FANTIC XEF 1.9 EMTB

THE BIG TRAVEL ITALIAN

Feature by Cole Gregg

SPONSORED CONTENT

Fantic has been producing motorcycles since 1968, and in 2015 they stepped into the e-bike world with a full product line. They were even the first brand to introduce a mixed wheel setup on eMTB, with their XF1. Fantic has a dedicated e-bike facility just outside Milan where they design, test, and assemble all their models.

Instead of bringing a plain off-the-shelf frame to market, Fantic draws on over 50 years of experience in motorcycle design and engineering to produce a unique market offering that is solely their own. They now offer 11 different models, ranging from commuters to 200mm self-shuttle dh rigs, and the 190mm travel and 90Nm torque motor of the Fantic XEF 1.9 piqued our fancy. Let’s dissect this long-travel eMTB.

As with all of our Dissected Features, this is not intended to be a long-term review or endorsement of a product but is instead a chance for our viewers and readers to get a deep dive look into some of the newest tech and products in the mountain bike space. We thank Fantic for the opportunity to create this feature and get you some valuable beta on the XEF 1.9 eMTB.

ABOUT THE FANTIC XEF 1.9

The Fantic XEF 1.9 features a Brose S-Mag 36 drive unit, which delivers 90Nm of torque and up to 410% boost in rider assistance. The overall drive unit weight of 6.17 pounds or 2.8 kg is competitive, given its strong assistance. This belt-driven drive unit has been around since 2018 but has received significant running model changes improving durability and efficiency. The handlebar remote shows remaining battery life as well as power modes, with a rocker button to toggle between assistance levels. Fantic has gone with a 720Wh removable battery, which can be charged on or off the bike using the Rosenberg charge port. This battery design was used to help keep the center of gravity lower slung on the frame, improving overall ride quality.

The XEF 1.9 bike has 190mm of travel both front and rear, with a mixed-wheel setup. Delivering that 190mm of rear travel is Fantic’s full float system. The shock is not attached to the frame at either end, but rather the upper shock mount is on the rocker link, while the lower shock mount attaches at the chainstay. Essentially this is a linkage driven single pivot, but with a floating shock design which allowed Fantic to tune and modify the characteristics by changing the dimensions of the rocker link to suit the bike’s intentions. This design ethos is shared across all of Fantic’s longer travel e-bikes and delivered solid performance on the way down the hill.

FRAME FEATURES & DETAILS

One of the standout parts of the frame is the carbon seat stay, on an otherwise all-aluminum frame. This split seat stay design was introduced with the goal of fine-tuning the way the rear triangle of the bike behaves under load. Outside of being directly correlated to how the bike performs, it also brings a unique visual touch to the bike and is unlike anything we have seen before.

The downtube-mounted removable battery allows for quick swaps or easy indoor storage during the winter months. This leaves the water bottle mount on the underside of the top tube. The frame has been designed and tested in-house at Fantic’s dedicated E-Bike facility, which includes a rigorous process of F.E.M. (Finite Element Method) Analysis to optimize the structure. With this bike being meant for the most aggressive of terrain, Fantic wanted to own every step of the design and prototyping process.

GEOMETRY

The XEF 1.9 comes in three sizes: small, medium and large. Our size large featured a conservative 469-millimeter reach, with a 642mm stack height and 1281mm wheelbase. Across the size range, shared figures include the 459-millimeter chainstays; a 64.5 degree head tube angle, and a 76.5 degree seat tube angle. There are no flip chips or geometry adjustments found on the frame, so you’ve got to ride it as it comes.

BUILD OPTIONS

For 2025 there are three different models available: two with an aluminum frame, and one carbon frame variant. The lower spec XEF 1.9 Race lands in at $7,190, while the carbon frame Team level build is $7,990.

Our XEF 1.9 Factory came in at $7,390 and weighed 58lbs. It was equipped with a Rockshox ZEB Ultimate 190mm fork up front, which was paired with an Ohlins TTX22M coil shock. Mavic E-DeeMax wheels were wrapped in Vittoria Tires, with a 2.6” E-Mazza in the front and 2.8” E-Martello out back. Italian brand Braking provided the IN.CA.S two-piston brakes, which stopped on a 203mm rotor out back and 223mm up front. SRAM’s GX Eagle AXS drivetrain covered the shifting. Our size large had a 125mm Crankbrothers Highline dropper, while sizes medium and small receive just a 100mm variant – our biggest complaint with the spec on this aggressive eMTB. Overall, Fantic placed more of an emphasis on overall ride quality and ride design, rather than hitting a specific weight number with the build.

THE WOLF’S FIRST IMPRESSION

While we are working on our full long-term review, we wanted to give you a quick overview of our time on the bike so far. The Fantic XEF 1.9’s 720Wh battery provided ample range for 4,000 feet of climbing with life to spare. The drive unit ran quietly in the background, with minimal noise except under high load at lower cadences. While the power delivery was natural and predictable, we could always ask for more initial torque to get up the steepest of terrain. The bike’s 58-pound weight was well managed, feeling a little lighter on the trails.

On descents, the 190mm of full-float suspension provided great bump-eating stability over rough terrain, while the MX wheel setup reclaimed some agility despite the long chainstays. With how ground hugging the bike is, there is a surprising amount of pop to be had out of the frame on jump lines. When leaning the bike into corners, it never felt timid or lacked front-end grip. The riding position left me feeling very much in the bike, which instilled confidence the harder I pushed it. The frame was rattle-free, and even received a comment from Drew on how quiet it was as I whizzed by when we were shooting the video. The bike was designed for riders who search for high-speed, technical terrain, and Fantic’s XEF 1.9 delivered fairly well, with solid suspension performance and comfortable geometry. Add its efficient, swappable battery for all-day adventures, and the performance overall has been impressive.

For more information about the models available or to pick one up of your own check out  the Fantic website to find an authorized dealer near you.

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