Haibike XDURO FS RX 27.5″ Review

The Haibike XDURO is a full suspension “cross country” electric mountain bike that’s comfortable and stable on serious terrain. With 120 millimeters of travel on the front and rear suspension elements (RockShox and Fox respectively), a remote lockout feature, 15mm thru axles and massive 203mm x 180mm M615 hydraulic disc brakes by Shimano you don’t have to hold back. I’ve ridden other light-weight eMountain bikes and had the suspension fail which surprised me. Those bikes used SR Suntour and were really meant for very light trail riding. The FS RX 27.5 by comparison isn’t as cheap but the components hold up and support is good (going through Currie Technologies in the US). With 27.5″ 650b wheels you get improved traction, momentum and attack angle but still have enough room for the long travel shocks (and avoid clipping your toes during tight turns). The centerdrive system is ideal for full suspension because it reduces unsprung weight on the rear arm and a unique chain tensioner keeps things on track when the going gets rough.

On flat terrain this bike easily reaches its 20 miles per hour top speed and freewheels efficiently after that. The 350 watt motor sits at the intersection of the downtube and seat tube doubling as the bottom bracket. It’s got a protective plastic shield along its base (to defer any damage from any rocks or stumps you encounter). It keeps motor weight low and center on the bike frame (right where you want it for balance) and leverages a 10 speed SRAM cassette in the rear. This means you can climb easily without draining the battery as long as you shift into a lower gear. Another neat thing about this and other mid-drive ebikes is that maintenance and service on the wheels is handle just like a regular bike. More force is put onto the chain and cassette with mid-drive motors but this one is smart enough to sense when you’re switching gears and will automatically cut out to avoid mashing. The motor produces a soft whining sound (shown in the video) but is mostly covered by tread and trail noise when riding.

The battery pack used with this system is a 36 volt 11 amp hour Lithium-ion configuration that’s light weight and durable (expect 1,000+ charge cycles if you take care of it). It’s removable for easy charging or multi-pack use on longer distance rides. Even though the official specs say 25 to 35 miles my experience is that it’s capable of going much further (depending on the terrain and level of assist). The battery has a nice LED indicator on the side that displays its charge even without turning the bike on (or even having it on the bike). The pack mounts low and center, just like the motor, but does take up the space where a bottle cage might have otherwise been mounted. Given the full suspension design of this bike there’s really nowhere else to add a cage so consider getting a CamelBak or other hydropack.