What’s the most fun thing about ebikes? The arguments, of course! Haters probably cringed when they saw the first e-bike, then again when the first full-suspension models came around, and once more when electric downhill bikes became a reality. But while some of us are lamenting ‘is nothing sacred?’ others are thinking ‘that looks awesome’!
With several models already in their lineup Germany’s Rotwild is no stranger to electric bikes, and they’ve just announced an e-downhill bike that will surely fuel many debates over trail access, the competing goals of fitness vs. fun and whether the easy ride up is worth the sneers and jeers from the pedal-power purists.
Rotwild says their newest E-MTB will make it easier for people to enjoy the fun experience of downhill riding without the hassle of organizing shuttle trucks or paying big bucks for lift tickets at the bike park. The 2017 R.G+ FS will be debuting to the public with two different models on display at the Eurobike tradeshow, which begins August 31st…
At this time no details of the R.G+ FS have made it to their website yet, but here’s all the info Rotwild has provided: The R.G+ FS’ 500Wh motor is made entirely from carbon fiber. The bike uses the same Brose drive unit as Rotwild’s other e-bikes, and it fully decouples so there’s zero drag when the motor isn’t assisting. The assist level can be adjusted, but so far we don’t have info on how many increments or power levels you can choose.
Rotwild’s new XLS chassis provides 200mm of rear travel, and is specifically designed to work with the Fox X2 Air shock. The XLS linkage aims to provide good small bump sensitivity and a progressive high-end spring curve. The bike’s anti-squat has also been optimized for the added chain tension produced by the motor.
The R.G+ FS rolls on 27.5” wheels, and offers ample clearance for up to 2.6” widths. One thoughtful addition is the stealth dropper post routing- It’s clearly something only an electric DH bike would need, but this thing is going to be climbing too!
The head tube angle is fixed at a slack 63.5°, but the headset allows for adjustment of +/- 1.5°. The chain stays can be positioned to either 450mm or 465mm (that’s the medium frame- the size large measures 462.5mm in its shorter mode). Frames come in Medium and Large sizes, check out the chart below for the complete geometry.
Some components are shared between the two bikes but you can see in the chart below what they’ve done to shave the price down on the Pro version- Most notably it comes with a 180mm single crown fork, which seems like a major compromise for such a pricey machine that’s intended for full-on DH riding. They’ve also gone with a 1×10 drivetrain vs. the 11 speed setup on the Evo model.
