Anyone else not sold on their new eMTB?

[Siv1]

I have a 2019 carbon levo and love it, Also have a Cube cabon non electric hardtail which I also loved but have not had to clean for over a year now!

 

[bikechiq]

I tested the sl and the comp and got the comp. For me the Sl wasnt that fun because it was so underpowered. Felt like driving a Toyota Corolla where the comp is like driving a Tesla

 

[mxtyphoon]

A friend got me into mountain biking at 65. I could only do about 3 miles of local trails and another 2 mile section that would kill me for the rest of the day. What I found out is that I had exercise induced asthma. I tested a EBike and couldn’t stop smiling. Ordered one that was $1000 off in my size at the end of the season. Now I can ride from town out to the trails, do all the trails and ride back home which is 13 miles and still function for the day. If it’s windy or hilly who cares you have an EBike ?

 

[Elover]

I feel this way about my old manual bike... The opposite I guess... I know about 15 people who have swopped to ebikes and love them, most have ridden for years and sold there old, Yetis, Santa cruz etc... But I did see a local rider I slightly know had sold his Evil, test rode a specialized Sl levo and ended by buying another manual bike, S works enduro... To me thats crazy, no way I would spend that money on a manual bike now, but I love ebikes... Its the kind of feeling I had years ago when I was a lad and used to go Bmx riding, just fun, fun , fun... Each to there own I guess...

 

[Biano44]

My first Ebike was a Trek Powerfly last September (2019) and I didn’t like it very much after a few rides......
Then I derestricted it and it came alive.
Sadly build quality and reliability got in the way and it was replaced with a Santa Cruz Heckler.
The Heckler is a totally different bike to the Trek, rides great and I love it.
That said I now have over a year of experience and the key to enjoying an Ebike is going up hill.
Go to a bike park or Trail centre and you will find that there is so much fun to be had going up hill, not just down.

 

[p3eps]

I bought a Trek Rail and had it for a couple of weeks. I felt like it was too powerful for me, and didn’t give me the workout I wanted. I was looking for a bit of help on some of the hills and technical climbs that I struggled with on my Stumpy.
The Levo SL was announced when I’d had the Rail for 2 weeks, and I was able to demo it and order one before my 30 day ‘satisfaction guarantee’ ran out. Back went the Rail.

After changing most of the components and finally getting bike how I like it, I now feel I have the perfect eMTB for me. There’s nothing else I’d swap for at the moment.
If Spesh take out a Levo SL Evo, then I’d maybe consider an upgrade!!

 

[KeithR]

Felt like driving a Toyota Corolla where the comp is like driving a Tesla

To me the SL is like riding a fast, agile, nimble thoroughbred, compared to a plodding old carthorse.

 

[Zimmerframe]

To me the SL is like riding a fast, agile, nimble thoroughbred, compared to a plodding old carthorse.

Don't you talk about my ex wife like that.

 

[Chicane]

I tested the sl and the comp and got the comp. For me the Sl wasnt that fun because it was so underpowered. Felt like driving a Toyota Corolla where the comp is like driving a Tesla

For me, the SL I demoed felt like riding a motorcycle compared to my 27# Ripley on all my familiar trails/climbs. It left a big grin on my face knowing I was easing the strain(just enough) on my ailing knees that kept me off my bike for 30 days and left me discouraged recently. It's pretty clear in this thread that everyone's expectations on what they like in a bike differ, just a bit, but some are identical.

 

[KeithR]

Don't you talk about my ex wife like that.

Which part is like your ex-wife?

 

[bikechiq]

Which part is like your ex-wife?

Fast agile nimble thoroughbred

 

[KeithR]

It's pretty clear in this thread that everyone's expectations on what they like in a bike differ

Yep, but I think some expectations are clearly unrealistic: not to pick on Bikechiq, but I struggle to understand how she found herself in a position to be disappointed by a bike well known to be far less powerful than a FF bike, because it's less powerful than a FF bike.

It's not underpowered - it's exactly as powerful as it's supposed to be - it's just less powerful.

Not the same thing. "Underpowered" suggests that it's lacking something that it's supposed to have, and that's not the case.

 

[bikechiq]

Yep, but I think some expectations are clearly unrealistic: not to pick on Bikechiq, but I struggle to understand how she found herself in a position to be disappointed by a bike well known to be far less powerful than a FF bike, because it's less powerful than a FF bike.

It's not underpowered - it's exactly as powerful as it's supposed to be - it's just less powerful.

Not the same thing. "Underpowered" suggests that it's lacking something that it's supposed to have, and that's not the case.

I wasnt disappointed, it was way nicer having the power of a comp after riding them back to back.

 

[RichardGB]

It sounds like you've got the wrong bike tbh.
It's a very different machine to your other bikes by the sounds of it and that's probably why you're not getting the buzz. I don't mean that it's an E but rather something a little more conservative in set up/geometry and different suspension feel.

For example, I much prefer four bar/faux bar linkages

 

[steve_sordy]

................. What I found out is that I had exercise induced asthma. .................

When I had an analogue bike and after I had retired and was riding more I felt like I had hay fever. My legs were fine and my heart rate was fine, but I just could not go any faster, felt like my breathing was obstructed. Hay fever meds were not working, went to see the quack. After a few tests, he diagnosed what you have. He gave me a Salbutamol inhaler. Bloody hell! It was like suddenly being turbo charged!

I no longer need the inhaler since I got the emtb, but I appear to be a lot fitter than you, probably because I have been riding for much longer. You should still be able to do more than 5 miles without being killed for the rest of the day. So ask your doctor for an inhaler. The only time I ever used mine was two puffs immediately before the ride and that would do me for the rest of the ride. If ever I felt that I needed any more later, then I knew that I had a problem and usually came down with something in the next day or so.

 

[Doug Stampfer]

Maybe an emtb isn't for you - no shame in not liking them or prefering an analogue bike. Most of us have them because the hills were gettng too hard, injuries, old age etc. I hear what you are saying about the lack of suffering & I used to feel guilty about not earning the downhills or passing struggling riders however I love mine esp riding painfree & wouldn't go back.
I do concede that I have lost leg strength (becomes evident halfway down a long descent) & fitness although I ride just as much as before.
Also those Evils have been known to curse other bikes in the house...

 

[Gary]

I do concede that I have lost leg strength (becomes evident halfway down a long descent) & fitness although I ride just as much as before.

Funny you mention this. I too lost a lot of fitness and strength from riding an EMTB excessively. But I actually sustained knee injuries because of the lost strength. I'm now putting in the miles on my roadbike again and slowly rebuilding the strength and endurance I naturally had because of the amount I've always ridden. (roughly the same number of hours ridden per week, but obviously way less actual effort using the Eeb)
My Ebike motor has just been warrantied and I lack motivation to refit the new one at all.

 

[Gary]

If jumping is your thing then EMTB will not be as much of a grin

Why do you say that?

 

[Mr President]

Why do you say that?

It is my opinion only and based on my limited skills and experience. However, My Ebike is twice the weight of my acoustic bike. It seems inherently more stable. Great at smashing through roots and rock gardens, but less nimble. I love both, but for slightly different reasons.

 

[Gary]

Oh. Right.
Just so you know from someone who is slightly more skilled at jumping. Your opinion is wrong.

They're different for sure and no Eeb is gonna handle like a 100mm dirt jump hardtail but take a 170mm Enduro bike and a 170mm E Enduro bike. They both jump, whip, scrub just as well and the Eebs are actually easier for limb off tricks. (no handers, one footers etc.)

 

[Mteam]

I'm no jumper, but I was quite surprised at how well my ebike jumped, hard to describe the difference, but it just felt smoother/calmer in the air than my normal bike - more stable maybe?

I wasn't expecting it to feel as good as it did.

 

[Mr President]

Oh. Right.
Just so you know from someone who is slightly more skilled at jumping. Your opinion is wrong.

They're different for sure and no Eeb is gonna handle like a 100mm dirt jump hardtail but take a 170mm Enduro bike and a 170mm E Enduro bike. They both jump, whip, scrub just as well and the Eebs are actually easier for limb off tricks. (no handers, one footers etc.)

OK I bow to greater experience in the field.
can I ask for my own interest if you need more speed with the Eeb, to do the same things? Not on steeper jump lines I guess? But maybe on gentler lines?

 

[Steve940]

I've found that all those little.reasons not to pull my mtb out are gone,with exception of high winds,I hate wind more than rain..I always dreaded/couldn't be arsed with the uphill climb to get home,whilst it's far from bad it was just another reason not to ride..my emtb I actually look for hills as I get a small buzz from that motor pulling my fat ass up pretty much everything 8 e tried..
I said if I didn't use it enough in 1 year then I would sell it..I must admit my first choice nearly always is my motorbike..just love two wheels

 

[Gary]

OK I bow to greater experience in the field.
can I ask for my own interest if you need more speed with the Eeb, to do the same things? Not on steeper jump lines I guess? But maybe on gentler lines?

if you mean between similar travel Eeb and normal bikes with similar suspension set ups.
No. Not really. But you occasionally do need more pop/p reload and slightly different timing.

But TBF a long travel FS isn't really the best bike for proper steep DJs anyway

 

[Eddy Current]

If you know what you want from a bike is more easy to feel good from the beginning. My local trails are twisty tight singletrails, not too steep, they got jumps, not rocky rooty or broke at all ... so I need a short snappy light 27.5 ebike, moderate slack, reach, very progressive suspension more than huge travel ... a more plush long travel slacked 29er Ebike is not only overkill for my trails is also slower. I said this because is easy to fall in the more is better.

 

[Ferd]

Ah, I figured it all out yesterday. Had a perfect day of perfect conditions. 4100’ and 26 miles and used only 45% of the 320Wh battery. It’s not the weight. Honestly I barely notice it once I’m moving. This bikes is great in tight stuff...
It’s the suspension kinematics. I’ve got max volume reducers in the shock and a little extra fox fluid, have removed the negative volume spacers, and running less than 30% sag...so there’s nothing left to do to keep this bike from absolutely smashing to full comoression/ bottoming out hard. Combined with the Really low anti-squat, it’s just boring for me.
it’s truly an amazing bike all around but it’s too XC oriented. Kinda weird for 150mm bike, but whatever. It’s still amazing. Seriously I could pedal ride this bike without the battery and not hate myself.
game changer for sure
I’m now imagining a bike with half the power, half the torque, and 1/3 the battery. It’d be perfect, and probably possible to make it 33 pounds

 

[Ferd]

Love at first sight... loved it even more, after the first ride.

I was never a hater to begin with... I just couldn't justify it. Two years ago, I retired and it was actually my wife's idea that I should get one. In fact, she insisted that I deserved it. ?

I’m kind of in a similar situation. My GF insisted I get the eMTB before I get any more normal bikes. Have a bit if a health condition that will benefit me riding less

 

[Ferd]

Try switching the motor on..you might enjoy it a whole lot more..

Ya know, funny thing, I enjoy pedaling. ? That said the motor is amazing. And at the end if a long ride if I have road miles to cover.. wow !

 

[Ferd]

What kind of climbs do you have around you? I found love on my Haibike All-Mountain when I climbed a hill there wasn't a hope in hell of getting half way up on an accoustic bike. An ebike will never be as nimble as an accoustic bike but once you challenge yourself with some awesome climbs I think you'll find the love. If you haven't already, watch the latest Chris Akrigg video to see what's possible climbing on an ebike. I think that will stoke a fire in you.

Yeah, I looked at some climbs on yesterday’s ride. Thinking motorcycle steep...
Eye opening. I could climb up a tree on this thing.
There are like 5 new bike disciplines associated with this eMTB thing..
It’s coming

 

[whiterabbit]

Only one thing gives me pause for my Kenevo and that is I'm struggling to jump.

I'm just learning to jump now after 20 years (few year break in the middle of that), so I don't know if I'd jump any better on a normal bike (which is a 20 year old 16.5kg cannodale). I don't know if it has something to do with the 180mm of suspension on the Kenevo. Or that it weighs 26.5kg (with waterbottle) and I weigh 68kg when riding.

But once the gap grows over 2 meters I really struggle to make it to the other side. and even at 2 meters I often slam the rear wheel into the top of the landing.

Other than that, my Kenevo brings me nothing but joy on the trail. The remaining quirks of weight, super duper slackness, excessive wheelbase, don't bother me a bit.

But the desire to jump is big, so it gives me pause and wonder if I should be hitting the jump trails on my normal bike (with 26" wheels, steep head angle, 16.5kg weight, etc)

Or if I should consider selling it and getting an Orbea Rise or similar. I never needed power, I chose Brose 2 because it's quiet. SL is so super noisy by comparison.