Haibike FullSeven 4 Review

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Since most e-bike manufacturers have increased their prices substantially for 2021 it’s very hard to get a decent full suspension e-MTB for under £3000. In this Haibike FullSeven 4 review I will look at the latest budget offering from the well-known German brand to see if it’s up to scratch.

Summary

As pioneers of the electric mountain bike, Haibike continue to release new models to keep up with the rapidly evolving technology. The Haibike FullSeven 4 is their entry-level full suspension e-MTB and benefits from a lot of trickle down tech from more expensive models. At just under £3000 it’s one of the cheapest full suspension e-bikes currently available.

Last year (2020) there were quite a few models available under the £3000 mark, most of which are no longer available (with the exception of the £2799 Decathlon e-Stilus). Unfortunately the UK relies on most of its electric bikes from European brands and Brexit has had a major impact on prices, with 20% price hikes across the board. This means that a lot of e-bikes that were just under £3000 last year are now significantly more expensive.

It’s good to see Haibike have managed to keep the price rise to a minimum with the FullSeven 4 – let’s have a closer look at the components.

👉 Check out the Decathlon e-Stilus Full Suspension e-MTB

Electric components

At the heart of the FullSeven 4 is the excellent Yamaha PW-ST mid-drive motor – I’m a big fan of the Yamaha system and this latest model has been further refined. The weight of the unit has been slightly reduced, although at 3.4kg it’s still 600g heaver than the equivalent Shimano Steps motor. Performance from this motor is a very strong 70Nm of torque which makes it particularly suitable for off-road riding.

Like previous models, the Yamaha uses a combination of measurements taken from rider input – torque, cadence and speed sensors. This has been further improved for 2021 making the motor even more efficient and producing a very natural and intuitive assist feel.

Battery

A removeable 500Wh battery pack is neatly integrated into the down tube and will give the rider a maximum range of up to 80 miles – this will vary greatly depending on rider weight, terrain and the assist level used. I would say a realistic range is in the region of 50 miles for the average rider.

Display

The Yamaha display is basic but functional. There are 4 levels of assist to choose from with ‘eco’ being the best for battery range. There’s also a trip function, speedo and battery range indicator. The display has a 1.7″ screen and is mounted on the left hand side of the handlebar (near the grip).

Bike components

Even though the Haibike FullSeven 4 is considered an entry-level e-MTB, it’s actually very well equipped for the price and uses Shimano’s latest Deore drivetrain, and brakes. The suspension’s not too bad either with a Suntour XCM34 120mm fork at the front and a Suntour Edge LR-08 rear shock.

Gearing

Gearing is an important consideration when buying an electric mountain bike, especially if you’re going to be tackling steep, technical climbs. The Haibike has a steel 38t front chainring running a Shimano Deore M5120 rear mech an 11-46 10-speed cassette. Shifting is crisp and precise through the M6000 trigger shifter which has a pleasingly light action.

Brakes

Shimano MT400 hydraulic brakes are fairly entry-level but they will be more than adequate for the kind of rider this bike is aimed at. On my short test ride these brakes performed surprisingly well, modulation was good and I didn’t experience any brake fade, even on steep descents.

Suspension

Suspension is provided by Suntour XCM34 coil spring front suspension forks with 120mm of travel and pre-load adjustment and lock-out function. There rear shock is a Suntour LR-08. This set-up is ideal for the beginner and intermediate rider, although it will have its limits, especially when compared with more expensive suspension units.

Wheels and tyres

The FullSeven 4 benefits from a very robust wheelset – the Shimano MT400-B hubs are laced into tough 27.5″ Schürmann, Yak25 rims, these will cope with the all the rigours of trail riding. Tyres are tubed WTB Ranger Comp in a trail busting 27.5″ x 2.3″ size – these are good all-round XC tyres and are equally at home on rocky trails, gravel and tarmac.

Frame and finishing kit

As with all Haibike products the frame and finishing kit is of excellent quality. I’ve been riding MTB’s on and off since the late 80’s and the FullSeven 4 inspires confidence – I’m definitely rusty and don’t get to ride off-road much these day, but I felt very comfortable riding on some very rocky (and muddy) trails on Bodmin moor.

Who is the Haibike FullSeven 4 aimed at?

The great thing about full suspension electric mountain bikes is their extreme versatility – I can see the Haibike being popular with daily commuters and weekend warriors alike. You could even use this for your daily ride to work and go out and smash the trails on the weekend. If you ride on poorly surfaced country roads, the FullSeven 4 handles this kind of terrain with ease. The ride can only be described as ‘plush’ – it takes potholes, debris and muck in its stride and doesn’t make a fuss when the going gets tough.

If your just starting out with e-mountain biking the Haibike is the perfect introduction without spending a fortune. I can also see this being an excellent tool for some light bikepacking / wild camping excursions, you can really take this thing off the beaten track!

Haibike FullSeven 4 review conclusion

I really like the Haibike FullSeven 4, it’s a world away from the first Haibike I road a few years back. It’s still quite a weighty beast at 24kg, but with the excellent Yamaha motor helping you along this isn’t really noticeable. It is a bit tough to pedal without the assist although it is possible thanks to the wide gear range (should you run out of battery).  Once the motor cuts out at 15.5mph the motor itself doesn’t really produce any perceivable drag, it’s the weight of the bike that becomes evident.

Thankfully the 500Wh battery should ensure you get hours of fun out on the trails. I only rode it for about 10 miles using a mixture of low to high assist and I only saw one bar drop off the battery indicator. Will it do the claimed 80 miles on a single charge? I reckon if you’re frugal with the assist it’s quite possible. My own e-bike uses a Shimano Steps motor with a 500Wh battery and I regularly get 70 miles out of a charge.

If you’re in the market for a full suspension e-MTB but don’t want to fork out more than £3000, there’s not really much choice in this price bracket. The Decathlon Stilus was the previous king of value, but this is no longer available in the UK.

I reckon this is your best bet at this price range. It’s incredibly well-made and feels solid to ride. The components are all decent and it’s an absolutely gorgeous bike to look at. Definitely the best full suspension electric mountain bike under £3000 available in the UK at the moment – highly recommended!

Full specification

👉 Check out the Decathlon e-Stilus Full Suspension e-MTB

Shop for ‘in-stock’ e-MTB’s available in Europe

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