Mountain

We are hardcore cyclists who believe that ebike technology—like all bike innovations—only expands the number of ways to enjoy riding and opens up the hobby to a wider audience. We have seen from our side of the industry that more people have begun riding bikes since the introduction of pedal assist technology. As pioneers and industry leaders in the gravel bike space, we knew we could make a top tier performance gravel ebike for people of all abilities to enjoy. Our mission was simple: create a gravel ebike that complements our current gravel family and allows more users to experience the joy of riding on low traffic roads and exploring new terrain. We spent over two years designing and engineering our ideal eGravel bike, and we have been riding prototypes and test models of the Express since the fourth quarter of 2022. At last, we are ready to share the result of our labors with the existing Moots family along with many new and future Moots customers.

Simply put, titanium is not the right material for a high-performance ebike. Over the years of working with titanium, we have learned a number of things about where and how to use the material, and when we designed the Express, we initially set out to make a Ti ebike. We spent a lot of time investigating what it would take to pull it off only to reach the same conclusion each time: the amount of material needed to secure a large battery and powerful drive unit while maintaining a stable and robust frame negates the feature benefits of the Ti tubing. In short, to make the Express safe to ride, we would need to use so much titanium in certain spots on the frame that the legendary ride quality characteristics of Ti would be lost.

Speaking in a similar manner as we use to talk about our other bike frames, the Express takes shape in a monocoque construction. The Express’s frame is manufactured via a process known as EPS (expanded polystyrene) molding. This process creates an inner mold that expands under heat to apply pressure to the prepreg carbon to have the carbon exactly match the shape of the outer mold. This creates a tighter compaction of the prepreg carbon layers, ultimately leaving us with a frame that is free of any cavities or irregularities. Eliminating any variance is the key to strength and durability within a composite frame. We have engineered strength in reinforced areas around the drive unit mount and other critical junctions within the frame to handle the torque output from the drive unit and the robustness needed for components like the battery. With that being said, the dropped seatstays, longer exposed seat post, and directional layup (reinforced where needed and reduced where comfort can be added) were all design decisions made early on to create comfort for the rider. Our geometry and components spec on this frame was selected to give the rider an upright riding position that would be more sustainable for extended rides while also allowing greater control of the bike. By designing the Express’s frame out of a composite material, we were to create stiffness and alignment where needed while ensuring that the layup and design prioritize the rider’s comfort.

This is a two-part answer: The Express is designed, engineered, tested, and assembled here in Steamboat Springs, CO by the same team that has sweated over the details of every Moots that has left the factory over the past four decades. The juicy part of the answer is that our composite components—the frame, fork, handlebar, stem, and seatpost—are manufactured by two long-term partners based out of Asia. We have produced Moots-branded components with these partners for over ten years now and we’re proud to have them execute the manufacturing of our designs, especially the new Express frame.

We’ll break that down into three key things: Range, Reliability, and Capability. 

Throughout our early test rides, we managed to get over 100 miles without just being on battery sipping eco mode. Our goal was to try and mitigate any range anxiety for the user when they set out and turn down a new road that is a little longer than expected. Our Shimano 504Wh battery is class leading and does not weigh the bike down. A ride ready medium comes in right at 33lbs. 

We made decisions with the design and the component selection that should also put the owners mind at ease. Selecting a full end-to-end Shimano system ensures that the bike will remain serviceable and parts will be available for many years to come. We built a large amount of tire clearance into the frame and ensured that components that need to be accessible are easy to reach while others remains hidden and protected. For example, the system can be charged via a small access door on the seat tube. If the battery ever needs to be removed for any reason the battery access door on the downtube opens with one bolt and the battery can be removed with a quarter turn of the battery release retention key. We also hid all wiring and brake hoses inside of the frame so there is not a gangly spider web of wires everywhere to get caught on the next thing that you pass by. 

The Express gravel bike is not limited to smooth dirt roads and pavement—no, we wanted the 4×4 capable chassis to feel as at home on backcountry two track as it does cruising the bike path out of town. With large rubber standard in the stock trim and a gear range that will let you pedal up the steepest terrain while allowing you to push up to 28mph, we think we have created the ultimate adventure-ready gravel ebike. Along with the drivetrain, the frame has a number of small features like fender mounts, three pack bottle mounts, low standover heights, and relaxed riding position to make the bike an easy platform to modify to your unique riding needs.

Like the Express, our Routt series bikes are all optimized for gravel, but they differ in that they lack the pedal assist and feature our signature Ti frame. Our Routt ESC has similar geometry and offroad/adventure capabilities: check it out here. Our Routt 45 is an excellent option for anyone looking to do it all, from daily dirt laps to the one gravel event on the calendar for the year, all the way out to some weekend warrior bike packing. Check out the Routt 45 here and, if you’re interested in a softail version, check out the Routt YBB here.