Haibike AllMtn CF SE review – all-mountain explorer from the German e-MTB giant

Haibike has been making e-MTBs since the very beginning and their AllMtn CF SE sits right in the middle of their electric range. On one side there is the gravity-focused 180mm Nduro and on the other is the lightweight Lyke with 140mm for trail riding. As you can probably deduce from Haibike’s abbreviated name, the AllMtn caters to longer backcountry adventurers and can also handle a bit of enduro racing too.

The AllMtn comes in a few different setups – the Bosch motor AllMtn bikes are available with a CF carbon front triangle or full alloy version and there are also alloy only Yamaha powered options. I have been testing the range-topping AllMtn CF SE and while it's the best electric mountain bike in the AllMtb range and a solid performer for riders looking to get out and beyond, there are some disappointing spec considerations that hold the bike back.

Design and geometry

The mixed wheel frame (29in front and 27.5in rear) uses a carbon front triangle that's paired with an alloy rear end and uses a four-bar linkage to deliver 160mm of travel. Haibike’s trademark oversized, angular shapes and hunched top tube styling haven’t appealed to me in the past. However, the AllMtn CF SE actually looks pretty good, it's still a big bulky bike but it looks more purposeful and balanced in the flesh. The somewhat unconventional tube shapes aren’t just for looks either, design cues like the chamfered top tube have been specifically shaped to soften the blow if your knees come into contact with it when riding.

In the hull of the bike is Bosch’s excellent Performance CX Smart System motor delivering 85Nm of torque which is powered by a Bosch PowerTube 750Wh battery. I got some impressive range when yomping around hillsides or self-shuttling up trails, clocking up over 2000m of elevation on some rides. The battery is simple enough to remove if required and the charging port is easy to access too. Upfront there is a Bosch Kiox 300 to display motor and ride stats which is controlled by the Smart System LED Remote.

My large test bike has a 468mm reach and features a 64.5-degree head angle with a 75-degree seat angle. The slack front end combined with the longer 455mm chainstays gives the AllMtn CF SE a long 1260mm wheelbase.

Along the center of the downtube is Haibike’s MRS (Modular Rail System) which allows all manner of accessories to be fitted to the bike. If you want to mount a bottle cage you will need to either buy a specific MRS bottle cage or a boss adapter to fit a standard cage. In theory, it gives riders plenty of options to neatly and securely fit accessories as required however I would have preferred the simplicity of a standard set of bosses.

Components and build 

There is quite a bit to pick apart when it comes to the AllMtn componentry and while there are some highlights, there are definitely a few questionable spec choices worth highlighting.

Firstly, it's interesting that Haibike specced a Lyrik fork rather than a burlier ZEB, a sign of the AllMtn’s leanings towards backcountry rather than proper enduro riding. A lighter fork has its benefits, it's easier to lift and place on climbs and technical sections although it doesn't have the same confidence as the ZEB when pushed really hard with the weight of an e-MTB behind it. It's the Ultimate version of the Lyrik too so there is plenty of adjustment available to fine-tune the ride, unlike the rear end which uses a basic RockShox Deluxe Select+ although we will talk more about that later.

Gear shifting is handled by SRAM’s wireless X01 which has delivered smooth and accurate shifts throughout testing. Haibike has opted for Magura MT7 brakes which bite down hard on big 203mm rotors front and rear.

Mavic’s E-Deemax alloy wheels are still running straight, true, and smooth although a few spokes have become loose during testing. The tires are the classic combo of Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5 front and Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.8 rear (through my test bike came fitted with a 2.6in rear tire) and both have EXO+ casings.

The finishing kit comes from RaceFace and features an Atlas handlebar (785mm), Chester stem, and a Turbine R dropper post with 150mm of travel. Lastly, Haibike has specced a Fizik Terra Aidon X5-160 saddle.

The bike weighs around 25.5kg which isn’t bad for a big battery long-travel e-MTB, although we would expect it to be a couple of kilograms lighter due to its carbon mainframe, EXO+ tires, and more slender Lyrik fork. Arguably, a little extra weight on a bike e-MTB doesn’t have much effect when riding up or down but it does leave you wondering how much of the 750Wh battery that extra 2Kg is eating up when you are out on a big ride.

Performance

The AllMtn CF SE is a very comfortable climber whether racing up a forest road for another run or seeking out technical climbs to clear. My body position on the bike helped with efficiency for longer periods of pedaling and I had no qualms about spending three to four hours on the bike. Moving to steeper and more technical ascents, the Haibike does an impressive job of maintaining control and composure. The 75-degree seat angle and long 455mm chainstays help maintain checks and balances between front-end lift and rear wheel traction, while the 20mm bottom bracket drop gives good rollover without feeling too high off the ground. The stack is pretty high and there are a lot of spacers under the stem so I dropped the stem down a little which helped me get my weight a little more over the front for better tire grip.  

Haibike has opted to equip the AllMtn with a mullet wheel setup (29er front and 27.5 rear), this configuration has become very popular over the last few years, especially on long-travel e-MTBs. Having a smaller rear wheel has allowed bikes to have shorter chainstays and speed up cornering and improve maneuverability. Considering Haibike has intentionally specced a longer chainstay for better climbing stability it would make more sense to also use a 29er rear wheel for increased rolling speed and extra traction.

The longer rear end and wheelbase means there is a little more body talk required to whip it through tighter corners although this is offset by the added stability benefits from the longer wheelbase. On rough root or rock-riddled sections, the rear end felt a bit numb especially compared to the buttery Ultimate level fork. The Deluxe Select+ shock lacks the same adjustment and struggles to match the smoothness up front, making it hard to find a balance between the front and rear suspension. Setting the shock up to RockShox recommended settings resulted in the rear end lacking some of the small bump finesse and control that is needed to maintain grip in proper rough terrain. Dropping the pressure will add a little more traction although the rear end would start to blow through travel more than desired. This gets worse the longer the descent as the non-piggyback shock is forced to work very hard on rough long trails.

Maxxis' mid range rolling speed MaxxTerra tires aren’t terrible, but on a heavy long travel e-MTB a grippier MaxxGrip compound would be more suitable or else things can quickly get out of hand, especially though wet root and rock-strewn trails. This looseness can be good fun assuming you're expecting it, however, with the weightier nature of an e-MTB, it can result in the bike feeling unsure of itself when traction is at a minimum. In the dry, grip levels feel more predictable and the tires certainly roll quickly too. As well as the harder compound, the tires are EXO+ and while I can usually get away with Maxxis’ trail level casing on my local trails, they are potentially not tough enough for a 160mm e-MTB.

Verdict

The struggle to find parity in suspension performance and lacking composure from the MaxTerra EXO+  tires means that the AllMtn CF SE can struggle to balance speed and grip on higher-intensity technical trails that demand pinpoint accuracy and control. Fast, tight, and slippy sections where maximum traction is needed can have the Allmtn CF SE feeling overwhelmed too, resulting in me struggling to hold lines and being forced to extend braking points. 

Set it free to roam around the hills though and it lives up to its AllMtn name with impressive climbing performance and comfortable riding position, making it a backcountry exploring expert. Steep inclines and technical climbs are easily dispatched and the fast-rolling and stable nature help on flowing or natural trails. There's enough travel and stability to back off the brakes on lumpy natural trails without dulling the senses or dampening the fun on gentler descents. It feels like Haibike missed a trick by speccing a mullet setup instead of utilizing the already long chainstays for a 29in rear wheel in order to add more speed, rollover capability, and grip and bolster its backcountry capabilities.

Although there are plenty of e-MTBs that retail for twice the outlay here, the AllMtn CF SE still demands a fair chunk of change. At this price I would expect the spec to be a lot more sorted, sure there may need to be some compromise on the fork and drivetrain but a more adjustable rear shock and grippier tires would go a long way to addressing my performance concerns.

Tech specs: Haibike AllMtn CF SE

• Price: $TBC / £7,699 / €8,999
• Frame material: Carbon/alloy
• Sizes: S, M, L (tested), XL 
• Weight: 25.3kg
• Head angle: 64.5 degrees
• Seat tube angle: 76.3 degrees
• Reach: 468mm (size Large)
• Fork: RockShox Lyrik Ultimate RC, 160mm
• Rear Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select Plus, 160mm
• Motor: Bosch Performance CX, 85Nm
• Battery: Bosch PowerTube 750wh
• Chainset: Haibike 
• Rear mech: SRAM AXS X01 Eagle
• Shifters: SRAM AXS 
• Cassette: SRAM GX 1275 Eagle
• Brakes: Magura MT7, 203mm rotors
• Wheelset: Mavic E- Deemax (29 front, 27.5 rear)
• Tires: Maxxis, Minion DHF II 2.5 Front. Maxxis, Minion DHR II 2.8 Rear
• Bar and stem: RaceFace Atlas 780mm, RaceFace Chester Stem
• Seatpost: RaceFace Turbine, 150mm
• Saddle: Fizik Terra Aidon X5