
Moustache 29 Game 150.8 2025 in Review
22.01.25 14:48 1882025-01-22T14:48:00+01:00Text: Erwin Haiden (translated by AI)Photos: Thomas Leitner-Weiss, Erwin Haiden, Moustache (5)Live rather unconventionally! An unconventional representative with the latest Bosch motor generation impresses with plenty of technology, nice details, and solid handling on the trail.22.01.25 14:48 2452025-01-22T14:48:00+01:00Moustache 29 Game 150.8 2025 in Review
22.01.25 14:48 2452025-01-22T14:48:00+01:00 Erwin Haiden (translated by AI) Thomas Leitner-Weiss, Erwin Haiden, Moustache (5)Live rather unconventionally! An unconventional representative with the latest Bosch motor generation impresses with plenty of technology, nice details, and solid handling on the trail.22.01.25 14:48 2452025-01-22T14:48:00+01:00The anticipation was just as great as the level of expectation when the new Moustache Samedi 29 Game, the French brand's first representative of the new Bosch motor generation, rolled through the photo studio and shortly thereafter with me on board over the rugged local loop.
During my debut with the Bosch Performance Line CX of the fifth generation, I could already sense the direction this journey was heading. Since the aluminum specialist Moustache has always worked very closely with Bosch, it was clear to me that this bike would not only offer an exciting mix of innovation and nice details but also serve as a kind of stage for the new Bosch motor.
But before hitting the trails, as always, here are a few insights and thoughts on the more or less obvious facts.
A mask often reveals more than a face
... and so the Moustache, inspired by Oscar Wilde, lets the mask of the motor fall to give it a touch of cool freedomUnique feature: motor and battery mounting
What immediately catches the eye when looking at the Samedi: The motor is not concealed by covers, plates, or frame material, but is freely positioned, clearly visible, and in an unusual, rotated position at the lowest point of the frame.
This brings me to my point, as this design allows the battery to be inserted into the down tube in front of the motor, resulting in an even lower center of gravity. The battery is available in two versions: Our model is equipped with the 600 Wh version, and for an additional 300 euros, the larger 750 Wh battery is also available. For those who can never have enough energy, Moustache also offers an optional range extender with 250 Wh.
The exposed position of the motor, along with the robust attachment of the battery to the frame, has several advantages. On the one hand, it requires fewer moving parts that could rattle or creak, and on the other hand, the motor is maximally well ventilated and cooled by the surrounding air.
Since the motor is not fully integrated into the frame, fewer vibrations and oscillations can be transmitted. In my practical experience, this meant that the motor in the Moustache Samedi was noticeably quieter than in Bosch's own demo bike.
Practical details
By eliminating the battery cover, not only is there a weight advantage for the overall construction, but also the possibility of integrating a small storage space between the battery and the headset. Depending on the battery size, there is space for a small tool set or even an additional spare tube.
Another nice detail is the somewhat unconventional but very practical charging port without a rubber cover, which also allows the range extender to be connected directly. The Fidlock bottle holder saves space and is now installed on all my bikes, from the gravel bike to the enduro.
The stem houses a small tool set with the most important tools, so you can make quick adjustments on the trail. This way, you can leave the backpack at home for a short after-work ride and still always have enough fluids and the essential tools with you in case of a breakdown.
A proper chainstay protector, which dampens rattling noises and prevents paint damage, is now part of the standard equipment. On the Samedi 29 Game, additional fenders are installed at the front and rear, which at first glance might not seem capable of what they can actually do: small but mighty, provided you can live with the occasional leaves or stones finding their way through the fender tunnel.
Above the rear thru-axles, there are also two threads for lightweight plates or similar.
Tech Specs
Frame: | Game, 6061 T4-T6 aluminum, 150 mm travel, integrated Bosch PowerTube battery (horizontal), 12 x 148 mm, Boost, bashguard, and chain guide | Wheels: | Moustache, asymmetrical, aluminum 6061E, welded, 28-hole, 29", inner width 30 mm, mounted with tubeless valves and flaps |
Sizes: | S/M/L/XL | Chain: | Sram GX T-Type, 12-speed, 122 links |
Drive Unit: | Bosch Performance Line CX, 250W, Smart System, UFI, 85 Nm | Cassette: | Sram Eagle 70, XS-1270, 12-speed, 10-52 teeth |
Battery: | 600Wh | Tires: | Maxxis Assegai, 29x2.50 |
Display: | Bosch Purion 400 System Controller and Mini Remote | Headset: | Acros AZF-725, sealed bearings, internal routing, integrated multitool |
Fork: | Fox Float 36 Factory, Kashima coating, GRIP X2 with HSC/LSC/HSR/LSR, 160 mm travel, 15x110 mm, Boost, 44 mm offset, with mini mudguard | Shock: | Moustache Magic Grip Control 150, air shock with 2-position damping and dynamic rebound control, 230 x 60 mm integrated, 150 mm travel |
Stem: | Moustache aluminum, CNC, 40 mm | Grips: | SB3 Race |
Crankset: | FSA, forged + CNC aluminum, 165 mm | Saddle: | Fizik Terra Aidon X5 |
Chainring: | Sram T-Type, Narrow Wide, 36 teeth | Hub: | Moustache by Mavic, 28 hole, 15 x 110 mm, thru-axle front, ID360 and 12x148 thru-axle rear |
Handlebar: | Moustache Just-Carbon, 780 mm, 12 mm rise, 9° backsweep, 4° upsweep | Seatpost: | KS Rage-i, dropper post with Shimano remote lever, 31.6 mm, 170 mm |
Front Brake: | Shimano XT, BR-M8120, hydraulic disc brake, 203 mm XT rotor | Rear Brake: | Shimano XT, BR-M8120, hydraulic disc brake, 203 mm XT rotor |
Shifter: | Sram AXS Pod, 12-speed | GVWR: | 140 kg |
Warranty: | 5 years on frame and fork Moustache Bikes – 2 years on motor, battery (or 500 charge cycles), and accessories | Weight: | 24.1 kg (BB measurement incl. all components) |
Rear Derailleur: | Sram GX AXS T-Type, 12-speed, electronic | Price: | € 6,999,- MSRP |
Variants also available with 170 and 160 mm travel
The 29 Game comes in several variants. The 150.8 in the test is the top model of the 150 series with 150 mm rear travel and 160 mm front travel. Prices start at €5,399 for the 150.6 and go up to €6,999 for the top model.
The 160 series offers even more downhill performance with 170 mm travel at the fork, 160 mm travel at the rear, and also 220 mm large front brake discs. Here, prices start at €6,499 for the Moustache 29 Game 160.7 and go up to €8,999 for the Moustache 29 Game 160.9.
Geometry
Size | S | M | L | XL |
---|---|---|---|---|
Recommended height (cm) | 155-170 | 165-180 | 175-190 | 185-203 |
Seat tube length (mm) | 390 | 410 | 435 | 460 |
Head tube length (mm) | 100 | 112 | 130 | 140 |
Top tube length (mm) | 590 | 620 | 645 | 670 |
Chainstay length (mm) | 462 | 462 | 462 | 462 |
Head angle | 64.7° | 64.7° | 64.7° | 64.7° |
Seat angle | 76.3° | 76.3° | 76.3° | 76.3° |
Stack (mm) | 621 | 632 | 648 | 657 |
Reach (mm) | 437 | 465 | 485 | 510 |
Bottom bracket height (mm) | 349 | 349 | 349 | 349 |
Workmanship and Equipment
Quite generally, with the new Moustache Game 29 - as with the previous model - you can clearly notice the company's expertise in aluminum processing. In the area of the headset, where the view down to the handlebars naturally falls most often, you have to look very closely to determine whether the frame is made of carbon or aluminum. Even the unpolished weld seams look very clean and correspondingly stable.
There is also nothing to criticize about the choice of components. Starting with the in-house aluminum wheels with Mavic hubs and chunky 2.5 Maxxis Assegai tires, through the solid Shimano XT 4-piston braking system, to the Sram GX AXS, which further enhances the overall package with its electronic shifting performance. The seat post provides relatively significant freedom with its 170 mm travel, and the Fox-Moustache suspension works flawlessly.
When it comes to the handlebar, I am always a bit torn when it comes to the 35-mm diameters. On one hand, they offer plenty of reserves in terms of stiffness and robustness, but on the other hand, you need suitable mounts for a visually appealing installation of Garmin devices and various lights, which are not always easy to find.
The seat post offers quite a lot of freedom with its 170 mm travel, and the Fox-Moustache suspension works flawlessly.
Electronics that make sense
Now it's time to hit the local loop, up the mountains, and down the trails. The suspension is quickly adjusted thanks to the sag indicator, and seat height and minor adjustments can be optimized on the go in no time with the tool integrated into the stem.
The first "aha" moment comes courtesy of the Sram GX AXS. While I tend to see this as dispensable electronic gimmickry on XC bikes or non-electric bikes, it makes a lot of sense on a high-torque e-bike. The fact that the electronics synchronize the transmission of gear shift commands with the position of the cassette ensures buttery smooth gear changes in practice. Especially when climbing under load, the shifting performance is unmatched. Additionally, the group is powered by the motor's large battery, ensuring there is always enough energy for the derailleur.
With this setup, a sense of satisfied ease sets in right from the first few meters. Everything feels familiar and solid. The Purion display provides information about the most important e-bike data, and all buttons and switches are ergonomically positioned exactly where you'd expect them to be. Unlike the old Bosch LED controller, they are super easy to operate, even with thick gloves.
Uphill on the trail
The Moustache Samedi 29 Game feels very grounded on the trail, as I expected, and has plenty of grip uphill. New is Bosch's start-assist feature, which, depending on position or crank action, acts as either a push-assist or a start-assist for pedaling. This is especially beneficial after stops in steep terrain and is one of the most useful functions of the fifth motor generation.
The motor is also what won me over as I leisurely cruise through the forest. The noise levels are, I believe, very pleasant, not least due to the specific installation setup and aluminum frame. While light e-bikes with Bosch SX or TQ motors are even quieter, almost silent, what Moustache and Bosch have installed here sets a solid benchmark.
The more demanding the terrain becomes, the more the new, improved motor control comes into play, and then the stronger CX motor has, in direct comparison to the torque-weak light motors, the fun factor firmly in its hands again. It's simply a really amusing and extreme feeling to come from a traditional bike to the Samedi Game and tackle climbs that previously would have cost me endless sweat and tears just at the mere thought of them.
The sense of adventure massively increases, of course, when five, ten kilometers or more, a hundred, two hundred meters of elevation gain or less, or a twenty, thirty-degree incline up or down doesn’t immediately cause all circuits to melt down.
On the trail downhill
Downhill, the Moustache Samedi 29 Game, like its predecessor, leaves no eye dry. The difference is that the new edition has become a little more potent thanks to improved kinematics.
The alpine twisty trails on the first meters of my home loop may not be the Samedi 29 Game's specialty, yet even there, I quickly get a good feel for the bike, sense the energy dissipating through the 220 mm large brake discs, and my confidence in the suspension grows with every bump.
What goes up must come down, or as I always say: If the front tire makes it over, the rest will follow for sure.
The faster the trails get, the more the Moustache can show off its strengths. The suspension beneath me sometimes evokes memories of the plush and confidence-inspiring terrain-handling of enduro motorcycles. A fantastic feature not only for beginners but also for anyone who loves to let loose in technical terrain.
For fans of fiery fireworks-suspension-bikes, lighter eMTBs or potent and significantly lighter bio-enduros are probably the better fit. For me, switching to my reactive Mondraker Foxy afterward always feels like riding a wild rodeo mustang.
In contrast, a bike like the Moustache brings considerably more composure to the table – with the great advantage of still having plenty of reserves for fast descents.
What Goes Up Must Come Down
is a lot of fun, no comparison to Tyrone Davis' return down belowMakeawish
With the Moustache Samedi 29 Game 150.8, I really had to think hard about what I would have wished for or what criticisms I might have. The gear shifts, especially under load, of the Sram GX AXS are so buttery smooth that one can overlook the potentially costly consequences of a rock contact with the derailleur. Also, unlike Sram's top group, it does not have a Magic Wheel installed to protect the jockey wheels from aggressive branches.
Very rarely, it happened on the test bike that the chain briefly gave way under load, as if it were skipping a gear; in fact, it must have slipped over the cassette in those moments. However, this occurred so infrequently that I did not delve deeper into the matter.
The derailleur cage had obviously already survived several rock contacts unscathed. I am responsible for the loss of the lower clamp of the battery cover. The rock in the downhill section simply snapped off the somewhat exposed lever.
If I were to modify the bike for myself, I would probably put a 31.8 mm handlebar on it, Maxxis DHR and DHF in the downhill version, and possibly also a 160 mm crank. However, all of this is more due to my personal preferences rather than criticism of the original configuration.
Conclusion
Moustache Samedi 29 Game 150.8 | |
---|---|
Model year: | 2025 |
Test duration: | 2 weeks / 170 km |
Price: | € 6,999,- RRP |
+ | Unique design |
+ | Quiet motor, top drivetrain |
+ | Robust construction |
+ | Many nice details |
+ | Shifting performance |
o | Sram GX AXS spare part prices |
BB verdict: | Powerful and beginner-friendly all-rounder on quiet soles |
The Moustache Samedi 29 Game offers a refreshingly unconventional frame design that impresses with clever details and solid craftsmanship. The aluminum frame transmits less noise than most carbon models, and thanks to the exposed position of the motor and the associated cooling, the Bosch Performance Line CX of the fifth generation can unleash its full potential. For me, this bike currently ranks among those with the most pleasant motor noise levels.
Personally, I like the radical look and the approach of showcasing exciting drivetrain technology like the Bosch motor and the massive Sram T-Type derailleur. On the other hand, less visually appealing components like the battery or controls are relatively well integrated.
There was some mild criticism with the predecessor model on the Bosch LED Remote, but this has been significantly improved with the Mini Remote and the System Controller. The Purion 400 display is the cherry on top.
In terms of riding dynamics, Moustache has made significant improvements compared to the predecessor. Uphill, this is largely due to the new Bosch motor, which is quieter, regulates better, and now offers a top-notch starting assist. Additionally, the butter-smooth electronic gear shifts of the AXS GX contribute to the experience.
Downhill, nothing rattles, and the low center of gravity ensures a stable position on the trail. And as expected with this geometry: speed is king and provides the most fun.
The top-tier components and many clever details complete the overall package in a worthy manner.