Mavic presents the X-Tend, an ultra-light motor for electric road bikes

The Mavic X-Tend is the first electric motor designed to equip road and gravel bikes weighing less than 10 kg.

Photos: ©Mavic

The weight of electric-assist road or gravel bikes is a limiting factor for the growth of this type of machine. Unlike electric mountain bike enthusiasts, road cyclists mostly want to maintain the handling of a traditional bike, and 11, 12, or even 14 kg is often too much. Mavic has therefore decided to work on a compact and lightweight system, housed in the bottom bracket shell, which allows the use of traditional cranksets without modifying the Q-Factor.

Even though the French brand started working on this project in 2016, don’t expect to see this system equipping bikes sold commercially for another two or three years, the time it takes for the industrialization process to be put in place. But the X-Tend offers new perspectives to a market that is struggling to take off.

Mavic X-Tend Technical Specifications

Motor weight: 1.2 kg
Main battery: 360 Wh 36V, 1.8 kg
Range: up to 3000 m of elevation gain
Nominal power: 250 watts
Peak power: up to 390 watts
Torque: 37 Nm with a peak of 50 Nm
Integrated power meter with +- 2% accuracy
Total weight of the Mavic X-Tend: 3.2 kg
Additional battery: 180 Wh, 36 V, to be housed in a bottle cage, 1.2 kg
Bottom bracket shell diameter: 87 mm

The system offers three default assistance levels, which can be customized via an app: +30% in ECO mode, +60% in Sport mode, and +120% in Boost mode. A button placed on the bike’s top tube allows you to change modes and view the battery status.

The new Mavic X-Tend motor has already been tested over 120,000 km. The motor is very compact and is a brushless type with a cycloidal reducer, making it smooth and precise.

According to Mavic, the X-Tend also stands out for its lack of friction when disengaged, which provides a very natural feel during use.

More info: Mavic.com

=> SEE ALSO: All our New Products articles