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.