Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One app.

Start reading

Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles. One news app.

Start reading

Bike Perfect

Lifestyle

Paul Brett

Lapierre release details of its new lightweight e-MTBs with two versions of the E-Zesty

Lapierre (Organization) Fazua Shimano Maxxis Fizik Rotor

In 2019, Lapierre launched the E-Zesty, one of the first 'light assist' (aka half fat) e-MTBs on the market. Packed full of Lapierre's innovation, performance and design, the E-Zesty was one of the best electric mountain bikes out there. The first E-Zesty was built with a complete carbon UD SL frame, making it lightweight and Lapierre say they pioneered the light assist e-MTB in the All Mountain category, with the 2-in-1 concept (ride with or without the battery) offered by the Fazua Ride 50 removable battery unit.

Lapierre has now launched the all-new E-Zesty with an ambition to redefine its vision of lightweight e-MTBs. Two new models called the AM LTD and the AM 9.4 aim to retain the original E-Zesty’s DNA. With a strong, easily identifiable look and features which the brand claims makes the new models truly versatile all mountain e-MTBs with 140mm of travel, 430wh batteries and new more compact Fazua Ride 60 drive units packed with plenty of torque. So what else is new? We had a dive-in to see...

The two new models called the AM LTD and the AM 9.4 retain the original E-Zesty’s DNA (Image credit: Lapierre)

New frame design

Lapierre says they have developed the frame to match the Fazua Ride 60’s performance. The E-Zesty frame has been completely redesigned, to integrate the motor/battery unit, and give a sleeker, more discreet design, which also includes integrated cables and brake hoses, and a new integrated LED Hub on the top tube.

They add that the new frame has been through rigorous field tests with comparisons made on the performance of the different carbon lay-ups, as well as the different motorisations and settings of the Fazua engine. Lapierre says these factual tests, using power sensors to correlate the power of the motor and that of the rider, have given engineers vital information to design the best UD SLI carbon lay-up for the frame and the best possible drive unit settings.

The original E-Zesty was one of the first e-MTBs with a one hundred percent carbon frame. The new models are also entirely carbon, and they say it has been optimized to improve weight, efficiency and precision. The new frame is a claimed 2.63kg in a medium. Lapierre add that the carbon construction also makes it easier to integrate, position and angle the motor to improve weight distribution to create a bike that’s even more playful and closer to the feel of a non-electric mountain bike.

The new carbon construction make it easier to integrate, position and angle the motor (Image credit: Lapierre)

Geometry

Available in four sizes (S, M, L, XL), the geometry of the new E-Zesty models hasn't really been changed, but they say it's more in line with all mountain bike trends, with rider position balanced at the center of the bike. The seat angle has been straightened to 77 degrees across all sizes, resulting in a slightly shorter top tube. To improve agility and handling, the top tube is also sloped by 30 to 40mm, and the seat tube is shorter. The new e-Zesty’s chainstays are 10mm longer in sizes L and XL, while the overall wheelbase is longer in all sizes. The switch to 29-inch wheels has an impact on the height of the bottom bracket. Positioned 30mm lower than the wheel axle means the bike is more stable.

A battery level indicator is integrated into the top tube (Image credit: Lapierre)

New kinematics

The new models come with 140mm of travel front and rear with the aim of retaining the all mountain spirit of the original, with progressive shock absorption but also an effective anti-pumping system for fast climbs thanks to the engine. The switch to 29-inch wheels has meant that Lapierre had to rethink the kinematics and the suspension workings to make it more progressive at the end of the stroke and more supportive in the middle.

Although designed for 29-inch wheels, they’ve added a flip-chip which allows the change of the shock anchorage, giving the option of transforming the E-Zesty into a mullet version with a 27.5-inch rear wheel. The visual signature of the E-Zesty, with the shock absorber located between the seat tube, remains unchanged and now has added improved protection with a longer mudguard. The new locations of the four bar linkage suspension pivot points are aimed to further improve the anti-kickback and anti-squat system and they say it will give optimum pedaling efficiency and improved shock sensitivity.

The new E-Zesty models have greater pedaling efficiency and improved shock sensitivity (Image credit: Lapierre)

Maximum lightness, maximum power

The brand sagely say that weight is just a figure that gives an indication of lightness, but it’s not the whole story. They say it’s the way the weight is distributed that also gives the feeling of lightness. Opting for the Fazua Ride 60 motor, at just 1.96kg, the compact drive unit is ultra-light and has a low impact on inertia thanks to its location closer to the ground, with the new 430Wh battery weighing a claimed 2.3kg.

The entire Fazua Ride 60 package weighs just 4.26kg, compared with the 4.61kg for the old system, and Lapierre says Fazua are the current reference and pioneers in the light assist market. The Ride 60 has 60Nm of torque in its 430Wh drive unit/battery block system, which they say takes light assist mountain bikes into a whole new world. The E-Zesty frame is also compatible with an additional 210Wh battery, extending the range even further.

Three assistance modes called Breeze, River and Rocket can be selected using the mode change wheel, which Lapierre are calling a 'Ring Control', and here's also a walk mode. A battery level indicator is now integrated into the top tube which also features a USB C port for recharging GPS or smartphones.

Finally, there is the interactivity of the Fazua Smartphone app, which they say offers a host of customization options and is the only e-MTB app to date to allow you to customize the engine settings to suit individual needs.

Quality finishing kit also includes a Lapierre branded 150mm dropper (Image credit: Lapierre)

Pricing, availability and spec

The two new E-Zesty models are available now priced at $TBC / TBC / €8,699 for the E-Zesty AM LTD and the E-Zesty AM 9.4 at $TBC / £TBC / €7,599 with further information available at lapierrebikes.com.