MV Agusta and ABT Craft the Perfect Gravel E-Bike, but It's Going To Cost You Nearly $10K

If you're up to date with cycling industry trends, then you know that e-bikes are one of the hottest things right now. Beyond that, gravel riding is showing no signs of slowing down, either and with that, we've been seeing countless automotive and motorcycle manufacturers jump on the e-bike bandwagon, some going a step further and looking to cash in on the ever-growing gravel market.

That basically sums up what's going on with MV Agusta's E-Mobility spin-off and ABT Sportline's freshest venture: it's an electrified gravel e-bike that brings hundreds of years of automotive know-how to the cycling game, and yes, it's only limited to 200 pieces, so if you don't get one now, you never will. Whether or not you should is what we're here to explore.

Now, when two names like MV Agusta and ABT show something off to the world, you can expect it to be downright amazing. After all, ABT has been around since 1896 and working exclusively on Audi, VW, Seat, and several others, and MV Agusta is well, MV Agusta; just turn your TV to any racing channel to see their machines. Yet, none of these teams are, as you'd say, "specialized" in cycles, so this one's bound to be something else entirely, infused from tip to tail with a whole bunch of automotive and moto gusto.

So, things start off with nothing more than the one material the automotive world loves most: carbon fiber. This means that this beauty is handcrafted as there are no carbon fiber mold injection or hydroforming methods on the current market; each piece is placed into a mold, upon which a layer of epoxy/resin is added, and then another piece of carbon, more resin, more layers, and some tens or hundreds of hours later, you have a bicycle frame. It's one clear reason why the ABT Gravel R is priced at no less than €8,990 ($9,750 at current exchange rates). That does include a free gift, though, and it's a rather sizeable one; we'll get to that later.

With the backbone for the ABT laid down, let's see what other magic is in store. Often, gravel bikes feature a rigid front fork, but for the R, ABT, and Agusta have chosen to add a suspension fork to the front end. We're looking at a top-shelf Fox 32 Factory TC fork with a reasonable 40 mm of travel, enough to smoothen out hits with ease and actually help you push a bit beyond a gravel road; singletracks are on this one's menu, folks. All that's then coupled with a pair of Pirelli Cinturato rubbers that look like downright MTB tires, so again, the R pushes the bounds as to how deep into the woods you can venture on a gravel cycle.

Now, being an electric bike, we need to take a closer look at the e-systems manufacturer chosen for this job; after all, ABT nor Agusta craft e-bike drivetrains. So, they've called upon the powers of yet another German powerhouse, Mahle, to furnish the R with an X20 setup with power coming from a rear-wheel-mounted motor.

This little powerhouse cranks out 55 Nm (40.5 lb-ft) of torque and weighs just 1.4 kg (3.1 lbs), making it one of the lightest motors the industry offers. Sure, it's not the highest level of torque you've ever seen, but then again, I want my ride to still feel like a bicycle, and this motor offers just that; I've tested a Mahle setup myself, and it brings an amazing balance between human and machine.

Oh, and integrated into the downtube, a 350 Wh battery is hidden from sight. With it and a range extender, Mahle states that over 140 km (87 mi) of range is possible. Speaking of range extenders, that's what you receive as a free gift if you dish out the bucks for this one.

Last but not least for the ABT Gravel R, and a big reason for the price, is the groupset. If you're into cycling, then the name Campagnolo tells you all you need to know about who's behind the magic to get you moving. An Ekar groupset with 1x13 speeds and specifically designed for gravel riding is thrown in, and braking is from the same manufacturer, too.

As an idea, this drivetrain and braking setup can be found selling for as much as €1,800, which is nearly one-fourth of the R's price tag. Are you starting to get the idea? Add features like a carbon fiber handlebar and 3D-printed carbon saddle, and the R actually sounds like one of the best deals I've seen this year from a price/component comparison. You also receive a certificate of authenticity with your machine and a number plate on the frame, and, in all, the Gravel R weighs just 13.4 kg (29.5 lbs).

All that's left to do now is really think about whether or not you want something like this in your life; I know I do. Oh, and don't forget that once they're gone, they're gone for good.