2023 Moustache

Samedi 29 Game 9

The competitively-priced Moustache Samedi Game 11 from the French e-bike specialists is an enduro-ready eMTB with a large capacity 750Wh battery for riding further, longer and faster, plus 29er wheels and own-brand finishing kit. Need to know Updated enduro model from the French e-bike specialists 170/160mm travel and 29in wheels across the four-bike Game range For 2022 the Game gets bigger capacity 750Wh battery and new Bosch Smart System compatibility with customisable power modes Unique Moustache Magic Grip Control shock fitted to all models Fabricant de vélo électrique As a pure e-bike brand with 10 years of experience in the assisted sector, Moustache remains a relatively unknown marque in the UK. And it’s not for want of a memorable name. But that’s something the French brand wants to change, and with five distinct and competitively-priced e-mtb platforms on offer for 2022, it’s in a good position to realise its plan.  Why ‘Moustache’, I hear you cry? Why ‘Moustache’, I hear you cry? I know I was curious as to the etymology. Apparently it traces back to the company’s modern take on the traditional, swept-back handlebar design that featured on its first utility models. While you can still see the M-shaped cockpit on its urban models, you’ll be pleased to hear that all of its mountain bikes use a conventional riser bar. All of its bikes are named after days of the week, with the commuter and utility bikes falling under the Lundi (Monday) label and the MTBs tagged Samedi (Saturday). While there are assisted hardtails and BMW GS-style adventure models, the most relevant options to UK trail riders are the Samedi Game and Trail. Essentially this is one frame that’s adapted to create two model ranges.  Moustache eMTB range To do this, Moustache starts with the longer travel Game chassis and runs a shorter stroke shock and headset spacer/shim to correct the geometry on the Trail model. Previous generation Moustache bikes (like the Moustache Game 8 we tested last summer) did the reverse, which was partly responsible for its sky-high BB measurement. By trimming the travel of the enduro bike, rather than pumping up the travel of the trail bike, Moustache has brought the BB height down a claimed 5mm. I didn’t get a chance to measure the geometry of my demo bike, but the Game 8 we tested last year came in at an eyebrow raising 365mm. On paper, at least, there’s no doubt Moustache could go lower still without compromising pedal clearance.  Other geometry developments over the previous model include a slacker head angle (by 1º), steeper seat angle (by 2º) and significantly longer top tube/reach. The old Game was very short by modern standards – 420mm reach on the medium and 440mm on the large – so the new sizing brings it much more in line with other brands. Back in the game, if you will. By extending the reach, Moustache has also been able to chip back the stem length to 40mm, which helps the steering …Continue reading »

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