RS181 2026

The Crestline RS181 2026 Speed Shop Team Edition is a 150-unit limited high-modulus carbon long-travel eMTB from Troydon Murison's boutique Canadian brand. The headline numbers: a DJI Avinox M2S motor delivering 150 Nm of torque and a 1500 W claimed peak, a removable 800 Wh FP800 battery, 180 mm fork travel paired with 181 mm rear, and a remarkable 21.8 kg claimed weight for a full-power 180 mm travel platform. With travel adjustable 161–181 mm via flip chip and mullet/29er compatibility, this is one of the most thoroughbred enduro-DH crossover eMTBs on sale, with a deeply engaged community already running real-world setups.

Drive system and range. The DJI Avinox M2S — 150 Nm torque, 1500 W peak — is the most powerful motor in the gold authority right now, and on a frame this light it transforms what the bike can do. The 800 Wh battery is removable, which most Avinox builds get wrong. @Rob Rides EMTB reports the DJI Crestline feels lighter and sharper than its Bosch Gen 4 sibling despite similar weight, with significant differences in suspension feel. Avinox firmware is still maturing; over-the-air updates have refined throttle character and Boost duration. Range data on M2S builds with 800 Wh typically lands at 1,500–2,200 m of climbing per charge depending on assistance.

Geometry and handling. A 63.5 degree head angle puts this firmly in the long-travel enduro/light-DH camp, slacker than 64-degree all-rounders but not extreme. Reach progresses cleanly: 450 mm (RH-2), 480 mm (RH-3), 505 mm (RH-4). Chainstays grow 435 mm to 440 mm and are modular: 27.5" dropouts give 435–460 mm, 29" dropouts 450–465 mm. @Rob Rides EMTB ran the Spectre mullet configuration with 460 mm chainstays and called the long-rear-centre/MX setup transformative for front-end grip. FC:RC ratio sits around 1.85, again reported by Rob. The Dual Link VPP suspension is the same lineage as Santa Cruz's older platform, refined here for high-pivot-curve sensitivity. @MTB_MIKE measured −6 mm axle path at sag (normal), about 130% anti-squat (high, may compromise climbing comfort), and a leverage curve well-suited to coil shocks.

Build and value. Only the Speed Shop Team Edition is gold-listed: RockShox ZEB Ultimate fork (180 mm, travel adjustable 161–181 mm), RockShox Vivid Ultimate shock with flip chip, SRAM Maven Ultimate brakes and SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission AXS T-Type wireless 12-speed. Reserve carbon wheels round it out. Crestline does not chase price points — this is a build-to-spec frameset and complete-bike boutique with limited annual production runs. Pre-order windows open January for late-March/early-April shipping per Troydon via @BikingBad.

Community-verified strengths. Suspension feel is the standout. @Rob Rides EMTB describes the DJI build with coil shock as "supple off the top, loads of support in mid stroke, no wallowing" and prefers it to FOX X2 or DHX2 setups on the Bosch version. @mrtrinh confirms the Ohlins TTX22M.2 fits and feels "very damp and glued to the ground". Build flexibility is the other major plus — riders are running everything from EXT E-Storia coil to Effigear gearboxes, with the modular dropouts and flip-chip giving genuine geometry tuning. The 21.8 kg weight with a 150 Nm motor and 181 mm travel is a class outlier.

Caveats and known gripes. Limited production is the headline constraint: just 150 Team Edition units. @Scford describes the previous Spectre frame drop selling 75 units in days. Seatpost insertion is short: RH2 240 mm, RH3 270 mm, RH4 310 mm, so a 150–175 mm dropper is the practical maximum on RH2. @Scford on RH3 reports the front end can feel dive-y off jumps and floppy on slow tech, requiring careful stem/bar/fork-travel tuning. @Candid confirms Push will not develop ELEVENSIX fitment for the RS181 (recommend VT/X or SV8 instead). @Wah notes Ridewrap had no tailored protection kit yet as of February 2026. UK/EU dealer presence is essentially zero — this is a direct-from-Canada purchase.

Verdict. The Crestline RS181 Team Edition is one of the most desirable boutique eMTB builds on the market: an Avinox M2S engine in a 21.8 kg, 181 mm carbon frame with a deeply engaged, technical owner base. It will suit riders who want a hand-built, geometry-adjustable, suspension-tunable long-travel sled and are happy to commit to limited-batch ordering, direct-from-Canada logistics and DIY support. Anyone wanting dealer-network simplicity, predictable supply, or a removable-battery Avinox flagship at scale should look at the BH iLynx+ DL or Apache Eagle instead. Production status: current, with a 150-unit production run.