Dario Pegoretti x MAHLE XS: redefining integration
A Pegoretti rides like a Pegoretti always.
That idea has shaped the work coming out of Verona for decades. Founded by Dario Pegoretti and continued by the Bottega, the brand is known for handcrafted steel frames, built one at a time, where design is driven by ride feel, proportion and experience.
Each frame is drawn and brazed by hand and never defined by external constraints. The starting point is always the ride itself. Steel remains at the core of that philosophy: a material chosen not for weight savings, but for its durability, responsiveness and long term performance.
From craftsmanship to modular assistance
The Duende Rock & Roll equipped with MAHLE XS builds on that foundation.
An all surface bike by design, it is made to move across tarmac, gravel, and everything in between, the kind of routes that don’t follow a strict plan, but evolve as the ride goes on.
The frame remains unchanged in how it is conceived and constructed. What differs is how electric assistance is introduced.
Instead of redesigning the bike to accommodate a system, MAHLE XS works externally allowing assistance to be added without altering the structure, geometry or construction process.
No internal battery.
No imposed tube shapes.
No changes to the way the frame is built.
A different approach to integration, enabled by MAHLE XS
Conventional eBike systems rely on full integration into the frame, often defining its dimensions and design from the outset.
MAHLE XS approaches integration differently.
As a fully external, lightweight solution, it allows electric assistance to be incorporated without impacting frame architecture. Powered by MAHLE’s rear hub motor platform (X20 or X30), it delivers smooth, natural support in a minimal configuration.
This allows the bike to retain its original proportions, materials and intent while adding a layer of functionality only when required.
Removable energy, flexible configuration
At the centre of the XS System is the removable eX1 external battery.
Positioned like a standard bottle, it integrates in a familiar way and can be detached in seconds. This enables a flexible setup where assistance can be added or removed depending on the ride from longer or more demanding routes to days where you simply want the bike to respond on its own terms.
With no internal battery and no fixed system architecture, the same frame can support different riding scenarios without permanent modification.
Lightweight system, preserved ride quality
Maintaining ride quality is critical in this context.
The MAHLE XS System achieves this through a minimal configuration, with a minimal system weight of approximately 2.5–3.0 kg.
This keeps the additional components light enough to remain unobtrusive, supporting the ride without redefining how the bike performs.
For a handcrafted steel frame, this balance is essential especially in a material where feel and response are part of the identity of the bike.
Design freedom remains intact
The integration of MAHLE XS does not introduce new constraints to the frame.
With all components positioned externally:
- geometry remains unchanged
- materials are not dictated by the system
- proportions stay consistent with the original design
This allows the bike to be developed according to Pegoretti’s established principles, with electric assistance acting as an extension rather than a limitation.
Built by hand. Enabled by MAHLE. Activated when it matters.
The Duende Rock & Roll with MAHLE XS demonstrates a different approach to eBike integration one where versatility increases, but the essence of the bike remains untouched.
A handcrafted steel frame, built to handle any surface.
A system that can be added or removed in seconds.
A ride that adapts to the day, not the other way around.
Built in Verona.
Enabled by MAHLE XS.
Powered only when it matters.
