BMX cult-brand Haro wants to establish itself in the eMTB market. To do so it has already included three bikes in its new portfolio. We tested the high-end model from HARO’s full suspension eMTB line up. This test we’ll tell you whether the Shift Plus i/O 9 still carries some BMX genes and you’ll find out what HARO’s new eMTB is capable of on the trails.
The oldschool BMX crowd will remember Haro from the olden days. For many years Haro has been the biggest and also one of the most popular BMX brands. Company founder and cycling legend Bob Haro embodies the BMX spirit. Now Haro want to transfer this spirit into the eMTB world and succeed the same way they did in the BMXing heyday — and they want to do it with true German thoroughness. That’s why the eMTBs are assembled and QC’d in Germany.
To find out whether the Shift i/O 9 can master the trails the same way the Haro BMX was ruling the race-tracks we tested it on long tours with lots of singletrails, technical demanding climbs and rough descents. With its 2.6″ wide tires, moderate geometry and soft saddle the € 4,999 HARO eMTB was designed with comfort in mind. The suspension system features 150 mm of travel at the front and 140 mm travel at the back which should be enough to iron out pretty much all sorts of rough terrain and make for a very comfortable ride.
The Haro Shift Plus i/O 9 in detail
Fork RockShox Revelation RC 150 mm
Schock RockShox Monarch RL DebonAir 140 mm
Motor/battery Shimano Steps E8000 500 Wh
Drivetrain Shimano XT Di2
Brakes Shimano SLX
Seatpost TranzX internal dropper post 150 mm
Stem RaceFace Ride 70 mm
Handlebar RaceFace Ride 760 mm
Rims/hubs WTB i35 27.5”, Pivit Alloy Boost
Tires Kenda Hellkat 2.6”/Nevegal 2 2.6” (v/h)
Weight 21.62 kg
Price € 4,999
The spec and setup of the Haro Shift Plus i/O 9 is rather curious and it left us with a few questions. On one hand there is an electronic Shimano XT Di2 groupset which works incredibly well and delivers a fast and precise shifting performance. On top of this the display integration with the STEPS E8000 motor is one of our favourites. But on the other hand we can’t stop asking ourselves one question: is this much bling really necessary and does it even make sense? And once you look at the suspension you’ll ask yourself the same question. Instead of the cheap RockShox Revelation RC fork we would love to see something a little more sophisticated and we’d happily give up the electronic shifting for it. The Race Face cockpit makes a solid impression but aesthetically it’s not very exciting. A set of Shimano SLX brakes with a 200 mm disc at the front and a 180 mm one at the back takes care of the braking.
The electronic Shimano XT Di2 group allows for fast and precise shifting
The shock-mount looks rather cheap and even came loose in our test. Haro told us they identified the problem and fixed it.
The speed sensor is attached to the chainstay. There is a better disc-integrated system available for Shimano motors.
There is more than enough room with 2.6” tires and even wider 2.8″ tires should still be fine.
When it comes to the finish and workmanship there is still plenty of room for improvement. The bulky rocker and the shock bolts look cheap and the bolts even came loose on different occasions during our test. Haro has identified the problem and addressed it — the bikes will be fitted with self-locking screws from now on. Apart from that the frame is simple but solid. The internal cable routing is totally silent on rough terrain — just like the chain. Top! The 2.6″ Kenda tires leave plenty of room and allow you to ride through the thick autumn mud without spoiling the paint on the swing-arm.
The geometry of the Haro Shift Plus i/O
| Size | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seatpost | 368 mm | 406 mm | 457 mm | 520 mm | 559 mm |
| Top tube (horizontal) | 570 mm | 585 mm | 615 mm | 630 mm | 640 mm |
| Head tube | 100 mm | 110 mm | 120 mm | 130 mm | 140 mm |
| Head angle | 67 ° | 67 ° | 67 ° | 67 ° | 67 ° |
| Seat angle (effective) | 73 ° | 73 ° | 73 ° | 73 ° | 73 ° |
| Chainstays | 457 mm | 457 mm | 457 mm | 457 mm | 457 mm |
| BB drop | 20 mm | 20 mm | 20 mm | 20 mm | 20 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1164 mm | 1182 mm | 1213 mm | 1229 mm | 1245 mm |
| Reach | 413 mm | 427 mm | 456 mm | 463 mm | 476 mm |
| Stack | 598 mm | 607 mm | 613 mm | 626 mm | 635 mm |
The Haro Shift i/O 9 on the trail
When looking for a comfortable eMTB for long tours trail performance shouldn’t be the only thing to consider. The journey to the forest is just as important — and the Shift i/O is really good for this. With the shock in pedal mode the rear end feels composed and works efficiently on forest climbs and even when you switch the shock into open mode the bike still makes a good impression. There’s very little bobbing coming from the rear end which means we didn’t even bother locking out the shock for the rest of our test. As a result we got excellent traction and lots of comfort on the way up — the wide tires are partly responsible for this. The steep seat angle allows you to transfer lots of power into the pedals. In Trail mode the Shimano motor efficiently converts and amplifies your leg power — making the Haro a good tool for long extensive tours. The long stem forces you into a slightly stretched riding position but this still feels very comfortable. With this much weight on it the front wheel of the Shift i/O 9 feels like it’s glued to the ground and hardly lifts off even when riding steep ramps.
Downhill the Haro could be a very nimble and playful BMX-like bike. The relatively low bottom bracket and the front-heavy riding position make the Shift i/O a perfect cornering machine… if the saddle and the top tube weren’t getting in your way. The long seat tube and the high standover are a real issue to the extent that active riders won’t have enough freedom of movement. The 2.6″ Kenda tire combo always delivers enough grip and inspires confidence in all situations. On steep sections the 70 mm stem feels excessively long and forces you too far forward leaving you with the constant feeling of flying over the bars.
The rear end of the HARO can’t quite keep up with the otherwise nimble handling of the bike. It works very sensitively and even flattens out most of the bumps but doesn’t have the sort of pop you would want for aggressive riding. On top that it provides too little feedback and the suspension blows through its travel far too quickly. On the other hand the rear end offers an outstanding amount of comfort and traction when combined with a more relaxed riding style. This makes the Haro a good option for people with a more relaxed riding style who like a comfortable trail experience.
Conclusion
Despite the 150/140 mm travel setup the Haro Shift feels more at home on mellow singletrails and forest tracks rather than on technical terrain. The handling of the Shift i/O’s eMTB might carry some of the lively BMX genes of its ancestors but it still is a better option for long tours. Here it will shine with its great comfort and good climbing characteristics. Despite the posh drivetrain we’re not entirely convinced with the spec and the workmanship of the Haro Shift i/O 9.
More info at: haromtb.com
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Words: Photos: Valentin Rühl, Haro Bikes
