Conway Ryvon ST 10.0 in Review

Leisurely, I circle around my home trails, sometimes a bit steeper, sometimes rolling up and down again, here and there comes one of the beloved key sections - ideal testing terrain for our bike reviews. The Conway Ryvon is my spectacularly inconspicuous companion, my powerful watt-spirit at the pedal, which discreetly and acoustically engages for me uphill, while trying to make itself invisible downhill.

In the gentle whirring of the Bosch-SX motor, my thoughts drift away, and I recall quite a few discussions not too long ago about the sense and nonsense of electric motors on bicycles, the feeling of it, and the aesthetics.
In a time of screeching motors, powered by suitcase-shaped batteries bolted onto round tubes, despite all shortcomings, many of us could already see a vision. Just like over a hundred years ago, when wooden horse carriages with electric motors gradually became increasingly elegant and useful vehicles.

Today, with the Conway Ryvon, one of these visions suddenly rolls under me. The bike blurs exactly those boundaries with its design that were defined by what was technically possible a few years ago. But motors and batteries are becoming smaller, lighter, and more powerful, resulting in entirely new possibilities for use.
As an old hand, this reminds me of the times when, between PDAs like the Palm Pilot or the HP Compaq iPAQ and the small, stylish Nokia phones, the iPhone 1 suddenly appeared and showed where the journey was going. When I look back on the development of batteries, motors, and frames (including geometries) over the last ten years, I continue to predict a magnificent future for the e-bike. More on that later, after a brief look into the technical details.

Right from the first few meters towards the home trail paradise, the strengths of the Ryvon ST become apparent. The Bosch motor is surprisingly quiet; on flat asphalt, it is quieter than the rolling noise of the relatively massive tires. The electronic shifting of the AXS is precise and requires no effort on the ergonomically positioned switch.
The only thing I initially found very unusual was the shifting delay. Because the shifting electronics wait for the ideal moment to change gears, namely the point at which the chain and the shift aids on the sprocket are perfectly aligned, shifts are extremely smooth even under full load. The downside of this: Depending on the timing of the button press, the shifting takes a fraction of a second to actually shift.

Regarding the motor, it emphasizes the rather sporty riding behavior compared to standard e-bikes. To really get going, it needs revs, and so it feels significantly more natural to me at least than the massive thrust from low revs that most conventional motors, including the Bosch CX, offer.
On soft forest ground, the motor noise is a bit louder than on paved terrain, but at least to my ears, it is never unpleasant. No comparison to the high-pitched screeching of some other manufacturers. Although it must be said that all ears are differently sensitive when it comes to volume and pitch.

The Bosch SX is certainly quite restrained in terms of noise and relatively consistent in both partial and full load operation. Based on my current experience, it is definitely one of the quietest motors of its kind, even if not quite at the whisper level of a TQ-HPR50.
The maximum torque is 55 Nm, the rated continuous power is 250 W, and the maximum peak power is 600 W. With a bit (more) of one's own effort, even the steepest sections on my home trails can be conquered. All testers agreed that the Bosch SX provides significantly more thrust than one would expect from the data sheet.

As for the 400 Wh battery, after one of the test rides of 26 km and 830 meters of elevation, I still had 30% battery remaining (mostly full power, approx. 103 kg total weight including camera backpack).
There is no range extender, as already mentioned, but a 400 Wh spare battery weighs about 2 kg and can be swapped in a few seconds, while the range extender does not require a swap but always takes up space and connections on the frame.

However, truly eye-opening for me was the downhill performance of the Ryvon ST. After privately and often away from photo tours, I frequently ride my Mondraker Foxy Bio-Enduro, I immediately feel this heaviness in me at the thought of e-MTBs - and that's not just about loading and unloading the bike into the car, but especially when pondering over the beloved technical trails. Too many deep brake ruts testify to all that senselessly wasted energy.

How much more elegant, nimble, and sporty the Ryvon ST comes across! You could almost forget that there's a whole motor block sitting between the 165 mm short crank arms. I felt right at home immediately.
It's not a small step from the Bio-Bike, but when you switch from a conventional e-MTB weighing over 25 kg to the Ryvon, it feels like moving from an Enduro to a Hardtail. Hardly a trace left of the sluggishness of classic e-MTBs!
That the Conway Ryvon ST can move confidently and quickly over root and rock carpets is not surprising given the geometry data. But even in technical angles or switchbacks, this bike is really fun thanks to its comparatively low weight.

When it comes to components, I love the Maxxis tires, which simply provide massive grip, whether on dust or in the wet; for me, they are top universalists. The suspension is firm and crisp and accordingly offers good feedback from the ground.
The lightweight Acros carbon wheels also contribute to the airy light feeling, as there's nothing better than minimizing rotating mass. The Magura MT7 braking system may sometimes be a bit diva-like, but that's acceptable because when properly bled and maintained, the four pistons on the 203 mm brake disc, both front and rear, are a true anchor.

At the end of the downhill, I am reaffirmed in the realization that it doesn't always have to be higher, faster, further, and stronger, but that the future of e-MTBs, at least in my opinion, also lies in elegance and lightness.

During our test, there was only a small issue with a creaking noise in the rear frame. This could be remedied with some grease and threadlocker on the main rear frame bearing.
If I could wish for something for the Ryvon, it would be the power supply of the AXS shifting system via the Bosch system. The absence of the charging port and thus the battery handling, which has to be removed for each charging process, takes some getting used to. Although you quickly gain experience with the daily installation and removal, and the solution with the battery cover is also good. Still, it would often be much more convenient to simply plug the connector into the bike. The missing option to use a range extender would not personally bother me.

In the side view, the screws for the motor mount catch the eye due to the minimalist look, but on the one hand, this is technically difficult to change, and on the other hand, it is a suggestion that is more directed at Bosch.
Here and there, when lowering the seat post, I hit one of the switches on the Bosch controller. A small issue that I would optimize a little if Conway were my private bike.

Lastly, I am a bit torn about the Sram X0 Eagle AXS Transmission. The shifting performance is really top-notch, and once you get used to the occasional thoughtful tenth of a second, you no longer waste any thought on the correct shifting time or the load on the chain at that moment. On the other hand, the question arises: What happens in the event of frontal rock contact with the derailleur, and is the AXS (alongside various other components) worth the massive surcharge compared to the approximately 1 kg heavier Ryvon ST 4.0?

The Ryvon ST was my first light e-MTB of this caliber. Accordingly, I approached it with anticipation and am now convinced that it is precisely these bikes that will represent the future of e-biking. It is the combination of relatively low weight, top geometry, the discreet Bosch SX motor, the high-quality components, all built on an aesthetically pleasing and minimalist frame, that unites many former visions.

The Ryvon ST is quite sporty for an all-mountain: low, long, flat, and fast. Weighing 18.55 kg, the bike is much closer in handling and riding behavior to a bio-all-mountain than to a 25 kg conventional e-MTB. Accordingly, it rides nimbly and still powerfully on the trail: preferably just below the "Takeoff Velocity" downhill, and also gladly at high frequency uphill.

The most exciting thing for me, however, is that the Conway Ryvon, with its minimalist appearance, represents a model example for the further development of electrified mountain bikes. It’s hard to believe that it has not even been ten years since bikes like the Cannondale Moterra were state-of-the-art.
Ever lighter batteries, smaller, quieter motors, and better integration of all components make it possible for the scope of what is achievable to have grown significantly. The Conway Ryvon ST is an outstanding example of this new breed and a hot recommendation for all those who can do without the typical motor punch and are therefore looking for a sporty, lightweight e-MTB.

In addition to the photos: In the pictures is our colleague Lukas, who tested the Ryvon in Vinschgau and Carinthia, where my action photos for this review were also taken.