Clutch 160.9 2025

The Moustache Clutch 160.9 2025 is a French-built aluminium enduro eMTB that is unique in the mainstream eMTB market: it uses the Pinion MGU drive unit that integrates the motor and a 12-speed internal gearbox at the bottom bracket, driving a belt rather than a chain. Headline numbers: 160 mm of fork and rear travel, an 85 Nm motor with up to 160 Nm of axle torque in light gears, a 780 Wh removable battery, 27.4 kg claimed, a 64.2 degree head angle and reach stepping from 435 mm on S to 504 mm on XL across four sizes. The Clutch is the centrepiece of Moustache's commitment to the Pinion MGU platform, alongside conventional rivals.

Drive system and range. The Pinion MGU E1.12 brings 250 W nominal and an 85 Nm motor torque (gold figure), but the gearbox effect multiplies axle torque up to 160 Nm in the lightest gears. The 600 per cent gear range is the widest in the eMTB market: no traditional Eagle Transmission or XT M8100 comes close. The motor weighs 4.1 kg, considerably more than a chain-drive Bosch or Shimano (about 2.6 to 2.8 kg), which explains the bike's higher 27.4 kg claimed weight. The 780 Wh removable Moustache pack is class-competitive and the wider gear range can be exploited for genuine long climbs at lower assist levels. Pinion's press reception highlights two trade-offs: motor whine on climbs is more noticeable than Bosch CX or Shimano EP801, and the shift between certain gears (notably 4th to 5th) can feel slow and clunky compared to a conventional Transmission.

Geometry and handling. A 64.2 degree head angle is properly modern enduro, slacker than typical 64.5 degree mainstream rivals but not as extreme as a Canyon Torque:ON at 63.5 degrees. Reach steps 435 mm on S, 460 mm on M, 480 mm on L and 504 mm on XL, a clean 20 to 25 mm-per-size progression. The 450 mm chainstay is held constant across all sizes, with wheelbases climbing 1224 to 1310 mm. The mullet wheel setup (29 inch front, 27.5 inch rear) is the standard configuration. With 160/160 mm of travel paired with a RockShox ZEB Ultimate fork and Vivid Ultimate shock on top trims, this is unambiguously a serious descent-capable enduro chassis.

Build and value. Three trims in the 160 family. The 160.7 entry, 160.8 mid-range and 160.9 flagship. The base trim we have on file is at £8400, 27.4 kg, with the broader European pricing for the 160.9 sitting around €9999. Standout build features: belt drive (quieter and lower-maintenance, no derailleur to snap), Magura Gustav Pro four-piston brakes on 200 mm rotors front and rear and the unique ability to shift while coasting or stationary thanks to the gearbox.

Verdict. The Moustache Clutch 160.9 2025 is a niche, technically-led enduro eMTB. Strengths are real. A belt drive with no exposed derailleur is genuinely lower-maintenance, the 600 per cent gear range is unmatched in eMTBs, the ability to shift while stopped is a real-world advantage, the 160/160 mm RockShox-equipped chassis is a proper enduro tool and the 780 Wh removable battery is class-competitive. The honest caveats are equally clear. At 27.4 kg this is a heavy bike, partly due to the 4.1 kg Pinion MGU unit. The Pinion motor whine on climbs is more pronounced than mainstream rivals. The shift quality is not yet on par with a SRAM Eagle Transmission. Pinion service support outside French- and German-speaking Europe is thinner than Bosch or Shimano. And the Clutch's £8400 entry price is high for an aluminium-frame bike when carbon Bosch and Shimano rivals can be had near £6000. The Clutch suits the rider who values low-maintenance belt drive, the gearbox's unique stopped-shifting capability and Moustache's chassis quality and is happy with extra weight and Pinion's regional service network. Riders prioritising weight, mainstream motor support or sub-£7000 pricing should look at a Canyon Torque:ON, Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 or Cannondale Moterra Neo LT. Production status is current.