Mid power emtb-forever regretted?

[The undecided]

Hi to you good people
I returned my unused Whyte e160s for a refund in July as my wife just couldn’t get to grips with the sheer weight of it.What a cracking bike otherwise that ticked MANY boxes.
Due to security reasons it had to reside in our house and she couldn’t physically move it around whenever she needed to if I wasn’t in.
Having previously demo’ing and enjoying an Orange Phase Evo ltd
I pulled the trigger and bought one on sale.
Six months and only 68 miles later
(I’ve mothballed it for winter) I’m now better clued up on most things Emtb
and realise what a huge mistake I made buying a mid power bike with a non removable battery irrespective of the fact it rides and handles fantastic.
Does anyone else here bitterly regret making such an expensive mistake buying “similar”due to ignorance/lack of choice and are you honestly happy with your mid/low powered purchase.

 

[JP-NZ]

Interesting, what is it you don't like about the Orange?

I have a Trek Rail and in the 3,300km Ive done 95% has been in Eco & Tour+ hence a mid power bike is definitely in my future. My biggest dislike is the weight of the Rail on the trail, the rest of the bike is fantastic. I am fit enough to not need a full fat bike and think I'd be more comfortable on an EX-E or Rise etc

 

[Renton_Yorkshire]

Hi to you good people
I returned my unused Whyte e160s for a refund in July as my wife just couldn’t get to grips with the sheer weight of it.What a cracking bike otherwise that ticked MANY boxes.
Due to security reasons it had to reside in our house and she couldn’t physically move it around whenever she needed to if I wasn’t in.
Having previously demo’ing and enjoying an Orange Phase Evo ltd
I pulled the trigger and bought one on sale.
Six months and only 68 miles later
(I’ve mothballed it for winter) I’m now better clued up on most things Emtb
and realise what a huge mistake I made buying a mid power bike with a non removable battery irrespective of the fact it rides and handles fantastic.
Does anyone else here bitterly regret making such an expensive mistake buying “similar”due to ignorance/lack of choice and are you honestly happy with your mid/low powered purchase.

I'm also on a Rail, only since September. Yes it's unwieldy when it's not moving or being lifted, but aside from that I love it. Took a good few rides to get accustomed to it compared to my Fuel (and I was wondering if I'd made the right choice!), but its 'emtb' mode all the way for me, and look forward to getting out any time I can.

I do swap to the Fuel every now and again, to get some proper exercise - but it never takes too long on a ride to start wondering why I left the Rail at "Renton Retreat", with my legs screaming that enough's enough

How many rides constitutes 68 miles out of interest? Maybe still getting used to how best to get the most out of it perhaps?

 

[irie]

Wife has a 2022 alloy Rail. She's a fit older 5'7" medical pussykin who works out so has no problem with the weight of the bike. Screams when going down hill and only uses the brakes in emergency.

 

[Dax]

I am over the moon with my mid/low powered bike with a non removable battery. It’s all about how it rides and handles.

What don’t you like about the orange?

 

[Tooks]

I started off with a ‘full fat’ (for the time - 2019) EMTB with 70Nm, a 22.5kg Jam2. I have really enjoyed riding it, and have upgraded it quite a bit since then.

I also ride non-EMTB mountain bikes, and always enjoy the lightness compared to the powered bike. I also picked up a Turbo Levo and whilst I thought the handling, motor and extra power was great, it was even heavier at 24kg.

I started to think that a bike somewhere in between the Jam2 and my manual full suspension MTB would be worth exploring, and settled on a Turbo Levo SL, with only 35Nm.

Bottom line for me and my riding, it’s brilliant and it’s the bike I usually pick to take out now. I ride mostly alone though, so it doesn’t matter if I take a bit longer to get up the steepest hill, and I can go at my own pace which undoubtedly would be slower than a full powered EMTB.

It’s ‘only’ 4kg lighter than the Jam2, but feels so much lighter to ride, and with assist off is the closest I’ve come on an EMTB to a normal pedal bike. It’s also noticeably easier to lift onto a bike stand etc and is the best of both worlds for me.

If I could only have one bike, it would be the lighter Levo SL for sure.

 

[Suns_PSD]

I don't have much full power experience, but I ride in chunky 'hills', not proper mountains. Also, I'm a strong climber. So don't really need a full power. Lastly, I still love riding bikes so it's good to keep the legs working hard on every ride. For me, my Relay is really ideal.

Everyone that has time on mid power AND full power e-bikes, states that the handling difference is quite large in reality.

I'm getting older and know that in time I'll move to a full power, but I REALLY want that FF to weigh less than 46#s ready to ride with dual coil suspension, gravity tires, tools & pedals, just like my Relay weighs. Sadly, I think this is an impossible goal. I don't think anyone has gotten a properly set up Amflow under 49#s, and I'd consider that frame a step backwards so I'm going to gain more weight there.

 

[irie]

Battery weight is the biggest issue.

 

[The undecided]

Deep down I do actually like my Orange,but……
I’m never done reading on the internet how much dislike there appears to be for anything not ff and with non removable batteries.
I appreciate that we all like different things but seeing so many negative comments online has probably given me buyers remorse tbh,but its
heartening to read here tonight that there ARE people who are loving their mid/low power bikes.
Maybe we need to shout their praises louder?
And,I really need to get a PROPER ff demo-not just around a dealers car park to hopefully put my (expensive) purchase concerns to bed.
Thanks for your replies