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CAN A POWER-ASSISTED OFF-ROAD BICYCLE OFFER UP AS MUCH FUN AS A FULL-ON PETROL-POWERED DIRT SCOOTER? THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT… W o r d s b y Te a m D B R a n d To m B u t c h e r P h o t o s b y J a s o n B e l l i n g e r
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or most of us mountain biking is the most enjoyable way to improve our fitness or offers an alternative way to blow off steam when we’re not able to get behind the bars of the bikes that we really love – our good old fossil-fuelled dirt bikes. The one advantage of a pedal-powered bike over a petrol one is land accessibility – there are a stack more places where it’s legal to ride a mountain bike than it is a motocross or even road-registered enduro machine – although on the flipside the thrills and speeds an actual motorbike can offer are way more plentiful. But what if there were a machine somewhere in the middle that could help you achieve dirt bike thrills in mountain bike friendly places? E-bike manufacturer Haibike reckons that they might have the answer in the form of power-assisted mountain bikes. Although they’re not out and out electric-powered dirt bikes like the KTM Freeride or Alta Motors Redshift, the Haibike sDuro 6.0 AllMtn certainly bridges the gap between mountain bikes and the more traditional off-road machines that we’re used to seeing in DBR.
After speaking with Haibike importers Raleigh we were able to blag ourselves a bike for an extended test period to see just how much of a buzz power-assisted bicycling could offer and also see whether their bikes are a suitable training tool for the off-road aficionado. To achieve this we’ve all been using the Haibike as frequently as possible for day-to-day tasks like nipping to the shops as well as going on lengthy rides both off-road and on. We also handed it over to full-on mountain bike nut Tom Butcher to give it a thorough test from a cyclist’s point of view – someone who knows what they’re on about and that... The first thing that we noticed when we took to the streets on the sDuro 6.0 AllMtn was how sexy it made us. All of a sudden everyone was looking our way – or so we thought. It turns out that our man boobs and hairy asses weren’t nearly as sought after as we’d initially assumed and it was in fact the Haibike that was turning heads. Gutted. Still, it was a nice feeling while it lasted. Once we’d come to terms with that fact, the next thing we noticed was just how >> pokey the power delivery was.
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SPECIFICATIONS
HAIBIKE SDURO 6.0 ALLMTN
The Haibike can be ridden anywhere it’s legal to ride a bicycle
Unlike a motorbike there’s no throttle as such and the Yamaha PW-series motor that the sDuro 6.0 AllMtn is equipped with only comes in when you’re pedalling. On the full power setting the motor offers up to 280% assistance meaning climbing hills becomes a breeze and building speed up on off-road trails is effortless and a whole lot of fun! Of course, the moment you stop pedalling the extra power gets turned off too which can lead to some fairly embarrassing moments – especially with so many people watching! We soon figured it out though and the brilliance of the bike shone through as it opened up previously impassable climbs that lead us onwards and upwards to glorious high-speed descents. It obviously doesn’t take all the effort out but the Haibike will do a good amount of the work for you if you ask it to – lower assistance settings are also available for people out there who have an actual level of fitness. But since riding it is so much damn fun you’ll find that it becomes totally addictive and even if you’re not riding it for that reason your fitness levels will still rise. And that increases the fun even further so it’s a win-win-win situation to be in with the fun leading to fitness which in turn leads to more fun, fitness, fun, fitness, fun and well, y’know...
One of the questions we were keen to find an answer to was ‘could a power-assisted mountain bike offer up as much of a thrill as riding a dirt bike?’. As a team of people who are passionate about riding dirt bikes our answer is collectively a big fat no but that’s only because riding dirt bikes is our thing and therefore something that just can’t be equalled – it’s our thing, our passion, our life. So to summarise, the Haibike sDuro 6.0 AllMtn definitely makes mountain biking more fun although unless your mates are equipped with similar-specced e-bikes you’ll A) spend a whole lot of time sat waiting for them and B) annoy the heck out of them with your new found speed. They’re their problems to deal with though, eh? Perhaps the biggest obstacle to overcome with the Haibike is the price tag it carries. Delivered to your front door for a little over three and a half grand it ain’t chump change but if you’ve got the dosh to splosh then I can think of worse ways to empty your wallet. And if you haven’t got the readies already then most of the UK stockists offer finance packages to make owning one more achievable.
Frame: Alu 6061, Hydro Formed, Gravity Casting Interface Forks: RockShox Yari RC, 150mm Rear Shock: RockShox Monarch RT Brakes: Magura MT4/5 203/180mm Shifters: Shimano Deore M610 Rapid Fire 20 Speed Rear Mech: Shimano XT Shadow 20 Speed Cassette: Shimano HG50, 11-36 Teeth, 10 Speed Chain: KMC X10e 10 Speed Wheelset: XLC Evo Disc Hubs on Rodi TR40 Rims, Front 15mm, Rear 148x12mm Tyres: Schwalbe Nobby Nic Evo 27.5+ x 2.80 Handlebars: Haibike sDuro Bar 31.8mm Stem: Haibike TheStem 31.8mm Headset: A-Head, Alloy, Tapered Seatpost: XLC AllMtn Remote Dropper, 31.6mm Saddle: Selle Royal Voga Weight: 23.3 kg Battery: Yamaha Lithium Ionen 36 Volt, 500 Wh, with BMS Management Display: Yamaha multifunctional LCD display with walk assistance Motor: Yamaha PW Crank Drive 36V 250 Watt. 100-280% Assist, 80Nm Range: 40 to110 miles of power assisted range, depending on terrain Price: £3699
Some things look better wet and the Haibike is one of them – not too sure the same applies for Angry Al though...
For more info on Haibike’s ePerformance range log on to www.haibikeuk.co.uk... dirtbikerider 95
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Stumped for somewhere to park your eBike? Don’t worry – you’ll always sort something...
BUTCHERED! THE HAIBIKE SDURO 6.0 ALLMTN IS PUT TO THE TEST BY TENACIOUS TOM B…
Over the course of a week I (that’s Tom Butcher who shouldn’t be confused with former Dr Who actor Tom Baker – Sutty) put the Haibike 6.0 through many miles of vigorous testing on a very diverse amount of surfaces and demanding trails in the Lake District. The distance I covered was 122.70 miles and the overall elevation gain during the course of those miles was 6,237ft. From roads that snake through the Lake District’s valleys to the dizzying heights of its iconic fells and mountains, the Haibike faced them all. In the very early stages of conquering some of the Lake Districts best trails many defining aspects of the Haibike became apparent. The aesthetics of the HaIbike are truly pleasing and wherever you take it it’s guaranteed to turn heads. A busy but tidy design ensures the bike does not look bland or boring but it’s not over the top either. The colour combination and design reflect the bike’s personality very well. When looking at the bike it’s obvious that it’s a high quality unit and its main components are all well-known and trusted brands in the mountain bike world. Additionally the stance of the Haibike looks well balanced and posed like
it’s ready for anything. Its 27.5inch wheels with fat bike style tyres give the bike a unique and mean look. Additionally although it has a battery pack and motor built in it looks just as slick and agile as a normal enduro style mountain bike. Although it is a mountain bike roads are an inevitable factor that are frequently a part of a ride. While the Haibike is considerably heavier than an average mountain bike – as well as having a larger footprint – it does not hinder its road riding ability much thanks to the Yamaha PW-system. The motor assist makes light work of any hills or long flats and it can hold you at a speed of around 15mph on practically all gradients. The almost effortless progress you make on roads is somewhat addictive and you’ll find yourself hoping for some big hills. However if you try to take the bike faster than 15mph the assist will stop and you suddenly feel the weight of the bike. On downhills it will go much faster but to trying to take it above 15mph on flat or uphill will leave you exhausted. The distances you can cover on the bike is simply astounding and it’s a guarantee you will find yourself far from home in little time having barely broken a sweat. Endurance style mountain biking is where this bike seems to fit in very comfortably and competitively. The Haibike opens up a vast amount of options that would otherwise be given a miss due to the gradient of the climbs or the distances required to get there.
The Haibike performs outstandingly on climbs on practically any surface while remaining stable and not losing grip for a second. The sheer power the motor can kick out on very steep sections seems to defy gravity. Sections of trails thought to be tackled only by trials bikes are light work for the Haibike. The only times this bike failed to climb was on severely steep climbs pushing almost vertical where the bike would loop out because of the viciousness of the motor at very low speeds. Moving on to flatter sections of trails it is hard to find any flaws at all. A particular area where this bike stands out is the speeds it can travel while on relatively flat sections. After a corner or a hard technical section the Haibike’s ability to take off at great speed and maintain this speed is amazing. This factor turned sections of a ride that may be usually slow into a fast and hugely fun section thanks to the Yamaha motor. Furthermore the bike’s high quality suspension helps the bike glide over rough sections at speed while remaining very solid and stable. A common issue found with the bike was the front chain ring hitting the ground hard when rolling off a step or drop. With it having no guard to protect it from this it is a potential disaster waiting to happen. Another issue that came to light was the cranks and pedals hitting the ground at the lowest point of the pedal motion which created
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The range of the Haibike’s battery means there’s no such thing as a bridge too far...
No braaap but the Haibike still offers smiles for miles....
a violent bucking motion. This happened rather frequently and more so when pedalling through a corner or pedalling on rough ground. But overall the capabilities of this bike are outstanding. It opens up a huge amount of options regarding climbs and distance. Now, given the weight of the Haibike it is not a good or fun idea to try and ride on anything without the motor assisting. If the battery were to run out you would be able to ride it home but you wouldn’t be able to walk through the door once there. Luckily the battery life is seemingly endless and even after a 27 mile ride with some heavy climbs and a huge mixture of surfaces the battery went from full to 38 per cent. Its worth noting that every mile of the 27 miles was hardcore and intense mountain biking with the motor on the high setting for the majority of the ride. On an all-road ride it managed 34 miles with ease starting on full charge and ending up at just under half with the motor on high the whole time. Overall the battery can easily allow for around five or six hours of hard mountain biking but if you were to baby it on less intense rides and conserve battery through using the settings such as eco and eco+ your only limitation maybe the hours in the day. Downhill trails are where the bike faced its biggest test as we pushed the limits of both rider and bike. On these trails the bike faced tight berms with many jumps and drops alongside harsh technical sections and
flat-out sprints. On these trails the brakes a re hammered and the suspension is given a forceful run for its money. The Haibike’s brakes proved very effective in these circumstances and its one of the first things you notice when in the saddle. The sharpness of the brakes really stood out and gives great confidence on fast sections. When facing berms both tight and sharp the bike displayed great agility and manoeuvrability and it’s easy to forget about the extra weight from the motor and battery pack. You can really get the bike low round corners and it’s swift and elegant when transferring from berm to berm. Drop-offs are absorbed by the Haibike’s quality suspension with ease but making corrections in the air prove difficult due to the weight of the bike. Moving on to actual jumps the bike performed at a satisfactory level. On smaller jumps without a kicker on take-off the bike handles it very well but does drop like a stone once in the air. On fast downhill straights the bike leaves you feeling exhilarated and the speeds that the bike can handle on rough ground is unreal. The bike remains very stable and does not bounce or ricochet but soaks up and flutters over. Overall this bike proved its worth very well on downhill courses where agility, stability and stopping power are key. In conclusion this bike is an all-round outstanding piece of kit with few flaws to pick from. The Haibike 6.0 is more than enough
to tackle almost all trails and styles of riding. Although it has a motor it does not take anything away from what it means to be – a mountain bike. It’s a true and honest mountain bike with an incredible ability to unlock potential you didn’t know you had. I found that throughout the whole time the bike was in my possession and every time I took it off the mountain and park it up somewhere people flocked. The amount of people who approach me to look at the bike and talk about the bike was amazing. It’s a real show piece but with a very practical purpose. Every day I rode the bike I found myself talking to many people who found the bike fascinating. Also on every ride I had Strava on and I beat an unbelievable amount of personal records even on sections of where the motor wouldn’t benefit my time. I rode places I have never ridden before simply because I could – the energy you save for the real fun bits is priceless. The joy that was summoned from deep within is something few bikes give me. I ride daily and I’m a very experienced mountain biker so I naturally had some doubts about the bike before getting it. With the stigma that’s attached to electric bikes I wondered if it would be able to create the same sensation as my Specialized Status 1 downhill bike does. It did exactly that and more and I believe that when my wallet allows it I’ll absolutely add one of these bikes to my arsenal. dirtbikerider 97
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