The Best E-Mountainbike of 2025– R RAYMON Tarok Ultra on Test.

With the brand-new Tarok Ultra, R RAYMON are making a bold comeback, and are gunning straight for the top of the eMTB game. It comes equipped with the rather exotic ZF CentriX motor, which delivers 90 Nm torque, and draws its power from a removable 756 Wh battery. Retailing at €10,499, the Tarok Ultra relies on a carbon frame and top-tier components, promising to deliver a tremendous performance uphill and tons of fun on your way down. But how does the R RAYMON Tarok Ultra stack up against the competition?

This bike is part of our big group test: The Best E-Mountainbike of 2025 – Featuring the 30 Most Exciting E-MTBs of the Year. Click here for the full intro, key takeaways, and all the bikes we tested.

Following their exit from the Pierer Mobility AG, R RAYMON are looking to hit the reset button. Now, the German brand is unveiling their latest eMTB: the Tarok Ultra. Featuring a carbon frame, 160/160 mm of travel, and the all-new ZF CentriX motor, it takes on the competition with a mullet setup and a spec list that makes every e-mountainbiker’s heart run faster – including a FOX Factory suspension and SRAM components. Tipping the scales at 23.3 kg in size L, it’s slightly lighter than the average in this test field, though with a price tag of €10,499, it clearly plays in the premium league. So, is the R RAYMON Tarok Ultra worth the money – and can it hold its own against the fierce competition in our comparison test?

What Sets the R RAYMON Tarok Ultra Apart from the Competition?

The R RAYMON Tarok Ultra cuts a fine figure, and turns heads both on the trail and outside your favorite café with its bold two-tone paint job. Only the oversized down tube– one of the chunkiest in our group test– slightly disrupts the otherwise sleek look. Hiding inside the downtube is a 756 Wh battery, which can be removed for charging. However, this takes a bit of patience: you’ll have to slide the plastic latch open, remove the battery cover with a downward motion, and unlock the battery using a key. It may seem fiddly at first, but with a little practice, the process becomes second nature. Alternatively, the battery can be charged internally using the charging port near the bottom bracket, which is easy to reach and sealed with a protective cover that protects it against the elements.

The battery powers the ZF CentriX motor, which delivers 90 Nm of torque and 600 watts peak power. Thanks to its compact design, the motor blends in discreetly around the bottom bracket area. The drive is paired with a ZF Pure Remote on the handlebars, which impresses with excellent haptic feedback and intuitive operation. The current support level and battery charge status are displayed on a ZF Core Controller, which is integrated into the top tube – informative, though rather bulky. This is complemented with a ZF Color Display, which sits on a mount above the stem and shows all basic ride data, including speed and estimated range. While practical, it’s quite exposed in this position: while testing, the display took a heavy knock in a crash, getting scratched as a result – better integration would definitely be welcome here. Even more data is available via the ZF Ride App, which allows you to fine-tune the motor’s support levels and also includes a navigation feature. The catch? You’ll have to keep your smartphone within easy reach at all times.

The frame features bottle cage mounts on the downtube, and there’s enough room in the frame to carry a big water bottle. However, R RAYMON chose not to include an additional tool mount on the Tarok Ultra. A generously-sized chainstay protector effectively prevents chain slap, while a two-part rubber flap at the transition between rear triangle and main frame stops dirt from building up in hidden areas. The cable routing is equally tidy, with all lines running internally through the headset. While this ensures a clean cockpit, it makes it harder to service the bike. Only the front brake line is routed externally, running directly from the lever of the SRAM MAVEN Silver front brake to the calliper. The brakes are paired with a massive 220 mm rotor at the front and a slightly smaller 200 mm disc at the rear. As expected, the MAVEN brakes provide powerful, reliable deceleration. The wireless SRAM X0 Eagle AXS Transmission handles shifting duties flawlessly, delivering butter-smooth gear changes even under load.

For the Tarok Ultra, R RAYMON rely on a top-tier FOX Factory suspension consisting of a 38 Factory GRIP X2 fork and FOX FLOAT X2 shock. Both generate 160 mm of travel and impress with a wide range of adjustments, delivering a tremendous performance on the trail. The R RAYMON-branded dropper post, however, offers just 170 mm of travel which is on the short side for a modern eMTB. On steep descents in particular, you’ll find yourself wishing for more room to move. Upgrading to a longer dropper post is definitely worth a thought. The Tarok Ultra rolls on a robust NEWMEN Phase 30 wheelset, with a 29” wheel at the front and smaller 27.5” wheel at the rear, striking an excellent balance between agility and rollover capability. The rims are paired with a front-specific Continental Kryptotal FR tire in the SuperSoft rubber compound and robust Enduro casing at the front, and a rear-specific Kryptotal RE in the harder Soft rubber compound and robust Downhill casing at the rear. That’s exactly how it should be – dialed in for traction and durability.

Tuning Tip: Upgrade to a longer-travel dropper post for more freedom of movement on the descents.

How Does the R RAYMON Tarok Ultra Perform on the Trail?

Riding uphill, the R RAYMON Tarok Ultra makes a strong first impression. The pedalling position is pleasantly upright, with the weight evenly distributed between the front and rear, and only minimal pressure on your wrists. As a result, the Tarok makes you feel at ease from the get go, integrating you nicely between its wheels and making it easy to reach the trailhead on fire roads. The ZF CentriX motor kicks in with a solid 90 Nm of torque, packing a punch from a standstill. Once you’re rolling, the Tarok maintains steady momentum – up to around 20 km/h. Beyond that, however, the power delivery tapers off noticeably. No matter how hard you pedal, there’s not much more to squeeze out of the motor. On long fireroad climbs in particular, you’ll find yourself wishing for a steeper power curve. Compared to the Bosch bikes in this test, like the FOCUS JAM² 6.0 and the GHOST E-RIOT LTD, which give you more drive and excitement on the climb, the Tarok feels sluggish at higher speeds.

The suspension is plush and comfortable, but it also soaks up the fun when you’re trying to let it rip on flow trails.

On technical climbs, however, the Tarok shows its strengths, – eagerly making its way towards the trailhead. Even on steeper slopes the front wheel remains firmly planted on the ground, while the rear wheel generates solid traction. Thanks to the soft SuperSoft compound of the Continental Kryptotal FR front tire, the Tarok generates tons of traction upfront, proving to be more of a bike for controlled climbing maneuvers than for high-speed uphill sprints. Despite that, it still ranks in the lower half of the test field in terms of uphill performance. A major reason: the motor’s noise level. The ZF CentriX is one of the loudest motors on test, and noticeably detracts from the overall climbing experience with its high-pitched whine.

“Despite the high-end spec, the Tarok lacks trail prowess and delivers only average performance in the context of this group test.

When the trail points downhill, the R RAYMON Tarok Ultra reveals its true character. The plush suspension sucks up the rider’s input like a sand bag, thus requiring more physical effort to pump through rollers and berms. As a result, the R RAYMON feels somewhat sluggish on flowy trails – too much of your energy disappears into the suspension rather than translating into speed and fun. However, as soon as you switch to rougher terrain, the Tarok Ultra comes into its own. The suspension responds sensitively and handles big hits without breaking a sweat, giving the bike a planted, confidence-inspiring feel. In combination with its composed character, this ensures a controlled, predictable ride feel. That said, it lacks the resilience of some of the heavy hitters in this test – especially when compared to the razor-sharp tracking of the YT DECOY SN and the composed confidence of the Specialized Turbo Levo 4. On more demanding trails, you’ll need to take it back a notch. When things get steeper, the short-travel dropper post limits your range of motion and detracts from the overall sense of security. All in all, the Tarok Ultra delivers a solid but unspectacular performance on the descents, slotting in around the middle of the pack alongside bikes like the Moustache Game 160.9, Cannondale Moterra SL, and Whyte ELyte EVO.

Who Should Take a Closer Look at the R RAYMON Tarok Ultra?

The R RAYMON Tarok Ultra is a solid choice for riders who love to embark on long tours and want strong support when setting off on climbs. In the lower speed range, the ZF motor delivers plenty of punch, which makes it the ideal partner for relaxed, efficient climbs. If you can live with the motor’s annoying noise level, and value composed climbing and controlled descending, the Tarok Ultra will be a dependable companion. However, if you spend lots of time on rough, technical trails, or like to actively pump your way through flowlines, there are other bikes in this group test that offer significantly better trail performance.

Conclusions About the R RAYMON Tarok Ultra

The R RAYMON Tarok Ultra is a premium-priced eMTB that earns points with its high-end spec, comfortable ride, and solid handling on long tours and mellow trails. The powerful ZF motor delivers strong support at low speeds but is noticeably loud and loses steam as the pace picks up. Riding downhill, the Tarok Ultra feels composed and stable in rough terrain but sluggish on flowing trails – ultimately placing it in the lower ranks of our big group test.

Tops

• Comfortable riding position and well-balanced geometry
• Solid handling on mellow trails
• Clean, uncluttered look

Flops

• Dropper post too short
• Loud motor
• Sluggish on flow trails

More info at raymon-bikes.com

The test field

For an overview of the test field head to our “Best E-Mountainbike of 2025” comparison test – 30 of the most exciting trail bikes in our 2025 group test

All bikes in test: AMFLOW PL Carbon Pro, Canyon Spectral:ONfly CF LTD, FOCUS JAM² 6.0, GHOST E-RIOT LTD, Haibike HYBE CF 11, MERIDA eONE-SIXTY SL 10K, Orbea WILD M-LTD, Orbea Rise LT M-Team, R RAYMON Tarok Ultra, Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL, Santa Cruz Vala X0 AXS RSV, SCOTT Patron ST 900 Tuned, Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo 4, Transition Regulator CX XT, UNNO Mith Pro, YT DECOY SN MX CORE 3.

Words: Benedikt Schmidt Photos: Peter Walker