I got ~20 miles and 2500 feet just from the range extender on a couple of ride recently
Range extender is ~250wH. My Rise is the Alloy frame and just over 20kg.
Having ridden mine for a couple of years I reckon I could easily have gone for the smaller battery. Most of my rides are around 30 miles with somewhere between 3 and 4k feet of climbing. I'll often finish with +50% of the 540wH battery. I'll be tried at the end of the ride.
One thing I have noticed is that rides where there's sustained climbing, say in Wales for example, I'll use the battery quicker (and use more battery) than somewhere uppy downy like Surrey Hills. 3k feet of climbing in say, 15 climbs is a lot easier on the bike (and my legs) than doing 3k in 5 climbs.
Where I managed to get 2.5k from the range extender recently, equally I've killed the whole extender in about 6 miles climbing sustained steep stuff. The longer the climb goes on, the more tired your legs get and the more you rely on the assistance to get you up.
I'd say if you're fairly fit and you're aiming for 3k(ish) on a ride then the 320wH will probably be fine and, it'll keep you fit. You can always get a range extender for bigger rides. If you're aiming for 5k rides then maybe you'd want the bigger battery.
Once you've added the extender to the carbon frame, you're basically at the same weight as the alloy so may as well get the alloy frame.
Also I guess it depends who you ride with. If you're trying to keep up with full power bikes with mega capacity batteries then you'll have no chance.
I mostly ride on my own and I'm happy bimbling along up the climbs at whatever pace I feel like which I think helps with the range. If I power around in boost, I can pretty much kill the 540wH battery in 20 miles/3000'.
Riding at my normal pace would leave me with at least 50% of the battery on the same route.
Other factors that affect range are things like wheels and tyres. Lighter wheels and fast tyres get you better range. If you're riding terrain that warrants the use of insertd and heavy tyres then the range will suffer.
It would have to be seriously cheap for me to consider the 1st gen. The 2nd gen carbon has some decent upgrades such as better charging port and 540WHr battery, and there have been some great deals on these. The 3rd gen is even better but significantly higher cost.
Thanks for the detailed answer Bens, very comprehensive. I’ll probably be riding mostly by myself so it will be a nice steady pace. Think I will see how it goes and maybe invest in a range extender at a later date if I need one for bigger days out
I shall have a look at the 2nd gen carbon when I call in this week.
Anyone running 160mm forks on their gen1/2 Rise? Mine came with a Marzocchi Z2 as standard, and it's absolutely rank - like having a pogo stick on the front. Looking around at deals, I can get a Lyrik at a decent price, but it's 160mm travel, rather than the 150mm I was looking for.
Yeah I run a 160mm Lyrik Ultimate on mine with a Slacker headset.
Doesn’t climb quite as well but it’s better coming down.
I ran my Mezzer at 160 for a while and didn't really get on with it.
I've always found the front end to be a bit low which was unnerving on steep, slow techy stuff so figured a bit more travel would help. It didn't really. The front was too light on steep or techy climbs and I didn't really notice much difference on the downs so went back to 150.
I'd like to try what Phil5556 has done and fit an angleset. I think slacker plus 160 might work better. Thought about offset shock bushes but pedal strikes are already troublesome and I keep clputing the motor on things so don't want to drop the 'BB' any lower
Yeah, obviously not eidsen the new Rise, but the Wild is prettty sleek and light for a full fat bike. As to Shimano over Bosch, its more the relia ility/serviceability side I’d be foxused on. I wouldnt buy aShimano bike.
Yep it’s crazy. No one in the bike industry appears to realise bikes are stupidly expensive, maybe they all get paid too much ? Rob Rides called an £8.5k bike vfm/cheap. Wtf
They are getting heavier too which I find odd. The larger battery size is only just lighter than their full fat bike
An ‘affordable’ one is going to weigh more than there full fat Wild offering or very similar
I had the opportunity recently to change (I won't say upgrade as it's very subjective) from my old Rise to a new Wild for a minimal amount of money in the grand scheme of things, and I don't regret my decision... Yes, I still preferred the feel of the Shimano motor, but the Wild is only 10% heavier, is much stiffer, handles better, is far more confidence inspiring on the descents, still as much fun to ride and it's got more than twice the battery power and range...I am all for lightweight eMTB's, but they really need to be a LOT lighter and offer signficant benefits vs a full fat, otherwise you might as well just get a decent full fat bike and take advantage of the extra capacity etc...
I ran 160mm Fox 36. Worked perfectly well.
