Corratec XVert 500 Hardtail E-mountainbike Review
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!
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.
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.
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
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 |
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