The ROTWILD R.E + had one particular issue in recent years: its non-removable battery. For the new season, however, that’s a thing of the past… and that isn’t the only innovation. What’s changed, and how does the bike behave on the trail? You can read all about here.
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2018 – 12 dream bikes go head to head
Find the fault! If you look closely, you will notice that the frame shape of our test bike does not match that of the new R.E + on the website. ROTWILD has not only integrated a removable battery, but also refreshed the paint job and the design of the bike. The seat stays now run in line with the top tube. However, except for 7.5 mm longer chainstays, the geometry hasn’t changed, and the kinematics of the rear triangle are still the same. Typical of ROTWILD, the R.E + convinces with high-quality workmanship. The bike is powered by the brand-new and powerful Brose Drive S motor, which draws its energy from a 648 Wh battery. The spec is suitable for the price tag of € 7,799 and offers little room for criticism. The suspension, tires, and wheels are great. As for the MAGURA brakes, we would have liked a big four-piston caliper on the rear wheel as well. Although ROTWILD relies on a FOX 34 FLOAT Factory fork instead of the bigger, stiffer 36, it doesn’t show any weaknesses and impressed with a super-sensitive response. The 2.6″-wide Schwalbe Magic Mary tyres provide massive amounts of grip and traction with their knobby profile.
The R.E + feels very agile and direct through curves, though it tends to understeer if not correctly weighted.
The ROTWILD R.E + ULTRA is a real climbing machine – no bike in the test could keep up with the ROTWILD R.E+. This is in part due to the motor, but above all to the geometry and the linkage of the rear triangle. Thanks to the steep seat angle, you’re sat very centrally, keeping a lot of pressure on the front wheel, and the short 165 mm E13-TRS + carbon cranks offer a lot of ground clearance, allowing you to climb the nastiest climbs with ease. Due to the slightly longer chainstays, we can assume that the production bike will climb even better. Despite the comparatively narrow tires, the ROTWILD is quite comfortable. The suspension responds very sensitively, yet provides a lot of feedback from the ground and doesn’t get overwhelmed in even the roughest terrain. Excellent! Due to the comparatively narrow tires, handling is very direct: the R.E + is nimble and willingly changes direction. In sudden, sharp turns, however, the front wheel tends to want to wash out due to the bike’s high centre of gravity, and in high speed sections we would have liked a little more stability.
The ROTWILD R.E+ ULTRA in detail
Fork FOX 34 FLOAT Factory HSC/LSC 160 mm
Shock FOX FLOAT DPS 160 mm
Motor/battery Brose Drive S 648 Wh IPU.660.R Carbon
Drivetrain SRAM EX1
Brakes MAGURA MT Trail
Seatpost Cranckbrothers Highline
Stem Crankbrothers Iodine 50 mm
Handlebar Crankbrothers Opium 780 mm
Wheelset DT Swiss HX 1501 Spline One
Tires Schwalbe Magic Mary 2.6″
The built-in Marquardt display shows all the necessary information, but is lacking regarding the interface, integration, and ergonomics.
The cooling fins on the motor housing radiate heat quicker, thus improving efficiency.
Integrated into the downtube of the ROTWILD R.E + is a battery with a whopping 648 Wh capacity – and the battery can now finally be removed.
The 180 mm rear brake rotor, in combination with the two-pot caliper, quickly reaches its limits on fast descents.
The geometry of the ROTWILD R.E+
| Size | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 445 mm | 485 mm | 535 mm |
| Top tube | 595 mm | 623 mm | 650 mm |
| Head tube | 110 mm | 120 mm | 130 mm |
| Head angle | 66° | 66° | 66° |
| Seat angle | 74.7° | 74.7° | 74.7° |
| Chainstay | 450 mm | 450 mm | 450 mm |
| BB Height | 347.5 mm | 347.5 mm | 347.5 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1190 mm | 1218 mm | 1248 mm |
| Reach | 430 mm | 455 mm | 480 mm |
| Stack | 594 mm | 603 mm | 613 mm |
Conclusion
The ROTWILD R.E + ULTRA is a very agile eMTB with great workmanship and long range. With its removable battery, it will certainly pique the interest of even more riders in the coming season. Small weaknesses in the componentry and the slightly nervous handling, however, cloud an otherwise very good overall impression.
Pros
– terrific uphill performance
– excellent motor
– long range
Cons
– high centre of gravity makes for nervous handling
– understeers in corners
– rear brake too weak
Uphill | Downhill | Stability | Agiliy | Value for money
For more info head to: rotwild.de
The testfleet
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2018 – 12 dream bikes go head to head
All bikes in test: BMC Trailfox AMP LTD | BULLS E-CORE EVO EN Di2 | FANTIC XF1 Integra Enduro 160 | FOCUS SAM² PRO | Giant Full-E+ 0 SX Pro | Haibike XDURO Nduro 10.0 | Moustache Samedi Race 11 | SCOTT E-Genius 700 Tuned | Specialized Turbo Levo S-Works Carbon | Thömus Lightrider E1 – Team Di2 | Trek Powerfly 9 LT Plus
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: Christoph Bayer, Valentin Rühl
