Looking for some honest input!

[James M]

I'm new to e-bikes and have done a ton of research this week. To make a long story short I have a 2018 surly karate monkey and was looking to put a e-bike kit on it. After not really being happy from what I have found I'm on the verge of just buying a new e-bike. The bike I have my eye on is a trek rail 7 29er but still haven't pulled the trigger. my question is does anybody have any thoughts or experience with the trek rail 29er? And my second question is are there any respectable conversion kits on the market for a 29er hardtail? Any help would be appreciated thank you.

 

[ChezCheese:)]

Have you gone to your LBS and actually tried an ebike? Tried several? That would be the thing to do before you decide to convert your acoustic.

 

[Browneye]

I have no comment on converting a mountain bike to electric.

From my research the Trek Rail seems like an excellent option, but I have not personally tried one. I was wanting to try out the Rail 5 but couldn't get a local dealer to bring one in. One of them was only selling the CF version, IIRC they were a LOT more money.

But yeah, I would test one, if you can find one at your dealer, as well as the Specialized Turbo Levo Comp, and the Giant Trance E+1 Pro. There are other eMTB options, but these are the popular ones from the 'big-3'.
If you can't find any of those available, Commencal, YT Industries, Santa Cruz, Bulls, Scott, Rocky Mountain, Norco, are a few other brands worth looking at.

Of the three, the Trek may well be the only one there is any inventory left. The pandemic has left the manufactures completely sold out. Everybody and his uncle came out of the woodwork for bikes during the lockdown.
2021 models due soon, in the next few of months. I suspect the supply chain will have trouble keeping up with demand for at least the time being. Shops are not sure what they're going to do when they sell everything they have and can't get any more.

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

Haibike's entry into a 29 is this: https://www.crazylennysebikes.com/shop/haibike-sduro-fullnine-4-0-2020/

Sram Eagle but most important, the bullet-proof Yamaha ebike drive system.

 

[Sierratim]

For MTBs, motor torque is a key spec. This graph has been posted on other threads:

It is just one spec, but ya gotta get up that hill somehow!

 

[Browneye]

For 2020 the PW-x supports up to 140 cadence. I suspect that chart changes moving forward.
The Bosch CX/CS was also updated, Brose mag s too. Without a date reference it's hard to compare.

All in all, they're more similar than different.

 

[rich c]

Responsiveness is the most important spec on the types of single trails I ride. At one location, they have a lot of switchbacks cut into the hills. You can be winding between trees, climbing, and have one tire on a rock or tree roots. You absolutely can't have anything with a cadence sensor and get around that obstacle. Maybe I ride a little slower than most, but I made my first single trail ride at the age of 65. My Bosch Performance motor in a Haibike Full Seven is the perfect combination. I've never ridden a Trek, sorry can't help with that.

 

[Sierratim]

For 2020 the PNW-x supports up to 140 cadence. I suspect that chart changes moving forward.
The Bosch CX/CS was also updated, Brose mag s too. Without a date reference it's hard to compare.

All in all, they're more similar than different.

I assume you're referring to the Yamaha PW-X2? Yamaha rates this new version at the same 80Nm peak torque of the earlier PW-X motor, but as you mention with extended cadence support; https://global.yamaha-motor.com/business/e-bike-systems/products/pw-x2/ .

Motor performance comparisons are difficult to find. The graph here is at least 2 years old so newer models, like the PW-X2, aren't included. I have spot checked manufacturer ratings for the motors that are represented on this graph and have not found any discrepancies even as these motors get updated. The motor weight may go down with a mag version for example, but the performance specs are just about the same.

What this means to me is that the Specialized 2.1 peak torque is actually 35% more than the Shimano Steps E8000 peak torque making the data useful to those trying to compare specs between ebikes using any of these still very popular motors.

 

[Browneye]

Interesting for sure.
I've ridden both steps8000 and Specialized 2.1 and didn't notice a 35% difference in power. Perhaps I would need to ride them both consecutively up a gnarly hill to realize that difference.
I have also found that my pwx in 2nd gear on level 5 assist will go up a steeper hill than you can easily walk. Truly amazing, and what makes a emtb what they are.