Choosing a new E-Mtb.

[rsb1965purple]

Hello,

I know there are hundreds of posts asking about choosing a new E-Mtb but I am after some pretty specific advice.

My daughter has a learning disability but has always loved getting out in the open and can ride a bike even since she was young. A few years ago we upgraded her bike from a standard mtb to a G-Tech City ebike. Since then she has gone from strength to strength and we are getting out on longer and longer rides which she really enjoys and so do we. We have done approx 1500miles in the last year

She is starting to outgrow her G-Tech city the battery life is too small and she is wanting to get off-road more and more. The 700c wheels are too thin and its setting her confidence back when she gets to uneven terrain. If we hit a rocky patch on a canal tow path she will be off and walking.

So we are looking for an E-Mtb that can fit 3.0 inch tyres that can run at a lower pressure to give her more confidence. A decent battery size -maybe women specific but not essential. 29" if possible. I would prefer lighter in weight if possible that way she can move it around when she needs to but on the other hand heavier might give her greater stability. Motor power is not much of and issue as you can understand. Full sus or hardtail doesnt matter.

I have looked at 2nd hand and new around £2k. Liv - Embolden e+2 is my favourite at the moment but I am up for building it myself or changing parts if I needed to to get what we want.

Many thanks

 

[Ark]

you realise how wide 3.0 tyres are? most EMTB will have 2.4 rear and a 2.5 at the front, and they are pretty damn beefy

for 2k your probably at the mercy of the second hand market in your area.

Aren't Embolden over 3k? Cube and Canyon likely have bikes in a similar price range as Liv, not sure if they have any light EMTB though
Decathlon do some really cheap Ebikes but they look a bit meh

 

[rsb1965purple]

Liv Embolden e+2

Currently £2449 at the moment plus hopefully another 10% off for Blue Light card makes it £2204. Have seen one 2nd hand basically new with about 30 miles on it but they want 1900 for it. Seems like paying the extra might be worth it for peace of mind.

Plus then its 0% for 12 months might make it my best option.

Not sure that the SR Suntour XCR 34 fork is big enough to take that wide a tyre though and cant find any information on the frame for the back tyre.

 

[Plummet]

I got my daughter an Orbea rise.

Its lighter than a full power e, has enough power for her and reasonable suspension that can be dialled to her weight.

Look at better suspension and 2.5 tyres rather than no suspension and 3.0 tyres.

Ps. My daughter has mental (and some physical)disabilities also.

 

[rsb1965purple]

So look for a full suspension rather than hardtail. That helps narrow my search I think you maybe right with the 3.0 tyres it restricts my options too much.

I love the look of the Orbea Rise but its out of my price range. I think if I am looking at lightweight than perhaps building something like a Cheeb might be a better option . A full carbon bike but using the bafang motor gives me the option to dial down the assist levels for her. I reckon with a bit of using some old parts I have around I could get it in for about 2500. Or do you think that might be a bit over the top for her needs ?

 

[steve_sordy]

You can never have too much bike! Is your daughter likely to grow out of her purpose-built bike and then you will have one for sale that you may struggle to sell.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Julie_X1]

Liv Embolden e+2

Currently £2449 at the moment plus hopefully another 10% off for Blue Light card makes it £2204. Have seen one 2nd hand basically new with about 30 miles on it but they want 1900 for it. Seems like paying the extra might be worth it for peace of mind.

Plus then its 0% for 12 months might make it my best option.

Not sure that the SR Suntour XCR 34 fork is big enough to take that wide a tyre though and cant find any information on the frame for the back tyre.

For that price range, that’s your best option I think.

Agree with the others that you don’t want such a wide tire. Much too heavy for the increased traction gain. Harder for her to manoeuvre and, if she falls, that’s just more weight that might land on her. I suspect the stock tire widths on the Embolden will be enough.

 

[John Beedham]

I got my daughter an Orbea rise.

Its lighter than a full power e, has enough power for her and reasonable suspension that can be dialled to her weight.

Look at better suspension and 2.5 tyres rather than no suspension and 3.0 tyres.

Ps. My daughter has mental (and some physical)disabilities also.
View attachment 113232

Ride On!

 

[John Beedham]

Riding E-mtbs is the best physical and 'spiritual' therapy no matter what age or ability ... the number of decisions you make when riding from all the inputs that are coming at you, that you need to process, to stay rubber side down, is great for the brain. My friend, of similar age, 65 + , has MS and is quite unsteady on his feet to the point where he needs a stick or an arm .... get him on his e-mtb and it's on for young and old!

 

[Plummet]

So look for a full suspension rather than hardtail. That helps narrow my search I think you maybe right with the 3.0 tyres it restricts my options too much.

I love the look of the Orbea Rise but its out of my price range. I think if I am looking at lightweight than perhaps building something like a Cheeb might be a better option . A full carbon bike but using the bafang motor gives me the option to dial down the assist levels for her. I reckon with a bit of using some old parts I have around I could get it in for about 2500. Or do you think that might be a bit over the top for her needs ?

Yeah, The rise was also out of our price range. But then we got a deal on a end of year special for the 2022 base model plus we managed to apply for and receive some disability allowance funding that covered 30% of the bike cost. By the time i sold here mountain bike got the funding and the discount the Rise was down to achievable money.

Regarding kids with disabilities. They tend to sit down everywhere rather than stand up over the bumps. Doing that can buck them over the bars. I took my for a ride on a specialised hard tail e-bike. It was a cool little bike but i could see her getting bounced on every biggish bump. I set the rebound up a tad slower on the rear end of the rise and even when she rides through pumps seated she doesnt get bucked.

My daughter isnt that strong and her reaction times are slow. The full powered e-bikes where too agressive with their power output. I was worried that she would loose control and crash into a car or something with full power. We also tried the trek powerfly (full power bosch motor). That was too heavy for her and too punchy. We then tried the trek Fuel EXE. The power on the exe didn't kick in soon enough it needed more cadence to extract the motor power out. My daughter pedals slowly, so the fuel didnt work for her.

The mid power orbea was just right.,,,

Now if you can build a similar bike with a chinese carbon frame and a dialed down befang motor then go for it.
We agonised over the spend of the orbea for ages. Would she ride the bike? she had always hated riding. For her it was a difficult and painful experience. But once we got the bike she got on it and loves it. I can now take her for a ride and she can keep up (im on my mountain bike). It is awesome. She is loving it. The best money we have spent on her.

So..... my call is spend the cash. Get your daughter into a light as practical mid power e-bike that you can dial the suspension to her needs. Both of you will love it.

 

[Plummet]

We also organised group rides for her and her crew as well.

Awesome times.