For all those who want to take it easy uphill, but don't want to miss out on trail fun downhill, the Austrian bike manufacturer Simplon offers two trail-ready e-bikes - a full suspension and a hardtail - the E-Kibo 275 and the E-Dilly 275. For reasons of stability and maneuverability, both bikes are equipped with 27.5-inch wheels. Both bikes are expected to be available in mid-autumn 2014.

The E-Kibo 275 is the flagship model, with a full 140 millimetres of suspension travel on the front and rear wheels, a relatively slack steering angle and robust equipment. Made for trail excursions, this all-mountain bike provides a maximum of 400 watts of assistance. This is generated by the tried-and-tested Bosch mid-motor, which is protected against impacts by an ABS plastic Rock Guard.
Simplon relies on a four-bar linkage system for the suspension. A specially tuned Monarch shock absorber from Rock Shox takes care of the shock absorption, while a Revelation fork from the same company is used at the front. Simplon relies on carbon for the material of the rocker arm on the rear triangle, as carbon fiber is more suitable than aluminium for stability reasons. The rest of the frame is made of hydroformed aluminum. Another feature of the standard model is a variable seat post. Like the other cables, its cable is routed inside the frame.

The E-Dilly 275 hardtail is also equipped with a 400-watt Bosch mid-motor. As with the E-Kibo, its support goes up to 25 km/h. The parallels continue with the tires, as both the E-Dilly and the E-Kibo can be fitted with tires up to 2.4 inches wide. With a vehicle weight of around 18.7 kilograms, this also makes sense. With 100 millimetres of suspension travel and full off-road capability, this e-bike can also be used as an everyday bike. It has extra mounts for attaching a side stand and pannier rack. As usual with Simplon, this bike can also be individually configured using a modular system.

Short ride report E-Kibo 275

Yet you only see a few e-bikes on trails. This could change with the advent of the E-Fully - or could it? The short test ride with the E-Kibo provides an aha experience.

It feels comfortable. The riding position and pedal ergonomics are good, but the steering behavior is clearly more sluggish than on normal bikes. This is due to the long chainstays, which cannot be any shorter because of the mid-motor. When climbing on the single trail, the bike pushes you effortlessly over the roots. In Turbo mode, however, the motor provides too much assistance, which makes the bike harder to control. In Tour mode, climbing this winding ascent is much more pleasant. On gravel roads, on the other hand, you can ride at full power. Once you reach the top, a winding descent with technical but also flowing passages awaits. Both the suspension and the suspension fork do a good job here and the E-Kibo sits quietly on the trail. The rear suspension in particular impresses with full travel utilization. It lacks maneuverability in tight bends, which means you have to tackle them at a slower pace. Nevertheless, practically all passages can be mastered and the idea of taking this bike on a longer descent is not so far away.

Conclusion: For the time being, die-hard bikers need not fear an e-bike invasion on their favorite trails. The Simplon E-Kibo rides well and allows you to master difficult and steep trails while riding uphill. Downhill, however, classic and active trail bikers won't get their money's worth, as it lacks maneuverability. If the experience is more important to you and you can do without a playful bike, the E-Kibo is a very good choice. Especially for bikers who, for health reasons, are unable to go on high-altitude tours, this opens up a new opportunity to tackle and enjoy such tours again.

www.simplon.com