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Electric mountain bikes are now more popular with many riders than their non-electrified ancestors - on the mountain for obvious reasons.
And mountain bikes - with or without a motor - have long been split into many sub-categories: from all-mountain bikes as all-rounders to enduro bikes to uncompromising downhill bikes with a flat steering angle and forks with a lot of spring travel.
While fullys, i.e. mountain bikes equipped with frame damping in addition to the suspension fork, offer extra comfort and traction off-road, the hardtails are cheaper to buy.
Since e-bikes are not a bargain anyway, this can be the deciding factor for more price-sensitive customers.
Out and about with the new Grand Canyon: ON AL 8 from the Canyon mail order brand.
Purpose of the Grand Canyon: ON AL 8
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“The characteristics of the bike suit beginners,” says Thorsten Lewandowski from Canyon.
Hardtails are basically available in two forms: with a carbon frame "as the lightest possible sports rocket" in the high-end range or as wheels like the Grand Canyon: ON AL 8 with an aluminum frame, which would offer an affordable entry into sport.
The weight of 23.15 kilos is not a top value for an e-hardtail, but it is okay with a view to the ample battery.
The top tube drops down comparatively steeply - and thus offers a low standover
Source: dpa-tmn
The model is an everyday vehicle with which you can also be out and about in a sporty way - on gravel roads, during the evening lap or on not too demanding trails through the forest.
However, the Grand Canyon: ON is not the right bike to satisfy bikers with a lot of trailer experience who also want to "blow it up" during jumps.
The bike is not designed for extreme hairpin bends and blocked slopes with large stones and steps.
Technology of the Grand Canyon: ON AL 8
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The Grand Canyon: ON runs with a mid-engine, the preferred concept for e-mountain bikes.
The new Shimano Steps EP8 motor is installed quite inconspicuously in the bottom bracket area.
Quieter than before, it is not only smaller in design and 200 grams lighter than the previously integrated E8000 motor and now weighs 2.6 kilograms.
He also got stronger.
Compared to the older unit, the torque has been increased from 70 Nm to 85 Nm.
The 250 watt EP8 motor is fed by a removable intube battery with 630 watt hours hidden in the down tube; when fully charged, the display shows a range of 180 kilometers.
Shimano promises that with a quick charge, the battery can be charged to 50 percent in 2.5 hours.
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Not a matter of course in this price range, hydraulic disc brakes with four pistons instead of two, which promise more braking power, delay the journey.
203-millimeter brake discs are mounted for little effort in the fingers.
The Rockshox fork offers 120 millimeters of travel, a common value in this class.
It can be locked for driving on the flat or uphill, which makes pedaling more efficient.
Integrated into the frame: Shimano's new and most powerful EP8 motor with up to 85 Newton meters of torque
Source: dpa-tmn
The single drive with twelve-way cassette (ten to 51 teeth) is equipped with components from the Deore group from Shimano, including the rear derailleur and lever and chain.
The bike rolls on 29-inch wheels, with frame size S it is 27.5-inch.
Canyon has 2.6 inch wide tread tires from Schwalbe in all versions.
Driving impression of the Grand Canyon: ON AL 8
A hardtail rides harder than a mountain bike with frame damping, as the Canyon shows.
The rear end feels uncomfortable due to the concept.
As soon as coarser obstacles such as roots are crossed, the fork takes away their fright, but it would be wise to prophylactically raise the bottom a little, otherwise it will hit the back.
Because the whole bike can lift itself off the ground in such situations, the rider will then be pushed out of the saddle anyway.
No comfort is to be expected from the hard aluminum frame material, and the aluminum handlebars also feel unyielding.
But a handlebar made of carbon or better damping grips would make the Canyon considerably more expensive for the target group.
Free antidote for more cushioning: lower tire pressure.
Around 2.5 bar are not a problem for an 80 kilo person in the saddle.
Also integrated in the frame: the removable battery.
The energy content of the Intube battery, which can be charged on the bike and externally, is 630 watt hours
Source: dpa-tmn
The engine, however, hardly gives cause for criticism.
Maybe it's not quite as quiet as Shimano promises, compared to mid-engines from four or five years ago it is definitely.
More important is its power output.
The torque development feels natural.
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This is especially true in the revised trail mode: the more you pedal, the more power the Shimano emits - and vice versa.
This eliminates many situations in which one would have to change the support level.
Thanks to its 85 Nm, the bike also climbs up steep trails with ease.
From a certain incline, the front wheel becomes light-footed, as expected.
But you can compensate for this by getting out of the saddle a little - without losing grip because there is less body weight on the rear triangle.
The frame geometry gives it just as much as a certain smoothness;
The bike is not designed for pronounced maneuverability.
And if the battery should run out on the way, the Canyon can still be driven easily, the motor has hardly any pedal resistance.
Equipment, accessories, peripherals
The three support modes (Eco, Trail, Boost) can be individually adjusted using the E Tube Project app.
The connection to the bike is established via Bluetooth.
So the maximum torque can be capped by mobile phone, if you want to take it more sporty.
This also saves battery power.
The settings can be saved in two different profiles.
In addition to the on and off button, there is also a USB-C socket that can be used to charge gadgets.
In addition, the left chain stay has two holes;
a bike stand can be attached here.
If you want to chase the hardtail down a trail, you might be missing a retractable vario seat post, which can be retrofitted.
The small Shimano display is placed centrally on the stem and is easy to read
Source: dpa-tmn
Conclusion:
The hardtail does what it says on the tin.
The damping comfort is limited due to the concept, so you should not send it over obstacle slopes or steep downhill passages.
If you want to combine moderate trail laps with one or the other everyday use, you will find a suitable, not overpriced companion.
Price:
The Canyon Grand Canyon: ON AL 8 costs 3299 euros in the common sizes M and L, and 3099 euros in frame size S.
One-by or single drive: A Deore 1x10 derailleur from Shimano is installed on the test bike
Source: dpa-tmn