Hybrid? Roadbike? Hardtail?

[smeer]

Welcome Sneer! If you like a hardtail stick with it since it can go where roadbikes fear to tread and you are not planning to hit the black diamond runs anyway. Browneye mentioned the Liv Intrigue which is an awesome looking bike ( My wife demo rode that Chameleon Mars colour bike at the Liv store ) but you could buy a Vall E + hardtail and add a second battery for less than the Intigue. My sister in law has a 2019 Liv Amiti + 1 with a 2nd battery and a pair of Giant panniers which have a pocket for the spare battery. She has had no problems so far. She added Schwalbe marathon plus tires since the stock tires have no extra puncture protection.http://www.giantvancouver.com/ca/bikes-amiti-eplus-2020 The Vall E can go a few places where where the Amiti fears to tread though since the Amiti only has 700 cc tires but it comes with a rack ,fenders and lights for commuting. http://www.giantvancouver.com/ca/bikes-vall-eplus-2020. Also I should mention my wife loves her Trek Womens Powerfly which is just below 5 k new. It is more money than the Vall E though. She has 7000 km on it so far with no problems at all. She added lights and SKS fenders but she still gets pretty muddy on it (-: https://www.trekbikes.com/ca/en_CA/...ail/powerfly-5-womens/p/23185/?colorCode=grey. Lastly the 2020 Trek Verve 3 is a bike I find very appealing personally. https://www.trekbikes.com/ca/en_CA/...-bikes/verve/verve-3/p/30979/?colorCode=black. As others will attest you should test ride as many as you can.

Thank you!

I rode the Trek, Cube, Giant, Kona, Specialized and a Haibike.... Quite a few!

The VALL-E+ is the same as the FATHOM E+ 3 (VALL = Liv/ Fathom is = Giant)

And exactly as you said, no black diamond runs. Not to say I won't in the future, but I will ride a HT for another year or two before I have the skills. The trails near where I am are quite advanced, so having a mtb would be very usefull.

The Liv Amiti is too road focussed, the fork only as a 60mm travel vs the VALL/FATHOM who have double. Even the green trails around my house are quite rocky. Eventually, I'll probably upgrade the fork all together but this will be a good start. It just seems to me that the Fathom is the best value. It will come it at 4000CAD, including 2 sets of wheels and incl taxes.

 

[smeer]

Outstanding. You will love it. A hardtail MTB seems like the perfect fit for you.

We ordered a LIV Amiti E+2 for wife today. It will do a smooth dirt trail as well as being an outstanding paved path bike.

If I had gotten that bike I probably wouldn’t have two bikes now, it can do both dirt and road.

And all credits to you, forgot to say. I had totally ignored the Giant bikes and when I went to the store I had the best experience with their service and their price point is just very good. So, thank you.

 

[steve mercier]

And all credits to you, forgot to say. I had totally ignored the Giant bikes and when I went to the store I had the best experience with their service and their price point is just very good. So, thank you.

Smeer it sounds to me that deep down there is a little voice telling you that you really want a FS bike (-:

 

[smeer]

Smeer it sounds to me that deep down there is a little voice telling you that you really want a FS bike (-:

Oh no doubt, not a little voice either. However, the cost be 2500$ more (for a $5000 FS + extra set of tires). That just isn't happening.

 

[steve mercier]

Welcome to Canada. I bought a Liv bike for my wife and she likes it.

Since you're in Canada now I'll suggest looking at the Rocky Mountain Growler Powerplay 30 - At $,4,800 it's a tick under $5k Cdn. and it's a great model. The hardtail nature will make it more efficient for commuting and you could either get a 2nd set of wheels or just change tires so you have a trail set and a commuting set. The Growler has extra wide 2.8" tires for the trail and you could easily go narrower for a more efficient commuting set. The wide tires would give you that additional comfort on the trail and if you're not riding really technical terrain then you probably don't need full suspension.

I used to ride a hardtail and I now have full suspension. One thing I noticed is that since going to full suspension that I've become a "lazy rider" in terms of picking lines and finding the best way down the trail. With FS you can kind of just switch off your brain and just take bad lines and the suspension is forgiving. To some extent the wide tires of the Growler will do the same thing.

What about this 108 Nm Dyname motor? I have never heard of it before? Do you know much about it?

 

[smeer]

I only know that Rocky Mountain developed it in house because they felt using available motors changed the geometry of the bike too much. They felt they needed to develop this motor to ensure the bike had the Rocky Mountain ride characteristic. I so happened to be commuting home one day and I ran into a guy on a FS Rocky Mountain with this motor. The guy was an engineer for Rocky Mountain and we had a nice chat but we only rode together for about 5 minutes before out paths separated. I really wanted to ask him a lot of questions but never got the chance.

The Growler powerplay 10 is only $4k Cdn. so it leaves room in the budget for an extra set of wheels.

That is a nice looking bike - thank you. How does it compare to something like the Giant?

I saw a Commencal MAXMAX POWER 650B 2019, which seems like a nice bike - though I prefer to get it from a store vs online.

So instead of narrowing it down, I only find more options....

 

[smeer]

A girly bike can't be sporty??????

Of course it can, just not the Specialized... Liv bikes look great.

 

[steve mercier]

Of course it can, just not the Specialized... Liv bikes look great.

Yeah if I was a girl I would want that Liv Intrigue with that irridescent Mars Chameleon brown/purple finish...(-:

 

[smeer]

I don't know how the Rocky Mountain compares to the Giant offerings. I do like both companies. I have a Rocky Mountain Altitude MTB that I really like, and my wife has a Giant Thrive which she also really likes. If I had to guess both bikes would be very capable and ride well. I suggested the Rocky because not a lot of people know about it and I've read reviews saying that it's a good bike and represents great value. The review was for a regular version of the bike though, not an electric version.

I do think the wide 2.8" tires help alleviate the fact the bike is a hardtail and will give you that extra traction on the trail as well as cushioning. Having said that I don't know what kind of trails you ride and whether or not it's necessary.

It will be mainly rocky forrest trails. Most of my local trails (as in, directly out of my front door) are not maintained trails. I will be able to take it to places with more singletrack of course, places like the North Shore, Burnaby Mountain, Squamish, Whistler etc.

 

[FlatSix911]

Moved from a flat country to Canada and I now live halfway up a mountain, everything here is quite steep. I am looking for a bike to commute with (about a 18km roundtrip, one way down hill other uphill), but the commute would be max two days a week. The rest of the week I would use it to go outdoors and exercise. I used to have a roadbike but sold when I moved, do have a hardtail mtb which I love, but the trails here are a bit too advanced for my skills.

I am trying to figure out what type of ebike to go for and then... what brand. I am a women but do not like step through bikes,I prefer the more sporty bikes. As said, I am in an area with a lot of hills, so it needs to have some power. I'd love to get a full suspension mtb so I can make full use of the trails, but it would be inefficient for commuting. Love road bikes, but inefficient for the trails... so a hard tail / hybrid would probably make the most sense.

I like to be around the 5000CAD. I like the looks of bikes such as Trek Commuter, Bulls Grinder, Cube Cross, Specialized Vado...Any advice for sporty bikes that will get up a mountain

If you are looking for one bike to do it all, you may want to consider a Gravel Bike... it's a Hybrid / Road bike / Hardtail

2018 Easy Motion Rebel Gravel X

Looking for a de listed? Look no further, the BicycleBlueBook.com Marketplace has a used 2018 one available for purchase.

www.bicyclebluebook.com

 

[smeer]

If you are looking for one bike to do it all, you may want to consider a Gravel Bike... it's a Hybrid / Road bike / Hardtail

2018 Easy Motion Rebel Gravel X

Looking for a de listed? Look no further, the BicycleBlueBook.com Marketplace has a used 2018 one available for purchase.

www.bicyclebluebook.com

Did consider that, but the rocky trails here require front suspension, something gravel bikes don't have. Also, most gravel bikes seem to have a 5000+ price tag.

 

[FlatSix911]

Did consider that, but the rocky trails here require front suspension, something gravel bikes don't have. Also, most gravel bikes seem to have a 5000+ price tag.

Most gravel bikes are very capable as anyone entered in a Mountain Cyclocross event has found.

Take a look at the link... hard to beat the BH/Yamaha PW motor Gravel X for $916. Only 6 remaining.

(Link Removed - No Longer Exists)

Easy Motion Rebel Gravel-X PW Review

Price: $3399 | Model Year: 2018 | A lightweight electric gravel grinder with drop bars, aero wheelset, mechanical disc brakes (using Shimano ICE Tech rotors and heat sinks), and a 22-speed Shimano 105 drivetrain Blacked-out aesthetic hides the battery and motor casing, internally routed cables...

electricbikereview.com

 

[smeer]

Most gravel bikes are very capable as anyone entered in a Cyclocross event has found.

Take a look at the link... hard to beat the BH/ Yamaha PW Gravel X for $916. Only 6 remaining.

I am in Canada and also quite short, I need a size small . Thank you though!

 

[steve mercier]

I'm not sure which country you came from and I don't have direct experience just what I've read in mountain bike magazines so take this with a grain of salt. The trails in the lower mainland are generally thought to be more difficult and more technical than most other parts of the world. Trails that are often considered black in some parts are blue here. The riding is more technical and our North Shore is considered some of the best mountain biking in the world.

If you plan on riding these trails then I would be biased towards Rocky Mountain. If you check their website they have BC Editions of certain bikes. These bikes have more travel and are set up for more technical trails, a nod to our legendary trails around here. Not to say the Giant couldn't handle them, but Rocky Mountain was born and bred in this backyard for this type of riding.

We live quite close to Burnaby Mountain so my son and I often ride out of our garage to Burnaby Mountain to the trails. We've tried to get my wife to ride the trails with us and she won't even consider the blue trails on Burnaby Mountain let alone the black. Unless you're experienced it can be a bit daunting. Most mountain bikers in the area acknowledge that the few blacks on Burnaby Mountain would be blue trails on the North Shore.

I think you'll have a great time riding the trails here in Southwestern BC, as many have said some of the best mountain biking in the world.

Now I'm curious where did you come from?

Yeah the blue trails are tough enough for sure

 

[smeer]

I'm not sure which country you came from and I don't have direct experience just what I've read in mountain bike magazines so take this with a grain of salt. The trails in the lower mainland are generally thought to be more difficult and more technical than most other parts of the world. Trails that are often considered black in some parts are blue here. The riding is more technical and our North Shore is considered some of the best mountain biking in the world.

If you plan on riding these trails then I would be biased towards Rocky Mountain. If you check their website they have BC Editions of certain bikes. These bikes have more travel and are set up for more technical trails, a nod to our legendary trails around here. Not to say the Giant couldn't handle them, but Rocky Mountain was born and bred in this backyard for this type of riding.

We live quite close to Burnaby Mountain so my son and I often ride out of our garage to Burnaby Mountain to the trails. We've tried to get my wife to ride the trails with us and she won't even consider the blue trails on Burnaby Mountain let alone the black. Unless you're experienced it can be a bit daunting. Most mountain bikers in the area acknowledge that the few blacks on Burnaby Mountain would be blue trails on the North Shore.

I think you'll have a great time riding the trails here in Southwestern BC, as many have said some of the best mountain biking in the world.

Now I'm curious where did you come from?

Had missed this, sorry. I am from the Netherlands, so we don't have hills haha. I biked in Scotland though, but never done downhill and not planning on doing so.

I live near a bunch of trails and they are pretty much all black diamonds or double blacks. Even the blue and green trails are quite advanced... I hike the areas with black mtb trails and it is not something I will ever bike. I like gravel roads and flowy (not steep) single track. From what I read, there are some trails around. You just have to come prepared and know where you can can can not go.

I like the Rocky Mountain but hesitant to go with their own motor, support of it seems lacking from what I read. I prefer an well established motor...

My overall idea right now is; get back on a bike and ride trails and commute to the city when needed. If I get in better shape and improve my skills, I may get a dedicated FS trail bike in 2 years or so...

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Hi @smeer,

I can only advice you demo ride the Specialized Turbo Vado. One of the most torquey motors in the market, completely silent and the geometry of that e-bike is sporty The best fenders in the market and a quite good rack. You could probably ride your 18 km round trip in the Sport or maybe even Turbo mode, meaning minimal effort.

 

[TomD]

Moved from a flat country to Canada and I now live halfway up a mountain, everything here is quite steep.

OK, so let's get real. How much elevation are we talking? I live at the top of a 700' hill. I took my Rebel HT (400 wh battery) out for a ride the other day. On the way home I rode up "the hill". My battery went from 50% to 20%. Granted I was pooped from the ride earlier in the day but hills will suck battery if you are not putting in a bit of effort. If you have a long ride halfway up a mountain you may need every bit of a 700+ wh battery.

Thank you! Though that is one of the ugliest bikes I have seen haha! The eye wants something as well.

I agree, biktrix puts out some of the fugliest ebikes. But the suggestion was good to consider a bike with large battery to fit in your budget. Consider the Frey CC which is at the top of your budget.

 

[smeer]

Hi @smeer,

I can only advice you demo ride the Specialized Turbo Vado. One of the most torquey motors in the market, completely silent and the geometry of that e-bike is sporty The best fenders in the market and a quite good rack. You could probably ride your 18 km round trip in the Sport or maybe even Turbo mode, meaning minimal effort.

I did ride it, but I wouldn't be able to take it on my local trail. Commuting would be 30% of use, playing on trails the other 70%, which is why I am leaning towards the HT.

 

[oojoe]

Go with what works for you, if you like gravel bikes the Yamaha Wabash looks good, is lightweight, but I don't know if they distribute them to Canada.

good Looking bike .that yamaha .too bad it's limited in speed and has no throttle..

 

[Dewey]

good Looking bike .that yamaha .too bad it's limited in speed and has no throttle..

It is. While the YDX-Torq model with 27.5" wheels, 120mm fork, & Yamaha PW-X motor, is closer to the Giant Fathom E+ the OP has chosen, it's probably not worth the extra $700USD.