Mullet musings

[mintyjim]

I’m contemplating a new e-bike. I have a couple of must haves, specifically a mullet and a removable battery.
I want a mullet because I prefer them and the steep, technical stuff I love is better, for me, on a mullet because of my shortish legs and tyre buzz.
Ideally I want a removable battery because I travel most weeks and I could keep the bike in my car and charge the battery in the hotel room.
Candidates so far are the new Trek Rail+, an outgoing Levo Turbo and, erm, that’s it!
My ideal budget is £5k tops, I don’t care about specification because I’ll build what I want from existing kit/bikes.

Yes the new Rail+ is a bit challenging aesthetically but I don’t really care about that, it certainly looked better in the flesh!

Any suggestions on what should be considered?
Cheers

 

[steve_sordy]

Check out if the Merida e160 range meets your spec. My 2021 does, but I have not checked the newest offerings.

 

[mintyjim]

I’m thinking base Levo Turbo at £3800 in S4 or a Trek Rail+ 5 at £5000.
Levo has loads better spec if I need to shift kit, but I would need to upgrade the rear shock. I have a decent shock that drops straight into Rail+.

 

[mintyjim]

Check out if the Merida e160 range meets your spec. My 2021 does, but I have not checked the newest offerings.

That’s a good shout, is it still Shimano I wonder. I’m never going near Shimano motors due to inability to repair, the massive turds.

 

[Bomble]

Whyte Kado can be mulletted

 

[Mister cube]

I’m thinking base Levo Turbo at £3800 in S4 or a Trek Rail+ 5 at £5000.
Levo has loads better spec if I need to shift kit, but I would need to upgrade the rear shock. I have a decent shock that drops straight into Rail+.

Go for the trek,i know quite a few people with levo,s and they have had nothing but trouble from them,i also think the new treks are a better quality build

 

[Sparkomatic]

Can I throw another bike into the mix? Giant reign E+. There's some killer deals on them right now. I also have short legs & the geometry fits extremely well for me, it's the best fitting bike I've ever ridden. Fits your criteria too.

 

[Waynemarlow]

Everything you want and at £2.5k

Lapierre thought?

Hi all, long time no see. Been enjoying my 2019 Focus Jam2 but might be time to move on! Seen this Lapierre Overvolt AM 6.7 for £2.5K Lapierre Overvolt AM 6.7 Electric Full Suspension Mountain Bike Silver Had a Lapierre before my Focus and it did the job. Anyone got any comments good or bad...

www.emtbforums.com

 

[RichMorr]

I purchased the Levo last year and touch wood it’s been rock solid never missed a beat, I upgraded the hell out of it but with a specialized concept store on my doorstep if there is any motor issues specialized has a good reputation to get things fixed quickly.

Another reason for my purchase is that after the 2 year motor warranty I know people like @Bearing Man and his ebike motor centre will get me back on the trails without breaking the bank as I’m wanting the bike to last a good number of years.

 

[Plummet]

Yeah, I recently when down the mullet/removable battery rabbit hole. I too travel an on occassion need to take the battery out to charge in hotel rooms.
I also wanted 170mm+ travel.

There isn't many mullet/removable battery options around.

I was unlucky enough to have a head on with a car on my e-bike but lucky enough walk away with bruising and an insurance payout.

So i am going all in on a Crestline S-180. It is eye wateringly expensive but is essentially the holy grail of e bikes for me.
Mullet option, Bosch Geb 5 more, 400,600,800 battery options plus range extenders plus removable batteries.

S 180 Classic Edition – Crestline Bikes

crestlinebikes.com

 

[Zero cool]

YT Decoy MX, big sale on at the moment.

 

[Plummet]

Side note.

I am all in for mullet on all my bikes....

 

[Mister cube]

Side note.

I am all in for mullet on all my bikes....

View attachment 156398

That candy red is the mutts!

 

[mintyjim]

Thank god I’m not alone!!

I’ve just seen this and for spec/price I can almost get past the headset cable tourism shite:

Cube Stereo Hybrid One77 HPC SLX 800 Electric Bike 2025 Blackline

<span>A bike that's truly at home in big mountain settings must be able to climb and descend equally well. With its Bosch drive, carbon frame and carefully selected components, the Stereo Hybrid ONE77 HPC SLX 800 ticks all the right boxes</span>

www.paulscycles.co.uk

 

[RichMorr]

Thank god I’m not alone!!

I’ve just seen this and for spec/price I can almost get past the headset cable tourism shite:

Cube Stereo Hybrid One77 HPC SLX 800 Electric Bike 2025 Blackline

<span>A bike that's truly at home in big mountain settings must be able to climb and descend equally well. With its Bosch drive, carbon frame and carefully selected components, the Stereo Hybrid ONE77 HPC SLX 800 ticks all the right boxes</span>

www.paulscycles.co.uk

Wow, that is some bike for the money

 

[steve_sordy]

That’s a good shout, is it still Shimano I wonder. I’m never going near Shimano motors due to inability to repair, the massive turds.

I have no idea if it's still Shimano, I haven't looked.
I have had Shimano motors (e8000 and then an EP8) since Jan'19, so just over six years. Never had a single problem with either. My e8000 was fine when I sold it, never had anything back from the buyer. My EP8 still has BB bearings without play and the motor has no unwanted noises. Battery still absolutely fine.

I suspect that what I have said won't change your mind, but I thought that it was worth adding my actual experience to counter what people may think who have never owned one. I agree that things would be perfect if Shimano motors could be readily serviced with their co-operation (they can be serviced, look on the Forum), or that their warranty claims experience on the media was perfect. But that's not how it is, and so far I can live with it.

 

[Plummet]

That candy red is the mutts!

Oh yeah. Deviate Claymore. Such a glorious bike to ride down on. Not so much riding uphill.

 

[HandsomeDanNZ]

I have no idea if it's still Shimano, I haven't looked.
I have had Shimano motors (e8000 and then an EP8) since Jan'19, so just over six years. Never had a single problem with either. My e8000 was fine when I sold it, never had anything back from the buyer. My EP8 still has BB bearings without play and the motor has no unwanted noises. Battery still absolutely fine.

I suspect that what I have said won't change your mind, but I thought that it was worth adding my actual experience to counter what people may think who have never owned one. I agree that things would be perfect if Shimano motors could be readily serviced with their co-operation (they can be serviced, look on the Forum), or that their warranty claims experience on the media was perfect. But that's not how it is, and so far I can live with it.

eOne-Sixty still runs the EP801, but the eOne-Eighty is running the Bosch CX Gen 5.

eONE-EIGHTY 700 - MERIDA BIKES

eONE-EIGHTY 700

www.merida-bikes.com

Meanwhile the SL version of the eOne-Sixty is running the Bosch SX mid-power motor

eONE-SIXTY SL 6000 - MERIDA BIKES

eONE-SIXTY SL 6000

www.merida-bikes.com

As far as mullets go, this is a cracker (eOne-Eighty):

 

[Plummet]

eOne-Sixty still runs the EP801, but the eOne-Eighty is running the Bosch CX Gen 5.

eONE-EIGHTY 700 - MERIDA BIKES

eONE-EIGHTY 700

www.merida-bikes.com

Meanwhile the SL version of the eOne-Sixty is running the Bosch SX mid-power motor

eONE-SIXTY SL 6000 - MERIDA BIKES

eONE-SIXTY SL 6000

www.merida-bikes.com

As far as mullets go, this is a cracker (eOne-Eighty):
View attachment 156428

E160's you cant easily take the batteries out. E180 27kg.... yikes thats one heavy pig.
My Pole is 25.5kg and that sucks for weight. Add a drink bottle, 26.5kg, and winter much its pushing 30kg. Too heavy.

 

[HandsomeDanNZ]

E160's you cant easily take the batteries out. E180 27kg.... yikes thats one heavy pig.
My Pole is 25.5kg and that sucks for weight. Add a drink bottle, 26.5kg, and winter much its pushing 30kg. Too heavy.

Depends on the version of e160 you go for - the alloy framed ones apparently all have easily removable batteries, while the Carbon framed ones don't.

Re the weight of the e180 - yeah it's heavy, but it's designed to be a freeride/DH sled, so it all depends on your needs, I guess. I'd buy one if I were in the market.

 

[Plummet]

Depends on the version of e160 you go for - the alloy framed ones apparently all have easily removable batteries, while the Carbon framed ones don't.

Re the weight of the e180 - yeah it's heavy, but it's designed to be a freeride/DH sled, so it all depends on your needs, I guess. I'd buy one if I were in the market.

Ironically freeride and dh sleds suck the most being too heavy. My pole was exactly that 190mm front and rear.

The big issue is above motor cut out when you need to pedal and pop to make a big features. The bike is just too heavy and sucks to pedal. There are some dh features i just can't make of the pole that i can on my dh or enduro bike.

 

[w2ge]

Canyon Spectral On

 

[B1rdie]

I like mullets, and love shimano.

 

[whitymon]

Ironically freeride and dh sleds suck the most being too heavy. My pole was exactly that 190mm front and rear.

The big issue is above motor cut out when you need to pedal and pop to make a big features. The bike is just too heavy and sucks to pedal. There are some dh features i just can't make of the pole that i can on my dh or enduro bike.

I am on the same situation and my ebike is only 22.8kg.

There is also something very tricky with such e-bike, the heavier they are the more you need speed to clear, technique is not enough, for me at least, which also generate some tricky situation.

Regardless of need to pedal, what I discover too is that the need of speed is one thing but when you reach a huge speed to only clear a feature then you better believe you have the skill to handle that speed, roots, lines etc put me off quite a few times.

 

[Bogdan_CH]

New Ghost E-Eiot. There are quite a few versions but you can start at around 5000 euros and upgrade as you want from there .

 

[Dave238]

I am considering a mullet ebike. I have an emtb with 29s now, 1700mi. I wanted to know if technical climbing is negatively affected going to mullet (has same motor), with front end wanting to lift more?

 

[whitymon]

I am considering a mullet ebike. I have an emtb with 29s now, 1700mi. I wanted to know if technical climbing is negatively affected going to mullet (has same motor), with front end wanting to lift more?

Usually yes, center of gravity do change and you are more rear positioned when seated.

The front wheel tends to wash so you need to be careful especially if you apply too much torque. You will need to move your body to compensate.

That said on a full power, you will not really be impaired by a mullet, there is tons of power to mitigate that.

 

[Bogdan_CH]

Talking about Geo, this last shootout on Brian Cahil channel is spot on. Hope you don't mind sharing it :

 

[Plummet]

I am considering a mullet ebike. I have an emtb with 29s now, 1700mi. I wanted to know if technical climbing is negatively affected going to mullet (has same motor), with front end wanting to lift more?

Depends on the bike you have. If you don't have flip chip then you will make the bb 10mm lower and loose be 1° slacker.
But if you want a flip chip to adjust the geo then no change.