So, did you keep or sell your non eMTB? Any regrets?

[Al-ec]

I'm sure this has been covered before, but I'm still in the honeymoon period and could do with some collective wisdom about whether people ever regularly rode the non eMTB they hung onto or whether they regretted selling.
I am totally loving having an eMTB, way more than I expected and when I've tried riding what up until a few months ago was a great MTB (Cotic Flaremax Gen4). It has felt hard work, less rewarding and not really that motivating. My rigid steel 29er bike packing bike still feels different enough and covers other sorts of riding so that is staying but I'm not sure I'm ever going to regularly ride the Cotic again.
It seems daft to hang onto something when someone else could be having a blast on it and I'm unlikely to. Does this change? My riding has been tailing off over the last few years as has my enjoyment of it but I'm totally loving riding the eMTB (Haibike Lyke) and riding more than I have in ages. It's like all the best bits of riding with the misery and suffering reduced to an option if you really want it. I'm guessing this is not an uncommon experience, so what is peoples experience about what happens next? Do you generally go back to much non eMTBing? Sorry if this has been asked a thousand times.

 

[JP-NZ]

How long (Time) is the ride on your XTC hardtail vs the eMTB for the loop you mention?
I bet that if you did the loop in half the time on your eMTB in ECO, your HR would have been about the same as on you XTC hardtail.

Its about 38 mins on my XTC and 26 Mins on the Ebb. I don't think its possible to do it in 19 mins in Eco. Do it in tour+ or emtb for sure but then you lose even more HR.

 

[BikeBert]

I kept my 26" non-EMTB (Liteville 601) because that was my dream build, and I have so many good memories with it. However, I have not ridden it since I got eBike.

 

[Planemo]

Love my EMTB. Changed my life in fact !
Still have my vintage 86' Muddy Fox Explorer.
Just cannot bring myself to dispose of it !

View attachment 136873

I love the extent of engineering that went into that dropper

 

[Mr-EPIC-3]

Its about 38 mins on my XTC and 26 Mins on the Ebb. I don't think its possible to do it in 19 mins in Eco. Do it in tour+ or emtb for sure but then you lose even more HR.

Give it a try, do the loop in ECO in under 20mins and see where your HR is at

 

[westcoastmtbr]

Chur!

Yeah. I still really enjoy the mtb. Its lighter, more playful and poppy and more fun down the certain types of tracks. It also gives good high intensity heart rate work outs, plus i still have a mtb crew that I ride with. The E smashes the chunk, burns out laps and is a point and shoot plough machine. Climbing super tech is fun as is smashing big chunk.

MTB is 165/170mm E IS 190/190mm Voima.

I'm not riding E to ease the load. I'm riding E to MORE!

View attachment 136641

I couldn't agree any more. I love the playfulness of my Yeti sb130, and do spin at the gym. I can ride more with the e- and it a different sport. I'm adding Transmission to my Yeti with the help of the 5dev adapter, and selling the axs. All the same, my Yeti is not worth much so why not!
And on a final note, my very local trail does now allow E-bikes., so that's also a big factor. I can ride from home and get a solid workout without a ticket. Anyone have this factor as well?

 

[CarolinaCrawler]

Do it in tour+ or emtb for sure but then you lose even more HR.

I have found that the higher assistance I use the more I work. I just go faster. Its kind of addicting. The higher the assistance, the faster I go and the harder I push to go even faster!

 

[JP-NZ]

I have found that the higher assistance I use the more I work. I just go faster. Its kind of addicting. The higher the assistance, the faster I go and the harder I push to go even faster!

Your either ride an unrestricted bike or you find 15mph fast?

 

[Plummet]

I have found that the higher assistance I use the more I work. I just go faster. Its kind of addicting. The higher the assistance, the faster I go and the harder I push to go even faster!

Same.

 

[RustyIron]

I have found that the higher assistance I use the more I work. I just go faster. Its kind of addicting. The higher the assistance, the faster I go and the harder I push to go even faster!

Right on, dawg. I'm sweating and my heart is racing no matter what I'm riding.

 

[Dax]

Your either ride an unrestricted bike or you find 15mph fast?

Compared to the 6mph I can mange up the fire roads on a MTB, 15mph is very fast.

 

[CarolinaCrawler]

Your either ride an unrestricted bike or you find 15mph fast?

I am in the USA so our bikes do 20mph, which is plenty fast for me. Where I live it tends to be tight singletrack that is hard to do 20mph on anyway.

I found that when in eco (which I do alot of riding in either with the wife or friends on acoustic bikes) I tend to put it in an easier gear and just grind the miles out. When in trail or boost I found that I push faster and faster. I'll hit the 20mph wall sometimes but not alot.

 

[Mr-EPIC-3]

Your either ride an unrestricted bike or you find 15mph fast?

He in the USA like me and the eMTBs here have a limit 20Mph, but sometimes that is not fast enough

 

[MOTO13]

I saw Trek had their Slash models on sale. I was like...should I get one? THEN I saw the friggin price...$8k for a non emtb? Ummm...no way. For a minute I almost lost my mind. But, I don't see myself ever buying a non ebike again. I mean, what's the point? Go slower, have less fun, probably ride it twice and never touch it again?? It would be like being married to a gorgeous super model nympho who loves when you ride and cheating on her with Rosie O'Donnel. Ain't happenin boyz...ain't happenin.

 

[gmoss]

I am in the USA so our bikes do 20mph, which is plenty fast for me. Where I live it tends to be tight singletrack that is hard to do 20mph on anyway.

I found that when in eco (which I do alot of riding in either with the wife or friends on acoustic bikes) I tend to put it in an easier gear and just grind the miles out. When in trail or boost I found that I push faster and faster. I'll hit the 20mph wall sometimes but not alot.

Picked up my first ebike last week. Am in NC also. I spend most of my time in eco, still learning what the bike is capable of, distance wise, but it is fun in the other modes. I am on the fence about keeping my normal bike. I guess time will tell.

But, I came here to give some perspective on speed. I have been able to increase my average speed by 2-3 mph in eco mode, pushing to 8-10mph. Doesn't seem fast, but it is decent. In our local hare scramble series (dirt bike racing thru the woods), the pros can average just over 20mph. Good mid level guys are in the mid teens. So I don't expect to average much more than I do over long distance unless I ramp it up. Certainly not going to push 20mph on much else than downhill, which does happen. 20mph in the woods is dang fast!

 

[steve_sordy]

I kept my 26" non-EMTB (Liteville 601) because that was my dream build, and I have so many good memories with it. However, I have not ridden it since I got eBike.




View attachment 137043

Oh my Gosh! That second picture!!
And how tight was that corner you came around?
I would not even walk that.

Top marks @BikeBert

 

[spokémon]

Oh my Gosh! That second picture!!
And how tight was that corner you came around?
I would not even walk that.

Top marks @BikeBert

That shot is to die for

I sold mine and mrs mtb but I kept mtb for each of my adult kids.

 

[cozzy]

I tried a mates super light top end capra at the bikepark a few days ago to see if I was missing anything. It felt nimble in the berms but god it felt sketchy and unstable in the rough and jumping, was getting pinged all over the place. I was satisfied with the slow pedal back to the top, I didn't think I had it in me anymore. Then a 10 minute rest.
In the meantime he was doing laps with a massive grin riding my ebike.
I think his wallet is loosening for a purchase .

So I've definitely confirmed my correct desicion to sell the motorless bikes and won't be buying another.

 

[Astro66]

Here's the main difference for me.

I ride with mates in a National Park, and it a mixture of flow trails, technical climbs, and fast downhills. We go out for 2-3 hours and there is no uplift services. So whilst I used to use most of my energy climbing. Now I just push 100% on the downhills and rest on the climbs. I now also push the entire way up the technical climbs, where before, you got so far and then walked.

And the last big difference is there is some downhill terrain that I now always hit, where before, because of the long climb out, you wouldn't do all the time.

It has opened up terrain that I normally avoided. And even my mates with the analogue bikes, get to the top of a climb and say. While we're taking a breather, why don't you do that downhill and ride back. We should be rested enough by the time you get back.

I ride more. I enjoy it more. I still have my analogue bike, but it sits in the garage like a discarded toy. I ride only one bike on the trails these days. And that's my EMTB.

 

[Desert_Turtle]

I chimed in here 3 months ago. I still occasionally ride my road bike but after getting into SL style e-bikes too, I finally sold my 2024 Stumpy Pro after having it for 6 months. It was too hard to peddle for the type of riding we do. I give anybody kudos that can do a lot of climbing on a trail bike. I’m thinking about maybe buying an Epic 8. Anyway, I still maintain that the best way to get faster on your EMTB is to train Amish….i just hate doing that. An ebike will get you in as good a shape as an Amish bike but you will lose leg strength. My cardio is fine, it’s my leg strength that’s the problem. Turning your ebike off doesn’t help because the bike doesn’t feel the same at that point. Thats just stupid. I’ll probably get another non e MTB in the fall but as myself, and others have echoed, once you’re use to an ebike it’s hard to want to suffer on a regular bike. I think that’s the point. Ebikes have expanded MTB riding to a whole new group of people who aren’t ultra fit. Almost anybody can hop on an EMTB now, throw it in Turbo, and enjoy riding. That includes older people that would have never considered riding a mountain bike.

 

[Binhill1]

I chimed in here 3 months ago. I still occasionally ride my road bike but after getting into SL style e-bikes too, I finally sold my 2024 Stumpy Pro after having it for 6 months. It was too hard to peddle for the type of riding we do. I give anybody kudos that can do a lot of climbing on a trail bike. I’m thinking about maybe buying an Epic 8. Anyway, I still maintain that the best way to get faster on your EMTB is to train Amish….i just hate doing that. An ebike will get you in as good a shape as an Amish bike but you will lose leg strength. My cardio is fine, it’s my leg strength that’s the problem. Turning your ebike off doesn’t help because the bike doesn’t feel the same at that point. Thats just stupid. I’ll probably get another non e MTB in the fall but as myself, and others have echoed, once you’re use to an ebike it’s hard to want to suffer on a regular bike. I think that’s the point. Ebikes have expanded MTB riding to a whole new group of people who aren’t ultra fit. Almost anybody can hop on an EMTB now, throw it in Turbo, and enjoy riding. That includes older people that would have never considered riding a mountain bike.

It's like when you go in turbo for 10 minutes on a slight incline it's hard going if you change in to eco. I have a Dawes tourer and just got a gravel ebike it will be interesting to see if I use the Dawes.

 

[Al-ec]

This is echo-ing my experience. I can ride harder, faster, longer, take on more technical climbs and descents with more confidence and have more fun. Upshot is I've sold my analog trail bike and haven't missed it. Still enjoy* riding a monster cross/ gravel type bike and the difference is enough for it to feel like it brings something to the party. Plus for bike packing this is a better option.
Really interesting to read everyone's experiences. My concluding is EMTBs are ace.
*Mostly type 2 fun.

 

[Binhill1]

This is echo-ing my experience. I can ride harder, faster, longer, take on more technical climbs and descents with more confidence and have more fun. Upshot is I've sold my analog trail bike and haven't missed it. Still enjoy* riding a monster cross/ gravel type bike and the difference is enough for it to feel like it brings something to the party. Plus for bike packing this is a better option.
Really interesting to read everyone's experiences. My concluding is EMTBs are ace.
*Mostly type 2 fun.

Never managed to cycle up 14 steps on Analogue bike , no problem on Ebike.

 

[Plummet]

I tried a mates super light top end capra at the bikepark a few days ago to see if I was missing anything. It felt nimble in the berms but god it felt sketchy and unstable in the rough and jumping, was getting pinged all over the place. I was satisfied with the slow pedal back to the top, I didn't think I had it in me anymore. Then a 10 minute rest.
In the meantime he was doing laps with a massive grin riding my ebike.
I think his wallet is loosening for a purchase .

So I've definitely confirmed my correct desicion to sell the motorless bikes and won't be buying another.

That's not enough time to give it justice. You need to re-calibrate to the mtb to get a true test. If i ride my E for a week or two then jump back on the mtb it just feels so skittery and wrong. But then it feels right and then riding the trail in a more playful manner poping and manualling around the place, jumping is also more fun. Once you get close to and above motor cut out is more fun on an mtb.

But you need to the fitness to pedal it too the top and mentally prepare yourself for a slower ride to the top.
I still love the mtb and these days i dont care which ride. E or mtb. If i'm riding with mtb mates i'll take the MTB and E with E. Happy days.

 

[cozzy]

Once you get close to and above motor cut out is more fun on an mtb.

Not a problem I suffer with

 

[Plummet]

Not a problem I suffer with

I get it. But there are still riding styles and actions the heavy E-s suck at. Manualing, jumping, any light poppy playful stuff, any trailsy stuff, anything that requires a decent bunnyhop, any hike a bike activity that the E cant ride up, super tight and twisty stuff.

If those riding styles/activities aren't important to you then full E all the way. If they are then mtb will still hold appeal.

 

[Dax]

I tried a mates super light top end capra at the bikepark a few days ago to see if I was missing anything. It felt nimble in the berms but god it felt sketchy and unstable in the rough and jumping,

Well it was a Capra

 

[Julie_X1]

I bought a regular MTB after getting my Fuel EXe.

As much as I absolutely love it, and will likely always love this type of bike (a fast, light XC bike), I don’t think I’ll ever buy a non-e again. The e-MTB is just so versatile and opens up many more trails for me.

It’s true that I don’t get as much of a workout as compared to riding my regular bike, but I also like to Zwift (or strength train) indoors, especially when it’s too hot / humid / there’s too many mosquitoes.

So I can control the amount of effort this way. That said, I’ve learned not to over-exert myself, as that takes me longer to recover.

 

[fitlikemike]

I'm sure this has been covered before, but I'm still in the honeymoon period and could do with some collective wisdom about whether people ever regularly rode the non eMTB they hung onto or whether they regretted selling.
I am totally loving having an eMTB, way more than I expected and when I've tried riding what up until a few months ago was a great MTB (Cotic Flaremax Gen4). It has felt hard work, less rewarding and not really that motivating. My rigid steel 29er bike packing bike still feels different enough and covers other sorts of riding so that is staying but I'm not sure I'm ever going to regularly ride the Cotic again.
It seems daft to hang onto something when someone else could be having a blast on it and I'm unlikely to. Does this change? My riding has been tailing off over the last few years as has my enjoyment of it but I'm totally loving riding the eMTB (Haibike Lyke) and riding more than I have in ages. It's like all the best bits of riding with the misery and suffering reduced to an option if you really want it. I'm guessing this is not an uncommon experience, so what is peoples experience about what happens next? Do you generally go back to much non eMTBing? Sorry if this has been asked a thousand times.

I love my XC hardtail @ 10kg, it's a completely different thing riding this.

 

[MrSimmo]

Every one of my mates (except one who is a die hard roadie) has swapped their pie powered bikes for e-bikes once they had a go on my Levo Wish I'd bought shares in Specialized...

That said, I'm going to buy a super-enduro rig for Morzine and Alps shuttle rides as lifting a full-powered ebike onto a chair lift many times a day isn't helping my aging back (or the anger of the french chair lift staff who have to shout at the idiot not fixing his bike onto the lift properly)!

 

[Binhill1]

Every one of my mates (except one who is a die hard roadie) has swapped their pie powered bikes for e-bikes once they had a go on my Levo Wish I'd bought shares in Specialized...

That said, I'm going to buy a super-enduro rig for Morzine and Alps shuttle rides as lifting a full-powered ebike onto a chair lift many times a day isn't helping my aging back (or the anger of the french chair lift staff who have to shout at the idiot not fixing his bike onto the lift properly)!

Some folk just wont entertain the idea of an Ebike and probably never will . But if you rode a 8kg bike you probably wouldn't need a motor. My gravel is 14 kg and don't need the motor on the flat really. But in my late 60s the Ebike is just what the doctor ordered.