(Above) Sirris handles the
suspension department, and
they offer a solid platform
for aggressive riding.
(Left) With 56 horsepower,
power isn't an issue. The
Bonnell is very fast.
(Below) The screen has
three different displays
and is easy to read when
sitting still.
B
onnell's other two-wheel option
is the 775 MX electric mountain
bike. You might find yourself
double-taking at this thing, as it ap-
pears to be some kind of franken-bike,
like an e-moto meets a two-wheeled
downhill pedal bike. And yes, it is all
those things combined.
The 775 rides on a 4130 chromoly
main frame with a 6061 forged alumi-
num rear end. A Suntour Rux 38 RC+
fork and Suntour Voro Coil shock offer
8.66 inches and 6.69 inches of travel,
respectively. The bike is powered by
a CYC X1 Pro Gen 4 motor, which puts
out 280 Nm of torque and 6000 watts
of peak power at the cranks. Magura
brakes are mounted to a mullet-style
29/27.5-wheel combo and a single-
speed drivetrain. Pedal-assist is
available along with a more moto-style
throttle on the handlebars. The 775
has three different power modes and
weighs 75 pounds. It comes in three
different sizes for riders of varying
heights and has a starting MSRP of $5895.
For those brave enough to try, pedal-as-
sist is an option on the Bonnell 775 e-MTB,
but the single-speed drivetrain means you'll
spin out early and have no other gears to
use when encountering a climb. For that
reason alone, most riders will certainly opt
for the throttle. With eight horsepower at
your right hand, this thing is more motor-
cycle than mountain bike, and riders find
themselves moto-ing on a downhill MTB
chassis. Dirt jumps, fire roads, and pump
tracks don't stand a chance as the 775
eats up anything in its path.
This thing combines pretty much ev-
erything two-wheeled, and it screams fun.
However, it is still pretty niche. It's not ex-
actly a mountain bike and can't be ridden
on most public trails. It's also not exactly
a motorcycle, and it won't keep up with
any mid- or full-size gas-powered moto.
It's somewhere in between the two and
blends aspects from both of our favorite
things, moto and MTB. Come to think of it,
that might be what makes it so unique.
BONNELL
775 MX
E-MTB
VOLUME ISSUE NOVEMBER , P121
