ROTWILD R.E375 PRO – In our big 2022 eMTB group test

Opposing the current trend of big batteries, the ROTWILD furnish the standard, unrestricted 85Nm Shimano EP8 motor of the R.E375 PRO with a small and lightweight 375 Wh battery. Was the ROTWILD able to assert itself against its powerful all-round opponents or was it left behind in a cloud of dust?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2022 – 13 models in review

With the R.E375 PRO, ROTWILD are sending a powerful Light eMTB into the race. Our € 8,999 R.E375 test bike rolls on 29” wheels, combines 170/160 mm of travel and weighs in at 19.68 kg (size L). When ROTWILD developed the R.E375, integration was clearly high on their list of priorities The 85 Nm Shimano EP8 motor is neatly integrated into the carbon frame and the carbon housing of the long 375 Wh battery functions as the sidewall of the super-slim down tube and the whole unit can be removed from the side of the frame at the push of a button. The charge port sits between the motor and battery and is protected by a practical magnetic cover. All cables run through the handlebars while an EightPins dropper rounds off the ROTWILD’s integration.

Weight reduction at all costs? The spec of the ROTWILD R.E375 PRO in detail

With the spec of the R.E375, ROTWILD clearly lost sight of trail performance at some point along the way. Admittedly, many components still do justice to the character and intended use of the bike: the robust DT Swiss HX 1501 alloy wheelset and four-piston XT brakes with 200 mm ICE-TECH rotors work a treat while the mixed Shimano drivetrain with and XT rear derailleur and SLX cassette ensures crisp and precise shifting. However, ROTWILD have saved weight in the wrong place, pairing a Magic Mary front tire in the fragile Super Ground casing and Hans Dampf rear tire in the Super Trail casing. This setup doesn’t do justice to the character of the R.E375 and can easily lead to pinch flats. To prevent this, you’ll have to run high tire pressures, which come at the expense of grip. Moreover, we’d happily trade the lockout of the FOX 36 FIT4 fork for the superior performance of the GRIP2 damper.

Less is more! The small battery of the ROTWILD R.E375 makes the sporty concept possible.

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Pushing the limits – The geometry of the ROTWILD R.E375 PRO in detail

The R.E375 is available in three sizes, M to XL. At 470 mm, it has the longest seat tube in the entire test field, together with the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY and SCOTT Ransom. The 180 mm EightPins dropper ensures excellent integration and flawless operation but the long seat tube prevents short-legged riders from using all of the dropper post’s travel, ultimately restricting freedom of movement on the bike. With its 485 mm reach (size L), the ROTWILD is considerably longer than most of its opponents while the 63.5° head angle is the slackest in the entire test field. As a result, the R.E375 isn’t so much suitable for touring as it is sporty and aggressive riding. Moreover, the front-heavy pedalling position, firm suspension and small battery aren’t the best prerequisites for long days in the saddle.

Size	M	L	XL
Top tube	604 mm	632 mm	655 mm
Seat tube	440 mm	470 mm	506 mm
Head tube	110 mm	125 mm	130 mm
Head angle	63.5°	63.5°	63.5°
Seat angle	77.0°	77.0°	77.0
Chainstays	445 mm	445 mm	445 mm
BB Drop	25 mm	25 mm	25 mm
Wheelbase	1,253 mm	1,284 mm	1,311 mm
Reach	460 mm	485 mm	510 mm
Stack	625 mm	636 mm	641 mm

Light-footed, fast and fun – The ROTWILD R.E375 PRO on the climbs

Uphill, the R.E375 brings tears of joy to your eyes with its agile handling and powerful acceleration! Moreover, the firm suspension and low system weight seem to boost the power of the Shimano EP8 motor, which feels more powerful on the ROTWILD than any other Shimano bike in this test, allowing experienced riders to accelerate out of corners on the rear wheel. In tight corners, the ROTWILD understeers, forcing you to actively weight the front wheel to keep it tracking. On technical climbs, it’s even harder to generate traction. The lively R.E375 manages to jump over smaller obstacles and on steep climbs the firm suspension always sits high in its travel, keeping the front wheel planted on the ground. However, on loose and wet terrain, the suspension and tires struggle to generate traction, making it hard to control the ROTWILD through technical cruxes. Here, the Orbea Rise is better in all respects, despite its weaker motor.

A capable eMTB with fragile tires is like a hike in flip flops – you have to tread lightly.

Not for beginners – the ROTWILD R.E375 downhill

On flowing descents, the R.E375 displays the typical character of Light eMTBs and analogue mountain bikes, offering agile and precise handling. The firm suspension makes it easy to pop off ledges and generate speed through rollers. For experienced riders, the high fun factor will trigger a long-lasting sense of euphoria, which is hard to achieve with a heavier battery concept. However, the ROTWILD reaches its limit on steep technical trails, where the lack of traction and limited freedom of movement rob you of confidence. The flat bars pull your weight far over the front, yet the steering is affected by side impacts, resulting in vague handling. Like the SCOR, the R.E375 feels nervous, with handling becoming increasingly challenging at high speeds. While a clean riding technique will compensate for the twitchy character, it won’t make up for the limits of the fork and tires. It takes a few upgrades for the R.E375 to feel comfortable at high speeds, and newbies will be better off with the beginner-friendly Orbea Rise.

Tuning tip: more robust tires, for example Schwalbe Magic Mary in the Super Gravity or Super Trail casing and Ultra Soft rubber compound at the front and Super Gravity carcass and Soft compound at the rear

Conclusion

With the R.E375 PRO, ROTWILD oppose the trend of big batteries – and rightly so! As far as motor integration goes, the concept of an agile Light eMTB is superbly implemented but ROTWILD have taken weight optimisation a little too far. With the stock spec, the R.E375 is too overwhelming for beginners and even experienced riders will have to upgrade the tires and the fork. In our search for the best eMTB all-rounder, the ROTWILD falls far behind the competition.

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You can find out more about at rotwild.de

The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2022 – 13 models in review

All bikes in test: FOCUS JAM² 7.0 (Click for review) | MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10k (Click for review) | Norco Sight VLT C1 (Click for review) | Orbea Rise M-Team (Click for review) | Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay C70 (Click for review) | ROTWILD R.E375 PRO | SCOR 4060 Z ST XT (Click for review) | SCOTT Ransom eRIDE 910 (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Turbo Kenevo SL (Click for review) | Trek Rail 9.9 XX1 AXS (Click for review) | Yeti 160E T1 (Click for review) | YT DECOY MX CORE 4 (Click for review)

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Words: Rudolf Fischer Photos: Robin Schmitt