EMTB for Aussie trails

Eddy Current

E*POWAH Master
Oct 20, 2019
578
315
NORTH Spain
Places like Tathra are fine for mere mortal bikes, but I've been too scared to ride act because of tales of "gangs" beating up parents on ebikes. ( a couple of years back there were stories of emtb riders getting grief from groups on conventional bikes - )

What???
 

CjP

PRIME TIME
Subscriber
Jan 1, 2019
1,671
2,394
Everywhere
More travel usually comes with slacked front, and this sucks when you’re are in twisty flat or not too steep trail. To me anything below 67 HA becomes a dumb handling thing anywhere unless descending. You’re kind restricted to go down all the way to enjoy those geometrys, not really great all rounder bikes
Really depends on your idea of a dumb handling bike. Having ridden a few different ebikes now I would rather have too much travel than not enough. Why limit yourself to certain types of trails when you can do it all at the cost of slight handling differences.
 

Eddy Current

E*POWAH Master
Oct 20, 2019
578
315
NORTH Spain
Really depends on your idea of a dumb handling bike. Having ridden a few different ebikes now I would rather have too much travel than not enough. Why limit yourself to certain types of trails when you can do it all at the cost of slight handling differences.

Because i think this mate dont really want to do that, he rides up, down, flat at moderate speed. He’s not into enduro at all, and over 66 is only good going down. He came from a HT with 130 and he was happy, I think a FS is upgrade enough for him

66 to 67.5 like the Canyon, there’s more than slight differences
 

CjP

PRIME TIME
Subscriber
Jan 1, 2019
1,671
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Everywhere
Because i think this mate dont really want to do that, he rides up, down, flat at moderate speed. He’s not into enduro at all, and over 66 is only good going down. He came from a HT with 130 and he was happy, I think a FS is upgrade enough for him

66 to 67.5 like the Canyon, there’s more than slight differences
Zimmer came from a 120 Hardtail and is now riding a Kenevo and loves it. My brother used to ride with a 68 year old who rides downhills.
I’m just giving him options.
Not knowing this guy it’s a little hard to know exactly what kind of person he is but of all the people I know and have met all of them have preferred at least 150mm plus.
An educated guess tells me a Merida would be his best bet seeing as though he’s an Aussie, Levo being another option if he has coin.
Also more travel = more plushness which is nicer to live with on longer rides.

Best thing he can do is to try a few out and see what he likes.
Going off peoples opinions is pretty useless as is obvious here they can vary quite a lot.
 

Eddy Current

E*POWAH Master
Oct 20, 2019
578
315
NORTH Spain
Zimmer came from a 120 Hardtail and is now riding a Kenevo and loves it. My brother used to ride with a 68 year old who rides downhills.
I’m just giving him options.
Not knowing this guy it’s a little hard to know exactly what kind of person he is but of all the people I know and have met all of them have preferred at least 150mm plus.
An educated guess tells me a Merida would be his best bet seeing as though he’s an Aussie, Levo being another option if he has coin.
Also more travel = more plushness which is nicer to live with on longer rides.

Best thing he can do is to try a few out and see what he likes.
Going off peoples opinions is pretty useless as is obvious here they can vary quite a lot.

Sure, if hes open to change his rides the enduro bikes are going to made it easy and help it to do it, but maybe he wants to keep his ”routine” and a kenevo or such, is overkill

Im in the same situation, riding a HT 120 only thing I miss is full suspension and maybe a bit of travel, but I want to stay on my trails just a more comfy ride, better traction and weapons for the bumpy descends sections. I’m not pushing hard at all not skilled enough so that’s more than enough for me

Theres a lack of real trail ebikes and the few avaiable, they dont come with the better specs available in their enduro brothers, they are like entry levels bikes, not carbon, poor components, lower range, long chainstays ...
 

ryturn

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2019
123
149
Australia
Don't get too bothered about travel or head angles with merida , extending the forks is always an option if you find speed / difficulty increasing.

Are you expecting to start heading further away for your ruding on the emtb? Eg Thredbo all mountain or lift assist riding? I'm, er, casual about my riding - I came from being happy with a norco optic. After a week at thredbo, I was really looking for better brakes / suspension on my full e pro (203 mm discs but only twin pot , the forks are 34 mm fox ebike 150 mm ) . Places like Tathra are fine for mere mortal bikes, but I've been too scared to ride act because of tales of "gangs" beating up parents on ebikes. ( a couple of years back there were stories of emtb riders getting grief from groups on conventional bikes - has this settled down yet? If not, go as stealth as possible - eg a focus with the small battery?)
Is this a serious post ...gangs at Tathra ,e MTB at Thredbo....Tathra is one of the friendliest locations on the planet EMTB or not .As for Thredbo who needs EMTB when you have a chair lift access . Strange post this l could see the crew at Thredbo having a giggle about the Emtb going up the chair but 'Tathra gangs' shit l can't believe this post ,the Tathra trail builders build up hill berms especially for e , and ride Speshy's .
 

Eddy Current

E*POWAH Master
Oct 20, 2019
578
315
NORTH Spain
Is this a serious post ...gangs at Tathra ,e MTB at Thredbo....Tathra is one of the friendliest locations on the planet EMTB or not .As for Thredbo who needs EMTB when you have a chair lift access . Strange post this l could see the crew at Thredbo having a giggle about an Emtb going up the chair but 'Tathra gangs' shit l can't believe this post ,the Tathra trail builders build up hill berms especially for e , and ride Speshy's .

Lycra guys, they stare at me much often and I know me and my ebike, they dont like us. Some of they riding in group whisper when they pass me “another lazy” “even my grandmother” and stuff like that. But surround me like a pack of wolves and beat me, I don’t think that’s gonna happen ever!
 

Pdoz

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Feb 16, 2019
1,112
1,206
Maffra Victoria Australia
Is this a serious post ...gangs at Tathra ,e MTB at Thredbo....Tathra is one of the friendliest locations on the planet EMTB or not .As for Thredbo who needs EMTB when you have a chair lift access . Strange post this l could see the crew at Thredbo having a giggle about the Emtb going up the chair but 'Tathra gangs' shit l can't believe this post ,the Tathra trail builders build up hill berms especially for e , and ride Speshy's .

Sorry if you were confused - NOT TATHRA - ACT . Two years back, when I bought my emtb , I was intending to take it to Canberra but was warned by a few locals that there had been emtb riders assaulted by groups of conventional mtb riders, including a father in front of his children. So I'm asking what the vibe is like IN CANBERA now - eventually I'd like to visit.

I agree with you - tathra and thredbo are awesome emtb destinations - sure, there were a few niggles at the thredbo chairlift but no worse than the hard core downhillers suggesting my daughters trail bike wasn't up to the task- w@nkers.
 

ryturn

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2019
123
149
Australia
All the Thredbo gravity trails are better suited to unpowered , l prefer my 13kg Reign but after 4pm when the chair closes the Levo can play in the quiet. The Thredbo Valley Trail and out to Cascade Hut in the Pilot Wilderness are unreal E rides , some have been known to ride to Kosciusko summit via Charlottes on a full moon.
Met at couple at Tathra 2 days back that had just ridden Kowen Forest (Sparrow Hill) out from Queenbeyan and were made welcome by the trail builders and also rode Stromlo and had no problems. Attitudes are changing as people realise how much FUN eMTB can be, but you still need to show some respect to other track users
 
May 4, 2018
133
38
Canberra
The focus Thron is another trail bike, they came with the new Bosch and 625wh, little heavier, longer chainstays 66.8 head angle ... good candidate
HiI was only looking at the thron today on. The focus website and it did get my attention. Will go to pushys and seecwhen they expect it in store for a demo
 
May 4, 2018
133
38
Canberra
Don't get too bothered about travel or head angles with merida , extending the forks is always an option if you find speed / difficulty increasing.

Are you expecting to start heading further away for your ruding on the emtb? Eg Thredbo all mountain or lift assist riding? I'm, er, casual about my riding - I came from being happy with a norco optic. After a week at thredbo, I was really looking for better brakes / suspension on my full e pro (203 mm discs but only twin pot , the forks are 34 mm fox ebike 150 mm ) . Places like Tathra are fine for mere mortal bikes, but I've been too scared to ride act because of tales of "gangs" beating up parents on ebikes. ( a couple of years back there were stories of emtb riders getting grief from groups on conventional bikes - has this settled down yet? If not, go as stealth as possible - eg a focus with the small battery?)
Hi

I’ve not heard of any bad dealings for ebikers. Maybe I’m pro e assist and somewhat bias.

The trail fairies at sparrow I’m told have a e bike as it helps them travel more km.

Also stromlo now allows EMTB. I see more and more on the trails.

Just don’t see many higher end in the LBS
 
May 4, 2018
133
38
Canberra
I hope I didn't jinx him....first ride and we haven't heard back?
Ha

Mate all went great, told the wife I was going for a little ride that turned into somewhat of an epic. Oh the joys of emtb.

Loved the Jam , though the 27.5 2.8 are a bit squishy and might get changed out to something a bit thinner as I'm more a trail rider.

All up am very impressed with the Jam
 

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