With the new ROTWILD R.EXC, the German premium brand stays true to its line: technically independent, consistently tuned for performance and outstanding when it comes to the price tag. On paper alone, the new eMTB looks like the logical evolution of the ROTWILD R.EX.
What’s particularly exciting is the overall package of the new Avinox drive and the in-house battery system. Even though the new ROTWILD R.EXC is no longer the only Avinox bike with a removable battery, as the new AMFLOW PR Carbon now also uses a removable battery concept, ROTWILD continue to pursue their own approach with the independently developed 864 Wh battery. At the same time, one long-standing point of criticism remains: charging is still done via a 7 A charger. Proper fast charging is still not part of the package. This was already an issue with the ROTWILD R.EX. But back to the heart of the bike: the new M2S motor delivers a maximum output of 1,300 W and 150 Nm of torque.
The fact is, the Avinox drive is currently causing quite a stir. Why? We’ve already ridden the system for over 5,000 km on trails in Spain, the Palatinate and Italy, really putting it through its paces. You can find everything you need to know about it here.
It’s clear: at €14,990 for the ULTRA, the ROTWILD R.EXC sits right at the top of the premium segment in terms of price. At 23.2 kg according to the manufacturer, the weight places it more in the middle of current Avinox bikes. We’ve put together an overview of those here.
Almost more exciting than the motor on the new ROTWILD R.EXC is the chassis itself. With a new rocker, revised rear dropouts, and a modular headset, ROTWILD goes all in on adjustability.
With three different shock positions on the rocker, the rear travel can be changed between 160, 155 and 145 mm. The progression changes with it: 16% in the full travel position delivers a particularly planted, traction-rich setup; 14% offers a balanced middle ground between support and compliance; and 12% in the short travel setting provides more active support.
In addition, there’s a system of interchangeable dropouts that allows for different rear-end lengths and wheel size configurations. ROTWILD rely on size-specific chainstay lengths: size M rolls with a short rear end and 27.5” rear wheel, L with a medium chainstay length and also 27.5” at the back, while XL uses a long rear end and a 29” rear wheel.
Together with the modular headset, already known from the R.EX, it quickly becomes clear what ROTWILD are aiming for here: a bike that can be tailored as precisely as possible to body size, track and riding style. The geometry data closely follows that of the R.EX.
| Size | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top tube | 596 mm | 622 mm | 649 mm |
| Seat tube | 445 mm | 475 mm | 511 mm |
| Head tube | 110 mm | 115 mm | 125 mm |
| Head angle | 63.6° | 63.6° | 63.6° |
| Seat angle | 78° | 78° | 78° |
| Chainstay | 436 mm | 448 mm | 460 mm |
| Bottom bracket drop | 15.5 mm | 15.5 mm | 30.5 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,248 mm | 1,287 mm | 1,328 mm |
| Reach | 460 mm | 485 mm | 510 mm |
| Stack | 640 mm | 644 mm | 653 mm |
The Spec Of The ROTWILD R.EXC ULTRA
At the front, a FOX Podium Factory Kashima fork with 170 mm travel and GRIP X2 damper takes care of the rough stuff, while an electronic FOX DHX Neo Live shock controls 160 mm of travel at the rear. You can read exactly how this works over at our sister magazine ENDURO.
When it comes to the spec, ROTWILD don’t cut corners on high-end components, including the drivetrain: with the Shimano XTR Di2 and the Shimano CS 9200 cassette (10–51T), the brand spec a premium, clearly performance-oriented shifting setup.
Shimano XTR four-piston brakes with 203 mm rotors round off the package, delivering top-level stopping power in terms of stability and modulation.
For the wheels, ROTWILD rely on a Crankbrothers Synthesis Enduro carbon wheelset. This is paired with Schwalbe Tacky Chan Evo tires in the Ultra Soft rubber compound at the front and Soft compound at the rear. With the Trail casing, ROTWILD makes a compromise that deserves scrutiny on more demanding terrain. For a bike of this calibre and weight, a more robust Gravity casing would make more sense to reduce puncture risk.
As is customary with ROTWILD, the frame-integrated EightPins NGS 2.0 dropper post is on board, offering up to 225 mm of travel in size XL.
ROTWILD R.EXC PRO
The more affordable ROTWILD R.EXC PRO takes a clearly practical and robust approach to its spec. Up front sits a RockShox ZEB Select+ fork with 170 mm of travel, paired with a RockShox Vivid Select+ at the rear. Both, however, fall short of the Ultimate versions in terms of performance, and the fork still runs the 3.1 cartridge rather than the newer 3.2.
At its core, the PRO variant shares the same new Avinox M2S system and 864 Wh battery as the ULTRA.
At first glance, the ROTWILD R.EXC presents itself as a robust high-end eMTB with plenty of power, high variability, and a clearly defined target audience. At the same time, much of it bears a strong resemblance to the familiar ROTWILD R.EX, not only on paper but visually as well. Whether the numerous adjustment options will ultimately make the decisive difference on the trail remains to be proven. Stay tuned for our full review.
Words: Robin Ulbrich Photos: ROTWILD
About the Author
Robin Ulbrich
Robin Ulbrich is a specialist in urban mobility and technical product management at 41 Publishing. As a master craftsman in vehicle interior equipment, he brings a profound understanding of material science to the editorial team, with saddles and ergonomic interfaces being his particular speciality. For DOWNTOWN and E-MOUNTAINBIKE magazine, the passionate cyclist analyses current city and off-road riding trends. In addition to his editorial activities, he utilises his manual skills for in-depth material analysis and practical product testing.
