STEALTH F-37 REVIEW

When purchasing an electric bike there are now a lot of various types, power options, and models available, while some will hit the spot just right, others will wonder if the electric bike is for them, enter the Stealth and Austrian-made firm that has brought the best of downhill mountain bikes and merged them with leading electric technology to create probably the best electric bike on the market for those that are looking for no compromises for fun, thrills and adrenaline.

For me, Stealth has hit the nail on the head when it comes to offering solutions for electrifying the mountain bike, from full-brown throttle powered electric motocross-style crossovers to the more traditional, but ever so exciting downhill bikes, powered by a powerful and responsive electric motor, while still offering peddle-power when you want to get those legs into shape.

So let's get into the details, for review, I had one of the high-range models from Stealth, a Stealth F-37, this wonderful bike looks mostly like any other downhill mountain bike, it has intelligent front and rear suspension that offer an adjustment on the fly, making sure that everyone can get the perfect feel, in how stiff or soft they like their suspension. I personally found keeping both the front and the rear suspension at the stock setting to have the best of both worlds, it would soak up every lump, bump, and ditch, but still give you enough stiffness that you know where your front wheel was landing and going, which is a feeling I have only really had whilst riding my motocross bike, unit now that is.

However, once you look past the suspension and overall look of the Stealth F-37 you will soon realise that the top and button tube are not tubular at all, and are indeed the same thing, foraged from aluminium this is where the battery is stored, resulting in a rather unusual rectangle design, and first it might look a little strange, but once you know what this bike can do, it feels as if you have been riding it for years. On the top tube, you will find an ignition switch that turns on the electric motor, here you are prompted by an LCD panel to input a code to activate the electric motor and throttle discreetly situated on the right-hand grip, just like a throttle on a motorbike. Once you enter the correct code the eclectic functions come to life where you can select either economy or competition mode for power delivery.

In economy mode, I found that initially, the stealth was quick in delivering its power from a standstill, but once you get used to the torque of the electric motor, a controlled acceleration from a standstill is achievable. However, once up to around 15mph is when you really feel the response of this 3,700-Watt eclectic motor. Power delivery is smooth and instant giving great clarity to the rider when they are making their descent on a course or giving you an extra boost on the toughest of hills.

Entering competition mode is a simple click of a button on the front LCD panel and I will say now that this is competition by name and competition by nature! I do not think I have had as much fun on a bike without a petrol engine, the sheer torque, power delivery, and instant boost you get when riding the Stealth F-37 is truly outstanding and will certainly leave any adrenaline seeker smiling from ear to ear.

Having had the Stealth F-37 for around a month and using it only in peak conditions due to coming into the winter months I found the battery life to be very generous, having had many outings testing both drive modes around woods, fields, tracks, quarries, you name it I rode around it, the bike left with a good 56% battery life, without needing a single charge, your usage may vary, but for 8 rides in total, I am very happy with that result.

One thing I will point out is that while this looks like a mountain bike and feels like a mountain bike, it is certainly more like a motorbike due to four things;

1. The sheer weight of the bike I found to be surprisingly hefty, its looks are very deceiving, but due to the sheer size of the battery and electric motor this is to be expected, it just does not look like a hefty bike while looking at it, which is a good thing in my option.

2. The top speed of the F-37 is topped at 37 MPH… yes, you read that right, and it will get there very quickly, so you must be aware of your surroundings, this bike is built for speed!

3. Price is another factor, coming in at a cool £7,699 this puts it into a motorbike itself - albeit a beginner one. That is a very high price to pay on paper for an electric bike, but having ridden it, and seen what its capable of doing, I’d say that is a fair price for something this established, I have known people spend this much on road bikes, and mountain bikes in the past, and you’re getting a lot more for the money in comparison to them.

4. This might come as a surprise to some and not to others, but the Stealth F-37 is advertised for off-road use only, meaning that it is not qualified to be driven on public roads. Therefore, you must only operate it on private land or within a woodland, etc. For me living in the countryside, this restriction is not a big deal, however, those looking to ride this to work might want to think about other options.

In all, I would say the Stealth F-37 really shows the power of what can be done when electric engineering is combined with downhill mountain bike madness, I honestly have not had that much fun without an engine before, and I can really see how this could become the norm for off-road mountain biking, power was instant, smooth and responsive with incredible cooldown once off the throttle.

This is truly a bike for the thrill seekers, the mischief-makers, and the risk-takers. It will deliver a smile whenever you ride it, and that is priceless.

To find out more about the Stealth F-37 please visit: www.rideandglide.co.uk/buy/electic-bikes/stealth/