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3
Joined
11/24/2016
Location
SI
Edited Date/Time
5/19/2017 10:24pm
Hello
I am choosing to buy AM-enduro bike, and choose between a bike with an electric motor and a conventional bicycle. I wonder whether how those who already have an electric bicycle (strengths, weaknesses ), and those who have tried it before what is good on electric and what is not good I wonder also how to ride the trail descends on rocky paths ...
Thanks
I am choosing to buy AM-enduro bike, and choose between a bike with an electric motor and a conventional bicycle. I wonder whether how those who already have an electric bicycle (strengths, weaknesses ), and those who have tried it before what is good on electric and what is not good I wonder also how to ride the trail descends on rocky paths ...
Thanks
My friend has a Specialized Turbo LEVO and I tried it a little bit. Not enough to say I am really comfortable on the machine and perform a detailed analysis, but enough to answer here. He is absolutely crazy about this bike. He is a very strong and fit rider, but doesn't like to climb (he is a very good and strong climber, but doesn't enjoy it). To fully enjoy the potential of the terrain where he rides, he need to cover long distances, which are OK for epic weekend rides, but not for after-work short rides. That's part of the reason why he loves the eBike so much.
Strength:
- Climbs unbelievably well, obviously...
- Rides like a bike. Contrarily to a widespread belief it doesn't roost like a MX and destroys trails because of the motor. I would say it is less damageable to the trails than a noob skidding all over the place and locking the rear wheel.
- Very well suited for very long rides that takes you far away or involves very long climbs.
Weaknesses:
- Trail access in some parts of the world (US mainly). It is a very sensitive subject and eBikes should not be ridden on trails only accessible to non-motorized vehicle.
- Heavy (~50lbs)
- Small lag (~1 sec delay between the moment you start pedaling and the moment the motor kicks in). When climbing, it means you are left pedaling a 50lbs bike for a couple pedal strokes. Makes it not very good for tricky climbs where you need to ratchet.
- Long chainstay because of the motor. The Specialized don't seem too bad in that regard though.
- You have to be very careful and gentle when shifting. If you don't, I guess there is a big risk of breaking chains and cassettes.
Would I buy one? No, it would never be my main bike and it is too expensive for a N+1 bike... I already have a nice AM/Trail bike, XC hardtail, road bike and BMX.
If money was not an issue, I could see myself buying an eBike as a N+1 or replacing the XC hardtail with one. It would certainly be fun to have one for super long rides like what I do in the fall once the lifts are closed. IMO, eBikes are not really interesting for trail centers on a small area. It's really a tool for accessing remote areas, involving long distances and long climbs. I could consider one for my wife however. That could be a good way to make riding enjoyable for both of us. The cost is quite high however.
I wouldn't be interested if I was living in the US because of the trail access issue.
The thing is, I wouldn't even consider replacing my Enduro bike with this, it's more like another discipline.
It does things very well that my Enduro bike sucks at and the other way around.
If you want to ride Enduro and only have money for one bike, buy a regular Enduro bike. But if you still have cash left, also buy a Levo, it's just great fun. I spend half the time riding up some of the steepest trails I know (and I know a lot all over Europe) because I was just blown away by how easy it coped with the challenge, it was a bit like riding a Trials motorbike.
I did a few runs on the local IXS Cup track, it was still good, because like most Specialized bikes it's a genuinely good MTB, but it felt slower than my Enduro bike, because most of the time I was above the 25km/h limit, so it was just a very heavy Trailbike. I thought it was great on tight and steep trails, because the plustires really grip there and it just powers out of every corner.
The only thing I really struggled with was offcamber roots, because its just heavy und you can't make yourself 'light' like you would on a regular Enduro bike.
If you just use it for easy access to your trails, it will become boring pretty soon, because the uphills are easy but boring and in the downhill you'll sometimes wish for a livelier bike.
But if you use it to go where your Enduro wouldn't take you or for down days when you don't feel like riding your regular bike it'll be great fun for a long time.
I just Baught a bulls fs enduro. It brings mountain biking to a whole other level.
For me it is mostly about access, because I'm handicapped I have no feeling or controlled movement from the knees down, this bike allows me to get back out into nature like I used to be able to do its an amazing feeling, even with my physical limitations I'm already having more fun and going further than I ever have on a mountain bike
The real reason I'm in love with E-Bikes is because it opens up riding for those who otherwise wouldn't be able to, we have customers that are 80+ years old who thought their biking days were over hop on levos and ride like they used to. We had a customer who lost his legs and struggled to pedal a normal bike with his prosthetics hop on a levo and ride like he used to. We've had customers with heart conditions who were told they couldn't ride again get re-stoked on bikes thanks to e-bikes. There is a place for them.
All that being said, on the average trail, I'd take my stumpy over a levo anyday.
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Regards
Pretty damn cool but also some things to mention.
It's obviously amazing going up. It's ridiculous how easy you can go up snotty loose gravely hills and anything with a ledge better be big for it to be an issue. Crazy.
Down? Completely fine. Actually great, lots of grip, for me being an ex-moto guy the big tyres have lots of grip and all good there.... Weight is different and that's the first of my two somewhat negatives.
The weight kinda takes away some of the traditional mtb fun, and replaces it with a bashability. It's not as flickable, manual-eeeee etc... It's just heavier. Want to bunny hop over stuff? It wants you to hit it. Like riding a four stroke as opposed to a two stroke!
And then the engine, does great, but affects some things. The 25mph limit means on flat ground you could end up pedalling a heavy bike hard... or even popping wheelies, the motor kicks in... twisty single track with single pedals between trees, motor kicks in. Sure you'd get used to it, just different I guess.
Does go up and down like a billy goat tho. Will go back out with the Enduro tomorrow before a choice.. Wish it had 140 in the rear!
The fat tyres made me feel at home for sure! I think the weight actually helps it going fast down hill, and it handles tech stuff pretty well too I think. Not as playful but still feels piddly compared to a moto!
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