Bianchi is best known for its elegant celeste green road bike frames, but the Italian brand has kept a constant presence in the mountain biking market.
There has also been little resistance from Bianchi to the burgeoning e-bike segment and the brand’s latest battery-assisted bikes, combine angular styling with some advanced riding features.
Bianchi’s most descending capable e-bike is the E-Omnia FX. This is intended as an enduro capable e-bike, with its frame supporting 150mm of rear suspension travel and rolling 29-inch wheels.
The raised chainstays are unusual on a contemporary bike design and intended to reduce chain slap. Providing the E-Omnia’s pedal-assistance is a 250W Bosch CX mid-drive motor, graded for 80Nm of peak torque, which calculates to a 340% multiplication of rider input.
Energy is provided by a choice of 500- or 625Wh battery packs, depending on the gradient of terrain and distance that an E-Omnia FX rider would wish to explore.
Capable and visible
Range? Bianchi claims that with the dual-battery configuration in operation, its E-Omnia FX should be good for 88-miles of pedal assistance.
The component specification offers an option of either Fox or RockShox 150mm forks, whilst the E-Omnia FX rolls Kenda Hellkat Pro tires.
Integrated mudguards should make this an excellent e-bike for winter riding, whilst low-light commuting to and from the trailhead is made safer by powerful lights, making the E-Omnia FX visible to other road users up to 1600ft.
By far the most interesting feature of Bianchi’s latest E-Omnia range is an ABS option. The presence of ABS brakes has been a contentious issue in mountain biking, but Bianchi is convinced that its system provides valid benefits when descending.
A fellow Italian brand, Blubrake, supplies the ABS for E-Omnia and it uses sophisticated speed sensors to judge the required brake-pulse frequency.
The Bianchi E-Omnia FX is available in a generous range of sizes, from medium to extra-large. Geometry is what one would expect for a 150mm enduro bike, with a 65-degree head angle and 440mm of reach on a size medium frame.
