Help with budget eMTB choice (~£3k)

[JLammy]

I'm currently looking to buy an eMTB for use on some trails (nothing extreme), but have a fairly limited budget of around £3k.

The following options seem to fit within budget, so I'm hoping some of you more experienced riders would be able to advise on which would be the best option to go for...

Hardtail:

• 2023 Trek Powerfully 4 625wh
• 2023 Cube Reaction Hybrid Pro 625wh
• Whyte E505 or E504

FS (possibly pushing the budget for little gain? But they're on sale...):

• 2023 Giant Stance E+ 2 625wh
• Haibike AllMtn 1 FS

Any help or advice would be highly appreciated!

 

[Another One]

I can't advise on any of the bikes other than go with an FS if you can loads more fun.

 

[Tooks]

Is the £3k due to a bike to work scheme or similar?

Reason for asking is that generally speaking you’ll get a lot more for that £3k buying used?

Otherwise, I threw my leg over the Giant Stance E+ and thought it was a good no nonsense full suspension E-mtb. I don’t know anything about the motor, with only 75Nm some will say it’s underpowered, but it’s the same power as my E8000 and I find that gives plenty of assistance. Components can be upgraded as they wear out, so spec is less important for me.

Have a ride on your shortlist if you can? What type of riding do you do, and what will you want to do?

 

[Ian222]

When I first got my ebike a haibike hardseven 5 I loved it but once I hit a few trails I knew it wouldn’t hold up. Now I have a Orbea wild full sus and I love it, much better in every way. If you can afford it get fs.

 

[Paulquattro]

As above if your doing anything off road FS all the way its not a little gain its massive in comfort and control ,
Dont get me wrong hardtails are good but you will grow out of it and get fed up with the beating .

 

[Another One]

I agree with the used option also but if you can add a little more there are some good new deals

example - Cube 2023 Stereo Hybrid 140 HPC Pro 750 Electric Full Suspension Mountain Bike in White

 

[Hardtail]

I'm currently looking to buy an eMTB for use on some trails (nothing extreme), but have a fairly limited budget of around £3k.

The following options seem to fit within budget, so I'm hoping some of you more experienced riders would be able to advise on which would be the best option to go for...

Hardtail:

• 2023 Trek Powerfully 4 625wh
• 2023 Cube Reaction Hybrid Pro 625wh
• Whyte E505 or E504

FS (possibly pushing the budget for little gain? But they're on sale...):

• 2023 Giant Stance E+ 2 625wh
• Haibike AllMtn 1 FS

Any help or advice would be highly appreciated!

You should look at ex-rentals in your area. I have purchased an ex-rental and you get 6-12months warranty at the shop.
The bike I purchased had upgraded wheels and tyres so that was also a bonus!
Check this out as an example: Pedalabikeaway Biking
I would have no hesitation buying a Bosch powered bike 2nd hand, I have done it sight unseen twice with no regrets.

 

[JLammy]

Thanks all of the replies!

Budget isn't tied to a bike scheme, it's just what the wallet allows.

There's clearly a common theme with the replies, where FS is the way to go... only problem with buying a used bike is that I'm highly concerned that I'll end up buying someone's stolen bike, given the amount of bike theft I've heard about!

What FS bikes would be the most recommended within the £3k to £4k budget?

 

[Waynemarlow]

Don't knock second hand, there are more than a few with very low mileage bought during the lock downs that are now up for sale at very low money. You can often see Levos ( Specialised is about the only brand that will honour warranty claims with second ownership ) and less so Rails for that 3 - 4 K on Ebay. Rule of thumb I use for Ebay is can you pick it from their home, no cash deals, does it have a key and charger and check the stolen bike register BikeRegister - The National Cycle Database. Ebay also has some quite good return money back schemes which do work.

Facebook Marketplace is good but I reckon 50% I've followed up with the question of can I have the serial number of the bike to check the register, has not been replied to.

 

[jimbob]

There are some great deals out there at the moment. Guessing from oversupply after covid.

Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 Electric Mountain Bike Impact Orange

<h3>The Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 boasts infinite capability for the steepest descents and the hardest climbs – with fully integrated all-mountain e-bike technology.</h3>

www.paulscycles.co.uk

 

[Hardtail]

Thanks all of the replies!

Budget isn't tied to a bike scheme, it's just what the wallet allows.

There's clearly a common theme with the replies, where FS is the way to go... only problem with buying a used bike is that I'm highly concerned that I'll end up buying someone's stolen bike, given the amount of bike theft I've heard about!

What FS bikes would be the most recommended within the £3k to £4k budget?

Yes, that is the advantage of buying Ex-Hire as you also get a shop warranty.
Also, all legit sellers will have the invoice and it is not hard to judge character these days.
I personally ride a hardtail and have no regrets about my use type, which includes epic mountain rides in Wales, Scotland and the Jura France.

 

[RiderOnTheStorm]

If meeting a price target is your main criteria and don't want to take a chance on a used bike, I'd suggest looking for last year's models with heavily discounted prices (30-40% off) and reach out to large internet outlets that are clearing their inventories.

Also to get competitive pricing, I'd suggest to take advantage of stores price matching policies.

In the $3K-3.5K range, I've been keeping a list of a few full suspension models with some decent specs IMO (in no particular order):

Trek powerfly FS 4 (2022)
Scott eRide Strike 940, 500Wh (2022)
Giant Stance E+ 2 Sport, 500Wh (2022)
Giant Stance E+ 1 Sport, 625Wh (2022)
Liv Embolden E+ 2, 500Wh (2022)
Canyon Neuron:ON 6, 630Wh (2023)
Cube Stereo hybrid 120 Race 625 (2023)

[Edited above list with more bike models]

 

[JLammy]

After everyone's feedback to get a full suspension model, I've now placed an order for a 2022 Trek Rail 5 625wh that I found on sale! Thanks all!

 

[Paulquattro]

After everyone's feedback to get a full suspension model, I've now placed an order for a 2022 Trek Rail 5 625wh that I found on sale! Thanks all!

Nice one
You should be really happy with it

 

[Another One]

After everyone's feedback to get a full suspension model, I've now placed an order for a 2022 Trek Rail 5 625wh that I found on sale! Thanks all!

Nice did you hit your price point?

 

[JLammy]

Nice did you hit your price point?

Not quite - I spent just under £3.5k, but I think that's probably the best I could achieve on a new FS eMTB with this budget!

I just can't wait to get out onto some trails once it arrives! It's been a few years...

 

[Another One]

Not quite - I spent just under £3.5k, but I think that's probably the best I could achieve on a new FS eMTB with this budget!

I just can't wait to get out onto some trails once it arrives! It's been a few years...

Awesome so been a few years not riding will this be first time on Ebike if so get ready for the best riding ever.

 

[RiderOnTheStorm]

After everyone's feedback to get a full suspension model, I've now placed an order for a 2022 Trek Rail 5 625wh that I found on sale! Thanks all!

Great pick! The "non-smart" Bosch CX gen.4 motor with a 625Wh battery is definitely the one to have. Powerful, stable und uncluttered... Enjoy!

 

[irie]

Great pick! The "non-smart" Bosch CX gen.4 motor with a 625Wh battery is definitely the one to have. Powerful, stable und uncluttered... Enjoy!

Agreed, the "non-smart" Gen 4 is the one to have. Later "smart" motors are open to Bosch making software changes as part of its strategy of creating a closed proprietary environment for marketing reasons.

 

[jackamo]

I'm currently looking to buy an eMTB for use on some trails (nothing extreme), but have a fairly limited budget of around £3k.

The following options seem to fit within budget, so I'm hoping some of you more experienced riders would be able to advise on which would be the best option to go for...

Hardtail:

• 2023 Trek Powerfully 4 625wh
• 2023 Cube Reaction Hybrid Pro 625wh
• Whyte E505 or E504

FS (possibly pushing the budget for little gain? But they're on sale...):

• 2023 Giant Stance E+ 2 625wh
• Haibike AllMtn 1 FS

Any help or advice would be highly appreciated!

If you can find and extra £600 the Decathlon Stilus isn't bad for the money .
Great around bike with gen4 bosch and 625 battery. 150mm travel.

 

[RiderOnTheStorm]

I also saw that for ~3000€ Decathlon sells the Stilus e-Trail. However, the components are subpar in my opinion and I wouldn't qualify this bike as an e-mountain bike.

For this money, you can find much better equipped full-suspension eMTBs from brands like Giant, Scott, Canyon, Trek, etc.

See post in thread 'Help with budget eMTB choice (~£3k)' Help with budget eMTB choice (~£3k)

 

[Another One]

I also saw that for ~3000€ Decathlon sells the Stilus e-Trail. However, the components are subpar in my opinion and I wouldn't qualify this bike as an e-mountain bike.

For this money, you can find much better equipped full-suspension eMTBs from brands like Giant, Scott, Canyon, Trek, etc.

See post in thread 'Help with budget eMTB choice (~£3k)' Help with budget eMTB choice (~£3k)

Agree with this.

 

[RustyMTB]

Piling in after the credits, I've just done a bunch of work on a friend's 2022 Powerfly 4. It's done 1200 miles & needed a new lower headset bearing, chainring, cassette, front wheel bearings & freehub which had all but seized. Everything I replaced is a wear item but imo wore prematurely, the freehub in particular is a cheap, flimsy item. You do get what you pay for in my experience & brands are adept at hiding away their cost savings in places you can't see.

 

[LAWHITEY]

Thanks all of the replies!

Budget isn't tied to a bike scheme, it's just what the wallet allows.

There's clearly a common theme with the replies, where FS is the way to go... only problem with buying a used bike is that I'm highly concerned that I'll end up buying someone's stolen bike, given the amount of bike theft I've heard about!

What FS bikes would be the most recommended within the £3k to £4k budget?

If you can stretch another 800 quid, I highly recommend the Vitus E Sommet, it's a 5k bike and currently on offer on Chain Reaction/Wiggle, good spec for the price, had mine since last November and love it, other than it would be Cube for me also great spec for the price bikes