockShox Zeb R, this variant of the burly 38mm stanchion fork differs from its stablemates for varies reasons. First up, it’s one of the few RockShox forks to carry an eMTB Specific label, but far more interesting are the features.

Named the Zeb R, this eMTB suspension fork comes with the new Charger R damper unit and will be custom-tuned direct from the factory. This should ensure the Zeb R is simple to set up from the box, but this isn’t the feature we’re really excited to see.

Dual Position

RockShox has reintroduced the Dual Position feature on the Zeb R, an on the fly suspension travel adjustment feature that was once offered on the Pike. Dual Position forks are fitted with a dial that set’s the fork in one of two travel settings, in this case, the RockShox Zeb R can run at 180mm and quickly turned down to 150mm when necessary.

RockShox says that the Dual Position feature is tailored to eMTB riders needs allowing the fork to run at 180mm travel on challenging downhill terrain and down at 150mm for steep technical climbs. The ability to drop the front of an eBike by 30mm should be enough to prevent a wondering front wheel when climbing the steeps.

The RockShox Zeb was released today, and we’re already seeing eMTB and eBikes shipping with the burly enduro fork. If you want to know more about the Zeb then visit our FAQ page which is full of Zeb facts and figures.

RockShox Zeb R Dual Position

• New 38mm chassis for increased stiffness and rider confidence
• Charger Technology – The New Charger R damper features factory tuned compression with easy to adjust rebound
• The Dual Position Air spring allows riders to adjust the fork between two distinct travel positions. With the turn of a knob, adjust from 180mm of max travel to 150mm minimum travel.
• Ultra-low friction SKF wiper seals provide long-lasting fork performance and improve overall suspension feel
• Maxima Plush damping fluid reduces friction and silences damper noise
• Short fender compatible (RockShox fender sold separately)
• eMTB endorsement decal

Features

• Wheel size: 27.5″, 29″
• Travel: 150mm / 180mm: 30mm Travel Adjustment
• Damper: Charger R
• Offset: 44mm (27.5″, 29″)
• Stanchion: 38mm aluminum
• Weight: 2279g (29” / 170mm / Maxle Stealth / Uncut steerer).

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IF SOME IS GOOD, MORE IS BETTER

The Overtimepack allows you to ride your Powerplay farther than ever before, putting more time in on the trail before needing a charge.

The Overtimepack is a range extender for our Powerplay lineup that offers an additional 330 Wh of battery capacity. When combined with our massive 672 Wh Powerplay battery, you have over 1000 Wh to drain before it’s time to rest.

The Overtimepack drains its full 330 Wh capacity before you use any of the 672 Wh battery in your Powerplay. Your iWoc remote will read as fully charged until you begin to work your way through the main 672 Wh battery of the bike. The “RIDE MORE, FASTER, FURTHER” indicator on the Overtimepack will let you know how much of your 330 Wh battery remains.

No need to stop & swap batteries
Already plugged in, just keep riding.

Anti-rattle rigid attachment
Exterior battery mounts are notoriously sloppy. We offer a solid mount that’s designed for aggressive mountain biking.

Theft-deterrent design
Tooled attachment discourages the theft of expensive accessories.

A more comfortable way to carry more energy
No need to carry a heavy battery on your back. Not only is it unsafe, but it can also throw your balance off.

A better handling eMTB
Overtimepack pack is located down low on the bike by the drive.

Charging

You can use the standard Powerplay 5A charger for the Overtimepack (while attached). You can charge both batteries in parallel with two separate chargers even more quickly. Overtimepack can serve as a Jerrycan charger, filling the main battery without a charger. It takes 2.5 charges of the Overtimepack to Jerrycan fill a 672 Wh Powerplay battery completely.

For more information on the Overtimepack, visit bikes.com/Overtimepack. To find a Rocky Mountain dealer closest to you, visit www.bikes.com/dealers.

The post 59KM with 10% to spare! Rocky Mountain Overtimepack boosts EMTB range appeared first on Essential MTB.

Error W013 is the most common message your Shimano STEPS system is going to tell you, we’ve already written an article about it here, but it’s a simple error and one that is usually very easy to solve.

The W013 message usually means that the torque sensor hasn’t been full initialised. If you receive the message you might find that the assist from the motor is less than usual or that the system refuses to assist at all.

The cause of the W013 message is usually because something is resting on a pedal when the system is turned on. Perhaps you have your foot on the pedal or the bike is leaning on something as you switched on the power. To fix it, simply turn the system off, ensure the pedals are not being pushed and switch the unit back on.

Steps to fix W013 Error Code

• Turn off your eMTB
• Ensure nothing is pressing on the pedals
• Turn the STEPs system back on
• Fixed!

That was simple wasn’t it? Now the next time you turn on your eMTB just be sure that nothing is pressing on the pedals and you shouldn’t run in to the W013 error code again.

If you have had the W013 error on you Shimano eMTB, or any other code, let us know what caused it and how you fixed it.

The post How do I fix W013 error code on a Shimano STEPs eMTB and eBike? appeared first on Essential MTB.