Have you guys checked the stats on this thread lately?
We hit a hundred pages today. 2000 posts, and 90,000 views. WOW!!
Thanks for following along.
Weāre international!
definitely your avatar
eMTB Options For 2024
- Thread starter Browneye
- Start date
definitely your avatar
ruffruff
Well-Known Member
yep, Julia took it to the next level.
So I have a few miles on single track on the Norco.
I don't want to really get into too much as I still feel like I'm getting use to it.
But I need to fine tune the assist levels.
The Shimano Steps system has 3 levels. Eco, Trail and Boost.
I have it set to Eco= low Trail=medium and Boost=high.
If I'm in trail it feels a litle too "launchy". Wrong pedal stroke at the wrong time and it will launch me into a tree.
All three levels have plenty of power even for a fat guy.
The bike handles and corners like a dream! I'm clearing a couple features after two rides that I never attempted at all last year.
I will say one thing. I was a little skeptical about a non-removal built in battery but now I love it!
No having to remember the battery, worry about a key. It just feels like a regular bike. Throw it on the rack and go!
So I have a few miles on single track on the Norco.
I don't want to really get into too much as I still feel like I'm getting use to it.
But I need to fine tune the assist levels.
The Shimano Steps system has 3 levels. Eco, Trail and Boost.
I have it set to Eco= low Trail=medium and Boost=high.
If I'm in trail it feels a litle too "launchy". Wrong pedal stroke at the wrong time and it will launch me into a tree.
All three levels have plenty of power even for a fat guy.
The bike handles and corners like a dream! I'm clearing a couple features after two rides that I never attempted at all last year.
I will say one thing. I was a little skeptical about a non-removal built in battery but now I love it!
No having to remember the battery, worry about a key. It just feels like a regular bike. Throw it on the rack and go!
Interesting you say this. The internal battery is my biggest reservation about buying a rise ( if it ever turns up) . I have this irrational fear about not being able to remove it. Yet I rarely remove my battery - including leaving it on for transport.
In 3 years of ownership there's only been 3 holidays where being able to remove it was a bonus - accomodation in alpine resorts where the bike is stored in a communal ski drying room so I bring the battery upstairs to charge rather than risking the charger disappearing. Perhaps 2/3 times that I've charged the battery in the car whilst driving to a ride, and a couple of times where removing the battery fixed a giant cr@pp related shutdown.
There is a demo 2021 merida e160 800 for sale at a VERY good price . I keep looking at that external shimano battery and perfectly good component list....asking myself if it's really worth paying 3 x as much for a 2 kg weight saving....Back in 2018 I originally wanted an e160 , and IMHO they were a turning point in emtb design - the first affordable yet capable emtb.
But who am I kidding - the rise is so much sexier
Browneye
Well-Known Member
I had both battery packs out this morning charging on the bench while I cleaned and tuned the two bikes from the last outing, so we could put them in the truck for trip to the beach.
I don't remove them very often either, but find it is convenient.
Now with the two-bike rack on the new little tiny car for the RV, it's nearly a necessity. I'm sure it could handle it with them both on the bikes, but taking nearly 20lbs off that rack just seems prudent. Especially hung way off on the hitch rack.
The newer lighter bikes are a boon, but at what cost? Sexy as the Rise is, it's way too rich for my blood (pocket book. LOL). Ten-grand for a bicycle just isn't in my realm. I have about nine grand in the two now, and even that seems excessive. I guess it's just a matter of perspective and rationalizing what is reasonable. If'n ya got it, go for it!
The Amiti has been on Craigs List for a week now, a couple of inquiries, a low-ball offer, but no one beating the door down to buy it. One of the gals in the ebike group may want it, would give her a lot better deal if she really wants it.
I stopped at my local Giant dealer last week and they had new bikes coming in, maybe nearly a hundred shipping cartons, but just a handful of ebikes - all were the ROGUE model, which seems to be the replacement model for the Explore I had previously. Very short of any kind of inventory for bikes to sell. A new whole row of FATHOM hardtail pedal bikes in cartons.
I don't remove them very often either, but find it is convenient.
Now with the two-bike rack on the new little tiny car for the RV, it's nearly a necessity. I'm sure it could handle it with them both on the bikes, but taking nearly 20lbs off that rack just seems prudent. Especially hung way off on the hitch rack.
The newer lighter bikes are a boon, but at what cost? Sexy as the Rise is, it's way too rich for my blood (pocket book. LOL). Ten-grand for a bicycle just isn't in my realm. I have about nine grand in the two now, and even that seems excessive. I guess it's just a matter of perspective and rationalizing what is reasonable. If'n ya got it, go for it!
The Amiti has been on Craigs List for a week now, a couple of inquiries, a low-ball offer, but no one beating the door down to buy it. One of the gals in the ebike group may want it, would give her a lot better deal if she really wants it.
I stopped at my local Giant dealer last week and they had new bikes coming in, maybe nearly a hundred shipping cartons, but just a handful of ebikes - all were the ROGUE model, which seems to be the replacement model for the Explore I had previously. Very short of any kind of inventory for bikes to sell. A new whole row of FATHOM hardtail pedal bikes in cartons.
Bike buying psychology.
Compare bike purchase cost with the motorbike I'd be wasting $ on if I still spent my Tuesdays motorbike riding.
Ouch....the prices are almost the same...
Ummm...but what about annual running costs like rego , insurance, a new tyre every ride....cr@p , we're still in the same ballpark
But I don't have to worry about speeding fines? Errrrr...but I still drive to the tracks
But...ummm....I can do it with the kids. Ooopppsss...just just multiplied the price by 3
I know, It's exercise! Who am I kidding - I've put on 5 kg since swapping from motorbike to mountain bike riding..
Cheaper than therapy? I have a stressful job. Hmmmm....I wonder if I can tax deduct the emtb?
My wife is so much better at this emotional stuff. " shut up and just buy it"
Compare bike purchase cost with the motorbike I'd be wasting $ on if I still spent my Tuesdays motorbike riding.
Ouch....the prices are almost the same...
Ummm...but what about annual running costs like rego , insurance, a new tyre every ride....cr@p , we're still in the same ballpark
But I don't have to worry about speeding fines? Errrrr...but I still drive to the tracks
But...ummm....I can do it with the kids. Ooopppsss...just just multiplied the price by 3
I know, It's exercise! Who am I kidding - I've put on 5 kg since swapping from motorbike to mountain bike riding..
Cheaper than therapy? I have a stressful job. Hmmmm....I wonder if I can tax deduct the emtb?
My wife is so much better at this emotional stuff. " shut up and just buy it"
ruffruff
Well-Known Member
Don't forget, if you are a US citizen there is a chance the $1500 ebike tax credit will come true!
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
You did what? I have actually lost 17.5 kg since January 1st, 2020, and keep at 90.1 kg... The nature of e-MTBism different from e-tourism?
PD oz ( auatralia) .
Our pen pushers do everything humanly possible to stuff up any environmentally sensible project.... these politicians think waving a chunk of coal in parliament makes the opposition look weak!
No, hard core dirt riding makes emtb look like a casual wander around the countryside.
For perspective, we have thousands of km of rocky steep 4x4 tracks on my doorstep. At one stage I was throwing 100 kg of high performance dirt bike around those ranges every tuesday plus most weekends- the group I was riding with included an ex Australian champion. We'd head off at daybreak, ride all day then stagger back home after dark. Great days, but physically exhausting.
Plus there was the annual once in a lifetime adventure trip where we'd cross remote desserts unsupported - 4 weeks of throwing 180 kg of motorbike around in the sand, living on dehydrated meals ( and carrying the water) - one of the group was special forces, and even he would train for these trips.
Browneye
Well-Known Member
800-mile 5-day ride with backpack-gear on the dualsport trip, 8 points on the north rim of the grand canyon...
1000-mile trip over 5 days, backpack gear on adventure bike, Colorado Rockies tour. Yes, motorbikes make eMTB's seem like a walk in the park.
35-mile out-and-back on Rattlesnake Creek Trail in the south Sierras - like a 200-mile dualsport ride, or a 450 mile road-bike ride:
Check out these GPS stats...yes, this is one weekend ride, out and back, up a mountain to 12K feet. You get so tired you can't stand up.
1000-mile trip over 5 days, backpack gear on adventure bike, Colorado Rockies tour. Yes, motorbikes make eMTB's seem like a walk in the park.
35-mile out-and-back on Rattlesnake Creek Trail in the south Sierras - like a 200-mile dualsport ride, or a 450 mile road-bike ride:
Check out these GPS stats...yes, this is one weekend ride, out and back, up a mountain to 12K feet. You get so tired you can't stand up.
Last edited:
a walk in the park.
,. You get so tired you can't stand up.
You're really getting into character , Julia
We used ( and hand cut) many of the same trails that are now mtb tracks. But the bikes were 180 kg and range anxiety kicked in around the 600 km mark...
https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Paul-Dandys-photos/i-r5sF7qt/0/a55d3029/D/PICT0031-D.jpg
Trees down took on a different meaning
One day I'll organise a multi day emtb tour through the old tracks. I figure we could cover a single days motorbiking in a week so those 2 week trips might be a logistical challenge
But most of these guys ride emtb as well
Perhaps I'll start with an easy ridge top cruise - it's about 15 km each way, with a 1400 m drop in the last couple of km
https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Paul-Dandys-photos/i-r5sF7qt/0/a55d3029/D/PICT0031-D.jpg
Trees down took on a different meaning
One day I'll organise a multi day emtb tour through the old tracks. I figure we could cover a single days motorbiking in a week so those 2 week trips might be a logistical challenge
But most of these guys ride emtb as well
Perhaps I'll start with an easy ridge top cruise - it's about 15 km each way, with a 1400 m drop in the last couple of km
Last edited:
Those snow gums were decimated the year before by a 150 km long fire front. That photo would have been 2007 , and sadly that range was hit again by the 2019 fires ( the big ones) . Snow gums are magnificent trees - they take hundreds of years to develop into tortured, gnarly reminders of survival. At least they were.
Browneye
Well-Known Member
One of the mountain single-track areas in the very southern Sierras has trails that go down to a dead-end, so steep you can't make it back up. One guy and his son had to leave their bikes, hike out, and get a recovery team.
I've seen riders miles from civilization with a blown radiator, or a bike tipped over in the creek. I even had to tow one out of a sand wash one time, that's a real trick.
I'm anxious to try some of the old bike trails on the MTB. It's gotta be a hoot.
Circa 2001...I rode a GasGas EC250. You remember the old chain-saw motors that blew blue smoke?
I've seen riders miles from civilization with a blown radiator, or a bike tipped over in the creek. I even had to tow one out of a sand wash one time, that's a real trick.
I'm anxious to try some of the old bike trails on the MTB. It's gotta be a hoot.
Circa 2001...I rode a GasGas EC250. You remember the old chain-saw motors that blew blue smoke?
I'm anxious to try some of the old bike trails on the MTB. It's gotta be a hoot.
Interesting use of "anxious" - in all honesty I really am anxious about tackling the local motorbike trails on my emtb.
There's a 60 km loop of black runs to my north, single line that was originally hand cut for the local hard core enduro guys to train on - the sort of trails that make someone good enough to win an isde outright on a ktm125 !!! The group Shane used to train with now use those trails for emtb riding, but they're crazy mountain goat hybrids with a death wish. I find an excuse to be busy when they invite me out for a ride......
Part of me wants to take sprogette 1 out and give her a glimpse of what this area has to offer. We tried walking them but couldn't - steep, loose unforgiving rocky country - even with trekking poles I had to turn back after a couple of km.
Reminds me of a search and rescue mission locally - a deer hunter got geographically challenged and the motorbike squad was directed down dingo hill. An old mountain cattleman declared it wasn't possible -he wouldn't walk , never mind ride his horse down there. " She'll be right, we're riding motorbikes not walking" (Tim was the national open enduro champ at the time)
New convert yesterday. We had a young couple over for lunch, he's the baby me I wish I was - similar interests but he's taken everything a little further, plus he does national level martial arts . Not riding his motorbike as much as he used to, has had a play on the local trails and lioved them.
So I put him on sprogette 1's scott genius and he had that smile of someone riding a modern mtb for the first time. His wife mumbles something about expensive mustakes as I hand over the emtb....
Anyway, time for the big question - he's about 6'2 but must be over 120 kg of muscle. My initial thought was trek, but I think he's over their weight limit and will almost certainly gravitate towards extreme riding. Perhaps a kenevo?
So I put him on sprogette 1's scott genius and he had that smile of someone riding a modern mtb for the first time. His wife mumbles something about expensive mustakes as I hand over the emtb....
Anyway, time for the big question - he's about 6'2 but must be over 120 kg of muscle. My initial thought was trek, but I think he's over their weight limit and will almost certainly gravitate towards extreme riding. Perhaps a kenevo?
Prairie Dog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Red Deer
The Kenevo would be a great choice, IMO. A couple of buddies own Levos. Ryan (Front) rides a Levo SL and Kelvin a Levo CC. When it comes to technical single track both Levos are nimbler than the Trance when cornering and straight-a-ways. However, being the lightest rider of the three (5ā 6ā/136 lbs) I outpace them on sheer climbs with the help of the Yamaha power plant. 80NM of torque from the Trance vs 90NM from Kelvinās CC and 35NM of output from Ryanās SL. BTW, both Kelvin and Ryan also come from dirt bike backgrounds and draw from a wealth of experience riding their former machines which bodes well in their favor. Great guys to ride with, BTW.
Anyways, Iām guessing Ryan is over 6ā tall and rides a large SL. Hereās some recent footage I shot of us on local trails.
Similar threads
