First Ride Review: 2025 Haibike AllMtn CF 11 TRN/IQ – New eMTB with Pinion MGU Put on Test

With the new 2025 AllMtn CF 11 TRN/IQ, Haibike join the gearbox revolution, equipping their bike with Pinion’s MGU motor/gearbox unit. Generating 160 mm of travel front and rear, the German trail bruiser relies on a strong DNA, and tips the scales at under 25 kg despite its big 800 Wh battery and the integrated motor-gearbox unit. We put the €10,000 Haibike AllMtn CF 11 TRN/IQ 2025 through the wringer to find out how it fares on the trail – and why it’s almost a full-blooded European.

With the brand-new Haibike AllMtn CF 11 TRN/IQ, the German bike manufacturer, which is widely considered as one of the pioneers of performance-oriented eMTBs, aims to combine playful handling with cutting-edge technology. At the heart of this long-travel eMTB bruiser, which generates 160 mm of travel front and rear, lies Pinion’s MGU E1.12 motor-gearbox unit. The idea? Riders should be able to focus entirely on the trail – not on mundane things like shifting gears.

The Pinion MGU and the big 800 Wh battery are housed in a full carbon frame, which is manufactured in Europe. With its disruptive, sharply-contoured design, Haibike’s latest creation stands out from the crowd and cleverly conceals the rather bulky motor area.

The cut-out in the top tube doesn’t just look techy – it also provides a real benefit on the trail. A compact handlebar remote and the seamlessly-integrated top tube display add to the clean, futuristic appearance of the AllMtn CF 11.
The new Haibike rolls on a mullet wheel setup with a smaller 27.5″ rear wheel, and relies almost exclusively on components from European brands – except for the suspension. This means that the brand-new Haibike AllMtn CF 11 TRN/IQ can rightfully call itself an (nearly) full-blooded European. But does that justify the €10,000 price tag?

What Makes Sets the Haibike AllMtn CF 11 TRN/IQ Apart From the Competition?

Transmission Intelligence – that’s what the “TRN/IQ” suffix stands for. According to the manufacturer, a high level of automation was a key priority during development. What does this mean in practice? That the focus should be all about fun on the trail – with the bike doing everything it can to let you concentrate on the trail ahead and the ride itself.
The Pinion MGU doesn’t just allow you to shift under full load – it also takes a lot of the thinking out of the shifting procedure, thanks to intelligent features like Start.Select, Pre.Select, Auto.Shift, and Auto.Shift Pro. That said, we’ve already learned from our tests of the SRAM Eagle Powertrain that automatic shifting doesn’t always work flawlessly, especially in tricky, technical sections. Still, having the right gear pre-selected for steep climbs or rowdy descents is definitely a welcome bonus.
The enduro-ready Haibike AllMtn CF 11 relies on a mullet wheel setup with a smaller 27.5″ rear wheel, which is meant to improve agility on the trail.

Haibike AllMtn: Jack of all Trades! Now with a Pinion MGU

If there were a Tinder for eMTBs, Haibike’s product managers would probably have ticked off the polyamory box when creating the account. That’s because the German eMTB pioneer doesn’t believe in monogamy when it comes to drivetrain choice for their popular AllMtn series. Models with full-power motors from Yamaha and Bosch are already part of the lineup. And with the LYKE, the Bavarians also offer a lightweight eMTB built around the FAZUA drive. Now, they’re adding the Pinion MGU E1.12 to the mix – a unit that delivers similar power levels to Yamaha and Bosch, but follows a completely different drive philosophy.

Rather than combining a conventional mid-drive and a chain-driven drivetrain with a rear-derailleur and cassette, Pinion rely on a motor/gearbox unit, which is integrated centrally in the frame. The advantages? Most of the drive system’s weight is positioned low and centrally, which improves riding dynamics. With no cassette at the rear, unsprung mass is reduced, ensuring a lighter, more playful rear end. And since Haibike use a Gates Carbon belt instead of a traditional chain, maintenance is minimal. According to the manufacturer, the gearbox only needs an oil change every 10,000 km, while the belt can last up to 30,000 km, provided it’s installed properly.

One more thing: the Pinion drivetrain enables shifting under full load – a huge benefit when tackling steep climbs and highly technical sections. But are there downsides? Of course. The Pinion unit is heavier than most comparable full-power systems. And it’s anything but quiet. But more on that later.

For a bike with the ambitions of the Haibike AllMtn CF 11 TRN/IQ, the Pinion MGU is a perfect match – like a glove on a fist. Haibike’s marketing team calls it an intuitive bike with maximum fun factor. And with around 85 Nm of torque, 600 W peak power, 12 gears, and a massive 600% gear range, the Pinion MGU certainly doesn’t shy away from steep, technical climbs. Thanks to the removable 800 Wh battery, which is additionally protected by a plastic cover and secured with a lock and click latch, those climbs can be as long as you like.

The charging port is positioned at the intersection between the seat and downtube, where it’s easy to access and well protected from water and muck. Like the battery, the rest of the drive system’s components are supplied by Swiss supplier FIT. These include the FIT Remote Pure, a compact, ergonomic ring-shaped remote with a cable that is discreetly routed through the headset, and the FIT Master Node Display, a sleek 1.52″ top-tube display that lets you switch ride modes and scroll through system info using three integrated buttons.

The Spec of our 2025 Haibike AllMtn CF 11 TRN/IQ Test Bike

Of the two available models, Haibike sent us the top-spec AllMtn CF 11 variant – complete with a hefty €10,000 price tag. Sure, we’ve somehow gotten used to five-figure price for high-end eMTBs since the COVID era, but let’s be honest – numbers like that still sound a bit crazy. That said, the Haibike AllMtn CF 11 TRN/IQ does offer quite a lot in return for your hard-earned cash.

The meticulously finished full carbon frame is only available in one paint finish: Moab Rock / Black Ink. However, depending on the lighting, “Moab” leans more toward Apple’s rose gold than the iconic slickrock trails of Utah. But hey – colour is a matter of taste, right?

There’s no room for complaints when it comes to suspension. Up front, a RockShox ZEB Ultimate generates 160 mm of travel. The Charger 3.1 RC2 damper provides extensive tuning options for high- and low-speed compression as well as rebound – perfect for dialing in your fork for top trail performance. The fork is combined with a RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate air shock controlling 160 mm of travel at the rear.

Shifting is taken care of entirely by the Pinion MGU E1.12 gearbox, so there’s no need to dwell on things like cassettes and derailleurs – let’s move straight on to the wheels. Haibike spec the AllMtn CF 11 TRN/IQ with DT Swiss’ proven mid-range alloy H1900 wheelset, which boasts 30 mm internal width, and comes with a bigger 29″ wheel at the front and smaller 27.5″ wheel at the rear.

For the rubber, the German manufacturer relies on 2.4″ Continental Kryptotal tires in the robust Enduro casing. Both the Kryptotal Fr front tire and and Kryptotal Re rear tire come in the Soft compound, which provide solid traction on the trail. That said, we could have done with the even grippier SuperSoft compound at the front. Still, all things considered, the tire choice suits the intended use of the bike just fine.

MAGURA’s four-piston MT5 brakes do stopping duties, delivering powerful, reliable deceleration in combination with robust 203 mm MDR-P rotors. OEM supplier Limotec supply the A4H dropper post, which comes with 34.9 mm diameter and 170 mm of travel. In our opinion, that’s too short for a modern enduro bike, limiting freedom of movement on the trail – especially since our test bike’s seat tube has a generous insertion depth of 310 mm, which leaves plenty of room for a longer post.

For the cockpit, Haibike rely on their in-house component brand, combining 780 mm aluminum handlebars and a matching 35 mm alloy stem. With this enduro-ready spec, our test bike in size L tips the scales at 24.44 kg – an impressive figure for a bike with a Pinion MGU motor-gearbox unit and gravity-oriented components.

Thanks to the high maximum system weight of 150 kg, even tall and heavy riders can hit the trails hard on the Haibike AllMtn CF 11 without a second thought.

Spec Variants of the 2025 Haibike AllMtn CF TRN/IQ

In addition to the top-tier CF 11 model we tested (€10,000), Haibike also offer the AllMtn CF 10 TRN/IQ, which retails at €8,500. The most obvious difference? The paint finish. The CF 10 comes in a much darker Nebular Midnight Blue / Pebble Grey finish. However, both models share the same full carbon frame, wheelset, and tires. Needless to say, the drive unit – including the remote and display – is also the same as on the flagship model.

So, where does the price difference come from? While the RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ shock still delivers solid performance, the fork is a notable downgrade compared to the ZEB Ultimate found on the CF 11. With its 35 mm stanchions, the RockShox Psylo Gold RC isn’t as stiff as the beefier 38 mm ZEB, and also offers significantly fewer adjustment options. In our opinion: if you’re going with 35 mm stanchions, at least spec a Lyrik Select+.

Haibike also cut costs on the brakes. The TRP Slate EVO HD-M807 may not be flashy, but at least on paper, it doesn’t seem like a bad choice: four pistons and 203 mm rotors should deliver sufficient stopping power. The dropper post is unbranded and, like on the top-spec model, offers 170 mm of travel – which still limits freedom of movement.

All things considered, the Haibike AllMtn CF 10 TRN/IQ feels like a significantly worse deal, despite being €1,500 cheaper – mainly because the fork doesn’t match the bike’s intended use.

The Geometry of the New 2025 Haibike AllMtn CF TRN/IQ

Modern, but far from ordinary – that’s a fitting way to describe the geometry of the Haibike AllMtn CF TRN/IQ, which is available in sizes S to XL. The slack 64° head angle underlines the bike’s enduro aspirations, while the steep 77.6° seat angle (in size L) ensures a efficient climbing. By contrast, the 440 mm chainstays are relatively short for a gravity-oriented rig – especially since they aren’t size-specific . Add to that a long reach of 485 mm and a comparatively low stack height of 635 mm, and you get a geometry that sounds well-balanced on paper – but definitely not run-of-the-mill. Ultimately though, numbers only tell part of the story. What really matters is how the bike feels on the trail.

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat Tube	400 mm	420 mm	440 mm	490 mm
Top Tube	560 mm	592 mm	624 mm	656 mm
Head Tube	100 mm	110 mm	120 mm	130 mm
Head Angle	64°	64°	64°	64°
Seat Angle	77.7°	77.7°	77.6°	77.7°
Chainstay	440 mm	440 mm	440 mm	440 mm
BB Drop	10 mm	10 mm	10 mm	10 mm
Wheelbase	1203 mm	1237 mm	1271 mm	1306 mm
Reach	425 mm	455 mm	485 mm	515 mm
Stack	617 mm	626 mm	635 mm	644 mm

The New 2025 Haibike AllMtn CF 11 TRN/IQ on the Trail

Climbing to the trailhead, the Haibike places you in a central, well-balanced pedalling position, with the weight evenly distributed between the front and rear wheel. Despite the generous reach values, the bike feels pleasantly compact, which is partly due to the steep seat angle. Together with the low front end, this keeps the front wheel planted on the ground, even on steep climbs. The Pinion MGU E1.12 delivers smooth, controlled power at all times and impresses with reliable shifting performance – even under load. Power comes on instantly when you press the pedals – as does the rather intrusive motor noise in the lower four gears. On technical uphills, that high-pitched whine can become a real pain. But as soon as the terrain levels out and you shift into higher gears, the MGU becomes much quieter and more discrete. The lighter rear wheel is already noticeable on the climb and during acceleration – offering a welcome boost in responsiveness.

But it’s on the descent where you truly start to appreciate the absence of a cassette. The Haibike AllMtn CF 11 TRN/IQ carves playfully through berms and corners, which is mainly down to the short chainstays. As a result, the AllMtn CF 11 TRN/IQ feels more agile and lively than its sibling, the HYBE, but also a bit flatter and more planted. On the way down, the drivetrain is totally silent: no rattling from the motor, no belt slap. The only audible noise comes from the cables, which produce a faint rattle near the head tube. The riding position remains well balanced on descents, though you’re not integrated particularly deeply into the bike. This, combined with the low front end, can make you feel as if you were pushed forward – especially for taller or less experienced riders. Handlebars with more rise or more spacers under the stem could easily remedy that. The suspension delivers plenty of pop and good support on jumps and drops. This bike is pure fun! The only minor drawback? The slightly angled position of the shock takes up valuable space, meaning you can only fit a small water bottle – but that hardly detracts from the fun factor.

Tuning Tip: Swap the handlebars for a model with more rise to improve control on technical descents. A dropper post with more travel will boost freedom of movement.

Who Should Take A Closer Look At The New 2025 Haibike AllMtn CF 11 TRN/IQ?

The Haibike AllMtn CF TRN/IQ is the right choice for anyone looking for a nimble, powerful eMTB with a penchant for descents. Thanks to the full-power drivetrain and trail-ready spec, it’s just as much fun grinding up technical climbs as it is shredding gnarly descents. Less experienced riders should consider raising the front end a bit for extra composure and better control. That said, if you’re particularly sensitive to noise, the AllMtn with Pinion might not be your ideal match – especially in the lower gears, the motor whine can get quite intrusive. That said, if low-maintenance riding is high on your list, the Pinion MGU E1.12 is spot-on. Wipe down the belt occasionally and change the oil every 10,000 km – that’s it.

Conclusions About the New Haibike AllMtn CF 11 TRN/IQ 2025

With the new AllMtn CF 11 TRN/IQ, Haibike got a lot of things right. The distinctive, refined design integrates the fairly bulky Pinion MGU surprisingly discretely into the carbon frame, which is manufactured in Europe. On the trail, the agile character impresses both up and downhill, while the high-end spec matches the bike’s character perfectly. Yes, the price is steep – but opting for the more affordable AllMtn CF 10 doesn’t really pay off, mainly due to the flexy budget fork, which fails to do the rest of the bike justice.

For more information, visit haibike.com

---

Words: Max-Philip Schmitt Photos: Julian Schwede