In this review we’re going to take a look at the Haibike xDuro HardNine RC – it’s an impressive full suspension electric mountain bike that features components from industry leaders like Bosch, Rock Shox and Shimano.
This bike is the ideal combination of premium electronics and rugged mountain biking. If you’re looking for something that is both capable and comfortable on a trail or in the city, it difficult to find better than the xDuro HardNine RC from Haibike.
We’re going to look at some of the key components as well as important statistics like max speed and range to give you a well balanced overview of the bike’s abilities.
Let’s start with a brief overview.
Haibike xDuro HardNine RC Overview
- Brand - Haibike
- Model - xDuro HardNine RC
- Weight - 20.6 kg
- Frame - Aluminium 6061, 29" Gravity Casting
- Handlebars - Xduro Lowriser aluminum 31.8mm
- Forks - Rock Shox XC32 Air
- Tyres - Schwalbe Racing Ralph Performance, 29x2,25
- Brakes - Tektro Gemini 180mm Rotor
- Shifters - Shimano SLX M 670, Rapidfire, I-Spec
- Rear Mech - Shimano SLX M 675 Shadow Plus, 10-speed
This bike is a real joy to ride. It offers a great balance of rugged off-roading and opulent electrical assistance, so you have the best of both worlds. Whether you want to tear through an off-road trail at speed or take a leisurely cycle on a summers day this bike has you covered. You can adjust the electrical assistance as required to create the perfect riding experience for you.
Haibike have done a great job of combining the perfect components from different industry leaders to create a really well rounded bike. You can see this with the Shimano SLX shifters and rear mech, the Roch Shox forks, and the Bosch motor.
Bosch Intuvia Multifunctional Display
- Display - 2.8"
- Ride Data - Current Speed, Battery, Power Mode etc.
- Great Readability in varied lighting conditions
This bikes display is really impressive.
The Bosch Intuvia Multifunctional Display gives you all of the data that you need at a glance. This includes current speed, battery level and current power mode. You can use this info to adjust your ride as necessary, such as decreasing the power mode as your battery begins to deplete.
It’s 2.8″ screen has more than enough room for all of the necessary info, and it’s easy to read in a range of different light levels. Some screens lose legibility in sunlight, but Bosch have ensured that this display operates perfectly in almost any lighting conditions.
You can also use the “Trip distance” feature as an easy to way to measure your routes. This is perfect for tracking your progress as well as the potential max distance the bike can achieve on a single charge.
Haibike xDuro HardNine RC Lithium Ion Battery
- Wattage - 400Wh
- Voltage - 36V
- Range - 30-110 miles (depending on intensity)
Haibike opted for a lithium ion battery for this bike and it definitely doesn’t disappoint.
This battery is capable of powering the bike for a shocking max distance of 110 miles, but this will massively vary depending on intensity. For example, if you’re in “Turbo” mode (the highest level of motor assistance) and you’re traversing hilly terrain, you may only get 30 miles of charge.
Charging the battery is easy as well – it’s as simple as flipping up the cover of the charging point and connecting the charging cable to get started. It takes approximately 1.5 hours to charge the battery to 50% and around 3.5 hours to charge it to 100%, so it doesn’t take long to get riding after the battery is depleted.
It’s easy to monitor the current battery level. You can see a digital representation at the top of the Intuvia Multifunctional Display as well as an LED counter on the battery itelf. The battery bar on the display is great way to track your charge on the move, allowing you to adjust the level of motor assistance to preserve charge when necessary.
Bosch Midmount Performance Motor
- Wattage - 250 Watt
- Voltage - 36V
- Top Speed - Motor Assistance up to 15.5mph
This 250 Watt motor for Bosch can provide varying levels of assistance up to a top speed of 15.5mph. That top speed doesn’t mean the bike itself is limited to that speed, but instead that assistance from the motor will cut out at 15.5mph.
It’s surprising how much power this motor can provide. In “Turbo” (the highest level of assistance) it provides some real pull, and it’s especially noticeable going up a hill. It allows you to remove almost all of the resistance from the pedals if you desire, so you have complete control over the intensity of the bike ride.
It’s not just the assistance mode that effects the power delivery from the motor, but also the gear that you’re using. Selecting a gear with higher resistance somewhat increases the power delivery from the motor, as it’s designed to keep the pedal resistance at a predetermined level. We’ll take a look at the transmission in more detail in the next section.
Shimano SLX M 675 Shadow Plus 10-speed Transmission
- 10 Speed
- Low Profile Design
- 9mm QR Dropouts
The Shimano SLX M675 was a great choice for this bike. It’s a versatile transmission that gives you plenty of range for tackling a variety of environments, from rugged trails to smooth roads.
When it comes to off-roading, the low profile design reduces the risk of damage from rough trails, and the direct cable routing prevents any snagging. It also features a chain stabilisation switch that helps to reduce bouncing on uneven terrain.
It’s great on paved roads too. The single tension spring prevents any collision with the chainstay, which results in a near silent ride. It’s strong return spring also helps to create a positive shifting feel.
This transmission is both aggressive and lightweight with enough versatility to match the broad uses of the bike itself.
Rock Shox XC32 TK Air Forks
- Adjustable Preload
- Adjustable Prestress/Rebound
- 9mm QR Dropouts
Next we’re going to take a look at the XC32 TK suspension forks from Rock Shox.
The XC32s definitely help to make the bike comfortable to ride. The smooth rebound and plush absorption make light work of bumps of potholes. They also have a long 100mm max travel, so you don’t have to worry about unexpectedly hitting the max depth.
The adjustability is great as well. These forks allow you to adjust both the preload and prestress/rebound, so it’s easy to create a setup that’s perfect for your style. This is especially useful if you enjoy switching up you routes, as you can easily adjust your forks to cater to the trail that you’re riding on.
They give a great balance of resistance and comfort, and it’s great part selections like this that make this bike so well balanced.
Haibike xDuro HardNine RC: Ride Intensity vs Estimated Mileage
The chart below compares ride intensity vs estimated mileage.
The key takeaway here is that this bike is capable of 30 to 110 miles of range depending on the intensity of your ride.
The range of the bike is largely dependant on the assistance mode that you select (with Turbo having the worst affect on max mileage) and how hilly your route is (with hilly routes being the worst for max mileage).
Summary
The Haibike xDuro HardNine RC is a great all-round electric mountain bike.
It gives the user total control over their riding experience allowing them to customise everything from the level of motor assistance to the resistance of the air forks. This customisation makes it suitable for a wide range of paths and trails, from heavy duty off-roading to leisurely cycles on paved roads.
The max speed of 15.5mph gives you plenty of juice when you need it. As mentioned previously this is a max speed for the electrical assistance as opposed to the bike itself, so the user can continue to pedal to build up speed after the bike reaches 15.5mph and the motor cuts out.
The impressive max range of 110 miles gives you more than enough distance for long journeys, so you don’t have to worry about frequent stops for recharging. The handy display gives you instant info about current battery levels and assistance mode so it’s easy to make adjustments on the fly if you need to conserve charge.
If you’re looking for a bike that can tackle any terrain with highly customisable electric assistance and comfort focused extras, this bike from Haibike is an excellent choice.
FAQs
The Haibike xDuro HardNine RC is capable of 30 to 110 miles of range on a full change. This range is large because of the different factors involved in the max range calculation – this includes the motor assistance mode that’s being used (with “Turbo” having the worst effect on max range) as well as the intensity of the route (with hilly routes having the worst effect on max range).
You can expect 30 range of miles with high assistance levels on an intense route and up to 110 miles with low assistance levels and a fairly flat route.
The Haibike xDuro HardNine RC is able to offer motor assistance up to a max speed of 15.5mph, but that doesn’t mean that that’s the max speed of the bike. The motor will stop providing forward momentum once the bike reaches a speed of 15.5mph, but if the user continues to pedal the speed of the bike will continue to increase.
The main difference between the Haibike HardSeven and HardNine is the wheek size. The HardSeven uses 27.5″ wheels whereas the HardNine uses 29″ wheels.
Haibike is owned by Winora AG. Winora are a German bike company that are part of the Dutch Accell Group (the biggest bike company in Europe). It’s safe to say that Haibike have backing from reputable companies.
Thanks for reading our review of the Haibike xDuro HardNine RC.
If you’re looking for an ebike that’s more reasonably priced, you may want to take a look at our article covering Best Electric Bike Under £500 UK.
Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any thoughts or queries that you’d like us to take a look at – we’d be happy to help.
