Full Suspension e-bikes

Forums › Sports › Full Suspension e-bikes

alanimal

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#290438 11-Nov-2021 17:54

Hey guys, not sure this is the place to ask but I am thinking of buying a full suspension e-bike for mostly downhill riding but that extra oomf to get back up! Extend my days on the hills is main reason. I have a Trek Slash 8 29er currently and love it. Mostly ride woodhill and rotorua.

Was looking at a 2021 Scott Ransom eRide 910, Trek Rail 9.8 or 9, or a Merida E-One Sixty 10k or 8k.

Without being able to test them and given the costs I thought I would research research research and wanted to hear any recomendations?

Cheers

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#2811212 11-Nov-2021 18:04

they are so expensive that they are a niche product. Check out YouTube.

gzt

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#2811215 11-Nov-2021 18:21

The first generation of engineered full suspension pedal mountain bikes were in that price range.

Even at that price for the first generation of electric MTB its still a cheaper hobby than petrol dirt bikes.

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#2811226 11-Nov-2021 19:29

the thing about downhill biking is that if you get a bad enduro bike your downhill biking experience will be terrible.

if your ebike is built poorly for downhill your experience won't be good.

I have an enduro bike but I don't have an ebike for downhill.

someone might have one here but the best way to find out which is good - there are numerous reviewers on YouTube who reviews this exact type of biking.

chevrolux

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#2811228 11-Nov-2021 19:35

I think the worst thing to do would be ask MTBer's opinions. Its a more snobby sport than golf these days!

However, dad (who's been road cycling and MTBing for 20 years+) has just got a Trek something-or-other full sus e-bike and loves it. Uses it more for enduro though to be fair. Was around 8k-ish?

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#2811248 11-Nov-2021 20:19

I wouldn't include Trek and Merida riders in the snob category but yeah, Spec and Santa Cruz riders tho' ...

I have only ever owned Trek, Giant and Merida bikes ...

sorry that's still not helping OP. but I don't want to make up lies and stories though ... hopefully he'll find one enduro ebike rider here but I only have an e-car. the reason I bought the e-car was it was half the price of an enduro e-bike!

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#2811249 11-Nov-2021 20:20

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#2811251 11-Nov-2021 20:33

alanimal:

Hey guys, not sure this is the place to ask but I am thinking of buying a full suspension e-bike for mostly downhill riding but that extra oomf to get back up! Extend my days on the hills is main reason. I have a Trek Slash 8 29er currently and love it. Mostly ride woodhill and rotorua.

Was looking at a 2021 Scott Ransom eRide 910, Trek Rail 9.8 or 9, or a Merida E-One Sixty 10k or 8k.

Without being able to test them and given the costs I thought I would research research research and wanted to hear any recomendations?

Cheers

Al

looking at the 3 options you gave

Scott - steep seat tube. easy to pedal compared to the other 2 which have slack seat tubes. I like Shimano brakes as I find sram brakes harder to engage.

Trek - it still has its trick rear triangle with at least 2 more linkages that anybody else. these are wear points which will weaken the rear triangle and cause increased servicing need. I didn't find their trick rear triangle to be any more sensitive toward small and large bumps but I'm not a racer. The seat tube is slaaaack.

Merida - has Shimano motor vs the other 2 has Bosch!

If it were me I'd take the one with steep seat tube ... you just cannot pedal properly with slack seat tubes! lol .... but there are a few more things to think about with e-bikes

- how heavy

- battery life

- responsiveness of torque assist (too much = lack control vs too little = annoying)

- easy to charge/change battery/proprietory cables/ other things I didn't know I didn't know

elpenguino

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#2811293 11-Nov-2021 22:50

I would see if you can hire one (or two) in your area and try them out for an afternoon.

Nothing beats getting some seat time.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

JPNZ

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#2850681 14-Jan-2022 12:38

I have an Carbon Enduro bike and Carbon HT, looking at selling both and buying a FS ebike. Trek Rail is where I would be leaning out of the options you listed.

I'm aiming for a 2022 Trek Rail 9.8 XT

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#2850795 14-Jan-2022 14:12

Specialized Turbo Levo. Someone I know bought one and they are extremely happy with it.

Do whatever you want to do man.

JPNZ

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#2850796 14-Jan-2022 14:13

billgates: Specialized Turbo Levo. Someone I know bought one and they are extremely happy with it.

Also twice the price of most similar ebikes

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billgates

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#2850800 14-Jan-2022 14:21

JPNZ:

Also twice the price of most similar ebikes

There are like 6 or 7 different trims of Levo starting at $7k all the way up to $22k.

Do whatever you want to do man.

alanimal

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#2850801 14-Jan-2022 14:25

I ended up going with the specialized Kenovo SL Comp Carbon, after a lot of solid research I opted for a lighter e-bike and love it!!! Wish I got one ages ago.

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jfanning

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#2850802 14-Jan-2022 14:27

billgates: Specialized Turbo Levo. Someone I know bought one and they are extremely happy with it.

I had one for a demo weekend a few years back, I really liked it

wellygary

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#2850840 14-Jan-2022 15:18

alanimal:

I ended up going with the specialized Kenovo SL Comp Carbon, after a lot of solid research I opted for a lighter e-bike and love it!!! Wish I got one ages ago.

Blink.. 18K.....

https://www.burkescycles.co.nz/products/specialized-turbo-levo-sl-comp-carbon-2024

Was there any wriggle room on price wherever you got it from .... or is it pretty much a take it or leave it :)

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