I've ridden bikes all my life but they've mostly been bikes so cheap that there'd be no point trying to categorize them as mtbs vs hybrids. Then I got a basic Cube hardtail and it gave me a lot of confidence on the local trails which are mostly rock and little flow, and at some point in the past couple years of riding up and down the local rockgarden, I started suspecting that maybe every single other biker who was on a full sus was on to something. I had previously dismissed a full suspension bike cause they seemed far too expensive. It took a random ebike review on reddit to change my mind, where the person suggested that riding one had actually made them more fit because they were out far more often and riding farther.
After days of researching Freys and Prodigys and Bafang conversions I realized that if I'm going to spend medium-bucks for medium-satisfaction, I might as go all out. The first time I went to the LBS and tested out an Orbea Rise my body and mind positively rebelled at this awful cushiony boggy experience. I had to lock out the suspension to concentrate on the e-bike aspect, and turn off the bike to concentrate on the suspension. Dropper posts are new to me. The 29" wheel felt like it started where my stem ended and was liable to abrade my face. I'm still a little nauseated that I've acceded to digital/electronic technology in a domain as pure as the bicycle. I've already got a motorcycle to get my kicks. And just like I get range anxiety on my Honda parallel twin, I hate the idea of having battery range anxiety on a bicycle. At least the damn thing doesn't have a screen.
And yet! I've been riding my new Turbo Levo for four days and it's a revelation. I though my hardtail climbed well! I thought the weight would be a problem. I thought I'd give in to All Turbo All The Time. And yet on my second day out I ended up at the very end of the park, a place I've never made it out to. And I came down faster than I ever thought I would, taking drops I never would have dared... in time to get back home and drive out to pick up pizza. The ride TO the park is much quicker at 20 mph. I'm probably going to derestrict with a planet3, anyway. And yeah it's not a 29er but a mullet, which seemed to make a big difference when I compared it to the Orbea.
I got a good deal on it, too. Online retailer sold it for $5500 and didn't charge me tax, while the current price is $5800 and tax would have been another $400+. Was it worth the $700 to not have the goodwill of my local Specialized dealer? Specially when these motors are prone to fail? Well, they didn't have a base S2 in stock, so that's my excuse.
SOME QUESTIONS:
1. Why in tarnation is the hub so LOUD? Can it be quietened? Do I have to replace it to get something quieter?
2. What do I lose, in terms of geometry/bike dynamics, when I replace the currently flat bars with significant risers (think 50-60 mm)?
3. Are there tires I can use that will still afford me decent trail traction while not losing so much energy as sound and heat on the road?
4. Does the battery have significant drain when the bike is on but not being moved?
5. On the base Levo Alloy, the fork has a lockout but the rear shock just has a rebound adjuster - but when I turn it all the way to 'turtle' it seems to take all the bounce out, so kind of like a lockout - is it bad for the shock to ride the bike like this on the road?
After days of researching Freys and Prodigys and Bafang conversions I realized that if I'm going to spend medium-bucks for medium-satisfaction, I might as go all out. The first time I went to the LBS and tested out an Orbea Rise my body and mind positively rebelled at this awful cushiony boggy experience. I had to lock out the suspension to concentrate on the e-bike aspect, and turn off the bike to concentrate on the suspension. Dropper posts are new to me. The 29" wheel felt like it started where my stem ended and was liable to abrade my face. I'm still a little nauseated that I've acceded to digital/electronic technology in a domain as pure as the bicycle. I've already got a motorcycle to get my kicks. And just like I get range anxiety on my Honda parallel twin, I hate the idea of having battery range anxiety on a bicycle. At least the damn thing doesn't have a screen.
And yet! I've been riding my new Turbo Levo for four days and it's a revelation. I though my hardtail climbed well! I thought the weight would be a problem. I thought I'd give in to All Turbo All The Time. And yet on my second day out I ended up at the very end of the park, a place I've never made it out to. And I came down faster than I ever thought I would, taking drops I never would have dared... in time to get back home and drive out to pick up pizza. The ride TO the park is much quicker at 20 mph. I'm probably going to derestrict with a planet3, anyway. And yeah it's not a 29er but a mullet, which seemed to make a big difference when I compared it to the Orbea.
I got a good deal on it, too. Online retailer sold it for $5500 and didn't charge me tax, while the current price is $5800 and tax would have been another $400+. Was it worth the $700 to not have the goodwill of my local Specialized dealer? Specially when these motors are prone to fail? Well, they didn't have a base S2 in stock, so that's my excuse.
SOME QUESTIONS:
1. Why in tarnation is the hub so LOUD? Can it be quietened? Do I have to replace it to get something quieter?
2. What do I lose, in terms of geometry/bike dynamics, when I replace the currently flat bars with significant risers (think 50-60 mm)?
3. Are there tires I can use that will still afford me decent trail traction while not losing so much energy as sound and heat on the road?
4. Does the battery have significant drain when the bike is on but not being moved?
5. On the base Levo Alloy, the fork has a lockout but the rear shock just has a rebound adjuster - but when I turn it all the way to 'turtle' it seems to take all the bounce out, so kind of like a lockout - is it bad for the shock to ride the bike like this on the road?
