Best (affordable) mid-assist: Ex-e vs Lyke vs Jam2 SL ?

[MikeP]

I've convinced myself I need a proper eMTB, and just about come around to the idea that it's going to cost me around £5.5k (that last bit took a while). Incidentally, that £6k limit is why I don't mention things like the Transition Relay or Shuttle SL in the thread title.

My local trails are single track through woods (plus a couple of trips per year to Swinley/FoD). Can't imagine I'll need a 650Wh+ battery for 95% of my rides (2 - 4 hours), and I suspect a full-fat 170mm enduro thing will just float over the local terrain. So I'm thinking one of the light weight, mid-assist, mid-travel bikes will suit my needs best.

I've been mostly sold on the Fuel EX-e, but the range reported by users on this forum sounds like it could be a problem if going a little longer than normal (e.g. 50 miles, 4-5 hours). The Fazua system in the Lyke, Jam2 SL seems to have a bit more range with little in the way of weight penalty, but the integration isn't as nice, and unclear how the reliability compares to the TQ.

What's the consensus from you wise forum dwellers who've been eMTB-ing for years?

 

[Waynemarlow]

Are you going to get a Fuel EXE or Jam2 for 5.5K ?

Depends a bit on how heavy you are, what trails you are going to do and will you once you get bitten by the EMTB's, do more than a couple of hours.

My Fazua Trail 50 is great in its right environment but I regulalry need an extra battery if I start pushing on a bit and doing a lot of climbing over the 2 hour mark.

Equally I can nearly drain my 800Wh battery at BPW's over 3.5hrs. I'm afraid to say they are two different beasts.

 

[MikeP]

The Jam2 SL 8.7 is listed at £5499 and I put deposit on an EX-e 9.5 before the price went up a few weeks ago.

I'm 80Kg, so I guess about average weight for what the bike is intended for. Local trails I lot like yours I imagine, although the hills are a little bigger around Marlow.

Crazy that you can burn through an 800Wh battery in basically a morning. Do you have a spare or are you physically finished after lapping for 3.5 hours?