Go see Tony Doyle at UK Bike Skills… he’s known as “Jedi” for a reason. You’ll definitely be jumping after a skills session with him.

HOME

I have the Specialized fit Hope Cranks on my 2019 Levo, easy to fit and no issues since, I didn’t even consider the other sizes as I assumed they were for other brands. They feel much stiffer than the stock Praxxis ones.

Hi Specialisthoprocker, it sounds to me like an E-MTB is just what you need.

1) Can riding an ebike be less physically demanding OR do you tend to just ride twice as hard and wear yourself out just as much? (Sorry if this is stupid question).

You can set assistance as you want, and change it during and between rides very easily. I bought by Levo three and a half years ago for similar reasons to you, I need to avoid my HR spiking and stay within zones 1-3 as much as possible, so my Eeeeb is perfect for that. I can also ride with mates who are faster/fitter than me, with the Levo dialled-down on power to take the edge off. This sounds like just what you’re after.
It’s also a lot of fun, even on long XC type rides on the South Downs, just due to the mileage and area you can cover if you’re time-limited, and the fact you can include super techy climbs just for the fun of it.

2) Is the weight of the bike a factor? I like the Orbea Rise because of the lightness but is this just a marketing hook? I’m concerned that the energy I save on the uphills will be wiped out as I try to handle the heavier bike on the downs.

The weight is not an issue, it’s an e-mtb with 90Nm torque. The only hassle is if you have lots of styles/gates where you live to lift the bike over. Downhill the bike handles fine, definitely heavier but I like the planted feel and grip it provides.

3) Are they reliable? I’ve had a couple of acquaintances have loads of trouble with their Levos.

I’ve had motor issue with my Levo in three and a half years, although it was annoying when it happened, it was sorted very quickly with no fuss by Specialized. Their warranty is excellent.

I also quite like the look of the Orbea Rise, I’ll definitely be demoing one when I decide to replace the Levo.

4) Is it worth getting a second battery?

I manage with a 540wh battery. If I could afford one, I think the 700wh would be better. that said, the maximum I’ve managed was a 90km ride on the 540wh battery, dialled down to eco-saving assistance.

5) What else do I need to know!?

Get a demo or borrow a mates if you can. Buy one with nearby local bike shop support.

Brighton Velodrome is your answer, it’s free to use, no traffic or lights, and easy to pace yourself.

Tyres, rider weight, cadence etc all affect battery performance.

I’ve owned a Levo as my main bike for nearly three years. When I bought it I initially had a few problems with water ingress on the electrics which needed to dried out afterwards to work again (bike indoors in the warm did the job). I’m pretty fastidious with post ride maintenance, and quickly realised the problem was due to me washing the bike the same way I’d washed all my other bikes over the last 30yrs, i.e. big bucket of soapy water and a sponge, soak and wipe the bike upside down, and upright, then lightly rinse with the hose. What I found with the Levo, is that washing the bike upside down causes some of the water to run down the top tube onto the control module – this happened a few times before I diagnosed it. I’ve had no problems since.

I expect many issues with e-mtbs motors and electrics failing are down to poor maintenance and/or overzealous washing with a power hose, rather than riding in wet/muddy conditions.

I have a couple of pairs of the Troy Lee ones, used them regularly for the last two years on rotation since I’ve been on Anticoagulant meds, they’ve lasted well and done the job when called upon. The chamois pad is pretty thin, that would be my only complaint, but it works ok. No probs washing in the machine either.

I agree SSStu, It’s now becoming very tiresome, and not unique to this forum.

I’m in the same boat as you with a few bikes in the quiver… although admittedly it’s the Eeeb I ride most often these days, particularly through the summer.

So, have we yet established that it takes zero fitness to ride a MTB at an uplift venue? I think that’s what everyone who hates ebikes is trying to say?

I did two days at BPW back in August, back to back, on my e-MTB.
Day one: E-MTB pass, six full runs and 3/4 smaller loops of the upper section red runs.
Day two: Uplift pass (on my e-mtb), eight runs, including two riding up (an early one and one at lunchtime) and six on the uplift bus.

I was more fatigued after day one, despite what I was expecting. The repeated climbs are not a rest section on the e-mtb like the queue and the bus journey are, i.e. it feels more like a long ride at a traditional trail centre, more constant effort through the whole day, with a really good choice of DH runs built in.

On another (not entirely unrelated) note, having only ever done BPW over the years on a standard MTB using the uplift, I was very surprised just how many people choose to ride there for the day and not use the uplift bus at all (both on e-MTBs and normal), many choosing shorter loops rather than top to bottom.

Chatting to people on the climb was also more sociable than on the bus.

I’ve definitely lost a bit of fitness since getting my e-mtb two years ago, but it was on the decline anyway due to health/medication issues, and may well have happened anyway due to increased family commitments. I’m not sure I’ve lost much endurance/mid-zone fitness as I ride in eco mode 90% of the time, but I’ve no doubt I’m in the anaerobic zone less on the e-mtb so that has decreased. So overall, yes my fitness level has declined (although the 4/5 months of riding my winter hardtail evens that out again each year).

What I can also say though, is that in the limited riding time I do now get is more fun than in would be on a normal MTB (mainly by allowing more adventure in what would otherwise be quite short rides). E-mtb is different but not necessarily better. After 30yrs+ riding, I’ll definitely continue to ride both and mix it up, although at the moment the e-mtb fits in with my other commitments better so gets pulled out of the shed much much more often. The only time of year the e-mtb gets used sparingly is the next 4-5 months (as has always been the case for me when I switch to a winter hardtail).

Basically, having the choice is the best of both worlds.

Like the format. I’d welcome more like this.

Check out EarFun

Kinesis Rise got a decent STW review, might be worth checking out.

Best thing to do, talk to Orange. They’ll see you right as best they can 👍

The Troy Lee stuff is pretty light and unobtrusive. A lot of brands are doing something similar now. As you say, a D30 type under tee is what you’re after.

FiveTen Guide Tennies worked for me on a bike trip to Nepal, they’re an approach shoe but have the stealth rubber sole. Tougher construction than most mtb-specific shoes too.

Part of the reason I looked at selling the bike is due to a conversation I had with TFtuned.

Basically I could have it retuned but for my weight it would make a clunk noise and still not fully cure the symptoms I have. Something to do with the suspension kinematics of the bike.

One option was to wait a few months and buy one of the new 2022 Fox DPX or DPS air shocks and have that custom tuned by TFtuned but thats going to be circa £700.

You should be able to pick up a used Fox DPX2 (it’s much better than the DPS in my experience).

I did look into the meg neg but apparently it requires even more air in the shock to start with and as Im getting close to the max air pressure i discounted it.

I’ve used a MegNeg on a SuperDeluxe, it does indeed increase the air pressure needed by around 15-20%, so if you’re near the top limit already I would avoid it.

Personally, I would send it off to TF-Tuned who will set it up to work however you want. I’ve never been disappointed with any work they’ve done on forks or shocks.

S-works bikes have always been v expensive.

^^This^^

It’s expensive because that’s what the S-Works fans want, and are willing to pay for.

The value in the Specialized range is generally around the Comp and Expert level, which haven’t been released yet for this generation of the Levo.

kiksy

My concern is that many people will be put off the sport because of this. Yes, you might say “there are £1k bikes that are great” and whilst that is true, in the same way as other markets, if it’s seen as being the bottom end many people will see it as being rubbish as to get a “good” bike you need to spend £4k+ as that’s the centre of the market.

There have always been super-bling expensive bikes at the top-end of the market, right back to when I started riding in the mid-90’s. These bikes have always been something to lust after, and unobtainable for 99.9% of riders in the sport (including myself), but important to the industry nonetheless in driving forward innovations which then trickle down the bike range. They have never put people off the sport in my experience.

This is no different.

These are the S-Works and Pro models which will only be sold in small numbers, and to those who want that kind of thing (the S-Works Levo SL sold out worldwide in no time from what I can remember). £10K+ bikes have been around for a while in the roadie world, it was only a matter of time. The top-spec Pivot Switchback is a whopping 13.8K Euros. Not forme at that price, but people are buying them.
The current Levo Base Model is £4.8K so there’s no reason it will be more than than £5.5K or thereabouts given that most bikes and components seem to have a 20% price-hike for 2022 post-Brexit and Covid. Still a lot of money though, but nothing seems cheap right now, especially given the reduced supply and high demand. Before all this, you could get good deals with a chunk off the RRP on Levos and Kenevos, hopefully that will return again when this is all over.

I haven’t used the fork lockout on any bike I’ve owned for the last 20yrs. I’ve owned quite a few rigid MTB’s, most of which I’ve really liked, but suspension remains open for me.

I’ve re-taped a jacket before with tenacious tape; it works well as long as you don’t ever wash the jacket again 😂

Sounds like you’ve already decided …new bike day beckons methinks.

Mine arrived this afternoon, all good and well packaged.

Michelin Wild Enduro Rear works for me, or if if you want something a little more rolling speed, then a Hans Dampf.

Why not another Highball?

…what El_B said above, surely the weight of a big rider braking hard will put far more torque through a wheel than a eeeeb motor?

Cable or connector problem would be my guess.

Same as above, after 18months on the Eeeeb I’ve not noticed drivetrain wear to be any faster than on any other bikes I’ve owned over the last 3 decades. No need to buy e-MTB specific or top of the range chains (unless you want too, of course).

They’re all pretty much the same in my experience. Removing them regularly and giving them a clean is all you can do really if they’re getting gunked up.

Watching this with interest. I could do with a spare/replacement.

Leatt 3DF Airfit is great, also pretty expensive, but you get what you pay for with body armour I think.

Michelin Wild-Enduro Rear 2.4 has been brilliant on the back of my Levo. It’s lasted over 4000km through lockdown and all types of trails. I’ve only just changed it for a new one.

I have Magic Mary / Wild Enduro Rear on both my bikes now, it’s easily the best combo I’ve tried (…there have been lots 🙄🤣)

Premier Icon
renton
Free Member

Ianc it’s from a Garmin instinct watch.

Seriously confusing as I can be blowing and not able to talk but my heart rate reads below 125.

I bought a Garmin watch with built in HR monitor for the same reason, doctors orders that I need to minimise heart rate spikes. I now just rely on how I feel, the wrist HR monitor is fine when you’re at home/work etc, but isn’t accurate when you’re riding I’ve found. I don’t like wearing a chest strap HR monitor, but will do if it becomes necessary.

18 months now on my e-mtb, a Levo Carbon Comp, upgraded the forks to 160mm Lyriks, and a few other changes. It’s a brilliant bike, highly tuneable so I can get as much or as little workout as I want. It’s great for the 1-2hr time windows I typically get these days. I’ve done over 5000km on it this year alone, it really encourages you to get out more.

As NickC said, the actual pressure measurement won’t be more accurate as it’s done in exactly the same way, the only difference is the ease of reading the pressure on a digital format rather than a needle gauge.

Looks great 👍

Enjoy.

Fitted mine this weekend, 140mm version on my hardtail. Initial signs are good, they’re lovely and plush over roots and trail chatter.

^^Billy Bargain, that is^^