MTB and eMTB Updates plus Titanium Cranks and Chainrings

Gear Watch Wednesday is a weekly update on the latest mountain bike gear releases and products that Singletracks has received for test. Have gear news to share, or products you’d like us to check out? Email [email protected]

The all-mountain Canyon Neuron was just updated with a slacker head tube angle and steeper, 76° seat tube angle, plus a longer reach and shorter seat tubes to fit longer travel dropper posts. US buyers can choose from builds based around both carbon and aluminum frames.

The Rotwild R.X275 attempts to ride a thin line, with the brand saying the bike is "neither bio-bike nor eMTB." Unlike most electric mountain bikes, the R.X275 only offers one level of electric support that the rider must select at the start of the ride. If more power is needed, the Boost Button — a dial ring attached to the handlebars — can be activated to provide 30 seconds of additional assistance. Presumably this forces riders to be judicious in their use of e-assist, and the otherwise consistent power delivery is more akin to riding a non-electric bike.

These design decisions allow the Rotwild R.X275 to achieve a claimed weight of 15.3Kg (about 34lb) for a size medium. A 250Wh battery is integrated into the frame and the bike utilizes a TQ motor capable of producing up to 50Nm of torque.

Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, Brake Ace is now shipping and is also available to the general public for purchase. As inventor Matt Miller explained to us in a podcast interview last year, the Brake Ace sensor measures braking performance during each ride and provides detailed data to help riders brake more efficiently.

The Wilde Bicycle Co. Supertramp features a chromoly steel frame with plenty of mounts for attaching bottle cages and bags for bikepacking. The included steel fork clears tires up to 29×2.8″ and cable routing is all external underneath the downtube.

Giant and sister brand Liv are rolling out all-new, all mountain electric trail bikes with the Trance and Intrigue X Advanced E+ Elite bikes. These 150/140mm front/rear travel bikes utilize what the brands are claiming is the first bike-specific battery cell which is designed to sit inside the downtube. The technology reportedly allows them to save 9lb of weight, and Giant to claim a size medium, top-of-the-line Trance X Advanced E+ Elite weighs just 41lb.

The new eMTBs utilize a 85Nm Sync Drive Pro 2 motor and 400Wh battery to deliver up to 80mi of range on a single charge. Both bikes come with mixed wheels and are available in multiple build levels (four builds for the Trance, and three for the Intrigue).

The new Ergon GS1 Evo grips feature a single lock ring and are offered in three colors with color-matched bar plugs. Ergon says the wing shape reduces pressure, making them a good choice for bikepacking and long-distance riding. Buyers can choose from two sizes to optimize fit and comfort.

Marin is updating their Alpine Trail E line of electric mountain bikes, and the new entry-level base model is one of the more affordable name brand, full suspension eMTBs we’ve seen. All builds feature aluminum frames with 160/150mm of suspension front/rear. Not only that, all Marin Alpine Trail E bikes ship with Cushcore tire inserts and sealant to reduce the chance of flats.

If you’ve ever scraped your knuckles, or your rotor, while installing or removing a Centerlock ring, the Wheels Manufacturing Centerlock Socket will be of interest. Wheels Manufacturing says the tool is "designed to work seamlessly with a 3/8 ratchet, threaded rod, and press stop, this socket ensures easy and secure installation, preventing any slipping or clearance issues."

The popular Cane Creek eeWings added another ‘e’ with their eMTB-specific Electric Wings titanium cranks. These are 3D printed and compatible with ISIS motor spindle drive systems.

5Dev is stoked about their new titanium, 3-bolt direct mount chainrings. The rings are machined in San Diego, come in four different colors, and are offered in 30T and 32T sizes. Not only is titanium lightweight, 5Dev says these should last three times longer than an aluminum version.

The new YT Capra CORE 3 enduro bike build comes with Rock Shox Ultimate suspension and wireless AXS shifting, and buyers can choose to roll on 29er or mixed Crankbrothers Synthesis alloy wheels. The Capra CORE 3 features 170/165mm of suspension front/rear and a carbon frame.

As Scott notes in a recent press release, the all-new RC Ultimate shoes "are all about pure performance." The shoes feature the stiffest soles of any MTB shoe in the brand's line and a size 8.5US is said to weigh just 360g. With a two dial, BOA® Fit System Li2, we expect these will cost a pretty penny.

When Guerrilla Gravity launched their carbon frames in 2019, they were only available in black, but slowly the brand has been adding more colors. For the 2023 updates, GG has launched four new colors — a Picante Red, Colorado Racing Green, and Alpine Blue — along with a new headtube badge and build kits. The paints are done with a powder coat, eliminating "smog forming VOCs emitted by the solvents in wet paint."