I spent today doing shuttle runs on the giant - blasting down then Eclimbing 350 m in 3.5 km....get the car , hoist every one of those 23 kg up onto the rack....then drive a mate back up. I'm undecided about keeping the giant for shuttle duties, guess I'll know when I try getting up that hill on this.
eMTB Options For 2024
- Thread starter Browneye
- Start date
I spent today doing shuttle runs on the giant - blasting down then Eclimbing 350 m in 3.5 km....get the car , hoist every one of those 23 kg up onto the rack....then drive a mate back up. I'm undecided about keeping the giant for shuttle duties, guess I'll know when I try getting up that hill on this.
DaveMatthews
Well-Known Member
Ah yeah... the new dirty girl in town!
These new slim bikes are really attractive.
I almost kick myself for passing on the LevoSL last year. Almost.
Great looking ebike.
it's never been about looks for me...
I fell in love with fugle on the first ride, and still love the way she screams her E.
But every time I ride sprogettes genius I'm impressed by the geometry. Despite having noticeably lower spec suspension than fugle , the geometry makes the genius more accurate, forgiving, AND more efficient to pedal. Basically more fun. I still prefer the nimble handling of fugle on really tight trails, so hopefully the levo sl will keep some of that nimble . If not, I've still got my marin alcatraz and the local pump track opens soon.
RandallS
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Calgary
My golfing partner (AKA "my evil twin brother" although no relation) was trying to find a bike and just like everywhere else, that's pretty well impossible these days.
However, I have kept an eye out for him (and my brother too) and found a LIV Vall E+ Pro (small) locally and he was able to snag it.
He's very similar in size to myself, although slightly shorter inseam and reach, so I am of the opinion the LIV may in fact fit him better than my Fathom.
The Vall E+ seems to reasonably similar in components to my 2020 Fathom Pro and price is exactly what I paid for my 2020 and he gets the upgraded battery (625 WH).
Now I get him hooked on "accessories" like droppers, grips, saddles, phone mounts and all the other fun stuff.
I suspect he may want different handlebars and stem as well.
For my brother, who doesn't want to invest as much and won't likely be riding as much either, he's waiting on a Talon in Large.
At 6'1" he's on the cusp of an XL, but he thinks the Large will be better as he always preferred a smaller frame on his bikes.
Slowly but surely building a a "Giant Bike Gang", and I am happy to say that I will be one of the fully vaccinated ones (next monday).
However, I have kept an eye out for him (and my brother too) and found a LIV Vall E+ Pro (small) locally and he was able to snag it.
He's very similar in size to myself, although slightly shorter inseam and reach, so I am of the opinion the LIV may in fact fit him better than my Fathom.
The Vall E+ seems to reasonably similar in components to my 2020 Fathom Pro and price is exactly what I paid for my 2020 and he gets the upgraded battery (625 WH).
Now I get him hooked on "accessories" like droppers, grips, saddles, phone mounts and all the other fun stuff.
I suspect he may want different handlebars and stem as well.
For my brother, who doesn't want to invest as much and won't likely be riding as much either, he's waiting on a Talon in Large.
At 6'1" he's on the cusp of an XL, but he thinks the Large will be better as he always preferred a smaller frame on his bikes.
Slowly but surely building a a "Giant Bike Gang", and I am happy to say that I will be one of the fully vaccinated ones (next monday).
john peck
Well-Known Member
Because the more ebikes out there, the safer the rest of us become. The Netherlands has proven that.Bring all your ideas here for mountain bike options for 2020.
We had a lot of great discussion on bikes and models in Lenny's 50% off thread but some members complained about the thread content being relevant. So here's a thread to discuss all the options and bike styles, what you like and don't like, and what brought you to e-mountain biking.
Tomorrow I have scheduled a test ride on the YT Decoy 29 Pro at the factory store in San Clement CA. I'll take a few pics and report.
Welcome to the asylum.
This is why I´m so keen on inexpensive ebikes affordable to younger riders, pretty much anything under
$1200 with good power & sturdy construction. It you can afford high end bikes fine, but don´t discourage
those who can´t. $1059
Attachments
Browneye
Well-Known Member
There is nothing discouraging here, John. And I don't live in the Netherlands, and don't care what they ride.
This thread is about state of the art e-mountain bikes - the best of what's out there. I also don't care what people buy - they can go for whatever they want - it's a free country. This thread is not for cheap starter-bikes, it's not for those buyers/riders.
Feel free to start your own thread.
Thank you.
linklemming
Well-Known Member
Would love to see pics and get a riding review/impressions.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
E-MTB is an elitist thing, for one. No one is forced to buy it.
The example of the Netherlands has been totally inadequate. The country is flat as a pancake. The Dutch style is travelling from point A to B at low speed. That's why the omafiets or "granny bike" is the dominating bike style in Holland. And such cruisers can be very cheap, John. "Cheap e-MTB" is equivalent to "cheap SUV".
The example of the Netherlands has been totally inadequate. The country is flat as a pancake. The Dutch style is travelling from point A to B at low speed. That's why the omafiets or "granny bike" is the dominating bike style in Holland. And such cruisers can be very cheap, John. "Cheap e-MTB" is equivalent to "cheap SUV".
This thread started with julia looking for a value bike without sacrificing capabilities. It's evolved into a meeting place for similar minded people to come for advice without fear of being accused of elitisim or gatting into teh same old arguments. It's NOT targeting affluent elitist riders- there are other forums for that.
Some people may not appreciate the recurring advice of investing in reasonable quality brakes/ suspension / components - nobody is forcing anyone.
I will continue to warn about the potential safety issues of attempting mountain bike riding on lower quality equipment - nb this is not about elitism or price , not even about brand or prestige. I've wasted way too many $ over the years on components that were either unsafe or unsuitable for purpose , plus I have accumulated way too many injuries from miscalculating the balance between bike capability, my lack of skill, and physics .
John. with the greatest respect for your ability to use that bike- it's NOT suitable for most people to engage in the SPORT of mountain bike riding. The hub drive isn't going to climb a rock strewn double black run , those stands and racks are dangerous in rocky terrain - it's NOT safer for everyone if we get more people on MOUNTAIN BIKE trails on bikes like that . If you are good enough to tackle true mountain biking sporting terrain on that bike then you have my utmost admiration - but please don't encourage people to spend $1200 on a bike like that if they have aspirations of mountain bike riding- they can save those $ untill they can afford something liek a giant fathom or stance , focus thron etc
Some people may not appreciate the recurring advice of investing in reasonable quality brakes/ suspension / components - nobody is forcing anyone.
I will continue to warn about the potential safety issues of attempting mountain bike riding on lower quality equipment - nb this is not about elitism or price , not even about brand or prestige. I've wasted way too many $ over the years on components that were either unsafe or unsuitable for purpose , plus I have accumulated way too many injuries from miscalculating the balance between bike capability, my lack of skill, and physics .
John. with the greatest respect for your ability to use that bike- it's NOT suitable for most people to engage in the SPORT of mountain bike riding. The hub drive isn't going to climb a rock strewn double black run , those stands and racks are dangerous in rocky terrain - it's NOT safer for everyone if we get more people on MOUNTAIN BIKE trails on bikes like that . If you are good enough to tackle true mountain biking sporting terrain on that bike then you have my utmost admiration - but please don't encourage people to spend $1200 on a bike like that if they have aspirations of mountain bike riding- they can save those $ untill they can afford something liek a giant fathom or stance , focus thron etc
Browneye
Well-Known Member
Thanks guys.
John was upset that I was misrepresenting myself by using Julia Roberts image as my avatar, claiming I was a "just a poser", and that she wasn't "narrow minded and petty" like I am.
The hub-drive fat-tire folders seem to be all the rage these days. They even come with full suspension - like 2" of travel. Perfect for mountain biking trails.
This came across my desk this week...pretty good article for us aging MTB'rs. I turned 64 last week. The writer is complaining about getting old at 44. LOL
www.singletracks.com
John was upset that I was misrepresenting myself by using Julia Roberts image as my avatar, claiming I was a "just a poser", and that she wasn't "narrow minded and petty" like I am.
The hub-drive fat-tire folders seem to be all the rage these days. They even come with full suspension - like 2" of travel. Perfect for mountain biking trails.
This came across my desk this week...pretty good article for us aging MTB'rs. I turned 64 last week.
The writer is complaining about getting old at 44. LOL
Getting Old Sucks. Rowan Minnion Has Tips for Making MTB Rides Better With Age
Rowan Minnion, a 44-year-old mountain biker, researcher, exercise physiologist, and the founder of the supplement company Blonyx has a few ideas for staying fit and progressing mountain bike skills as we get older.
www.singletracks.com
Prairie Dog
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Red Deer
I don’t how safe I would feel with riding a value bike on the local trails here. I know without a doubt that the Trance E 2, despite an electronic hiccup or two along the way, has proven itself to be a durable and reliable performer out in the field. It’s not the least expensive e-MTB nor would I consider it to be in the loftier realm of some of the higher end bikes. For me, it represents good value overall for a well-equipped ride with outstanding warranty and service up to this point and that’s a good thing.
Dallant
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
All ebikes are an elitist thing. Some folks need one more than others. Nobody NEEDS multiple ebikes. N+1 is definitely elitist and I’m for ebikes these days.
Catalyzt
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
At the risk of sounding like-- or becoming-- one of those pedantic no-longer-quite-noobs who just want to rave about their own bikes...
There are options for safe and capable EMTBs under $4,000, even under $3,000, with quality components. I say this because I'm riding one.
They are not, however, easy to find, they may require some upgrades, and also very likely some compromises, and most people are not going to want to put in the time, effort and patience to research and source one.
With delivery and mods, my Motobecane ULTRA eAdventure cost $2,500 before tax. It now weighs 46 pounds, and I am riding trails rated as Blue/Black or "Intermediate/Difficult" by MTB project-- albeit slowly and carefully, but that's more due to my own inexperience than the bike's components or capabilities. It could probably safely handle many single black diamond trails, though probably not a double.
I'm not trying to hijack this thread, which has drifted towards higher-end EMTBs. Obviously, I never would have gotten this far without EBR. And reading about expensive bikes has been really helpful for learning what's important, and safe, for me. If it weren't for you guys, I'd probably be sitting here waiting for a Nireeka Homie to ship... or packing it up to send it back after its first problems. (That was a REALLY close call. Phew!)
I'm just saying, if you're lurking, and you're discouraged by high prices, keep listening, keep watching, keep trying, and consider whether there might be compromises you could make that won't compromise your safety for the type of riding you want to do. For me, being relatively fit and underweight, it made sense to compromise on battery size and power, for someone else, it might be something different-- or there might be fewer compromises that were possible.
I agree with John that it's possible to enter the sport at a lower price point, though I'm not sure that $1,200 is quite practical. I sure tried-- on paper-- but whenever I got below about two grand, I felt like I was going to compromise (particularly on suspension or drive train) in a way that didn't seem safe to me.
At about two grand, I started seeing bikes where I thought, "Well, I'll probably have to do some upgrades, but this will probably work."
I know... I am still definitely in the honeymoon phase.
I got it bad. After a ride, I like to lie on the couch with the dogs and just... stare at it.
And yes, it does have to stay on a stand in the living room, at least for now.
There are options for safe and capable EMTBs under $4,000, even under $3,000, with quality components. I say this because I'm riding one.
They are not, however, easy to find, they may require some upgrades, and also very likely some compromises, and most people are not going to want to put in the time, effort and patience to research and source one.
With delivery and mods, my Motobecane ULTRA eAdventure cost $2,500 before tax. It now weighs 46 pounds, and I am riding trails rated as Blue/Black or "Intermediate/Difficult" by MTB project-- albeit slowly and carefully, but that's more due to my own inexperience than the bike's components or capabilities. It could probably safely handle many single black diamond trails, though probably not a double.
I'm not trying to hijack this thread, which has drifted towards higher-end EMTBs. Obviously, I never would have gotten this far without EBR. And reading about expensive bikes has been really helpful for learning what's important, and safe, for me. If it weren't for you guys, I'd probably be sitting here waiting for a Nireeka Homie to ship... or packing it up to send it back after its first problems. (That was a REALLY close call. Phew!)
I'm just saying, if you're lurking, and you're discouraged by high prices, keep listening, keep watching, keep trying, and consider whether there might be compromises you could make that won't compromise your safety for the type of riding you want to do. For me, being relatively fit and underweight, it made sense to compromise on battery size and power, for someone else, it might be something different-- or there might be fewer compromises that were possible.
I agree with John that it's possible to enter the sport at a lower price point, though I'm not sure that $1,200 is quite practical. I sure tried-- on paper-- but whenever I got below about two grand, I felt like I was going to compromise (particularly on suspension or drive train) in a way that didn't seem safe to me.
At about two grand, I started seeing bikes where I thought, "Well, I'll probably have to do some upgrades, but this will probably work."
I know... I am still definitely in the honeymoon phase.
I got it bad. After a ride, I like to lie on the couch with the dogs and just... stare at it.
And yes, it does have to stay on a stand in the living room, at least for now.
ruffruff
Well-Known Member
Ya getting old...LOL..
61 years old
degenerative disc disease
Stage 2 prostate cancer
Bicep rupture
Both knees repaired
Fat...
Here is my go to trail I ride at least once a week.
Smarter and take less chances but every ride is a joy.
And life is too short to waste it on a shitty bike!
61 years old
degenerative disc disease
Stage 2 prostate cancer
Bicep rupture
Both knees repaired
Fat...
Here is my go to trail I ride at least once a week.
Smarter and take less chances but every ride is a joy.
And life is too short to waste it on a shitty bike!
That's a great example of where an emtb becomes functional , it'll be interesting to see what parts ( if any) you replace over time.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
e-MTBs are elitister!
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