Launched in 2018, the Bergstrom brand is one of the few e-bike brands with Swiss roots. The company behind it is Komenda, which is very successful in the everyday bike sector with its own brands Cresta and Ibex and is also the Swiss distributor of the Giant and Liv brands.

The frames of the ATV series are equipped with the extraordinary Snake Pack battery. The fully integrated, articulated battery consists of six flexible cell packs and is therefore easy to remove. It has a total capacity of 500 watt hours. This technology makes it possible to design a down tube that only has a small opening for removing the battery, thus offering maximum stability and a tidy appearance.

We asked Fabian Obrist - Brand Ambassador Bergstrom, Komenda AG - what makes the ATV 969 so special:

"Clearly, the Snake Pack battery. Thanks to its full integration in the frame, it is well protected from dirt, stone chips, salt water and thieves, yet it is still bottle cage-compatible. Our VPP kinematics trumps with a sensitive response, is drive-neutral, has no braking effects and hardly any pedal kickback. Another plus point is that every Bergstrom bike is built in Sirnach. The 2020 Bosch models are even painted in-house."

Equipment

Bergstrom doesn't mess around and equips this model with the electronic XT Di2 drivetrain from Shimano, paired with the powerful 4-piston Zee brakes from the same company. The suspension comes from Rock Shox, the 29-inch wheels specially developed for E-MTBs from DT Swiss. The latter are fitted with Schwalbe's 2.6-inch wide Hans Dampf tires.

Motor / battery

Shimano Steps E8000 / Snake Pack
Power: 250 watts
Torque: 70 Newton meters
Battery capacity: 500 watt hours

Processing & details

The first thing you notice is the start button on the top tube. This is beautifully and prominently positioned. The second highlight is the small opening through which the battery can be removed. Fans of pronounced weld seams will be delighted with this frame, as they are evenly and beautifully executed. The integration of the Trunnion mount strut into the rocker is also a very nice touch. No, they didn't just want to design a good bike here, the attention to detail speaks for the makers. Only the left-hand side of the cockpit matches the tidy look; the right-hand side is rather cluttered and not very user-friendly. The cable routing of the dropper post is not ideal. If it has to be mounted low, the cable is strongly bent and suffers from high friction. This leads to a slower function.

On the flat

The riding position is upright and central over the bike. Despite its length, the ATV 969 is very agile, pedaling is relaxed and it has a certain feel-good character. Thanks to the efficient pedalling, the speedometer quickly displays the maximum assistance speed of 25 kilometers per hour on flat terrain.

Up the mountain

The bike really tempts you to keep pedaling at full power and push the speedometer towards the 25-kilometre per hour limit. The designers have done something right. Somehow you can't ride up at a leisurely pace on this bike. You always find yourself pushing the limits and shooting up the trails with a high heart rate. Whether on gravel or technical trails, this bike masters every uphill with ease.

Downhill

At 24.7 kilos, the Bergstrom rides downhill a little sluggishly - like many e-MTBs. Nevertheless, the handling is agile and playful. You wouldn't expect that from the "naked" geometry data: The wheelbase is rather long at 1224 millimeters in size M. The linear kinematics are pleasing, it has a soft response, is easy to swallow and can also cope with the occasional botched landing. The rear end gives little feedback, but does its job reliably. The all-mountain bike can be steered with precision and turns with a lot of momentum. On steep terrain, you have to be careful not to lean too much over the front and shift your weight to the rear. Otherwise you'll feel like you're tipping forwards. The fork can't quite keep up with the rear in terms of comfort on moderate terrain. If the surface becomes rougher and the speed increases, the suspension is once again on top form.

Conclusion

The first model from Bergstrom is impressive. Uphill, you always want to go full throttle and push the bike and motor to the max, with the aim of seeing the magic 25 on the display. Downhill it's not much different - the faster, the better and preferably always above the magic number.

Recommendation

E-mountainbikes are now a dime a dozen, so why not go for a Swiss bike? Anyone who likes to pedal with plenty of power to push the motor and machine to the limit and who likes to leave the brakes open on the downhill should definitely test the Bergstrom ATV 969. Hopp Schwiiz!

Specifications

Manufacturer/distributor

www.bergstrom.bike / www.komenda.ch