It has to be said that the dedicated eBike manufacturer, Haibike, has not been known for its aesthetically pleasing eMTBs in recent years. That changed this year with the introduction of the Haibike Lyke, a 140mm travel eMTB powered by the Fazua Ride 60 Motor. While not the lightest mid-level assist eBike on the market, it is fairly competitive, with the Lyke SE model weighing a claimed 18.5 kg in a size large. That runs on a 430 Wh battery, with the option to add a 210 Wh range extender that would deliver a maximum capacity of 640 Wh. With its modern geometry and an entry level price of £5,699, the Haibike Lyke is certainly worth a second look.
Haibike Lyke
The Porsche-owned Fazua Motor Technology is slowly but surely making its way onto more and more eBikes of the lightweight, mid-level assist category, more recently popping up on the Focus JAM² SL, NOX Epium and Pivot Shuttle SL eMTBs. While those Trail eBikes position the Fazua Ride 60 Motor through the downtube, the Haibike Lyke reorients it such that it points upwards into the seat tube.
- Bike: Haibike Lyke eMTB
- Fork Travel: 140mm
- Rear Wheel Travel: 140mm
- Wheel Size: 29″
- Frame Material: Carbon
- Motor: Fazua Ride 60
- Main Battery: 430 Wh
- Range Extender: 210 Wh
- Claimed Weight: 18.5 kg (Lyke SE in Size Large)
- Maximum Permitted System Weight: 120 kg
- Starting Price: £5,699
Haibike were able to configure the drive unit in this way thanks to the flexible connection between the Ride 60 Motor and its 430 Wh battery. The advantage seems to be that Haibike were able to position the battery lower in the downtube, centering the weight closer to the bottom bracket, something that will likely make for a more natural-handling eBike. And, the orientation of the motor means that, in order to remove the battery, you don’t also have to remove the motor itself, as is the case on the Pivot Shuttle SL. The battery on the NOX Epium and Focus JAM² SL eBikes is removable via a large door on the underside of the downtube; in the case of the Haibike Lyke, the battery slides into and out of the downtube via a much smaller door where the downtube and BB meet.
The system itself weighs just 4.2 kg and delivers, as the name would suggest, a maximum torque of 60 Nm. It offers three ride modes; breeze, river and rocket, with an additional walk mode to help the owner push the bike up hill when the terrain gets too steep even for an eBike.
Matthias Rueckerl, Global brand manager at Haibike said: “The LYKE is proof of HAIBIKE’s constant drive to push the boundaries of innovation. With the development focused on weight, handling and design, in combination with a removable battery system, we created a unique and unparalleled concept”.
Despite the upright positioning of the motor inside the seat tube, the latter still comes in at a reasonable length (for an eBike) at 440mm in the size medium. Haibike say the Lyke’s geometry lends itself to the absence of front-end rise, offering a relaxed yet highly efficient uphill riding position. It rolls on a 29″ wheelset with a 65° head tube angle and boasts a steep effective seat tube angle of 77.3° paired with a rear-center length of 450mm that is consistent across the size range. The Lyke is available in sizes Small, Medium, Large and XL, with reach figures of 424mm, 452mm, 479mm and 506mm, respectively.
Pricing & Availability
The Haibike Lyke eBike is available at three price points, all boasting a complete carbon frameset and the Fazua Ride 60 Motor with the 430 Wh battery. Pricing starts at £5,699 for the Lyke 10 in the Leather/Orange colorway; that money gets you a Rockshox Lyrik Select fork, a Rockshox Deluxe Select+ shock, a SRAM SX/NX 12s drivetrain, Shimano M6120 Brakes, a WTB ST i30 Wheelset and 2.4″ Schwalbe Wicked Will EVO tires.
The Lyke 11 retails at £6,599, and comes with the Carbon/Sand/Lime colorway. Component upgrades include a Fox 36 Performance Fork, a Fox Float Performance DPS EVOL, Shimano Deore XT Brakes, a Shimano Deore XT/SLX 12s Drivetrain, a Mavic E-Crossmax XL wheelset and Maxxis Dissector tires. This one weighs a claimed 18.8 kg in a Size Large.
The top-end Haibike Lyke SE will set you back £8,799; it gets the Navy/Bronze colorway. Highlight components include a Fox 36 Float Factory Fork, a Fox Float X Factory Shock, Shimano XTR 4-piston brakes, Shimano Deore XTR 12s drivetrain, a Fox Transfer dropper seat post, Mavic E-Crossmax XL Carbon wheelset and Maxxis Dissector tires.
