Eurobike: KTM debut electric mountain bike and more

E race electric mountain bike (Matthew Cole/BikeRadar)

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Austrian company KTM were displaying their huge range of 2010 bikes at this year’s Eurobike trade show covering everything from sit-up-and-beg town models to the latest version of their freeride machine, the Kaliber.

Following the trend of many other bicycle manufacturers, the company are using electric motors in their city bikes. But they've also taken advantage of the technology available in two of their off-road models, the e Race and e Cross ‘sport’ and ‘trekking’ machines.

Designed to assist riders who need a boost uphill, the electric mountain bikes tip the scales at a tad over 20kg, and both bikes use a Bionx 250W electric motor with a battery mounted on the downtube, sending power to the back wheel.

The e Race is built around the Ultra Sport frame which is available in ‘normal’ mountain bike mode from KTM, and is fitted with ‘proper’ mountain bike components too - RockShox Dart suspension forks, Magura Julie disc brakes, Ritchey seatpost, stem and bars, and a mix of Shimano’s Deore and SLX shifting kit.

The battery pack sits on the downtube

Retailing at €2,399 and €2,199 for the Race and Cross models respectively, we wonder how many e-mountain bikes will appear on the trails in the future. Would you consider one?

If you’re after an all-day riding off road trekking beast, then KTM’s Alp models should figure on your shortlist.

The €2,999 Alp Challenge 14R is kitted out with Rohloff’s internal 14-speed hub gearing, Cane Creek Thudbuster seatpost with 35mm of suspension travel, enough eyelets for three water bottles and pannier rack mountings.

Ergon grips and bar ends should help the mile-crunching rider that’s likely to spend hours on this model

Magura Louise disc brakes and Magura Menja DLO II 100mm forks complete the package.  

The €1,999 Alp Challenge uses Shimano Deore XT gearing instead of Rohloff’s internal hub.

KTM’s freeride machine, the Caliber 45 comes with RockShox Totem coil forks with 180mm of travel and uses Fox’s DHX 4.0 rear shock which can be run with 210 or 180mm of travel.

Chainstay length can be altered (440cm-460cm) with adjustable dropouts. Shimano Deore XT gearing, Truvativ Holzfeller’s OCT crankset and Avid Elixir disc brakes complete the €3,399 package.

The 2010 downhill-specific Aphex has an adjustable head tube angle (64 degs-66 degs), adjustable rear travel (230/200mm) and adjustable chainstay length (440-460mm). RockShox Boxxer World Cup forks, Shimano Saint shifting, Avid Code disc brakes and Mavic Deemax wheels complete this €4,899 brute.

Road

A mix of Shimano’s Deore LX and XT 27-speed gearing along with a Suntour fork with 63mm of travel and lockout make up the Leggero Race.

Hydraulic Shimano Deore LX disc brakes are also used on this multi-purpose knobbly-tyred €1,399 bike from KTM. It has pannier rack bosses and ergonomic grips for comfort too.

Built for speed, the aerodynamic full carbon time trial Solus Prime costs €5,499 and has undergone thousands of kilometres of testing by two-time Austrian Triathlon champ Franz Hofer.

The Prime version has Shimano’s Dura Ace chainset, Ritchey carbon bars and stem, and weighs a claimed 6.9kg without pedals.

An upgraded version of the Revelator Master model we tested earlier this year the Revelator Prime is a full carbon road race bike with Shimano Dura Ace chainset, Mavic Ksyrium SL wheelset and tips the scales at 6.7kg (claimed). Priced at €4,499.

For all of BikeRadar's Eurobike coverage, click here.

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