Last year Lapierre introduced their eEnduro 160mm travel Overvolt AM Carbon Bosch-powered eMTB, which shifted the powertrain weight low to create an e-bike that actually rides like a mountain bike off-road. But that carbon e-bike started at 5300€ (topping out at 7000€) so Lapierre have been developing aluminum counterparts to bring price down. The resulting Overvolt AMi bikes drop stock batteries in favor of new integrated power storage fitted into reshaped downtubes that Lapierre says gives a cleaner look and a fun ride in 27.5+ or 29″ and with either Bosch or Shimano motors…
Overvolt AMi Bosch eMTBs
Integration is the buzzword for the new aluminum eMTBs from Lapierre. While Overvolt is the general name for all of their electric assist mountain bikes and the AM denotes a mid-length travel & all mountain style riding, the little i stands for integrated. That means no more stock modular batteries, but instead everything tucked neatly into a giant downtube shape, even leaving room for a water bottle cage inside the front triangle.
The models developed with Bosch (who powered the carbon bike with a standard battery) get a 500Wh tubular battery that snaps into place on the open underside of the downtube.
The Bosch Overvolts also now get a new two mode drive system of either Eco or eMTB. The new eMTB automatically increases assist by how hard you are mashing on the pedals. Bosch uses some fuzzy math, but essentially if you figure the standard level of assist is a 1, Eco mode is 1/2 that, and eMTB mode ranges from 1x to 3x power assist based on pressure sensors that they claim makes for a more fluid pedal feedback that is easier to ride,e specially in technical terrain.
The bikes are all built with Lapierre’s Dual Wheel System axle flip chips that let you swap wheel sizes if you want. There’s space for 27.5+ tires or 29ers, but all of the OST+ 150mm travel bikes stick with 27.5+. Modern trail geometry is based on the carbon bike, but actually gets 15mm shorter stays & a 10mm longer wheel base overall to help keep the front wheel planted to the ground.
The integrated Bosch Overvolts will be available from the end of October in four different builds – the 4400€ Overvolt AM500i Bosch; 5000€ Overvolt AM600i Bosch; 5500€ Overvolt AM 700i Bosch; and 6000€ Overvolt AM900i Bosch – each including Lapierre’s own eAM wheels with 2.8″ Maxxis tires & Lapierre’s own dropper post.
Overvolt CXi Bosch eMTB
On top of that Lapierre has added one new integrated cross-country 29er. The Overvolt XC500i Bosch gets the same integrated downtube battery, but sticks with 120mm of travel for a quicker feel over less technical terrain. It will roll out in spring 2018, with pricing expected closer to then.
Overvolt AMi Shimano eMTBs
For those who prefer Shimano drive systems, Lapierre has that covered with an integrated set of Overvolts as well. With a bit more travel for the 27.5+ bikes at 160mm, the Overvolt AMi Shimano eMTBs get a Horst link four-bar design instead of the virtual pivot OST+ of the other bikes.
Lapierre says this make the Shimano bikes a bit more plush, with less brake feedback, while also helping get weight low. At the same time the Shimano bikes have a smaller diameter downtube, thanks to a flexible Snake Power battery that is fed into a smaller port on the side of the downtube.
Joining the 27.5+ Shimano bikes, shorter 140mm travel Shimano powered 29ers are also slated for availability in spring 2018, when official pricing will also be revealed.
What we know now is that there will be 27.5+ & 29″ versions at each spec level – 927i/929i, 827i/829i, 727i/729i, 627i/629i & 527i/529i.
