Bicycles

HNF Heisenberg develops premium electric mountain bike with BMW i tech

HNF Heisenberg develops premium electric mountain bike with BMW i tech
The all-new HNF Heisenberg XF1 full-suspension e-mountain bike
The all-new HNF Heisenberg XF1 full-suspension e-mountain bike
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The BMW i-patented swing arm design is a key structural element of the new XF1
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The BMW i-patented swing arm design is a key structural element of the new XF1
The XF1 features the Gates Carbon Drive
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The XF1 features the Gates Carbon Drive
The all-new HNF Heisenberg XF1 full-suspension e-mountain bike
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The all-new HNF Heisenberg XF1 full-suspension e-mountain bike
The XF1 combines the BMW swing arm design with a Bosch electric mid-drive
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The XF1 combines the BMW swing arm design with a Bosch electric mid-drive
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Thanks to the highly popular TV show Breaking Bad, new German e-bike company HNF Heisenberg immediately grabs your attention with its science-gone-meth-mad name. It is sure to hold that attention with the XF1, an innovative, high-performance electric mountain bike. The new bike uses a special swing arm developed by BMW i to lay claim to being the world's first mid-motor, belt-driven full-suspension e-bike.

Under its i clean mobility sub brand, BMW patented a special bicycle frame swing arm design that allows the drivetrain to move with the rear suspension sub-frame rather than remain secured to the main frame. The motor moves via the pivoting rear swing arm without affecting the tension of the belt drive. This layout eliminates the need for a conventional chain tensioner and lays the path for a mid-motor, carbon belt-driven full-suspension bike.

"One of the dynamics-related advantages of the drive unit swing arm is the fact that it functions without recoil from the pedal," BMW says. "Compared with other rear-mounted suspension concepts, which are specifically optimized for muscle-powered drive systems, there is no stiffening of the rear swing arm when the electric motor is providing a high degree of assistance such as during acceleration, constant travel at high speeds or on hills. The suspension can respond sensitively at any time, ensuring excellent grip and high traction."

The BMW i-patented swing arm design is a key structural element of the new XF1
The BMW i-patented swing arm design is a key structural element of the new XF1

The system is also designed to prevent any unwanted interference with pedaling. The rider is able to continue pedaling smoothly on all types of rough, uneven terrain.

Since BMW i focused all its attention on cars, it opened the patent to third-party usage and HNF Heisenberg, a German e-bike startup founded last year, put it to work on the new XF1. The BMW i design allows the brand to combine the power and pedal assist of a Bosch mid-motor electric drive with the long-lasting, maintenance-free operation of a Gates belt drive with a Rock Shox-cushioned rear suspension set-up with up to 150 mm (6 in) of travel.

The XF1 has a removable, frame-mounted 400Wh lithium-ion battery pack that provides up to 81 miles (130 km) worth of range per charge. The bike comes equipped with a Rohloff Speedhub 500/14, RockShox Pike RC 140 mm fork, Magura MT7 disc brakes and a Busch & Müller Lumotec IQ Avy headlight. An integrated computer provides information about the electric drive as well as measures like speed and distance.

HNF Heisenberg announced its new lineup of electric bicycles this week. It offers its models in both pedelec (up to 250 watts, 15.5 mph/25 km/h) and S-pedelec (moped classification, up to 500 watts, 28 mph/45 km/h). The XF1 starts at €8,345 (US$9,225).

Source: HNF Heisenberg, BMW

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8 comments
8 comments
VoiceofReason
$9,000 +....umm...no. Pipe dream. I don't expect $199, but that's ludicrious.
Nairda
Everyone's releasing premium e-bikes these days. As if the world's suddenly gotten richer (not the other way around).
As VoiceofReason states, lets have some middle ground.
In reality this is a sad attempt by the powers that be to pre-frame in people's minds that electrics can never be affordable. An outright lie.
Jugen
That's running a Gates Poly Chain® GT® Carbon™ synchronize belt if anyone is interested. It's the latest in belt technology and it allows considerable weight savings over a chain while offering a higher load capacity and similar efficiencies to a chain.
Anne Ominous
Especially at only 500W. For $9,000 I'd expect more like 5,000 Watts.
Freyr Gunnar
> Under its i clean mobility sub brand, BMW
What's clean about this? Batteries and electronics don't grow on trees.
The only clean bicycle is Karl Drais' Laufmaschine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dandy_horse
Kie
The EU needs to ditch the god awfully slow 15.5 mph limit for electric bikes. I often cycle at 15-30 mph, why would I want to go slower on an electric bike?
Calson
Give me a break. $9,000 for an electric bicycle. How many cars would BMW sell at $500,000 each?
I can purchase an electric bicycle, the Razor Dirt Rocket MX350, at Best Buy for $229.99 or 40 of the Razor bikes for the cost of a single BMW.
BMW appears to be targeting the children of the banksters and hedge fund managers with money/loot to burn.
BillDavis
Let's leave aside the "who would ever pay that much for an eBike" question. How would you ever secure this for any sort of normal use? Let's lock up $10k to the local bike rack? Maybe you could use it to go to work. maybe they let you put it inside. Unlike a motorcycle you could literally walk away with this thing on your shoulder. Seriously what kind of anti-theft solution would deter someone from going for $10k in highly portable value? That is the "you didn't think this through" category.