Limited availability of 50 bikes and first deliveries scheduled for April/May. Form an orderly queue.
The Atherton S.170E is built around the 170mm enduro platform, and is powered by the Avinox drive system. A range of twelve frame sizes.
Press Release in full…
Atherton Bikes open presales for the new S.170E EMTB
The Atherton S.170E: Best-in-class fit, with the handling and power to match. Hitting the trails in April 2026.
Today Atherton Bikes opens presales for the highly anticipated S.170E, a full-power EMTB developed with a clear priority: ride feel. From balanced handling and controlled suspension behaviour to uncompromised fit across twelve frame sizes, every decision was made to ensure the bike rides like an Atherton, not just an EMTB.
Rather than rushing to market, the S.170E has been shaped by years of EMTB riding and testing in the Dyfi Valley. The result is a full-power enduro EMTB built around balance, durability and proper fit, developed to the same standards as every analogue Atherton bike.
A Handling-First EMTB
From the outset, the S.170E was engineered around a simple goal: build the best-handling full-power EMTB Atherton can create.
Geometry, suspension kinematics, chassis stiffness, motor choice and battery packaging were developed together as a single system. Weight placement and balance were prioritised from day one, rather than sacrificed in pursuit of headline figures. The result is a bike that stays composed, predictable and easy to manage, lap after lap.
Suspension is handled by Dave Weagle’s proven DW4 platform, delivering 170 mm of travel tuned specifically for EMTB use. Supportive under power, through the rough, and straightforward to set up, it delivers the same confident ride feel we expect from our analogue bikes, with high-torque motor support to unlock more runs.
“I’ve never ridden a full power EMTB that rides like an analogue MTB. The way the S.170E feels on the trail is so close to the standard S.170. It’s unbelievable.” Dan Atherton
Full-Power Performance, Compact Packaging
Power comes from the Avinox drive system, chosen not just for its industry leading output, but for its compact size and refined power delivery. This allowed Atherton to keep geometry, kinematics and chassis proportions exactly where they wanted them, without compromise.
“After months (and years) of testing various motors in the Dyfi Valley and beyond, the Avinox stood out as a big step forward in EMTB drive unit performance. The choice was clear.” Dan Brown, Atherton Bikes CEO
Real World Range
The S.170E will run a full-sized battery which offers the range needed for a solid ride, without tying the bike down when it comes to handling and manoeuvrability.
The battery is housed inside the downtube for strength and protection. It is not designed for trailside swaps but can be removed in minutes for service or travel when required. Every frame size runs the same full-capacity battery, with no cut-down capacity for smaller riders. Exact Wh figures will be revealed at launch, but through testing in the Dyfi Valley it’s proven good for 1600-2000 M of vertical.
Proper Fit, Across An Unmatched Size Range
True to Atherton’s Perfect Fit principles, the S.170E is offered in 12 frame sizes, starting from 415mm reach.
Crucially, every size receives the same motor system and full-capacity battery. Smaller riders get the same performance, range, and ride feel as larger riders, not compromised alternatives.
Key geometry figures include a 64° head angle and 77° seat angle, delivering confidence on steep descents while keeping climbing position efficient and poised.
S-Range Aluminium Chassis
The S.170E is built on Atherton’s S-Range aluminium platform, using subtractive-manufactured lugs and bonded tubes, all constructed from ultra-tough 7075 aluminium.
This approach delivers the strength and durability required for a full-power, gravity focussed EMTB, while giving Atherton the flexibility to offer our industry-leading range of 12 sizes, higher production capacity, and a more accessible entry point compared to our additive-manufactured platforms.
It also proved the most effective solution for EMTB design, allowing the team to accommodate motor cradle dimensions cleanly while precisely tuning stiffness and compliance to optimise ride feel.
Build Options
The S.170E is available in three complete builds, each centred around durability and on trail performance:
Build 1 (£8,999.00)
- Fox Factory suspension (38 fork / X2 shock)
- SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission, integrated with the Avinox drive system
- FSA carbon Gradient handlebar
Build 2 (£7,999.00)
- RockShox Ultimate suspension (ZEB fork / Vivid Air shock)
- SRAM GX Eagle Transmission, integrated with the Avinox drive system
- FSA alloy Gradient handlebar
Build 3 (£6,999.00)
- RockShox Select suspension (ZEB fork / Vivid Air shock)
- SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission
- FSA alloy Gradient handlebar
All builds come equipped with Hayes Dominion A4 brakes, Mavic E-Deemax wheels, and Continental Kryptotal tyres.
Presale numbers are limited to just 50 models. Additional bikes will be available at official launch, subject to standard production lead times. In 2026 only UK and EU customers will be able to order EMTB’s from Atherton, with global distribution planned later.
There already is a thread 😉
Modes close this quick !
Atherton E-bike development series – Bike Forum – Singletrack World Magazine Forum
Can they take some light er pics please. It’s hard to see what the bike looks like.. oh 😛
no weights?
Maybe this is the video Benji meant to post??
Episode 2
Looks good. Now I just need to find a spare £7,000 ?
Maybe by the time I’ve saved up my concerns about the motor long term durability will have been addressed.
Looks decent so far. Quite like the normal looking but big down tube and how it integrates with head tube and top tube. Looks better than most.
I reckon it’s going be an amazing looking bike. And that won’t be the best thing about it! For someone after an eMTB with Avinox power it’ll be pretty much unbeatable.
First batch sold out already – good business. Sounds like a lot of people have been waiting for this.
Interesting that you can order one but they still don’t have a battery capacity on the website.But it looks like a serious entry into the market
Very odd that they’re not revealing that. Makes me wonder if it’s small and they thought that would be the focus of comment if they announced it.
They’re talking about a ‘handling first’ design – smaller, lighter battery would be consistent with that.
Yeah, be interesting if they stiff the pre-order crowd with a 600wh battery in a fairly heavy high powered bike
Anyone who orders now can cancel before production starts. Assume they’ll have all the info before that time.
Was there a power cut during the photo shoot, very trendy if you are doing a perfume ad with a super model, but it would be nice to actually see the bike!
There’s an embargo on the motor.
Disappointed there’s no frameset option (Frame + Shock + Motor/Battery/etc)
I’m sure that will follow, given how many £5-10k eMTBs are at trail centres these days I’m think they’ll sell out of the initial production run quickly and I assume they make a bit more margin on complete bikes so makes sense to only offer those to start with.
They already have, they’re on the second presale now. Another 50.
Blimey, a lot of people been waiting for this!
As with hiding the motor… there is an embargo on the new batteries.
RE an embargo on the motor and the battery – You can’t see the battery, in fact that bike in the pics may not even have one installed. As for the motor, the headline says its an Avinox so whats to hide, we have all seen them on Amflows and other makes? These are not valid excuses for poor photographs. Either put it out there or don’t.
You can’t see the battery but if the specs are different to current batteries then you would know that if they listed them e.g. capacity increase of 100wh on both sizes (as rumoured).
Same for the motor if it looks different, is more compact, might be a lighter lower power variant rather than just a v2 etc.
Right then, prices start at £7000? The first 50 are spoken for, who are all these people who can afford that much money for a bicycle? Certainly no one that I know, I’m worried that what is seen as the high entry cost to this pastime is putting people off and eventually the bubble will burst again as it did during the “road cycling is the new golf” phase. These bikes will be obsolete by the end of the year anyway when the latest fad of 32” wheels takes over!
Are you suggesting Avinox have developed something just for Atherton? I would doubt it. Also I doubt you would really want more than an 800wh battery based on weight.
I reckon the bike will be 25/26kg minimum as it is
Its a shame just like all emtbs they mention nothing about sustainability. With a lifetime warranty , does that mean when in 2 years time Avinox do change their battery/motor design they will re weld your frame to take the next version 🤣
*waves* (Not this particular bicycle) Plenty of folk have been waiting for this, as when they first formed/did the original crowdfund there was mention of them doing an e-bike. That and Athertons offer cyclescheme. So £350ish a month for a higher rate taxpayer? Less if they paid the deposit in cash to secure it (yeah I know, no top ups etc, but there’s ways round it) then use the voucher to pay the balance.
So it’s eligible for the “cycle to work scheme”? Is this the scheme that excludes people who could actually need a bicycle, the unemployed and low income?
The scheme (and many other salary sacrifice schemes) are a disgrace, is anyone going to ride one of these to work?
It’s a “nod and a wink” fiddle for the already privileged.