Media Release 7/7/2022

The world’s lightest electric mountain bike features maxon’s BIKEDRIVE AIR

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Thömus Lightrider E Ultimate with maxon BIKEDRIVE AIR drive

With the new Lightrider E Ultimate, Swiss bicycle manufacturer, Thömus is launching the world's first full-suspension cross-country electric mountain bike weighing less than 15 kilo-grams. This record-breaking weight is due to the small and efficient maxon BIKEDRIVE AIR drive in the extremely lightweight Thömus ultra-high modulus carbon frame.

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Thömus Lightrider E Ultimate with maxon BIKEDRIVE AIR drive

The partnership between Thömus and maxon began in the winter of 2021 and is delivering results not only in World Cup racing but also in advancing the drive technology. Behind the scenes, a lot of work has been done on a new, ultra-lightweight electric mountain bike in recent months with the maxon BIKEDRIVE AIR.This starts a new era for electric mountain bikes, weighing less than 15 kilograms in total and with a slim, rigid frame, the Lightrider E Ultimate is a real racing bike that can be maneuvered easily over any terrain.

For Thomas Binggeli, CEO and owner of Thömus, the new development is a milestone: “We developed the Lightrider E Ultimate in close collaboration with maxon and our World Cup team. The feedback we have had from training on the ride and the low weight has been amazing. The new e-bike is not designed with just profes-sional athletes in mind, every cyclist can enjoy this unique riding experience.”

Perfect combination of ride and design

The barely noticeable weight of the maxon drive (only 3.5 kilograms), in combination with the superior carbon technology from Thömus, delivers a ride that feels as natural on the trail as on the World Cup bike of the World Cup winner Mathias Flückiger.  Once you begin to climb, the Lightrider E Ultimate feels as if a tailwind is gently pushing you uphill, making it perfect for training or riding in a group. The unique freewheel technology of the maxon BIKEDRIVE AIR e-bike system ensures natural transitions from supported to non-supported riding and vice versa. The result is an e-bike with the perfect balance between weight and agility that feels just like a nor-mal bike. The Lightrider E Ultimate is also available in an extra small size frame.

maxon’s experience in the development of drive motors for the Mars rovers over the course of its 60-year his-tory is reflected in the system’s compact size, which allows the battery to be integrated with the frame, making it invisible. Only an inconspicuously integrated control element on the top tube hints at the extra power hidden within the bike. Equipped with a 250 Wh battery and an optional Range Extender with an additional 250 Wh capacity, technically challenging trails can be tackled with ease.

Swissness down to the smallest detail

Thömus has been synonymous with high-tech bicycles from Switzerland for over 30 years. Olympic medalist Mathias Flückiger has been using the brand for four years. The geometry and kinematics of the new Lightrider E Ultimate are unique and were developed in collaboration with the top riders of the Thömus maxon Swiss Mountain Bike Racing Team. In World Cup racing events, the pros ride the Thömus Lightrider. The new e-bike is heavily based on this design and enables the team to train at higher frequencies without exceeding the optimal heart rate and performance range. “We can now have much longer training sessions and work more intensely on improving our technique. The Lightrider E Ultimate has the potential to be a real game changer,” says Mathias Flückiger.

The new Lightrider E Ultimate with the maxon drive is now available for preorder from Thömus, with prices start-ing at CHF 6,390.

Technical data

Battery capacity250 Wh (integrated battery)
+
250 Wh (Range Extender)
Torque30 Nm | 40 Nm (Peak)
Maximum support25 km/h | 20 mph
Weight from 14.8 kg
SizesXS/S, M/L, L/XL
Wheel size29"
Front suspension travel120–150 mm
Rear suspension travel120–130 mm
Head tube angle65.5°/66.5°
UseCross country/trails

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