New 17 kg TRANSALPES E1 eMTB featuring the new compact 30 Nm MAXON Bikedrive Air system
With the new E1, Swiss bike brand TRANSALPES introduce their first eMTB, equipped with the equally new and lightweight 3.5 kg MAXON BikeDrive Air system. The light eMTB made a very promising first impression at Eurobike 2021, weighing just 17 kg. Read on for all the details!
The Swiss bike brand from Zwillikon present their first eMTB, based on the TRANSALPES C2. Undoubtedly, their goal in developing the E1 was to make a light eMTB that offers a natural riding experience. They seem to have achieved the former as the complete trail-ready eMTB weighs just over 17 kg and a lighter build with less robust components should come in at just under 16 kg, according to TRANSALPES. Speaking of builds, the E1 can be freely configured via the in-house configurator, as with all of the bikes from TRANSALPES, though the Swiss brand will also be offering preconfigured models. One of them is the Swiss Edition, which is expected to be available in December.
The Maxon Bikedrive Air motor system in detail
Maxon Bikedrive Air is the first mid-mounted ebike motor from the Swiss Maxon Group. They specialise in the development and manufacture of small high-precision motors and drive systems. The new Maxon Bikedrive Air system relies on a small mid-mounted motor that delivers up to 30 Nm torque and a maximum power output of 220W.
The light motor is powered by a 250 Wh battery, which is firmly integrated into the down tube of the TRANSALPES E1. In addition, an external 250 Wh range extender should be available from 2022, weighing around 1.2 kg and fitted to the bottle cage.
There’s a minimalist LED display integrated into the top tube to show the current support mode and battery level. The equally minimalist remote is supplied by Zirbel.ch and is a haptic dream! If you want more ride data, the system features ANT+ or Bluetooth connectivity for third-party displays and bike computers. Thanks to the MAXON app, the power and torque output of the BikeDrive Air motor can be fine-tuned. However, the app is still a beta version.
The geometry of the new TRANSALPES E1 at a glance
The new TRANSALPES E1 light eMTB will initially be available in sizes S, M and L. That said, frame size L is already very large with a reach of 495 mm. This is combined with a moderate stack height of 633 mm and a seat tube length of 460 mm. The seat tubes are quite short relative to the reach across the board. The chainstay length remains the same for all sizes and measures 448 mm.
The geometry of the new 160/145 mm travel TRANSALPES E1:
| Size | S | M | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top tube | 599 mm | 629 mm | 662 mm |
| Head tube | 95 mm | 105 mm | 120 mm |
| Seat tube | 360 mm | 410 mm | 460 mm |
| Head angle | 64.6° | 64.6° | 64.6° |
| Seat angle | 76.1° | 76.1° | 76.1° |
| BB Drop | 23.5 mm | 23.5 mm | 23.5 mm |
| Chainstay | 448 mm | 448 mm | 448 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,201 mm | 1,235 mm | 1,271 mm |
| Reach | 436 mm | 466 mm | 495 mm |
| Stack | 609 mm | 619 mm | 630 mm |
Using the same frame platform, TRANSALPES are also offering a model with 140/130 mm travel, though it is significantly longer with a 505 mm reach in size L:
| Size | S | M | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top tube | 599 mm | 629 mm | 662 mm |
| Head tube | 95 mm | 105 mm | 120 mm |
| Seat tube | 360 mm | 410 mm | 460 mm |
| Head angle | 65.5° | 65.5° | 65.5° |
| Seat angle | 77° | 77° | 77° |
| BB Drop | 30 mm | 30 mm | 30 mm |
| Chainstay | 448 mm | 448 mm | 448 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,192 mm | 1,226 mm | 1,262 mm |
| Reach | 445 mm | 475 mm | 505 mm |
| Stack | 603 mm | 612 mm | 625 mm |
The variants of the new TRANSALPES E1
The E1 will be available in two variants, one with 140/130 and one with 160/145 mm travel. Both models rely on the same frame and roll on 29″ wheels. The components can be individually adapted to suit the customers’ requirements via the bike configurator.
Our first impression
It looks like there’s a new threat on the horizon for the Specialized Levo SL as the TRANSALPES E1 not only features similar technical specs but also impressed us in terms of feel, looks and motor integration. We can hardly wait to put the new bike, motor and app to the test on the trails. It will be available from December. The only downside is that the bikes will initially be exclusive to Switzerland…
Further information: transalpes.com | maxonbikedrive.com
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Words & Photos: Peter Walker
