Is a nice Emtb a bad idea to take camping?

[Audioi]

I really want a emtb but I am wondering if it's way overkill for fire roads and light trails? What are your thoughts? Thinking of Specialized Levo, Fezzari Wire Peak Pro, Orbea Wild. Wife thinks I am nuts!

 

[Polar]

I really want a emtb but I am wondering if it's way overkill for fire roads and light trails? What are your thoughts? Thinking of Specialized Levo, Fezzari Wire Peak Pro, Orbea Wild. Wife thinks I am nuts!

No it's not overkill because a full suspension ebike is more comfortable than a half tail or non suspension.
Maybe a Specialized Turbo Tero where you can choose between half and full suspension is what you should look at.

 

[Audioi]

Wow, 132 views and one response... NO comments about being crazy even!

 

[Paulquattro]

Are you asking about the emtb in specific or just the full sus vs hardtail debate
The above answer seems to be the later but i took your question as an assistance question not a suspension question
Either way if you want one go and buy one
I cant see you regretting it

PS what do women know LOL

 

[steve_sordy]

Get an emtb.
Keep the bike in your tent when you are sleeping.
Do not leave the bike in your tent when you are out and about.

 

[Audioi]

Are you asking about the emtb in specific or just the full sus vs hardtail debate
The above answer seems to be the later but i took your question as an assistance question not a suspension question
Either way if you want one go and buy one
I cant see you regretting it

PS what do women know LOL

I think everyone believes suspension is a good thing. My real question should be am I spending too much $$$$ to take camping. In the end I would be buying a pair, one for me and one for the boss so it won't be cheap. The boss says I always start with good intensions then forget about the cost and go crazy. She might be onto something?!

 

[Audioi]

Get an emtb.
Keep the bike in your tent when you are sleeping.
Do not leave the bike in your tent when you are out and about.

We have a pickup truck (USA) and camp trailer.

 

[Plummet]

You do realize that you have come onto a e bike forum asking if you should ebike.

That's like asking a bunch of sex addicts "should I have sex"

The answer is always going to be he'll yes.

So..... with that in mind.

He'll yes, Buy e bikes!
Then rude them like you stole them.

 

[Audioi]

You do realize that you have come onto a e bike forum asking if you should ebike.

That's like asking a bunch of sex addicts "should I have sex"

The answer is always going to be he'll yes.

So..... with that in mind.

He'll yes, Buy e bikes!
Then rude them like you stole them.

Guess I should have known. Wonder if I will be the odd man out at the campsite... most have some heavy clunky e-bike that folds in half and weights a ton, that's just not my style.

 

[Diggin_Dirt]

I think most people just assume that isn't the place you bought the bike for. My wife and I travel with our ebikes and camp often. I have a Karbon PowerLine full suspension and my wife has a Marin commuter and we have had no issues yet. The ebikes will turn heads, people are always interested in them. Might be worth looking at lightweight options with smaller batteries to make it easier to travel with as well. If there is not a ton of elevation you probably won't be burning through the battery life.

 

[A06]

My family does alot of camping, like at least once a month sometimes 2-3 times in the summer. We have a 34' trailer and a 2500 Ram so transport isnt a question.

I would suggest you at least match your group to the ability to be able to keep up and then decide from there if you would benefit from going head first into a "real emtb". Know your audience as this is a emtb forum so I wouldn't consider a folding ebike with a happy switch (throttle) to be the same.

I have a RM Altitude Power Play while my wife has an aventon step through commuter with a throttle and my boys have stacyc's. I can easily keep up with all of them while in Ludacris wherever they can go.

Beyond that its a question of where THEY can go as I can use my bike on trails when I want to actually ride and have fun however this is my hobby and my physical activity that keeps me sane. If riding outside of camping isn't on your list of objectives you can get a more then sufficient hub drive hardtail or similar to keep up and have fun with your camping group.

 

[A06]

A full suspension bike is a must .
What you can achieve on them is way beyond cycling so a hard tail will annoy you very quickly.
In fact from observation of hard tail ebikers they soon change them for full suspension.
Avoid specialised as they really problematic searching posts here and being in America I would recommend a Scott for you

If the OP is simply talking about fire roads and riding alongside others on folding ebikes they typicaly are not full sus. If I were to consider that route I would choose something like the RM Blizard with fat tires and throw cushcores in them run tubeless at a lower psi. More than enough cushion for gravel roads.

In any other application I fully agree just get full suspension, I merely wanted to keep within what I believe the OP was asking.

 

[srileo]

I have a Levo and got crazy about the whole bikepacking camping thing. I worked with the Levo ergonomics from trails to flats. It was good.
Then i bought an analog hardtail and took it out on long rides and realized that i did not like to needlessly huff and puff and that with a 700wh battery my levo was faster, more comfortable, and just more pleasurable to ride than analog. Dual suspension is a necessity if you want to do trail riding anyway so I’d get it.
Finally the only place that hardtails have an advantage is the plentiful rear racks. With the aeroe rack, that problem us solved for emtbs.

 

[Plummet]

Guess I should have known. Wonder if I will be the odd man out at the campsite... most have some heavy clunky e-bike that folds in half and weights a ton, that's just not my style.

Who the hell cares if you are. Blaze your own path. Those shitty heavy town and country ebikes are still expensive and nowhere near as good. Get the good stuff if you can afford it and ride. If you want to venture offroad into more mtb tracks you can.

 

[irie]

Yep I get that dude but 95% of ebikers I met that don't have full sus wish they did.

This ^^^

 

[Armor11]

I bought my wife a Giant Stance E+, exactly for this reason. Best decision ever. Full suspension, 29", enough battery for the amount of time you will spending on the bike, good price for spec's. And its more than enough bike to handle any trails she follows me onto. What ever you choose....... just go buy the bikes. You will not regret the decision.

 

[irie]

I bought my wife a Giant Stance E+, exactly for this reason. Best decision ever. Full suspension, 29", enough battery for the amount of time you will spending on the bike, good price for spec's. And its more than enough bike to handle any trails she follows me onto. What ever you choose....... just go buy the bikes. You will not regret the decision.

Indeed, good point made above.

Which is if the bike is at least as good as or better than the rider is then that is good enough (as long as it's the right colour for the laydees of course )

 

[michael_bc]

I really want a emtb but I am wondering if it's way overkill for fire roads and light trails? What are your thoughts? Thinking of Specialized Levo, Fezzari Wire Peak Pro, Orbea Wild. Wife thinks I am nuts!

That depends on the type of fire road and trail. Also, what does it have to do with camping?

Anyway, here's my thoughts.

When I got my first EMTB 3 years ago I was convinced I was going to stick to fire roads and light trails (also had no idea how gnarly a fire road can be in the Alps). Thank god I got a versatile bike because within months I was exploring black diamond trails all over the mountain. The addiction grows fast.

So that would be my input: go versatile.

Get a bike that works well for many things. That is: full suspension mid-travel.

Anything with 130-150mm travel will do. If you underbike (hard tail) you will regret it on those "light trails". If you overbike it will feel clumsy to maneuver.

You will not regret this purchase. Make sure to try the bike before you buy - especially for size.

 

[Expidia]

Just another angle to your question: If it was me I would not intitially buy as you say a nice ebike for camping and tooling around the fire roads and light trails with. I would first invest in one of those folding ebikes. Your cash outlay would be in the range of $799 to 1500 new per bike. But buy them used if possible. If buying used get one only a year or two old so you have a better chance of a good battery. I'd prefer something with wide tires for probably occassional muddy conditions. You will love the folding models for storing in your vehicle and still have room for all of your camping gear. They are lower to the ground, so if you buy two it's safer for your other rider. They are really a dime a dozen now on Facebook Market Place or Ebay. People that buy them new can't even sell them for 1/2 price right after they buy them, so their loss would be your gain. If you really get into ebiking then move up to one of those name brands like you mentioned in your post. As others have mentioned never leave them in your tent (what if a battery catches on fire) Always leave in your vehicle and cover them with a black curtain if it's an SUV, thieves are less likely to break in if they don't know what is under the curtain.. Example of a popular brand (also look at Lectric): Folding Electric Bikes for Adults | Fat Tire Folding Ebikes for Sale | Aventon

 

[steve_sordy]

................. As others have mentioned never leave them in your tent (what if a battery catches on fire) Always leave in your vehicle and cover them with a black curtain if it's an SUV, thieves are less likely to break in if they don't know what is under the curtain.. Example of a popular brand (also look at Lectric): Folding Electric Bikes for Adults | Fat Tire Folding Ebikes for Sale | Aventon

I was one of those saying keep the bike in your tent when sleeping. My viewpoint was security. If you have a big vehicle and people can't see what's in it, then I guess that is secure enough.

 

[Gavalar]

I really want a emtb but I am wondering if it's way overkill for fire roads and light trails? What are your thoughts? Thinking of Specialized Levo, Fezzari Wire Peak Pro, Orbea Wild. Wife thinks I am nuts!

Get rid of the wife.

 

[Gavalar]

Did you replace yours with a

Did you replace yours with a husband?

Windy Biker, what's your insinuation?

 

[rsyme]

I was one of those saying keep the bike in your tent when sleeping. My viewpoint was security. If you have a big vehicle and people can't see what's in it, then I guess that is secure enough.

Always choose a bike whose electrics are certified and tested to be safe- preferably Bosch

 

[Gavalar]

Always choose a bike whose electrics are certified and tested to be safe- preferably Bosch

Surely that's most because without the CE accreditation you shouldn't be buying it using it?

 

[rsyme]

Surely that's most because without the CE accreditation you shouldn't be buying it using it?

No - it’s because it’s the uncertified ones that are going on fire!

 

[Gavalar]

No - it’s because it’s the uncertified ones that are going on fire!

Which is what I said, to single out Bosch as a possible only company adhering to the EU rules is misleading, Bosch, Shimano, Fizua, Yamaha, Brose etc are all equally safe to use.

 

[jetskier973]

Do it.
You'll have a way nicer bike than one of those folding things. And you won't be limited to walking trails.

 

[rsyme]

Which is what I said, to single out Bosch as a possible only company adhering to the EU rules is misleading, Bosch, Shimano, Fizua, Yamaha, Brose etc are all equally safe to use.

I agree - I mentioned Bosch as an example the main thing is to buy certified

 

[sam.spoons]

I have a hardtail eMTB, an Orbea Urrun and love it. I totally see the attraction of full sus (and full power) but unless your are planning 'balls to the wall' downhills at speed the hardtail will have it covered. You already have the best form of rear suspension anyway, it's called 'legs'. Full sus on mostly smooth trails just makes you lazy (apart from the extra weight you are carting about) and that's before you factor the extra £1k a comparable FS bike will cost. So if you plan on serious mountain biking then I'd consider a FS bike carefully (I may well buy one next time) or if you want a limousine ride. For fire trails it's very much swings and roundabouts, HT + less weight, less money and less to go wrong, FS = more weight and more money but more comfort.

 

[CannonFodder]

That's like asking a bunch of sex addicts "should I have sex"

The answer is always going to be he'll yes.

Hang on I didn't know we had a choice,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,