SHUVL PROTOTYPE EMTB REVIEW

September 9, 2026

Joe McEwan of Starling Cycles has never been afraid of doing things his way. So, when he was asked to design an eMTB, it was never going to be a run-of-the-mill design. The Shuvl prototype eMTB was the result, taking inspiration from the motorbike world to produce an alloy tubular sub-frame design with a modular eBike system. While the looks are unique and polarizing, diving into the details of the Shuvl design and the rationale, it begins to make a lot of sense. Answering the prayers of consumers looking for a modular electric mountain bike, capable of running any drive system the rider desires, could Shuvl have the design of the future?

DETAILS OF THE SHUVL EBIKE

ORIGIN & DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

Shuvl is a new eMTB company, created by Starling Cycles founder Joe McEwan. Joe was approached by UK automotive parts manufacturer AE Oscroft to design an eBike. Rather than attempting to shoehorn a motor and battery into a conventional bicycle frame layout, the design takes direct inspiration from a motorcycle chassis. Built around a twin down tube design using an alloy tubular sub-frame, the layout provides space for the external battery arrangement, while offering a modular mounting area to bolt in various motor drive systems.

SUSPENSION & GEOMETRY

The prototype is a 170mm travel enduro bike featuring a 64-degree head angle, 450mm chainstays, and a mullet wheel setup. The suspension platform utilizes a high-pivot single-pivot design, with a progressive leverage ratio thanks to the shock arrangement. An upper idler positions chain forces directly on the main pivot to eliminate motor-induced pedal bob, while a secondary lower idler minimizes chain growth through suspension travel. This layout reduces derailleur movement, improves shifting performance, and minimizes chain slap for a quieter rear end.

MATERIALS & MANUFACTURING

The frame is constructed from 6000-series tubular aluminum, chosen for its superior fatigue resistance and ductility compared to 7000-series alloys. The structural design leverages engineering principles from aerospace applications to ensure long-term fatigue life and sufficient strength to handle the abuse. Complete bike builds weigh under 25kg (55lbs), making the Shuvl eBike Prototype comparable with many alloy eMTBs.

MOTOR & BATTERY COMPATIBILITY

A central feature of the Shuvl frame is modular motor compatibility, designed to accommodate current and future drive units from major manufacturers including Yamaha, Bosch, Shimano, and Avinox. The frame utilizes an easily removable external battery, supporting various battery capacities ranging from 300Wh up to 800Wh. This makes hot-swapping batteries easy, and allows for off-bike charging.

AVAILABILITY & INFORMATION

Shuvl is currently undergoing pre-production testing with refined sample frames. The project aims to move into commercial production once investment is secured. Further details and updates can be found on the company’s official website and Instagram channel.

THE DIRT | THE SHUVL PROTOTYPE ON THE TRAIL

I spent a good few weeks putting the Shuvl prototype eMTB to the test on the trails around the Tweed Valley, Scotland. From the first day riding with Shuvl’s mastermind, I was thoroughly impressed by the immediate familiarity the eBike provided, contrasting its looks with very easy trail manners. As for the looks, as my time with the Shuvl in the garage progressed, it became increasingly more palatable, with its purposeful design eventually sitting easy. The reactions with the general public illustrated how the design looks better in person, with some going as far to say that it was a refreshing sight in the world of typical eBikes.

From the very first trail, the Shuvl delivered high levels of predictability, and incredible balance between the wheels. The low-slung battery and motor design combined to give excellent stability and ease the transition between corners. It was easy to tip the Shuvl into corners with confidence, especially when combined with the geometry. With its long rear center and a relatively short reach, modest head tube angle, and tall stack height; the riding position was exceptionally well centered between the wheels. Plentiful front load was achieved with minimal rider input, giving stellar traction and confidence in the front end.

This centered position and highly predictable mid-high single pivot suspension meant I hopped on and charged from the first second. There was no adjustment period required, with intuitive handling that had me tipping it into corners with extreme confidence, and letting off the brakes to let the suspension eat up the chunk. Though the longer rear end doesn’t lead itself to particularly playful riding, you could still navigate the Shuvl through the tight and technical trails without too much effort. Driving the bike into the ground, there was sufficient platform in the rear end to generate some speed from the trail, though it favored more gravity-led terrain, where it would maintain speed well.

The tall front end kept things comfortable in the steeps, and the suspension did a reasonable job at balancing geometry preservation and comfort when on the brakes. It’s a bike that preferred considered, strong braking efforts, but retained a sufficiently planted feeling when on the anchors to keep me comfortable.

Going up the hill, the climbing position and relatively long rear end gave the Shuvl stellar technical climbing ability, with the Bosch Gen 5 CX-R drive unit fitted to my prototype delivering solid performance. The 725Wh external battery offered reasonable range, and while the integration wasn’t the cleanest, you would expect elements like the bash guard to be refined once the Shuvl makes production.

All in all, I was impressed by Shuvl’s unique eBike prototype, delivering enjoyable trail performance and a refreshing purpose-driven design. We would love to hear your thoughts and feedback on this design on The Loam Wolf Forum, so head over there and get involved in the discussion!