In keeping with their moto roots, GasGas has released a brand-new eMTB that draws from their experience in the powersports world and highlights some of the freshest e-bike tech on the market today. Dubbed the ECC, this new E-enduro bike was a collaborative effort between GasGas, the Kiska design group, with suspension help from WP and DVO. All models feature the new SRAM Powertrain drive unit, and a unique carbon frame.
The geometry of the ECC is progressive, even amongst other modern e-mtbs. With size-specific chainstays that are a fair bit longer than the average, very high stack heights, and fairly long reach numbers, the bike will certainly have a large footprint. That said, the head and seat angles aren't very extreme, at 64° and 75°, respectively. The size Small has a slightly steeper STA, but overall that detail feels a little bit off the mark, compared to the 77/78° angles we're starting to see more regularly. Luckily, you have a massive motor to do the climbing for you, so realistically that body position matters a bit less than on pedal bikes.
Speaking of the motor, it's the
Powertrain model we covered last week, with 90Nm of peak power and a very simple user interface. The ECC comes with a 600Wh battery, which they see as the ideal combination of weight and power. In classic moto fashion, the bike comes with removable and customizable plastics, to help protect the carbon frame and help contribute to that braap braap aesthetic.
The suspension developed for this bike is a very interesting detail, as it is WP's first foray into mountain bike components. WP is a well-known brand in the moto world, but hadn't down-sized their tech until now. Partnering with DVO, they've integrated some novel damping techniques. The main feature here is a cone valve that acts as a blow-off on hard impacts, without affecting the regular damping circuits. That valve can be adjusted externally via the HSC damping, with independent LSC and rebound accessible externally. This isn't necessarily a radical departure from typical fork/shock technologies, but could help keep the ride height high in the travel without sacrificing small bump and large compression performance.
GasGas dealers should have available models by the end of 2023, with North American availability coming in the spring of 2024. More info at
gasgas.com
The juice that moves a motorcycle is GAS.
The juice that moves e-bikes are AMPS.
I'm definetly stealing that.
If we want technology to advance more quickly, and if we want pricing to come down, we need big companies with loads of money and existing manufacturing abilities to enter the market.
If you want a better ebike (better/lighter batteries, better motors, etc) it costs money to develop.
If you want a cheaper ebike, the manufacturer has to have some efficiency over the competition.
If you want more, better, cheaper products, and more people to join the sport we love, this is a way to make big steps forward, and fast. The “little guys” (Pinion) can do this too, but it’ll take a lot more time.
If you’re going to spend $10k give it to the little guys (or wait for the big guys to do a fire sale on carbon Levos with big batteries thrown in).
Class 1 bikes are for shredders looking for more laps or embarrassingly kooky middle aged riders.
basically your average pinker is a moron that got a Masters in gender studies, and now wants the local Plumber to pay for his student debt.
I'll tell ya, they are a 3bn dollar group (thats all in)....their bike division is, 100 million ish?
Point being, they are no bigger than PON or other large groups. As far as technology, there is nothing here but suppliers stuff (SRAM, DVO, etc)....Pierer interest are shareholders, no different.
You see CHEAP smoking deals on Husky's, KTM's GasGas dirt bikes? because they are so large and powerful? no, same prices as honda yamaha suzuki.
Ebike people make fun jokes while going uphill,tow other friends and that´s all,maybe some of them wait a little on the top.
The problem is that there's two types of e-bike owners. There's the old, overweight dude (yes, almost always a dude) for whom the motor means moving about the same pace as a fit rider on a bike without assist. Then there's folks who have an ebike to hammer as many laps as possible and want the assist to go uphill at 15mph (~25 kph for the rest of ya'all). Which isn't that fast but can seem shockingly fast to an 80 year old hiker slowly ambling up the trail and looking at flowers. I really hate heavy-handed rules but the latter type of rider doesn't belong on multi-use trails while the former is does.
All I can say is that I implore my fellow ebike riders to use good judgement with your assist when going uphill on multi-use singletrack. Or, stick to stuff where you can ride roads or doubletracks up and singletrack down. Easier said than done in some places...but a good reason to be an advocate for MTB-only DH trails.
Maybe, maybe not. Your argument (which is a very common one) is basically blaming the ebike itself for the altercation, and not blaming the rider. You can be a dick to hikers regardless of what kind of bike you’re on.
This argument is also under the assumption that all moto bros are dickheads. This is no different than “snowboarders are dickheads”, “skiers are dickheads”, “skateboarders are dickheads”, etc. Its all subjective to the speaker.
TLDR: don’t be a dickhead, and there won’t be issues.
I love that theyre leaning into the "dirt bike" aspect of this, harder to claim "its still a workout" and puts the product where I think it belongs, and will gain the most traction.
The GasGas EC-300 Nambotin is prolly my all time favorite bike still, it really opened my eyes to what a proper 2-smoke enduro bike was capable of
Honda proved, (unfortunately, once!) they can make a bike that goes hard and fast on really challenging terrain. Maybe they should make their comeback.
Does a company need to put out a wholly independant mtb design and product for you to feel that they are investing into advancing mtb tech?
Hondas foray into DH, while spectacular, I'm not sure it did a tonne to advance mtb tech, but I could be wrong.
It'll be interesting to see if it makes any appreciable difference in ride quality in an MTB application. Either way, cool to see it make it over to MTBs even though the concept is fairly old now.
www.wp-suspension.com/about-wp
"“White Power” Suspension – not a political statement, but an allusion to the striking white springs used for his products. Yet this colour choice is as iconic as it is pragmatic. The only coater in Peter’s home country, Malden in the Netherlands, makes hospital beds. These are typically white – and so will Peter’s springs."
The founder's name is 'Wim Peters', why can't 'WP' stand for that? There's really no reason for it to have been called 'White Power' or continue to be called that.
At least you are bashing the white power in this case, without legal consequences.
#FAIL @Gasgas
Ideal is the biggest damn battery you can fit.
Powersports
Mountain biking is becoming moto cross. I am not dissing on moto cross (to each his/her own), but that isn't what we bargained for. It isn't what made mountain biking the huge thing when it came to fruition back in the day. More motorized sports isn't what this world needs, and it sure as hell isn't what I need.
www.bicycleretailer.com/industry-news/2023/09/26/new-jersey-retailer-suspects-insurance-cancellation-tied-e-bikes-e-bike
it'll be motorsports shops that will end up selling/repairing ebikes (their risk management already includes prevention/mitigation of flammable materials etc.). So you'll buy and get service from a powersports shop, Now we just need to make sure those motor(e)bikes stay on motorized trails too. Ebikes are motorbikes-and a company like GasGas jumping in is further proof,
Until now, companies that JUST make bikes like Giant, or just design bikes and vend out the manufacturing, like Trek (used to make bikes) or Specialized have had a near lock on the ebike market.
The combination of added complexity and liability will likely drive the sales and service to motorized dealers, and companies that have an established history of manufacturing motorized vehicles.
Hyundai and Mitsubishi make container ships as well as cars, Honda makes jets, dirtbikes, and small motor stuff (like lawnmowers) as well as cars. These are MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION companies, not BICYCLE companies. If the margins and volume warrant it, these companies will eat the bicycle manufacturers lunch when it comes to designing, engineering, manufacturing, selling and servicing motor(e)bikes.
Kawasaki makes heavy equipment.
Not sure what your point is.
OP is saying ebikes are more complex and have issues that a simple bike shop is less equipped to deal with than maybe a motorcycle shop to some degree.
Maybe this will finally draw some oversight, a trade ticket for mechanics, legitimizing the sport on the back end. Instead of teens on minimum wage tinkering with people’s safety and wallets.
Shops so unwilling or just unable to train and foster a useful experience and pay nothing due to immense margin pressure. Leaving the consumer with the service they deserve no matter how underwhelming.
The exact thing about SUV's in the car market.
OR am I just blind and didn't see the travel specs??
perfect