Looking for my first E-Bike

[Denis]

Hi
Im new to your forums and I am wanting some help regarding purchasing a new e-bike full suspension.
At the moment I have looked at a 2019 haibike Xduro Allmountain 3 and also a 2019 Merida 160-600 what are your thoughts please?
My budget is £3500 max
Any other models I should be looking at?
Thanks

 

[Max-E]

Wait for the new Bosch. Then ride this, a Shimano motor’d bike and a Specialized with the Levo motor - see what you think. IMHO most EMTBs of a similar style/travel are pretty sorted now but the motor and software really separates them.

 

[Mikerb]

I know you set your budget at £3500 but you may be persuaded to increase that a little when you compare specs with more expensive bikes! I recently bought my first E Bike. I tried a Merida 160 and liked it.….the 800 is probably the best value in the range. I also tried a couple of other Shina motored bikes. I ended up buying a Levo Comp and apart from the overall feel and geometry of the bike feeling good, the Brose motor really stood out as a class act. It is quiet, tuneable via an app and there is no drag when the motor cuts out at 25kph....in fact I can quite happily ride the Levo with the motor switched off. I'm sure the other motors like Bosch and Shimano will catch up but at the moment in my opinion the Brose is stand out better. That said, if your riding is all under the 25kph limit and the bike you really like is Shimano or Bosch powered I'm sure you will still love it.
So the motor is influencial, but no motor will compensate for getting a bike with the wrong geometry for your type of riding, or for your body size. So check out the geometry of bikes you like...……..in the end there is no replacement for actually trying out a bike...….and there lies another problem! Direct sales brands provide fantastic value for money but you may not be able to try before you buy. E Bikes are also not as simple as standard MTBs so personally I would buy from a shop rather than online. Then it is just a matter of whether the bike you like is in stock...or how long you are prepared to wait for a delivery. At or near your price range I would check out the base level Levo, the Vitus Sommet VR, Giant Trance, Merida One Sixty 800.

 

[Max-E]

You can get the Vitus E from Wiggle on a 30 day trial.

 

[MattyB]

The Thok Mig is also good value and Thok do seem to stand out from the direct sales giants in having extremely good customer service...

Thok Mig customer care - EMTB Forums

 

[C2VNY]

You can get the Vitus E from Wiggle on a 30 day trial.

This ?

 

[steve_sordy]

Try to ride as many different bikes as you can. You will learn what you like and don't like. Do your homework first and know what to look for. Don't forget that you are not just buying an mtb , you are buying one with added "e". Therefore there are other things to look out for. Things like drag, torque, battery size, removable or not, ease of removal, motor noise, what happens to the torque as your cadence changes, what happens at 15.7 mph (25kph), weight. There are others and my more experienced colleagues on this Forum will add to that list. But don't forget that it is still a mountain bike and it has to a) fit you, b) you enjoy riding it, c) you like the look of it.

I test rode more than half a dozen and actively liked a few, actively disliked a few. I rode one that I thought would be good, but at first did not inspire me at all when riding it. Then I took off my emtb hat and put on my mtb hat. I changed the tyre pressures, moved all the levers, moved the stem spacers to below the stem, moved the saddle, and altered the suspension settings. The bike came alive and I had more fun with that bike than any other emtb I had ridden. I bought one.

 

[SiDobsFig]

Same as above. Can't stress to get out and try out as many as you can. Demo days are great if you have one close enough and make sure you book the Bike/Bikes you want to try.

I ride a 2014 Spec Enduro MTB and tried the Levo and was set on it after riding a few bikes and then took an Orange Alpine 6E out and it just clicked. After a year I can say I made the right choice as it makes me smile and laugh when I am on it.

Take your time and (as I did) save money as you try them out. I went for a top spec bike after saving and assessing for a year.

You are starting right by asking questions and discussing different options. Good luck and happy riding.

 

[Drondon]

My suggestion if you haven’t rode a specialized levo . You need too!! My 2 cents .

 

[aarfeldt]

Try out a Focus Jam2.
Shimano motor, fair components, I can go about 50km on a single integrated battery (extra can be added if needed).
Within your budget.

 

[MattyB]

My suggestion if you haven’t rode a specialized levo . You need too!! My 2 cents .

Not on a budget of £3500 he doesn’t... ?

 

[Denis]

Same as above. Can't stress to get out and try out as many as you can. Demo days are great if you have one close enough and make sure you book the Bike/Bikes you want to try.

I ride a 2014 Spec Enduro MTB and tried the Levo and was set on it after riding a few bikes and then took an Orange Alpine 6E out and it just clicked. After a year I can say I made the right choice as it makes me smile and laugh when I am on it.

Take your time and (as I did) save money as you try them out. I went for a top spec bike after saving and assessing for a year.

You are starting right by asking questions and discussing different options. Good luck and happy riding.

Hi
I have rode a few different bikes up to now
Levo comp, Merida 160, Giant Stance E+1
Focus Jam2 6.8 to get a feel for the one.
Just as you start to make a decision new scenarios are just around the corner, Haibike Flyon new Bosch motor Battery Capacity etc etc.
I have come to the decision that it’s worse than choosing a new car!
I originally set my budget at £3000-3500 and the more you research that you do there is always something a little better for a few pounds more.
Here’s to hoping in the next few weeks I’ll have a e-bike as well as my trusted old Merida.
Thanks for your advice
Denis

 

[MitchF]

I was in the same place recently Denis, so much to consider, brand/spec/motor/size/options ?

All those weeks I was missing “ride time”?

“It’s not like you have to pick one bike forever” ?

 

[Jamsxr]

Vitus, Commencal and YT were top of my list. The Shimano motor is excellent, and despite some comments on here, I don’t experience any drag or much noise.

Commencal have a sale on at the moment, and based on my short term experience and the forum feedback, they seem very reliable. You need to spend 2x to get the same components on a Levo and it will spend most of the time back at the dealer ?

Just pull the trigger, ultimately getting out on the bike is what it’s all about. There will always be something around the corner.

 

[Denis]

I was in the same place recently Denis, so much to consider, brand/spec/motor/size/options ?

All those weeks I was missing “ride time”?

“It’s not like you have to pick one bike forever” ?

Thanks to all members for your words of wisdom.
After all my research on this forum and reading owners reviews, watching you-tube video’s etc and also riding many demo’s I have finally made a decision which I will collect on Saturday.
I have purchased a 2019 Levo Comp ??
Hope it serves me well ??

 

[MitchF]

Congratulations , if you’re ever in North Wales give me a shout.??