Zero Experience - Researching My First eMTB

[brw0513]

Hi all.

For 4 years I used to commute to work on a flat bar road bike, 34km round trip, three days per week. I gave it up around 6 years ago - the biggest reason was needing to be home early to get kids to sport and other commitments. There were other less valid excuses too. But that chapter is behind me so opportunity awaits.

I don't need an eMTB. I just want one to help get back out there on an aging body and explore a different form of cycling fun! The cost of these bikes is breathtaking - but at 50 years of age, I have the funds to make the purchase. I'm 6'3" and currently weigh 112kg.

There are some trails nearby and I can visit one on the commute home from work. I really need to walk these trails to check them out.

But I don't want to be the Plonker with no real skill but with the best eMTB!

I'm still looking for the right bike and the right bike shop to spend my money in. My local Specialized Dealer is very friendly, has great service and has been very helpful in the past with minor bike component purchases. For that reason alone, the Levo is high on the possible purchase list. But the shop doesn't offer a pre-purchase 24hr trial.

The local Trek shop does offer a 24hr no obligation trial. But the Trek eMTBs don't float my boat.

I plan to visit the closest Giant shop next week.

My local 99 Bikes shop does not impress me in the slightest with their attitude. But they sell the Merida e160 900.

My plan is to test ride all the common motors i.e. a selection of 4 different bikes to sample the Shimano, Brose, Yamaha and Bosch motor. Ideally these would all be on the same trail and include the work commute to test performance on my nemesis hill.

Any tips or advice gratefully appreciated.

Thanks.

Ian B

 

[ccrdave]

to be honest, they are all good and they all have problems, I would say top of your list should be the best aftersales service you can find, that should go a long way to dictating which one you buy.
personally, I am biased the 2019 turbo levo I own is a stonking bike, but it would be a lot less without the superb support I get from my dealer

 

[Andy A]

I bought my first emtb which was a Focus Jam2 and I really liked it but I did find the Shimano motor quite noisy and often error codes kept appearing if you touched the pedals before you set off, so I sold it and bought what I really wanted in the first place which was the 2019 Levo Comp and I just love everything about this bike the Brose motor is so quiet and has so much more power than the Shimano I had it is a great bike but as Dave said they are all good bikes now so whatever you choose I am sure you will like ?

 

[Hitby]

I've been looking at the new 2020 bikes and the Whyte and Focus (2020 Bosch motor) are both appealing.
As per the other replies though, the dealer service is key for me so I'm very close to buying the Levo Comp - I have had previous bikes from that particular dealer and I know I'll be looked after there even if it's costing me a bit more up front. I don't get a good feeling from the local Focus dealer and I'm not sure I can wait until September for the Whyte. I'm testing the Levo tomorrow ??

 

[Swissrob]

I would ring around you may be able to rent one if no demo rides available in Australia. 99 Bikes does not seem to bad in this thread, maybe you caught them on a bad bay. Warranty Questions - Australia - EMTB Forums
There are a few Brisbane riders on here, shout out for their experience, a change in thread tittle might get their attention.

 

[Lee Dove]

Hi all.
I don't need an eMTB.
Ian B

You do realise this a EMTB forum

 

[galaga187]

Just get a base levo and see how you get on - make sure it’s the right size.

 

[Mikerb]

You will be blown away by any e mtb you ride but what lies below the sheer joy of the pedal assist is how the bike performs on various types and grades of mtb trail. I have the Levo Comp which I find has a good balance between being planted and stable on rough terrain and enough liveliness on singletrack etc. It climbs as well as it descends and the combination of 29 wheels and 2.6 tyres gives great rollover and good traction/grip on berms etc. I have ridden the Merida but not in anger so Ill leave that to others to describe. No knowledge of the Giant. A key differentiator for me having tested 2/3 Shimano powered bikes was the Brose on the Levo. Quieter more powerful smoother power delivery and no drag beyong the speed limit.

 

[steve_sordy]

Hi all.

..............I don't need an eMTB. I just want one to help get back out there on an aging body and explore a different form of cycling fun! ..................

Ian B

There is no need to justify to us the purchase of an emtb. I resisted buying an emtb, despite needing one (osteo-arthritis in my knees). It felt like I was giving in to it. But I wish I'd bought an emtb sooner! Previous rides were all about avoiding/managing the pain and then recuperating afterwards. Not any more!

 

[Zimmerframe]

Brose motor is so quiet and has so much more power than the Shimano

A key differentiator for me having tested 2/3 Shimano powered bikes was the Brose on the Levo. Quieter more powerful smoother power delivery and no drag beyong the speed limit.

Other than a hub motored bike, I've only ridden an E8000 Shimano embt, so it's interesting to read and understand exactly what people are saying. I can understand the brose motor being quieter - it's got a belt to perform the reduction rather than gear to gear .. If we were honda many years ago, we'd be pointing out that gear to gear is better and churning out vfr's and RC30's .. but belts and chains have improved over time.

With regard to smoother and more power, is this all the brose units or just the ones in the levo's which have different firmware ?

To understand more power, theoretically they're all limited to 250w average over 2 hours ? (something like that anyway). The Shimano has a torque of 70 and the Brose has 90.

If I was to ride both bikes up the same hill as hard as possible, would I always get to the top faster on the brose ? (discounting any other factors) or is it more the way the power is delivered ? So if it was technical, the brose might be faster with what feels like more sudden power ? or if it was just a long slog, they'd both even out ?

 

[Andy A]

My friend and myself did a really steep and quite long grass climb the other day I had the Levo in turbo and he had his Cube with the Bosch in turbo and I cleaned the climb and he got very near the top but he ran out of power so he failed, we then did it again and I lent him my Levo and I used my wife's Levo and this time we both did it so that extra power certainly helped him and he said he could feel the extra power.

 

[Mikerb]

It may be just the Levo...I have not ridden any other Brose motored bike. The software largely determines how the motor delivers its power

 

[Mikerb]

Different bike geometries also enable better or worse climbing.......and there is the skill factor. Climbing very steep technical ascents is something I need to practise more! It is often just as much fun to UP a gnarly trail as to go down it!

 

[Colin-T-Woods]

The misery of choice! Having spent weeks researching and trying a few I settled on the Levo Carbon Comp because of the quiet motor and the lack of resistance when the motor kicks out, plus the svelte looks. I have no regrets at all, in fact my wife rode it and decided she wanted an ebike too. She did all her own research (she has a mind of her own) and tried various bikes but also ended up with a Levo. She rejected the Shimano because of the noise, the Bosch because of the drag, other bikes because of the bulky looks. She chose the 'mans' frame because of the colour and at 5'4'' the small is just small enough for her. I went for large (5'11'') and feel very comfortable on it.
I love the way these bikes climb. The smooth power delivery gives so much more traction than an analogue bike. We are grandparents and these bikes have opened up a whole new world allowing us to get to places we wouldn't otherwise manage. We really couldn't recommend ebikes enough, whichever you choose it'll be great.

 

[Ambrose]

I spent three months researching (talking myself into buying) an emtb. So if your budget is a concern, my understanding is the e160s are generally considered the best value for money in Australia, and you can get them from shops that aren't 99 Bikes.

Commencal is the only direct sales company in Australia that offers a specs-to-price ratio that makes it comparable in value to the same companies in Europe. I ended up with the Meta 29 Fox Essential.

I did have a twinge of anxiety about being the guy with the six grand bike and no skill, but I had a go on another guy's Cube the other day, and I am so glad I got the best I could afford. Besides, next month there'll be a newer plonker with an even better bike to take your place.

 

[Ambrose]

Incidentally, about 90% of emtbs I've seen around Brisbane parks are Specalized.

 

[Husky430]

Having recently done a 3 way, hire test with a 2 mates down in Melbourne, we all agreed on the Merida was the best all rounder between that, a Kona and a Giant. I ended up finding a 2nd hand 160 900E in XL on facebook market place.
We even first rode the 3 around with no e power and found the Merida was the most agile of the 3. Then after trying them all on the same track found that apart from the Merida having a bit of a lighter front end due to it's shorter stay arms it was the best downhill, feeling more playful than the others. As for the motor being noisey, which I would hardly call it annoying, it wasn't the nosiest of the 3, but cant for the life of me remember if it was the yamaha or the bosch that was the loudest.
As many others have stated in this thread, it won't matter which you get, you will have a ball on it and be blown away of how much a blast, if not feeling a little like cheating, when you rocket up a hill you would normally struggle up. Good luck with it and hope this helps a little

 

[brw0513]

Thanks Husky430, and others too.

The Merida E160 900e is well equipped for the price. And there is a new 99 Bikes shop opened up within 10 mins walk from my work. They offer a $150 hire arrangement and that price is taken off the cost of the bike if purchased. I wasn't really hooked on the removable battery, but I can see it would have practical advantages.

 

[Photohonesty]

You do realise this a EMTB forum

You did read the whole post?

 

[Lee Dove]

You did read the whole post?

Yep, Switch on your sense of humour

 

[Rusty]

She chose the 'mans' frame because of the colour and at 5'4'' the small is just small enough for her. I went for large (5'11'') and feel very comfortable on it.

I had a designer tell me that most of the gumph around womens specific frames is pure BS. The real differences are in the cockpit fit - IE stem length, saddle selection etc. Often they are identical to a XS or S bike with poufty paint a slightly different stem and a ladies saddle (different bones in the bum) and have not so good spec controls & suspension at a regular price point.

Oh, and a fancy name.

 

[Pukmeister]

I ride a specialised Hardtail 29er MTB on road tyres eleven miles to work and back, two to three times a week. As a heavy machinery marine engineer age 53 and unfit at 98Kg, some days the ride home after a long day is a killer.

I really like the Levo but in the end I went for the Giant Trance E +2 Pro. Its a 27.5 with Yamaha and rides really nice. Top spec Fox suspension, the brakes, chain and gears are cheaper to replace when worn out and with five power settings they get excellent range. Battery has cutting edge tech with 6A fast charge (like a Tesla)so 60% recharge in an hour at the pub stop if needed when on long trail rides.

As a high price item I'm glad I have support from my local bike dealer should things need attention, I considered a direct to consumer brand but prefer dealer support.

 

[davarello]

Don't underestimate the importance of a good shop when you buy an ebike - my Levo Comp has needed a few fixes and they have all been sorted out immediately with no questions asked. If a shop gives you a "can't be bothered" attitude, they will care even less for sorting out any warranty hassle that doesn't make them money.

 

[Pukmeister]

Don't underestimate the importance of a good shop when you buy an ebike......
If a shop gives you a "can't be bothered" attitude, they will care even less for sorting out any warranty hassle that doesn't make them money.

Amen to that.

 

[HikerDave]

Hi all.

For 4 years I used to commute to work on a flat bar road bike, 34km round trip, three days per week. I gave it up around 6 years ago - the biggest reason was needing to be home early to get kids to sport and other commitments. There were other less valid excuses too. But that chapter is behind me so opportunity awaits.

I don't need an eMTB. I just want one to help get back out there on an aging body and explore a different form of cycling fun! The cost of these bikes is breathtaking - but at 50 years of age, I have the funds to make the purchase. I'm 6'3" and currently weigh 112kg.

There are some trails nearby and I can visit one on the commute home from work. I really need to walk these trails to check them out.

But I don't want to be the Plonker with no real skill but with the best eMTB!

I'm still looking for the right bike and the right bike shop to spend my money in. My local Specialized Dealer is very friendly, has great service and has been very helpful in the past with minor bike component purchases. For that reason alone, the Levo is high on the possible purchase list. But the shop doesn't offer a pre-purchase 24hr trial.

The local Trek shop does offer a 24hr no obligation trial. But the Trek eMTBs don't float my boat.

I plan to visit the closest Giant shop next week.

My local 99 Bikes shop does not impress me in the slightest with their attitude. But they sell the Merida e160 900.

My plan is to test ride all the common motors i.e. a selection of 4 different bikes to sample the Shimano, Brose, Yamaha and Bosch motor. Ideally these would all be on the same trail and include the work commute to test performance on my nemesis hill.

Any tips or advice gratefully appreciated.

Thanks.

Ian B

My advice is to forget about the motor; they are all good. Focus on the fit and geometry of the bikes and quality of the suspension components. Any of the motors plus a little grunt from you will get you up Nemesis Hill.

 

[HikerDave]

I had a designer tell me that most of the gumph around womens specific frames is pure BS. The real differences are in the cockpit fit - IE stem length, saddle selection etc. Often they are identical to a XS or S bike with poufty paint a slightly different stem and a ladies saddle (different bones in the bum) and have not so good spec controls & suspension at a regular price point.

Oh, and a fancy name.

Shrink it and pink it. I was in a bike shop when a salesman tried to steer a woman into buying a Specialized women’s model; she shut him down with “I am soooo NOT a girlie-girl!”

Liv bikes are different; they shorten the reach on women’s models relative to the equivalent Giant line by about 15mm in each size to adjust to the fact that most women have proportionately longer legs and shorter torsos than men.

 

[RAZOR]

Have you had a look at a Merida E120? Sounds like it would suit your commute pretty well - they are pretty capable for a 120mm bike.

 

[Flatslide]

As the happy owner of a new Altitude PowerPlay, may I suggest looking at the Rocky Mountain Instinct too if there's a dealer near you. Their system is bespoke, and with 48 Volts they have awesome power and fast charging. The motor is quiet but there is chain noise akin to a chain running around jockey wheels. It's mechanical and I don't find it distracting. My charger is 48V 5A and will lift a flat battery to 80% in 110 mins on the 500Wh pack. Not that I've ever come home with less than 50%, even after 2-1/2 hrs and 800 metres of climbing.