A brilliant concept in the long-term test: the R.G375 in the EMTB.
"Making as many intense descents as possible" - that was what EMTB editor Christian Schleker wanted to experience with the ROTWILD R.G375. His plan? To test the bike thoroughly over an entire season, in various destinations and under various trail conditions. As an ambitious freerider whose focus is entirely on the energetic downhill, and for whom the uphill ride is merely a means to an end, our gravity bike was therefore the perfect companion for him. He now shares his impressions from the long-term test in EMTB.
A finely tuned bike with many advantages
It is the bike's position in the light eMTB segment that made it an ideal test subject for the tester. Above all, the principle of the "small removable battery" seemed "ideal" to Christian Schleker. The R.G375 draws the energy for the Shimano EP8 motor with up to 85 Nm torque from a battery developed by ROTWILD with an effective 350 watt hours. This can be removed from the down tube in seconds using the quick release. This is a major attraction of the bike for the tester: two climbs of 600 metres each are possible for him. "When the battery runs out, it's a quick trip to the car, a new battery in and another two laps." The "Super Enduro" is also very stable and smooth-running. Incidentally, with 180 mm travel in the suspension fork, we place the bike in a special category alongside the classic all-mountain and enduro bikes. With a 63 degree head angle and a reach of 475 mm (size L), it is explicitly made for the bike park, freeride or downhill. The long geometry is extremely stable, the suspension is plush and the handling is natural, emphasises Christian Schleker. The advantage also lies in the light weight of the bike. This means that it does not push over the front wheels when braking and the handling is very natural.
A bike that stands out
Christian Schleker's verdict on the bike is therefore entirely positive. The R.G375 is "a speciality on the market", measured by its weight, smooth ride, practical battery removal and in combination with the "full power on demand" from the Shimano EP8 motor. He emphasises that only a few "e-freeriders" can "hold a candle to our bike downhill". "The concept is ingenious, and so much downhill power paired with a lightweight and removable battery is still unique on the market". The R.G375 is therefore "(my) perfect park bike". Praise that makes us very happy. It confirms that we have found a convincing approach with our definition of Light eMTB. Not only for the gravity sector, with the special demand for downhill qualities. With the R.X375 and the R.E375 in the All Mountain and Enduro segments, we also offer many riders the opportunity to utilise our Light concept for their specific sporting preferences.
Not everything always runs smoothly
With so much praise for our bike, you can really hear the "buts" rushing in: Christian Schleker was not spared damage to the R.G375 during his personal test season. He did not reach the targeted 90,000 metres of altitude in continuous use. Sometimes the devil is in the detail, breakdowns and necessary repairs are unavoidable. Especially in a sport that pushes man and material to the limits of stress and exposes sophisticated bike technology to enormous forces. The test states: "The Rotwild R.G375 Pro also had to take a lot of punishment." The editor emphasises it himself: "An e-bike can break a lot - more than a classic MTB."
You can read about his experiences and why the R.G375 is his "perfect park bike" in his detailed test report in issue 1 of EMTB for February and March.