eMTB Options For 2024

[scrambler]

The one thing I did not see or hear, is any power numbers (sustained and peak)..........

 

[PDoz]

The one thing I did not see or hear, is any power numbers (sustained and peak)..........

they're talking equivalent 85 nm torque - which is what really matters when you consider the 600 % gear ratios

Whatevers are meaningless when you have a high end gear range like a 12 sp

 

[PDoz]

I'm struggling to get my head around the weight implications for that pinion system They're claiming a complete system weight of 4 kg, but it's unclear if that includes the controllers +/- rear cogs etc.

They mention unsprung weight advantages - my levo SL came out with crazy heavy sram nx , so 950 gms for the cassette and derailleur - that's a potentially massive improvement in rear end performance . I've already dropped that by 300 gms with a lighter cassette , but further weight improvement would need several thousand $ on carbon wheels / high end fragile cassettes or flimsy tyres ...

BUT - my levo sl has a 1.9 kg motor - HALF the weight of that pinion. I think shimano is 2.6 kg, brose 2.9 kg, gaint ( yamaha) 2.75 kg.?

So really, I could be looking at 2.5 kg total with top of the range sram gears and my levo sl motor vs 4 kg for that pinion? A 1.5 kg gain?

Realistically, how do I make up for that?
$3,500 for carbon wheels to scrape 600 gms off my wheels
Flimsy tyres? I could drop 200 gms each end by risking just exo casing

Bingo - scrap the chain and fit a belt, no more dirt sticking to the greasy rear end - that's at least another kg!

 

[scrambler]

they're talking equivalent 85 nm torque - which is what really matters when you consider the 600 % gear ratios

Whatevers are meaningless when you have a high end gear range like a 12 sp

While I agree that torque is most important, Watts are too when speed enters the equation.

 

[scrambler]

By the way, it would be nice if any discussion of the Pinion e-drive MGU should be carried in the dedicated thread that has been opened by someone below, so it is easily found and not diluted with other stuff.
Pinion Motor.Gearbox.Unit (MGU)


Thanks

 

[onlineaddy]

By the way, it would be nice if any discussion of the Pinion e-drive MGU should be carried in the dedicated thread that has been opened by someone below, so it is easily found and not diluted with other stuff.

Pinion MGU

Surprised that there hasn't already been a thread on the new Pinion MGU motor/gearbox combo. I think it's been something a fair number of people were expecting for some time now. https://pinion.eu/en/e-drive ebike-MTB.com has a first ride report which reports mostly good things. Oddly, it...

electricbikereview.com

Thanks

Pinion Motor.Gearbox.Unit (MGU)

 

[scrambler]

My bad, I edited my post to avoid more confusion

 

[PDoz]

By the way, it would be nice if any discussion of the Pinion e-drive MGU should be carried in the dedicated thread that has been opened by someone below, so it is easily found and not diluted with other stuff.
Pinion Motor.Gearbox.Unit (MGU)


Thanks

Except the emtb applications / relevance are different to the regular bike discussion., and they're 5 days behind us .

 

[Browneye]

Finally an update here...I keep forgetting to log on. Updated the thread title too - keep info coming on new bikes.

We moved to Yakima WA, arrived September 15th, it was a grueling task to pack up and move across the country after thirty years. We got rid of SO much stuff and STILL brought over four tons! Anyway, we got a way nicer house, newer, 50% bigger on a lot four times the size, for nearly half what we sold the place in CA for. WHOOT! And we just love it here.

Last Friday I finally got a chance to drive up into the forest towards Mt. Rainier and there are TONS of single track trails - over a hundred miles of them, and it's not far from home. Going out again Friday and do some exploring on the bike. We just have to share the trails with motorbikes and horses, oh well. I have a hunch it might be too busy out there on summer weekends.

 

[Browneye]

So I got out to ride some of that fine singletrack in the forest near here, up near Chinook Pass west of Yakima, just about 45 miles away, about an hour drive. About half way to the pass the Naches river is fed by the Little Naches and a forest service road goes way back in for hundreds of miles of forest trail. I rode Pyramid Peak trail, it's about 18miles long, follows along the road, rated 'easy' by Trailforks. I'm finding this an outstanding resource for trail info.

I got there yesterday about 11am, it was 30 degrees. Thank goodness I brought my parka - I thought a fleece sweater and long johns would be good enough, but as soon as I started moving it was like ice cutting through my clothes. My leather gloves just weren't doing it either, thankfully I had brought a pair of ski gloves and a baclava. Only now on the hard climbs I was sweating. You just can't win.

I made a wrong turn a few miles in and ended up on another trail going up the mountain. When it intersected an access road I was able to determine from the map I had gotten off my route. Made my way back and found the trail again, kept going. Some pretty good climbs and some nice fast flowing downhills, plenty of rocks, but mostly just really nice forest single track.

About 5 miles in I was climbing a long steep ascent and stopped to catch my breath. When I started back up I guess I tangled with a large branch in the trail, it as craggy and about 4 feet long and about 3-4 inches in diameter. I heard a crunch and the bike stopped - I looked down and it had completely grenaded my derailleur. A twisted mess with the chain wrapped around the crank sprocket. Luckily I was able to coast back down and get out to the main forest road which is paved, and mostly coasted back about a mile to where I staged. By now it was sunny and about 34 degrees!

I have ordered a replacement derailleur and hanger, a new chain, about $150 worth of parts. My Trance E has the Shimano XT 11 speed shadow+. I was able to find all the parts online, placed my order.

I also need to get a GPS as I could get lost in my own backyard. Lots of proponents for the Garmin Edge 530, so just about ready to drop coin for one unless someone has a better idea.

All in all a very fun if not expensive day. Restored my enthusiasm for getting out to ride. Sure is scenic out there and I had the whole place to myself - never saw another person or car. Just a little scary though, no one is going to happen along to rescue you. I gave the wife my staging location and the trail I was going to ride and told her if she didn't hear from me by dark to call the ranger station. Well, I got done a little early!

 

[DaveMatthews]

So I got out to ride some of that fine singletrack in the forest near here, up near Chinook Pass west of Yakima, just about 45 miles away, about an hour drive. About half way to the pass the Naches river is fed by the Little Naches and a forest service road goes way back in for hundreds of miles of forest trail. I rode Pyramid Peak trail, it's about 18miles long, follows along the road, rated 'easy' by Trailforks. I'm finding this an outstanding resource for trail info.

I got there yesterday about 11am, it was 30 degrees. Thank goodness I brought my parka - I thought a fleece sweater and long johns would be good enough, but as soon as I started moving it was like ice cutting through my clothes. My leather gloves just weren't doing it either, thankfully I had brought a pair of ski gloves and a baclava. Only now on the hard climbs I was sweating. You just can't win.

I made a wrong turn a few miles in and ended up on another trail going up the mountain. When it intersected an access road I was able to determine from the map I had gotten off my route. Made my way back and found the trail again, kept going. Some pretty good climbs and some nice fast flowing downhills, plenty of rocks, but mostly just really nice forest single track.

About 5 miles in I was climbing a long steep ascent and stopped to catch my breath. When I started back up I guess I tangled with a large branch in the trail, it as craggy and about 4 feet long and about 3-4 inches in diameter. I heard a crunch and the bike stopped - I looked down and it had completely grenaded my derailleur. A twisted mess with the chain wrapped around the crank sprocket. Luckily I was able to coast back down and get out to the main forest road which is paved, and mostly coasted back about a mile to where I staged. By now it was sunny and about 34 degrees!

I have ordered a replacement derailleur and hanger, a new chain, about $150 worth of parts. My Trance E has the Shimano XT 11 speed shadow+. I was able to find all the parts online, placed my order.

I also need to get a GPS as I could get lost in my own backyard. Lots of proponents for the Garmin Edge 530, so just about ready to drop coin for one unless someone has a better idea.

All in all a very fun if not expensive day. Restored my enthusiasm for getting out to ride. Sure is scenic out there and I had the whole place to myself - never saw another person or car. Just a little scary though, no one is going to happen along to rescue you. I gave the wife my staging location and the trail I was going to ride and told her if she didn't hear from me by dark to call the ranger station. Well, I got done a little early!

Wonderful adventuring, but bummer about the derailleur!
Regarding Garmin 530, I find it very reliable, rugged, and relatively easy to use. That said, were I to do it over again I'd go 830, or other model with touchscreen.
The touchscreen would make it easier to setup, and in your situation of new environment much easier to plot a route on the fly.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@Browneye: Wahoo ELEMNT Roam v2 and that's it

 

[RandallS]

Like @DaveMatthews Garmin 830/840, but in my opinion, you really should get the remote too.
There's a MTB bundle for each - the wheel sensor is a waste on a bike with ANT support, but it comes with the remote.

There is also an e-bike add on app called "EBike Field" that offers the ability to additionally customize what you see on the screen.

Connect IQ Store | Watch Faces and Apps | Garmin

apps.garmin.com

I haven't used it myself - but intend to after I replace my 830, which through some stupidity a few months ago, managed to "grenade" rather spectacularly.

My $0.02

 

[PDoz]

Chris, if you are concerned about being out there solo, it might be worth considering a sat tracking device?

Unfortunately the garmin inreach uses different mapping software to the rest of the garmin range, so I guess you have to decide if you prefer the little inreach mini as just a tracker, or want to try the slightly larger inreach with a map screen . Sorry, I went for the mini so can't comment on the maps.

I love trailforks for my riding, so just use a mobile so if I wanted maps up on the bars, I"d be buying a tough phone rather than a gps unit . I was out yesterday on my swm and reminded of the limitations of garmins maps around here....NONE of the trails I was using showed up!

 

[Twin Valley]

So I got out to ride some of that fine singletrack in the forest near here, up near Chinook Pass west of Yakima, just about 45 miles away, about an hour drive. About half way to the pass the Naches river is fed by the Little Naches and a forest service road goes way back in for hundreds of miles of forest trail. I rode Pyramid Peak trail, it's about 18miles long, follows along the road, rated 'easy' by Trailforks. I'm finding this an outstanding resource for trail info.

I got there yesterday about 11am, it was 30 degrees. Thank goodness I brought my parka - I thought a fleece sweater and long johns would be good enough, but as soon as I started moving it was like ice cutting through my clothes. My leather gloves just weren't doing it either, thankfully I had brought a pair of ski gloves and a baclava. Only now on the hard climbs I was sweating. You just can't win.

I made a wrong turn a few miles in and ended up on another trail going up the mountain. When it intersected an access road I was able to determine from the map I had gotten off my route. Made my way back and found the trail again, kept going. Some pretty good climbs and some nice fast flowing downhills, plenty of rocks, but mostly just really nice forest single track.

About 5 miles in I was climbing a long steep ascent and stopped to catch my breath. When I started back up I guess I tangled with a large branch in the trail, it as craggy and about 4 feet long and about 3-4 inches in diameter. I heard a crunch and the bike stopped - I looked down and it had completely grenaded my derailleur. A twisted mess with the chain wrapped around the crank sprocket. Luckily I was able to coast back down and get out to the main forest road which is paved, and mostly coasted back about a mile to where I staged. By now it was sunny and about 34 degrees!

I have ordered a replacement derailleur and hanger, a new chain, about $150 worth of parts. My Trance E has the Shimano XT 11 speed shadow+. I was able to find all the parts online, placed my order.

I also need to get a GPS as I could get lost in my own backyard. Lots of proponents for the Garmin Edge 530, so just about ready to drop coin for one unless someone has a better idea.

All in all a very fun if not expensive day. Restored my enthusiasm for getting out to ride. Sure is scenic out there and I had the whole place to myself - never saw another person or car. Just a little scary though, no one is going to happen along to rescue you. I gave the wife my staging location and the trail I was going to ride and told her if she didn't hear from me by dark to call the ranger station. Well, I got done a little early!

That looks like bik

So I got out to ride some of that fine singletrack in the forest near here, up near Chinook Pass west of Yakima, just about 45 miles away, about an hour drive. About half way to the pass the Naches river is fed by the Little Naches and a forest service road goes way back in for hundreds of miles of forest trail. I rode Pyramid Peak trail, it's about 18miles long, follows along the road, rated 'easy' by Trailforks. I'm finding this an outstanding resource for trail info.

I got there yesterday about 11am, it was 30 degrees. Thank goodness I brought my parka - I thought a fleece sweater and long johns would be good enough, but as soon as I started moving it was like ice cutting through my clothes. My leather gloves just weren't doing it either, thankfully I had brought a pair of ski gloves and a baclava. Only now on the hard climbs I was sweating. You just can't win.

I made a wrong turn a few miles in and ended up on another trail going up the mountain. When it intersected an access road I was able to determine from the map I had gotten off my route. Made my way back and found the trail again, kept going. Some pretty good climbs and some nice fast flowing downhills, plenty of rocks, but mostly just really nice forest single track.

About 5 miles in I was climbing a long steep ascent and stopped to catch my breath. When I started back up I guess I tangled with a large branch in the trail, it as craggy and about 4 feet long and about 3-4 inches in diameter. I heard a crunch and the bike stopped - I looked down and it had completely grenaded my derailleur. A twisted mess with the chain wrapped around the crank sprocket. Luckily I was able to coast back down and get out to the main forest road which is paved, and mostly coasted back about a mile to where I staged. By now it was sunny and about 34 degrees!

I have ordered a replacement derailleur and hanger, a new chain, about $150 worth of parts. My Trance E has the Shimano XT 11 speed shadow+. I was able to find all the parts online, placed my order.

I also need to get a GPS as I could get lost in my own backyard. Lots of proponents for the Garmin Edge 530, so just about ready to drop coin for one unless someone has a better idea.

All in all a very fun if not expensive day. Restored my enthusiasm for getting out to ride. Sure is scenic out there and I had the whole place to myself - never saw another person or car. Just a little scary though, no one is going to happen along to rescue you. I gave the wife my staging location and the trail I was going to ride and told her if she didn't hear from me by dark to call the ranger station. Well, I got done a little early!

That looks like biking paradise to me, you sure did a number on that derailleur I find I do the most damage yanking the branch out so I've got a lot more patience probably better replacing than constantly readjusting a bent one, in your case no choice, like Dave Matthew's I wish I went for 830 over 530 for the same reasons, I need a cheat sheet to remind me what buttons do what, probably that getting old thing, I end up using trail forks on the phone so convenient

 

[Browneye]

Thanks guys - will look into the other GPS models. The only thing I don't like about touch screens is I'm always wearing gloves. I pretty much have to stop to use one anyway - can't read with distance glasses, either sun glasses or clear. Stop, take off gloves and glasses, look at GPS. LOL Normally I would use an app on the cell phone, but there is no cell service out there - it ends about halfway there.

I carried a SPOT when I rode adventure bikes...dang I think I got rid of the last one. Maybe I'll get another one.

Seems one of these little units has a satellite two-way for texting, no?? Probly expensive too.

Unfortunately, moving across the country means I have yet to meet some riding buddies. Wife was worried, and I was extra cautious, but sometimes things just are out of control. I was rather shocked at blowing up the gears, and super glad I decided to keep it low key and stay relatively close to the road. I surely didn't want to spend the night in the forest - probly freeze to death. It's down in the teens already out there - the creeks had ice in them. I brought the bigger backpack, brought a first aid kit, fire starter, hand warmers, and a space blanket, etc. Yow.

Oh, and I figured out I need a 'derailleur hanger' - seems my bike has a special one of those. Another $40. And I broke the front chain guide - my pants leg got sucked into the sprocket and snapped right off. Another $55. Learned my lesson the hard way. Wifey said, "Rookie move, you know better than that."

Pulled the derailleur off to verify the hanger, which is bent like a pretzel, and the derailleur is completely shattered. Cable is frayed, so added a new inner cable and end cap crimper to the list. Dear lord... SMH

 

[Browneye]

Ah...I see the 830 with the remote and a mount.

@Browneye: Wahoo ELEMNT Roam v2 and that's it

For a few minutes there I thought you were just speaking a foreign language.
I see now that is actually a bike gps unit.

And a remote control button? Wow, some new fangled gizmos these days...never would have dreamed they would think of such things!

 

[DaveMatthews]

Ah...I see the 830 with the remote and a mount.

For a few minutes there I thought you were just speaking a foreign language.
I see now that is actually a bike gps unit.

And a remote control button? Wow, some new fangled gizmos these days...never would have dreamed they would think of such things!

Yeah the remote is a killer option. Even with thick gloves on I can cycle forward or backward through all the screens I have setup using my right thumb and keeping my hands on the grips. That's killer.

 

[DaveMatthews]

Oh... and I went for a 50km ride today after reading about your derailleur destruction and at about 20km got a huge stick stuck in my derailleur.
That's never happened before, so thanks!
Happily I stopped immediately and pulled the thick stick out, and no damage.

 

[BlackHand]

Chris,

Welcome back up to the PNW! A good GPS is definitely necessary back in that area. The NFS roads are a maze back in there not to mention the unmarked trails. Anything off of 410 on the east side of Chinook Pass is less crowded feeling even at the peak of summer.