There are e-bikes that go fast.
And then there are the ones that force you to question what you thought you knew.
The new Haibike ALLMTN with Pinion system definitely falls into the second category.
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Because here we're not just talking about numbers, excursions or autonomy, but about a different concept: engine and gearbox integrated into a single unit, designed to work together and not as two separate elements.
I used it for months, slowly, trying to really understand it.
And the more laps went by, the clearer it became that it wasn't “just” another e-MTB.
AN ALLMTN DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS
But as soon as you get on it you understand that the project was thought out differently.
It's not a bike that aims to amaze with extreme numbers.
It's a bike that seeks balance.
And today, in the e-bike world, balance is probably the most difficult thing to achieve.
THE CLIMB: THE REAL TEST
To truly understand an e-bike, I always start there: the climb.
Not just any climb, but the Fontegno:
steep, technical, bumpy, with tight bends where every mistake is paid for.
It is the type of terrain where:
- power alone is not enough
- management makes the difference
And this is where this ALLMTN did something I didn't expect.
It's not the most brutal.
It's not the one that "tears" the most.
But it's the one that puts you in the least difficulty.
On the tightest hairpin bends, where you are normally forced to use low settings to avoid losing control, here you can push harder.
And you do it without the bike running away from you.
The front stays down.
The trajectory is clean.
The pedal stroke always remains legible.
And it's a rare feeling.
PINION: THE DETAIL THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING
The key point is him: the system Pinion MGU, with integrated engine and gearbox.
At first it just seems like a different technical solution.
Then you start using it… and everything changes.
The feeling is almost paradoxical:
👉 It's one of the e-bikes that gave me the most "muscular" pedaling.
Not because I push less.
But because it pushes better.
- the disbursement is progressive
- the answer is more natural
- Power management is much more intuitive
And especially:
you don't have to fight with the engine.
You simply pedal, and it works with you.
It's hard to say how much depends on the engine and how much on the integrated gearbox, but the result is clear:
👉 in the more technical passages you always have more control.
ON THE DOWNHILL: SOLID, NO SURPRISES
If it surprises on the uphill, it convinces on the downhill.
The choice of RockShox ZEB it's anything but coincidental.
An e-bike needs structure, and there's plenty of it here.
Under the wheels:
- the rough edges are filtered out
- Big impacts never break the bike
The fork always remains there, composed, predictable.
The rear also works very well:
sensitive at first, but with the right support when pushing.
The result is a bike that doesn't try to impress, but to function.
And he does it, in any situation.
The solidity of the fork is felt above all in braking, when you point the curve, turn and you realise the fork does not break and the bike stays there, where you wanted to put it.
MULLET: SUCCESSFUL BALANCE
I've never been a big fan of mullet solutions, but I have to admit that on this Almnt it really works.
Going uphill it guarantees greater handling in narrow passages and going downhill the bike is so stable that you almost don't notice you have a smaller wheel.
Then a
- agility in tight spaces
- stability when increasing the pace
I never felt like I had to adapt my driving.
The bike can be ridden naturally, always.
BRAKES AND TIRES: more can be done
The Continental tires pleasantly surprised me:
good grip, predictable behavior.
But on an e-bike like this, you can dare to try something more robust.
Similar speech for the brakes:
i Magura MT5 They have power, but on long descents:
- they get tired
- they lose consistency
They are not a serious limitation, but they are the only area where there is room for improvement.
PROJECTED IMPACT
The Haibike ALLMTN with Pinion is not your typical e-bike that aims to impress with numbers or marketing.
It's a bike that works on substance.
And above all it introduces a strong idea:
that is, that power management is more important than power itself.
The Pinion integrated system:
- makes pedaling more natural
- improves control
- It really changes the way you tackle the climb
Combined with a balanced chassis, the result is one of the most intelligent and successful e-MTBs I have tested.
Not the most extreme.
But probably one of the most complete.
📊 PROS AND CONS
| ✅ PRO | ❌ AGAINST |
|---|---|
| Extremely manageable Pinion engine | Brakes could be improved on long descents |
| Natural and intuitive pedaling | Tires a little light |
| Great control on technical climbs | |
| Balanced and predictable cycling | |
| Perfectly successful mullet | |
| Excellent stability when descending |
