It wasn’t too long ago that a sub-10 kg e-bike would have made headlines. But such is the march of technology that a lightweight electric road bike is no longer news in its own right. But after the initial progress of creating a motor and battery light enough to keep the weight down, and sleek enough to hide so as to maintain conventional road bike aesthetics, we’re now in the refinement process. And that is worthy of our attention.
Take Scott’s new Fastlane. A cursory glance and it’s just another light e-bike with the assistance well disguised, but closer examination shows something far more interesting, thanks largely to the choice of power unit.
(Image credit: Scott)
The new TQ HPR40 is a deliberately low-output system, and one we’ve seen put to good use already on Canyon’s Endurance: ON Fly. So what’s exciting about an e-bike that doesn’t look like one and doesn’t deliver much headline power?
Well, it’s exactly that. Motor interventions often come with loud whirrs and whizzes that can spoil an otherwise silent ascent in the Alps or closer to home. They’re a little obvious and intrusive.
Secondly, the restrictions on the assistance level at maximum output mean that while they can help uphill by multiplying your effort, you’re often pedalling against residual resistance caused by the motor and drive system, especially on flat terrain, when it’s at its max. If there’s less resistance, as seen in some better systems, you’re still carrying a lot of redundant weight.
(Image credit: Scott)
The TQ HPR40 unit addresses these issues head-on. Although its range and power figures aren’t anything to shout about, it’s the support during your ride when power is needed, and isn’t, that’s a big step forward. When the motor cuts out at 25 km/h, Scott claims you won’t notice, thanks to what it calls a ‘seamless transition’, and having used the system in Canyon’s Endurace:ON Fly, that’s exactly how this new TQ system feels in use.
In the new Fastlane, Scott has taken the geometry from the Addict and added the TQ drive system, making it look much more like a normal road bike. It mounts under the frame and drives from the crankshaft, and at first glance, you’d be forgiven for not realising it’s an e-bike at all. It’s about the same size as a standard bottom bracket area on a conventional bike, with the electronic gear setup contained inside. The slimline battery and drive system offer up to 40 Nm of…