The new 2024 Haibike HYBE – What’s the HYBE?

With the HYBE, Haibike present an eMTB purpose-built for racing. Their recipe for a podium finish includes the Bosch Performance Line CX Race motor, 170/160 mm travel front and rear, and a generous helping of Haibike’s signature oversized look. Is it all bark and no bite?

Hardly any other brand represents motorised cycling like the ebike pioneers Haibike. For a long time now, the German company have focused exclusively on making ebikes, offering a huge selection of eMTBs. However, there was a gap in the Haibike portfolio, which the HYBE is out to close: eMTB racing.
The developers took the proven Haibike AllMtn platform and adapted it to the needs of racing. The result is a bike with slightly adjusted geometry and a 170 mm travel fork instead of the 160 mm version used before. This makes the HYBE one of the most capable bikes in the Haibike line-up. Only the NDURO platform has more travel, and we’ve already put the NDURO 7 through the wringer in our 2023 group test of 7 mid-range eMTBs.
The Haibike HYBE is an eMTB designed for racing, so speccing it with the racing specific Bosch Performance Line CX Race motor is the obvious choice. The motor is powered by a 750 Wh battery, which you can extend by 210 Wh with the optional range extender.
The Haibike HYBE is available in two builds: the top-of-the-range HYBE 11 for € 10,000, and the HYBE 9 for € 7,399. However, the HYBE 9 has to make do with the standard Bosch Performance Line CX motor, putting a big damper on its race-winning ambitions.

Could it be any more conspicuous? The 2024 Haibike HYBE in detail

You can tell that the HYBE is a Haibike from a mile away. Boasting the striking Haibike design language with its thick, oversized tubing and straight lines. It’s got the distinctive kink in the top- and down tube, and the seat- and chainstays are as expansive as usual, too. If that wasn’t enough to give it away, Haibike’s eye-catching branding on the carbon main frame and aluminium rear end leaves little doubt as to which company the bike is from.
What is new is the gap between the motor and the down tube. Haibike were as unrestrained with the colour as usual. For the flagship HYBE 11, you’ve got three very bright colours to choose from: Pearl Blue, Deep Magenta, and Neon Pink – not to everyone’s taste. The colours of the HYBE 9 are a little more subtle.

When it comes to the integration of the motor, Haibike don’t bother hiding anything, placing the focus directly on the Bosch unit. The gap between the motor and the down tube suspends the motor and draws attention to it.
The system is controlled via the Bosch LED remote on the handlebar. However, considering its bulky shape and many buttons, it isn’t the go-to option for races because it’s just too easy to hit the wrong button when you’re on a demanding race stage and feeling fatigued. We would have preferred the minimalist Bosch Mini Remote with a Bosch System Controller integrated into the frame. Even bikers who don’t predominantly participate in races are usually better served with the more minimalist variant.
The 750 Wh battery is removable and can be extended by 210 Wh via the optional range extender for those particularly long days in the saddle. From our experience, we would have opted for the 625 Wh battery for racing because the stages are comparatively short and you don’t want to carry unnecessary weight. It would be ideal if you could choose the battery size when buying. On the upside, riders who like tackling all-day rides can look forward to a long range.
The charging port is located above the motor, in front of the shock, sitting on a bit of a slope. That way, you shouldn’t have water or dirt collecting on the cover of the charging port.

The HYBE relies on Haibike’s Modular Rail System. This allows you to attach a wide variety of accessories to the rail on the down tube. XLC Parts, in particular, have a wide range of accessories that can be attached to the rail via a FIDLOCK closure, including water bottles, tool straps, pockets, or locks. However, there are no conventional bottle cage bosses, so you’ll have to make do with the solutions offered. And, it being a race bike, we would like to have a second tool mount on the top tube to carry additional tools or spares for those emergency trailside repairs.
The cables on the Haibike HYBE are routed into the frame via the headset and only exit the frame at their destination. This keeps the bike looking very tidy, but not everybody is crazy about this solution.
The ribbed chainstay protector ensures peace and quiet on the trail. However, it could extend a little further towards the rear wheel axle as it’s cut a bit too short for our liking. We’ll have to wait and see whether the chain slaps the rear part of the chainstay.

The build variants of the 2024 Haibike HYBE

The Haibike HYBE is available in two build variants, the HYBE 11 and 9. While the HYBE 11 is thoroughly specced with everything high-end and expensive, the HYBE 9 is much more down-to-earth. The biggest difference is that the HYBE 9 has to make do with the standard Bosch Performance Line CX motor, which isn’t tuned for racing.

For the HYBE 11, Haibike rely on premium FOX Factory suspension, consisting of a FOX 38 fork and FLOAT X shock – both offering extensive adjustability and boasting the shiny gold Kashima coating. The powerful MAGURA MT5 four-piston brakes are paired with large 203 mm rotors at the front and rear, reliably keeping your speed in check even on the most demanding race stages. Shifting is taken care of by the wireless SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain, however it’s not the new Transmission T-Type GX Groupset.
However, Haibike are cutting corners, saving on components that aren’t immediately evident to the untrained eye. For ambitious racers, this quickly means replacing the cheap and much less durable SRAM SX Eagle chain. The in-house dropper post grows in length with the frame sizes: in size S, you get a 125 mm version, M and L come specced with a 150 mm model, and the XL frame gets a 175 mm dropper. But the droppers are relatively short by today’s standards, especially for long-legged riders. The HYBE 11 rolls on aluminium Mavic E-Deemax wheels, but if we had to use this bike for racing, the first thing we would upgrade is the tires.
The MAXXIS Minion DHF on the front relies on the thin EXO casing and hard MaxxTerra compound, while the Minion DHR on the rear features the somewhat sturdier EXO+ casing and same MaxxTerra rubber. For maximum grip on race day, you’ll want the softer MaxxGrip rubber compound – at least at the front – and the much more robust DoubleDown casing front and rear. There’s nothing more annoying than a flat tire in the middle of a race!

The HYBE 9 is a lot more discreet than the HYBE 11 and comes equipped with significantly lower-end components. On this model, the suspension consists of a RockShox ZEB Select RC fork and a RockShox Deluxe Select+ shock. These offer racers and advanced riders very limited adjustability. However, the few adjustment options allow beginners to easily find their setup. The mechanical Shimano SLX 12-speed drivetrain is combined with matching SLX four-piston brakes and 203 mm rotors. The dropper post and tires are the same as on the HYBE 11.

The geometry of the 2024 Haibike HYBE

Haibike are offering the HYBE in four sizes from S to XL. The length sits on the shorter end of the spectrum, with reach values ranging from 408 to 500 mm. At 64.5°, the head angle is pretty much bang in the middle of what you’ll currently find on the market for big-hitting eMTBs – not too steep or too slack. At 455 mm across the board, the chainstays are relatively long. Because the chainstay length isn’t adapted to the respective frame size, you must keep in mind that the frame sizes may differ in handling and balance. At 644 mm in size L, the stack is quite tall, which puts the rider in a more upright position and should instil you with confidence, especially on steep descents. On the other hand, the seat tubes are all relatively long, putting the saddle in a collision course with your more sensitive parts. In size L, the 470 mm seat tube is longer than the reach and bound to limit your freedom of movement on the trail.

Size	S	M	L	XL
Top tube	560 mm	590 mm	625 mm	660 mm
Seat tube	410 mm	440 mm	470 mm	500 mm
Head tube	100 mm	110 mm	120 mm	130 mm
Head angle	64.5°	64.5°	64.5°	64.5°
Seat angle	76.3°	76.3°	76.3°	76.3°
Chainstay	455 mm	455 mm	455 mm	455 mm
BB Drop	20 mm	20 mm	20 mm	20 mm
Wheelbase	1,191 mm	1,223 mm	1,260 mm	1,296 mm
Reach	408 mm	435 mm	468 mm	500 mm
Stack	626 mm	635 mm	644 mm	653 mm

Our conclusion on the 2024 Haibike HYBE

Haibike stays true to themselves with the HYBE. The eye-catching look and beefy frame couldn’t be a better fit for the brand. Whether the Haibike HYBE really serves as a capable and reliable racing companion, however, remains to be seen on the trail. The proven Bosch CX Race motor should deliver, even if the remote and battery don’t match our expectations of a race bike. We look forward to putting the Haibike HYBE through its paces as soon as we get our hands on one.

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Words: Felix Rauch Photos: Haibike