New guy - bike choice?

Slapdash

Member
Aug 1, 2022
12
51
Norway
Hi all, new guy here.

Before this month, I last rode a bicycle about 20 years ago, was quite into it and had BMX's which I even raced a few times. Never been on a full sus, only hardtails with like 100 mm travel :D Fast forward, got into Adventure motorcycle riding, and that led to also doing Enduro riding - sand dunes, desert, trails, all kinds of areas. Moved to a different country and now this is seemingly a little more difficult to just randomly explore with a motorcycle than what I had.
Recently rented a hardtail mtb for the hell of it and had a blast just riding around the area on holiday - uphills were a dreary afair but downhills and little ops and stuff was great fun, and I wondered if this could not scratch the itch of the Enduro motorcyles a little bit.
So...researching and talking to people a colleague said that he just tried out an ebike and so we got talking. He is mainly looking for something to double as commuter etc. but then I thought hey, what are the electric mountain bike scene like.... and here I am. Looking for some summer fun to get back in shape and have something I can grow and get better at.

Currently deciding between an Orbea Wild FS H20, Trek Rail 5 or a Focus Sam2 6.7. Not sure which one to choose - and this is where I can use some advice.

All have local or nearish dealers, the TRek and Focus are more or less the same price. The Orbea is actually a bit cheaper so that I can actually inlcude a good helmet, gloves and some knee pads.

Im currently leaning towards the Focus merely for what seems to be better travel, can make it a mullet which is a good option I read. I am 1.85m so it seems a L size is good using the measurements. Sitting and fitting on bikes that are close is an issue. No one has these bikes in stock that are close, however there is stock of all about 200km or so away. Localy dealers will service and can swap out and deal with Bosch motors especially pretty easily though.

Any advice appreciated.
 
Last edited:

UVRail

Member
Sep 13, 2020
34
8
London
I wouldn’t recommend the Rail 5 particularly. The motor, battery and frame are all excellent, but there’s major cost cutting elsewhere. In particular, the SX drivetrain fell apart for me, and I also ended up replacing the brakes, tyres, grips and various other items. If you’re going to go Trek, I’d venture a little bit higher in the range if you can…
 

Stihldog

Handheld Power Tool
Subscriber
Jun 10, 2020
3,529
4,949
Coquitlam, BC
Another vote for the Rail. The level of Rail really depends on your intentions or terrain. I have a Rail 9.7 for the techy trails here, but I use a PF Hardtail for the tame trails or as a commuter.
 

Slapdash

Member
Aug 1, 2022
12
51
Norway
I wouldn’t recommend the Rail 5 particularly. The motor, battery and frame are all excellent, but there’s major cost cutting elsewhere. In particular, the SX drivetrain fell apart for me, and I also ended up replacing the brakes, tyres, grips and various other items. If you’re going to go Trek, I’d venture a little bit higher in the range if you can…

Thanks - yeah I think thats why i eventually settled on the Focus Sam2 - its components stock seemed a bit better overall, plus in stock in my size. Trek in my size said 2023 order status. The Canyon Spectral:ON was same budget - nice that its full carbon but the travel was a lot less and I just preferred the dealer backup here locally over the Shimano - which seems to be ok, but a little more of an issue.

Should get it tomorrow :)
 

Slapdash

Member
Aug 1, 2022
12
51
Norway
Another vote for the Rail. The level of Rail really depends on your intentions or terrain. I have a Rail 9.7 for the techy trails here, but I use a PF Hardtail for the tame trails or as a commuter.

Interestingly i almost went for a hardtail Haibike - but then when I took the rental hardtail a few places i decided I need a rear sus. If I was going non electric I would probably have gone hardtail.

I ordered the helmet - ordered after fitting ... Bell Super Air R Mips - in "Green/Infrared" :D Should also be there tomorrow.
 

Stihldog

Handheld Power Tool
Subscriber
Jun 10, 2020
3,529
4,949
Coquitlam, BC
Interestingly i almost went for a hardtail Haibike - but then when I took the rental hardtail a few places i decided I need a rear sus. If I was going non electric I would probably have gone hardtail.

I ordered the helmet - ordered after fitting ... Bell Super Air R Mips - in "Green/Infrared" :D Should also be there tomorrow.
I definitely like the full-sus. Sometimes I wish the Powerfly was a full-sus but the Rail does the job for those “special” trips.
 

irie

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Subscriber
May 2, 2022
2,565
2,616
Chichester, W.Sussex, UK
I wouldn’t recommend the Rail 5 particularly. The motor, battery and frame are all excellent, but there’s major cost cutting elsewhere. In particular, the SX drivetrain fell apart for me, and I also ended up replacing the brakes, tyres, grips and various other items. If you’re going to go Trek, I’d venture a little bit higher in the range if you can…

We have two 2022 Rail 5's purchased in January this year - they both have Shimano Deore drive trains.
 
Last edited:

Mat146

New Member
Sep 7, 2022
1
0
Portsmouth UK
Interestingly i almost went for a hardtail Haibike - but then when I took the rental hardtail a few places i decided I need a rear sus. If I was going non electric I would probably have gone hardtail.

I ordered the helmet - ordered after fitting ... Bell Super Air R Mips - in "Green/Infrared" :D Should also be there tomorrow.

Im in exactly the same position but yet to commit to a bike. Do you have a 1 month review of the Sam2 6.7 yet:) how are you getting on?
 

Slapdash

Member
Aug 1, 2022
12
51
Norway
Im in exactly the same position but yet to commit to a bike. Do you have a 1 month review of the Sam2 6.7 yet:) how are you getting on?
Sorry for super late reply :eek:- never saw this!

Still loving the Sam2 after almost 2 years now.

It really is built like a tank. Not one thing has rattled come loose, failed or felt flimsy. I'm so glad I went for it (Aluminum frame - trail rated 5) instead of something a bit lighter but didn't have that rating. The places I end up going (which I thought I'd go but didn't expect it to be this rough in places) is quite rooted and rocky and bombing down with this bike is a blast.

Things I thought I would have to replace almost immediately was the fork shock and brakes.
So far they have been great. I have tried out a bike with a ZEB front and that felt more supple for sure but the Domain is doing the job nicely. Really nicely actually but i do use about 80-90% of the forks on most of the trails. I have had it set up for my weight etc. The shock....no complaints either even though its a bit budget. I have hadthe suspension set up for my weight etc. So I'll ride them until I really go more crazy downhill or it fails.

In terms of the brakes - I love the modulation but I have felt the need to maybe upgrade the pads or the brakes. The 220 rotors are great and have not overheated them but I think with the weight of the bike and me with backpack and so on the Guide T's are maybe not giving enough stopping power.
The only thing that is irritating me a bit is the Bosch Perion but it does the job and haven't let me down yet. It just looks a bit old-school.

So yeah I think in terms of frame, geometry, motor and battery its a great platform to build on if you like going down and want a stable platform in the berms etc. One could go mullet easy to make it a bit easier in the turns I guess as you have to wrangle it a bit more with the 29/29 but I have been able to compare with other bikes and didn't feel I gave up too much there compared to the wins downhill and over rocks and roots.

Uphill...this is where it wasn't as good as the Orbea Wild or Specialized Levo I could try. They definitely have the edge there when keeping the line uphill. When its really steep the Focus with the 170mm domain also has a tendency to want to lift the front wheel a bit more than those bikes or wonder the front a bit - you have to be a little bit more committed.
I did change the handlebar to a Spank Spoon 50R rise so that doesn't help me but it more than makes up for it in comfort on regular rides and going downhill. So I'm happy with the setup for now at least.
Pic from a recent ride. :)

brave_BOVLoEXdiE.jpg


What did you end up getting?
 
Last edited:

EMTB Forums

Since 2018

The World's largest electric mountain bike community.

554K
Messages
27,999
Members
Join Our Community

Latest articles


Top