According to Michael Zuber from Intercycle, a lot of time and money was invested in the development of the i-Chaser in order to guarantee the greatest possible riding pleasure:

"Creating an absolutely unique selling point is quite difficult given the huge flood of innovation in the e-bike sector. For us, however, it is clear that the i-Chaser is an absolutely potent fun machine. At first glance, the bike's stable design may not quite convey the agility and trail competence that it actually has. However, as soon as you tackle the first technical passages on a test ride, it immediately becomes clear that you can really let it rip with this bike - it can be ridden gallantly and effortlessly over all terrains, no matter how rough, and at the same time conveys enormous safety."

Equipment

The Fox suspension offers 160 millimetres of travel at the front and 150 millimetres at the rear. The i-Chaser has 29-inch wheels from Spank and is fitted with Schwalbe Magic Mary and Hans Dampf tires. The gears and brakes are Shimano XT. Special mention should be made of the Ergon SM-10 E-Mountain saddle, which provides good support on steep climbs thanks to its raised rear end. The rims and handlebars are fitted with Spank Vibrocore foam, which is designed to dampen vibrations. Yamaha's large display is not everyone's cup of tea; other suppliers have a more discreet solution.

Motor / battery

Yamaha PW-X / Yamaha ML600 LIMN 37.0V
Power: 250 watts
Torque: 80 Newton meters
Battery capacity: 600 watt hours

Processing & details

The i-Chaser looks solid and well made. As mentioned at the beginning, many things about this bike are unspectacular, but that's not a bad thing. The tangle of cables on the cockpit is at odds with the beautifully resolved routing on the down tube. There is certainly potential for optimization. The welded seams are even and striking and give the i-Chaser a robust look. As does the down tube protection, another sign that this e-bike has to withstand a lot.

On the flat

The frame is tall, but rather short. It is therefore better to choose a size larger than usual. Then you benefit from a compact riding position that allows you to pedal efficiently. The high torque of the Yamaha engine provides plenty of pulling power and gives a good boost. The handling of the bike is second to none. The high weight of over 25 kilograms is only noticeable when you pedal above 25 kilometers per hour.

Up the mountain

In order to put enough pressure on the front wheel, it is advisable to set the cockpit low. The well-tuned Fox suspension offers plenty of traction on rooty or rocky uphills. The motor loses some power on very steep ramps. But otherwise the bike climbs nimbly. The remote control for locking the rear is not absolutely necessary, the bike hardly bobs uphill.

Downhill

On the descents, the i-Chaser is in its element. It literally sucks itself into the ground. The result of sophisticated geometry and a perfectly tuned chassis. The handling is precise and thanks to good feedback from the rear, the bike is easy to control even in adverse conditions. Surprisingly, the extra weight is not noticeable in a negative way. Except on jumps, where you notice that the "fat bike" doesn't go quite as high and far into the air. On the other hand, the suspension absorbs unsuccessful landings without bottoming out. The end progression is well chosen. Wheeler did well to equip the bike with a Shimano XT 4-piston brake, because you need to be able to control that much power.

Conclusion

At first glance, the Wheeler i-Chaser LTD gives no hint of what a fun machine it is. The name Chaser is fitting, as it is definitely one of the more powerful e-bikes on the market. And it fully lives up to the Wheeler slogan "The Power of Movement".

Recommendation

The i-Chaser is a good choice for those who are more interested in riding fun than exoticism. Thanks to its top riding characteristics and powerful motor, the bike is suitable for all purposes - except bike parks. But that's not where e-bikes belong anyway.

Specifications

Manufacturer/distributor

www.wheeler.ch

Test report published in issue 02/2019 of Ride magazine