Tundra Carbon 2025

The Steppenwolf Tundra Carbon 2025 is the German brand's first DJI Avinox-powered eMTB and the foundation of the Tundra 9.0/10.0/11.0 trim family. It is built around a 29in carbon full-suspension frame with the DJI Avinox M1 motor (105 Nm, 250 W rated, 1,000 W peak, 2.52 kg) and a removable 800 Wh Avinox FP800 battery. Travel is 160 mm front and rear, and Steppenwolf quotes 22.5 kg as the claimed weight. UK base price is £9,999. The community footprint on this bike is small — Steppenwolf is a niche German brand returning to a more prominent position with the DJI Carbon Line — but at least one early owner has hit a documented software issue that is worth flagging.

Drive system and range. The DJI Avinox M1 is the first-generation Avinox motor, producing 105 Nm of torque and 1,000 W peak. While now overshadowed in headline figures by the M2 (125 Nm) and M2S (150 Nm), the M1 remains plenty of motor for trail and all-mountain use and is lighter than its successors at 2.52 kg. The 800 Wh FP800 battery is the full-size Avinox pack and gives roughly 1,200-1,600 m of climbing per charge depending on assist and rider weight — that's serious range. The pack is removable for off-bike charging. DJI app integration provides ride data, mode customisation and over-the-air firmware updates.

Geometry and handling. Reach progresses S 435 mm, M 465 mm, L 495 mm — modern numbers in a 30 mm jump between sizes. Full geometry details beyond reach are not in the gold spec, but the Tundra Carbon shares engineering with the broader DJI Avinox-equipped segment where head angles typically sit at 64.5° and chainstays around 440-445 mm. The 160/160 mm balanced travel positions the bike as a versatile all-mountain platform rather than a focused trail or enduro tool. Three sizes is on the limited side — no XL is offered in the gold spec, so taller riders (above approximately 6'1") may find the L cramped.

Build and value. At £9,999 the Tundra Carbon is priced firmly in the premium segment, putting it in direct competition with the Forbidden Druid E, Atherton S.170E (in higher trims) and Specialized Levo Expert/Pro. Steppenwolf's spec ladder spreads across the Tundra 9.0, 10.0 and 11.0 variants in German markets, with components and pricing scaling appropriately. Expect Fox 36 or 38 forks, Fox Float X shocks, SRAM Maven brakes and SRAM Eagle Transmission AXS on the higher trims. Steppenwolf has been re-positioning itself as a premium technical brand and the build quality reflects that.

Caveats and known gripes. The most significant documented issue is from @Mel 9.0: "Motor fails to provide assist after software update — gears recognised in 'off' mode only, motor support completely absent despite only 100 km of use". The fix per @Mel 9.0's follow-up was a dealer-applied firmware update that reactivated motor support after an inadvertent maintenance-mode toggle. Worth knowing as a fix path. A similar issue was reported by @elesdee on a Forbidden Druid Core E with the same M1 motor — suggesting this is an Avinox firmware path rather than a Steppenwolf-specific bug. Steppenwolf's UK and US dealer support is thin — buyers should confirm warranty and parts paths before purchase. Three sizes only restricts the fit window. The £9,999 price is hard to justify against Crussis E-Full 12 (£5,060) and MMR Lyth (£5,999) which offer comparable spec for substantially less. Community ownership data is minimal, so long-term reliability is largely unproven.

Verdict. The Tundra Carbon is for the rider who specifically wants Steppenwolf's German-market premium positioning, DJI Avinox M1 power and a 160/160 mm carbon all-mountain platform with the full 800 Wh battery. It suits European buyers within reach of Steppenwolf dealer support. It is not for value-focused buyers who can get comparable Avinox bikes for several thousand pounds less elsewhere, anyone outside the S/M/L size range, or buyers who need extensive dealer support. Production status is current and the bike continues into 2026 alongside the Tundra 9.0/10.0/11.0 family.