E bike specific parts are just a gimmick?

[Benwha]

Essentially my point is, to me e bike specific parts are implying non e bike specific parts or crap and not durable. Apart from the people that whine about the weight, surely everyone else would want the most durable components anyway, regardless if they’re on a e bike or not. Plus, apart from maybe the extra power, realistically what differences do e bikes actually have? Not saying there isn’t any just curious what they might be. I don’t think weight can be much of a factor since the difference is pretty small relative to the entire weight of the bike and rider.

 

[Beekeeper]

When the wife found out the cost of my Cube, I definitely received an e-bike specific ear-bashing.

 

[Peter1979]

My bike has an ebike specific seat. Apparently because ebikers will be in the saddle more than non ebikers the seat offers more cushioning (or so the marketing goes). In reality it's the comfiest seat I've had and I'd like one on my normal bike too but it's over £100.

 

[Randomdave]

My bike has an ebike specific seat. Apparently because ebikers will be in the saddle more than non ebikers the seat offers more cushioning (or so the marketing goes). In reality it's the comfiest seat I've had and I'd like one on my normal bike too but it's over £100.

Is it the Ergon? I've been looking at them, but I'm kinda liking my Selle Royal Vivo that came with the bike. I'm such an upgrade fanatic though... The Ergon is definitely on my list.

 

[GolfChick]

I reckon if road bikers can sit on a saddle for 100's of miles without moaning then ebikers can! What utter tosh!! The saddle on my road bike is FAR less forgiving than on my mountain bike too!

 

[Gary]

That's not their marketing angle Alison.
The ergon Ebike saddles have a stupid kick tail style ledge on the back that Ergon says helps weak Ebikers not slide off the back and weight their rear tyre MOAR and gain MOAR grip from their stupid oversized Ebike rear tyres.

In reality the saddle actually impedes body movement required to weight the bike properly and move around the saddle finely altering weight on it to gain grip.

It does help stop weak folk sliding off the back tho.

 

[Doomanic]

It is bloody comfy though...

 

[Repsol]

When the wife found out the cost of my Cube, I definitely received an e-bike specific ear-bashing.

Me too, I couldn't believe she'd found out, I shat myself. Now she knows I spent 8 grand on a pushbike.

 

[Doomanic]

I used my wife's credit card to pay for mine and then told her it was full so we couldn't go on holiday...

 

[Peter1979]

Is it the Ergon? I've been looking at them, but I'm kinda liking my Selle Royal Vivo that came with the bike. I'm such an upgrade fanatic though... The Ergon is definitely on my list.

No, it's the fizik Terra aidon x1. Seriously comfy!
Have t seen the ergon ones yet, but I really didn't rate the ergon grips my old bike came with whereas everyone else who had them seemed to like them.

 

[Gary]

It is bloody comfy though...

It was one of the most uncomfortable saddle I ever had the pleasure of using.
Didn't bother even mentioning that as its a stupid product.
Like GC I'm happy using minimalist race saddles and 25mm rubber at 120psi for hundreds of miles.

 

[Mikerb]

I think with saddles it is true that a rider is more likely to be sat when using an EMTB more than on a normal mtb, because climbing can be done seated ...and is often easier seated than up on the pedals in terms of maintaining rear wheel traction. The seated riding position is also more upright than on a road bike so seems obvious that a EMTB saddle needs to be a different design to road bikes.

The a dditional weight on#of an EMTB coupled with the power that can be more readilly applied on the cranks due to motor assistance on top of rider input justifies EMTB specific drivetrain and rear wheel/hub components. I dont think there is anything else that needs to be EMTB specific....................apart from the rider

 

[GolfChick]

If you’re standing up to ride your normal MTB you’re doing it wrong, why do you think we care about the seat tube angle so much on a bike, as it clearly doesn’t affect all this stand up pedalling you think we do. Maybe an odd ten seconds on a fire road climb to rest your bum or stretch out a bit but certainly not the rest of the time.

 

[eMullet]

I think the only E-bike specific parts that are worthwhile, are the motor, battery and controls. Maybe some handlebars that allow internal routing of cables to make the cockpit neater.

 

[Gary]

TBF even those were originally for Di2 routing rather than Ebike specific

 

[Gary]

If you’re standing up to ride your normal MTB you’re doing it wrong, why do you think we care about the seat tube angle so much on a bike, as it clearly doesn’t affect all this stand up pedalling you think we do. Maybe an odd ten seconds on a fire road climb to rest your bum or stretch out a bit but certainly not the rest of the time.

What is this nonsense you speak of?
There is no right or wrong.
Personally I've climbed to the top of many many 900ft hills stood up the entire climb.
Ain't nobody preaching to me about what I'm doing "wrong"

 

[lightning]

As above, l am often out of the saddle on climbs, it still works you just go faster

 

[Gary]

I don't run a larger cassette than 42t and no smaller than a 34t chainring on any bike. Eeb or normal. So it stands to reason I'll be standing to climb the steepest parts.
Last decent stood up climbing day I did was probably the Gypsy Glen loop in the tweed valley with about 800m climbing. I took my 4X hardtai which has a 36T chainring and 11-23 cassette so none of the climbing was done seated.

Didn't bother taking a helmet either.

 

[MOTO13]

I stand on my emtbs probably 50% of the time or more. I come from a moto background though. I don't see how people keep seated all the time on any mtb. I have more control standing than sitting. Sitting is for steep climbs and some tight techy turns or cruising flattish areas.

 

[Phil3]

I reckon if road bikers can sit on a saddle for 100's of miles without moaning then ebikers can! What utter tosh!! The saddle on my road bike is FAR less forgiving than on my mountain bike too!

Totally agree… my road bike saddle is way firmer, and a fair bit smaller… yet far more comfy than my ‘eBike specific’ saddle!

 

[GolfChick]

Last decent stood up climbing day I did was probably the Gypsy Glen loop in the tweed valley with about 800m climbing. I took my 4X hardtai which has a 36T chainring and 11-23 cassette so none of the climbing was done seated.

Didn't bother taking a helmet either.

Clearly a riding god then eh? Not only able to stand to climb somewhere with no real technicality but also an armoured head without the need of a helmet. Before you come back with an 'its an easy descent I've done it 100 times' I'll pre-empt your come back with a brief story about how I crashed on my regular loop in the Wyre Forest on possibly the easiest section ever which I could have done blindfolded. I broke my jaw in three places and smashed out my front teeth, the helmet had a crack through the entire depth of it at the front of my head, without which I'm fairly sure I wouldn't have got back up. But hey you must know you won't crash for sure huh or at least dont care if your better half has to feed you soup for the rest of your time.

Obviously depending on where you ride etc. you can climb for a lot of your ride but to make the marketing statement that manual bikers dont sit as much as ebikers is clearly tosh. If you prefer to stand and climb on your bike it wont make a difference if it has a battery or not! Now feel free to come up to Lakes and try to stand and pedal up some of the vile climbs here, unless you're stood with your bike on your back!

 

[Gary]

Now now. This isn't singletrack world.

I know fine well what happened to you. (from Saz). Unfortunate as it was it's still irrelevant to my personal choice. Whenever I choose not to wear a helmet it is entirely my choice and I don't need to justify it to you or anyone.

Check the tyres on the 4X bike.
Still think there'd be no technicality to any of the Gypsy Glen climb? Not that climbing grip was what we were even discussing.

Oh.. And sweeping statement or not you will actually see Ebikers sat more. Firstly the motor allows you to climb seated with the saddle at pretty much any height and to stand more you do require stronger core. Look at the demographic of Emtb owners and its fairly obvious why less of them stand while pedalling for extended periods. It's not something you need to take personally but it's plain to see the average Ebiker's form on a bike to be way more commonly ugly and awkward than seen on high end normal bikes.

 

[maynard]

I crashed the other day with no helmet on . I did a pretty good commando roll . And only lost a little bit of skin of an ankle . Yeh i was wearing thongs . I was pretty proud of my ability to jump over the boulder my head was heading for . Happy days .

 

[Gary]

Thongs are well different attire here.

 

[Zimmerframe]

Thongs are well different attire here.

You've not seen his Thongs ..

 

[Akiwi]

 

[Doomanic]

 

[Stihldog]

You've not seen his Thongs ..

View attachment 80365

Hmmm , same style as my E-bike specific Tong. No need for an E-saddle then.
Brakes. For me it’s hard to justify any eMTB specific parts other then brakes. Even then just increasing the diameter of the rotor might be enough. The brakes on my hardtail are crap but I could be spoiled by the effectiveness of the 220mm rotors with Mt7’s on the Rail. Even though the bike and I weigh less than most riders, the decents can be steep and lengthy. The added lbs of an eMTB in our area, on our terrain, with my riding style, weather …etc, seems to make a difference.

 

[Gary]

Brakes aren't Emtb specific either.
Take the Guide RE for example.
Simply lowly Guide r lever mated to an old style Code caliper.
Not exactly ground breaking. Guide RS or RSC are a better feeling brake and new Codes are more powerful.
Oversized rotors aren't Emtb specific. And TBF aren't really required for most riding E or normal.

 

[B1rdie]

I would say that tyres are the only parts I would not swap between my bikes and the ebike. 2,35 are good on the bike but are not enough for the ebike, and, the 2,6 that go well on the ebike, I would never drag that around without assistance.