E-SUV / Test: The M1.GT.400.SX is an extremely sporty and off-road E-SUV bike. With plenty of suspension travel and a modern carbon frame, the bike powered by a Bosch SX motor aims to bridge the gap between E-MTB and everyday bike.
Last summer, M1 Sporttechnik was one of the first manufacturers to present an e-bike with the new, lightweight SX drive from Bosch. Although – one (1) bike is actually not entirely correct. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to call it a “bike platform”: Based on a carbon frame, the manufacturer from Upper Bavaria creates e-MTBs with various areas of application, from super sporty e-enduro right up to the touring-oriented SUV, like the one we tested. This is made possible by a clever frame design that can be tailored to the respective area of use with different wheel sizes, dampers and suspension forks.
The M1.GT.400.SX takes on the role of a versatile off-road tourer. With 160 or 150 mm of suspension travel, components that are extremely suitable for off-road use and the geometry to match, trips to the trails are definitely possible. However, in order to cope with everyday life just as comfortably, the bike is equipped with robust metal mudguards, a high-quality lighting system from Lupine and a luggage rack developed in-house. Everyday life or terrain? Why not both – in the spirit of modern electric SUVs.
Bosch Performance SX: Light yet powerful?
As can already be seen from the product name, the off-road tourer relies on the new Bosch SX drive including the associated 400 Wh CompactTube battery. The entire system weighs just four kilograms, making it lighter than a Bosch PowerTube 750 battery alone. The integration on the M1.GT.400.SX is nicely done, especially when it comes to the battery: it sits under a cover secured by a magnetic Fidlock lock and can therefore be easily removed. Whether you simply want to charge the battery in the office or at the hut or swap it for a fully charged counterpart from your backpack while on tour - being able to remove the battery can be extremely practical in everyday life.
Given its lower weight and compact dimensions, it is not surprising that the Bosch SX's performance data lags behind “full-sized” mid-engines: With its maximum torque of 55 Nm, it is in the same performance class as other light-assist drives from Fazua, TQ or Specialized. What is remarkable, however, is its maximum output of 600 W, which is on a par with the in-house CX. However, it can only be accessed at high cadence and over a short period of time. However, our measurements on the test bench also showed that the SX engine delivers a lot of power even in normal use without this built-in “boost”.
The drive on the M1.GT.400.SX is operated via the also new Purion 200 control unit. Although hardly larger than the well-known LED Remote, it has a bright color display that shows almost as much information as the separate Kiox 300. In particular, the battery display in percent puts this compact solution ahead of the LED Remote and the System Controller. If you want, you can of course easily add a Kiox 300 or 500 to the system or use your smartphone as a large display using the eBike Flow app.
Lots of mounting points
The GT in the name of the bike stands for “Grand Tour” - so that you can carry a lot of luggage, the permissible total weight is 150 kg - a good value. Numerous mounting points on the frame and on the self-developed luggage rack should also please creative touring riders. Additional bottles, Anycages, the PowerMore 250 Range Extender or other accessories can be mounted here. Four bottle holders could (theoretically) be attached to the luggage rack alone. A small downer: Unfortunately, the M1.GT.400.SX does not have an official trailer approval.
Successful equipment
With a price of 8.150 euros in the currently only equipment variant, the M1.GT.400.SX is definitely one of the high-priced E-SUV bikes on the market. Accordingly, it is not all that surprising that you can look forward to a high-quality component package. The Fox chassis with 36 in the Performance Elite version and the DPS damper offers more than enough reserves to take on even demanding trails. Shifting is done with proven Shimano XT 12-speed quality and braking is done by powerful MT7 stoppers from Magura.
| frame | M1 400 SX |
| suspension fork | Fox 36 Performance Elite |
| Power Type | Bosch SX |
| Battery | Bosch CompactTube 400 |
| Suspension shocks | Fox Float DPS |
| Wheels | DT Swiss H1900 |
| Tire VR | Schwalbe Smart Sam 2,6" |
| Tire HR | Schwalbe Smart Sam 2,6" |
| derailleur | Shimano XT M8100 |
| Gear levers | Shimano XT M8100 |
| Crank | FSA |
| Front derailleur | Without |
| Brake | Magura MT7 |
| Brake discs | Magura Storm HC 203/180mm |
| Seat post | Kind Shock 150mm |
| Saddle | Selle Royal Rampage |
| Stem | Promax 60mm |
| Links | Reverse 760mm |
All of this would also look great on a sporty all-mountain E-MTB. Things are a little different when it comes to tires: the Schwalbe Smart Sam with a generous 2,6 inch width are a good compromise for a versatile touring bike. They roll easily and quietly, but still offer a decent amount of grip even on unpaved surfaces. However, if you often tackle trails on your touring bike, you should think about changing your tires as soon as possible. By the way, the Schwalbe tires are mounted on tried-and-tested DT Swiss H1900 tires, which could only be blamed for their somewhat heavy weight. Speaking of weight: Equipped in this way, our test bike with frame size XL and without pedals weighed 21,9 kg. There are also metal wheel protectors and a lighting system for everyday use. The latter comes on the standard bike from Busch & Müller; an optional headlight with high beam from Lupine was installed on our test bike.
The M1.GT.400.SX in practice
The M1.GT.400.SX's sporty roots are clear and obvious: Even if the seating position isn't too stretched out, you still feel right at home as an e-mountain biker. On the other hand, if you come from a classic trekking bike, you may have to get used to it a bit - although a different stem would help if necessary. In general, despite its equipment that is suitable for everyday use, the tourer basically rides like a modern E-MTB, even off-road. The chassis and brakes in particular played a large role in the fact that we were happy to take the turnoff onto the trail during the test. It's nice that the mudguards and luggage racks can take on such trips without complaining and don't make any annoying rattling noises. The side stand isn't quite as whisper-quiet, as it rattles a bit from time to time off-road.
| S | M | L | XL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seat tube (in mm) | 430 | 430 | 470 | 510 |
| Reach (mm) | 452 | 452 | 483 | 514 |
| Stacks (in mm) | 636 | 636 | 645 | 654 |
| Steering angle (in °) | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 |
| Real seat angle (in °) | 75,65 | 75,65 | 75,65 | 75,65 |
| Bottom bracket drop (in mm) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| chainstays (in mm) | 445 | 445 | 445 | 445 |
| Wheelbase (in mm) | 1224 | 1224 | 1257 | 1290 |
The Fox chassis can also score points in leisurely touring use - here with a high level of comfort. Not only the fork, but also the rear triangle absorbs small and medium impacts well, while finer vibrations, such as on cobbled streets in the city, are then taken over by the 2,6 inch wide tires. The overall sporty character is also matched by the Bosch SX motor, which scores with natural response, good controllability and low noise. Of course, anyone expecting the power of a Bosch CX, Brose Drive S Mag or Shimano EP801 will be disappointed. While this difference in performance is not really noticeable on the flat or at a leisurely pace, on inclines you have to pedal a little harder or live at a lower speed. The range that the motor extracts from the 400 Wh battery also depends on this pace; With a slightly more leisurely pace and reasonable personal effort, day trips are definitely possible - but if you speed up the pass road in the turbo, you can watch the battery charge level tumble on the bright color display.
