Help with bike choice.

[Silato]

I've 4000 pounds to spend on an emtb.
Looked at Scott egenius 720 for £3299
Cube sterio hybrid 160 race for £3599
Spec turbo levo for £3999
I like them all, the levo doesn't have a dropper the other 2 do. What do you guys/girls of the forum recommend?
Thanks.

 

[Mad Mark]

I'd go with the cube, but I would wouldn't I.
Very good spec for the money.
Main thing though........just buy any, you will love it ?
Would not have one without dropper, so that would put me off the levo.

 

[steve_sordy]

Focus Jam2 or Sam2. Go for the 2018 versions and you will get great value for money, big discounts available. Great motor (Shimano Steps). Light bike.

 

[MattyB]

Maybe the new Canyon Neuron:On?

Canyon doubles-down on E*POWAH - EMTB Forums

 

[highpeakrider]

Focus Jam2 or Sam2. Go for the 2018 versions and you will get great value for money, big discounts available. Great motor (Shimano Steps). Light bike.

I’m with Steve love my 2018 Jam
Focus Jam2 Plus Ltd Electric Bike 2018 | JE James Cycles

£2600 gives you plenty of scope for upgrades and TEC pack.

 

[flash]

Merida e-one sixty.

Gordon

 

[Dorismorris]

Have a look at the giant trance great spec for the price

 

[bikerider007]

I 2nd the cube got my 2019 for 3.2 couldnt go past it on spec or price

 

[Silato]

Thanks for the ideas.the cube 140 and 160 look favourite.

 

[MattyB]

Thanks for the ideas.the cube 140 and 160 look favourite.

Personally it would have to be an exceptional deal now to tempt me to buy a Bosch bike for now - I feel they have fallen behind Brose and Shimano at this point. Make sure you are comfortable with the way it delivers the assistance and the feel above the assistance limit before you part with any cash.

Ps - A new Bosch motor is strongly rumoured for 2019...

 

[steve_sordy]

Personally it would have to be an exceptional deal now to tempt me to buy a Bosch bike for now - I feel they have fallen behind Brose and Shimano at this point. Make sure you are comfortable with the way it delivers the assistance and the feel above the assistance limit before you part with any cash.

Ps - A new Bosch motor is strongly rumoured for 2019...

I would go further than MattyB. For me a Bosch motor was a big negative. Once I had experienced a Bosch motor on more than one bike, I avoided all other bikes with that motor. Noisy, and very draggy.

 

[craigy2782]

I love my 2018 cube 140sl 500
EMTB mode is amazing on the bosch motor mine isn't that noisy tbh

 

[Silato]

Had a good look at a 160 today and it felt good. I've got a demo day on the 16th with one, it'll be the action team one but should give me an idea.
The levo has a brose motor but 4 grand and no dropper. They had a few of last years kenevos in reduced.
Completey undecided now after the negative comments on the bosch motor.

 

[MattyB]

Had a good look at a 160 today and it felt good. I've got a demo day on the 16th with one, it'll be the action team one but should give me an idea.
The levo has a brose motor but 4 grand and no dropper. They had a few of last years kenevos in reduced.
Completey undecided now after the negative comments on the bosch motor.

The Bosch is not bad per se; if you’d never ridden anything else you’d probably feel it was great. However if you ride it back to back with a Shimano or Brose you will see a clear difference, particularly when you go above the assistance limit.

 

[Silato]

I've used the other half's cube Hardtail emtb it's bosch but not the cx motor. Only used on roads to work and did notice a bit of lag after 15mph, thought the cx motor might have improved.
I could get the entry level levo, possibly ask them fit a dropper. It doesn't seem to have any display like the bosch or shimano bikes though, I'm not sure if one could be fitted afterwards. Also it has 29ers.

 

[Rich_H]

I wanted to spend £4k too, and went with a Canyon. I know its a gamble buying direct, but if you look in the Newbies forum you'll see how I got to that decision (I'm new. And why I bought a 2018 Canyon Spectral:On 7.0 - EMTB Forums).

Loads of great bikes around at £4k, make sure you buy something that makes you want to get out and ride; that 'lust' factor is under-rated

 

[steve_sordy]

The Bosch is not bad per se; if you’d never ridden anything else you’d probably feel it was great. However if you ride it back to back with a Shimano or Brose you will see a clear difference, particularly when you go above the assistance limit.

When I test rode a bike with a Shimano Steps motor for the first time, I'd gone 100 yards before I realised that the motor was switched off! The standard trail setting was awesome, so flexible. I actually forgot I was riding an eBike for a while. You must try one!

 

[Silato]

When I test rode a bike with a Shimano Steps motor for the first time, I'd gone 100 yards before I realised that the motor was switched off! The standard trail setting was awesome, so flexible. I actually forgot I was riding an eBike for a while. You must try one!

The scott I was looking at uses shimano. I do fancy trying one. Got a demo day soon, hopefully get try a bosch cube and Bose levo

 

[steve_sordy]

The scott I was looking at uses shimano. I do fancy trying one. Got a demo day soon, hopefully get try a bosch cube and Bose levo

I don't know what country you are based in, I'm in the UK. I was looking at a Scott and the bike shop owner said that he was going to stop stocking them as he was getting too many electrical problems with them. He blamed the location of the charging point, which was on the forward facing part of the down tube. He told me that it was in the firing line from all the watery crap coming off the front wheel. Probably alright for Utah.

 

[Stefaan]

I don't know what country you are based in, I'm in the UK. I was looking at a Scott and the bike shop owner said that he was going to stop stocking them as he was getting too many electrical problems with them. He blamed the location of the charging point, which was on the forward facing part of the down tube. He told me that it was in the firing line from all the watery crap coming off the front wheel. Probably alright for Utah.

If you don’t put the protective cap on good then yes you will get problems. Thats why the protector is there for.

 

[Stefaan]

I’ve tested the cube , the scott and the new levo.
Do not like the cube for the motor.
The levo is a good one but very undergeared.
Like scott one ( also the one i got e genius 720) motor is very good. I ride it the most in eco and trail and it feels very natural. Also it had zero drag when going above 26km.
Also whit the large space between the frame and tiers in the back of the scott it is realy easy to clean.

 

[steve_sordy]

If you don’t put the protective cap on good then yes you will get problems. Thats why the protector is there for.

Of course it is, I understand that, there was a cap on the bike I was looking at.
Let us make an assumption that those that paid thousands for a Scott eBike are well motivated to put the cap on. OK, its an assumption, but I reckon it's a safe one - what do you think? Despite that, the bike shop got so many problems associated with damp in that area that they decided to stop selling them.

PS: I have never owned or even ridden a Scott (eBike or not), but the shop owner saw and dealt with many.

 

[Silato]

I don't know what country you are based in, I'm in the UK. I was looking at a Scott and the bike shop owner said that he was going to stop stocking them as he was getting too many electrical problems with them. He blamed the location of the charging point, which was on the forward facing part of the down tube. He told me that it was in the firing line from all the watery crap coming off the front wheel. Probably alright for Utah.

Thanks for the info. I'm in UK also.

 

[R120]

The first thing you need to do is ignore the motor in the bike. The make of the motor is irrelevant if the basic bike itself is not right for you or your riding.

Narrow down your choices based off the right kind of bike, that has the right geometry and specs for the riding you want to do.

From there you need to factor in a couple more points. Firstly can you charge the bike where you store it? If not then you are going to want a bike with an easily removable battery, and this rules out the likes of the Focus Sam and Jam as the battery can't be removed without taking the motor out.

Next you can look at the motors. We can argue about whether the Shimano or the Brose system is current top dog, but the reality is they are both very good motors and probably the best out there at the moment - you won't go wrong with either, and they are probably the most natural feeling motors.

The Bosch and Yamaha are older designs, with the Bosch likely to be updated next year. They are not bad motors, just a bit longer on the market. How the Bosch feels varys from brand to brand, as how they are installed in the frame, and the chain run, from my experience seems to either negate or amplify the drag after the cutoff. The Yamaha used in the 2019 Giant bikes has modified software from the normal and these bikes are worth a look.

Its very hard to get a feel for the motors from a quick blast around a car park, as to be frank any EMTB will feel awesome if its you first few times trying one, and its only really putting time on one on the trail that reveals the ups and downs . . .

And this harks back nicely to my first point, about choosing the bike with the best geometry and being fit for purpose for your riding, as at the end of the day the motor is supposed to enhance your ride, and make a great bike better, a great motor in a bike that doesn't suit you is only going to result in you owning a bike that frustrates and annoys you, which is not a mistake you want to make when dropping a load of money on an EMTB! On the other had a great fitting bike that maybe doesn't have the latest and greatest motor is going to still put a big smile on your face.

 

[Silato]

The first thing you need to do is ignore the motor in the bike. The make of the motor is irrelevant if the basic bike itself is not right for you or your riding.

Narrow down your choices based off the right kind of bike, that has the right geometry and specs for the riding you want to do.

From there you need to factor in a couple more points. Firstly can you charge the bike where you store it? If not then you are going to want a bike with an easily removable battery, and this rules out the likes of the Focus Sam and Jam as the battery can't be removed without taking the motor out.

Next you can look at the motors. We can argue about whether the Shimano or the Brose system is current top dog, but the reality is they are both very good motors and probably the best out there at the moment - you won't go wrong with either, and they are probably the most natural feeling motors.

The Bosch and Yamaha are older designs, with the Bosch likely to be updated next year. They are not bad motors, just a bit longer on the market. How the Bosch feels varys from brand to brand, as how they are installed in the frame, and the chain run, from my experience seems to either negate or amplify the drag after the cutoff. The Yamaha used in the 2019 Giant bikes has modified software from the normal and these bikes are worth a look.

Its very hard to get a feel for the motors from a quick blast around a car park, as to be frank any EMTB will feel awesome if its you first few times trying one, and its only really putting time on one on the trail that reveals the ups and downs . . .

And this harks back nicely to my first point, about choosing the bike with the best geometry and being fit for purpose for your riding, as at the end of the day the motor is supposed to enhance your ride, and make a great bike better, a great motor in a bike that doesn't suit you is only going to result in you owning a bike that frustrates and annoys you, which is not a mistake you want to make when dropping a load of money on an EMTB! On the other had a great fitting bike that maybe doesn't have the latest and greatest motor is going to still put a big smile on your face.

Thanks for the advice. I've got a demo day on the 16th they are gonna take me out on a decent off road route. Gonna try the cube and levo demo bikes so hopefully get a good feel for them compared to my Hardtail. The missus has an Hardtail cube emtb and to be fair it's been great for her, has the older bosch motor.
The cube I liked in the shop was the 160 race. Looking forward to getting a proper run out on a full sus emtb.
Again thanks for the info, really helpful.