Test: The Bergamont E-Trailster is in its third year in 2018 - the test shows that the people of Hanseatic City do well to stick to the recipe for success.
Bergamont E-Trailster 8.0: Frame and drive - balanced and powerful
The basis of the Bergamont E-Trailster 2018, the frame, has now proven itself for several seasons. Since its introduction in 2015, the people of Hamburg have changed very little in this regard and are sticking to the original concept - for good reason. A special feature that even less tech-savvy riders will probably notice at first glance is the chain deflection at the level of the bottom bracket. While this was often seen on e-MTBs a few years ago, this "trick" has become rarer in the meantime.
In the case of the E-Trailster, the deflection minimizes drive influences such as see-saw or pedal kickback and chain slap is almost impossible due to the high-positioned chain. To prevent the chain from slipping off the pulley, Bergamont has attached a small chain guide here. The deflection pulley produces a slightly higher background noise and the wear on the drive (chain, deflection pulley itself) is slightly higher than with a classic rear triangle.
The fact that the frame has been around for a while is probably most obvious when it comes to the drive integration: the Bosch Performance CX motor looks like a small foreign body and the battery sits on top, not in the down tube. Most high-quality E-MTBs in 2018 rely on the integrated PowerTube 500 battery from Bosch. However, the fact that the Hanseatic company sticks to the classic external battery does not necessarily have to be a disadvantage: Anyone who likes to go on longer tours regularly and therefore has to change the battery on the go will appreciate the easier handling. Due to the frame and decal design, the energy storage is also visually hardly noticeable. The great popularity of the integrated batteries also leads to delivery bottlenecks for the manufacturer Bosch and numerous 2018 models will not be available in stores until spring - the E-Trailster will not have this problem. Nice detailed solution: The motor itself is protected from the impact of thrown up stones by a specially developed plastic cover on the underside.
The cables and lines all run inside the frame and are securely clamped at the openings. So if you tension them during assembly, you will be spared annoying rattling while driving. The frame can score with an overall very high-quality workmanship and some nice details. This includes a "real" head badge, optically successful lasered bearing covers and a high-quality paint finish that was pleasingly durable during our test.
The Trailster has 140mm of travel in the rear, 150 in the front and as the name suggests: It was built for the trail. The 27,5″ wheels have now become rare on E-MTBs; many manufacturers now rely on wide plus tires, sometimes in combination with the better rolling 29″ wheels. This may make sense in some cases: wide tires tend to have more grip and dampen better, but they are not entirely without disadvantages. For example, if you push through berms with a lot of pressure on the front wheel, you always have to be careful with plus tires, as they tend to buckle. In addition, classic 27,5″ wheels and tires make the bike a bit livelier and more agile.
Bergamont E Trailster 2018
S | M | L | XL | |
seat tube (in mm) | 420 | 470 | 510 | 540 |
Top tube horizontal (in mm) | 572 | 595 | 606 | 619 |
head tube (in mm) | 115 | 120 | 135 | 150 |
chainstay (in mm) | 475 | 475 | 475 | 475 |
Wheelbase (in mm) | 1202 | 1222 | 1239 | 1255 |
Steering angle (in °) | 66.5 | 66.5 | 66.5 | 66.5 |
Seat angle (in °) | 74 | 74 | 74 | 74 |
Reach (mm) | 424 | 443 | 453 | 463 |
Stacks (in mm) | 609 | 614 | 627 | 641 |
The geometry of the Bergamont E-Trailster is appropriate for the area of use: The steering angle is moderately flat at 66.5°, which should ensure safety, especially on steep downhill passages, as well as the sufficiently long reach, which positions the rider centrally above the bike. The chainstays, which are extremely long at 475mm, are a little out of line: That definitely costs points in terms of agility and should make the bike a bit bulkier in narrow passages. On the other hand, the long wheelbase ensures smooth running and thanks to the long struts, the front wheel should also stay firmly on the ground uphill on steep ramps.
Bergamont E-Trailster 8.0: Equipment - Convincing with small weaknesses in detail
frame | AL-6013 Ultra Lite 140mm |
suspension fork | Fox 34 Float Performance 150mm |
Power Type | Bosch Performance CX |
Battery | 500Wh |
Suspension shocks | Fox Performance Float EVOL |
Wheels | DT Swiss H1900 Spline |
Tire VR | Maxxis Forekaster EXO 2,35" |
Tire HR | Maxxis Forekaster EXO 2,35" |
derailleur | Shimano Deore XT 11s |
Gear levers | Shimano SLX |
Crank | BGM Delta Pro |
Front derailleur | |
Brake | Magura MT4 |
Brake discs | Magura Storm HC 203/180mm |
Seat post | BGM Dropper Post 125mm |
Saddle | Ergon SMA30 |
Stem | Answer AME |
Links | BGM Pro 740mm |
Let's get to the equipment. The E-Trailster 8.0 is the top version of the e-fully from Bergamont. At €4.599, the price remains affordable, especially in view of the current prices, which meanwhile tend to break through the magic €10.000 mark for the top variants. You have to do without noble add-on parts, but you get consistently high-quality and solid components that should deliver reliable performance even with longer, sporty use.
The chassis made of Fox 34 Float Performance at the front and the corresponding Float Performance damper at the rear is one of the best you can get in this price range. Both suspension elements offer the rider the option of varying the compression level in three stages, from completely open to a medium platform to an almost closed setting that saves valuable watts on long climbs. Nice detail: The decals are colour-coordinated with the overall design of the bike.
When it comes to shifting, you can rely on the proven performance of Shimano: the XT rear derailleur lets the chain slide over the sprockets of the 11-42 cassette at the command of the SLX shifter. The range should therefore be large enough for both longer straights and steep climbs.
A brake system from Magura should provide the necessary stopping power: As with the predecessor, however, the 4-piston stoppers MT5 or MT7 are not installed, but the slightly less powerful MT4 variant. Although this is combined with sufficiently large 203 or 180mm Storm HC discs, we would have preferred one of the two 4-piston brakes for a downhill-oriented E-MTB. This means that even heavier riders still have enough reserves on longer descents.
It's nice that Bergamont has given the E-Trailster a dropper post, which has become indispensable for serious use on the trail. The 125mm stroke is sufficient for most applications, but at least in the sizes L and XL we would have liked 150mm here. Likewise, the 740mm handlebars are a bit too narrow for our taste; 760mm or more would certainly look better on a Trailster-class bike.
Bergamont E-Trailster 8.0: On the trail
The seating position on the Bergamont E-Trailster is comfortable and central on the bike. Despite the long struts, the long top tube moves the rider nicely over the bottom bracket, which makes for a good-natured and stable feeling. The Bosch Performance CX drive pushes hard as usual, the background noise is noticeable, but should only bother very few drivers. At the latest when the tires have loose ground under them, the engine is drowned out by the driving noise. The chain deflection is surprisingly quiet and the faint rattling is only audible if you pay close attention to it.
Pointing the way up, the E-Trailster is incredibly fun. This is not only due to the mentioned, strong drive, but also to the geometry: Thanks to the long struts, the front wheel sticks to the ground even on steep ramps and the bike eats up meters and meters in altitude. The range of the SLX cassette is more than sufficient to be able to cope with longer climbs - provided you have the appropriate basic fitness - even in eco mode and to save battery.
Once the mountain has been climbed and the trail meanders back down towards the valley, the well-balanced sitting and standing position on the bike is particularly noticeable on flowy terrain, which also ensures good balance in the air. If it gets rougher, the chassis can play to its strengths: the fork and rear end harmonize very well and are also sufficiently dimensioned for occasional trips to the bike park. The dropper post works well, but the 125mm travel is borderline for tall riders. Anyone who needs a lot of space for their buttocks will not be able to avoid retrofitting here or simply sinking the post a little deeper into the frame by hand.
The MT4 brake system does a surprisingly good job, which could only reach its limits on longer descents and with heavy riders. The ergonomics in the cockpit are good, but wider handlebars would improve handling, especially when a little more emphasis is needed here. Nevertheless, the E-Trailster shines with great smoothness, which comes at the expense of agility - but the Bergamont is far from an unpleasant "semi-trailer feeling".
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