E-MTB / Test: The Mustache Samedi 29 is almost a veteran in the French manufacturer's portfolio. The Bosch E-MTB has been repeatedly adapted over the years and the portfolio has been expanded, even though it has always remained true to its core. The bike is now available in three different versions: Trail and Game. The Trail takes on the role of an all-rounder with 150 mm of travel, while the Game has greater reserves for demanding terrain with 170 or 160 mm. Both versions are available in a wide variety of equipment variants starting at just under 5.000 euros.
Solid, innovative aluminum frame with Bosch drive
What all Mustache Samedi 29 models have in common is the tried-and-tested aluminum frame with its striking look, especially in the rear triangle area. But from a technical point of view it also brings some exciting details; This includes, among other things, the integration of the battery. You can choose between 625 Wh and 750 Wh, both of which can be easily removed from the down tube. For this purpose, Mustache has developed its own battery holder, through which the battery is attached and fixed from the outside using a knurled screw. This works excellently in practice and if you believe the French's statements, you could save a lot of weight compared to classic fastenings. However, you have to do without a lock, which shouldn't be too important for a sporty e-MTB.
The laying of cables and trains is likely to polarize people. These traditionally disappear on the frame itself and are not led into the inside of the frame at the headset or even the stem, as is the case with so many E-MTBs today. Some people may be bothered by the slightly untidy look of the cockpit, but those who regularly work on the wheel will be happy about it. Even simple conversion measures such as adding or removing spacers under the stem are much easier thanks to this classic installation.
When it comes to drive, all Samedi 29 models rely on the Bosch CX, and the elegant LTD versions even have the slightly more powerful Race version. The unit, which weighs around 2,9 kg and has a maximum torque of 85 Nm, is well proven and should provide enough power for virtually all areas of application. The drive is controlled via the well-known LED remote, which is supplemented with a Kiox 300 display.
Strong features at a fair price – for trail bikes or enduro
On paper, the classification of the two variants Game and Trail is clear: with 170 mm of travel at the front and 160 at the rear, the Game seems to be firmly positioned in the enduro segment, while the Trail with 150 mm is more likely to take on the role of an all-rounder. The respective area of application is also partly reflected in the choice of components: There is the Fox 38 at the front of the game, while the Trail makes do with a Fox 36. The latter has to make do with “only” a 203 mm brake disc diameter at the front, whereas the game has a full 223 mm. However, you can also see elsewhere that the bikes are perhaps more similar than the suspension travel would suggest: with the Maxxis Assegai on the front and rear, the Samedi 29 Trail also has one of the grippiest tires on the market.
The close relationship between trail and game is also reflected in the geometry data, which only differs minimally - no wonder, because the frame is virtually identical. The dimensions here are rather reserved and are not extreme. What's noticeable are the chainstays, which are quite long at over 460 mm, and the relatively high front. Also noteworthy is the XL frame size, which according to Mustache is suitable for people up to 2,11m tall.
In the test we had the Mustache Samedi 29 Trail 9 and the Samedi Game 7. The numbers indicate the corresponding equipment variant - the higher, the higher the quality. Overall, however, the following applies to the entire model range: Mustache delivers a lot of E-MTB for the money and all models are actually recommended. The Trail 9 tested in particular offers a really successful equipment package for its price of 6.699 euros. Fox 36 Factory Grip 2 fork at the front, Shimano XT gears and brakes, plus Mavic wheels, which were labeled by Mustache himself. The in-house Magic Grip damper is exciting: the French have been developing this themselves for years and it is used on almost all models. New for 2024 on the Samedi 29 Game is the option of a Fox Float X shock, like on our test bike. The Game 7 is slightly cheaper equipped with a Fox Performance fork and a Shimano Deore/XT gear mix. On top of the base price of 6.099 euros (for the 750 Wh battery), there is an additional 300 euros surcharge for the Fox damper mentioned.
We tested both bikes, the Mustache Samedi 29 Trail 9 and the Game 7 on the trails in Vinschgau in South Tyrol. Both proved to be good-natured off-road all-rounders, with the Game 7 cutting a much better figure off-road thanks to the Fox damper. Both bikes have a high level of comfort and a pleasant seating position in common. You can find a detailed driving report in our test video.