FIRST RIDE IMPRESSIONS: FEZZARI TIMP PEAK EMTB

An ebike with an analogue feel

Since Fezzari’s first EMTB, the Wire released in 2019, they haven’t done too much in the way of the electric mountain bikes. That fact didn’t seem to bother them in the slightest as they’ve taken their time to develop a new ebike. The result is the new Timp Peak enduro ebike.

Fezzari is keeping to their high-quality standards by only building bikes with the best components within the different tiers. They compromise very little between build kits and are aiming to give each customer the best in every corner, specifically the brakes and suspension. Each frame is constructed of carbon fiber from front to back which has allowed them to tune the flex points of the frame for optimal handling. They claim to have designed the frame first, adapting the drive system to work with their design. With this, they designed their own rail system for directing the cables that keep the weight of the battery as low as possible to maximize handling characteristics.

They’re really Horsting around with this bike, by which we mean the bike uses the tried and true Horst link suspension design to get 170mm of rear suspension. If it doesn’t look like your typical Horst link design, you’re right, the shock is mounted horizontally instead of vertically, we’ll mention this doesn’t change the ride quality. Paired with that 170mm of rear travel is a 170mm travel fork.

The geo numbers should look familiar to you as it shares many of them with its analog brother the La Sal Peak. The slack 64-degree headangle paired with a 77.5-degree effective seatangle is a common thread. This geo is size specific as each frame differs slightly by size from its counterparts to keep the angles and ride quality consistent across the size range. Our test bike is a medium and has a reach of 455mm with a chainstay length of 437mm which is shared across the size range.

Mullet compatibility is basically a must these days for modern bikes and the Timp Peak is no different. Thanks to a geo-adjusting flip chip at the base of the shock, you can throw a 27.5″ wheel on the back giving the bike a little more snap if you so desire.

The motor unit is the trusty Shimano EP8 connected to a Darfon battery holding 635Wh of power. Along with the tune Shimano gives their motor, Fezzari has added their own tune to the library which they say gives the rider a more natural feel when applying power. They claim their tune reduces the kick you feel when applying power which has the added benefit of making the bike run more efficiently.

TIMP PEAK BUILD KIT (our test bike)

Timp Peak Elite
Price: $6,999
Size: M
RockShox Zeb Ultimate with ButterCups fork
RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate rear shock
DT Swiss HX1700 wheelset with star ratchet hub
TRP DH-R EVO brakes
SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain
Shimano EP8 motor
Darfon battery
Maxxis tires
PNW Dropper

FIRST RIDE IMPRESSIONS

Our first ride on the Timp Peak was an epic day of shredding some gnarly Southern California enduro trails complete with technical descents, sharp corners, and white-knuckle straightaways. The climb up to these trails is only enjoyable on an ebike unless you’re a true glutton for punishment, so we were grateful for the assistance. Right away we threw the motor into the tune Fezzari programmed and took off.

On the climbs the Timp Peak didn’t disappoint which really wasn’t a surprise, it is an ebike after all. The first challenging technical section was mastered without hesitation and with the suspension remaining active giving us excellent traction all the way up. A couple of the technical sections we’d usually have problems with, ebike or not, were breezed through with hardly a break in the conversation. We used a mix of eco and boost mode the whole way, primarily staying in boost. Even after 2 major climbs, a cumulative of around 1,200ft of elevation, we had only used 2 bars of battery.

When it came to the descent we were immediately comfortable. A brief bedding in of the brakes and we were off on a technical and exposed descent which requires quick direction changes. Our position on the bike allowed us to navigate each one at full speed without questioning traction. Each obstacle was devoured by the suspension as we shot down rollers and chutes. Our next lap was on a trail with slightly higher average speed potential and plenty of committing rock gardens to navigate. Again we felt at home on the Timp Peak, hardly hesitating as feature after feature flew by. A brief intermission mid-decent was spent smiling and throwing high-fives at each other, all stoked on the speed we were able to carry. That smile continued to grow as we reached the bottom.

The Timp Peak doesn’t exactly behave like the typical enduro ebike we’ve experienced. It’s livelier and allows for a more active riding style. It’s stable, but not in a way that anchors you to the trail like some of these overly plush ebikes. As far as first ride impressions go, we were impressed and are very excited to get on the bike across even more terrain to give you a full review in a future issue.

Additional build options

Timp Peak Comp | $5,999

DVO Onyx E1 Suspension, TRP DH-R EVO, DT Swiss H1900 with star ratchet hub, SRAM NX Eagle

 

Timp Peak Elite | $6,999

Zeb Ultimate with ButterCups/Super Deluxe Ultimate Suspension, TRP DH-R EVO, DT Swiss H1900 with star ratchet hub, SRAM GX Eagle

Timp Peak Elite Launch Edition | $7,499

Zeb Ultimate with ButterCups/Super Deluxe Ultimate Suspension, TRP DH-R EVO, DT Swiss HX1700 with star ratchet hub, SRAM GX AXS

Timp Peak Pro | $7,999

Zeb Ultimate with ButterCups/Super Deluxe Ultimate Suspension, TRP DH-R EVO, DT Swiss HX1700 with star ratchet hub, NEW SRAM 12-Speed Drivetrain

 

Timp Peak Frameset (including shock) | $4,999

Frame, Motor, Electronics, Fox X2 Factory Kashima (Fox 38 fork available at checkout)

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