Ask someone what they associate Hamburg with, then the likely responses will be: the ‘red light’ Reeperbahn, the Beatles, St. Pauli, and grey drizzle. But E-MTBs? Ask the German brand STEVENS and they’ll wax lyrical about their roots in the North of Germany. So what’s their latest STEVENS E-Whaka+ ES, and how will it fare on the trails?
With the ruby-red paint job on the STEVENS E-Whaka+ ES, you’ll be a beacon of bike riding through any dreary drizzle. But despite sporting this bold colourway, the bike definitely errs on the understated side of things, which is largely due to the seemingly casual positioning of the battery. This 500 Wh battery feeds the brand-new 250 watt Shimano STEPS E800 MTB motor, and there’s also the ultra-precise Shimano XT Di2 shifters connected too. Across the board, the spec is high quality and reputed to perform – one exception being the KS Integra dropper post, which frequently needs a manual tug to rise again. The cockpit is decked out with STEVENS’ own-brand Oxygen bars at a well-chosen 760 mm for the bars and 50 mm for the stem. Much like the other Shimano STEPS E800 MTB motors from the brand’s P3 generation, this stock motor on the E-Whaka+ suffers from that same excessive gap between the trail and boost mode. While the trail mode is fairly feeble, the boost is overly potent. It’s a widely discussed issue that should be resolved in time for the series production.
The fast-paced E-Whaka+ ES climbs superbly, with the Schwalbe Nobby Nic tires and softly-tuned rear shock teaming to provide a lot of comfort and traction. Thanks to the steep 76° seat angle, both the riding position and weight distribution on steep sections is sorted and central. And even though the brand is based in Germany’s flat north, they’ve designed a bike with a capable handling package for hills – especially descents. Very agile yet controlled and able to track its line, the E-Whaka+ ES plunges confidently downhill. The combination of the long frame and compact rear end are the keys to satisfaction – whatever the terrain!
The Stevens E-Whaka+ ES in detail
Forks FOX 34 FLOAT Performance Elite 140 mm
Rear shock FOX FLOAT DPS Performance Elite 130 mm
Motor / battery Shimano DU-E8000 504 Wh
Brakes Shimano XT
Drivetrain Shimano XT Di2
Seatpost KS CRUXi
Stem Oxygen E-Scorpo 50 mm
Bars Oxygen Scorpo 760 mm
Tires Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2,8″
Wheels SUNringlé Duroc 40 / Shimano XT
The display on the Shimano STEPS E-MTB drivetrain system reveals all the most important information and has a well-placed position behind the bars.
The cable for the XT Di2 shifters runs externally back to the derailleur on the Stevens. This wouldn’t be an issue for a regular gear cable, but these thinner electronic shifting cables are far more vulnerable.
The Shimano motor is still in a prototype phase, and its final software hasn’t been finalized yet. We’re keeping hopeful that they’ll revise the gaps between the levels of pedal-assist.
The back end of the STEVENS isn’t just generous with traction, but also dishes out a high level of comfort when riding.
Conclusion
STEVENS have really delivered the goods with the E-Whaka+ ES, which deserves to be heaped in praise for its great suspension, super handling, and wisely chosen spec. There’s still work to be done when it comes to the topic of integration, but this is a solidly attractive bike for now.
Strengths:
– agile and stable
– cohesive spec
– great comfort
Weaknesses:
– visual integration could be better
For more information head to stevensbikes.de!
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: What are the most exciting E-MTBs of 2017? 10 bikes in comparison
All bikes in test: Bulls Six50 E FS3 | Cannondale Moterra 1 | CUBE Stereo Hybrid 140 HPA 27.5 SLT | MERIDA eONE-TWENTY 900 E | Moustache Samedi 27 Race 9 | ROTWILD R.X+ FS EVO | SCOTT E-Genius 700 Tuned | Specialized Turbo Levo FSR ST Comp 29 | Trek Powerfly 9 FS Plus
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