CILO Tanay HC1 on Test – A Successful All-Mountain Concept?

CILO – the Swiss manufacturer once known for road bikes is now stepping into the e-mountain bike business. With 140/135 mm of travel, their all-mountain bike aims to handle it all. The Shimano EP801 motor provides assistance, ensuring the ride never turns into a struggle. We tested the bike to find out how it fares on the trail – and whether it’s worth the price!

First unveiled at EUROBIKE 2024, the new models from Swiss cult brand CILO have been available at dealers since early 2025. With 140 mm of travel up front and 135 mm at the rear, the Tanay HC1 is aimed at riders looking for a bike that can handle it all – from long, comfortable tours to demanding singletracks. And with its 29” wheels, it’s designed to perform on any terrain.

For the drive unit, CILO rely on the slightly dated Shimano EP801 motor. Combined with a 700 Wh battery, the Tanay HC1 tips the scales at 24.65 kg – not exactly lightweight. At € 9,999, the Tanay HC1 clearly plays in the premium league. We tested whether it lives up to CILO’s promise, and how the blend of suspension concept and motor feels out on the trail.

The CILO Tanay HC1 in Detail – Swiss Precision = Attention to Detail?

A slanted top tube, a matte yet eye-catching paint job, and a cut-out in the top tube: the CILO Tanay HC1 aims to stand out from the crowd of classic eMTB designs. The slightly slanted top tube isn’t just meant to make it easier to get on and off the bike, but also to create a striking silhouette. In addition, there’s a cut-out in the top tube just in front of the seat tube that gives you a glimpse of the shock – a detail we’ve only seen before on the Haibike AllMtn, though on the Tanay it’s noticeably bigger.

Less appealing are the oversized tube diameters of the down tube. They make for a rather bulky silhouette, though this is largely due to the removable battery. At least the classy “Mature Grape” finish – a deep purple tone – helps disguise that impression a little, even if it reminds us more of plums than grapes.

In the cockpit area, all cables are routed directly through the headset into the frame, which ensures a clean look but also makes it harder to service the bike. That said, the routing itself is well executed – out on the trail, there was no rattling to be heard.

The chainstay protector not only blends seamlessly into the frame design but also works together with the seatstay protector, effectively preventing chain slap. The seatstay protector additionally wraps around the shift cable, keeping it away from moving parts. There’s also a small plastic guard covering the gap between the main frame and the swingarm – preventing rocks and debris from getting jammed between the frame and rear end.

The Shimano Ecosystem in the CILO Tanay HC1 – Old but Gold

In the current arms race for more power, Shimano are holding back and sticking with proven tech. With 85 Nm of torque and a peak output of 600 watts, the EP801 delivers numbers that just two years ago would have been touted as headline-grabbing features.

The motor draws its power from a 700 Wh Darfon battery that can be removed from the downtube using a 6 mm Allen key. The cover and battery form a single unit, while the easily accessible charging port is protected by a plastic cover.

In the cockpit, the compact Shimano SC-EN600 display is tucked safely behind the handlebars, showing all basic ride data like the speed and support modes. It’s controlled via the minimalist Shimano SC-EN600L remote, which is rather exposed on the handlebars but works well in combination with the display. Using the Shimano E-TUBE app, you can customise the motor’s characteristics and riding modes to your preference.

The Specs of the CILO Tanay HC1 E-Mountain Bike

For € 9,999 you expect top-tier components on your bike, no compromises – that much is clear. And while CILO certainly delivers here – or does it?

That’s definitely not the case Definitely with the suspension! Here, CILO went all in with top-shelf FOX components, complete with gold Kashima coating. Up front, a there’s a 2024 FOX 36 Factory fork with GRIP X2 damper, while at the rear the Tanay features a FOX FLOAT X Factory shock. Both deliver excellent performance on the trail and offer plenty of adjustability to fine-tune the setup to suit your riding style.

For the brakes, CILO didn’t quite reach for the very top shelf. Still, the Shimano XT is nearly identical to the flagship XTR model and performs just as well on the trail – only without prioritizing weight reduction.

The 12-speed Shimano XT groupset handles shifting mechanically, striking a solid balance between durability and reliable performance. For wheels, CILO specced DT Swiss’ HX1700 aluminum model, which we praised many times before and which has proven impressively durable. At this price point, you’d expected a lightweight carbon wheelset, but CILO played it safe here with DT’s tried-and-true alloy option.

For its wide range of intended use, CILO spec suitable Schwalbe tires: a Magic Mary up front and a Big Betty at the rear, both in the lighter Super Trail casing and ADDIX Soft compound. That’s a solid choice for an all-mountain bike in this travel category. However, heavier riders or those who like to really charge through rock gardens should at least consider a Gravity casing for the rear.
A LIMOTEC H1 dropper post ensures optimal saddle height adjustments, and features infinitely adjustable travel up to 230 mm. For the details on how exactly it works, check out our sister magazine ENDURO!

Tuning tip: For heavier riders, switch the rear tire to a Super Gravity casing.

Other Spec Variants of the CILO Tanay

The entry into the Tanay lineup starts at € 5,499 with the Tanay HC4. This features an SR Suntour RS25 EDGE Evo shock and FOX 36 Rhythm fork with GRIP damper. While the latter clearly falls short of the Factory version’s performance, it’s much easier to set up. The brakes have been downgraded, too: instead of four pistons, you’ll get a Shimano two-piston system – a clear disadvantage on long descents. The wheels come from Cross X19 and are made of aluminum.

One step up is the CILO Tanay HC3, which retails at € 6,999. This model upgrades to Shimano four-piston brakes and runs a FOX FLOAT Performance shock, paired with the same Rhythm fork as the entry-level model.

The Geometry of the CILO Tanay HC1

The bike is only offered in three sizes (S, M, and L), which might seem restrictive at first, but the generous reach increments allow it to accommodate a wide variety of riders.. Reach values range between 437 mm in size S to 472 mm in M, and up to 512 mm in L. The chainstays are relatively long at 452.9 mm. Seat and head tube angles are clearly geared toward an all-mountain focus: at 78.6° and 65.8°, the Tanay HC1 aims to strike a strong balance between uphill efficiency and downhill fun.

There’s also a flip chip in the shock link, which adjusts the head and seat tube angles as well as the bottom bracket height.

Size	S	M	L
Seat Tube	370 mm	400 mm	445 mm
Horizontal Top Tube	556.5 mm	599 mm	647 mm
Head Tube	100 mm	120 mm	140 mm
Chainstay Length	452.9 mm	452.9 mm	452.9 mm
BB Drop	36 mm	36 mm	36 mm
Head Angle	65.6°	65.6°	65.6°
Seat Angle	79°	78.6°	78.3°
Reach	437 mm	472 mm	512 mm
Stack	616 mm	634 mm	652 mm
Wheelbase	1200 mm	1244 mm	1293 mm

The CILO Tanay HC1 on the Trail

Climbing is a piece of cake! Thanks to the slanted top tube, getting on the bike is pretty easy, and you immediately get into an upright riding position. This feels mostly comfortable, though with the 472 mm reach on our test bike, riders around 1.82 m and taller will notice their knees sitting fairly close to the handlebars. Not a dealbreaker, but it does take a short adjustment period. Overall, you feel well integrated into the bike and ready for long days in the saddle.

On forest roads, the rear suspension is pleasantly pedal-neutral: it hardly bobs and transfers both motor power and your own effort efficiently into propulsion. The Shimano motor provides strong, consistent support, though the noticeable fade-out at the 25 km/h limit disrupts the flow slightly – it feels like suddenly losing a tailwind. Still, if you keep pedaling steadily, the upright, centered seating position works harmoniously with the drive unit. Even on steep, technical climbs, the front wheel remains calm and planted without needing extra pressure on the bars – impressive! This makes the Tanay HC1 a comfortable partner for long ascents, whether on endless forest roads or tight, technical uphill tracks.

Pointed downhill, with the dropper slammed, you stand in a slightly compact but centered position, with the weight evenly distributed between the grips and pedals. On flowy trails with wide curves and gentle gradients, the bike rides both stable and playful.

When things get steeper, the picture changes: the steep 65.6° head angle creates an unpleasant OTB sensation as soon as you shift your weight further forward. While this does provide more grip on the front wheel, it also means you’ll never want to take off your fingers off the brakes in such situations. Unfortunately, like many other bikes, the CILO still hasn’t solved the issue of motor rattling on descents. The result is a constant background noise from the motor, even on the way down. As a result, the CILO Tanay HC1 inspires less confidence in tight downhill corners.

This clearly proves that the bike is more at home on long tours than on demanding descents. The solid suspension doesn’t change that, as it doesn’t absorb hits as generously as a thoroughbred enduro rig, and lacks the reserves you’d normally expect from an eMTB.

Once you figure out how to handle the Tanay HC1 through tight corners and steep sections, it proves to be a solid companion – even on long routes where you’re unfamiliar with the trails. However, beginners won’t immediately feel at ease, as the Tanay HC1 requires an experienced hand to really fly over challenging trails. The weight also becomes noticeable with fast direction changes, holding back the CILO from being a true corner shredder – though it does make it a reliable touring bike.

Who Should Take a Closer Look at the CILO Tanay HC1?

The Tanay HC1 feels most at home on flowy trails and long tours. On really rough tracks, it quickly reaches its limits – especially in terms of suspension travel. That said, experienced riders who like to push their limits can still squeeze plenty of performance out of this bike on tougher sections.. For beginners venturing into unfamiliar terrain, though, it’s less suitable.

Conclusions about the CILO Tanay HC1

The Swiss brand formerly known for its road bikes has put together a solid touring bike with the CILO Tanay HC1, one that feels most at home on flowy trails and long days in the saddle. However, when the speed picks up and the terrain gets more technical, it lacks the necessary reserves – here it takes an experienced hand to tackle demanding trails with a grin. Pricing also misses the mark somewhat: for nearly five figures, you’d expect more in terms of brakes and wheels. All in all, though, the spec matches its intended use quite well – a distinctive touring eMTB that deliberately sets itself apart from the rough-and-tumble trail crowd.

More info at Cilo-ebikes.com

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Words: Robin Ulbrich Photos: Peter Walker