What do a Fantic XF1 Integra Carbon One and a Ferrari F50 have in common? Tricky question, but one thing is certain: it’s not just their country of origin. Both are powerful machines that focus on performance. In this test however we found out that you’ll also have to compromise on some aspects.
When Ferrari launched their new F50 model there was a long queue of nervous-looking customers waiting outside the Italian supercar’s dealerships — checkbook in their hands. Ferrari presented the new model for the brand’s 50th anniversary and redefined the meaning of “ultimate driving machine”. Its price: roughly € 380,000. In comparison the new Fantic XF1 Integra Carbon One might seem a bargain with its € 9,190 price tag — but it’s not. Like the F50 the XF1 uses some carbon for the frame and the elegant and unique-looking Alchemist X-Sense wheels.
Fast, fun and plain extraordinary – the Fantic and the Ferrari F50 have many things in common
Speaking of aesthetics the smooth shapes of the frame strongly remind us of the Italian power stallion. However our hearing is stimulated in a different way: while car fans swoon at the sound of a V12 engine, electric mountain bikers love the soundless performance of the Brose Drive S motor — the belt drive construction is mainly responsible for this. Once again the motor impressed us with tons of support and great power modulation. A semi-integrated 630 Wh battery feeds the motor and hides inside the down tube. Fantic opted for this extra-compact design to achieve the lowest possible center of gravity.
The FANTIC XF1 Integra Carbon One in detail
When you ride an exuberant power-machine you need an extraordinary set of brakes. Fantic relies on the exotic Hope V4 brake which delivers good braking performance but unfortunately require strong hands to achieve maximum biting power. The Italians combine a SRAM groupset and a SunRace cassette with a large gear range (11-46). Unfortunately, the cassette doesn’t operate as smoothly as its SRAM counterpart. The suspension platform consists of a 160 mm RockShox PIKE fork and a Super Deluxe RC3 rear-shock. As far as our comparison between the two Italians goes there’s one last thing we want to point out: some details in the equipment look cheap and lack attention to detail. For example, the 100 mm dropper-post could do with more travel and the finish of the frame could be better in some places.
Fork Rock Shox Lyric RCT3 29 160 mm
Shock RockShox SuperDeLuxe RC3 160 mm
Brakes Hope 4P 203/203
Schaltung SRAM X01
Battery Fantic Integra, Lithium Ion 630 Wh
Motor Brose Drive-S
Seatpost Switch, height-adjustable dropper 100 mm
Handlebar FSA Gradient Carbonio 760 mm
Stem FSA Gradient ST 50 mm
Wheels Alchemist X-Sense carbon
Tires Maxxis Minion DHF 2,5″ / Maxxis Minion DHR II 2,6″
Weight 21.57 kg
Price € 9,190
The Hope V4 brakes suit the overall picture of the bike perfectly and inspire with an elegant look. They deliver top braking performance, superb modulation but unfortunately lack some bite.
Made in Italy. The Alchemist X-Sense carbon wheels sport an unmistakable look. In our test, they managed to impress our crew with their low weight and pleasant flex. However, it’s too early to give a verdict about durability.
The compact design of the large-capacity 630 Wh battery allowed engineers to keep the centre of gravity nice and low.
Fantic links the elegant carbon frame and aluminium rear-end via a rocker arm. Specially the thin perforated construction of the rear-end looks a little cheap and fragile — we would have loved to see a better solution here.
The geometry of the FANTIC XF1 Integra Carbon One
There’s one thing you don’t have to worry about with the Fantic though — the choice of frame size. The electric steed is only available in size M. With a body height of around 180 cm the riding position feels rather compact but still very comfortable. Taller riders however can forget about the Fantic XF1 altogether. The XF1 features a mixed wheelset with a 29″ wheel at the front and a 27.5″ at the back — a concept which seems to work well. The motor churns out good amounts of power and pushes nicely on climbs whilst the MAXXIS tires offer good grip and great traction. The riding position feels pleasantly centered and even nasty technical uphills are easily dealt with. No matter how steep the climb gets, the front-end never threatens to lift off — top!
| Size | M |
|---|---|
| Seat tube | 430 mm |
| Top tube | 600 mm |
| Head tube | 110 mm |
| Head angle | 65.0° |
| Seat angle | 73.0° |
| Chainstays | 464 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1228 mm |
| Reach | 431 mm |
| Stack | 609 mm |
The FANTIC XF1 Integra Carbon One on the trail
The F50 and the XF1 Integra Carbon One have one more thing in common: they both feel great when you ride them really fast. The bike convinced us with its smooth, good-natured handling. It has a very predictable threshold and is very forgiving — we ascribe this to the balanced geometry and slack head angle. The suspension offers the right blend of sensitivity and feedback and sucks up the impacts with confidence without killing your speed. However we think that a stiffer RockShox Lyrik fork instead of the PIKE would have been a better choice. If you’re looking for a nimble and playful eMTB you might be on the right path. Flying over root carpets? Easy! Carving through tight corners! Tick! Pelting full speed through rock gardens? Nothing easier than that! Whatever surprise the trail might throw at you the Fantic ploughs through it effortlessly, leaving a massive grin on your face. Having said that you should really replace the seat post to make the most of the bike’s potential.
Despite a few inconsistencies in the spec, the bike inspired us with its superb handling
Conclusion
The Fantic XF1 Integra Carbon One is one full-blooded power machine. It impressed our test-crew both on the up- and downhill merging top handling qualities with tons of riding fun. However, as with the Italian supercar you may have to accept some compromises., The biggest issue though, is that the Fantic is currently only available in size M and will either be too big or too small for most of us. That’s a real shame because the Fantic could make a lot more friends!
Strengths
– Playful and composed
– Very efficient rear-end
– Climbs superbly
Weaknesses
– Just one frame size
– The brakes lack bite
– Dropper seatpost too short
For more info head to: fantic-bikes.com
This article is from E-MOUNTAINBIKE issue #015
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