So whats the favourite choice of the E-Biker then ?

[2WheelsNot4]

Specialized thread seems to have the most posts by far, followed by Giant, followed by trek, with Focus and Cube about the same.

So what makes the popular choice a Spesh, or is it they have so many problems those are all 'help me' threads

 

[Zimmerframe]

They were kind of ahead of the game with the first Gen Levo. It looked nice and rode well. The internal battery and relatively sleek downtube made everything else look like a DIY e-bike conversion or a Grand Tourer with space for your weekend luggage in the downtube. Even now the 1.3 motor out performs the EP8 in terms of power and range.

Your second point is equally valid too though. With a lot more bikes in circulation there were a lot more problems. Add in a lot of owners being new to MTB with the Levo - so more problems and questions. Throw in extensive use of de-restriction, a maximum cadence of 30 from chilled out riders in Turbo - with a motor which likes/needs high cadence and many owners having a monthly subscription to jetwash.com = problems. Plus, you only have to look at the Levo SL threads and the Kenevo SL threads and it's pretty clear that many Spesh owners spend a lot more time talking bikes than riding bikes. A lot of other brands owners just ride their bikes , or ride and put pictures up.

There's also the issue that higher than average proportion of Spesh purchasers are also incapable of using the search function or reading threads - even if there's only 4 posts in it. Check any Spesh thread and the same questions are asked page after page, thread after thread - a bit like groundhog day. Maybe the search is just disabled in the Spesh section ?

Yes, I own a Specialized. Yes I've asked dumb questions on the forum and spend more time writing than riding. Yes, it's been de-restricted at times to try to solve problems. Yes, I own multiple jetwashes. Yes, I've ridden with too slow a cadence. Yes, I've ridden through water over 50cm deep for long distances. Yes, I'm a knob.

 

[2WheelsNot4]

I wasnt looking to make any points. Just setting up for a bit of discussion. With a bit of humour thrown in.

 

[Zimmerframe]

I wasnt looking to make any points. Just setting up for a bit of discussion. With a bit of humour thrown in.

I thought my response was humorous ??

 

[2WheelsNot4]

I thought my response was humorous ??

Oh



Yes chap, it was funny. Very funny, I'm laughing me socks off here

 

[Zimmerframe]

Oh



Yes chap, it was funny. Very funny, I'm laughing me socks off here

Well yes, there was some serious bits in there, but you often need them to make something funny ..

As to the title .. it all comes down to colour at the end of the day.

 

[2WheelsNot4]

As to the title .. it all comes down to colour at the end of the day.

Agree there. My Scott came in a dark blue, and thats just never going to look good against the Hope purple stuff(brakes/stem/cranks) i own and was going to fit. Black would have been so much better, a stealth matt black. But no choice with Scott. The Henry Ford of bicycling colour schemes.

 

[The EMF]

They were kind of ahead of the game with the first Gen Levo. It looked nice and rode well. The internal battery and relatively sleek downtube made everything else look like a DIY e-bike conversion or a Grand Tourer with space for your weekend luggage in the downtube. Even now the 1.3 motor out performs the EP8 in terms of power and range.

Your second point is equally valid too though. With a lot more bikes in circulation there were a lot more problems. Add in a lot of owners being new to MTB with the Levo - so more problems and questions. Throw in extensive use of de-restriction, a maximum cadence of 30 from chilled out riders in Turbo - with a motor which likes/needs high cadence and many owners having a monthly subscription to jetwash.com = problems. Plus, you only have to look at the Levo SL threads and the Kenevo SL threads and it's pretty clear that many Spesh owners spend a lot more time talking bikes than riding bikes. A lot of other brands owners just ride their bikes , or ride and put pictures up.

There's also the issue that higher than average proportion of Spesh purchasers are also incapable of using the search function or reading threads - even if there's only 4 posts in it. Check any Spesh thread and the same questions are asked page after page, thread after thread - a bit like groundhog day. Maybe the search is just disabled in the Spesh section ?

Yes, I own a Specialized. Yes I've asked dumb questions on the forum and spend more time writing than riding. Yes, it's been de-restricted at times to try to solve problems. Yes, I own multiple jetwashes. Yes, I've ridden with too slow a cadence. Yes, I've ridden through water over 50cm deep for long distances. Yes, I'm a knob.

there there, don’t be toooooo hard on yourself Zimm……..your posts are always worth the time to read them

 

[RustyMTB]

Spesh for show, Stilus for those in the know.

 

[Hobo Mikey]

They were kind of ahead of the game with the first Gen Levo. It looked nice and rode well. The internal battery and relatively sleek downtube made everything else look like a DIY e-bike conversion or a Grand Tourer with space for your weekend luggage in the downtube. Even now the 1.3 motor out performs the EP8 in terms of power and range.

Your second point is equally valid too though. With a lot more bikes in circulation there were a lot more problems. Add in a lot of owners being new to MTB with the Levo - so more problems and questions. Throw in extensive use of de-restriction, a maximum cadence of 30 from chilled out riders in Turbo - with a motor which likes/needs high cadence and many owners having a monthly subscription to jetwash.com = problems. Plus, you only have to look at the Levo SL threads and the Kenevo SL threads and it's pretty clear that many Spesh owners spend a lot more time talking bikes than riding bikes. A lot of other brands owners just ride their bikes , or ride and put pictures up.

There's also the issue that higher than average proportion of Spesh purchasers are also incapable of using the search function or reading threads - even if there's only 4 posts in it. Check any Spesh thread and the same questions are asked page after page, thread after thread - a bit like groundhog day. Maybe the search is just disabled in the Spesh section ?

Yes, I own a Specialized. Yes I've asked dumb questions on the forum and spend more time writing than riding. Yes, it's been de-restricted at times to try to solve problems. Yes, I own multiple jetwashes. Yes, I've ridden with too slow a cadence. Yes, I've ridden through water over 50cm deep for long distances. Yes, I'm a knob.

You forgot to mention you fall off a lot also. ……….but that’s on any bike.

 

[#mitch]

There's also the issue that higher than average proportion of Spesh purchasers are also incapable of using the search function or reading threads - even if there's only 4 posts in it. Check any Spesh thread and the same questions are asked page after page, thread after thread - a bit like groundhog day. Maybe the search is just disabled in the Spesh section ?

The search function in the Spesh section is at the LBS waiting on parts for the last 3 years

 

[flash]

There’s have to be nearly as many Merida’s on the forum as Specialised. There’s only one giant thread though……

Here in Oz, Merida’s outnumber Levos on a 20 to 1 basis, at least..

Gordon

 

[The Hodge]

While those really in the know ..ride a Whyte ..

 

[Deleted member 7464]

Chocolate,cakes and pies.

 

[lightning]

Kona barely ever get a mention, there's not even a section for them on the forum.

l've got a Remote 160 with the E8000, bought at a discount in 2021 because it was a 2020 NOS

Although surpassed by newer bikes (such as my friends 2022 Cube) it's still a great bike and at 2,400 miles in all weathers l've had no issues with it, except for a creaking headset that needed re greasing early on.

 

[Whitby Chris]

While those really in the know ..ride a Whyte ..

I have to completely agree..... We have those who ride.. and those who really ride... ride a Whyte haha

 

[2WheelsNot4]

Marin doesn't even get a thread of it's own.

Poor Marin.

 

[dobbyhasfriends]

buying the right colour adds 5mph+ to your top speed.. fact !
I present you - Rocket Red !

 

[lightning]

Marin doesn't even get a thread of it's own.

Poor Marin.

Maybe you should start one

 

[Zimmerframe]

Maybe you should start one

I think he means Manufacturer specific sub forum, rather than thread. There's already several Marin threads.

The sub forum's are created by forum Admins (think Rob). There's 18 at the moment. It must be difficult knowing when and when not to make these. A lot of bikes are relatively low production/sales numbers so where do you draw the line on subsections, you could end up with hundreds and it then becomes difficult to find the subsection you want. So "other bikes" (none specific sub forum) are discussed in the Other manufacturers sub forum.

If you consider that "Other Manufacturers" has 313 threads and 4400 posts within that and then compare it to say :

YT - 484 Threads 9100 posts
Trek - 698 Threads and 10000 Posts
Or a big hitter like Spesh with 4300 Threads and 78000 posts !

If you look at a more recent addition after numerous requests - Rocky Mountain, 11 Threads and 185 messages - which included all the old RM threads moved in there by an Admin then you see a lot of Manufacturers don't have the same following.

Presumably the Admin's/Moderators then have to police/moderate all these Ghetto's to make sure everything's all above board and they're not full of abuse, spam and so on.

 

[lightning]

l can see your point !

 

[2WheelsNot4]

I've owned 2 Marin's in my time. A Palisades Trail and the bargain of the century when I spotted what appeared to be a brand new Quake 9.0 in 2014 in cash converters at £300.
I was a bit perturbed as to where it had come from, being in perfect condition as it was. I thought maybe it was part of someones collection who had died or something. Full XT groupset and White industry cranks down to the perfect velociraptor skinwalls.
A pic of it on a test run in Pollok Estate in Glasgow -

 

[Mteam]

the bargain of the century when I spotted what appeared to be a brand new Quake 9.0 in 2014 in cash converters at £300.

View attachment 76758 View attachment 76759

I think they saw you coming if you paid 300 quid for that in 2014

Is it a 1996 bike?

 

[2WheelsNot4]

I think they saw you coming if you paid 300 quid for that in 2014

Is it a 1996 bike?

I think it's later. Can't remember now.
I eventually parted it all out. Probably made £200, maybe 250 profit. Mint condition xt m739 is pretty sought after, the majority of the higher end bikes from bitd sported that.
Theres a big retro market I've played since about 2008 buying and selling, so I knew pretty much from the off what I'd get for it split up.
A pair of xt m739 levers sell for 50 quid, same for the v's, maybe 60 or 70. So the brakes alone you could get 120 for. shifters another 40, wheels about 150, frame shock and fork 200 easy, mechs 60 or so,tyres 40 a pop, white industry cranks are especially sought after. It all adds up. Subtract a bit for postage.

I've always looked to collect nos, bnib or mint condition, it's been my little hobby, buy, sell for what I paid or a bit more and from the bike or whatever, look to squirrel away the best bits so that they are effectively free. Tuck away in the box for the rainy day.

That rainy day came about a year ago when I sold 2/3 of the collection and bought a £5k ebike. In all honesty I dont think i paid more than several hundred pounds for the collection, spread over a decade or so.

 

[1oldfart]

Specialized thread seems to have the most posts by far, followed by Giant, followed by trek, with Focus and Cube about the same.

So what makes the popular choice a Spesh, or is it they have so many problems those are all 'help me' threads

Popularity does not mean much. It is about distribution and marketing. Buyers cannot buy what is less/not available.
Specialized gave a ton of BS online and many felt into the trap of the fake review saying these are great wich was totally false.
Giant with the great reliable Yamaha is affordable so yes reliable and affordable is popular.
I bought my third Giant and never had a problem so yes my next will be a Giant/Yamaha.
Some who had Shimano and Giant say the Giant battery is better.

 

[2WheelsNot4]

Popularity does not mean much.

You really think so ? I would have thought it does, and greatly too. Few here are brand new to cycling and we've all spent time on non ebikes so pretty much all know what were talking about, and if one is picked more than the others its been done so through that experience of knowing what they're looking at and wanting in an ebike.
Cube and focus are great value for money, but they're seemingly not as popular when it comes down to actually shelling out the readies, and im not sure that wholly down to availability as both are readily available.