Spy Shot: American Eagle eMTB with the new Bafang M500 motor

American Eagle and Bafang announced a partnership at the beginning of 2019 to work together to develop a race eMTB to compete at the UCI eMTB World Championship in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada. We got a first peek at the photos and key details of the development of the American Eagle ebike fitted with the new Bafang M500 motor.

EMTB American Eagle E Mountainbike Bafang M500 Motor 001 810x540 — American Eagle prototype: carbon frame, Bafang M500 motor, 450 Wh integrated battery and a cross-country-esque low-slung cockpit. Both the 29” wheels and 150 mm travel suspension come from DT Swiss.

American Eagle, a well-known 90s bike brand, was relaunched in November 2016 by Dutch ex-pro mountain biker Bart Brentjens. Bart won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996 aboard an American Eagle. Since then, they have launched a number of mountain bikes and are now working on this, their first eMTB.

The collaboration between Chinese motor supplier Bafang and the Dutch bike manufacturer American Eagle showed its first fruits at the Electric Snake Race during the UCI MTB World Cup Val di Sole.

EMTB American Eagle E Mountainbike Bafang M500 Motor 016 810x540

American Eagle engineer Kjell van de Boogert raced in Val di Sole, Italy for the CST-Sandd-Bafang Mountainbike Racing Team and took second place behind 2012 Olympic bronze medallist, Marco Fontana, riding for FOCUS.

EMTB American Eagle E Mountainbike Bafang M500 Motor 017 810x540

After several months of sleuthing and effort, we’ve managed to get a hold of the first exclusive photos and information about the new bike.

EMTB American Eagle E Mountainbike Bafang M500 Motor 002 810x540

The American Eagle eMTB is powered by a Bafang M500 mid motor drive which offers up to 95 Nm support. Unfortunately we haven’t so far had an eMTB fitted with the Bafang system available to take part in our big motor group test.

EMTB American Eagle E Mountainbike Bafang M500 Motor 014 810x540

EMTB American Eagle E Mountainbike Bafang M500 Motor 008 810x540

The 450 Wh battery should provide enough range for the UCI eMTB World Championship race in Mont-Sainte-Anne. Bafang does also offer a 600 Wh battery available, though this would of course increase the weight of the system.

EMTB American Eagle E Mountainbike Bafang M500 Motor 013 810x540 — The main triangle of the carbon frame provides the space for a bottle cage

EMTB American Eagle E Mountainbike Bafang M500 Motor 007 810x540

Cross-country focussed MAGURA MT8 Raceline brakes take care of stopping duties. That might be alright for the pros but for everyday use we would prefer to see more robust four-piston brakes.

EMTB American Eagle E Mountainbike Bafang M500 Motor 010 810x540 — Some room for improvement: the distant motor remote and the levers for the suspension lockout and dropper post on the left of the bars are a little cluttered.

EMTB American Eagle E Mountainbike Bafang M500 Motor 012 810x540 — The lightweight carbon Selle Italia saddle also helps to cut down the weight

EMTB American Eagle E Mountainbike Bafang M500 Motor 004 810x540 — The American Eagle race bike is equipped with a 12-speed SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain

EMTB American Eagle E Mountainbike Bafang M500 Motor 015 810x540 — The DT Swiss F535 ONE shock controls 150 mm travel and can be locked from the bars

Watch the Brentjes MTB Racing Team at the race in Val di Sole:

Our thoughts

The Bafang-equipped American Eagle is conceived as a pure-bred, lightweight race bike and as such isn’t really designed for everyday trail riding. However, we’re pleased to be able to introduce a carbon eMTB newcomer with its exciting Bafang motor and are interested to see whether this bike will make it to production. When it’s time, we’ll be sure to report on what the bike and motor can do!

For more information head to americaneagle.online.

Words: Manne Schmitt Photos: Irmo Keizer