Hello! Newbie trying to decide on what bike.

[Jimbo Vills]

Morning Guys,

Just joined the forum and finding my way around, got my CWC voucher and looking to purchase my first eMTB. I ride a road bike and fixed tail MTB but fancy getting into the trail and enduro side of riding. I'm south east so bedgebury, swinley, Surrey hills etc are all close to me. Plus local ride outs in the woods etc to start with....

I ride and race bikes in the summer months on track so looking for something for my two wheel fix in the winter months and also in between getting out on track. They are also good for fitness right??? ?

I may even ride it to work ?

I'd initially decided on the specialised 2020 Levo Comp, as love the looks, the brose motor sounds great in performance and the 700w battery was a big plus. Specially being on the heavier side at 95kg I'm concious of range....

Although since joining here I'm nervous as all I'm reading is it's unreliable???

This has got me looking at the cubes (my road bike is a cube and love it)

I'm not a spec snob as my knowledge is basic but understand the cube 160 HPC action team seams a better spec bike, but not sold on the colours (I'm liking stealth blacks) but same money as the Levo.

Other alternatives are the 160 Tm and SL which look great and save me a few quid....

Don't want to spend more than £5/5.5k really as I'm new to it and know the bike will be better than me! Lol

Some advice would be appreciated. Sorry for the rambling intro ?

Cheers

 

[Jay355]

Whats a CWC voucher?

 

[GazzerT]

i went for this CUBE Stereo Hybrid 140 HPC SL 625 29 iridium´n´green 2020

it's great, well spec'd and carbon

 

[Jimbo Vills]

Whats a CWC voucher?

Cycle to work scheme. Get the tax off one ?

 

[Jimbo Vills]

i went for this CUBE Stereo Hybrid 140 HPC SL 625 29 iridium´n´green 2020

it's great, well spec'd and carbon

That's a lovely looking bike. Was leaning to the 160 for bit more travel though.

 

[2wls4ever]

Morning Guys,

Just joined the forum and finding my way around, got my CWC voucher and looking to purchase my first eMTB. I ride a road bike and fixed tail MTB but fancy getting into the trail and enduro side of riding. I'm south east so bedgebury, swinley, Surrey hills etc are all close to me. Plus local ride outs in the woods etc to start with....

I ride and race bikes in the summer months on track so looking for something for my two wheel fix in the winter months and also in between getting out on track. They are also good for fitness right??? ?

I may even ride it to work ?

I'd initially decided on the specialised 2020 Levo Comp, as love the looks, the brose motor sounds great in performance and the 700w battery was a big plus. Specially being on the heavier side at 95kg I'm concious of range....

Although since joining here I'm nervous as all I'm reading is it's unreliable???

This has got me looking at the cubes (my road bike is a cube and love it)

I'm not a spec snob as my knowledge is basic but understand the cube 160 HPC action team seams a better spec bike, but not sold on the colours (I'm liking stealth blacks) but same money as the Levo.

Other alternatives are the 160 Tm and SL which look great and save me a few quid....

Don't want to spend more than £5/5.5k really as I'm new to it and know the bike will be better than me! Lol

Some advice would be appreciated. Sorry for the rambling intro ?

Cheers

Look into who your local Specialized dealer is and their level of support. If they are a good dealer, they will have intimate knowledge of the issues and from my experience Specialized has had excellent support and warranty coverage of there Levo's.

Also keep in mind the complaint ratio to sales. Specialized might possibly sell the most e-mtb's in your price range and therefore have the highest number of comments. The actually warranty percentage could be very low and standard.

 

[Zimmerframe]

All motors can fail.

Yamaha, shimano, panasonic, bosch owners all think theirs might fail .. but probably won't.

Brose owners all think theirs will fail but hope it won't.

That's purely down to perception from what you read.

When Yamanoonicosch owners have a fail, they accept it and MAYBE ! mention it quietly in a thread, oh yeah, I had the motor changed...... twice ...

Spesh owners normally throw their toys out of the pram because it's a Spesh - so it shouldn't fail. Meanwhile the Yamanoonicosch owners all jump up and down with joy and react with disgust that a premium bike should fail !

I had an e8000 Shimano, I liked it. But it did start feeling a bit funny before I sold it. A friend, who bought one at the same time, his failed two weeks after I sold mine. Both four months old. They can fail. It doesn't matter. Things can break. Would I buy another e8000 bike, yes. I like the motor. I changed because I had a HT and wanted a FS bike.

I have a Spesh with a Brose motor. Has it failed, no. Have I hammered the crap out of it, yes. Am I worried, no. It's warrantied. If it was out of warranty, it has assisted purchase for another 5 years.

I'm not saying buy a Spesh, I'm not saying don't buy a Spesh.

I'm saying that the real world difference between reliability would actually seem to be fairly small, so don't let it be the primary reason for you choosing one thing over another. All the motors deliver their power slightly differently, that would probably be more influential.

Realistically, whichever you get, you'll love it. So, unless you've already decided you want a specific motor for whatever reason, look more at what's relevant with the bike for what you need.

 

[Nicho]

Yamanoonicosch

Cheap Chinese rubbish!

 

[Gethy]

Hey Jimbo,

I have just bought the Jam2 6.7 Nine 2020 625.... and although it's only 3 rides old I would spend the same money again on the same bike, hands down...

I've even sent back a Yari Fork, I had bought, as this bike just flies out the box and is so much fun as it is...

My friend has a detuned levo 2018 and that thing is a beast but I managed to out climb him on the ride we had out... He loves the Jam2

There are so many great bikes out there and my ebike experience is limited to a 2018 levo and my Jam2... I'd buy the Focus, well I did ?

 

[Jimbo Vills]

Thanks guys, I’m still looking at alternatives. (Inc the jam2 @Gethy - thanks for that) Seems the eMTB world is a minefield for a newbie like myself....

I’ve spent less time buying full blooded super bikes ?

problem I’m finding now is the covid shutdown and stock levels are a nightmare....

even if I could sit on one to determine size (another issue) I still can’t source one.

my certificate is on my desk burning a huge hole and I want to buy something soooo bad!!

got an appointment at one of my lbs Friday so hopefully get sorted then.

 

[Doug Stampfer]

Yes definitely look at stock levels before you commit your heart to a particular bike.

 

[GrandPaBrogan]

Seems the eMTB world is a minefield for a newbie like myself....

It’s a minefield for everyone including eMTB veterans! The industry is in a continuous state of development so everyone will be thrown into a state of bewilderment for many more years to come.

But getting my Giant Trance e+Pro even from last year’s model selection was one of the best things I’ve ever done!

 

[Jimbo Vills]

So today I had a little go on a very sorted Kenevo. And also a pretty special Fantic.

Just a little play on a friends bikes on his land. Both awesome. Im more excited now than before.

My dad has also bought a cube stereo 160 which arrives this afternoon so be interesting to see how that is.

I’ve tried everywhere to source a levo but no joy. Can get one online but want the lbs support and help.

good news is once I can get one. I can borrow dads cube when mines in for repair ?

 

[Jimbo Vills]

So my lbs have two bikes in my size delivered today.

he’s building them up so I can see them and pick the colour I want.

but 99% sure it’ll be this one

Either way. Bike coming this week ?

 

[Jimbo Vills]

So I picked the bike up today and couldn’t resist.

took it out for 40 minutes up in my local woods (farningham by Canada heights) and simply wow....

I love this thing.

my biggest regret. Not getting one sooner.

Really looking forward to improving my skills and getting to grips with this thing much better!!

can’t thank the Tony and the guys at energised e bikes in Coulsdon for all their help and advice! Been great service so far ??

 

[nasamorpheus]

So today I had a little go on a very sorted Kenevo. And also a pretty special Fantic.

Just a little play on a friends bikes on his land. Both awesome. Im more excited now than before.

My dad has also bought a cube stereo 160 which arrives this afternoon so be interesting to see how that is.

I’ve tried everywhere to source a levo but no joy. Can get one online but want the lbs support and help.

good news is once I can get one. I can borrow dads cube when mines in for repair ?

So you probably now already ride your dads Cube while Spec wait for new motor, how is it? You like gen4 updated firmware?

 

[Jimbo Vills]

So you probably now already ride your dads Cube while Spec wait for new motor, how is it? You like gen4 updated firmware?

I’ve not tried his update to be honest. Too busy putting miles on the Levo! ???

 

[Zimmerframe]

Can you believe you bought a bike with a 4 year motor warranty

 

[Pivot]

Can you believe you bought a bike with a 4 year motor warranty

Until you go to the dark side... and ‘un-govern’ it

 

[Jimbo Vills]

Can you believe you bought a bike with a 4 year motor warranty

I know. What a shitter ?