If you’re going to get into the e-bike game, go with style. Hypercar-maker McLaren hears you, and have come out with its first hyperbikes – the Extreme 600 and the Sport 600. McLaren super designers (the same people who gave us supercars like the electrified lightweight McLaren Artura hybrid supercar) have designed the new bikes with hand-laid carbon-fibre frames and 5 power settings: Off (no motor assist), Eco (energy conservation for long rider), Trail (a set-it-and-forget-it balance of power and efficiency), Sport (extra power output for when the trail demands more) and Race (max power and max torque).
Further reinforcing the link to supercars, the McLaren design team devised an innovative digital display whose graphics mimic those of the cars’ driver displays. Ensuring maximum rider engagement and user-friendliness, telemetry information including speed, battery life and range is shown on a full colour integrated LCD panel on the handlebars. There are four distinct models – Extreme 600, Extreme 250, Sport 600, and Sport 250 – each offering the ultimate two-wheel ride, whether on city streets, off-road tracks, or mountain trails.
The flagship McLaren 600 versions vie for the title of the world’s most powerful street-legal electric mountain bike with its Race mode delivering up to 852W of peak power and a top speed of 20mph/32kph. Two electric mountain bike models are available in limited numbers: a 29” hardtail version, and a full-suspension version with 29” front wheel, 27.5” rear wheel, 145mm of rear travel, and 160mm of fork travel. In total, four models complete the range, the Extreme 600W and Extreme 250W feature SRAM wireless XX Eagle Transmission 12-speed drivetrain and the Sport 600W and Sport 250W feature mechanical SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain.
Prices range from $11,950 for the Extreme 600 series to $7,950 for the entry level Sport 250.
