Made for the trails in Saalbach-Hinterglemm - the ROTWILD R.G375
The right test rider for the bike: Richie Schley.
An extreme sports bike for a mountain bike pioneer: it's a simple equation. After all, Richie Schley is one of the most influential riders in the mountain bike scene. He is considered the co-founder of freeriding and has been a bike pro for over 25 years, who loves challenging descents above all. He has a long-standing partnership and friendship with ROTWILD. It is clear that the Canadian has chosen the most aggressive bike that we have in our portfolio for his ROTWILD comeback.
It all began with an ambitious tradition
Going for a ride wasn't one of them. Our task to Richie: Explain why the R.G375 is the perfect eBike for Saalbach-Hinterglemm with a practical test! A grin flitted across his face and off we went - to the Bergstadl trail. With its narrow, fast passages, but also blocky and rooted sections, the route places a high demand on riding skills. Ideal is a bike that has one thing: sufficient suspension travel. Our Gravity Bike can serve here with 180 mm. Richie felt reminded of his beginnings at ROTWILD. "At the time, I wanted a downhill-oriented eMTB with 200 mm of travel in the front and rear, as well as a geometry that met these requirements. That's how the original R.G+ came about in 2016, as the first of its kind," he recounted.
The geometry is the linchpin of the bike
The R.G375 has transferred this disposition to the here and now. "Plenty of suspension travel, the flat steering angle and a low-slung bottom bracket like the Gravity are very good benchmarks to always keep control even in very difficult terrain. Especially if you want to smoothly master blocked paragraphs and root passages on the Bergstadl trail." The flat steering angle of 63 degrees ensures very stable handling at high speeds. "This allows the ambitious rider to get into any form of steep terrain, but always feels confident in handling. The long rim stand supports this stability." Richie rides the R.G375 in size M. It has a wheelbase of 1275 mm. Bottom bracket height is 352mm. "This allows the rider to sail through the turns with ease," he laughed. The Integrated Power Unit (IPU) in the bike consists of a torquey Shimano EP8 with 85 Nm and a battery that effectively delivers 360 watt-hours. "Of course, your range depends on your own power. But with the support of the eMTB, you don't need shuttles, you don't need a mountain lift, you just spend more time on the bike."
The ROTWILD R.G375 is also an all-rounder
We want to be honest: Not all trails In Saalbach-Hinterglemm need the aggressive performance of the Gravity. Among the 22 routes with a total length of over 90 kilometers, there are many that are family-friendly or can be ridden with fewer skills. Pros like Richie, however, are naturally drawn to the black routes, such as the Pro-Line, the X-Line or the Bergstadl Trail. "No matter how tough the terrain you want to traverse, the R.G375 doesn't feel much heavier than a downhill bike with the small battery. It's nimble, easy to pull through the turns and you don't break your back hoisting it onto the bike rack," he said after his very personal test.
Richie's conclusion
The R.G375 fits seamlessly into the development approach of ROTWILD: to design progressive bikes for the appropriate application areas and wishes of ambitious riders. "The R.G375 meets my taste exactly with its downhill qualities," emphasized Richie Schley. "If you're into long descents and challenging terrain, you'll love the R.G375." But it also easily handles its riding counterpart. "The climbs on a lightweight, motor-assisted bike can be very enjoyable as you cycle uphill around corners and challenge yourself to climb terrain you might never have thought possible or didn't have the fitness for." If the puff times runs out, is with the 1.9 kg light, second battery and the change via Quick Release System quickly provided for new power. That is, as far as your own strength will carry you.
The structure of the R.G375
A lot of innovation and expert work has gone into the development and production of the R.G375. This is the case with all ROTWILD bikes. In the video "Dream Build" you can follow exactly how many parts and steps are used to create one: a bike that is almost indifferent to gravity.