Do I stick or twist.

[phlodge]

I have a nearly 4 year old 2019 Levo Comp, the warranty runs out on its 4th birthday.
Normally I would change bikes before it gets to that age, Covid, job security and stretched funds forced a different buying habit.
Move on 18 months and I am now looking at options, do I stay with what I have got or do I buy a new bike.
I live near the Peak District (UK) and ride anything up to 40 miles or so with 3-4 mates. We are all in our mid/late 60's and dont do anything that involves tricks and clever stunts, (takes a long time for old bones to heal). We just go on long rides and are often out for 4 hours or more.
Key for me is a decent sized battery, the one I have now is 700kwh.
With a budget of say £5k what would the best choice be if I chose to buy a new bike.
And will a newer bike really give me anything that I dont have already, in other words has technology moved on that much in 4 years that there is a noticeable difference in a comparible 2019 bike to a 2023 bike. Or is it marketing hype.

I welcome suggestions and any input.
Many thanks

 

[B1rdie]

In these last four years, the only thing that did not get really better is battery capacity to weight ratio. Else, you’ll get better: motor, frame, fork, brakes, tyres, drivetrain…

 

[Ark]

Best deal right now for 5k is probably

Sale - Whyte E-160 S 29er 2023 - Matte Black

Buy Now - Whyte E-160S 29er 2022 - Matte Black from MTB Monster

mtbmonster.com

£4949 Bosch CX 85nm + 750 watt battery (Whyte bikes do a lifetime warranty on pivot bearings for the original owner too)

Doubt technology has really moved on to be worth it honestly

If you want an MTB with full length mudguards then specialised just came out with one
there's a 4k 5k and 6k version of it.
the 5k has a 710wh battery but only 70nm torque motor
This guy did a good review of the £6000 version

for your riding it sounds like you could just get a hardtail and save 1-2k though, like one of the Variants of the Cube Kathmandu 750 which comes with a Bosche CX , 750wh battery, full length mudguards, rear rack and Front/Back lights

Cube Kathmandu Hybrid ONE 750 swampgrey´n´black

Le vélo de randonnée hybride CUBE pour partir à l’assaut du monde, ou de la ville, parfaitement équipé pour tout type de trajet.

www.cube.eu

Hybrids are just as heavy as full suspension bikes though, so the only thing you save is £ but you would probably prefer your current bike over it anyway.. so unless you really want the mudguards I wouldn't bother

 

[Andy__C]

I'm in a similar situation(ish) and will be sticking for the foreseeable I think.

Have a 2019 Levo expert, it's still with the 90nm motor, 700w battery.

Tech or geo wise there is not much overwhelmingly new to trade the levo in for and spend £5k on.

I am SL-curious , but when the chips are down can't see me going for a light weight/power bike. This expert weighs about 21kg atm when I have the 500w spare battery in.

I have changed the dropper and shock in the last 3-4 years as I broke the incumbents and both those have been welcome upgrades. I will probably change the fork at some point - for me component changes will keep refreshing the Levo until something dramatically different comes along.

Primarily its going to be a battery size/weight or huge change in motor functionality that might prompt a change otherwise.

 

[steve_sordy]

Why fix what isn't broken? It seems to be working just fine right now. I'm guessing that you might not get much for a 4 year old emtb, so why not run it until the motor/battery etc becomes unreliable then either replace them or sell the bike for parts.

But I do recognise the allure of a brand-new bike, I really do. I've been down that route, the one where logic does not have a strong pull.

 

[phlodge]

Thanks for the responses, much appreciated and confirmed some of my own thoughts.

As I got older (and wiser) I never really jumped on board with the marketing hype.
I also do photography and the terminology for chasing the best tech is called GAS. Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
"I need this to beome better" !!!

I can see why many decide that the latest tech is essential to improve their riding especially if they are fit, have nailed the skills and want to go to the next level and possibly compete
Had age been on my side I may think the same.

But a gram here and a different shape there combined with a 2023 badge and a different fork isn’t going to make a significant difference to me.

So on the basis that my capabilities will never exceed the potential of my current bike, let alone a newer one, then I can see the argument for sticking with it and running it until it dies.
If it aint broke, dont fix it.

Thanks again, just saved me £5k.

 

[irie]

Thanks for the responses, much appreciated and confirmed some of my own thoughts.

As I got older (and wiser) I never really jumped on board with the marketing hype.
I also do photography and the terminology for chasing the best tech is called GAS. Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
"I need this to beome better" !!!

I can see why many decide that the latest tech is essential to improve their riding especially if they are fit, have nailed the skills and want to go to the next level and possibly compete
Had age been on my side I may think the same.

But a gram here and a different shape there combined with a 2023 badge and a different fork isn’t going to make a significant difference to me.

So on the basis that my capabilities will never exceed the potential of my current bike, let alone a newer one, then I can see the argument for sticking with it and running it until it dies.
If it aint broke, dont fix it.

Thanks again, just saved me £5k.

Or put another way, if the bike is better than you are then changing it is pointless.

 

[steve_sordy]

Or put another way, if the bike is better than you are then changing it is pointless.

Your logic is correct, but I live in hope!

 

[Tetsugaku]

In these last four years, the only thing that did not get really better is battery capacity to weight ratio. Else, you’ll get better: motor, frame, fork, brakes, tyres, drivetrain…

That’s not really true - at least not any significant changes. Yeah, maybe, if you squint you can see a 1-2% difference in those things - nothing else.
OP - keep your cash. If your bike does everything you need now and the battery is good you are missing out on nothing at all.

 

[Stihldog]

Back in 2019 I had no idea about eMTB’s and my LBS (Trek) wasn’t much help. I had to order the 2020 Rail 9.7 and waited for it to arrive. When the bike showed up at the LBS the mechanics sized and fitted me up for my first full suspension. Things went “downhill” from there.

Within weeks I posted and sold my/our other bikes (Gravel and road) and purchased his/hers Powerfly 5’s. Within months I was afflicted with G.A.S.

Today, almost 4 years later, I’m happy with my purchase. I’ve upgraded almost everything but the frame, motor and battery. My personal MTB skills have probably peaked so I’m reliant on upgrades for extremely small personal improvements. Oh well …it’s a hobby.

Since I’ve been retired I get almost as much enjoyment fixing the bike and maintaining trails as I do riding. For now I’m keeping the same frame, battery and motor. It fits. It works. It goes. I have G.A.S.

 

[phlodge]

Back in 2019 I had no idea about eMTB’s and my LBS (Trek) wasn’t much help. I had to order the 2020 Rail 9.7 and waited for it to arrive. When the bike showed up at the LBS the mechanics sized and fitted me up for my first full suspension. Things went “downhill” from there.

Within weeks I posted and sold my/our other bikes (Gravel and road) and purchased his/hers Powerfly 5’s. Within months I was afflicted with G.A.S.

Today, almost 4 years later, I’m happy with my purchase. I’ve upgraded almost everything but the frame, motor and battery. My personal MTB skills have probably peaked so I’m reliant on upgrades for extremely small personal improvements. Oh well …it’s a hobby.

Since I’ve been retired I get almost as much enjoyment fixing the bike and maintaining trails as I do riding. For now I’m keeping the same frame, battery and motor. It fits. It works. It goes. I have G.A.S.

Ha, dangerous thing is that GAS. I reckon cyclists, golfers and certainly photographers have lofts full of redundant kit.
I have arthritis in my knees and shoulders, I ride regularly and dont suffer that much as I dont go daft anymore. Very Miss Daisy. Any purchases I make these days are designed more around ergonomics such as shorter crank arms which aid my knee flexion. Other than that as stated, there is little benefit to me in changing bikes that do not add any real benefit. If I see an upgrade that can keep me in the saddle longer then thats a different story as with the crank arms.

 

[daju]

I have a nearly 4 year old 2019 Levo Comp, the warranty runs out on its 4th birthday.
Normally I would change bikes before it gets to that age, Covid, job security and stretched funds forced a different buying habit.
Move on 18 months and I am now looking at options, do I stay with what I have got or do I buy a new bike.
I live near the Peak District (UK) and ride anything up to 40 miles or so with 3-4 mates. We are all in our mid/late 60's and dont do anything that involves tricks and clever stunts, (takes a long time for old bones to heal). We just go on long rides and are often out for 4 hours or more.
Key for me is a decent sized battery, the one I have now is 700kwh.
With a budget of say £5k what would the best choice be if I chose to buy a new bike.
And will a newer bike really give me anything that I dont have already, in other words has technology moved on that much in 4 years that there is a noticeable difference in a comparible 2019 bike to a 2023 bike. Or is it marketing hype.

I welcome suggestions and any input.
Many thanks

E bikes are so popular now it will be easy to sell your Levo
Then upgrade to A rocky Mt Instinct or Altitude--better motor---ability to have 1000 watts battery reserve
It's what I just did and am very happy