Tourmaxx ELS Tour 2026

The MAXX Tourmaxx ELS Tour 2026 is a German custom-build touring eMTB from MAXX Bikes, a boutique frame and bike maker specialising in long-distance e-trekking. Headline numbers: 130 mm of front and rear travel, Shimano EP801 motor at 85 Nm and 600 W peak, a generous 800 Wh battery, an aluminium chassis with 65.0 to 66.5 degree head angle (adjustable per size), reach 427 to 501 mm across five sizes (S to XXL), 470 mm fixed chainstay, wheelbase 1214 to 1307 mm, and €5,199 base price. The market verdict is that the Tourmaxx ELS Tour is a properly engineered, fully-equipped e-trekking machine that sits in a different category from the trail and enduro eMTBs in this knowledge base: it ships with SKS mudguards, an SKS GT8 rear rack and an integrated lighting system, aimed squarely at the long-distance touring rider rather than the singletrack racer.

Drive system and range. The Shimano EP801 at 85 Nm and 600 W peak is identical to the unit fitted to the Cannondale Moterra SL, Ducati TK-01RR and many other premium full-power eMTBs, programmable via E-Tube to suit the rider's preferred power delivery curve. The motor supports Shimano's AUTO and FREE SHIFT systems for Di2-equipped drivetrains. The 800 Wh battery is unusually large for a 130/130 mm touring eMTB and is the standout differentiator here, with realistic range on this powertrain in trekking use comfortably in the 80 to 130 km bracket depending on terrain and assistance. Independent reviews note the EP801 can rattle on rougher descents and the rear wheel can spin in wet conditions, both standard EP801 traits across the platform.

Geometry and handling. The geometry is touring-oriented, not aggressive trail. Head angles run 66.5 degrees on most sizes with the L getting a slightly slacker 65.0 degree front, all paired with a long 470 mm fixed chainstay across the size run. Reach progresses 427, 447, 465, 483 and 501 mm across S to XXL with wheelbase scaling 1214 to 1307 mm. The long chainstays and steeper head angles deliver predictable straight-line stability on fire roads, gravel tracks and mixed-surface tours, which is exactly the point. This is not a chassis for steep, technical descents but it should excel at long-day mileage and loaded touring.

Build and value. Single base trim at €5,199. The bike ships fully equipped with the SKS mudguard set, SKS GT8 rear rack with integrated rear light, and the EP801 motor. Standout for the touring buyer is the 800 Wh battery paired with the full equipment package: most direct rivals at this price ship with smaller 625 to 750 Wh packs. The €5,199 entry is in line with Cube Touring Hybrid, Riese & Muller and Stevens equivalents. Questionable side is that this is a custom-build platform from a small German manufacturer, so service and warranty network outside core German-speaking markets is thin.

Verdict. The Tourmaxx ELS Tour is in current production and is a credible competitor in the premium e-trekking segment for riders who want the Shimano EP801 with an 800 Wh pack on a 130/130 mm touring chassis. No curated emtbforums.com community quotes for this exact model/year are on file at the time of writing, so the verdict leans on the gold spec sheet and MAXX's published configuration data. Buy it if you want a fully equipped premium touring eMTB with the bigger 800 Wh battery, full lighting and rack set, and a five-size run that genuinely caters to riders from S (427 mm reach) up to XXL (501 mm reach). Look elsewhere if you want a trail or enduro eMTB for off-road singletrack: the 130/130 mm travel, 470 mm chainstays and 66.5 degree head angle place this bike firmly in the touring/SUV category, not the off-road trail eMTB segment that most of our knowledge base covers. As a touring eMTB it offers a sensible combination of capability and range for sub-€5,300, with the EP801 motor's well-known weaknesses (descent rattle, wet-traction loss) being relatively unimportant in the touring use case. The custom-build MAXX heritage means German buyers benefit from direct factory support, while buyers elsewhere should check distributor coverage before committing. The Tourmaxx ELS Tour is best understood as a long-distance commuting and bike-packing eMTB with light-trail capability, not a dedicated singletrack tool.