The new Maxx Huraxdax ELS – 2023 power up!

Motorized bikes have created quite a buzz in the FATBike world and lifted the possibilities of FATBike use cases to new hights. The 2023 Maxx Huraxdax ELS is the latest refreshing news in that sector. Being a rare High-End-Full-Suspension-e-FATBike this machine roams in its own world without real competition. So, to appraise it we can only measure by its own ancestors. Well then, let’s have a look at this new rig and the family tree it grows on.

2023 Maxx Huraxdax ELS – full of upgrades

Much was done to make the Huraxdax better than ever before. There is an updated geometry, a new rear kinematic and an overall updated design bringing many fresh solutions and nice details. The design can be described in two words: straightened and modern. Whereas the geometry clearly sets the path in a more Enduro biased direction.

Gone are the days of the bulky and quirky first gen Huraxdax. This new flagship, sculpted from 6061 T6 Aluminum tubes, is as sleak and slender as … a battery powered offroad beast with up to 5 inch tires can possibly be. To better accommodate the new layout also some base specs were changed, e.g. 200mm brake rotors come as standard and bar, stem and seat post are contributed by e*thirteen instead of Race Face.

What remains is the custom bike approach: all Maxx Bikes are subject to your personal preferences and will be built to (your) order. Just grab the Maxx Configuration Tool and give it a shot! So, bear in mind that many things we’ll speak about in this article might be slightly different in case your personal configuration differs from our test rig.

You will find more general data in our “FATBike-IN-A-BOX” below. 

FATBIKE-IN-A-BOX (Click me!)

What has changed?

Some say that the last generation Huraxdax ELS was just one great bike. We do, for instance! However, Maxx listened to their customers and took the challenge of beating their own ambitions. Tracking down the improvements over the old model gives a fairly long list.

To us, the most striking upgrade is the further refined geometry with slacker head angle (65 vs. 66°), steeper seat angle (75 vs. 74.5), more reach (470 vs 460mm), less stack (652 vs. 666mm), shorter seat tube (460mm vs 480) and longer wheelbase (all figures relate to size Large). In particular early pre-2020 models years Maxx FATBikes came with fairly conservative geometry layouts making them easy to ride. On the flip side these rigs were less nimble and playful in technical sections. In 2023 the Huraxdax ELS finally catches up with the latest frame configurations and as a result becomes much more versatile overall. The new frame translates into better performance up and down the hill whilst maintaining the very comfortable seating position of its predecessors.

Besides size and angles Maxx invested a lot of brain, time and money in a re-design of the rear suspension kinematic. Improvements cover the allocation of pivot points, shock length, motion layout, bearing sizes and even the shock itself. All parts are bigger and sturdier now. The whole exercise aims to improve sensitivity, provide a smooth operation throughout the entire travel range and give more big hit capabilities by adding top end progression. More progression translates into less bottom outs, which for you simply means that you can hit the track harder. Bigger bearings were added to increase lateral stiffness. And the new Manitou Mara shock comes in custom tune to match the performance of the 150mm Manitou Mastodon suspension fork. The rear end provides 145mm travel.
For you those changes mean: you can go faster and hit the trails harder than ever before on a more precise and efficient bike.

Further improvements cover the new Acros headset that provides entry points for hidden cable and hoses routing. This allows a perfectly clean cockpit configuration and ceases the necessity to punch holes into the downtube. As already mentioned brakes have been upgraded to 200mm rotors front and rear as a standard to ensure sufficient stopping power. Furthermore you will find a new battery cover that now can be powder coated in line with the frame. And last but not least there are also new powder coating colors available.

Top end parts, powered by Shimano and Darfon

Let's have a look on what has changed under the hood. As usual already the standard configuration comes with top end parts from Shimano, e-Thirteen, Sun Ringle, etc. Our test rig also sported sweets such as an integrated Lupine headlight and color coded rims. Also the Shimano EP8 drive was carried over from the last generation. A good choice.

The unit pumps up to 250W and 85Nm of torque. The motor quenches its thirst from a whopping 726Wh Darfon battery that can either be left inside the frame for charging or taken wherever your next socket may be. The battery pack is licensed and serviced by Shimano and exceeds Shimano's biggest battery pack by 100Wh.
Maxx utilizes the standard Shimano tool kit in terms of head unit and apps. However the software was fine tuned to match the specifications of the bike and also the special requirements FATBiking has. All wires are nicely concealed inside the frame so there are not hoses sticking out.

Full steam ahead – the test drive

Sitting on a boatload of energized electrons squeezed into a battery is a great starting point for a lot of fun. And thanks to the EP8 drive fun starts right away. The fine tuned EP8 motor is truly a gem when it comes to control and predictability. You will notice this on technical sections, where every Nm of torque has to be dosed perfectly well to get maximum traction and control. Here the new setup feels organic, like a natural extension of your own power. The 2022 model was already very good here, yet there is another slight refinement. There is no lag and no power exaggeration in any direction. You get what you want, instantly and every time. This comes in handy when you try to climb a hill in snowy or muddy conditions – which you WILL with this bike!

The system unveils its power not as brute as Brose motors formerly used by Maxx but nearly perfectly smooth and refined. It pulls like a freight train while the motor itself works nice and smooth and is hardly noticeable in most conditions. Only when under full load there are mechanical noises coming from the internal gears – the typical „e-Bike sound“. You may or may not like or even notice it. For us however there still remains quiet some improvement potential. Wouldn't it be great to sweep uphill without any noise except the grunt of your tires?

Thanks to the huge battery and comfortable, efficient seating position long uphills or extended tours will be not a problem at all. The clear upside versus the 2022 model year, however, is an extended capability on the way down the hill. Thanks to the longer wheelbase, slacker head angle and longer reach the bike rides more stable, in particular on high speed. The bike follows the trail as you want it to and builds up a lot of front wheel traction that allows precise and reliable maneuvering. Moreover, the shorter seat tube allows to squeeze the seat post further down than on the 2022 model. This grants your family jewels more room to survive where you need it. The updated rear kinematic keeps up with our high expectations: it reacts quickly and smoothly. The bike is way less windy and thereby more precise in handling. And even considering the massive unsprung weight resulting from the bulletproof frame, battery and motor – bottom outs are rare.

All in all the 2023 Maxx Huraxdax ELS keeps its promise to be more Enduro. You can climb up hills and coast with ease – as with last year's model. But with the new rig you will have more room to play when it gets fast.
By the way: for those of you who have a more sporty or even race oriented approach we highly recommend to add a low rise or even flat handlebar to your configuration. Sitting on a 150mm Manitou Mastodon EXT the front end stacks up sky high. And if your riding takes you to technical and windy sections bear in mind that there is a price to pay for lasting energy supply, a bullet proof frame and a strong motor…

The snow mobile

So, better let's speak about one key strength of this bike: snow. We went into the Bavarian Alps for a test ride with utterly bad snow conditions. It was fresh, it was soft, it was deep.

Some sections most likely were beyond the capabilities of a conventional „muscular“ FATBike. The electron powered Huraxdax ELS and its Schwalbe Al Mighty tires allow to drop tire pressure as low as 0.08 to 0.1 bar and still go strong. And, given you are trained for a nicely round pedaling, it allows a perfectly smooth propulsion without nasty power peaks – that will immediately cut off your traction.

In case you got stuck you can use the Shimano app to improve your re-launch performance: adjust the power to kick in softly after about 1/2 pedal stroke which will allow you the smoothest traction saving acceleration you can think of. And the well balanced seating position allows you to apply weight where you need it. The battery officially supports you down to -10°C, experiences show that even a bit less should work.

So What?

So, is the 2023 Maxx Huraxdax an evolution of the family tree or an entirely new branch? Well, a bit of both. It's fully based on the qualities of its predecessors. But with its extend capabilities in high speed and downward performance it can be used in sections that were not quiet in the focus of recent models.

This is not your nimble everyday trail bike. It's a huge, solid and opulent rig that's made for epic sh*t. If we were to invent a catch phrase for that bike it would be: „Ride like a King“, ‚cause that's how you feel. Majestic. It's big, it's sturdy, it's superior. No matter whether you're heading for you favorite café or flying down a downhill track – the updated seating position is conveniently fitting to a wide range of riding styles whereas the Shimano drive smoothly propels you towards the horizon.. Speaking about royal attributes… The price tag starts at a whopping 8.999,- Euro. Yes folks, 9 grand. But don't worry, if you feel something is missing it you can build your dream Huraxdax and make it more. And in case you're thinking about justifications now: you get what you pay for. A High End Full Suspension e-FATBike that will be your ticket into a world of new adventures.

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