This new Thok Mission 4 eMTB prototype claims to be the world’s first 3D-printed steel full-suspension mountain ebike, and indicators a brand new design path for the ebike maker. Mission 4 is the primary actual light-weight eMTB for Thok, powered by the newest Bosch SX motor and designed to plug-and-play any of 4 totally different smaller batteries below the downtube to maintain weight to a minimal and tailor pedal-assist vary to particular person rider wants.
Thok Mission 4 light-weight 3D-printed alloy eMTB
Each in carbon and aluminum, the prevailing Thok eMTB lineup has relied nearly completely on highly effective motors and enormous capability batteries to offer ebike riders as a lot help off-road. However the Thok Mission 4 indicators a brand new shift in focus to additionally embody the choice for a extra pure model of path using in a lighter full-suspension ebike platform.
3D-printing growth
Benefiting from the just about limitless design potentialities of additive manufacturing with Belgian accomplice Materialise – the identical individuals who printed this sustainable Canyon hardtail – the Thok ebike growth staff used Selective Laser Melting (SLM) to shortly 3D-print AlSi10Mg aluminum to create the distinctive shapes of the Mission 4 ebike. Working immediately with alloy, SLM allowed Thok to extra shortly create a useful prototype of their subsequent technology of eMTB that they may trip take a look at, additionally with much less materials waste.
As we’ve seen with a lot of 3D-printed alloy observe and highway bikes, SLM permits for distinctive advanced body shaping, in addition to refined structural design not all the time outwardly seen. However within the case of a full-suspension bike, Thok was additionally in a position to print every particular person factor of the body and suspension as 1-piece, then machine their interfaces – all whereas additionally incorporating options like flip-chips, inner routing, extra built-in electronics, and the flexibility to make use of modular battery and powertrain safety covers.
Tech particulars
Mission 4 continues to be formally in growth, however Thok sees gentle ebikes as a key market they plan to increase into for subsequent yr. The plan now’s to energy the Thok Mission 4 with the newly launched 2kg Bosch Efficiency Line SX motor that cranks out 55Nm of mid-drive torque with a extra pure pedaling sensation.
Thok will ship this new light-weight eMTB platform with max battery modularity and weight stored low below the downtube. Consumers will be capable of select from 400Wh, 500Wh, 626Wh, or 750Wh batteries every with their very own particular safe cowl to combine into the body’s design – plus any ebike rider will be capable of add on a 260Wh vary extender bottle battery for longer pedal-assist help.
Technical particulars aren’t but set in stone, however this prototype is constructed up with 29″ wheels, 150-160mm of journey between a RockShox Lyrik Final fork & Deluxe Choose+ shock, and a flip-chip on the higher sock mount to both tweak trip peak or rear wheel journey. Ultimate geometry continues to be being refined too, though we’re instructed it is going to be a bit longer and extra progressive than present Thok all-mountain ebikes.
Thok Mission 4 – Availability
Thok hasn’t but revealed a concrete timeline for when the Mission 4 prototype will transition right into a commercially accessible ebike – whether or not that’s 3D-printed in steel or molded in carbon. However they’ve mentioned that their light-weight full-suspension eMTB derived from this growth challenge is predicted to formally launch in 2024.
