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I was thinking a bit of pedal assist might help my ankle but still was a bike I can ride around the woods, Welsh trail centres, Southampton bike park and generally abuse. That counts out most of the bikes I have seen for less than about £2k.
The ones with the Bosch or Yanaha drive units seem to only really start on full dus at about £3k and go a lot higher.
Anyone here own one or ridden one for a long time with a variety of trails?
Do they feel really heavy when pedalling without the assist or do you always have assistance on?
If pedalling with assists do they feel like the pedalling and progress are connected?
My only experience was a cheap crap electric bike which felt heavy, wobbly, badly built and the power seemed to be on or off with little modulation, that was a cheap bike about three years ago . What are the more expensive bikes like?
binners had a go on an electric fat bike courtesy of chipps and from what I recall he loved it.
There's also someone with a Scott full susser from memory.
Edit: think it's Somafunk
Not sure if there's any in Southampton but there's a couple of specialist electric bike shops in the Brighton area that sell them and they seem happy to let people do test rides. Probably the best way to decide if they're the right thing for you and what you want to do. Would happily accompany you for a ride round Stanmer if you came over this way for a test.
Scroll down for somafunk's post with pics:
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/where-are-all-the-fatbikes
Rented a pretty decent Scott. Did some nice mixed terrain but only for a day. Firstly it was great fun. Hard to get away from that. The pedalling felt good. It was like everything was a slight downhill. You can pootle or give it a few hard pedals and fly along at any time. On the flat, uphill, on bumpy grass, all felt like downs once you pedaled a lttle. Good connection between the pedalling and the movement. Smooth delivery. It just took the terrain and slope out of the equation. Could've easily got away with less power. It would be an expensive buy. This one was 3.5k but kitted out like a £500 halfords special. Once the price comes down they will be everywhere.
i had one for 2 years whilst ill.
on easy graded offroad stuff they are good. enabled me to climb hill i would not have stood a chance doing.
the more severe the terrain, the worse they become. the one i had came with a pretty good spec. fox forks and shock, shimano brakes, but for some idiotic reason shimano 28 spoked wheelset.
the build on them is not tough enough. with the weight of the motor and battery, they should come with dh tough kit not xc light kit. all to a price i suppose.
mine was good for 40 miles range on middle assist, i bought a spare battery (£600) to double my range whilst offroad touring.
mine was a haibike with bosch motor.
if i were ill again, i would get another asap. but one of the more robust lapiere or cube things.
WCA - there's some Giant ones here, very helpful and you can demo. It's in Waltham Chase, not a million miles from you:
My wife has a Scott, essentially a Contessa with a Bosch crank motor. Very heavy thing, bloody hard work with no assistance, but even with assist on progress surely depends on your effort. We don't do a lot of trail centres, but it's been fine round Rothie, up to Einich, in Inshriach and up the Corbett behind Kingussie, as well as onroad. Lets us ride together, which would be harder without assist, and is heling her recover from skiing injuries.
I had a go on an Electric fat bike at llandegla.
I kept crashing....from laughing so much.
Win
I kept crashing....from laughing so much
This happened to me when we went there the other week.
Though it was more to do with the mince to rasbery carbon ratio than riding an electric assist fatbike. 😉
As has been mentioned above get in touch with Somafunk.
His Scott seems to have got him back into riding again which has to be a good thing.
The ones with the Bosch or Yanaha drive units seem to only really start on full dus at about £3k and go a lot higher.Do they feel really heavy when pedalling without the assist or do you always have assistance on?
If pedalling with assists do they feel like the pedalling and progress are connected?
The Bosch and Yamaha units feel quite different to one another. The Bosch is a little more linear with its power delivery, the Yamaha is quite blunt. Yahama are catching up, but I'd say the Bosch is the better unit.
They do feel really heavy without the assistance. You really need it on at all times, even if its a low/eco setting.
I found the oddest thing is pedalling on singletrack around the 16mph limit. It is naff above it and quite odd.
They take some getting used to downhill, especially on tighter and twistier trails. You really need to use your bodyweight more.
I've had my Scott for the past month and there's not been a day that i haven't been out for a ride which is a massive improvement on the past few years of general inactivity on the bikes (apart from bimbling about at a snails pace on my beloved tripster).
Do they feel really heavy when pedalling without the assist or do you always have assistance on?
Yep, there's no getting away from the fact that i'm peddling a 21kg bike when the assist is switched off but with the massive battery & range there is no real need to switch it off, I can barely turn the pedals on a normal bike when i hit a hill so if i'm on the road and wanting as much range as possible to explore a few of the surrounding trails in my area of Galloway i'm quite happy using the [i]eco[/i] mode to get myself around, the [i]tour[/i] mode gives a bit more assist and is enough to tackle the majority of single track climbs with effort from myself, the [i]sport[/i] mode is enough for all but the steepest of singletrack use and the [i]turbo[/i] mode is just batshit mental for all out super steep climbs and so much fun.
If pedalling with assists do they feel like the pedalling and progress are connected?
Yep, there is slight initial surge but once under way you don't really notice it.
I should have bought one a few years ago but i dithered as i placed my faith in the Spinal team to repair me, or at least offer a solution that i could work with to enable me to continue riding off-road but i finally had to face the fact that i will never be able to ride like i used to on my Soulcraft SS, no more lapping Kirroughtree or climbing Heatrbreak Hill over n' over just because i could which if i'm honest with myself was partly why i refused to entertain the idea of an electric assist bike - i kinda took the huff n' sat in the corner with a petted lip due to my lack of leg muscle strength - I refused to admit i needed any help.
I was up at Aviemore last September and borrowed the Scott E-Spark from Bothy Bikes and within an hr i returned to the shop with a stupid goofy grin on my face and ordered the Scott E-Genuis 710+, i had to wait 4 months till they were released but David got me one of the first to arrive and i drove up to collect it the following week, i've not regretted buying it for one second 😀 .
I'm sat here absolutely knackered after being out this morning for a 3hr session round my local trails, including some much needed trail work which is quite amusing as i tend to stumble and fall on my arse quite a lot but over the past month i have managed to clear pretty much all of my old trails with the aid of a flask of tea, quality tunes on my jambox speaker along with my rake, mini shovel and Silky Zubat saw - I've managed to regain that totally exhausted feeling you get at the end of a days riding n" trail grooming so i'm a very happy bunny indeed! - albeit sitting here with aches n' pains that make me wince if i reach for anything but i wouldn't have it any other way.
The furthest i've been so far is near enough 50 miles and 3500ft of climbing and i returned home with 1/5 left on the battery - the motor is loosening up nicely so i expect i have a genuine 60miles+ of off road ability if i take it easy, I managed a full lap and a bit at kirroughtree with a decent pace without having to place a foot down once and returned to the car park just as the battery fell form 3/5 to 2/5.
Where are you in the country?, if your ever up this way then you are more than welcome to try it for a demo ride - but be prepared to want one.
Usual gratuitous excessive pic dump below 😉
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Loch Gamnha, nr Aviemore
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Out in the snow in my area a few weeks ago, with the big tyres and low pressure it can handle the snow with ease.
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The pic doesn't do justice to how steep that is, the bike made it up no problem despite 4" of snow
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My local trails,
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My comprehensive review from 9 months ago
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/just-tested-a-fat-bike-and-an-electric-full-sus-mtb
The Bosch units are definitely the better. We have a couple of hardtails in the hire fleet - if you're somewhere near mid Wales or fancy a trip this way, you'd be welcome to give one a try.
You do really need the power on all the time unless you're on flat/easy terrain. On eco mode, though, which is more than enough to compensate for the extra weight, they go a long way.
A old bloke rides round Dalby on one, Haibike I think & not in the best of health which comes to many of us, so I guess in time I'll be on one too.
Check out Kranked Bikes web site, what's not to like going up hill at warp factor ?? !! fun all the way, they ride E V10's on the vid's on there web site.
Ok many don't agree with them but age or injury keeps people riding having fun enjoying the sport & in my book that's a win.
Been reading the reviews on here [url= http://ebike-mtb.com/en/e-mountainbike-review-scott-e-genius-710-plus-2016/ ]linky.[/url] The Spesh for me.
I don't have £5000 to spend on an e-bike, but I have no doubt I would if I did.
yorkycsl - MemberOk many don't agree with them but [s]age or injury[/s] they keep people riding having fun enjoying the sport & in my book that's a win.
😉
every one of those bikes in the link posted by thebrowndog looks fantastic.
when the time come i would gladly have any of them.
I'd buy somafunk's on looks alone.
Let's face it, we'll all be grateful for one one day
Been umming and arring about them since having a quick shot on my mates trek powerfly. Have booked a test on a levo as soon as they reach the uk as its the only one (apart from the rottwild) that looks like a proper bike but I'm torn, dropping nearly 5k on a bike really doesn't sit very well.
There was a Specialized demo day at Stainburn last weekend, there were two Levo FSRs available to test.
Everyone that had a go said they were a lot of fun....apart from the Spesh employee that grabbed a go on one just as the battery died, he was knackered by the time he got to the top of the hill!
I have ordered a levo today apparently there is already a hell of a lot of interest in them. Very much looking forward to the demo day (just to make sure)
Met a couple in the Lakes , well they passed me on a hill !!I thought he said "dig in" as he passed, I was bloody fuming ,turns out he said "im cheating"!! both on these from Wheelbase said they had a 90 mile range theyd done 60+ miles when i spoke to them both in their 70s !! Happy days !!
Mate of mine is just getting back out on his Hiabike after his 2nd hip replacement, best rehab he reckons 😆
yep ..they're fantastic ...one of my best ever buys ... stopped biking 3 yrs ago due to suddenly developing pain in both knees ..diagnosed as arthritis . recently bought an ebike to try and make a comeback and believe it or not i've lost 10kg and knees are getting better all the time so much so i normally only use the lowest assist setting . Try one ..it'll put a smile on your face guaranteed!
M8 has had a cube with the Bosch motor, reduced from Europe but a solid spec & loves it, been cycling more because of it. It definitely brings a smile to your face, laughing at climbs that you'd normally slog up. Horrible muddy trails become a motocross frenzy, balance being more the issue than grip or momentum. He's happy to lend it on rides, so three of us all different sizes, jump on it & it doesn't mater that it not set up for you, the motor makes up for any details
As above we'll all be glad we can buy one, one day..
He lent it to me on the last climb (again), & it does tempt me constantly but the weight is a killer, & lifting it safely over fence/gate is really a two man job. You can balance it on your shoulder to climb a style but don't get it wrong
Drop the weight without messing trying to add power & I'll be sorely tempted
Come dry trails it only the climbs that I'll be jealous of it, but sanctimonious about the hard work I 'm enduring 😉
had a play on a scott demo bike from hargroves - which was a size or 2 small for me -but it convinced me they can be fun, and still a good work out.
speak to hargroves, i'm sure they can get you a demo.
My wife has a cube hardtail, it cost about £1700, it can literally do everything.
Ive ridden it home from work(34 miles) after a 12 hour shift, wearing a shirt tie and normal trousers, complete with 1400 feet of climbing.
No aches or pains at all.
I went camping on it, fully loaded, managed 35 miles, only used about half of the available power.
Like many others, it is letting both of us get out riding again.
I should add, i weigh 20 stone, it goes up hills the same as going along on the flat.
Its a 2015 cube reaction pro, with the powerpack 400 battery.
I have just ordered a cube e stereo 27.5 pro 500 which has an uprated battery, and to be honest, i cant wait.
Stereo 120 starts at 2499, imo its worth it.
Edit: ive ridden my wifes one for 3 miles with the power off, and you could have hosed me down without making me any wetter. That still wouldnt put me off.
Equally good for commuter, I got one recently as well. Fantastic machines especially now they are actually good looking. (You can chip them as well if you want to go faster :wink:)
Chip them, & your asking for a world of potential legal trouble if your evolved in an accident & giving fuel to those ppl frothing at the mouth for (all) MTB's to be banned from share trails. That said if it's chipped it shouldn't be on legal MTB trails, as there classed as basically motorbikes (very simple overview), so suggesting you only use the 'dongle' off-road argument falls flat on its face
If a E bike is imported or manufactured in the UK having passed all various EU regulations & classified as a bicycle then it is surely by definition just that a bike, not a motor bike, it has no engine, no fuel and no emissions to speak of other than in my case a chubby old bloke panting away.
I'm sure the can of worms has already been opened on this subject... Oh it's motor bike blah blah they should be banned, is this whining mostly from strava whippets who's times might be beaten? I raced motocross for 12 years & they are motorcycles with a internal combustion engine and yes they do make a mess of the country side but on land that has been allowed & nowadays has planning permission to be used for such events.
If some one chips or other wise modifies a ebike then that is there business yeah?? what about people who chip cars to huge power outputs & can't handle them & kill either them selves and or other road users, are they in the wrong too and should they be banned?
We all love the sport but jeez where's the common sense.
I'm sure this will become a long drawn out if not boring subject but personally it's my hobby, I love the sport, I don't race professionally to make money as that would be classed as cheating.
Some one riding along with a smile on there face giving a friendly Morning how's it going as they whizz along on a ebike is fine in my book.
Happy riding chaps it's Sunday
Anything non-human powered over 16mph counts as a car/motorbike/horse drawn vehicle regardless of the source of power. Having said that, chipping the bike should not be obvious and should be reversible, not that I am condoning turning a simple electric bike into a 47mph* trail ripper.
*Just a number I read somewhere when researching how to chip a Scott eGenius...
Care to share said article...lol
Can't find the article mentioning 47mph but here is the How to guide
I borrowed a £2k Giant Dirt-e a couple of weeks ago and spent three days on it, just to see what the fuss is about.
Very heavy - 25kg+ - and a sub £500 spec, and that limited how good it felt on 'proper' mtb trails. I wouldn't buy one for use at trail centres, it just isn't good enough.
However this applies, from somafunk :
the sport mode is enough for all but the steepest of singletrack use and the turbo mode is just batshit mental for all out super steep climbs and so much fun.
Uphill it was ridiculously good fun.
I wouldn't buy one, even if I had the money and space. But then I'm weird in actually enjoying pedalling. If I wasn't fit because of injury, or my mobility was limited for some reason then I'd think differently. But I did soend a lot of time giggling - make of that what you will.
somafunk,
Spot on that's what ebikes are all about surely.
Oh and another silky saw user too they should be supplied with Kevlar gloves as they are so sharp.
I've ridden a non e 2016 Genius LT & it has blown me away so yours must be incredible.
if I'm ever up near you I'd really like to try your bike.
Cheers
Mark
Yeah sure mark - anytime you are up in dumfries & galloway/near to kirkcudbright then give me a shout on here or by email and i'll take you up to my trails - only 5mins from my house.
I have the e-bike tuning kit for my Bosch Performance CX motor but i've not bothered to fit it yet, before i got the bike i thought that [i]Yeah!, fit the kit and go ride[/i] but i'm unsure now - after having the bike for a month i'm quite happy with it as it is, obviously the increased speed will reduce the distance i can travel due to using more battery power and i kinda like the ability to do decent distances/ride all day at the moment.
What i'd really like is the ability to custom tune the standard speed settings with regard to the torque curve/output and [i]perhaps[/i] have a top speed of 18mph or thereabouts, back when i could ride a normal bike under my own steam there were some sections of my local trails where i could easily maintain 20mph+ through the single track (allowing for acceleration out of the corners) as it was on a slight fall line. It's all brain-farts at the moment so the tuning kit is still in my toolbox and it may stay in there.
Have been to the local shop to see about a test ride on a Scott Genius 720 plus. I should hear back if they can source on during the week.
I was also at that spesh demo day at Stainburn. and tried the levo 6fattie (27.5+)
I am waiting to hear back from them as to wether or not they will sell me the demo bike when they are finished with it. If they won't (apparently its a pre production model) I'll buy a new one.
Uphill simply shouldn't be that much fun.
I rode this last week
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it was great fun and seemed to make much more sense than the hybrids I've ridden before, which seem limited by the 250w + 25km/h EU regulation 168/2013 for electric bikes.
the FS bike I rode was quite torquey and seemed to have good "low end grunt", I could sense the assist it was giving and going DH it was quite fun
Whilst the hybrids topped out very quickly on the road at 25km/h (just over 15mph) - which is bugger all for anyone with some strength in legs; left me pedalling a heavy bike not much fun
Well, they won't sell me the demo one. 😥
So a shiny new one of these has my name on it. Roll on May 10th! 😀
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Where are you getting yours from tomhoward? My lbs are expecting their delivery mid April
Specialized concept store in harrogate. They did say it might be sooner tbf
Not too far from me. My deposit is paid because there is limited stock or so I have been told
Looks good Tom, A nice touch with the integrated battery as it leaves space for a water bottle for quick blasts when you can't be arsed with the hassle of a hydration pack, the added function of the app for motor control etc is a nice addition, being a natural fettler i like the way you can fiddle with the power outputs.