The eBig Nine is built around a simple idea: as sporty as possible, as comfortable as necessary. It is a 29er hardtail eMTB on a Lite III aluminium frame with the battery housed inside the down tube, a 148 x 12mm rear axle and clearance for 29 x 2.35 tyres, or 29 x 2.25 with a mudguard fitted. The 400 is the way into the range, and it is aimed at riders who simply want to cover more ground off road, whether that means a longer loop after work or a bigger day out at the weekend.

Power comes from a Shimano EP6 drive unit producing 85Nm, fed by a 630Wh EN806 in-tube battery. EP6 is the motor a lot of riders would choose over its pricier siblings for trail use: the delivery is smooth and natural, it stays quiet under load, and the assistance tapers off predictably as you approach the legal limit rather than dropping away suddenly. A 630Wh battery is generous for a hardtail at this level, and it is what turns a full day of riding from optimistic into realistic. Everything runs through a Shimano SC-EN500A display on the bar.

The chassis is honest, hard-wearing kit rather than showpiece parts. An SR Suntour XCM34-Boost with 100mm of travel and a lockout takes care of the front end, and Maxxis Ikon 29 x 2.2 tyres on 25mm internal width Comp CC II rims with Shimano TC500 Boost hubs make for a fast rolling, low drag setup that suits a lightly suspended bike. Braking is Shimano MT200 two piston hydraulic. The cockpit is a 760mm Expert TR II bar on a short 50mm stem, with GoPro and Supernova mounts built into the stem for a camera or a proper light.

Gearing is Shimano CUES U6000 in 10 speed Linkglide form, an 11-48 cassette against a 34 tooth CRE70-B e-bike chainring on 165mm cranks. Linkglide earns its place on an electric bike specifically: the sprockets are thicker and built to handle the extra torque a motor puts through the chain, so you replace the drivetrain far less often than you would with standard gearing.

Features

• eBig Nine Lite III aluminium frame with in-tube battery, 148 x 12mm rear axle
• Shimano EP6 drive unit, 85Nm
• Shimano EN806 630Wh integrated battery
• Shimano SC-EN500A display
• SR Suntour XCM34-Boost LO-R fork, 100mm travel with lockout, 44mm offset
• Shimano CUES U6000 1x10 Linkglide drivetrain, 34 tooth chainring with 11-48 cassette
• Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brakes, 2 piston
• Maxxis Ikon 29 x 2.2 kevlar bead tyres on 25mm internal width Comp CC II rims
• Shimano TC500 Boost hubs, 110 x 15mm front and 148 x 12mm rear
• Merida Expert eTR II 50mm stem with GoPro and Supernova mounts, 760mm bar