2023 Thok TK01 R Review | A surprising package from an Italian e-MTB specialist


The not-so-minor details

Product

2023 Thok TK01 R

Price

$10,890 AUD (plus shipping)

Weight

25.78kg

Positives

- Awesomely agile
- Plush and well-balanced suspension
- Aggressive, high-traction rubber
- Sturdy wheels
- Tyre inserts as standard

Negatives

- Struggles on steep climbs
- Cheap dropper post
- Not amazing value compared to the competition
- Needs bottle cage adapter

The Flow team reviews the Thok TK01 R

If you’ve not heard of Thok e-bikes before, we won’t blame you. Established in 2017, Thok is a small Italian-based company that only produces electric mountain bikes. Currently there are just three models in its lineup. There’s an e-Hardtail called the MIG-HT, a 140mm travel trail bike called the MIG, and this big travel beast; the TK01 R.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
The 2023 Thok TK01 R has recently arrived in Oz, and we’ve been thrashing one over the past few weeks to find out what it has to offer.

While Thok bikes are relatively scarce in Australia, you can expect to see more of them in the future. That’s because Bikes Online is now the local distributor, and it’ll be selling these distinctive e-MTBs direct-to-consumer.

The first model to arrive on our shores is the Thok TK01 R, and it’s certainly an eye-catching bike thanks to its bright red paint job, bold graphics, and moto-inspired design elements. The moto racing theme gets plenty of airtime on the Thok website, which includes a lot of talk about passion, innovation and even Italianness (yes, it’s a new word to us too). If that sort of thing interests you, by all means check it out. Personally, we’re more concerned with how a bike performs on the trail. To find out, we’ve been testing the Thok TK01 R over the past few weeks to see just what this Italian e-MTB can bring to the table.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
The Thok TK01 R features a mullet setup with a 29in front wheel and 27.5in rear wheel.

An overview of the Thok TK01 R

Equipped with mullet wheels and 170mm of travel front and rear, the Thok TK01 R is a big and burly e-MTB that’s designed to compete with the likes of the Trek Rail, Merida eOne-Sixty and Specialized Levo.

The TK01 R is built around a 6000-series alloy frame with straight and angular tube profiles throughout. Up front is a mammoth 1.8in head tube, which features a sort of Mondraker-style cavity behind it.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
There’s 170mm of travel front and rear, with a four-bar suspension platform.

Out back is a four-bar suspension platform that employs a large rocker link and yoke to drive the top tube-mounted shock. The main pivot points roll on sealed cartridge bearings, with the chainstay pivot being the exception. Here you’ll find bushings instead, which makes sense given the low-rotation application.

Powering the TK01 R is a Shimano EP8 motor and a 630Wh battery. While there is a charge port on the frame, a bolt-on downtube protector allows you to remove the battery entirely should you need to charge it separately.

There are some unique design elements to the TK01 R, including the downtube ‘spoilers’ that help to shield the rider from muddy spray off the front wheel. There’s also a small integrated mudguard at the rear, and we like how the motor’s ON button is concealed underneath the top tube.

2023 thok tk01 r electric
A whopping 1.8in head tube makes for a sturdy anchor point for the big travel Zeb.

Thok TK01 R geometry & size chart

With a 64.5° head angle and a 75.5° seat angle, there’s nothing particularly radical about the geometry of the Thok TK01 R.

There are some numbers that stand out however. The reach measurements are on the shorter side, and the 453mm rear centre is notably longer than other mullet e-MTBs like the aforementioned eOne-Sixty and Levo. The 15mm BB drop is also on the higher side these days.

You won’t find any geometry flip chips on the TK01 R frame, though it is possible to fit a 180mm fork if you wanted to kick the angles back and lift the BB up a bit further. Speaking of modifications, although Thok refers to its suspension design as TPS (Thok Progressive System), it doesn’t recommend using a coil shock due to the kinematic being too linear. We appreciate the irony.

Thok TK01 R Size Chart
Thok TK01 R Size Chart

Thok TK01 price & specs

While the Thok TK01 is produced in a variety of spec options, it’s only the TK01 R model that is currently available in Australia.

Lucky for us, the TK01 R is the most appealing model in the range anyway. Highlights include a RockShox Zeb, a Super Deluxe shock with Hydraulic Bottom Out, heavy duty Mavic rims, Maxxis Assegai tyres front and rear, and Shimano XT brakes with 203mm rotors.

The retail price on this bike is currently $10,890 AUD, though you’ll also need to factor the price of shipping in, as the bike will be freighted directly to your door. There’s a small amount of assembly required, but it’s pretty straightforward for anyone with some mechanical skill.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
The Thok TK01 R is currently the only model available in Australia, though you can expect to see more Thok bikes arriving soon.

2023 Thok TK01 R

We have to admit that we had mixed expectations coming into this test of the Thok TK01 R. After all, how could this small Italian brand, with its quirky stylings, compete with the bigger name competition?

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
We’ve been testing a Medium size in the Thok TK01 R, which features fairly conservative geometry amongst some of the newer e-MTBs on the market.

Thok TK01 R sizing & fit

The Thok TK01 R is produced in four sizes. To suit our 165-175cm tall testers we went with a Medium, which features a fairly short 439mm reach.

Thanks to the not-super-steep 75.5° seat angle, we found the TK01 R cockpit to be plenty comfortable. It’s nice and upright, and doesn’t force much of your bodyweight onto the grips.

Speaking of, the bar width and profile is great. However, the own-brand grips are a little too thin and hard for our liking. Riding gloveless on a hot day resulted in some uncomfortable rubbing, so we’d recommend switching these out for something softer. We were pleasantly surprised by the basic-looking saddle, which drew no complaints from any of the bums that spent time on it.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
Our testers found it easy to get used to the Thok TK01 R.

While we all gelled with the riding position, it’s worth noting that there are only a couple of headset spacers to play with the bar height. If you wanted to go taller, you’d need to fit a higher-rise handlebar.

Likewise, riders with longer legs will want to consider fitting a longer stroke dropper post. Roz found the 150mm drop to work well, though Jack would upgrade to a 180mm dropper if this were his bike. Thankfully the reasonably short and straight seat tube on the Medium frame provides some flexibility in this regard. However, it’s worth noting that the seat tube length does get considerably longer on the Large and X-Large frames, which may present an issue to riders who are considering upsizing.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
Riders with longer legs will likely want to upgrade to a longer stroke dropper post.

Suspension setup

Unfortunately there’s not a lot of setup advice available for the Thok TK01 R, so we took an educated guess and started with 30% sag as a starting point. The anodised gradients on the Super Deluxe shock make this easy, and it also gives you a guide as to how much travel you’ve used throughout the ride.

To suit Roz’ riding weight of 60kg she needed 140psi in the shock, which proved to work well. Jack also began with 30% sag, but found the shock was a little too easy to bottom out for his jumpier riding style. He increased the shock pressure to 195psi to suit his 75kg riding weight, ending up at 25% sag in order to provide the necessary support he was looking for.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
We setup the rear shock with 25-30% sag.

It’s worth noting that the shock’s rebound tune is on the slower side. That meant we all ended up with the adjuster set just 2-3 clicks off the fastest setting.

Setting up the Zeb was made easier thanks to the RockShox Trailhead app, which provides recommended pressures and rebound settings based on your weight. These gave us a good starting point, which we didn’t need to stray too far from throughout testing.

Thok TK01 weight

Confirmed weight for our Thok TK01 R is 25.78kg. That’s considerably heavier than the 24.8kg claimed weight.

This is partly due to the addition of Tannus tubeless tyre inserts, which are standard fitment for TK01 Rs sold in Australia via Bikes Online. These inserts aren’t the most heavy duty in terms of weight, adding a claimed 150-165g per wheel.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
The Thok TK01 R arrives at your house in a box, with a bit of assembly required before you can hit the trails.

It is unusual to have inserts come standard on a complete bike. The Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay is the only e-MTB we’ve tested that came with CushCore fitted from the factory. We reckon it’s a great idea, particularly when you consider how hard a big travel e-MTB can be ridden. And given the TK01 R comes fitted with Maxxis EXO+ tyre casings, we’re glad to have the inserts helping to reduce the chance of pinch-flats and rim-dings.

Due to the high volume 2.6in tyres, small changes in pressure are quite noticeable. Too little pressure and we found the tyres would fold over when pushing into a banked corner. Too much pressure and the whole bike would bounce a bit more through rock gardens. For this reason, we’d recommend using a digital gauge for dialling in tyre pressures. After some experimentation, we set the front between 19-23psi and the rear at 23-26psi.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
We didn’t know what to expect when we first got our hands on the Thok TK01 R.

What does the Thok TK01 R do well?

We have to admit that we had mixed expectations coming into this test of the Thok TK01 R. After all, how could this small Italian brand, with its quirky stylings, compete with the bigger name competition?

It would seem a serve of humble pie is in order, because we can happily report that all of our testers have been pleasantly surprised with its ride quality.

Firstly, the suspension on this bike works very well. There’s great small-bump sensitivity, with a plush feel all the way throughout the travel. Along with upright riding position, the TK01 R is a very comfortable bike for longer rides over rolling cross-country terrain.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
For a big travel e-MTB, the Thok TK01 R is surprisingly nimble.

It’s also well-balanced, with a similar level of progression between the fork and shock. The Zeb Select, with its cheaper Charger RC damper, doesn’t provide the same degree of big-hit support as the higher-end models with the Charger 3 damper. It’s still nice and plush though, and the big chassis affords plenty of front-end confidence when ploughing downhill.

On our rough and rocky test trails, we were able to make good use of all 170mm of travel, with the shock’s Hydraulic Bottom Out feature helping to effectively dampen the final 20% of the stroke. It was only on the harshest and most awkward of landings that was Jack able to hit full travel, but even then it was quiet and controlled.

The active suspension design provides plenty of grip, which is complemented well by the 2.6in Assegais. These tyres put a heap of rubber on to the ground, so even though they don’t use the softer MaxxGrip compound, we never found ourselves wanting for more traction. The slightly firmer MaxxTerra compound also means they’ll last longer, which is good news on an e-MTB.

Thok TK01 R emtb electric
It hides its near-26kg heft well, taking to the air with ease.

It rides lighter than it is

What’s particularly impressive about the Thok TK01 R is its agile character on the trail. Honestly, you wouldn’t know it weighs close to 26kg from riding it.

This bike hides its weight well, with the combination of the mullet setup and moderate geometry delivering a balanced and approachable handling package that makes it undemanding to ride across a wide variety of trails.

Thanks to the tall front end and short reach, minimal effort is required to pick up the front wheel. The 27.5in rear wheel makes it easy to find the balance point when pulling a manual, while the plush suspension encourages you to preload and take to the air whenever you spot an unsuspecting lip on the trail.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
The tall front end and short reach makes it easy to lift the front wheel, and the 27.5in wheel allows you to find the balance point intuitively.

Indeed it’s a surprisingly easy bike to throw around, which can partially be attributed to the high BB. With your feet sitting closer to the hub axles, the TK01 R takes less effort to change direction and flip-flop through S-bends. It isn’t as locked-in through long and high-G force berms compared to bikes that are totally slammed to the floor, but it more than makes up for it with its sprightly performance when things get tight and technical.

You never feel like you’re fighting the bike, and it rarely understeers. At slower speeds, we also noted the excellent turning circle. Unlike many other e-MTBs, there’s no steering limiter on the TK01 R, which is quite useful when navigating overgrown bush trails.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
We love the plush and active suspension performance, which is nicely balanced between the Zeb and Super Deluxe.

Given its nimble handling, we thought the TK01 R might be a little unsettled on high-speed descents. Again, we were proved wrong.

The supple suspension, and the fact that there is so much of it, allows it to follow the terrain calmly and comfortably. The aggressive tyres also seek out traction when things get loose and rowdy. Furthermore, the near-26kg weight does a lot to keep the whole bike planted, delivering an inherent degree of stability that offsets the short cockpit and high BB.

Sure, those who are self-shuttling pure DH trails will likely be better served by a more gravity-oriented e-MTB like the Norco Range VLT or Specialized Kenevo. But for most riders, the TK01 R will handle just about anything you can throw at it.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
Despite its agility, the Thok TK01 R offers heaps of stability on the descents thanks to its overall mass and plush suspension.

What didn’t we like?

While the Thok TK01 R feels light and agile on the trail, that same liveliness works against it on the climbs.

As the terrain kicks up, the front wheel becomes light, resulting in unintended wheelies when you’re trying to put down the power. In fact, on Jack’s first test ride, he ended up looping out quite aggressively on a steep uphill section.

This trait largely boils down to the frame’s short reach and tall front end. You need to sit on the saddle’s nose and pretty much lay your chest over the handlebar in order to keep the front wheel sticking on techy pinch climbs. We also found it was necessary to bump the motor down into the Eco setting to temper its kick.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
It can be a challenge keeping the front wheel pointing where you want it to go on the climbs.

Of course it’s less of an issue on fireroad ascents and less technical terrain, where the TK01 R feels comfortable and cruisey. And it has to be said that the high BB and 165mm crank arms do offer a load of ground clearance. We experienced zero pedal strikes throughout the test period, which was very much appreciated on the rocky and janky tech climbs on our local trails. Overall though, steep climbs aren’t the forte of the TK01 R, especially when compared to a full 29er e-MTB like the Trek Rail.

Shimano support

The Shimano EP8 drive unit itself is a fine performer, though as we’ve detailed before, it’s not as powerful or as responsive as the Bosch Performance Line CX motor. This is particularly noticeable if you bail partway up a steep climb. When you attempt to get going again, the EP8 motor can be a little laggy, and it struggles to provide adequate torque unless you’re in the lowest gears.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb shimano ep8
The Shimano EP8 motor is a solid performer, though it exhibits the usual clacking noise on the descents.

While it lacks the overall punch of its German rival, the EP8 motor is more compact and its power delivery is quieter. Both motors make a clacking noise on the descents, though we find this relatively easy to tune out after the first few rides.

General performance is otherwise excellent in the adaptive Trail mode, which alters the motor’s output depending on your leg’s input. You can also tweak several key parameters in Shimano’s E-TUBE app if you’re looking for a different quality from the motor.

Along with the 630Wh battery, there’s scope for getting a good amount of mileage out of the TK01 R. Of course those looking for maximum capacity will naturally gravitate towards options like the Canyon Spectral:ON and Norco Sight VLT, both of which can be had with a whopping 900Wh battery.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
The Thok TK01 R is a heap of fun when whipping along twisty and undulating singletrack.

Component highs & lows

As a complete package, we’ve largely been impressed by the Thok TK01 R. Factoring in its retail price of $10,890 AUD, it doesn’t offer amazing value for money when compared to the competition. You can get a Trek Rail 9, a Specialized Levo Comp Alloy or a Merida eOne-Sixty 9000 for similar money, and those bikes come with the additional perks of buying from a local dealer.

Putting those comparisons to the side for one moment, the TK01 R has still proven to be plenty solid and capable throughout testing.

The suspension works well, offering a plush ride and sufficient adjustability. The Zeb lends plenty of confidence up front, while the active rear suspension delivers heaps of grip and compliance. The addition of the HBO function in the shock works very well, helping to ramp up the final portion of the travel to soak up bigger landings.

The Shimano drivetrain performed reliably, though the SLX shifter feels a little vague when you’re shifting under load. An XT shifter, with its punchier and more positive action, would be a smart upgrade.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
The Thok TK01 R uses a unique derailleur hanger, so it’s worth buying a spare to keep in your riding kit.

We’ve no complaints from the XT brakes, especially with the stock 203mm rotors. Heavier folks may wish to upsize to 220mm rotors though, since the TK01 R is a lot of bike to slow down.

The Mavic wheels, Maxxis tyres and Tannus tyre inserts have delivered faultless performance all throughout testing. This is a great setup for a burly e-MTB, and we’d love to see more brands fitting inserts from the factory.

The dropper post is the main letdown in terms of the component package. An excessive amount of thumb force is required to activate the remote, which resulted in considerable hand fatigue on long rides. The cable itself was silky smooth, with the culprit turning out to be the stiff actuator mechanism at the base of the post. If this were our bike, we’d be upgrading both the remote and the dropper, preferably to something with more travel.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
We’ve hammered this bike, and it’s still yet to exhibit any creaks or groans.

Otherwise the TK01 R has been tight and quiet throughout testing, with no rattles to speak of. Nothing has come loose or broken, which is more than can be said of the last few test bikes we’ve had here at Flow. We’re also glad to see Thok staying away from headset cable routing (for now…), and we’ve experienced no noise or untoward rubbing from the cable routing layout.

The only bummer was a lack of bottle clearance due to the shock’s piggyback reservoir. Bikes Online sent us out a Topeak adapter plate, which helps to position the bottle cage further down, allowing us to fit a 600ml bottle. Definitely factor in an extra $25 to get one of those.

We’d also recommend purchasing a spare derailleur hanger, since unlike almost every other mountain bike that’s moved to SRAM’s UDH standard, the hanger is specific to this frame.

Nothing has come loose or broken, which is more than can be said of the last few test bikes we’ve had here at Flow.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
A bottle cage adapter is necessary in order to clear the piggyback reservoir.

Thok TK01 R vs Cube Stereo Hybrid 160

We recently tested the Cube Stereo Hybrid 160, which is designed for a similar type of riding as the Thok TK01 R.

The two bikes come in at a similar price point, though the Cube gets a notably loftier spec with Fox Factory suspension and a Kashima-coated Transfer dropper post. It also features a carbon mainframe that’s built around the Bosch Performance Line CX motor, and it gets a bigger 750Wh battery that will help you to achieve more range than the Thok.

cube stereo hybrid 160 emtb electric bosch actionteam
The Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 is a similar e-MTB that we tested recently.

Suspension travel is similar, with the Cube coming with a 170mm travel fork and 160mm at the rear. Geometry is close too, with the biggest difference being its dual 27.5in wheel setup and shorter rear centre length (441mm vs 453mm).

On the trail the Cube is a beautifully plush performer, offering excellent traction and big-hit capability. It’s similarly comfortable and easy to ride, and we also found it to be quite agile for a big travel e-MTB.

The suspension is more progressive overall, giving it a poppier feel compared to the Thok. You can still ride it really hard, though we did find ourselves wishing for the extra straight-line stability of a 29in front wheel.

cube stereo hybrid 160 emtb electric bosch actionteam
We enjoyed riding the Cube Stereo Hybrid 160, though we kind of wish it was a mullet like the Thok TK01 R.

The Thok really does hits the mark in this regard, with its mullet setup offering greater confidence along with a more planted ride quality thanks to the active suspension design. The head angle is marginally slacker, but it’s mainly the bigger front wheel that increases the steering stability on steep and fast descents. Despite this, it’s still an easy-to-negotiate bike on tight trails and at slower speeds, making it a terrific all-rounder.

Thok TK01 R vs Marin Alpine Trail E2

Another bike we wanted to compare with the Thok TK01 R is the Marin Alpine Trail E2. This is an option that’s also sold direct-to-consumer in Australia via Bikes Online, and indeed there are some notable similarities between the two.

marin alpine trail e2 electric
Bikes Online also sells the Marin Alpine Trail E2, which offers a very appealing package that comes in cheaper than the Thok TK01 R.

The Marin also features a mullet setup, an alloy frame and a Shimano EP8 motor and 630Wh battery. It has a little less travel with a 160mm fork and 150mm at the rear, though its geometry is more aggressive with a 63° head angle, longer reach, shorter chainstays and lower BB. It matches this with a Fox DHX2 coil shock and a 38 GRIP2 fork.

Despite its higher-end suspension spec, it sells for considerably less money than the Thok TK01 R, with a tantalising retail price of $9,499 AUD.

While we’ve not ridden the Alpine Trail E2, based on our experience of testing the non-motorised Marin Alpine Trail, we have every reason to believe it’ll be a riot on the trails. It also serves to highlight what the Thok TK01 R is competing with in this price bracket.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
Despite our testers having different backgrounds and riding styles, the Thok TK01 R received unanimous praise for its agile and approachable character.

Flow’s Verdict

The Thok TK01 R is proof that you should never judge a book by its cover.

We had initially raised our eyebrows at its slightly unfashionable geometry, and we can’t say we were exactly drawn to its bodacious Euro styling. The reality on the trail however, is a pleasingly well-rounded experience.

The Thok TK01 R offers fantastically agile handling thanks to its mullet setup and moderate wheelbase. It hides its weight well, and proved to be approachable and easy to ride on both technical trails and more sedate cross-country terrain. The plush suspension gives it bag loads of grip, while also making it comfortable and confidence-inspiring when things get fast and chunky.

It does struggle with tracking on steep climbs, with some rider contortion required in order to keep the front wheel weighted. And while most of the build kit has been well up to the task of high mileage e-Biking, we were less than impressed by the dropper post and firm grips.

Otherwise the Thok TK01 R has proven to be a reliable performer, with plenty of name-brand components that make it an appealing package. Along with its nimble handling and overall versatility, this is one e-MTB that we have been very happy to have been introduced to.

2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
The Thok TK01 R is proof that you should never judge a book by its cover.
2023 thok tk01 r electric emtb
If you’re after a nimble and easy-to-ride electric mountain bike with a full-powered motor, the Thok TK01 R is a fun option.

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