Here are my (novice) opinions on Trek vs Merida vs Specialised vs Giant, after testing each of them out.

[Shane]

This might be a bit of a long post so I'll hopefully save some people some time by putting in sub headings and summaries. This is NOT meant to be a scientific comparison, rather just a bunch of thoughts that are hopefully useful to someone.

Rider Background

I'm a novice rider (male, 34yo, 180cm, 75kg) who's been getting into mountain biking (trail riding) over the past year. LOVING riding and would like to improve my skills, but am relatively time poor, so have settled on an emtb to cut out the long dull climbs. Budget is around $5000-$7000AUD. I've had a couple weeks holidays and during that time I've test ridden lots of bikes. Here are my thoughts.

Merida eONE SIXTY, 800, 900 and 900e

I really liked testing all these bikes, but not as much as I had hoped. I had ridden EMTBs around carparks of bike stores but this was my first time riding them on trails. I was surprised by how much it felt like a normal bike, but yet still didn't at the same time. Theres definitely a learning curve there and this is probably exacerbated by my lack of expreince/skill. But at the end of the day I still wanted one (lots) but was definitely more keen to check out the competition than I had been at the start of the day.

As far as the three Merida models go the 900e is really the standout here despite the extra coin. It has the advantage of the Di2 system which is clean and quick and precise. Since testing other models it is something I have really missed. There has only been one situation where i 'crunched' the gears on another bike, and only in a minor way, but it is less about the strain and more about the speed and efficiency. Also, even as a novice rider I could feel the difference between the suspension on the 900e vs the other two models. I'm still keen on the 900e but would need to have another test ride.

Oh and one last thing that probably affected my opinion was that the pedals on all the bikes for the day were those half clip/half flat pedals. I ride some very sticky flats and found it difficult to get confident on these, which probably had a negative affect on the experience.

Summary - Great but something missing from the experience (possibly on my end)

Giant Trance E+ 1

I took this for a long ride with a guided tour company along with my wife and couple of here friends (each riding similar hired bikes from Giant). Not as much single track as i was hoping for but enough to get a feeling and form a strong opinion.

As soon as I got on and rode this, the feeling was everything I had been hoping for from the Merida(s). It felt natural and comfortable and predictable. It felt (and is) heavier than the Merida, but was also somehow more nimble and manageable. I absolutely loved the feeling of this bike. The Yamaha motor is strong and smooth. Not exactly quiet but not really noticeable after a couple minutes either.

The biggest drawback though was the control system for the Yamaha motor. It has 5 settings that steadily increase in assistance, unlike (nearly all) other brands which have a battery saver mode (eco) full force mode (boost/turbo) and then an adaptive mode in the middle (trail/emtb).

The overall effect of having 5 modes rather than an adaptive mode is you almost feel like you have another set of gears, like going from a 1x setup to a 5x. Ok, well maybe not that extreme, but I switched power modes on this bike more that the rest put together. It's a pity but this really ruined what would otherwise be my bike by now. In other tests I pretty much used the adaptive function as a 'set and forget' for all but the steepest of climbs.

Summary - Still probably my favourite apart from the lack of adaptive mode which is a deal breaker for me

Specialised - Turbo Levo Comp Carbon 2018

This bike I won't write too much about because I tested the demo model. That is, this bike would normally be out of the price range but the demo model was on sale.So I took it for a spin.

I really wanted to like this bike, but I just didn't. For starters it rattled like an empty can of Guiness, which I later found out was the battery being a little loose (fixable). It was secure still but definitely affected the experience. Also, for some reason I just couldn't get into a groove on this bike and it always felt skittish and less predictable. It's entirely likely that a more experienced rider could have felt the exact opposite but after a couple hours on this bike I still felt like it was trying to throw me off at every berm. As a side note though the app is great.

Summary - Not this one, maybe this particular demo had been knocked around a little too much.

Trek Powerfly FS7/LT9

When I booked the FS7 the LT9 was out, but they are pretty much the same bike with the LT9 having longer travel and generally a higher spec.

Took this out and fell in love with it pretty quickly. Like the Giant, very easy to ride. Stable, nimble (for an ebike) predictable. I instantly felt more confident on this than I had been on the Merida or Specialised after hours of riding. Perhaps there's something about the geometry of this and the Giant that suits novice riders or my riding style? I don't know but it just rode excellently.

I definitely would want to go for the long travel option as I pretty much used up all the travel on this bike without trying. The motor felt good, but not necessarily better than any of the others (particularly the Yamaha on the Giant). Overall I think this is the favourite so far. I'm keen to take the LT9 for a ride before I lay down hard earned cash, but I don't think I can go to far wrong with it at this stage. There are things I would miss about each of the other bikes, but overall I think this is probably the bike for me.

I'm not sure the Trek was actually my favourite in any one particular aspect, except perhaps Trek's EMTB adaptive mode, which seems a little more intuitive than the trail mode from Shimano, but apart from that it's probably a (very close) second in most aspects. The thing about it though is that it seemed that there was nothing about it that I didn't like. Everything it does, it does well. Maybe not the best, but certainly not the worst, and with each other bike I tested having a real 'weakness' (even it it was only perceived) it it really the standout.

Summary - An all round solid performer with no real weak point.

Of course all this is just my opinion. I'd love to know what other people think, especially if you own or have tried any of these. I'm very aware I may be completely 'wrong' about some stuff in here so let me know. Also happy to answer any questions. Theres plenty more I could add, but this post it bloody long as it is!

Cheers

 

[R120]

I think you said it yourself, its about the best bike for you, not the best bike, when it comes to laying out your cash on a new ride.

 

[knut7]

The Trance and Powerfly being more nimble than the eOne-Sixty sounds a bit strange to me. Could it be because of frame size or seating/suspension setup?

 

[StevenM]

Hi Shane

Great review.

I liked the Powerfly as well but that little cog up front just had me thinking too much.

Same as you loved the di2 on the Merida 900e - was a cool feature and to glimpse down and see the gear etc was excellent. The Shimano display is tops.

I only did the spesh in the car park and was underwhelmed with the level of goodies v price tag.

I ended up with the E+ 1 from Giant. Loved the feel of the bike, the specs and standard goodies straight of the box for the bucks and then the 20 percent off the rrp just shut the deal.

Get what you feels is your bike and in the end don’t be afraid to haggle on price. They all want your dollar and if you can’t get 10%. Off your not trying hard enough.

 

[Shane]

Hey Knut

I tried a Medium in all bikes, except I tried a large and a medium in the Merida. The Giant and the Trek did feel smaller. The Levo felt huge, despite being a medium, so that might have something to do with it.

In the Merida I'm probably between a medium and a large (bizarrely the large felt right while the medium felt too big... go figure). The Medium Giant felt right. I had a ride around on a large and could take it or leave it.

The medium Trek felt about right but probably could go larger without issue. One thing I like about trek is that they have a size between medium and large. Will try to take it out next time.

 

[Shane]

StevenM I agree with all that, especially about the display/gear shown on the screen. But what did you mean about the cog having you 'thinking too much'?

I agree 100% that the feel of the Giant is perfect. It's exactly what I want but how do you go with the 5 different modes? Do you find yourself changing a lot on undulating terrain?

20% is pretty good. I consider 10% off RRP to be pretty standard these days.

 

[StevenM]

Hey Shane

The Boshe small cog worried me with debris and mud. Or basically getting fouled up.

With the 5 power levels...nah, seem to ride in 2 or 3 on the trails...depends on what pop I want out of the corners. I can climb most hills in that and then if not then give it another level. As you said it’s like having another gear.

All power levels are adjustable by the Giant app.

And yep at 5.6K for the bike it was a steal.

 

[Gary]

Nice to hear your thoughts as a novice rider @Shane
Thanks for taking the time to share.
It always amazes me how poorly set-up and maintained some demo bikes are when given out to prospective buyers.
Somethnig as simple as tyre pressure or shock pressure can be the difference between a good demo and a terrible one, and something so simple as bar roll/height and control position can make a bike feel off sizing wise and alter it's riding characteristics. Then of course a poorly maintained bike (rattly battery etc.) can put you off actually riding the thing properly in the first place.
I've seen demo bikes sent out with knackered shocks, bushing wear, badly adjusted suspension, bearing play, badly adjusted gears, loose saddles, bars rolled at stupid angles etc. and even shops who spend time setting the bike up for you before the demo can get it so so wrong.

I intentionally didn't demo prospective Ebikes because most were fitted with what I consider to be awful handling tyres (might not seem a biggie to most but to me it's huge) and ended up buying my bike 100% blind. But not before had studying the geometry, sizing and suspension characteristics and comparing sizing and angles with my other bikes taking each small difference into account. But I am lucky to be very experienced with all of that.
The first few weeks of ownership of my (first ever) E bike was definitely a learning curve too and there's no way you get properly in tune with one over the duration of a demo.

 

[Shane]

Cheers Gary

Yeah, I know what you mean about good setups and bad setups. But I figure there’s still a lot of wisdom in test riding.

I figure a bike that feels rubbish might be poorly set up... or might be rubbish. But a bike that rides/feels great is a pretty safe bet.

Sizing is still an issue though. I seem to feel more confident on Medium bikes that are apparently ‘too small’ for me. They just feel more manageable around tight corners and on technical sections. It seems that the whole sizing range (of all brands) seems to be skewed. I’m pretty much the exact average height of the population. It doesn’t make a lot of sense for me to be anything but medium, but I keep seeing comments like ‘I’m 5’6 and I find large is perfect for me’. Doesn’t make sense to me, but guess I’ll just have to keep testing. At least there’s always adjustments you can make but so far at 5’11, medium in general seems to feel right.

 

[knut7]

180 cm and Medium is often a nice combination. I like to believe Im 181cm and usually go for M. Unless the bike is small for it's size. The Trance is actually a pretty small Medium, and Im guessing that's why it feels reasonably nimble despite chainstay length.

Trance headtube is short, Merida is 20-25mm longer. So the Medium Merida should be significantly bigger. Difficult to say why you felt M was bigger than L. Could be handlebar height or saddle position height/lengthwise.

 

[Gary]

I seem to feel more confident on Medium bikes that are apparently ‘too small’ for me. They just feel more manageable around tight corners and on technical sections. It seems that the whole sizing range (of all brands) seems to be skewed. I’m pretty much the exact average height of the population. It doesn’t make a lot of sense for me to be anything but medium, but I keep seeing comments like ‘I’m 5’6 and I find large is perfect for me’.

it's currently fashionable. I'm 5'11" as well and tend to ride medums but now that every brands medium frames have grown an inch in reach I'm happier on a lot of smalls.
Very few of those 5'6" guys riding 2018/19 Larges can ride for shit. A longer wheelbase does add stability but unless you're current world cup DH qualifying quick you simply don't need that sort of stability. and as you've rightly noticed a long bike is less nimble and can be harder work to change direction. With the extra weight of an Ebike this trait is only multiplied in technical situations. This does all depend on your riding style though. I come from a dirtjump/DH background with a bit of BMX thrown in so a shorter bike suits my riding style more anyway.

 

[Sophie777]

This might be a bit of a long post so I'll hopefully save some people some time by putting in sub headings and summaries. This is NOT meant to be a scientific comparison, rather just a bunch of thoughts that are hopefully useful to someone.

Rider Background

I'm a novice rider (male, 34yo, 180cm, 75kg) who's been getting into mountain biking (trail riding) over the past year. LOVING riding and would like to improve my skills, but am relatively time poor, so have settled on an emtb to cut out the long dull climbs. Budget is around $5000-$7000AUD. I've had a couple weeks holidays and during that time I've test ridden lots of bikes. Here are my thoughts.

Merida eONE SIXTY, 800, 900 and 900e

I really liked testing all these bikes, but not as much as I had hoped. I had ridden EMTBs around carparks of bike stores but this was my first time riding them on trails. I was surprised by how much it felt like a normal bike, but yet still didn't at the same time. Theres definitely a learning curve there and this is probably exacerbated by my lack of expreince/skill. But at the end of the day I still wanted one (lots) but was definitely more keen to check out the competition than I had been at the start of the day.

As far as the three Merida models go the 900e is really the standout here despite the extra coin. It has the advantage of the Di2 system which is clean and quick and precise. Since testing other models it is something I have really missed. There has only been one situation where i 'crunched' the gears on another bike, and only in a minor way, but it is less about the strain and more about the speed and efficiency. Also, even as a novice rider I could feel the difference between the suspension on the 900e vs the other two models. I'm still keen on the 900e but would need to have another test ride.

Oh and one last thing that probably affected my opinion was that the pedals on all the bikes for the day were those half clip/half flat pedals. I ride some very sticky flats and found it difficult to get confident on these, which probably had a negative affect on the experience.

Summary - Great but something missing from the experience (possibly on my end)

Giant Trance E+ 1

I took this for a long ride with a guided tour company along with my wife and couple of here friends (each riding similar hired bikes from Giant). Not as much single track as i was hoping for but enough to get a feeling and form a strong opinion.

As soon as I got on and rode this, the feeling was everything I had been hoping for from the Merida(s). It felt natural and comfortable and predictable. It felt (and is) heavier than the Merida, but was also somehow more nimble and manageable. I absolutely loved the feeling of this bike. The Yamaha motor is strong and smooth. Not exactly quiet but not really noticeable after a couple minutes either.

The biggest drawback though was the control system for the Yamaha motor. It has 5 settings that steadily increase in assistance, unlike (nearly all) other brands which have a battery saver mode (eco) full force mode (boost/turbo) and then an adaptive mode in the middle (trail/emtb).

The overall effect of having 5 modes rather than an adaptive mode is you almost feel like you have another set of gears, like going from a 1x setup to a 5x. Ok, well maybe not that extreme, but I switched power modes on this bike more that the rest put together. It's a pity but this really ruined what would otherwise be my bike by now. In other tests I pretty much used the adaptive function as a 'set and forget' for all but the steepest of climbs.

Summary - Still probably my favourite apart from the lack of adaptive mode which is a deal breaker for me

Specialised - Turbo Levo Comp Carbon 2018

This bike I won't write too much about because I tested the demo model. That is, this bike would normally be out of the price range but the demo model was on sale.So I took it for a spin.

I really wanted to like this bike, but I just didn't. For starters it rattled like an empty can of Guiness, which I later found out was the battery being a little loose (fixable). It was secure still but definitely affected the experience. Also, for some reason I just couldn't get into a groove on this bike and it always felt skittish and less predictable. It's entirely likely that a more experienced rider could have felt the exact opposite but after a couple hours on this bike I still felt like it was trying to throw me off at every berm. As a side note though the app is great.

Summary - Not this one, maybe this particular demo had been knocked around a little too much.

Trek Powerfly FS7/LT9

When I booked the FS7 the LT9 was out, but they are pretty much the same bike with the LT9 having longer travel and generally a higher spec.

Took this out and fell in love with it pretty quickly. Like the Giant, very easy to ride. Stable, nimble (for an ebike) predictable. I instantly felt more confident on this than I had been on the Merida or Specialised after hours of riding. Perhaps there's something about the geometry of this and the Giant that suits novice riders or my riding style? I don't know but it just rode excellently.

I definitely would want to go for the long travel option as I pretty much used up all the travel on this bike without trying. The motor felt good, but not necessarily better than any of the others (particularly the Yamaha on the Giant). Overall I think this is the favourite so far. I'm keen to take the LT9 for a ride before I lay down hard earned cash, but I don't think I can go to far wrong with it at this stage. There are things I would miss about each of the other bikes, but overall I think this is probably the bike for me.

I'm not sure the Trek was actually my favourite in any one particular aspect, except perhaps Trek's EMTB adaptive mode, which seems a little more intuitive than the trail mode from Shimano, but apart from that it's probably a (very close) second in most aspects. The thing about it though is that it seemed that there was nothing about it that I didn't like. Everything it does, it does well. Maybe not the best, but certainly not the worst, and with each other bike I tested having a real 'weakness' (even it it was only perceived) it it really the standout.

Summary - An all round solid performer with no real weak point.

Of course all this is just my opinion. I'd love to know what other people think, especially if you own or have tried any of these. I'm very aware I may be completely 'wrong' about some stuff in here so let me know. Also happy to answer any questions. Theres plenty more I could add, but this post it bloody long as it is!

Cheers

Hi Shane

Great review.

I liked the Powerfly as well but that little cog up front just had me thinking too much.

Same as you loved the di2 on the Merida 900e - was a cool feature and to glimpse down and see the gear etc was excellent. The Shimano display is tops.

I only did the spesh in the car park and was underwhelmed with the level of goodies v price tag.

I ended up with the E+ 1 from Giant. Loved the feel of the bike, the specs and standard goodies straight of the box for the bucks and then the 20 percent off the rrp just shut the deal.

Get what you feels is your bike and in the end don’t be afraid to haggle on price. They all want your dollar and if you can’t get 10%. Off your not trying hard enough.

Could you guys tell me how the noise from the Yamaha motor compares to the others, ie Shimano and Bosche?

 

[StevenM]

Could you guys tell me how the noise from the Yamaha motor compares to the others, ie Shimano and Bosche?

Hi Sophie. They were all pretty much the same to me. You really won’t get “noise” testing them in a car park we’re really little effort is needed or motor power is used.

The more work they do the noisier they get..even the so called quieter spesh. So you will notice they are all louder climbing hills.

Here watch this vid of a local brissy guy. See how much motor noise you hear. What sort of trails do you ride?

 

[MattyB]

...I agree 100% that the feel of the Giant is perfect. It's exactly what I want but how do you go with the 5 different modes? Do you find yourself changing a lot on undulating terrain?

...With the 5 power levels...nah, seem to ride in 2 or 3 on the trails...depends on what pop I want out of the corners. I can climb most hills in that and then if not then give it another level. As you said it’s like having another gear.

All power levels are adjustable by the Giant app.

That is good to know - I really like the design and specs given it’s an LBS sold bike, but the number of (non-adaptive) power modes does worry me a bit. I am not a fan of the Bosch system overall, but the adaptive eMTB mode is definitely one of its strongest suits.

Perhaps it is a non issue, but I want to ride one myself to be sure. I am not sure they are going to be available in the UK this side of Xmas though. Perhaps Yamaha/Giant will add an adaptive mode to their software at some point? They have all the sensors needed to do it.

PedalPlus 4-Sensor Technology - Giant Bicycles | United Kingdom

 

[Sophie777]

Hi Sophie. They were all pretty much the same to me. You really won’t get “noise” testing them in a car park we’re really little effort is needed or motor power is used.

The more work they do the noisier they get..even the so called quieter spesh. So you will notice they are all louder climbing hills.

Here watch this vid of a local brissy guy. See how much motor noise you hear. What sort of trails do you ride?

Thanks for your input!
As for the video - I find it hard to tell how loud a motor is from videos.
Different videos on the same bike or same motor more often than not show very different noise levels.

 

[Pendo]

I went from a much loved Trek acoustic mtb to a Turbo Levo. Wanted to try the Trek but they weren't available in Oz at the time (Trek were giving a discount if you have BUPA health insurance). I did read over seas reviews of those who tried the Levo and the Trek and they liked the geometry of the Trek better.
I love my Levo which was the best available at the time but if I was going to update, the Trek and Merida would have me interested, as well as other brands. Lots of choices these days.

 

[poppy]

Good review, thanks for posting. I was amazed at the difference between the Large and Medium Giant E pro 1when i rode them. We were lucky enough to take both a large and medium on a test ride and for me personally it was night and day difference. I started on the large and was having a good time, having ridden a Merida 160 800, Spec Levo and Kenevo all mediums, i didnt really gel with the large Giant straight off. It was ok and the more we rode the better it was. Then i swapped to the medium and instantly felt at home, it was heaps of fun and way more playfull. Took me a few weeks of sitting on the fence and going though a list of pro's and con's of each bike. In the end i put a deposit on the Giant. My reasoning was it was a 19 bike all new, so upgrades will come and it is a great bike standard and i don't have spend a money on it straight away. I like the Merida as a value for money bike, but my thought process was that it has been around for a couple of years and will likely be changed in the next year or so. They all have there good points, it really came down to the little (nit picking) details for me and what i got for my money.

 

[Shane]

To be honest I only rode the Large Trance E+ 1 in a car park at the end of the days session with the medium. Found it different but not night and day. More like I could probably get used to it but nothing like the instant ‘at home’ feeling of the medium.

Congrats on your choice. As I said it’s a real fun machine! I just wish it had a more intelligent adaptive mode like the Trek or Merida.

 

[Re-Cycle]

If the Trek was the bike that stood out for you I wouldn't doubt much longer. These are all good bikes, what's important is which bike suits you best. That seems to be the Trek

 

[Shane]

Yeah. Reckon you’re probably right Re-Cycle. Gonna try to find a day some weekend soon where I can take them both out (the Trek and the Giant) and try them side by side before I pull the trigger.

Whatever happens, it probably won’t be for a few weeks now that term has started, but I’ll update once I’ve made a final decision.

 

[Gary]

As for the video - I find it hard to tell how loud a motor is from videos.
Different videos on the same bike or same motor more often than not show very different noise levels.

Is there any particular reason motor noise matters to you?
My Shimano motor certainly isn't quiet but it's not exactly intrusive and doesn't detract from the experience in the slightest while riding. Noise would be very low in my list of motor preferences.

 

[Sophie777]

Is there any particular reason motor noise matters to you?
My Shimano motor certainly isn't quiet but it's not exactly intrusive and doesn't detract from the experience in the slightest while riding. Noise would be very low in my list of motor preferences.

2 otherwise equal bikes - I would choose the one with the less noisier motor.

 

[Doomanic]

Bear in mind that the noise becomes ambient after a while. I barely notice the noise my Bosch makes but when @Dax over-revs his Kenevo it really grates.

 

[Gary]

2 otherwise equal bikes - I would choose the one with the less noisier motor.

2 otherwise equal bikes would have the same motor

Unless you have a valid reason for wanting the quietest motor available it really shouldn't be all that high on your priorities. As @Doomanic says. The noise becomes ambient. But it's actually handy the be able to hear the motor when gear shifting and using boost overrun. The same way as hearing revs on a motor vehicle it helps you control it better

 

[Sophie777]

2 otherwise equal bikes would have the same motor

No, 2 otherwise equal bikes do not necessarily have the same motor.

 

[Gary]

No. They do Sophie

 

[Gary]

My bike with a Bosch motor would be about 2lb heavier for a start.

 

[Doomanic]

And have longer chainstays.

 

[R120]

And Gary don't suffer no long chainstays fools

 

[Casatigeo]

This might be a bit of a long post so I'll hopefully save some people some time by putting in sub headings and summaries. This is NOT meant to be a scientific comparison, rather just a bunch of thoughts that are hopefully useful to someone.

Rider Background

I'm a novice rider (male, 34yo, 180cm, 75kg) who's been getting into mountain biking (trail riding) over the past year. LOVING riding and would like to improve my skills, but am relatively time poor, so have settled on an emtb to cut out the long dull climbs. Budget is around $5000-$7000AUD. I've had a couple weeks holidays and during that time I've test ridden lots of bikes. Here are my thoughts.

Merida eONE SIXTY, 800, 900 and 900e

I really liked testing all these bikes, but not as much as I had hoped. I had ridden EMTBs around carparks of bike stores but this was my first time riding them on trails. I was surprised by how much it felt like a normal bike, but yet still didn't at the same time. Theres definitely a learning curve there and this is probably exacerbated by my lack of expreince/skill. But at the end of the day I still wanted one (lots) but was definitely more keen to check out the competition than I had been at the start of the day.

As far as the three Merida models go the 900e is really the standout here despite the extra coin. It has the advantage of the Di2 system which is clean and quick and precise. Since testing other models it is something I have really missed. There has only been one situation where i 'crunched' the gears on another bike, and only in a minor way, but it is less about the strain and more about the speed and efficiency. Also, even as a novice rider I could feel the difference between the suspension on the 900e vs the other two models. I'm still keen on the 900e but would need to have another test ride.

Oh and one last thing that probably affected my opinion was that the pedals on all the bikes for the day were those half clip/half flat pedals. I ride some very sticky flats and found it difficult to get confident on these, which probably had a negative affect on the experience.

Summary - Great but something missing from the experience (possibly on my end)

Giant Trance E+ 1

I took this for a long ride with a guided tour company along with my wife and couple of here friends (each riding similar hired bikes from Giant). Not as much single track as i was hoping for but enough to get a feeling and form a strong opinion.

As soon as I got on and rode this, the feeling was everything I had been hoping for from the Merida(s). It felt natural and comfortable and predictable. It felt (and is) heavier than the Merida, but was also somehow more nimble and manageable. I absolutely loved the feeling of this bike. The Yamaha motor is strong and smooth. Not exactly quiet but not really noticeable after a couple minutes either.

The biggest drawback though was the control system for the Yamaha motor. It has 5 settings that steadily increase in assistance, unlike (nearly all) other brands which have a battery saver mode (eco) full force mode (boost/turbo) and then an adaptive mode in the middle (trail/emtb).

The overall effect of having 5 modes rather than an adaptive mode is you almost feel like you have another set of gears, like going from a 1x setup to a 5x. Ok, well maybe not that extreme, but I switched power modes on this bike more that the rest put together. It's a pity but this really ruined what would otherwise be my bike by now. In other tests I pretty much used the adaptive function as a 'set and forget' for all but the steepest of climbs.

Summary - Still probably my favourite apart from the lack of adaptive mode which is a deal breaker for me

Specialised - Turbo Levo Comp Carbon 2018

This bike I won't write too much about because I tested the demo model. That is, this bike would normally be out of the price range but the demo model was on sale.So I took it for a spin.

I really wanted to like this bike, but I just didn't. For starters it rattled like an empty can of Guiness, which I later found out was the battery being a little loose (fixable). It was secure still but definitely affected the experience. Also, for some reason I just couldn't get into a groove on this bike and it always felt skittish and less predictable. It's entirely likely that a more experienced rider could have felt the exact opposite but after a couple hours on this bike I still felt like it was trying to throw me off at every berm. As a side note though the app is great.

Summary - Not this one, maybe this particular demo had been knocked around a little too much.

Trek Powerfly FS7/LT9

When I booked the FS7 the LT9 was out, but they are pretty much the same bike with the LT9 having longer travel and generally a higher spec.

Took this out and fell in love with it pretty quickly. Like the Giant, very easy to ride. Stable, nimble (for an ebike) predictable. I instantly felt more confident on this than I had been on the Merida or Specialised after hours of riding. Perhaps there's something about the geometry of this and the Giant that suits novice riders or my riding style? I don't know but it just rode excellently.

I definitely would want to go for the long travel option as I pretty much used up all the travel on this bike without trying. The motor felt good, but not necessarily better than any of the others (particularly the Yamaha on the Giant). Overall I think this is the favourite so far. I'm keen to take the LT9 for a ride before I lay down hard earned cash, but I don't think I can go to far wrong with it at this stage. There are things I would miss about each of the other bikes, but overall I think this is probably the bike for me.

I'm not sure the Trek was actually my favourite in any one particular aspect, except perhaps Trek's EMTB adaptive mode, which seems a little more intuitive than the trail mode from Shimano, but apart from that it's probably a (very close) second in most aspects. The thing about it though is that it seemed that there was nothing about it that I didn't like. Everything it does, it does well. Maybe not the best, but certainly not the worst, and with each other bike I tested having a real 'weakness' (even it it was only perceived) it it really the standout.

Summary - An all round solid performer with no real weak point.

Of course all this is just my opinion. I'd love to know what other people think, especially if you own or have tried any of these. I'm very aware I may be completely 'wrong' about some stuff in here so let me know. Also happy to answer any questions. Theres plenty more I could add, but this post it bloody long as it is!

Cheers

Hi ..

Thanks for the report .. v interesting ... Last week I tried a Scott but did not like all of the control levers on the front and the gear changes really made a massive noise ...

Today just been out on the Trek Powerfly LT7 for 2 1/2 hours and very impressed .... it was fun ... not as noisy through the gear changes and the EMTB setting on the Bosch was perfect ... Turbo was great but more than I needed on all but the steepest climbs in the Surrey Hills. The brakes squeaked a lot but I am assuming with some adjustment they should be fine ... the removable battery option with the Trek from the side really appeals ..

Plan to try a few more before making an investment - Rocky Mountain is getting a lot of excellent reports ... only trouble is a long way to go to my nearest dealer.

JC