Conway Ryvon LT Review

The Conway RYVON LT weighs a featherlight 19 kilograms, boasts 170 mm of travel, and features a battery that can be swapped out in less than 30 seconds. But do these tantalizing specs hold up under real-world riding conditions?

If you want to enjoy descending all day long, you’re not content with just one downhill; you’re itching to crank out partylaps all day long. But this clashes with the current Light-E-Bike concepts. With small batteries ranging from 320 to 430 watt-hours, the range of Light-E-MTBs is indeed limited.

For those who push it, draining the 400 Wh battery in the downtube with the Bosch SX motor can happen in no time. It doesn’t take 1000 vertical meters to do so in turbo mode. If you aim higher, you can kiss the uphill flow goodbye, as that’s only feasible in Tour or Eco mode.

When it comes to maximum range, many manufacturers hint at the option to attach a Range Extender onto the downtube. The downside of the Range Extender, however, is that it’s mounted in addition to the existing battery on the downtube, which pushes the bike’s weight up – in the case of a Bosch Powerpack, by an additional 1.6 kg. Conway clearly wasn’t satisfied with just the Range Extender solution and has taken the concept further.

The better price-to-performance ratio and also the superior weight per watt-hour is definitely offered by the swappable battery. With 400 watt-hours, the capacity of the Compact-Tube battery is 60% greater than that of the Power More Range Extender. Yet, the Compact-Tube battery only costs 100 euros more on the market.

And that’s exactly what Conway has realized. Another advantage of this approach: The second battery does not increase the bike’s weight. It could easily fit into a backpack. However, in practice, the swappable battery is usually left in the valley, for instance, in the car, and only comes into play once the first battery is depleted.

In line with the dual-battery concept, Conway has equipped the Ryvon LT with a quick-release system. The battery can be removed from the downtube completely tool-free and with just a push of a button. The downtube cover snaps onto the top tube with a magnetic lock. A small spring ensures that during the swap, the battery won’t fall to the ground. Once you’ve got the hang of it, you can manage the battery removal and installation in under a minute.

By eliminating the charging port, Conway demonstrates the courage to make a consistent decision. Because if the battery can be removed quickly, it poses no obstacle to charging. An external charge port on the frame not only adds weight but also increases the vulnerability to defects. Indeed, during our tests, we occasionally had to deal with torn out or damaged charging ports.

In practice, the large opening in the downtube does take its toll. The Ryvon LT frame is not exactly the stiffest among the light-EMTBs. Particularly around the motor interface and the transition to the rear triangle, the frame exhibits significantly more flex compared to, for instance, the recently featured Canyon Neuron ON:fly.

This is a point we couldn’t gloss over in our review, but it had no negative effects on the trail. The riding footage from the video clearly shows: You can shred the descents hard on the Ryvon.

The frame’s construction is so forgiving that it corrects quite a few riding errors, making it feel incredibly good-natured. This theory has been championed by MTB legend Nico Vouilloz. The former downhill world champion has always said:

The rear triangle is not only stiffer than the mainframe, but it also boasts incredibly generous tire clearance. There are absolutely no issues with the tire rubbing against the chainstays or seatstays.

Despite a lean 19kg total weight, Conway opts for a rugged and reliable component spec. A Maxxis Minion DHR2 with a solid Double Down casing is employed at the rear wheel. Up front, an EXO+ tire is put to use.

The Acros Carbon wheelset held up with no signs of weakness despite some rough riding during our test. Sram’s X0 transmission performed flawlessly regardless of the terrain. The shifting suite is significantly superior to Shimano’s Di2 system, which we recently tested on the Orbea Rise.

With TRP brakes, we’ve had mixed experiences in the past, but this time we were pleasantly surprised. The DHR Evo brakes offer not just excellent modulation but also pack a punch in terms of stopping power. The massive 220mm rotor up front is like an insurance policy when things get gnarly on the trails. Plus, the calipers are compatible with Shimano pads, which are readily available at any bike shop.

Extreme tech! The trails around Latsch are notorious for their gnarly rock gardens, but during our test, the Ryvon LT appeared largely unfazed. When you rise from the saddle, you feel well integrated into the bike. Thanks to the low front end, you can apply solid pressure on the front wheel, which provides superb cornering stability. There’s no understeer nor oversteer, and consequently, no nasty surprises in the turns. You can count on the bike to rail corners with confidence.

The decision to go for a 36mm rather than a 38mm fork from Fox, despite having 170mm of travel up front, suits the bike’s concept, which isn’t solely focused on rigidity. The beefy shock in the rear stays cool even on long descents of over 500 vertical meters and consistently delivers performance.

On the descent, the Ryvon LT really shines. It’s a blast to ride, inspires a great deal of confidence, and is so forgiving that it tempts you to push your limits.

The Bosch-SX-motor is about a kilo lighter than its full-power counterpart (the Bosch CX) and also has a slightly smaller build. Yet, on the spec sheet, it delivers a similar peak performance of 600 watts. This makes the motor significantly superior to those from TQ and Fazua, but it also has a very clear limitation.

For the Bosch SX to provide strong assistance uphill, the pedal cadence must be right. While the Bosch CX, the full power model, draws its full power over a wide range of rpm starting at about 50, with a low pedal frequency, the SX does relatively little.

It is only from 90 revolutions per minute upwards that the Bosch SX-motor unleashes its full power. If riders can achieve this, the motor impresses with its sporty characteristics and strong support. Simply getting into the saddle and letting your legs fall onto the pedals is not enough to get the Bosch SX motor into the desired performance range.

The audio signature of the Bosch SX reminds one of its larger sibling, with a clearly audible whir as you demand power from the motor. We had hoped that Bosch had tackled the gearbox rattle—a familiar noise from the Bosch CX, as well as the Shimano EP8 or EP801—but we were left disappointed. Here, both the TQ and the Fazua motor are a step ahead.

The low-slung front end keeps the front wheel glued to the trail even under full motor thrust, allowing riders to navigate tight switchbacks uphill with precision control. The 165 mm crank arms aren’t overly long, but they do occasionally strike the ground in technical terrain.

At 10,000 €, our test bike really hits the pocketbook. For 3,400 € less, the 4.0 version is probably much closer to the reality of most riders, especially since the bike only weighs 1.3 kilograms more. Those who don’t need 170 mm of travel can opt for the Ryvon ST with less travel in a sportier trim. We’ve taken a look at all the options. With the arrow icon , you can directly compare each model with any other bike from our extensive market overview.