I've got a transition patrol currently, but looking at getting an ebike in the next few months, and one of the choices is the Cube Stereo HPC 160, which appears to have the same 170/160 setup as the patrol.
I know they'll ride way differently, but do worry the cube will be a do it all, and the transition may start gathering dust, anyone else done similar, how do you work it with two bikes that are pretty much for the same type of riding, did you end up changing one, would going for the 140 HPC be better?
I had a Mega 275, 160/160, and bought a Trek Powerfly, 150/150, and the Mega never got used again...
In the process of going e for MTB due health reasons and I have demo’ed loads of them. Coming from a 130mm Bird Zero TR (which I am keeping) and a new geo Anthem 27.5 with 120/100 (now sold) I found out early on that the extra weight and low down stability of an eMTB favours more travel and bigger wheels/tyres. I eventually ordered, after a decent test ride, an Orbea Wild FS, with 160mm front and back and 29 x 2.5. It’s my first 29 MTB as I’m average height at a bit under 5’10” and short legs, but the bigger travel and wheels/tyres very much lend themselves to ebike momentum. I haven’t looked at the Cube 160, but the 140 has quite odd geometry, with short reach and TT for a longish seattube...
I think you're right in that an e-bike and regular bike with the same travel will just compete to get used.
I'd want an e-bike with 170mm travel, you're not exactly going to have to worry about the pedaling efficiency...
Then to accompany it, a 120/130mm travel trail FS or hardtail.
I had a Mega 275, 160/160, and bought a Trek Powerfly, 150/150, and the Mega never got used again…
I had a YT Capra, 170/170, and bought a Trek Powerfly, 150/150, and the Capra never got used again…
I got a Levo last December. My Banshee Spitfire which I’d really liked for the previous four years (and had recently upgraded to the 2017- frame in a larger size) got totally sidelined and then broken up and sold. My favourite parts were used to upgrade my hardtail, which still has a place because it’s more different.
The big thing I noticed with the Levo is the suspension works so much better than on a non-E bike because the frame is so much heavier than the wheels - the sprung:unsprung mass ratio is far more like a vehicle should have.
They’re not for everyone, all that weight does make them less nimble but it also confers a lot of stability (which gives me the confidence to chuck it about). I’m not great at jumping but I’ve never felt better in the air.
When I’m with my mates who are almost entirely lacking in motors, I often ride the Levo with the power off and it’s still a damn good bike. FYI my Levo is 160F/150R and 29”, the Spitfire was 160F/140R on 27.5”. Similar build, but Lyriks not Pikes.
Yeah, i do get the feeling that when i get the ebike i'll look at the 130 type of bike, had a ebike and a T130 earlier this year until they were nicked, so might end up back in that type of scenario.
I had a Transition Scout, Patrol and TR500, Scout for trail riding , Patrol for enduro and the TR500 for downhill
Bought a Specialized Levo e-bike and fitted a 160mm fork and the Scout and Patrol never really got used again!
The TR500 occasionally got dragged out but as much fun as it was going downhill it was a pain to push back up, the Specialized Levo can manage just as well as the TR500 downhill (were talking about the southern England type of downhill and a few BPW trips) and it flies back up so i get more runs in
All the Transitions have now been sold and i just have the Levo!
My ebike (a 135mm Levo) sits pretty much in the middle, travel wise, of my bikes and, when I’m not injured, gets a similar amount of use as all the others. It’s getting a fair bit of use now as I get back to a decent level of fitness after a year off bikes but there’s no way I’d get rid of my normal bikes.
Bought a levo, sold a 2019 bronson 4 weeks later, as I would never use it again.
I have a Levo and a non-ebike full sus. The Levo gets more use because I'm fairly time constrained so it equals more downhill but I still ride the other bike. They're very different in the way they ride and great for that. The Levo is brilliant but it doesn't feel as nimble as the normal bike, simply because of the weight you're moving around. Poss worth pointing out that I'm 100kg so the increase in total weight is minimal but it makes the bike ride very differently. The slow climb on the non e-bike is almost cathartic as well. So whilst you can turn them off from my perspective it is much more enjoyable riding a non-ebike than an ebike turned off.
Also bear in mind if you fly abroad to ride then you can't do that with an ebike. In addition there is a pretty good chance of your ebike developing a fault so having a back up bike is very useful. Out of four 2019 levos we've had two motor bearings, an ecu and a dodgy power cable sorted in 6 months. That said the Levo has a five year warranty which is a big plus for the specialized in my eyes.
Oh and I'd say the long travel ebike will be a better bet than a short travel if you're already riding a longer travel bike.
The clincher for me buying my Kona Remote Control was my LBS taking my Process in PX. Problem solved at source 😎 Its complimented by a Frankenbike (flat bar converted gravel bike) and a 120mm travel Ti HT 29er.I know I wouldn't ride the Process again 🙄
As said get something that contrasts the ebike, like a hardtail or different type of bike.
Already have the hardtail, with two sets of wheels to make it work in a few ways, but the full sus is the one i am hoping doesn't end up on the back burner, it's a great feeling bike, but i'm more worried i'll end up with a 170/160mm for normal stuff where i'll not need a motor or assistance, and be way overkill for most of the stuff i'll do, i'm already kind of doing that as i'm coming back from a bad injury (collarbone, knee, ribs) so been using it to soften all rides.