Zed
Active member
I really don't think it's the weight, assuming the construction is such that it accounts for the weight. If it's built and sprung well enough the weight is moot. It's just engineering, right? A 140kg moto doesn't snap all the time, because it's built right. The second point though, that Ebike just accelarates wear, is an absolute certainty though. But I think comparing to a eMtb to a non-e bike well there's a lot of simplicity in the design making the analog more robust. Longevity of the old school bike is going to be superior. I mean you talk about breaking motor parts over and over and on the analog bike that whole thing is replaced by a simple, strong, tried and true bottom bracket, just for one example.Good points, I still think weight of bike loads and stresses everything a lot more than similar class of bike that is much lighter, since I don’t have the same failure issues on regular bike. Ebike just accelerates wear faster I think due to more miles/vertical per year as well.
First two are alloy and yeah I'd break them too, though not immediately as I'd run cushcore. The second sounds like unbranded and it being as strong as a SC Reserve seems unlikely. If it truly is as stong as SC Reserve and you just annihilated it, then I take my hat off to you, you must be absolutely bombing down World Cup style gnar, in which case you're well beyond taking any wheel advice from a mere mortal like me I will not recommend wheels further... lolBontrager carbon wheels likely not strong enough for heavy duties especially since I cracked Alu Race Face HD wheel at nipple following Bontrager Comp Alu roasted in two weeks (rear of getting). Cracked tester heavy duty carbon rim (with CushCore and 30 rear psi, 2-ply tires) within two weeks that weighed closed to 600g/rim like SC Reserve. On another heavier duty, thicker rim (650g/rim), 38/33mm with thick ass sidewalls and heavy use over past 4 months, no cracks, just superficial fissuring of top layer of carbon from rock strike not long after wheelbuild. Thing still holding great and excellent stiffness and support for high speed e-blasting on varied terrain.
Oh for sure it's going to be OK for general trail duties. I did have a display fail about 3 weeks in. Trip across town to the bike shop and they fitted a new one they stole from a showroom bike. The motor was fine for that 500km - just some weird grinding noises. There is a good EXe megathread here if you haven't seen it go have a look. But I wasn't putting down the EXe; I was only talking about the EXe because you said it was time for a redesign of the Rail like the EXe. That seems like a likely event, and I was just saying I wouldn't expect that to be any tougher than a Bosch equipped bike. Everyone seems keyed about getting a TQ Rail but I'd be happy to see it stay BoschIf you experienced no premature failures of Fuel-Exe during your period of testing, I am fairly optimistic that bike was designed well and durable enough for general trail riding duties. If you have experienced issues, please comment if you care to
The EXe is fine, but it's a lot more Trail than the Rail - the Rail itself being just "heavy trail" or "light enduro" in my book. I had a Knolly Fugitive a while back running at 140/120mm and I honestly think it was as capable as the EXe, though admittedly I didn't back to back ride them. Felt about the same on my local descents. The Rail is much burlier, much more than the difference in travel. As for the TQ motor in the EXe I'll be surprised if it ends up more durable than a Bosch unit. Time will tell, the jury is not out on that. Maybe it will be. None of which matters for general trail duties, it's a fine bike for that, just chewin' the fat about motors.
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