Test / E-Performance / MTB: With the new Xyron, Conway is expanding its E-MTB portfolio for 2020. The fully with the new Bosch Performance CX motor will be available with carbon and aluminum frames and should cover a wide range of uses. At the Eurobike Media Days we tried out whether the concept would work.
Conway has already made a name for itself in the past with its bikes in the E-MTB sector. Both the eWME and the eMF introduced last year enjoyed great popularity and also came across to us great love. For the coming season, however, there will be further growth in this area - namely with the Xyron (pronounced: Ksüron). Instead of the Shimano E8000 as in the eWME, there is a Bosch Performance CX in the bottom bracket area and the alignment is also a little different.
Conway Xyron: all-rounder from trail to tour
Complicated name, ambitious concept: The Xyron should become the new all-rounder in the E-MTB portfolio - from tours to trails, from everyday use to bike holidays. This is also shown by the different model and equipment variants. The Xyron will be available with both carbon and aluminum frames. A fully equipped version with mudguards, luggage rack and lighting system will also be available for the latter. At 140mm at the front and rear, the spring travel is quite generous for a tourer. However, if you spend a lot of time on the trail, you can even install a shock with more travel and a 150mm fork.
When it comes to the wheel size, Conway – contrary to many current trends – continues to use 27,5”. There are several reasons for this: The small wheels are stiffer and lighter at the same time and give a little more play instinct. Of course, the wheel-size split trend was also addressed; 29" at the front, plus tires at the rear. In the end, the decision was made against it, primarily for reasons of customer and maintenance friendliness. Two wheel sizes are simply a bit more complex to handle here.
The E-Fully is powered by the new Bosch Performance CX - like most of the E-MTBs currently being presented. No wonder: in terms of performance, the Bosch motor has always been top notch despite its age, and now it has caught up with the competition in terms of weight and size. The motor is powered by the new Powertube 625 battery, which offers a little more range with over 600Wh. The previous Powertube 500 can also be installed with an adapter.
Geometry Conway Xyron Carbon
| S | M | L | XL | |
| seat tube (in mm) | 400 | 430 | 460 | 490 |
| Top tube horizontal (in mm) | 577 | 601 | 624 | 647 |
| head tube (in mm) | 120 | 120 | 130 | 140 |
| chainstay (in mm) | 450 | 450 | 450 | 450 |
| Wheelbase (in mm) | 1183 | 1207 | 1231 | 1255 |
| Steering angle (in °) | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 |
| Seat angle (in °) | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| Reach (mm) | 425 | 449 | 469 | 489 |
| Stacks (in mm) | 595 | 595 | 604 | 613 |
The geometry of the new Conway E-Fully is modern, but not too extreme and is pretty much what we expected given the universal approach. At 66°, the steering angle is actually quite slack for a 140mm fully, while the main frame at 469mm in size L is not too long. It should be noted, however, that the carbon version tends to be a bit sportier than the aluminum counterpart. The latter puts the driver in a slightly more upright seating position thanks to a higher stack-to-reach value.
Conway Xyron: First impressions of the trail
The frame of our test bike already largely corresponded to the later production model (apart from small details such as the cover of the charging port), but the equipment still differed significantly. To get a feeling for the weight of the bike: Our test bike with a carbon frame weighed just 21,5 kg.
On the trail, the Conway is a real fun machine. Yes, there are certainly E-MTBs out there that are a little smoother, and yes, there are also bikes that are a bit more playful on the trail. With the Xyron, however, the designers have found exactly the sweet spot that works excellently on different terrain and for many riders. The bike invites you to pull off the edges, berms conjure up a big grin on your face. But even when things get rough and the carpet of roots puts a strain on your arms, thighs and chassis, the bike doesn't lose its composure. Due to the nice and relaxed position on the bike when sitting, it should also be enjoyable during extensive tours and is not too sporty overall even for less ambitious bikers.
The Bosch Performance CX pushes well as usual, but when things get steep and a little technical at the same time, you have to actively shift your weight forward to keep the front wheel on the ground. That's a bit of a shame and spoils the fun of riding uphill a little.
Even if there will be some changes in the series, a few words about the equipment: The bike doesn't show any weaknesses here. The Eagle drive does its job reliably as usual, the chassis consisting of the new Pike Ultimate at the front and the DPX2 Performance Elite from Fox at the rear harmonize perfectly despite the mix of manufacturers. Our test rider – who weighs around 70kg rather lightly – could not find any problems with regard to the rigidity of the Pike, despite the slightly slimmer 35mm stanchions. The new Sram G2 brake is a clear step forward in direct comparison with the Guide and reliably brought us to a standstill even on longer descents. A special mention also goes to the in-house Contec Drop-a-Gogo post, which has been available for over a year but still flies under the radar for many - despite being one of the best dropper posts on the market in our opinion.
