Hi from Oz. Still trying to decide.

[StevenM]

Hi all

Firstly thanks for the add.

I’m still trying to decide on a bike. No it won’t be a Levo as I have discounted the Specialized range.

In the mix are still

Merida E900e 160 - have had a quick test ride, just pavement stuff

Trek Powerfly LT9 2019 - have had a quick test ride. Geez that Bosch motor wirrs and seemed noisy.

The 2019 Giant Trance E+ 1Pro - have not tried a Yamaha motor job as yet.

Decisions Decisions

Have a few months to make up my mind as I want to have ownership of something around Christmas

 

[Roncom]

Steve, I have the Giant E dirt 2017. Got it second hand on Gumtree. I think the Yamaha motor is great. It is quiet and plenty of power. I also have been through the details on most of the bikes and would be going for the Trance.
Cheers
Ron

 

[StevenM]

Thanks for the feedback Ron

Good to get first hand feedback.

I like the look of the Trance. As in the look.

The Powerfly is ok, and the most expensive in the field. The Grey green colour looks ok in real life over the pics. The Trek guys seems the keenest so far and have offered a demo to have for the day to play on the local trails. I’m just no sold on the Bosch small chain ring for some reason.

Interesting enough I thought the transition past and back in at the 25km was seamless compared to what you read. It was good, uphill and down.

I need to get a real ride of the Giant to.

 

[MattyB]

I would not buy a brand new Bosch bike at this point, not because they are not good (I actually quite like the power delivery on that motor and was not bothered by the noise) but because it is strongly rumoured that a new Bosch powertrain is coming in 2019. If that is the case you can expect a lot of good value secondhand Bosch bikes coming on the market as people upgrade - you would then be riding the older version (which may bother you, or it may not), and resale on your new bike would drop due to the increase in supply of secondhand machines. Worth considering.

 

[Kernow]

The Merida has a well sorted geometry , check how the others compare , especially the chainstay length . There is a link posted somewhere here with a great discount on the Merida .
New giant looks nice
Commencal meta is very similar to the Merida too , not sure how prices compare currently

 

[Pendo]

Dropped my 2017 Levo off at the LBS for a service and was offered a ride on the new Giant. I gave it a try, liked the power delivery but found the motor noisy.
I'll stick with the Levo but if I was looking for a new bike there are lots of good options out there.

 

[SA63]

I have a merida 900e and have ridden the 19 e-trance.. Both good and similar price point, yamaha motor note slightly lower pitch. I prefer the shimano display. Maybe the yamaha is a bit more powerful.
The Giants battery set up is aesthetically nicer.. I think the merida needs an update in the battery aesthetic. I ride an XL, and the giant I tried was a M so too small, but it seemed fine on the two sections I rode

 

[StevenM]

Hey Kernow
Commencal sold online and not by any lbs here in Australia. Very,very similar in spec and layout. However pricing another AU $1K over the MERIDA.

Pendo,
Lots of good options out there for sure. I can’t for the life of me go a Levo. Pricing is just stupid. What’s on the other bikes in the mix is all very similar, and in the Spesh line up is an extra 5 plus AU K to get the same “upgrades”. So a no for me. But it definitely has the market fooled.

SA63
Merida is a great bike and superb value, but yes does need a makeover. Think it will be coming in 2020.

My local bike shop didn’t have one in stock of the Giant when I went for a look. I travel for work and I dropped into a Giant shop 100 odd km away from home and they had one. In the flesh it looks superb...now leading the race. Just gotta have a spin on one I think. And the price I was offered was like ? wow...very attractive and worth the drive.

Cheers guys for all the feed back, keep it coming.

 

[outerlimits]

I looked at and rode so many bikes when making my decision.
The motor and it’s software had to be what I liked, no ifs or buts. After all, it’s not something you can upgrade. Same with the frame, had to suit my needs, no xc 100mm travel hardtail for this little black duck.

Everything else could be changed relatively easily, with the exception of the motor and frame.
There were some really well specd bikes out there. They were even cheaper and better specd than what I brought.

I got the Levo in the end, as nothing compared to the motor and available software. And the frame was spot on for my needs. Not everything is the best component wise but it still does a bloody good job.
Get the frame and motor right, because you can’t change that without changing bikes, if it disappoints you.

 

[StevenM]

Good points Outerlimits

All geometry on the bikes are similar to mm’s - even to the spech..

Chainstay lenghts May not be and understand the pros and cons for that.

 

[Basy]

Do you ride or are you a casual weekend warrior?

 

[StevenM]

Sorry Basy

Bit lost on you definition?

Ride like Sam Hill? - no

Ride like Sam Pilgrim? - no

Do I hit greens to blacks - yes

Do I like the climb back up - ahhh no.

I ride local tracks around home and take my bike with me when I travel with work ( 2 weeks per month) when I’m in a area that has some trails.

Ohhh, n ?on the one sixty. Nice.

 

[Kernow]

Hey Kernow
Commencal sold online and not by any lbs here in Australia. Very,very similar in spec and layout. However pricing another AU $1K over the MERIDA.

Pendo,
Lots of good options out there for sure. I can’t for the life of me go a Levo. Pricing is just stupid. What’s on the other bikes in the mix is all very similar, and in the Spesh line up is an extra 5 plus AU K to get the same “upgrades”. So a no for me. But it definitely has the market fooled.

SA63
Merida is a great bike and superb value, but yes does need a makeover. Think it will be coming in 2020.

My local bike shop didn’t have one in stock of the Giant when I went for a look. I travel for work and I dropped into a Giant shop 100 odd km away from home and they had one. In the flesh it looks superb...now leading the race. Just gotta have a spin on one I think. And the price I was offered was like ? wow...very attractive and worth the drive.

Cheers guys for all the feed back, keep it coming.

That’s a surprise , the Merida is quite expensive here , and commencal one of the best value bikes .
If a makeover means an integrated battery that’s a major negative for so many reasons in my book

 

[Pendo]

Pendo,
Lots of good options out there for sure. I can’t for the life of me go a Levo. Pricing is just stupid. What’s on the other bikes in the mix is all very similar, and in the Spesh line up is an extra 5 plus AU K to get the same “upgrades”. So a no for me. But it definitely has the market fooled.

Totally agree about the pricing, other manufacturers offer similar for much less.
Found this video interesting at 5:56 they briefly talk about cheaper bikes they have reviewed.
Have noticed a few second hand Levos on Gumtree going for a reasonable price but for not much more you could buy new of another brand.
Seems Merida owners are a happy lot, have come across a few owners on Aussie trails, as well as Haibike owners.

 

[outerlimits]

I did ride a Merida with the Shimano steps motor. It was very well specd, rode awesome and I liked it very very much.
When I reached the 25kmh mark, it was like the brakes were pulled on, which totally upset the flow of the trail I was on. I hated this. Pitty because it was an awesome bike, awesome tyres, Pikes up front ect ect.

The Levo tapers off the power as it reaches the limit. Then when the power cuts at the limit, the sprag clutch totally disconnects the motor from the driveline. This all makes the transition seemingly seamless. You don’t have that drag of spinning a motor with no power and that extra drag, on your legs.
Sure you can bypass speed limiters, but at what cost to your bike warranty ?

The levo pedals just like a normal bike when the battery goes flat. It’s just heavier like all ebikes. It is all very tuneable too with each mode infantly adjustable via the Specialized app. And there are a few other 3rd party apps available that add a wile other range of tuneability.

The 2019 levo has just been released, so you may get a good deal on a 2018 bike.


In the end, ride as many as you can, and choose what suits you and you budget. It’s a big chunk of change, and you have to be happy with it in the end. Research is key

 

[Kernow]

I did ride a Merida with the Shimano steps motor. It was very well specd, rode awesome and I liked it very very much.
When I reached the 25kmh mark, it was like the brakes were pulled on, which totally upset the flow of the trail I was on. I hated this. Pitty because it was an awesome bike, awesome tyres, Pikes up front ect ect.

The Levo tapers off the power as it reaches the limit. Then when the power cuts at the limit, the sprag clutch totally disconnects the motor from the driveline. This all makes the transition seemingly seamless. You don’t have that drag of spinning a motor with no power and that extra drag, on your legs.
Sure you can bypass speed limiters, but at what cost to your bike warranty ?

The levo pedals just like a normal bike when the battery goes flat. It’s just heavier like all ebikes. It is all very tuneable too with each mode infantly adjustable via the Specialized app. And there are a few other 3rd party apps available that add a wile other range of tuneability.

The 2019 levo has just been released, so you may get a good deal on a 2018 bike.


In the end, ride as many as you can, and choose what suits you and you budget. It’s a big chunk of change, and you have to be happy with it in the end. Research is key

Dunno what you experienced there the shimano disconnects totally same as the brose , there’s no motor drag after the limiter .and pedals as a normal bike without the motor What you probably felt was the difference in power at the cut off level , as you say the Levo is tapering off

 

[outerlimits]

Dunno what you experienced there the shimano disconnects totally same as the brose , there’s no motor drag after the limiter .and pedals as a normal bike without the motor What you probably felt was the difference in power at the cut off level , as you say the Levo is tapering off

I believe it uses an internal freewheeling sprocket, which only function Is to allow the cranks to spin backward. This is important for when the motor runs on a little after you stop peddling. This the cranks don’t turn with the motor. However when forward pedal pressure is applied it all hooks up regardless if the engine has power or not. Thus you feel the drag.
The Brose is fitted with 2 Sprag clutches and is totally different in its operation.

 

[crazyethnic]

I was in the same boat as you Steve, the thing was the levo was the last of a group of bikes I test rode and I had it for a weekend and Monday morning I went in and ordered a levo carbon comp that's how impressed with it I was.