Hardtail E-Mountainbikes are becoming very popular, as they are easier to service and more affordable. German company Corratec offer seven different versions of their hardtail E-Mountainbikes called XVert. We recently tested Six ‘Under € 4000.00’ hardtail E-bikes, but this XVert arrived a little late to the party!

Standard Bosch clock, as seen on may E-bikes.
Standard Bosch clock, as seen on may E-bikes.
We found the Manitou forks lock-out lever a bit unnecessary.
We found the Manitou forks lock-out lever a bit unnecessary.
We like the neat cable routing in the top tube.
We like the neat cable routing in the top tube.
Miles of smiles on any long uphill ride with the XVert’s easily found power assist.
Miles of smiles on any long uphill ride with the XVert’s easily found power assist.
The Manitou fork is very basic and the Continental X-King tires make the bike more of a fire road cruiser than a potent off-road machine.
The Manitou fork is very basic and the Continental X-King tires make the bike more of a fire road cruiser than a potent off-road machine.
The 500 Wh battery delivered plenty of long-ride power to the motor.
The 500 Wh battery delivered plenty of long-ride power to the motor.
The Power delivery of the CX motor was smooth and trustworthy, offering plenty of torque where needed out on the rides.
The Power delivery of the CX motor was smooth and trustworthy, offering plenty of torque where needed out on the rides.
The rear seat stays are a little unorthodox in their strange construction as they join chainstays!
The rear seat stays are a little unorthodox in their strange construction as they join chainstays!

The Corratec XVert 500 weighs in at 20.32 kg and uses the well known Bosch CX motor, and as you change down through the gears it’s power curve is as good as it’s expected from Bosch’s benchmark unit. With a price of € 2.999,00 the XVert is coming in more towards the affordable end of a well made hardtail E-Mountainbike. However, to unlock much more fun and inspire confidence, a dropper post would be a beneficial feature on any bike that hints of any off-road use, but for the extra €200 we can understand why on a hardtail it’s an aftermarket purchase! On the build of the bike, we love the neat internal cable routing across the top tube to just in front of the seat tube and the way the top tube is shaped from round at one end to oval at the other.

If you are a little conservative on your power delivery choices, this bike’s battery/motor will literally last for a pretty long ride!
If you are a little conservative on your power delivery choices, this bike’s battery/motor will literally last for a pretty long ride!
We would have liked to have seen some type of chainstay protector to guard against that annoying rattle and scratches from the chain when in the lower gears.
We would have liked to have seen some type of chainstay protector to guard against that annoying rattle and scratches from the chain when in the lower gears.
We liked the function of the sturdy motor bash bash plate, when taken off road it took some big hits all in its stride! But the look gives room for improvements.
We liked the function of the sturdy motor bash bash plate, when taken off road it took some big hits all in its stride! But the look gives room for improvements.
The Battery sits on top of the downtube instead of being nicely integrated.
The Battery sits on top of the downtube instead of being nicely integrated.

The comfort of this bike is great when out on long, all day rides, which the Bosch motor and 500 Wh battery easily copes with, as long as the full ‘turbo mode is not selected on every climb on out average two hour rides. We tested the XVert 500 up in the mountains and the engine’s protective bash-guard took some real big hits and came out of it completely unscathed. On braking we found the base-model Shimano M615 brakes – with their two 180 mm rotors – stopped the bike with ease, offering up heaps of power, only fading when the bike was being stopped from ridiculous downhill speeds. Anyways, 200 mm rotors should be standard on a heavy E-Mountainbike. We were bit disappointed that the front and rear end of the XVert comes fitted with QR axles, rather than the stiffer and stronger thru-axles, something a tad dated in this day and age resulting in unnecessary flex when pushing the wheels hard into grippy turns.

For those commutes to work or just out and about for a bit of fun, the Corratec is a solid bike and surprisingly comfortable for a hardtail.
For those commutes to work or just out and about for a bit of fun, the Corratec is a solid bike and surprisingly comfortable for a hardtail.
On the few times we took the XVert off road, a dropper post would have been nice!
On the few times we took the XVert off road, a dropper post would have been nice!

Corratec XVert 500 in detail

Fork Manitou Marvel Comp TS Air 100 mm
Motor / battery Bosch Performance CX 500 Wh
Brakes Shimano M615
Drivetrain Shimano XT
Seatpost ZZYZX Alu
Stem ZZYZX AM6
Handlebars ZZYZX Alu 720 mm
Tires Continental X King 2.4″
Wheels ZZYZX Cross Attack 650b

Taken off the beaten track and as long as things don’t get too bumpy, the rigid rear end of the XVert offers solid grip.
Taken off the beaten track and as long as things don’t get too bumpy, the rigid rear end of the XVert offers solid grip.

Geometry of the Corratec XVert 500

39 44 49 54
Top tube 570 mm 590 mm 600 mm 630 mm
Head tube 105 mm 105 mm 115 mm 125 mm
Head angle 69° 69° 69° 69°
Seat angle 73° 73° 73° 73°
Chain stay 485 mm 485 mm 485 mm 485 mm
Wheelbase 1118.1 mm 1129.9 mm 1130.0 mm 1179.6 mm
Reach 378.5 mm 407.5 mm 424.7 mm 441.8 mm
Stack 596.9 mm 596.9 mm 606.2 mm 615.5 mm
E-bikes take you to some great places is such a short amount of time.
E-bikes take you to some great places is such a short amount of time.

Conclusion

The Corratec XVert 500 rides very well and is powered by the tried and tested Bosch Performance CX motor, but we feel it lacks in traction over the 27.5+ sized competition. It also lacks in wheel stiffness with the use of QR axles instead of the more modern though-axles opted for by most current bikes in it’s price range.

Strengths
– Build Quality
– Power unit
– Simple stealthy looks

Weaknesses
– Standard sized tyres
– QR axles
– No dropper post

For more information head to corratec.com


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Words: Jim Buchanan Photos: Doc Ward