Presenting The E-FINE: NS BIKES’ First E-MTB
The expansive NS Bikes family tree was recently struck by lightning, and a new electrified model grew from that bolt of energy. It’s named it E-fine, following the grain of the Define models with their gravity geo that’s poised to party or race all day long.
This full-powered branch didn’t sprout simply because every other bike company now has an electric arm. Over the years NS has tested a lot of ebikes without finding one that truly stole their team’s heart. It took a while to figure out what kind of ebike NS wanted. We ask ourselves what truly makes an e-bike great? If we put the motor aside for a moment, it all comes down to the geometry and suspension, and these are the main points that NS Bikes focused on.
With a hydroformed aluminum frame that tidies cables under the downtube just like other NS bikes, this mixed-wheel machine keeps maintenance times to a minimum. NS Bikes appreciates options as much as you do, and the E-fine 1 bikes will come with a 170mm fork and a 160mm rear axle path, powered by the tried and trusted Shimano EP8 motor and the brand’s long-lasting 630 Wh battery. On the second step of their electric podium, the E-fine 2 model offers a 160mm fork followed by 150mm of rear-wheel travel that’s propelled by a Shimano E7000 unit and matching 504 Wh battery.
NS knows precisely how their bikes should feel on the trail and have worked hard to maintain those high expectations with this latest electrified offering. The Efine’s added heft and power require a nuanced suspension tune to give the pilot maximum comfort in the trickiest trail situations. Both of these long-travel sleds were carefully designed to provide the support and comfort that riders have come to expect from NS Bikes, leaving the Efine every bit as fun to shred as NS’ purely muscle-powered models.
Countless hours were spent testing and perfecting each angle of the Efine frame, culminating in a geometry NS Bikes is proud to share with their customers. Efine1 frames are cut in three sizes to fit as many riders as possible, with a small stretching its reach to 425mm, 450mm for a medium, and 480mm on the size large bike. The head tube angle leans back to a cool 63.8° for the steepest descents, while the 75.2° effective seat tube angle provides a nice perch to climb back up for more. Out back, a set of 455mm chainstays balance the frame and provide a stable platform for speed.
One branch down on the family tree, reach measurements for the slightly shorter travel Efine2 are 430, 456, and 484mm respectively. The bike’s head tube is a touch steeper to suit its all-arounder intentions at 64.1°, and the seat tube also leans forward a skosh to 75.6°. The 27.5” rear tire is flanked by the same 455mm chainstays on either side.
Bottom brackets on the Efine1 and 2 drop the rider’s weight just where we want it, with a 345mm height on the 160mm frame and 343mm between the BB and the dirt for the 150mm sled. NS went with 160mm crank arms on all sizes of the Efine1, and 165mm cranks on the Efine2 to minimize pedal strikes while keeping the pilot’s pounds as low as possible.
The brand made sure to hang all of the electric-ready components off these two builds, preparing them for long adventures and low maintenance. A RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Select keeps the rear wheel running smoothly on the Efine1, led by a Zeb Charger R 29 fork under the handlebar. The bike’s burly stature is slowed by a set of Magura MT7 brakes and 203mm rotors, and that power grips the ground with a pair of Maxxis Assegai tires in their Double Down casing and Max Grip tread. Moving forward, each of Efine1 drivetrain bits come from the reliable Shimano Deore 12-speed line, selected for maximum durability.
To save a few pennies while maintaining a quality build spec, Efine2 shifts with Shimano’s Deore 11-speed drivetrain and slows down via a set of Deore 4-piston brakes. An X-Fusion HC3 coil takes care of rear-end impacts and RockShox 35 Gold RL fork manages the mayhem up front.
A size medium Efine1 tips the scale at 22.5 Kg while the Efine2 weighs 24.5 Kg in the same size. Both models are already available in April with retail pricing set at (€ 7599) for the Efine1 and (€6299) for the Efine2.
