Price is the same which one would you pick?

[CodyDog]

I should say I'm jealous The Levo has been my Holy Grail. After taking a reasonable decision to buy a Trance, I can say I'm happy. Levo would mean too much of a bike for me... I simply don't deserve to ride the Levo, while I love my Trance.

Truth of the mater is I went to buy a Trance! Looked at them prior to all this Covid stuff. The Trance is a fantastic EMTB by all means. Couldn't find one when I was ready to pull the trigger in October. Looked at many shops in Colorado and Texas. My LBS had four Levo's which was surprising with the shortage of ebikes here, so my choice was a Levo. That's how I ended up with the 29er. I was previously riding a Rocky Mountain Altitude with 27.5's. The adjustment to the 29's was a learning curve.

 

[PDoz]

I should say I'm jealous The Levo has been my Holy Grail. After taking a reasonable decision to buy a Trance, I can say I'm happy. Levo would mean too much of a bike for me... I simply don't deserve to ride the Levo, while I love my Trance.

It's funny how we hold onto irrational puppy love.

Back in 2018 I wanted a merida e160, they were not available so I settled for my giant. I've since ridden the merida and to be honest wasn't excited , but for some reason every time I see an e160 I think " lucky bztrd"

The giant suits my riding style, I've had a great relationship with the dealer, and to be honest the only reason to upgrade is lighter weight - so no e160 in my rational future unless my giant dies and there are no levo sl/ orbea rise available. Would I buy the 21 giant trance? Probably not - for the same reason I turned down a reign at a great price - too much bike for me and just a bit too heavy. A levo? If the price was right and I gad a second bike for every time the motor died?

 

[Browneye]

I wonder why we never hear about Trek bikes. Seems like lots of motor failures with the Specialized, but Bosch has the huge online warranty center.
I read somewhere Giant makes frames for Trek...I dunno. My local Trek dealers are just not stocked with bikes whenever I visit. And I don't think it's cuz they sell everything they buy - they rely on their local DC - light inventory and order in what you want. The problem is that means no demo bikes, not even bikes to check out - look, see.
My Giant dealer demos everything they sell - you want to buy it? Try it out first. What can that hurt - a spin around the block.

My sales guy at the dealer was helping another dealer across town close down his shop. He's just done with the whole charade and wants out - been doing it for years. Sales guy was telling me about a dealer that ONLY had demos in his store - one of every model, but they were not for sale. You order what you want if you try it and like it.

Some interesting sales models around.

The dealer across the valley that has the Stance E+2 for wifey won't sell to my local dealer, hundred miles away. I would have to go there and buy it, and they're not going to give me the killer deal my guy does. So we wait.

 

[ruffruff]

I was thinking that same thing about Trek's I don't even think I've seen one at the trailhead.
For electrics it's Specialized.
For non-e's its Santa Cruz.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

It's funny how we hold onto irrational puppy love.

I agree with your insights. It was Chris who convinced me to buy the Trance E+ 2 Pro. It was you who convinced Chris for the same. You also convinced me not to buy the Reign.

What I want to really say is I'm more than happy I bought the Trance instead of the Levo. Although if the Levo were available in May and I could swallow the price, I'd probably buy it for good and bad. It is true there is irrational thinking: I was very much excited to go for the tubeless setup although you were telling me off; I regret the tubeless setup now... (Although tubeless saved me from the walk of shame once!)

 

[PDoz]

Trek build solid bikes, pre 2020 they steered like wheelbarrows and had the evil draggy old bosch motor but were rock solid reliable. We have a VERY busy trek dealer locally and some riders getting up around the 10,000. Km mark - HARD km, these guys do trails I'm too scared to tackle and they do them all day long carrying spare batteries and saws....Hard core retired ex enduro riders with mountain goat dna....

Their later model bikes are getting better geometry with the newer bosch motor, but I've been too scared to go riding with them so haven't test ridden one. I also occasionally chase a FAST rider on a conventional 2020 trek , I can almost keep up with him uphill...not a chance on the downhills. He has more skill in his left little toe than I could muster on my best day , but he really has to work hard on tighter switchbacks / transitions. His bike has been trouble free except a tendency to shred tyres ....

 

[PDoz]

very much excited to go for the tubeless setup although you were telling me off; I regret the tubeless setup now... (Although tubeless saved me from the walk of shame once!)

That wasn't me telling you off - just screwing with your psyche and setting myself up for a huge " I told you so" eventually

 

[Taylor57]

Theres a classic punchline to your question, but I've been reminded this is a PG forum!

The one with the biggest t*&^

 

[Stefan Mikes]

That wasn't me telling you off - just screwing with your psyche and setting myself up for a huge " I told you so" eventually

Oh You said Stance would be appropriate but "if I had money to burn and big ego..."

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The one with the biggest t*&^

Taylor.
If I read a thread and somebody wonders if they should choose between a "Chinese-stamped Bafang-motor throttle-equipped fat-tyre-folder ENTER NAME HERE" and another "Chinese-stamped Bafang-motor throttle-equipped fat-tyre-folder ENTER ANOTHER NAME HERE", my short answer would be "NONE". I don't do so because that would be pointless.

Will you shut up?

 

[PDoz]

Oh You said Stance would be appropriate but "if I had money to burn and big ego..."

I said that to the op in a different thread?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I said that to the op in a different thread?

To me as well In Chris' thread

 

[PDoz]

To me as well In Chris' thread

At least I'm consistent...even if I don't remember

 

[CodyDog]

A levo? If the price was right and I gad a second bike for every time the motor died?

I'm hoping the motor issue with Specialized has gone away in the 2021 models. There has been a small motor redesign for 2021 with the weight and size. Only time will tell.

 

[Browneye]

My BIL showed me around the preserve near Phoenix over our vacation - he's a hardcore mountainbiker from since I can remember. He was sure excited when I called and said I was riding and wanted a tour.
He's about 7 years younger, in much better shape, rides a 7 year old stumpjumper with skinny forks and skinny tires. He was saying he shouldn't even try an eMTB for fear he would want one too bad. Well, we swapped for a couple of miles and then he had that big grin on his face. "Wow, this thing is really setup nice! I can see this would surely extend my rides." So the seed has been planted. He's a perfect candidate for an SL - he only needs some assist going up grades.

Of course I had no trouble passing him up hills in level 2 or 3, but once we started down he ghosted me. We sure had fun!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

It's $6300 in the U.S. It is EUR7000-7300 (US$8400-8800) in Europe. Somebody plays foul...
The Danish price of DKK55000 closely approaches US$9000.

@PDoz, @Browneye : I've noticed the AUS price of Turbo Levo Comp expressed in US dollar was around 7600 (halfway between the US and Euro retail price). Now, I was thinking it was the matter of local tax. Chris, how much of sales tax you would need to pay if the e-bike price were US$6300?

Yet it is not the tax, I think. The highest Value-Added Tax in Europe is some 25%. Even if import tax were added, it wouldn't make the price up to US$8400-9000 here. I guess it is something I spotted for the UK. While the US price is USD6300, the UK price is GBP6300 I smell a rat there.

As a song lyrics read:
"It's just a fake
Make no mistake
It's rip-off for you
But the Rolls for them!"

 

[PDoz]

@PDoz, @Browneye : I've noticed the AUS price of Turbo Levo Comp expressed in US dollar was around 7600 (halfway between the US and Euro retail price). Now, I was thinking it was the matter of local tax. Chris, how much of sales tax you would need to pay if the e-bike price were US$6300?

Yet it is not the tax, I think. The highest Value-Added Tax in Europe is some 25%. Even if import tax were added, it wouldn't make the price up to US$8400-9000 here. I guess it is something I spotted for the UK. While the US price is USD6300, the UK price is GBP6300 I smell a rat there.

As a song lyrics read:
"It's just a fake
Make no mistake
It's rip-off for you
But the Rolls for them!"

In Australia ebikes have 15% tax - 10% gst and another 5 % stealth tax - they asked for a tax exemption on parts in 2018 so the government responded by taxing all ebikes 5% - good timing, because that was just before ebikes became popular enough for the general population to notice.

Quite a contrast to enlightened countries that encourage environmentally responsible transport.....but we're talking about a goverment that has just diverted solar stimulus funding to coal and gas....

 

[Dallant]

I wonder why we never hear about Trek bikes. Seems like lots of motor failures with the Specialized, but Bosch has the huge online warranty center.
I read somewhere Giant makes frames for Trek...I dunno. My local Trek dealers are just not stocked with bikes whenever I visit. And I don't think it's cuz they sell everything they buy - they rely on their local DC - light inventory and order in what you want. The problem is that means no demo bikes, not even bikes to check out - look, see.
My Giant dealer demos everything they sell - you want to buy it? Try it out first. What can that hurt - a spin around the block.

My sales guy at the dealer was helping another dealer across town close down his shop. He's just done with the whole charade and wants out - been doing it for years. Sales guy was telling me about a dealer that ONLY had demos in his store - one of every model, but they were not for sale. You order what you want if you try it and like it.

Some interesting sales models around.

The dealer across the valley that has the Stance E+2 for wifey won't sell to my local dealer, hundred miles away. I would have to go there and buy it, and they're not going to give me the killer deal my guy does. So we wait.

Trek strikes me as the Toyota of ebikes. Trek ebike owners generally just ride on and don’t have many issues to bitch about. Maybe if/when Trek makes some cheaper, boxy styles with quieter motors and belt drives, there will be more mention of them.
There’s also an attitude of I want the cheapest and don’t care if I support local businesses on this site which, by nature, precludes Trek from a lot of conversation.
Despite significant issues with Specialized, there’s a group that consistently sells that brand and their ‘club’.

 

[Akrotiri]

Trek strikes me as the Toyota of ebikes. Trek ebike owners generally just ride on and don’t have many issues to bitch about. Maybe if/when Trek makes some cheaper, boxy styles with quieter motors and belt drives, there will be more mention of them.
There’s also an attitude of I want the cheapest and don’t care if I support local businesses on this site which, by nature, precludes Trek from a lot of conversation.
Despite significant issues with Specialized, there’s a group that consistently sells that brand and their ‘club’.

Completely agree.

Especially the last paragraph reminds me of some BMW vehicle owners/fanboys. No matter what goes wrong it’s still “a BMW” same thinking apparently applies to specialized and their waaay overpriced ebikes, especially at the top end.

I want to make clear though my comment does not apply to all BMW owners or all Specialized owners. Just a specific small percentage seems to gravitate to those respective brands based on an image it’s supposed to project.

 

[Browneye]

Seems reasonable.
Not sure about the car anolgy...have you actually driven a Camry and a 3-series side by side?
Many drivers are not discerning enough to care, and that's okay.
I've owned about fifty cars in my driving career, but only a handfull of bikes.

State sales tax here ranges from 8 to 10%, depending on county and special levies. But is never quoted in the selling price or MSRP on items sold.
In high-volume areas it is common for retailers to discount the selling price to increase market share, and move leftover merchandise. We haven't been seeing this as of late, demand has outstripped supply in the bicycle industry since the pandemic. Seems everybody decided to ride bikes for something to do outdoors. I'm also hearing of unprecedented demand in the camping and RV industry. I'm sure there are other anomalies.

Giant still does not have any bikes to ship currently.