Electric gravel bikes are a thing right now and GT has joined the club with a motor-powered version of the Grade.
The non-motorised GT Grade Pro won our 2020 Gravel Bike of the Year award and this latest, electrified version is called the Grade Power.
As well as two drop-bar bikes, the new line-up includes a flat-bar model, which GT says is geared to the commuter bike market, broadening the GT Grade Power's appeal to riders on the road, as well as off-road.
Stealthy rear hub motor and companion app
The Grade Power is powered by the popular Mahle ebikemotion X35 motor system.
This uses a rear hub motor with 40Nm of torque, while the 250Wh battery is fully enclosed in the bike’s down tube. The control button is recessed into the top tube, making for a stealthy setup without the chunky components seen on many ebike systems.
It's the same system seen on the recently-launched Cannondale Topstone Neo SL electric gravel ebike.
There’s a companion app that can function as a bike computer, with navigation functionality, performance stats and the option to hook up to a heart rate monitor, and then use your heart rate to regulate how much assistance the motor provides.
GT has confirmed that you can plug in a range extender battery to up your range, although it might be a tight fit on the smallest frames.
GT Grade Power range
There are three models to choose from with suitably electrified names: the Amp, Bolt and Current, with the Current being the flat-bar bike.
Prices range from £2,300 / €2,399 for the Current, up to £2,700 / €2,799 for the Bolt and finishing at £2,900 / €3,199 for the Amp, which gets an 11-speed Shimano GRX single-ring drivetrain.
All have the same alloy frame, which features the Grade’s signature rear triangle design, in which the seatstays wrap around the seat tube and intersect with the top tube.
GT says the design is 50 per cent more compliant than a standard frame, where the seatstays connect to the seat tube.
There’s an ebike-specific carbon fork with a front thru-axle. The frame is compatible with dropper posts and has a 68mm BSA threaded bottom bracket, along with mounting points for a third bottle, top tube box, mudguards and a rear rack. There’s clearance for 42mm gravel bike tyres.
We’ve got the top-spec Grade Power Amp bike in for review here at BikeRadar. In size large, it weighs 14.8kg, which is pretty good for an ebike specced for gravel riding.
Take a peek at GT's launch video for the Grade Power if you want to have a closer look, especially if your job has become a succession of Zoom meetings.
GT Grade Power Series Amp spec
- Frame: Grade alloy 700c
- Fork: GT Grade E-Carbon
- Motor: Mahle ebikemotion X35 250W, 40Nm
- Battery: Mahle ebikemotion 250Wh
- Drivetrain: Shimano GRX chainset, GRX RX 812 mech
- Gearing: 40t, 11-42t
- Brakes: Shimano GRX 600 hydraulic, 160mm rotors
- Wheels: Alloy rims on Formula F/ebikemotion R hubs
- Tyres: WTB Resolute TCS 42mm
- Bars: GT Butted alloy, 16-degree flare
- Saddle: Fabric Scoop Shallow Sport
- Seatpost: GT alloy
- Sizes: S, M, L
- Price: £2,900 / €3,199
GT Grade Power Series Bolt spec
- Frame: Grade alloy 700c
- Fork: GT Grade E-Carbon
- Motor: Mahle ebikemotion X35 250W, 40Nm
- Battery: Mahle ebikemotion 250Wh
- Drivetrain: 10-speed Shimano GRX chainset, GRX RX 400 mech
- Gearing: 46/30t, 11-34t
- Brakes: Shimano GRX 400 hydraulic, 160mm rotors
- Wheels: Alloy rims on Formula F/ebikemotion R hubs
- Tyres: WTB Nano Comp 40mm
- Bars: GT Butted alloy, 16-degree flare
- Saddle: Fabric Scoop Shallow Sport
- Seatpost: GT alloy
- Sizes: S, M, L
- Price: £2,700 / €2,799
GT Grade Power Series Current spec
- Frame: Grade alloy 700c
- Fork: GT Grade E-Carbon
- Motor: Mahle ebikemotion X35+ 250W, 40Nm
- Battery: Mahle ebikemotion 250Wh
- Drivetrain: 10-speed Prowheel Charm chainset, MicroShift Advent-X M6205 rear mech
- Gearing: 40t, 11-48t
- Brakes: Tektro M275 hydraulic, 160mm rotors
- Wheels: Alloy rims on Formula F/ebikemotion R hubs
- Tyres: WTB Nano Comp 40mm
- Bars: GT alloy flat-bar, 700mm wide
- Saddle: Fabric Scoop Shallow Sport
- Seatpost: GT alloy
- Sizes: S, M, L
- Price: £2,300 / €2,399
