Test / E-MTB: With the HoheAcht Besta Dio, we take a look at the top model in the German manufacturer's E-MTB portfolio. With a carbon frame, plenty of suspension travel and modern geometry, it promises promising performance on paper.
The Hoheacht Besta Dio presents itself as a real underdog in the e-mountain bike segment. As an off-road all-rounder between enduro and all-mountain, it offers 160 mm of suspension travel at the front and 150 mm at the rear, mullet wheels and a full carbon frame. It is powered by the Shimano EP801 motor, supported by a Shimano battery with 630 Wh, which, despite its comparatively low capacity, is easy to remove and change.
Drive and battery: the heart of the Besta Dio
The Shimano EP801 motor impresses with its low weight, lots of dynamics and high performance, which is particularly evident at higher cadence. Compared to the previous EP8 model, it delivers significantly more power, so that the EP801 is now on a par with other top engines on the market. The drive is operated via a compact control panel that has bright, integrated LEDs for the battery level and the support level. In addition, Hoheacht has installed an E600 display on the Besta Dio, which, like the well-known E800, sits next to the stem, is very bright, but compared to its predecessor it finally offers a more granular battery display in ten steps.
Interesting features on the top model
The top model we tested, the HoheAcht Besta Dio, scored a whopping 9.999 At €36, it's definitely in the high-end segment. For that, you can expect top-of-the-line components, which you get. The Öhlins suspension, in particular, stands out. The RXF 2 M.38 at the front requires a somewhat more complex setup, but rewards with excellent performance. The lack of a fork with stiffer XNUMX mm stanchions isn't necessarily a negative. A little more flex reduces arm pump and can even provide security on challenging terrain. However, heavy and very strong riders might miss a bit of precision. The fork is supported by the TTX shock at the rear.
The choice of gears is a bit unusual: With the Sram However, both construction methods have their individual advantages and disadvantages. A Sram Code RSC with 01 mm discs at the front and rear is responsible for deceleration on the trail.
| Frame | High Eight Besta |
| Fork | Öhlins RXF36 M.2 |
| Drive | Shimano EP801 |
| Battery | 630 Wh |
| Suspension shocks | Öhlins TTX M.2 |
| Wheels | Mavic E-Deemax S35 |
| Tire VR | Maxxis Assegai MaxxTerra Exo |
| Tire HR | Maxxis Dissector MaxxTerra Exo+ |
| Derailleur | Sram X01 Eagle |
| Shifter | Sram X01 Eagle One Click |
| Crank | Shimano steps |
| Front derailleur | Without |
| Brake | Ram Code RSC |
| Brake discs | Sram Centerline 200/200 |
| Seatpost | Limotec A1 200mm (L) |
| Saddle | Fizik Tundra M5 |
| Stem | Protaper MTB |
| Handlebar | Protaper Carbon Riser 810mm |
The Mavic E-Deemax S35 wheels are appropriate for the area of use, and the Answer Cockpit with wide handlebars and the vario support with a lot of travel are also pleasing. The Maxxis tire combination with Assegai at the front and Dissector at the rear also fits well, although we would like to have the more stable Exo+ carcass at the front (as also installed at the rear).
Given its intended use and features, the weight of 23,6 kg without pedals is quite acceptable.
Sporty geometry
The frame of the HoheAcht Besta Dio has a very sporty geometry that not only rewards an active riding style, but also demands it. The frame is quite long, but the steering angle is not too flat. What is striking is the 480 mm seat tube, which is quite long by today's standards. Drivers with short legs could have difficulties here.
| seat tube (in mm) | 400 | 440 | 480 | 520 |
| Reach (mm) | 443 | 460 | 483 | 505 |
| Stacks (in mm) | 610 | 619 | 628 | 637 |
| Steering angle (in °) | 64.5 | 64.5 | 64.5 | 64.5 |
| seat angle eff. (in °) | 76.5 | 76.5 | 76.5 | 76.5 |
| Bottom bracket height (in mm) | 336 | 336 | 336 | 336 |
| chainstays (in mm) | 450 | 450 | 450 | 450 |
| Wheelbase (in mm) | 1230 | 1252 | 1279 | 1305 |
| Top tube horizontal (in mm) | 585 | 605 | 630 | 655 |
| head tube (in mm) | 105 | 115 | 125 | 135 |
The High Eight Besta Dio in practice
On the trail, the bike proves to be a very versatile all-rounder, but one that definitely requires an experienced pilot. In order to find good balance on challenging terrain, you have to move your center of gravity forward or backward every now and then. But then you get a lively and at the same time quite good-natured bike that benefits above all from the excellent chassis. The RXF 36 at the front does a great job, is sensitive and still offers large reserves. The rear end is not necessarily lively, but it is very easy to swallow and, regardless of the shock setup, falls more into the “vacuum cleaner” category.
The overall ergonomics are good and the seating position is comfortable. Together with the very comfortable chassis, the Besta Dio should also cut a good figure as an off-road tourer. This is also matched by the powerful EP801 motor, which once again shows how much more powerful it is than its direct predecessor. Unfortunately, despite all the praise, it also inherited the rattling on descents from the EP8 and is the only component on the test bike that makes unpleasant noises.
