Claud Butler Wrath 1.0 vs 2.0 Review (2026): Which Cues e-MTB?

The Wrath is Claud Butler's 29er electric mountain bike, and it comes in two flavours. The Wrath 1.0 is £1,317.99 (down from £1,499.99) and the Wrath 2.0 is £1,467.99 (down from £1,749.99) — so there's £150 between them. Both share the same frame, fork, brakes and wheels; the money buys you a stronger motor, a bigger battery and a wider-range gearbox.

We've had both on the stand more than once. This is the honest version: what's actually different, whether the 2.0 is worth the extra, and how either compares to the cheaper, smaller-wheeled Ridge. One thing to say up front — the Wrath sells fast and stock comes in batches from the manufacturer, so if the size you want is showing as sold out, hit the back-in-stock button or give us a ring.

⚡ Verdict at a glance

Wrath 1.0 — 4/5. A well-sorted 29er e-MTB with hydraulic brakes and a Cues drivetrain at a price where most rivals still fit cable discs.

Wrath 2.0 — 4.5/5. The one we'd buy. 45Nm and 540Wh transform it on real hills and long days, and £150 is a small premium for that much more bike.

Key specs

Both get a Selle Royal saddle, lock-on grips, the 15.5mph UK-legal assist cut-off, and the same 12-month warranty.

What's the same (and why it matters)

Start with what you're not paying extra for, because it's most of the bike. The frame is the same 6061 aluminium chassis with internal cable routing and a battery that sits inside the down tube and lifts out for charging indoors. The 100mm fork has a hydraulic lockout — useful on a hub-drive e-bike because you'll spend more time on tarmac and towpath than you think, and a locked fork stops the bike bobbing when you put the power down.

Braking is Shimano MT200 hydraulic on both, with 180mm rotors front and rear. That's the correct spec for a 26–27kg bike. The Ridge 1.0 makes do with mechanical discs at this sort of money; on the Wrath the extra weight over the front wheel is handled by proper two-finger hydraulics, and it's the single biggest reason we'd point a heavier rider or anyone in hilly country at a Wrath over a Ridge.

The 29x2.40" CST Patrol tyres are a good, honest trail tread — plenty of grip on loose stuff, not so knobbly they drone on the road. The 2.0's tan walls are cosmetic, but they do look the part.

What the extra £150 buys you

Motor: 32Nm vs 45Nm. Both are Bafang rear hub motors, but the 2.0's 45Nm unit is a noticeable step up. On the flat, honestly, you'd struggle to tell. On a steep Shropshire lane with a headwind, or pulling away at a junction on a 27kg bike, the 2.0 gets going with less effort from you. Torque is what you feel on hills; the 1.0's 32Nm is fine for rolling terrain and towpaths but you'll be dropping to the small sprockets and working harder on proper climbs.

Battery: 360Wh vs 540Wh. This is the bigger deal. The 1.0's 360Wh is a fair size for a bike at this price and the "over 40 miles" claim is realistic in a middle assist mode on mixed terrain. The 2.0's 540Wh is 50% more capacity, and Claud Butler quote up to 60 miles. In practice that means the 2.0 does a full day's riding or a week of commuting without range anxiety, and you can leave it in a higher assist mode without watching the bars drop. Charge time goes from 5 to 6 hours — you'll charge the 2.0 less often anyway.

Gears: Cues 1x9 (11–36T) vs Cues 1x10 (11–48T). Both are Shimano's new Cues groupset, which we've written a whole explainer on. The short version: it's tougher than the old Altus/Acera stuff, with thicker cogs that suit the extra load a motor puts through the chain. The 2.0's 11–48T cassette gives you a genuinely low crawler gear for steep climbs when the battery's running low, and a taller top gear for spinning along at the cut-off speed. The 1.0's 11–36T is the same spread as a decent non-electric hardtail — perfectly usable, but you'll notice the gap on a 20% ramp.

The ride

The Wrath is a big-wheeled, long-and-slack hardtail first and an e-bike second, which is the right way round. 29" wheels roll over roots and ruts that a 27.5" Ridge would ping off, and the 2.40" tyres take the edge off the hub-drive rear end. A rear hub motor doesn't give you the "invisible push" of a mid-drive, but it's quiet, simple, and there's nothing to go wrong in the bottom bracket — which matters when you're the one paying for servicing.

At 26–27kg these are not light bikes. Lifting one onto a car rack is a two-person job, and if you live up three flights of stairs, think carefully. On the trail the weight mostly disappears because the motor's doing the work, and the low centre of gravity from the in-frame battery makes it feel planted through corners.

Wrath 1.0 vs Wrath 2.0 vs Ridge: which Claud Butler e-MTB?

Read across and the pattern is clear. The Ridge 2.0 at £1,299.99 actually undercuts the Wrath 1.0 while giving you the stronger 45Nm motor and hydraulic brakes — the trade is 27.5" wheels and a smaller battery. The Wrath 1.0's case is 29" wheels and £18 more; if you're tall or ride rougher ground, the big wheels win. The Wrath 2.0 is the only one with the big 540Wh battery, and that's what justifies its price.

Who is it for?

Good for - Riders who want a 29er — taller riders especially, and anyone whose local trails are rooty rather than smooth - Hilly commutes, bridleways and forest fire roads where hydraulic brakes and 45Nm (2.0) earn their keep - Anyone buying through Cycle to Work or Bike2Work, where the 2.0's premium shrinks to a few pounds a month - Longer days out — the 2.0's 540Wh is the biggest battery on any e-bike we sell

Not for - Anyone who has to carry the bike upstairs or lift it onto a roof rack solo — it's 26–27kg - Riders under about 5'4" — there's no small Wrath; look at the Ridge or a step-through e-hybrid instead - Full-on technical downhill — this is a trail/leisure hardtail, not an enduro bike

Alternatives

• Claud Butler Ridge 1.0 — £1,217.99. The cheapest way in. Same 32Nm Bafang motor, 375Wh battery, but Altus 1x8 and mechanical discs. Read our full Ridge 1.0 review.
• Claud Butler Ridge 2.0 — £1,299.99. 45Nm, Cues 1x9 and hydraulics on 27.5" wheels. The Wrath 1.0's closest rival, from the same brand.
• Falcon Turbine — £899.99. 35Nm hub motor, 368Wh, 1x7 Tourney, cable discs. Much cheaper, much more basic; fine for towpaths.
• Claud Butler Alpina 2.0 — £599.99. No motor, but the same Cues 1x10 11–48T drivetrain and MT200 brakes on a 14.5kg 29er. If you're fit and the hills aren't brutal, it's the same bike for less than half the money.

Final verdict

If money's tight, the Wrath 1.0 is a proper 29er e-MTB with hydraulic brakes and a Cues groupset for £1,317.99, and you won't feel short-changed on rolling terrain. But the Wrath 2.0 is the better buy: £150 gets you 40% more torque, 50% more battery and a wider-range 10-speed cassette, all of which you'll use every single ride. On 0% finance the difference is about £6 a month. Buy the 2.0.

Both arrive delivered free, with free UK delivery, a 12-month warranty and 90-day no-quibble returns. Choose at checkout and all you'll need to do is straighten the bars and pump the tyres.

More from the blog

• Claud Butler Ridge 1.0 Review: The Best Budget Electric Mountain Bike?
• Best Electric Bikes Under £1,100 (2026) | Dawes vs Falcon vs Claud Butler
• Electric Bikes Explained: Are They Worth It?

Ready to find your next bike?

Check the Wrath 1.0 price → Check the Wrath 2.0 price → Shop all Claud Butler bikes →

Not sure on size? Send us your height and inside leg and we'll tell you straight whether you're a Medium or a Large. And if you're buying through your employer, Bike2Work and Cycle to Work can knock up to 42% off either Wrath.