The CENTURION Numinis Trail E doesn’t really grab your attention. On the contrary, with its simple silhouette and quiet design, it’s easy to overlook. But still waters often run deep, and on the trail the bike revealed a completely different side.
In an age of oversized carbon frames and fully integrated batteries, the CENTURION Numinis Trail E initially looks a bit bland, form obviously following function. On closer inspection, however, some of the advantages of the simple design immediately become apparent. Besides keeping the centre of gravity low, accessing and removing the external Shimano battery is no hassle at all. Thanks to the high position of the shock, CENTURION has been able to create space for a water bottle – an absolute rarity on eMTBs with external batteries. Taking a closer look, you will also notice the large 29″ wheels shod with 2.6″ wide MAXXIS Minion tyres. While 2.8″ wide tyres on 27.5″ wheels were the measure of all things last season, this year more and more manufacturers are turning to the 29″ platform. The advantages: more precise handling and improved roll-over characteristics, which increases comfort and stability.
The CENTURION Numinis Trail E F3500 in detail
The Numinis Trail E F3500 is the top model of the new series, and accordingly, the spec leaves nothing to be desired. At the centre of it all, you’ve got high-quality FOX Factory suspension, consisting of a 140 mm travel FOX 36 GRIP2 fork, and a FOX DPX2 shock controlling 135 mm of travel at the rear. Shifting is taken care of by Shimano’s electronic XT Di2 drivetrain, and the 4-piston XT brakes provide plenty of stopping power. The package is rounded off by a DT Swiss H1700 hybrid wheelset, bringing the size L Numinis Trail E F3500 in at a competitive 21.41 kg, entirely without carbon fibre.
Fork Fox 36 Float Factory GRIP-2 140 mm
Shock Fox Float DPX2 Factory 135 mm
Bremsen Shimano XT 203/180
Drivetrain Shimano XT Di2
Battery Shimano 500 Wh
Motor Shimano Steps E8000
Seatpost PROCRAFT D-SP.RI 150 m
HandlebarPROCRAFT Riser 780 mm
Stem PROCRAFT Enduro 50 mm
Wheels DT Swiss HX1700 Spline
Tires MAXXIS MInion DHF/DHR 2.6″
Weight 21.41 kg
Price € 6,199
Although the external Shimano battery isn’t a looker, it offers many practical advantages and also keeps the weight down
The 29″ wheels make short work of obstacles, easily rolling over roots and rocks. They also carry speed better than smaller wheels
Due to the long head tube and the large wheels, the front end of the bike is quite tall, leading to an upright and comfortable riding position
Surprise! The CENTURION Numinis Trail E is capable of much more than you would expect from looking at it
The seating position on the Numinis Trail E is very comfortable, mainly due to the long head tube and the correspondingly tall front end. The cockpit looks clean, the new Shimano STEPS E7000-Remote leaving space for an ergonomic dropper seatpost lever. The PROCRAFT components fulfil their purpose, though they’re not the best looking. Our test bike came with a 125 mm dropper seatpost, but the production model will be specced with a 150 mm version. The 165 mm cranks offer a lot of ground clearance on technical climbs, but lead to a higher seating position and require a higher pedalling cadence.
The geometry of the CENTURION Numinis Trail E
With the geometry, Centurion was able to strike a successful balance between agility and composure, making the Numinis Trail E neither slow nor nervous. Due to its lightweight, the Numinis Trail E accelerates very easily and is ideal for long rides.
| Size | S | M | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 400 mm | 440 mm | 480 mm |
| Top tube | 586 mm | 616 mm | 647 mm |
| Head tube | 59 mm | 120 mm | 145 mm |
| Head angle | 67° | 67° | 67° |
| Seat angle | 74.5° | 74.5° | 74.5° |
| Chaistays | 460 mm | 460 mm | 460 mm |
| Wheelsbase | 1175 mm | 1209 mm | 1243 mm |
| Reach | 416 mm | 440 mm | 464 mm |
| Stack | 612 mm | 635 mm | 659 mm |
The CENTURION Numinis Trail E F3500 on the trail
But if you think that the CENTURION is best kept on forest roads, you’re in for a surprise, because it really comes into its own on the trails. The large wheels and the moderate travel have allowed CENTURION to drop the bottom bracket very low, so you feel nicely tucked between the wheels when descending. The roll-over characteristics of the 29″ wheels and the traction of the tyres instils both beginners and advanced riders with confidence. The 29″ wheels also carry speed better than smaller wheels, which becomes particularly evident when you cross the 25 km/h limit on a descent. The triumphant march of 29″ wheels has been near unstoppable on non-motorised mountain bikes, and the CENTURION Numinis Trail E proves that the large wheels are advantageous on eMTBs too.
The Numinis Trail E proves that 29″ wheels almost only offer advantages on eMTBs.
The high-end FOX 36 Factory fork with the new GRIP2 cartridge offers comfort and control in equal measure, and the rear linkage need matches the excellent performance of the fork. The suspension works extremely well, offering lots of off-road comfort while providing enough feedback from the ground for a playful riding style. Less active riders will want a bit more travel on rough trails, but that would compromise the bike’s all-around capabilities. The 4-piston Shimano XT brakes do an excellent job, but if you ride in very mountainous terrain, we recommend upgrading to a 200 mm rotor at the rear.
Conclusion
The CENTURION Numinis Trail E F3500 is a wolf in sheep’s clothing! At first sight, it looks like a tame touring bike, but on the trail, the Numinis Trail E bares its teeth. If you don’t mind the understated looks, you’re in for an excellent package without any real weaknesses. The CENTURION is a great all-rounder that convinced us equally on long relaxed rides and demanding trails.
Strengths
– very balanced handling
– excellent suspension
– great spec
Weaknesses
– form follows function
For more info head to: centurion.de
This article is from E-MOUNTAINBIKE issue #015
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Words: Photos: Christoph Bayer
