The E-Trailster has been part of the Bergamont portfolio for a while now. The bike had already made an appearance in our E-Mountainbike magazine a couple of years ago – in our 2015 comparison test. So, what have they done with it over the last couple of years?
Aesthetically the E-Trailster hasn’t change much. The frame is still the same and so is the orange colour scheme, only with added black instead of white. Power is provided by a Bosch Performance CX with a 500 Wh battery. A cocktail of Shimano XT and SLX components takes care of the shifting, with a wisely chosen 11–42 setup. In our previous test we had a few issues with component-choice, and two years on, some of the specs are not the optimal choice for an E-Mountainbike. The MAGURA MT4 stoppers struggle to deliver a consistent bite on long descents and the MAXXIS Forekaster offers a poor amount of grip and puncture-resistance.
A long frame and a big 80mm stem give the Bergamont E-Trailster a stretched and racy riding-position. On climbs the Bosch-drive system pulls nicely and purrs out loud; people with long legs will feel slightly reclined when pedalling on steep uphills, whereby the front wheel still feels glued to the ground. On more rugged, technical climbs and on descents the tires could do with a lot more traction, although the smaller wheel size makes the bike feel nimble in turns and sudden direction changes. The FOX 34 FLOAT Performance works well in combination with the RockShox rear shock and can take the big hits without sagging or losing response. The Trailster feels at home on smoother trails and fire roads, but quickly reaches its limitations on more challenging terrain.
The Bergamont E-Trailster 8.0 in detail
Fork FOX 34 FLOAT Performance 150 mm
Rear shock RockShox Monarch RT 140 mm
Motor / Battery Bosch Performance CX / 500 Wh
Brakes Magura MT4
Drivetrain Shimano XT/SLX
Seatpost Manitou Jack
Stem Answer AME 80 mm
Handlebar BGM Pro 740 mm
Tires MAXXIS Forekaster EXO 2,35″
Wheels DT Swiss M1900 Spline
Upfront the FOX 34 FLOAT Performance works nicely and takes the hits with smoothness and composure.
The 80mm stem is overkill. This translates into a very stretched riding position on uphills and indirect, sloppy handling on downhills. We recommend a stem length of 60 mm maximum.
Old-fashioned, thin 27.5″ tires clearly offer less grip than their chubbier 27.5+ cousins. Bergamont uses narrow rims and a flat profiled tire which ends up in a lack of grip and comfort.
The MAGURA MT4 2-piston brakes lack efficiency on long descents. MT5 or MT7 brakes would be a better choice for an E-Mountainbike. The 4 piston brakes offer more heat-resistance and reliability.
Unfortunately, not much has changed on the Trailster 8.0 since our last test in 2015. Some of the major issues that we highlighted back then, still haven’t been addressed. That’s why the Bergamont can’t really stand a chance against its strong competitors, neither in terms of specs nor performance. What a pity! We can only hope that the bike manufacturer from Hamburg will make up for it in the future…
Strengths
– Good suspension
– Long-stroke seat dropper
Weaknesses
– Feels twitchy at high speeds
– Not very comfortable
– Poor choice of components
For more Information head to: bergamont.com
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: 11 E-MTBs under € 5,000 in Comparison
All bikes in test: CENTURION No Pogo E2000 27+ | FOCUS JAM² 29 | Giant Full-E+0 Pro | Haibike SDURO AllMtn 7.0 | KTM MACINA Kapoho LT 273 | MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 800 | NOX Bike EDT 5.1 Hybrid | SCOTT E-Genius 720 Plus | Specialized Turbo Levo FSR 6FATTIE | Trek Powerfly 8 FS
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