In our 2023 eMTB group test under € 7,000, the SIMPLON Steamer Pmax takes on the competition with a very aggressive look, 170/166 mm of travel (f/r) and a Bosch Performance Line CX motor with matching 625 Wh battery. Is the € 6,929 Steamer Pmax just as aggressive as it looks?
27.00 kg in size L | € 6,929 | Manufacturer’s website
Austrian manufacturers SIMPLON are an old acquaintance of ours, and have already bagged a few trophies in our group tests, both here at E-MOUNTAINBIKE and our sister magazine ENDURO. Only a few months ago, the SIMPLON Rapcon TQ secured the “Best Light-eMTB all-rounder” badge in our huge 2023 E-MOUNTAINBIKE group test. This time around, SIMPLON entered the race with the Steamer Pmax. The name is rather fitting, providing the proverbial cherry on top of the beefy frame, with its massive tubes, exposed weld seams and whopping 27 kg system weight, which also makes it the heaviest bike in the entire test field The fat tires and sand finish with orange accents are reminiscent of a Saharan safari truck. With its defined, square-edged frame silhouette, the Steamer Pmax is distinctly recognizable as a SIMPLON, and a perfect match for the manufacturer’s portfolio. As usual, you can choose from several pre-configured models and customise the spec using SIMPLON’s comprehensive in-house configurator, though this isn’t the most intuitive out there and requires some knowledge.
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
Free choice – What sets the SIMPLON Steamer Pmax apart from the competition?
SIMPLON’s online configurator allows you to customise the spec of your Steamer Pmax to suit your needs, preferences and budget. In the configuration we chose, our test bike sets you back € 6,929. Unlike the other Bosch competitors in this test, which rely on the latest Bosch Smart System motor, the SIMPLON comes equipped with the previous-generation Performance Line CX drive, which might be older but delivers the same excellent performance as its successor and churns out the same 85 Nm of torque. Although the eBike Connect app of the old motor system offers a fairly comprehensive connectivity package, this doesn’t include the latest functions of the new Smart System’s eBike Flow app. The motor draws its power from a 625 Wh battery, which is the smallest amongst the full-fat models in this test. The battery is integrated into the down tube and protected against the elements by a plastic cover, while a key lock makes it harder for thieves to remove it from the frame. Charging is possible both on and off the bike, but with the latter option, you’ll have to get to grips with the finicky Bosch charging port. A Bosch Kiox display right on top of the stem shows all crucial riding data, including battery charge status, speed and the current support mode. The prominent position ensures good readability but also exposes the display to impacts in the event of a crash. With a simple twist of a hand, the Kiox display can be disconnected from the holder, and this will cause the motor functions to freeze. Moreover, the optional eBike Lock function allows you to use the display as a key, linking the display’s serial number to the bike and rendering the system useless with unauthorised displays. However, on rough terrain the magnetic holder struggles to hold the display in place, so we recommend securing it with an additional bolt.
Although the Bosch Performance Line CX motor belongs to the older Bosch generation, it’s almost identical to the latest Bosch drive and churns out the same 85 Nm of torque.
The 625-Wh battery is protected against the elements by a plastic cover and can be secured with a key lock.
The Bosch Kiox display can be easily removed from the holder. On rough trails, however, you’ll have to be careful that the display doesn’t detach itself from the mount.
The suspension consists of a 170 mm RockShox Lyrik Select+ fork, paired with a 166 mm Super Deluxe Select+ air shock. At 150 mm, the Kind Shock Rage-i dropper post doesn’t have enough travel for a bike in size L, restricting freedom of movement, especially for long-legged riders. Powerful Shimano DEORE XT four-piston brakes with tool-free reach adjustment do stopping duties, and are paired with big 200 mm rotors front and rear. Shifting is taken care of by an affordable Shimano DEORE 10-speed drivetrain – we haven’t seen one of these in a while! The combination of a powerful motor and small rear wheel make sure that even the small 10-speed cassette with 11-42 t gearing gets you up the steepest climbs. For the wheels, the Austrians rely on a DT Swiss H 1900 Hybrid alloy wheelset and Schwalbe tires. With its aggressive thread pattern, the beefy 2.8” Eddy Current rear tire reminds us of a hill climb truck.
While the SIMPLON relies on a Shimano DEORE 10-speed drivetrain, the smaller gear range isn’t an issue, not even on steep climbs.
The super-wide, 2.8” Eddy Current rear tire looks impressive and the aggressive profile reminds us of hill climb trucks.
SIMPLON Steamer Pmax
€ 6,929
Specifications
Motor Bosch Performance Line CX 85 Nm
Battery Bosch PowerTube 625 Wh
Display Bosch Kiox
Fork RockShox Lyrik Select+ 170 mm
Rear Shock RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ 166 mm
Seatpost KS RAGEi 175 mm
Brakes Shimano DEORE XT BR-M8120 200/200 mm
Drivetrain Shimano DEORE 1x10
Stem Zero III 35 mm
Handlebar SIMPLON Riser Alu 800 mm
Wheelset DT Swiss H1900 Hybrid 29"/27.5"
Tires Schwalbe Eddy Current Super Trail Soft/ Schwalbe Eddy Current Super Gravity Soft 2.4/2.8
Technical Data
Size S M L XL
Weight 27.00 kg
Perm. total weight 140 kg
Max. payload (rider/equipment) 113 kg
Trailer approval no
Kickstand mount no
| Size | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top tube | 569 mm | 596 mm | 623 mm | 645 mm |
| Seat tube | 385 mm | 410 mm | 435 mm | 460 mm |
| Head tube | 108 mm | 116 mm | 128 mm | 139 mm |
| Head angle | 64.7° | 64.7° | 64.7° | 64.7° |
| Seat angle | 79.0° | 79.0° | 79.0° | 79.0° |
| Chainstays | 448 mm | 448 mm | 448 mm | 448 mm |
| BB Drop | 31 mm | 31 mm | 31 mm | 31 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,223 mm | 1,255 mm | 1,285 mm | 1,310 mm |
| Reach | 454 mm | 479 mm | 504 mm | 524 mm |
| Stack | 620 mm | 627 mm | 638 mm | 647 mm |
Jersey Rocday Park Shirt | Shorts Rocday Roc Shorts | Kneepad Rapha Trail Knee Pads
Shoes Specialized 2FO Cliplite | Socks Velocio Trail Socks
Off to the safari – The Simplon Steamer Pmax in review
The SIMPLON Steamer Pmax puts you in a comfortable, upright pedalling position, which makes it easy to focus on the surrounding fauna and the trail ahead without having to lower your head. When the trail gets rougher, the voluminous tires absorb the small chatter, while bigger hits are taken care of by the rear suspension. The latter generates good traction together with the aggressively-profiled rear tire, while the powerful engine pushes you willingly over ledges and steps. Only on steep climbs, you’ll have to actively weight the front wheel to keep it tracking.
The powerful motor allows you to negotiate steps without breaking a sweat and the rear suspension generates good traction.
The SIMPLON ploughs through rock gardens with stoic composure but also requires more input in tight sections.
When you drop into a trail, the SIMPLON integrates you nicely between its wheels and the weight is evenly distributed between the front and rear. The balanced suspension works discreetly in the background and provides enough support to pump through rollers without feeling harsh. Uphill, the high-volume rear tire provides good comfort and damping, but makes for rather vague, spongy handling, especially when carving through berms. As long as you make your way back down into the valley in a straight line, the Steamer ploughs its way through anything you throw at it. And while it’s significantly more composed than the Haibike Nduro7 and Moustache Samedi 29 Trail 5, it doesn’t feel as agile in tight sections, where the heavy system weight calls for more input to master tight corners.
With its composed character, the SIMPLON Steamer Pmax ploughs its way through nasty rock gardens and hardly loses its cool.
Who should take a closer look at the Simplon Steamer Pmax?
If you’re looking for a robust bike, the SIMPLON Steamer Pmax might be an excellent choice, with its solid alloy frame and chunky weld seams exuding robustness. Tourers who ride primarily on straight, technical trails will like it too. The Steamer is also a great option for individualists who want to customise their spec using SIMPLON’s extensive online configurator. Connectivity freaks who can’t live without the latest Bosch Smart System features might be disappointed. If you’re after a potent downhill bruiser but appreciate a slightly more nimble character, you should take a closer look at the RADON DEFT 10.0 750.
Tuning tip: Narrower rear tire for more precise handling | Secure the display with a bolt | If you use your bike in everyday life, you should sign up for the premium eBike Lock function for € 10, which allows you to use the Kiox display as a key.
Riding Characteristics
DESIGN
- unbalanced
- coherent
USER FRIENDLINESS
- cumbersome
- clever
VALUE FOR MONEY
- flop
- top
TREKKING & COMMUTING SUITABILITY
- low
- high
HANDLING
- demanding
- intuitive
FUN FACTOR
- boring
- lively
Intended Use
Gravel roads
Technical climbs
Flowtrail descents
Technical descents
Our conclusions about the SIMPLON Steamer Pmax
With its beefy frame, voluminous tires and exposed weld seams, the SIMPLON Steamer Pmax looks refreshingly aggressive – and that’s also how it feels on the trail! The composed character allows you to bomb through nasty rock gardens at Mach 10 but comes at the expense of agility, which is particularly noticeable in tight sections. The powerful motor and efficient suspension make it easy to master long climbs, while the comfortable pedalling position makes it suitable for long days in the saddle. The SIMPLON Steamer boasts some excellent all-rounder qualities but doesn’t quite manage to hold up with the top dogs in this group test.
Tops
- Good allrounder
- Comfortable pedalling position
- Excellent composure
Flops
- Sluggish
- Vague handling at the rear
- Highest system weight in test with the smallest battery
You can find out more about at simplon.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 (Click for review) | RADON Deft 10.0 750 (Click for review) | SCOTT Lumen eRide 910 (Click for review) | SIMPLON Steamer Pmax | Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy (Click for review)
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Words & Photos: Mike Hunger
