What Do You Know! Haro Is Still Going Strong, Introduces 2021 Shift Plus e-MTB

Ladies and gentlemen, what you see in the cover photo is none other than Haro’s response to the whole e-bike everything. It’s known as the Shift Plus i/O 5, and once you get to know what it can do, you’ll be just as surprised as I was that this old-school dog (Haro) knows some new tricks.

Before we go any further, I’ve got to bring our attention to the fact that this bike comes off the assembly line with a cool $4,499 price tag. If you’ve been paying attention to the current trends, you will understand that this little bugger is just in line with most other e-bikes on the market, excluding those ridiculously overpriced examples, of course.

Now, the frame for this e-MTB is a full aluminum 4-bar linkage frame specifically designed to fit one and only one motor, which we’ll get to shortly. The rear has been tuned to allow a full 160 mm (6.3 in) of travel, while internal cable routing is all in the day’s work. What I enjoy most about the frame is that even though it seems like Haro has been away for some time, this frame looks just as aggressive as most other downhill wonders.

As promised, being the e-bike that it is, the Shift sings to the tune of a Shimano STePS E8000 motor. But the STePS isn’t just a motor, it’s an entire system that also includes a battery and a few other secondary components, all tuned together for maximum potential. With a max 250W output and a peak 70 Nm (51.6 lb-ft) of torque, this motor will be sure to keep you cruising nice and strong with support for speeds of up to 15.5 mph (25 kph).

Part two of all of this is the battery. This Shimano setup includes the E8000 504Wh pack that is rated at up to 62 miles (100 km) of range on one charge. To help you control everything without making any risky hand maneuvers, a Firebolt Switch Unit is available at the touch of your fingertips.

As for the drivetrain, wow! I was extremely surprised to see the freshest Deore 10-speed setup on a Haro. But then again, I've been living under a rock for the past ten years. From the front and rear derailleur, to the cassette and shifter, everything is Deore.

As for the suspension, we once again find top-end components. The fork is a Suntour Aion 35 EVO with 160 mm (6.3 in) of travel and hydraulic lockout. The rear is an X-Fusion 02 Pro RL Trunnion with a rebound adjuster and another hydraulic lockout system.

Listen, if you’ve been paying attention to any of the bike texts we push out, you’d know that all of this stuff is almost the best you can find; for this sort of cash, anyway.

Just imagine what it’s like to hit a few downhill trails with this old but new Haro e-MTB. If you do like that image, click here and check out the rest of this monster on your own. Personally, I feel you won’t regret it.