The Moustache Samedi 29 Trail 5 – In our big e-mountainbike group test under € 7,000

The Moustache Samedi 29 Trail 5 boasts some promising specs: a Bosch Performance Line CX Smart System motor, 750 Wh battery, 150 mm of suspension travel front and rear, custom rear shock, and a price tag of € 6,299. But will it convince us out on the trail?

If you flick through Moustache’s website, you’ll quickly realise that the French brand only sells electric bikes. Their portfolio includes a huge range of bikes, from children-specific e-bikes to tandems and eMTBs. The Moustache Samedi 29 Trail 5 is the little sibling of the Samedi 29 Game, which stood up against 29 contestants in our huge 2023 e-mountainbike group test. The Samedi 29 Trail generates 150 mm travel front and rear, and is meant to cover a wide range of riding scenarios, both up and downhill, regardless of whether you’re a leisurely rider or a mean shredding machine. Like all bikes in Moustache’s product range, the Samedi Trail employs an alloy frame, which boasts a rather classic silhouette and discreet black paint finish. Compared to the other aluminium bikes in this test, however, the Moustache’s frame looks very high quality, partly due to the smooth weld seams in the headtube area. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case with the welds on the motor mount and swingarm. Despite the lightweight alloy frame, the Moustache tips the scales at 25.1 kg. Moustache have also thought about commuters, providing the rear triangle with mudguard mounts. The cables disappear into the frame through the top tube, making for a rather crowded cockpit and spoiling the otherwise clean look of the bike. Both the brake line and shifter cable run through the top tube and re-emerge at the transition to the seat stays, where they form a big bow that prevents them from kinking.

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2023 for € 7,000 – 7 budget eMTBs in our eMTB group test

Homemade – What distinguishes the Moustache Samedi 29 Trail 5 from the rest of the crowd?

Given that Moustache have been Bosch’s development partners for many years, it comes as no surprise that Samedi 29 Trail 5 features an 85 Nm Bosch Performance Line CX Smart System motor, which draws its power from a 750 Wh battery integrated into the down tube. To secure the battery to the frame, the French company forgo a conventional lock system and rely on an in-house fixation system instead, employing a simple bolt catch that allows you to remove the battery quickly and easily without the need for tools. They also rely on a proprietary charging port, which is easy to access, and protected against the elements with an additional rubber seal. A Bosch Kiox 300 display provides all crucial riding data, including battery charge status and current support mode. Unfortunately, the display sits right in front of the stem, where it’s exposed to impacts in the event of a crash.

The mountain-biking veterans amongst us should be familiar with the Marzocchi Bomber Z1 fork, which has been causing a stir ever since it was launched back in 1997. The Samedi 29 Trail employs the latest iteration of Marzocchi’s legendary fork, which provides the French trail garçon with 150 mm of travel at the front. While the Bomber offers fewer adjustment options than the high-end forks in this test – like the FOX 38 Factory fork of the RADON – it’s in no way inferior to FOX’s entry-level 36 Rhythm model, which can be found on the Specialized Levo in this group test. Marzocchi were absorbed by FOX eight years ago, so the Bomber shares the same FIT Grip damper as the FOX 36 Rhythm. The fork is complemented by Moustache’s proprietary Magic Grip Control air shock, which controls 150 mm of travel at the rear and comes standard with all models in the Trail range, from entry-level to top-spec. The few adjustment options combined with the removable sag indicator make it easy to set up the suspension. We wish it were just as easy to control the dropper post, because the sticky remote requires the thumb-strength of a professional hitchhiker. Shifting is taken care of by a Shimano DEORE XT 12-speed rear derailleur, which is paired with a cheaper Shimano DEORE shifter and a third-party SunRace cassette. Shimano DEORE BR-M6120 four-piston brakes with 200mm rotors front and rear do stopping duties. Shimano’s affordable DEORE stoppers deliver similar braking performance to the more expensive XT model, but the levers forgo the tool-free reach adjustment. Moustache also rely on their in-house components for other parts, like the wheelset and narrow 760 mm handlebars. In typical Moustache fashion, the Samedi 29 Trail 5 rolls on MAXXIS ASSEGAI tires front and rear. Unfortunately, they come in the puncture-prone EXO casing and hard Dual rubber compound, which isn’t really suitable for serious trail riding. Sporty riders should upgrade to more robust tires in the tougher DoubleDown casing and run the softer MaxxGrip rubber compound at the front for better traction. This setup is more resistant to punctures, and at the same time ensures better grip and damping qualities, because it allows you to run lower air pressures.

1000 and 1 nights – The Moustache Samedi 29 Trail 5 in review

The Moustache Samedi 29 Trail 5 places you in a comfortable, albeit slightly front-heavy pedalling position, which is perfectly suitable for epic backcountry adventures. When riding on fire roads, the sensitive rear suspension filters out bumps reliably, ensuring a pleasant “flying carpet” sensation, with the pressure on your hands gradually easing as the gradient increases. On steeper climbs, the powerful motor pushes willingly, even when riding slowly at low cadences, with the sensitive rear suspension generating tons of traction in the process. Although the latter feels quite plush at first, the progressive tune prevents it from sinking too far into the travel. Thanks to the long chainstays, the front wheel remains planted on the ground, even on steep climbs, where the Samedi 29 Trail 5 leaves behind the competition in a cloud of dust, securing the “Climbing King” crown in our 2023 e-mountainbike group test under € 7,000.

When you point its nose into the valley, the Moustache makes you feel at ease from the get-go. Once again, the suspension provides excellent small-bump sensitivity while at the same time gobbling up bigger hits without breaking a sweat. Unfortunately, it lacks support in the mid-stroke, absorbing the rider’s input like a sand bag, making it harder to pump your way through rollers on flowing trails. The front end is noticeably firmer than the rear, making for a slightly unbalanced ride. To compensate for this, you can increase the pressure in the shock past the sweet spot recommended by the sag indicator. This will ensure not only a more balanced ride but also a more responsive, more supportive rear end, which allows aggressive riders to really open the tap. The plush rear suspension comes at the expense of agility, and as a result, spontaneous direction changes and tight corners require more physical effort. Furthermore, the hard tire compound robs you of traction, which is why we recommend upgrading to a softer compound as soon as you can. With its composed, relaxed character, the Moustache feels at home in nasty rock gardens and fast trail sections, where it inspires huge amounts of confidence.

The plush suspension of the Moustache Samedi 29 Trail 5 reliably swallows up hits and bumps, inspiring huge amounts of confidence in the process.

Who should take a closer look at the Moustache Samedi 29 Trail 5?

The Moustache Samedi 29 Trail 5 is an excellent choice for tourers in search of a trusted, comfortable companion for long days in the saddle. The plush suspension allows you to embark on epic backcountry adventures without breaking your back, while the powerful motor combined with the bike’s outstanding climbing qualities encourage you to conquer the highest peaks. Moreover, the connectivity features of the Bosch Smart System (i.e. eBike Lock) and Moustache’s proprietary, intuitive battery locking system, make the Samedi 29 Trail 5 a very interesting option for commuters.

Tuning tip: Trail riders should upgrade to more robust tires with tougher DoubleDown casing and softer MaxxGrip rubber compound. | Play around with different air pressures in the shock

Our conclusions about the Moustache Samedi 29 Trail 5

With its unmistakable frame silhouette, the Moustache Samedi 29 Trail 5 is distinctly recognisable as a Moustache. The French manufacturer relies on many in-house solutions, including the proprietary shock, which was developed to provide an authentic magic carpet feeling. Downhill, the Samedi 29 Trail 5 impresses with a composed character but doesn’t provide enough feedback and support for active riders. Both touring riders and lovers of techy climbs will get their money’s worth with the Moustache. If you’re looking for an agile bike, however, you’re better off looking elsewhere.

Tops

• Slim alloy frame
• Comfortable rear suspension
• Capable climber

Flops

• Untidy cockpit
• Not enough support for aggressive trail riders
• Sluggish handling

You can find out more about at moustachebikes.com

The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2023 for € 7,000 – 7 budget eMTBs in our eMTB group test

All bikes in test: Bulls Sonic Evo EN-SL 1 Carbon (Click for review) | Haibike Nduro7 (Click for review) | Moustache Samedi 29 Trail 5 | RADON Deft 10.0 750 (Click for review) | SCOTT Lumen eRide 910 (Click for review) | SIMPLON Steamer Pmax (Click for review) | Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy (Click for review)

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Words & Photos: Mike Hunger