Bafang teams up with American Eagle to design dual-suspension integrated frame

Bafang has partnered with Dutch MTB brand American Eagle to design a dual-suspension frame that fully integrates Bafang’s M500 mid-drive system up to an in-tube battery.

Displayed at the brands’ joint booth at the China International Bicycle Fair in Shanghai this week, the carbon frame is designed for 29″ wheels and 100mm of front and rear travel, with a minimum weight of 3kg. It has been developed with this summer’s UCI e-MTB World Championships in Mont Saint Anne, Canada, in mind.

American Eagle Brand Manager and World’s first MTB Olympic champion, Bart Brentjens, designed the frame with his team and a newly signed development engineer.

Jack Brandsen, Europe General manager for Bafang Electric Motor Science Technology BV, said: “In the major European markets, the e-bike/pedelec segment is growign by 20% or more year-on-year, and the MTB is even doubling in some places. On the trade floor, we observe that the e-MTB is replacing the high-priced ‘organic’ mountain bikes. And outside on the trails, whether in the forests near bigger cities or in mountainous landscapes like the Alps, this trend is reflected by the many riders on every fine weather day.

“The fact that we are working together with Bart Brentjens and his team on a victory-ready e-MTB, which will go to the start of the UCI World Championship next August, is for me the perfect example of a win-win situation. Because, here we can demonstrate on a big stage the enormous potential of Bafang in terms of performance and technology.”

Additionally, Bafang has launched a new consumer-focused website focused on customer orientation and service. The website offers product and service information alongside highlights of the different applications of the company’s drive systems (e-MTB, e-Road, e-City and e-Tour). Meanwhile, a dedicated OEM website still offers important information to assemblers and manufacturers globally.