Model One 2026

The Abums Model One 2026 is a hand-welded steel full-power all-mountain eMTB built in the Basque Country, Spain, and pitched squarely at the exotic-bike crowd. Headline numbers: Mahle M40 motor with 105 Nm of torque and 850 W peak power, 800 Wh internal battery, 160 mm of travel front and rear, a claimed 23.8 kg on the scales and a sobering €11,900 base price. Early reviewer consensus paints it as a steel-framed character bike whose trail handling is more sluggish than the spec sheet suggests.

Drive system and range. The Mahle M40 is currently one of the two lightest full-power motors on the market at 2.5 kg, and it punches well above its weight on paper: 105 Nm of torque, 850 W peak, with a fresh traction-control layer that uses a 42-point encoder ring on the rear wheel to detect slip and trim torque before the tyre breaks loose. On the Abums it is paired with the larger 800 Wh internal battery option, so the bike is firmly in long-day territory rather than featherweight, despite the modest overall mass. Riders should expect competitive range for a full-power 160 mm rig, with the M40's new Smart Assist mode smoothing power delivery on rolling terrain.

Geometry and handling. The Model One uses a high-pivot rear triangle, an unusual choice for a steel-framed eMTB. The rear axle moves rearward through the stroke, which on paper reduces pedal kickback and lets the wheel track over square-edged hits more cleanly. In practice, reviewers note the bike feels agile and lighter than some carbon rivals at low speed, but loses composure when pushed harder — a recurring note that the steel chassis and high-pivot kinematic do not quite gel into a confidence-inspiring trail bike at race pace. With only the base trim listed and no published geometry table, prospective buyers should request a full geo chart and a demo before committing.

Build and value. Abums sells the Model One as a single complete build at €11,900. For that money you get the hand-welded Spanish steel frame, the M40 motor with 800 Wh battery, and a parts package built around the brand's curated component spec. The pitch is firmly artisanal — four founders, made-to-order in the Basque Country, frame as the headline feature. The trade-off is brutal value for money: at this price you are within touching distance of a top-spec Levo Gen 4 or Pivot Shuttle AMP'd with similar M2S-class power, factory carbon, and a fully-engineered geometry programme behind it. The Model One is not a value play.

Verdict. The Abums Model One 2026 is an exotic, character-driven object first and an everyday trail tool second. The Mahle M40 drivetrain is genuinely class-leading on weight and quietly impressive on torque, the 800 Wh battery removes any range anxiety, and the hand-welded steel high-pivot frame is unlike anything else in the segment. But the headline community read so far is that uphill and in everyday use the bike delivers only solid performance, with sluggish handling on harder trails and weak value at €11,900 that are hard to overlook. It suits riders who want a one-of-a-kind, made-in-Europe statement piece and are willing to pay a steel-and-story premium. Anyone shopping on ride quality, geometry refinement or pounds per Newton-metre should look at a mainstream carbon full-power rival instead. Production status: current.