FIRST RIDE REVIEW

The New Moustache Game eMTB

Review by Robert Johnston | Photos By Jérémie Reuiller

French brand Moustache Bikes has launched their new Game eMTB platform, available in 150 and 160 versions and powered by the new Bosch CX MY25 drive unit. Keep on reading this article, or check out the YouTube video, to learn all about this new electric mountain bike, and find out our first impressions on its performance.

ABOUT THE NEW MOUSTACHE GAME eMTB

The Moustache Game is available in 150 or 160 variants, both of which are powered by the new Bosch CX Gen 5 drive unit. Unique to Moustache is how this drive unit is incorporated into the design of the frame.

French company Moustache bikes designed the Game to be a well-rounded machine that is comfortable and confidence-inspiring on the way down the hill, while remaining efficient on the way up.

DRIVE UNIT AND ELECTRONICS | The alloy framed Moustache Game was designed around this new motor situated within the mainframe at 90 degree rotation, allowing for a couple of benefits and giving a very unique appearance. This design choice was selected for airflow and weight distribution reasons.

By rotating the drive unit in such a way, less is covered by the motor cover, maximizing the air flowing over the motor. This is done in a bid to keep it cool when you’re pushing hard on the steep and extended climbs. In this way, it should be more difficult to get the temperature of the motor to increase to a level where the power is limited, and it should run more efficiently overall.

Another big benefit is the ability to fit the battery lower in the frame, closer to the ground. This concentrates the mass lower and more centrally on the bike, which should improve ride dynamics. Because the downtube is only open at the very bottom, the frame rigidity is able to be retained without excessive added weight.

The battery can also be removed straight out of the down tube. Moustache worked on a unique mounting system to keep things extremely solid and rattle free, called “Zero Relative Movement”. It uses a through-axle to mount the battery into the frame, and an injection-molded spring system on the other end to prevent rattle.  

You can choose between the new 600Wh Bosch PowerTube or the existing 750Wh PowerTube battery, and both can be boosted by 250Wh with the PowerMore range extender. The Game comes fitted with the System Controller in the top tube; Wireless Mini Remote, and new Purion 400 display sleekly mounted to the bar.

You still get 85Nm Torque and 600W Peak Power out of the new Bosch MY25 Performance Line CX drive unit, but Bosch has worked to improve the control and reduce motor noise both when climbing and descending.

FRAME AND FEATURES | Moustache has some neat details in the frame, from that aforementioned battery mounting system, to a neat charge port cover that has a magnet to capture it when using the range extender. Above the battery – next to the head tube – is a storage bag for carrying a spare tube and chain links, and the steerer is fitted with an easy to access multi tool. 

To obtain the space within the front triangle to fit a water bottle or range extender on all sizes without impacting standover, Moustache offset the rear shock by 14mm in the frame. Within the down tube, Moustache’s Smart Cable integration rail system separates the cables and keeps them from rattling. The internal routing runs through ports at the side of the head tube rather than the through-headset system that many brands are opting to move towards.

SUSPENSION | The Game is available in a 150 and 160 variation, separated by their build kits and the amount of rear wheel travel. The 150 has a 150mm rear end and is targeted more at the all mountain and touring crowd, with a 160mm fork with 36mm stanchions, and a slightly less aggressive nature overall. It’s fitted with Moustache’s own Magic Grip inline shock, which is custom tuned to the frame.

The Game 160 has a 160mm travel rear end with a 170mm fork. The rear shock is a custom-tuned Fox Float X regardless of the build selected, and forks receive burlier 38mm stanchion forks.

Moustache’s rear end delivers around 18% leverage ratio progression, meaning air shocks are advisable.

GEOMETRY | Headline figures of the geometry on the Game 160 in a size large are a 64.2 head angle; 75.8 effective seat tube angle; 480mm Reach and tall 652mm Stack. The rear end is a long 462mm across the size range, and the bb is fairly high at 353mm.  

BUILD SPECS  | Moustache offers a range of specs to cater to different preferences and budgets, from the €5,399 150.6 to the top spec 160.9 at €8,999. Upping to the 750wh from the 600Wh battery will cost you €300.

Looking at the Game 160.8 we tested, which retails for €7,499 with the 600Wh Bosch PowerTube battery, the spec is solidly selected and high quality throughout.

There’s Fox factory suspension, with a custom-tuned Float X and a 38 170mm fork. The drivetrain is Sram’s GX AXS T-Type; and there’s a Shimano XT brakeset with big rotors on both ends.

There’s a proper set of Maxxis tyres, featuring Assegai MaxxGrip on both ends with EXO+ front and Double Down rear casings.

Finally, there’s a Moustache alloy cockpit and rims; Mavic hubs, and a KS dropper post.

THE DIRT

SETUP | We managed to log one ride on both the Game 150 and Game 160, letting us get a good feeling for the difference between the two machines and a solid assessment of the character of the bike. 

Setup proved to be fairly simple, thanks in part to the neat integrated sag gauge on the top tube. On both bikes, I found the fork required a little more air pressure than usual to remain supportive with the leverage of the longer rear end. Otherwise, both the Moustache Magic shock and Fox Float X made for a fairly simple time getting to a comfortable initial setup. Finding the balance of sensitivity and bottom out resistance was not the easiest, and both shocks could likely have benefitted from an additional volume reducer for the rowdiest riding, but they held their own for the most part. 

ELECTRONICS & INTEGRATION | Talking about the new MY25 “Gen 5” Bosch system, and it’s an evolution rather than complete revolution, but it’s an improvement all the same. If you want some more detailed thoughts, then head over to the dedicated Bosch MY25 article and video.

The new Bosch system is notably quiet and slightly smoother in feeling. The biggest change in terms of performance is the increase in responsiveness of your input pedaling forces. It delivers its power to the rear wheel more sensitively, making it easier to control the power and the traction in the rear wheel.

The new Purion 400 display is easy to live with, taking up minimal real estate on the bars and offering some bright and easy-to-glance information.

Moustache’s decision to rotate the motor is visually unique, and certainly a little eye catching at first. When you’re riding it though, there’s no perceivable drawbacks. However, I wouldn’t necessarily say that there’s been a huge benefit to the center of gravity either. Certainly, it’s hard to discern with the long rear end throwing the weight bias of the bike out compared to the other eBikes I’ve ridden lately with shorter chainstays.

CLIMBING | On the way up the hill, the story was quite similar for both bikes. The seating position is solid, if a little on the “old school” side. The Game has a slacker seat tube angle than most offerings, and a very long rear end. These counter each other and make for a capable and comfortable climber overall, feeling a little like a hill climb moto when it gets steep. 

The climbing platform is solid and mitigates any excessive rear shock movement without making for an uncomfortable level of feedback through the saddle. Moustache’s Magic shock on the 150 offered a firmer platform than the Fox Float X on the 160, but the 160 was by no means a soft and “soggy” bike when pedaling.

DESCENDING | On the way down the hill, it was a story of two bikes. The Game 150 was more considerably more “Trail” in feeling, making for a slightly more agile and trail friendly feeling overall. It didn’t quite have the terrain ironing sensitivity that you’d likely be seeking if you were regularly riding ultra-rough and rowdy technical descents, but felt to be a little more lively for mellower trails. 

The geometry is fairly stable and so it could encourage pushing hard from time-to-time, but the suspension began to find its limits once you really opened the taps. This was most evident on the last trail we rode on the 150, which really felt to be on the limits of the bike’s comfort levels. The harder compound and weaker casing tires were a contributing factor to this without a doubt, struggling to latch on to the slick root and rock hidden within the loamy dirt.

On the second day, getting on the Game 160 was a totally different experience. Straight away there was a more supportive and solid feeling, with the slightly more aggressive geometry and the increased travel and control giving a lot more capability to push on the way down. We rode the last trail from the prior day’s ride as the first trail of the second day, and it was profound how much more confidence was instilled from the more aggressive platform.

This 160.8 spec made for a very fun time. The geometry is not the most aggressive out there and the long rear end makes it a little harder to pop and play compared to some. But it did make for a very easy bike to ride, with plenty of weight on the front wheel and overall a calm and stable nature. I managed to shake the tension out of the wheelset on my test bike within a couple of laps. Following an F1-style pit stop to fit a replacement wheel, I didn’t suffer further issues, but I felt as if the stock wheels were limiting the feelings of precision, with a tendency to deflect more than I’d have liked. Of course this is only a first impression and with limited time to obtain a detailed overview of spoke tensions and frame stiffness with a burlier wheel, it’s impossible to be sure of the culprit of these feelings.

The Wolf’s First Impression

Overall the Moustache Game wasn’t the most inspiring eMTB to push hard on the descents, but it was comfortable and easy to ride on all but the most challenging of natural descents. If you’re looking to hit the top step of your local e-Enduro race, then the Game may not be the ultimate choice, but for a solid eMTB to get lapping some steep climbs and fairly rowdy descents, it’s a good time.

Price: €5,399 (150.6 w/600Wh) – €9,299 (160.9 w/750Wh)
Website:  moustachebikes.com