R RAYMON Trailray E-Seven 11.0 2020 in review – Does the Yamaha PW-X2 motor make this eMTB a climbing champion?

The € 5,499 R RAYMON Trailray E-Seven 11.0 is the flagship model of the still-young German brand. With a powerful Yamaha PW-X2 motor, 630 Wh battery capacity, 170/160 mm travel and top-end spec, the Trailray E-Seven aims to conquer the climbs as well as the descents. Will it succeed?

The R RAYMON Trailray E-Seven comes with 27.5” wheels, a 630 Wh battery, a 170 mm fork and 160 mm travel at the rear. The German company mainly relies on the powerful Yamaha PW-X2 motor for their full-suspension eMTBs, the details of which have been updated for 2020. Besides being very powerful, the motor features a progressive Smart Assist mode, which dynamically adjusts the support level to suit the riding situation and thereby making it unnecessary to shift gears in flat terrain. Several integrated sensors determine the incline of the terrain, which means that the Smart Assist mode detects whether you’re riding up or downhill and selects the right mode accordingly. The R RAYMON Trailray E-Seven is said to climb well and perform equally convincing on the descents. We tested the R RAYMON around our headquarters near Stuttgart and put it through its paces on dry as well as very rainy days.

The R RAYMON Trailray E-Seven 11.0 in detail

The orange/gray/black colour scheme of the Trailray E-Seven 11.0 is matched from the saddle to the cable sleeves. The shape of the aluminium frame is striking. R RAYMON pair the beefy downtube with the motor bolted on from the bottom and a skinny rear triangle. The large gap between the metal cover for the motor and the down tube won’t be to everyone’s taste. The advantage of the design is that the sound of the motor doesn’t resonate as much in the frame, which you’ll hear, or rather won’t hear, as the eMTB is super quiet. Only the battery cover of our pre-production test model didn’t stay perfectly put during our tests and caused some noise. However, this problem shouldn’t occur on the production models and stay attached to the frame without rattling. The cover for the charging socket is nicely protected from dirt and there is space for a bottle cage in the frame triangle. Unfortunately, the external spoke magnet is likely to give trouble and we would prefer a more integrated solution.

Up front, you’ve got a FOX 36 Factory FIT4 fork offering 170 mm travel and ensuring you always have sufficient reserves. Don’t let the fancy Kashima coating blind you, it is not the flagship model featuring FOX’s GRIP2 damper, which we would have preferred for performance reasons. Installed on the rear is a FOX DPX2 Factory shock. Braking is taken care of by SRAM G2 RSC brakes with a 200 mm rotor up front and a 180 mm rotor at the rear. This, in our eyes, is a no-go. An eMTB should have at least 200 mm rotors and ideally even more powerful brakes! The Trailray E-Seven rolls on in-house 27.5″ wheels and 2.6″ wide Schwalbe Magic Mary/Nobby Nic tires with the APEX casing. If you’re an aggressive trail rider, we recommend fitting a more trail-compatible tire on the rear, like Schwalbe’s Magic Mary for maximum grip or the Hans Dampf for the ideal compromise between rolling speed and traction. The rest of the componentry is sensible. R RAYMON rely on in-house components for the stem, handlebar, saddle and seat post.

The geometry of the Trailray E-Seven

The eMTB is available in four sizes: S, M, L, XL. The reach in size L is 480 mm and paired with a tall front end, which is roomy enough and should instil you with confidence in steep terrain. On paper, the steep seat tube angle (76°) and the long chainstays (475 mm) should make the R RAYMON an excellent climber that’ll get you up every trail. In contrast to the length of the chainstays, the German company resorted to a more moderate head tube angle (66°).

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	390 mm	430 mm	470 mm	510 mm
Top tube	594 mm	615 mm	640 mm	660 mm
Head tube/strong>	120 mm	120 mm	140 mm	140 mm
Head angle	66°	66°	66°	66°
Seat angle	76°	76°	76°	76°
Chainstays	475 mm	475 mm	475 mm	475 mm
BB Drop	5 mm	5 mm	5 mm	5 mm
Wheelbase	1,240 mm	1,260 mm	1,288 mm	1,308 mm
Reach	440 mm	460 mm	480 mm	500 mm
Stack	622 mm	623 mm	641 mm	641 mm

How does the R RAYMON Trailray E-Seven perform on the trail?

Aboard the Raymon, you immediately feel at home. The balanced riding position on level terrain and the sensitive rear suspension keep you very comfortable. It’s clear from the get-go that this eMTB is made for long days in the saddle. The steep, 76° seat tube angle positions the rider centrally on the bike and the long chainstays ensure that the front end stays planted on the uphills. This allows you to stay relaxed as you conquer long climbs without putting in unnecessary effort. The powerful Yamaha PW-X2 motor suits the bike to a tee, assisting the rider with its 80 Nm torque even when they’re pedalling at a low cadence. We would have liked a little more support from the rear suspension on steep climbs, seeing as it tends to wallow. Partially closing the shock’s low-speed compression only helps to a limited extent.

The suspension performs sensitively and keeps the tires in contact with the ground. The only thing preventing the motor from being able to transfer its power to the trail at all times is the lack of grip offered by Schwalbe’s Nobby Nic tire on the rear. With the Smart Assist mode activated, you have to give a lot less thought to gear selection or the support mode you’re in, allowing you to stay concentrated on your surroundings. However, when things get really steep, you’ll have to select the highest support mode manually, as the automatic mode won’t go there by itself. The motor responds quickly and provides plenty of support even at low cadences. With this motor, starting on an incline is child’s play. The motor occasionally lurches forward when you’re standing still, so be careful of touching your pedals when you’re not riding!

The performance of the Yamaha PW-X2 perfectly suits the Trailray E-Seven 11.0

Point it downhill, and the tall front end instils you with confidence and the length of the bike offers lots of room to throw your weight around on the bike. The rear end responds extremely sensitively and absorbs both small and large bumps with ease, but it also isolates the rider from the trail. Cornering, you’ll have plenty of grip on the front wheel even without having to weight it or having mastered the perfect riding technique. This makes hitting open corners and flowing sections a lot of fun. However, the Trailray E-Seven quickly reaches the limit of its comfort zone at high speeds due to undefined handling. Contributing to this are the Schwalbe Nobby Nic tire with its APEX casing, the 180 mm rear brake rotor and the lack of support from the rear suspension. The latter causes the rider’s input to be lost in the shock, especially during active manoeuvres. The bike feels sluggish when attempting quick direction changes, in berms or when popping off trail features. However, the suspension is progressive enough to soak up hard landings or botched line choices, making for good-natured handling in extreme situations. Nevertheless, the R RAMON is aimed at riders who predominantly keep their wheels on the ground and are after maximum control at medium speeds.

The Trailray E-Seven allows you to conquer long climbs with comfort and ease.

Our conclusion on the R RAYMON Trailray E-Seven 11.0

With the € 5,499 Trailray E-Seven 11.0, R RAYMON are offering an affordable eMTB with numerous smart features. Comfortable, all-day riding is what this eMTB is best at. Mount a grippier tire on the rear wheel and the powerful Yamaha PW-X2 motor can play to its strengths in all weather conditions. Beginners, as well as experienced long-distance riders and those who simply like taking in the scenery, will find a comfortable bike here. It’s less well suited for aggressive eMTBers with an active riding style who are looking for a bike to ride hard and fast.

More info: r-raymon-bikes.com

---

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of E-MOUNTAINBIKE, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more.

Words: Photos: Valentin Rühl