Storck goes direct-sales and launches multiple e-bikes, GRIX gravel machine

Storck goes direct-sales and launches multiple e-bikes, GRIX gravel machine

Change in business model could mean cheaper bikes for all

Warren Rossiter / Immediate Media

Published: September 5, 2019 at 4:29 pm

Innovative German brand Storck has had a quiet couple of years recently, so we caught up with the brand’s very own bicycle designer and developer Markus Storck at this week’s Eurobike trade show to find out what it’s been up to.

One of the first bits of news Storck tells us is that the brand is moving to an online direct to consumer model. After what he describes as “a tough couple of years when it comes to distribution and supply” this led them to rethink the company’s business plan.

This means that Storck will be able to continue to develop and produce bikes to its standards and still offer support to customers in one of its stores globally.

Storck says that for “buyers it means we’ve been able to massively reduce our cost to consumers as we don’t have the same concerns with distribution around the world through third parties and more.”

Looking at the line-up, that certainly appears to be the case with the Fazua motor-equipped Storck e:nario starting at €4,999, which undercuts its competitors sharing the same motor system, such as Pinarello and Focus.

It’s the same story with Storck’s e-mountain bike range, which could see it competing with the likes of premium online retailers like Canyon in the future.

If e-bikes aren’t your thing, though, Storck has also announced a new gravel machine, the GRIX. Prices start at €2,899 for an Ultegra RX-equipped bike, which tips the scales at 8.9kg, and again pricing looks competitive.

Storck 2020 highlights

Storck e:drenalin GTS500 all mountain bike

Storck
The all-mountain e-drenalin GTS500 comes with a 170mm travel Fox fork and 150mm of rear end travel. - Warren Rossiter / Immediate Media

Storck’s e-all mountain machine comes with a 170mm travel Fox 36 fork and 150mm of rear travel that’s controlled by Fox’s Float DPS Evol Performance damper.

At the heart of the bike is Shimano’s E8000 motor and a 504Wh internal battery.

Storck
A Fox Float DPS Evol Performance shock controls the back end of the e:drenalin. - Warren Rossiter / Immediate Media

Like all of Storck’s e-MTB offerings, this is a full carbon frame and it comes with a Shimano XT drivetrain, DT Swiss E-MTB H1900 27.5in wheels, a carbon riser bar, a KS dropper, Schwalbe 2.6in tyres (Magic Mary and Nobby Nic) and a claimed weight of under 20kg.

This €5,999 machine looks very promising.

Storck e:drenic GTS500 enduro bike

Storck
The standard e:drenic enduro machine with Shimano E8000 power and a carbon chassis is priced at a reasonable €5,999, with the highest spec version with Fox's posh Kashima suspension and DT's HXC1200 wheels at €7,349. - Warren Rossiter / Immediate Media

The e-drenic is Storck’s enduro flavoured e-bike with 180mm of travel at each end thanks to a Fox 36 Performance fork up front and Float DPS Evol rear shock at the back.

Like the e:drenalin it runs Shimano XT and an E8000 motor with a 504Wh battery, carbon riser bar, KS dropper and 27.5in DT Swiss wheels with Schwalbe rubber.

Storck
180mm of travel at the back of the e:drenic controlled by a Fox Float DPS Evol shock. - Warren Rossiter / Immediate Media

The bike is claimed to weigh 19.7kg and comes with a €5,999 price tag.

Storck e:nario road bike

Storck
Storck's first e-road machine the e-nario from €4,999. - Warren Rossiter / Immediate Media

Storck’s first take on an e-road bike comes with the impressive Fazua Evation system, which provides a smooth 250Wh/60Nm of assistance combined with a 400Wh battery.

Storck
The aero optimised e-nario comes with Fazua's electric assistance. - Warren Rossiter / Immediate Media

Fazua carbon bikes usually come at a premium, but Storck’s aero-optimised example with Shimano Ultegra, DT Swiss wheels and a smattering of decent level quality kit looks like a decently if not affordably priced example at €4,999.

Storck e:drenic GTQ650 Prototype

Storck
The e:drenic GTQ650 prototype looks like a beast. - Warren Rossiter / Immediate Media

It wouldn’t be Eurobike without a mad Storck prototype, but we’ve been assured that this one is set for production in the very near future.

It’s another 180mm travel e-enduro bike but this one comes with the rarefied TQ Drive e-motor system with some pretty wild power figures.

Storck
The TQ Drive motor offers a massive 120Nm of torque with up to 900w of power! - Warren Rossiter / Immediate Media

The system is 48V and puts out 120Nm of torque with modes offering either (EU legal) 250W output, 500W (registered legal) or 900W — we're not sure how legal that would be anywhere.

Storck tells us that this one potentially has a top speed of over 60km/h. Oh, and it weighs under 23kg too.

Storck GRIX gravel bike

Storck
Storck's new gravel machine the GRIX is available from a very un-Storck-like price of €2,899 - Warren Rossiter / Immediate Media

The only non-e bike to debut for 2020 is the new GRIX gravel machine.

The GRIX is available in two complete bike variants and a frameset only option.

The first complete bike is the RR, which comes with a road friendly 50/34 11-34 Ultegra drivetrain, 700c DT Swiss wheels and 30mm Schwalbe G-One treads for €2,899 or upgrade to Shimano Ultegra Di2 with DT Swiss R1800 wheels for €3,599.

Storck
This is the GRIX CX model with SRAM XX1, carbon bar/stem and carbon DT Wheels for €5,499. - Warren Rossiter / Immediate Media

The second model comes with a mix of SRAM XX1 and SRAM Force AXS with DT Swiss XRC1200 wheels and big 2.1in Schwalbe Rocket Ron tyres, a Storck carbon stem and bar combo with an impressive claimed weight of 8.3kg. Pricing is €5,499.

The frameset is designed to handle up to a 2.1in tyre in 650b guise with mounts for fenders, has three sets of bottle cage mounts, bento box bosses, low riders and racks and will cost €1,999.

Storck
The one-piece carbon bar/stem on the GRIX looks clean and sharp. - Warren Rossiter / Immediate Media