Nox Epium All-Mtn 5.9 Pro review: Light E-MTB with Fazua Ride 60 drive

Test / E-MTB: With the Nox Epium All-Mtn 5.9 Pro we had one of the currently most exciting light E-MTBs. Equipped with the Fazua Ride 60 drive and a weight of approx. 20 kg, it proves to be a versatile all-mountain bike that also copes well with demanding terrain.

In recent years, Nox has been able to establish itself as a constant in the field of e-bikes and especially in e-MTBs. With innovative concepts and different drive systems, the Austrian manufacturer has built up a considerable fan base. After having already had a comparatively light E-MTB with the Fazua Ride 50 (or Evation) in the range with the Helium in the past, a new product family was introduced a few months ago with the Epium. The first real light E-MTB not only comes with the current Fazua Ride 60 drive, but also a new frame that is made in the EU.

Enduro and all-mountain variants

Even visually, the Epium brings a fresh breeze into the Nox portfolio. Not only the bright colors, but also the organic frame shape is quite unusual for a Nox E-MTB, but we really like it. Technically, the key data are also promising: Like the Helium, the Epium is also available in two basic versions: In addition to the Epium All-Mtn 160, which is equipped with 150 or 5.9 mm, there is also a version with a whopping 180 mm spring travel available, which goes by the name of Enduro 7.1 hears. In the test we had the somewhat more moderate All-Mtn variant.

In addition to the spring deflection (and of course the equipment), the two variants also differ in the wheel size. While the Epium Enduro 7.1 comes with a mix of mullet wheel sizes, the All Mountain version is a pure 29er bike. Whereby: Thanks to the flipchip integrated into the chainstays, you can also switch to a small rear wheel after purchase.

Frame production in Europe

That Nox chose to bring production of the Epium's full carbon frame to Europe is remarkable. In the case of carbon frames in particular, the know-how for production is now mainly in Asia, for example in Taiwan. If, on the other hand, you want to produce in Europe, you have to bring this know-how here as well, which involves a great deal of money and time. At Nox, this step was certainly also a consequence of the turbulence of the pandemic years, but it is also done out of conviction. By the way: The raw frames are then painted in Germany.

Fazua Ride 60 with removable battery

For the drive, Nox relies on the current Fazua Ride 60, certainly one of the most exciting options for light e-mountain bikes today. The drive unit, which weighs just under two kilograms, still delivers a maximum torque of 60 Nm and tickles ranges suitable for day tours from the 430 Wh battery. Our test bench measurements have also shown that the drive can almost catch up with the common mid-engines in terms of performance - at the latest in the temporary turbo mode.

Nox deserves special praise for opting for the removable version of the battery. With the permanently installed version, the 2,7 kg light frame would probably weigh a few grams less, but the everyday benefits should clearly outweigh this for many riders. The removal itself is also solved really elegantly; The cover is fastened with a Fidlock fastener and doesn't rattle at all, even on rough terrain.

The drive is operated using a combination of LED hubs in the top tube and control rings on the handlebars. The former uses LEDs to provide information about the charge status of the battery and the selected support level, while the compact control ring is responsible for actually controlling the drive. The support level can be selected by tapping the ring up or down, but this is not always 100% reliable in practice.

Versatile geometry - only three frame sizes

The Nox Epium is only available in three frame sizes: S, M and L. However, a closer look reveals that all sizes are quite small. In frame size L, the bike only has a 468mm reach and a 623mm stack. Tall riders or people in general who like to ride longer bikes might want a frame size larger. Otherwise, the data can be read in a variety of ways and without any major anomalies. For an all-mountain bike, the steering and seat angles are perfectly fine, and the long chainstays should also ensure good straight-line stability.

Features: Solid!

In the test we had the Nox Epium All-Mtn 5.9 in the Pro version. This ranks in the portfolio between the entry-level model 'Core' and the top variant 'Ultra'. For us, it's also the most sensible option: With the entry-level model, which is not significantly cheaper, you have to make some painful compromises when it comes to the equipment, and the Ultra equipment with XTR and carbon wheels is likely to be simply overkill for many riders. In terms of price, however, the Epium is in the high-end range in all variants. Our test bike is available for 9.199 euros and comes with solid, but not high-quality equipment in every respect. This circumstance is probably also due to the frame production in Europe.

Fox components were chosen for the chassis. The 36mm fork at the front is stiff enough for a bike with all-mountain demands and the Float X at the rear has plenty of reserves even on longer descents. Both chassis elements come in the performance variant. The 12-speed circuit from Shimano is a mix of SLX and Deore parts and does its job reliably. The same applies to the 4-piston brakes, also from Shimano's SLX product range. Continental tires are mounted on the DT Swiss E1900 wheels. The Kryptotal is fitted with the enduro carcass and the soft rubber compound at the front and rear.

Nox Epium All-Mtn 5.9 on the trail

In practice, the Nox Epium All-Mtn 5.9 had to prove itself above all in the demanding terrain around Lake Garda. The rocky, blocked and often extremely steep trails are a real endurance test for man and material. However, the Nox quickly shows that it can find its way around here; The bike really comes into its own at high speeds on demanding terrain, and the plush rear end can play to its strengths. The fact that suspension components "only" from the Performance series are installed here is rarely noticed. Only those who like to tinker with the chassis could wish for one or the other adjustment option.

In any case, the equipment does its job absolutely inconspicuously - with one exception: the Kryptotal tires from Continental and their enduro casing proved to be borderline for the rocky ground in northern Italy. Unfortunately, the result was one or two dents in the aluminum rims. Another benefit of the Nox was the virtually non-existent background noise on the descent. All you can hear here is the full rolling of the tires. No rattling, not from the drive, not from the cables, not from the chain - very nice! The rather compact bike also invites you to play around here and there, but above all the long chain stays in combination with the suspension that is easy to absorb give it a full "iron iron" feeling.

The drive also knew how to convince, especially in terms of power, it leaves nothing to be desired, even on steep technical climbs. The response behavior is good, only the modulation when starting could be a little bit better. Only the control ring didn't really appeal to any of the testers. In addition to its cheap feel, it jammed again and again when you wanted to change the support level.