Paratu CP 400Wh: The Lightest eMTB Argument

The Paratu CP with the 400 Wh battery is, by a meaningful margin, the lightest Maxon-powered full-suspension eMTB available at 90 Nm of motor torque. The Maxon BikeDrive Air S weighs 2 kg. The 400 Wh in-tube battery is integrated into the downtube. The frame carbon kit weighs approximately 2,800 g. Built up with modern enduro components, the complete bike lands well below what most eMTBs with comparable motor output weigh.

If you have been dismissive of eMTBs because they feel like heavy, over-powered machines that have lost the character of a bicycle — this is the counter-argument.

A legal bicycle, first

The Paratu CP is EU type-approved as a pedelec. The motor provides up to 250 W continuous assistance and cuts off at 25 km/h. In Switzerland, the UK, the EU, and most other markets with pedelec legislation, it is a bicycle — it rides on bike paths, requires no licence, and carries no insurance requirement. You push the pedals; the motor helps. You stop pedalling; the motor stops.

This matters for how the bike actually rides. A 250 W continuous / 25 km/h cutoff system is tuned to augment a cyclist’s effort, not replace it. The Maxon motor’s 90 Nm peak torque is available on a steep technical climb where you are turning the cranks slowly against high resistance. At trail speed on flat terrain, the motor runs well within its output and the bike rides like — a bike. That is a deliberate design constraint, not a limitation.

The customisation range

The geometry on the Paratu CP is more configurable than almost any other frame in production. The combination of the 5-position flip chip, the 3-position reach adjust, and five supported fork travel options from 140 mm to 180 mm produces a geometry range that covers dedicated XC-enduro and dedicated DH-enduro from a single frame.

The flip chip alone gives you HTA from 63.9° to 64.2° at 150 mm fork — or, with a 180 mm fork at FORWARD +5 mm, down to approximately 63.2°. The reach adjust moves the reach in 5 mm increments across three positions. These are not marketing features — they change the way the bike handles in measurable, repeatable ways. The geometry calculator at dirtlab.com/pages/geometry shows every number for every combination.

Why the Maxon motor works for this application

The 2 kg motor weight is the primary structural argument. Most mid-drive eMTB motors at 85–90 Nm weigh between 2.6 kg and 3.2 kg. That 600–1,200 g difference is not evenly distributed weight — it is weight at the bottom bracket, the lowest point of the frame, which affects both total weight and how the bike feels through transitions and off-camber terrain.

The Maxon motor also has a smooth, progressive power curve. The assistance ramps up predictably as you apply pedal pressure and fades cleanly when you stop. On technical terrain where you are modulating effort through a sequence of moves, the consistency of the power delivery makes the bike easier to ride at the limit than a motor with a more aggressive or steppy assistance profile.

The 400 Wh range question

400 Wh provides a real-world range of approximately 40–80 km depending on assist level, terrain, and rider effort. In Eco or Trail mode on mixed terrain, most riders complete a standard 3–4 hour ride without needing the full battery. For longer days or high-assist riding, the 250 Wh range extender is available — it adds 1.6 kg and brings total capacity to 650 Wh, enough for the longest days most riders plan.

The range calculator on the battery page gives estimates for your weight, assist preference, and terrain type across both 400 Wh and 400 Wh + range extender configurations.

For riders whose primary concern is range rather than weight, the EC3 generation carries a 600 Wh in-tube battery as standard — available for pre-order now at dirtlab.com/pages/paratu-cp-600wh-pre-order.

Who this frame is for

The Paratu CP 400 Wh is for riders who want motor assistance without building a heavy machine. It suits riders who ride long days in technical terrain and want a motor that contributes without dominating. It suits riders who want to configure their geometry precisely for their riding style and body dimensions. And it suits riders who have been skeptical of eMTBs and are ready to try one that takes the weight and handling question seriously.

EC2 generation is in stock. Details and specifications on the Paratu CP product page.