New to the Decathlon range of electric mountain bikes, the semi-rigid Rockrider E-EXPL 520 has a very attractive price.
The Decathlon range of all-terrain electric bikes has been evolving rapidly over the past few months. Its Rockrider brand now hosts a new entry-level, the E-EXPL 520, highlighting the recent 520 S and 500, as well as the high-end 700/700 S models.
A Yamaha-powered hardtail mountain bike
This new electric mountain bike was exhibited last fall, during the Roc D’Azur festival. The name Rockrider E-EXPL 520 comes to explain its name by a positioning slightly above the 500, but without the S. The absence of this letter means a semi-rigid bike, with a fixed saddle and above all a simple front suspension, here an SR Suntour XCM with 130mm of travel (vs X-Fusion 140mm).
But the differences don’t stop there, as the 520 chooses another mid-engine, the 50 Nm Yamaha PW-CE, while the 520 S opts for the 70 Nm Brose T. The performance of this Rockrider e-MTB will be much less, with 280% max assist versus 320%. The derailleur changes slightly on the way to a Microshift Acolyte 12 speeds and 42 teeth, facing the Advent 10 speeds 40 teeth of the 520 S.
For the rest, the cycle part is almost identical with the handlebars and stem, as is the aluminum frame housing the 500 Wh battery. The 29-inch wheels with Rockrider 100 tires still include Tektro brakes with 2-piston calipers, but with a diameter of 180 mm (vs. 203). The weight is slightly down, with 23.7 to 24 kg depending on size. Finally, the color screen makes it possible to manage the 5 levels of electric assistance, including one automatic, while the Decathlon Ride application is available via Bluetooth (large format counter and statistics in particular).
The Decathlon Rockrider eMTB at a great price
The Decathlon Rockrider E-EXPL 520 is certainly less well equipped than its cousins, but its price is much more attractive. at 1,999 euros, the VTTAE is a good model for beginners in off-road. This bike is in stock on the brand’s official website, in four sizes from S to XL, however in a single “mango” yellow color. A way to face the rival Nakamura E-Summit 950 at the same price.
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