Test ride: Lightweight 2022 Rotwild R.X375

Our trip starts from a small parkinglot in Gol of Norway. We were heading for the highest peak of the Gol district. At 1.296 meters above sea level. The autumn colors were just starting to show, on this day early in September. Even though temperatures never rose above 10*C, riding conditions were comfortable, with no rain or wind. We made two videos of this trip. The first one is a review of the 2022 Rotwild R.X375 Core, and the other is just music and riding footage.

Lightweight and powerful​

The Rotwild R.X375 Core is a lightweight emtb. Such bikes usually have a smaller battery and weaker battery. The Rotwild battery is smaller, at 375Wh. But it’s not a weak motor. The Shimano EP8 is a powerful 85Nm motor that is usually found on full power emtbs. Check out the review of the EP8 here. We’re happy Rotwild decided to let us access all the motor power. But the rider should know the limitations. The bike can’t be ridden at max power on longer rides. And riding with lots of power at low state of charge, in colder conditions, can degrade the battery.


2022 Rotwild R.X375 Core

Going up​

On a trip such as this one, at about 12km and with well below 1.000m of elevation, we can use a lot of motor power. But I’m not riding full power all the time. In technical sections, it’s a bit more pleasant dropping to Trail mode. It makes the motor a tad easier to control. The 450mm chainstays and the reasonably steep 75,5* seat tube angle makes the Rotwild a capable climber.



The trails leading up to Nystølvarden, the top of the mountain, aren’t extreme. Sure, there are some challenging bits, but everything is rideable. The ascent isn’t very steep, with a few exceptions. The powerful motor and relatively low weight simply make the Rotwild R.X Core perfect for this terrain. Weighing in at 19,9kg without pedals, it’s not the lightest lightweight emtb, but it’s a huge difference compared to a 25kg full fat emtb.


We can’t forget about the easily detachable battery. That’s very rare for a lightweight emtb. Sure, it comes with a weight penalty. But this is an important factor for some customers. We find the battery port design a bit strange though. The port is covered by a rubber plug that isn’t attached to the bike. Thankfully, we somehow avoided losing the plug while charging the bike. It’s easy to operate, but I would need a few spare ones.


The charge port plug is a strange choice. It should be attached to frame in some way, to avoid losing it.

Rotwild R.X375 Core specs​

The R.X375 Core comes with 29er wheels and 2.4” wide Schwalbe Nobby Nic Super Ground rubber. These are fast rolling mtb tyres, and we’re a bit surprised to find the harder Speedgrip compound front and back. Why not go with the more grippy “Soft” rubber up front at least? The tyres seem too lightweight in combination with the burly Fox 36 fork and the powerful Magura MT5 dual caliper brakes. But okay, it’s impossible choosing a set of tyres that suits everybody. And granted, these lightweight emtbs usually come with flimsy tyres.


150mm travel For 36 Performance fork

Drivetrain is the 12 speed Shimano XT M8100. We particularly like the XT shifter. And as you already know, fork is the Fox 36, an ebike specific 150mm travel Performance. The 140mm travel rear suspension is bolted to a Fox Float DPS shock. These are both fine, especially the fork.


Shimano XT 12-speed and 140mm rear travel

We really liked the adjustable travel seat post. The seatpost is slammed and we adjust seat height by adjusting travel. This is an easy operation, and it ensures maximum seat post travel for all riders. I want one of those on my next bike.



A nice and easily adjustable seatpost

Over the plains​

The climb to the top wasn’t all climbing. There were reasonably flat and open stretches too. Often, we could see the trails cutting into the ground several hundred meters in front of us. Like a narrow pencil stroke waving through the vegetation. There were of course rocky sections too, but the plains were dominating the terrain. We were happy on board the Rotwild R.X375. The geometry isn’t extreme, as demonstrated by the 66.5* head angle. Making the Rotwild an almost ideal bike for this ride. We were easily picking good lines between the trail obstacles and squeezing some nice flow out of the rocky trails.



The final few hundred meters before the top was the steepest bit. When riding such a powerful bike, it’s okay tapping into the power now and then. The bike made minced meat of the climb and I wasn’t completely shot when arriving at the top.


At the top, Nystølvarden in Gol of Norway.

The descents​

Having reached the top, several long consecutive and relatively slack descents were awaiting us. This trail isn’t about pushing the limits to the extreme. There are of course heaps of rocks stuck in the trails. And even some sections with lose rocks. So, we kept the speed at reasonable levels. The Nobby Nics aren’t ideal for going hard. I prefer a less bouncy tyre with thicker sidewalls that allows me to let go of the brakes. Tyres aside, I really enjoyed riding the R.X375 Core. The relatively tall front end and the moderate head angle makes the bike turn so fast between the obstacles. The Fox 36 fork performs impeccably, and the Magura brakes bite hard even at the end of the ride.

Conclusion​

Riding up to Nystølvarden early in September was so nice. We stopped repeatedly, talking to hikers that asked if these trails were rideable. And they were. An experienced mountainbike can ride it all, but one might need two attempts here and there.



A lightweight emtb is a fine tool for a shorter trip such as this. There is a range extender available to double the range, making the bike suited for longer rides too. Sure, a heavier and burlier bike would be more composed and calmer at speed. But this lightweight and nimble Rotwild is a fun and inspiring bike at lower speeds. It’s more fun on the flatter bits, even when going fast. And it climbs at least as well as the full fat bikes.