Are E-Mountain Bikes worth it? 

I ride an e-bike every week. One of the main aspects I like is that I can ride it from my house to the trail. I think many people immediately look at the mileage, speed, and range but switching over from motorcycles and bicycles where we never really measured it. I have put way more miles on my e-bike than I did with a bicycle or even a dirt bike at this point, and naturally that leads to more wear and tear.

I'm at almost 1000 miles on my Giant Trance X E+ and experiencing none of these problems you are having - still on original tires, brakes, and drivetrain parts. I was just in Bentonville Nov 3/4/5 and had a 7+ hour day just on Sat bashing down all the Castle runs including Loam Wolf and Dragon Scales. My son was with me on his Canyon ON CF 8 eMTB and had no issues all weekend either. I'm almost 200lbs and the Trance I have is right at 57lbs. We both took the jump clinic with Anneke while in Bentonville - we were jumping great by the end of the clinic and even better after several more hours of repetition all over Bentronville. No clue how you are hurting your hands - I'm 56 and my Fox fork up front takes it all without beating me up but I have found that not matter what bike I'm on (road, CX, BMX, MTB, track, eMTB) if I don't have the right grips/glove combo my hands will hurt or if I have a slight forward tilt on my saddle my shoulders and hands will suffer. My mods/maintenence in just under 1000 miles. -Ergon grips -shimano spd pedals -bottle cage -remove dork disk -regular clean lube drive train parts -air pressure check in tires/shocks every ride - run a little higher than my acoustic bikes to accommodate the weight offset -clean/lube pivots -clean battery terminals (once - just because) -1 random loose spoke on front wheel adjusted to match other spoke tensions -recently (after almost a year) added more sealant to rear tire for a puncture too small to bother plugging but not getting sealant

My experience was riding in a group, was not fun for me. On my analog. Everyone would wait and be patient but I couldn’t have fun. Now I do have a heart condition that slows me down. With my E-Bike I can do exactly what you are doing. Riding in a lower heart rate and putting in more miles. Plus I can come home to my children, and like you said, be a better father and husband.

With regards to the components being made for 30 lbs bikes and all, many parts are now manufactured as e-bike ready. Built sturdier and with more wear resistance with the knowledge that they're likely going on heavier bikes that might punish them more, even with similar or easier riding than those components would experience on an acoustic.

Always felt like all the mtb media never addresses the effect of heavier riders on equipment. Would be good to see a video on what mods you should do if you’re 220lbs vs 130lbs rider.

When you’re riding steep uphills, like the ones we have in Oregon (PNW etc.) Turbo mode is amazing 🤩

I had my first real mtb (commencal meta sx) for approx. 2 weeks before I said "screw this" and bought a turbo levo on their 2023 closeout deal. I can honestly say that although sometimes I miss my "amish" bike for very specific reasons, I love my levo and have really not looked back. Even though I am in shape, riding a normal bike and then going to work the next day is just miserable. Being able to ride my bike as much as I want and still be able to productively live my non bike life is a huge plus for me. I do everything I want and then some on my Levo.

Cant believe you put turbo uphill as a negative. That was my main positive for E-bikes, making it fun going uphill

As someone who rides a Niner RIP e9, the extra 20 pounds that an e-bike weighs over a standard bike isn’t a big deal, when the riders are the majority of the weight, as far as extra wear and tear on parts. I’m pretty sure my 265lb 6’4 self is harder on the components than the extra weight of the battery and motor. Looking forward to more e-bike content on your channel.

I was so ant e-mtb and got talked into taking a demo of an s-works Kenevo SL. Yes, thats an insane priced bike and I ended up getting a frame set only and put on the parts I wanted, making it a 43 LB dream machine. You can get the comp version of it and its just as amazing. The best part of these SL bike sis they are not the heavy 50+ LB tanks the full e-bikes are. You still need to be in shape, you wont keep up with friends on full e-bikes, but you can easily ride with analog bikes and not feel like you are making them catch up to you all the time. I honestly think the SL category is the way to go and is so fun. All the negatives go away with them as an added benefit. That includes the feeling of them being slow when not pedaling. I often ride my Kenevo SL turned off with friends if my Tracer is being worked on and cant ride it.

Drivetrain is definitely the toughest part of Ebike life. Everything else is easily remedied.

Dude you are so right about e-bikes feeling good on chunk and in turns 🤠 that extra weight definitely helps the bikes feel glued to the ground. No e-bikes for me until I’m 60 though 👍

That is why the higher end emtb is a must for more aggressive terrain and riders. I ride a Pivot Shuttle LT. All the parts are beast. I ride in Eco 90% of the time - Zone 4 fitness level.

Your videos just keep getting better and better! Who would have thought The Proclaimers song would be a good soundtrack for a mtb video?!

Hey evan, since you are not very interested in turbo mode and find the e-bikes wait on flow trails a real issue an SL e-bike like the focus jam 2 with almost the same wattage but with much less weight might be the perfect thing for you. Plus it will give you slightly more exercise.

Evan I think it is hard to give a review of e-bikes in general unless you have tried a few different ones. The technology has improved dramatically and I think other motors, like Bosch, Fazua, and TQ, which are all adjustable in the settings would solve your uphill riding problem. I personally ride the Trek Exe, which is the smaller motor and battery. I have made some modifications and my bike is just under 40lbs. I think you might enjoy the lighter weight Ebike over the bigger powered heavier ones. I have had this bike for a year and nothing has worn out from use.

I ride an e-bike on steep techy climbs all the time in turbo and had the same problem however if you tilt your saddle nose down a fraction that helps a lot with getting your wait over the front

I ride a Specialized Kenevo Expert which is the dual crown full size beast, and I experience some of the same problems, especially the problem about riding on flatter, flowy trials. It feels like my tires are aired way down and are packed with mud, and it doesn't help that the motor cuts out at 20 mph, which is fine I get it, but 20 mph on flat feels dog slow. A regular bike would definitely be able to haul on these kinds of trails. But yes, for me that's a really big negative of full size e-bikes, but they are still wonderful on jumps, they just feel much better and more in control on big jumps on a steep trail, because you have the momentum of the bike and the gravity of the trail working with you, not against. I feel like the e-bikes sweet spot is steeper terrain, but not too steep, some rooty or rocky sections, big drops and jumps. These kinds of trails feel absolutely stellar and I even got some KOMs with my e-bike.

Been looking at getting an e-bike. This was good info. Seems like they could probably do things different like using a 9 speed rear, as you probably need the strength of the chain and cogs than the extra low gear. Something to think about.

Planning to purchase an eMTB in the spring, decided to go full power vs light (Fuel EXe, Levo SL, etc). I'm a heavier rider, and my main reason for getting an eMTB is to get longer distance rides in when time is limited, but also to get full day rides in when our group decides to travel to out-of-town trails. Nothing is more soul sucking than driving two or three hours, getting in a 3 hour ride, and having a return trip home, meaning more time in the car than on the trail. I've rented a Giant Reign E earlier this year at a mountain/bike park center. We got 4 hours riding in, set it the bikes in trail mode for the majority of the day, and doubled the number of laps done had we used our regular MTB's. At the end of it all, we both had plenty of battery life to continue, and physically felt good, we only ended because the rental center was closing and daylight was fading. I was able to return home, and be a functioning husband/dad for the evening vs being on the struggle bus. As a weekend warrior, I want to take full advantage of the limited time I have available to ride, and the eMTB looks to be that answer. One key benefit, it will allow me to explore more trails/routes that are normally out of reach when I'm on my normal MTB.

Great video as always. Ebike are a interesting topic. I've had a Santa Cruz Bullit for the last year and a half. I've put a little over 1600 miles on it so fat. It's a gx build. I have never snapped a chain but I was recommended to use XX1 chains only. It has around 1000 miles on it. With gear I'm about 300 pounds. No snapped chains so far. I ride on eco mainly and it's about half power. So I get a pretty good work out. And when I ride my regular bikes they feel so lite. I did also get a pivot shuttle sl. It's super lite. But a 126 miles in and motor is falling apart. Its covered under warranty but it's a bummer to be broken after only three weeks of riding. In closing all bikes are assume and go ride whet ever you can👍🏻👍🏻

I get about 1,000 miles on a drivetrain and 500-600 or more on a chain. Not that bad. I run dh tires to handle the extra smashing and bashing. I run the SRAM XX1 chain. It lasts longer than the lower end chains. Just a few tips to get more up time and less maintenance.

Rode my first e bike in bentonville last weekend and honestly wouldn’t have been able to see as many trails without one. We did 102 miles in 3 days avg just over 30 miles per day. I did break a chain because I shifted too many gears too quick, dumb move. I can get the having to pedal in flats to jumps but the ease on return was definitely worth the trade off. I did bring my analog bike as well and rode that Thursday night in Coler. The return climb at thunderdome was rough haha.

Some of your comments are fairly specific to that specific low-end bike you’re on in this video. The wheels are disappointing on a lot of these bikes, putting cheap soft wheels on them is just asking for dents, or a cheap hub, is just waiting to explode, but helps get them out the door at a lower cost then customers are stuck with repairs. The drivetrain, go with Shimano linkglide for value, very heavy duty and is purpose built for e-bikes (and works excellent) or the new sram drivetrain (but it’s pretty pricey). The tires, well, they will wear out a bit faster, no getting around that, mainly the back though. In regards to zone 2 training, if you’re on a specialized, you can set a target hr in the app and the bike will adjust assist based on that to try and maintain that hr. When it comes to carrying speed, my kenevo has NO issue with that, just wants to fly. I ride mine hard and haven’t broken anything other than sucking a stick into the derailleur once (which can happen on any bike), but I also have some ebike specific upgrades including stronger wheels, DD tires, minimum, and linkglide. As far as a generalized comment of them breaking all the time, from my experience that’s not true, unless, again, you’re on something very entry level or cheap and ride it hard, but even a cushcore could have helped in your broken wheel instance, and don’t shift under full power, if you don’t have an ebike specific drivetrain. Good vid though and honest assessment of your specific experience so far.

Love these videos, favourite Chanel

I am on a Specialized Levo alloy. I have ridden Camp Fortune, Thunderhill and Jake’s rock trails. I have been extremely brutal to this bike. It has been very responsive on all terrains. This E-bike has helped me explore trails faster as I travel across the country. I do have my trusty analog bike a Transition patrol mullet. If you weigh between 150-190 pounds and are relatively fit. The bike will be easier to maintain. I weigh 228 and somewhat fit. It is a struggle to maintain sometimes.

I agree with the maintenance issues with eBikes, I’m a bigger guy 6’4 over 200lbs and ride a lot - Seems like something is always going on with one of my bikes as it is, except for my trusty Canfield N9 HT! I also agree with the eBike fun factor, I would love to smash up gnarly climbs like a XC superstar - The struggle is real! Good episode 👊🏼

There are some lightweight emtbs out there that are closer to normal bikes in terms of weight, but of course they are much much more expensive. specialized turbo levo pro for example is 22kg and that's pretty neat for e-enduro bike, for xc styles some bikes are around 15kg range.

You know how good music sounds 0:13😁👌🏻

When I’m climbing something super steep on my Kenevo, I put the dropper most or all the way down and perch on the front of the saddle to keep my weight centered. I put it in turbo and pedal conservatively. Haven’t had any issues since being taught this hack

We rented e-bikes in bentonville after a couple days on our regular bikes and I felt the same way as you about them, I rode in trail mode up hill and riding 35-40 miles a day it was well worth renting them. I did after a couple days felt like the bike was just feeling heavy on my wrist and arms from the weight of the 55lbs bikes. I don’t own one yet but they definitely have a purpose.

I have learned the hard way to carry - 1. Utralight tube + Micropump or Oversize CO2 - a tube can get you out on a damaged rim 2. Chunk of old compatible chain - around a dozen links with a snap link on both ends - can setup as a fixie on middle gear or fix broken chain on the fly. 3. Good microtool. 4. Chunk of old tube used as a wrap for some of that. 😁

Hey Evan…. Mark Perkins here with opinion on the e-mtb. Having about 2500 miles on my e-reign, my perspective has evolved a bit. You’re pretty spot on with allot of it, here’s my take: 1) Yes, harder on drive train. But, you adapt to easing up on the pedals when shifting uphill. The motor still powers during the split second & the drivetrain holds up much better. Cranks however do not. I never went through a set on standard mtb, gone through 3 on the e-mtb, Rock spikes pedaling uphill - they bend. Praxis did add webbing in the back on my latest set & they’re holding up much better. I do blow through tires fast. Riding Thunderbird park is really rocky & tires aren’t cheap. Brake fade with the additional weight was also an issue, better pads really made a difference. 2). Positive. Being an old guy, I can still ride rocky trails daily. Standard mtb, after 2-3 days riding my joints get sore. It’s the jarring motion of climbing on rocks & generally higher exertion. After a couple days it’s ice, ibuprofen, etc. The e-mtb I can ride everyday of the week. The motor helps power through those jarring uphill rocks & minimizes impact to the joints. I especially like that the climbs don’t take everything out of me & I’m not as fatigued for the downhill. 3) Tech. Through the giant app I get everything about my ride - distance, elevation, calories, cadence, watts, etc. I know there’s stuff you can add to standard mtb to get this, but e-mtb comes standard - Bluetooth to my phone. 4) Riding style and bike set-up are different. For example - I have to be at 24 -25 lbs in the front tire. Less, I’m washing out. More, I get arm pump. So, I think some of the negatives you do have will fade as your e-mtb set-up evolves.

Biggest positive for E-bikes is awesome music in the review videos. (500 miles)!!!!!!

Evan I recommend building up a custom low weight and lower power ebike. You don't seem to want the extra power so moving to a lower power one means you will be sub 40lb which will help a lot with your issues. Check out the bafang m820 and CEF50 frame

Im for ebike, me my dad and my girlfriend have a lot of fun on them i recommend them, especially for someone that is a little bit older and is wanting to try the sport, if it wasn’t for EMTB i dont think i would mountain bike Thanks for the awesome video 👍

I’ve has a ebike for 3 years and not had a much problems as you. They are a bit heavier on drivetrain than normal bikes but you do twice as much riding in one day that it’s going to happen.

My husband wants the Siskui T6E only lol. Thats fine with me if that means he will go ride with me! Thanks for pointing out the wear on parts. Something neither of us would have thought about, but good to be aware of and expecting it.

I been riding emtb's for at couple of years and think it's great because I ride a lot more, I mainly stick to eco and trail. Because the bike is heavier it helps going to the gym a couple of times a week ;)

An E-mtb is a great second or third bike. I try to use the best tool for the job and if I'm doing a lot of elevation where I live in Arizona, example Hawes, I could do multiple runs that I wouldn't otherwise be able to do on my regular mountain bike. Just like when I'm running Browns I use my hardtail cross country bike. So again the right tool for the job.

Nice I haven't tried an Ebike yet either but probably would I still love my Flintstone Pivot T429

I’m for having both regular and e-bike. Planning to get the Siskui T7e

I think once you dial in the riding style you need for ebikes which is similar but different if you know what I mean your opinion will change on EBikes. I still do enjoy riding my regular full sus bike they are different tools for different jobs. Ride what you want and have fun!

Hey Evan, I think a lot of these negatives are due to the fact that you are riding a budget bike here. For example my girlfriends Santa Cruz Heckler SL has not any more rolling resistance then a regular bike. The Fazua motor (made by Porsche) completely disengages. That bike weighs 42lbs. Feels exactly like a Bronson with the motor on low. That thing is insane! SL bikes typically have only 50% of the power compared regular e-mtb's, but after you own a full power e bike for a while most likely you never use the turbo mode. One of the bikes I own is a Specialized Levo carbon Expert, I usually ride it on 10% to make up for the extra weight. If I want more fun or practice fast corners I bump it up to 25%. I use 100% on the asphalt to get me to the trail. I always have more fun on that bike. When I got it 4 years ago I got so addicted to riding it all the time that within a year I became a pretty fit mountain biker. Now I also have 3 analog bikes (including the Alchemy, because you recommended it on your channel, I love it , thank you so much! ) and actually the Levo has been the most reliable bike of the lot. The downside: Heckler SL $9.5K with the GX axs, ouch! and my Levo wasn't a whole lot cheaper....

I am on year 2 of owning/riding a ebike. I absolutely fell in love with riding them. The ONLY downsides from my perspective are cost and weight. I have not had any issues of breaking drive trains or wheel sets. eMTBs are at the cutting edge of MTB tech and are really driving the industry forward. We will see stronger lighter materials, better days are coming. I am ready for a eMTB with a gearbox instead of a derailure. AWESOME to see you on a ebike

I have an Orbea Rise H15 (29er), less heavy than the one you are using, but momentum, speed and jumps are not a problem. I even go to bike parks with it, it feels super stable. I have to admit that I did a lot of motocross and maybe that's why it doesn't seem strange to me.

Just followed you on strava, looking forward taking inspiration off your activity, Evan!

For comfort try rev grips ,one up ebike bars . I wax my chain it keeps the drive train clean and last for about 60 to 80 miles per wax . Rear tire I use eddy current rear tire

Ebikes do actually carry more speed than you think, the issue is that you trying to keep up with a really mellow long gradient hill. I been since 2021 riding a Specialized turbo levo Hardtail, and last year upgraded to the full sus turbo levo alloy, and i can tell you, those things carry their speed easily due their higher weight. In fact, i love switching from my Levo to the 2018 giant glory i have, to keep improving my DH skills, making it way easier and funnier during summer, blast down the bikepark with the glory with more confidence. About wearing parts, i do ride my Levo daily to work, and during weekends i blast it trough the trails, and the only things i had to change was brakepads, 1st chain (after more than 2.5k miles), and tires (those specialized tires are awfull and dont grip at all where i ride) other than that, the rest of the bike is fully stock. The issue you had with your rear wheel, might be more of a defect on the rim, or you hit anything harder than you though. cause i ride rough DH tracks with my levo on it's stock wheelset without inserts, and they still dont have a single dent

Nice video Evan! Think of the ebike as your second bike and use it on longer days on the saddle or on days when you want to take it easier than usual.

Thanks. Bought my wife a slightly used spesh levo. Man, that thing pulls like a John Deere tractor. Unbelievable power. I've no interest in riding them but now she will ride with me. Which is good

I ride my ebike twice a day every day the weather and my health allow. My first ride is with my 62-lb Golden/Aussie (something we've been doing for over 8 years) for about 2.5 miles; then I drop him off, kick the PAS up to 3 and ride another 8...loving every second. I also got a new knee a couple of years ago and it's been my main tool to getting my mobility back. This is the first video of yours I've ever seen and, it's safe to say that, our riding styles are exactly like oil and water and...what is working for me DEFINITELY will not work for thee. We have totally different needs and wants and ride nothing like each other. Also...there are a TON of quality ebikes that come in at WAY less than $3000. I'm 70 and you're not even close to that so...IMHO...the title of your video should also end in IMHO. What I've learned is that THE BEST BIKE...is the one you want to ride every day. 😊

Thanks for the video Evan 👍

I am thinking the tyre pressure was too low when the rim was damaged. You can do that on a normal bike but with the extra weight, you need to up the psi in the tyres. I recently got an ebike for commuting. I took it on a normal ride and only used eco mode unless the hill was particularly steep, then i use trail. I agree with turbo mode but I bet it gets people to ride that other wise couldn't due to injury.

Most e-mtb's spec Exo+ or equivalent tyres... undoubtedly, to cut costs. Double Down or stronger FTW!! Also, running a coil makes sense. I've got a steel cassette to go with the steel chainring. Due to the fact I'm riding more on my GT Force Amp+ MX, the chain will need replacing sooner. I love my Eeb. It allows me to bomb more descents during a given ride.

Had an E-Bike since 2019 along with my Me-Bike, sounds like your turbo issues uphill is more along the type of motor, yours is one that hits all at once instantly. Other motors have options to make it more Me-Bike like, where it ramps up based on your pedaling. Some are set in an app, others do it natively (like the Rocky Mountain Dymo). I am a bit shocked at how you stated you were not able to keep speed on the flow trail, try a different rear tire, something with less rolling resistance, for example where you ride do you need a DHR II, give a Rekon a try in the rear. Common misconception is rolling resistance does not matter on an E-bike as you have a motor, but it has an effect as the more rolling resistance, the faster the battery drains, makes me wonder if the extra weight on the DHR's are really adding to the slow down you are experiencing.

I use an e-gravel bike for commuting and tours. Definitely helped building endurance as I could ride longer (~6-7h) without being entirely dead afterwards. This had a huge impact on my fitness and therefore mtb-riding in the end.

Nailed it on the "Training Tool". I've been riding between my full power Trek Rail and my regular bike for 2 years now. It has enhanced my ability to handle speed, weight, cornering, jumping etc. I ride with other ebikers and non ebikers. Just throw it in Eco and now you're climbing with a 55 pound tank and trust me you get a workout. My upper body has gotten stronger as well. As a note: Ebikes are NOT slower downhill, just like a heavy DH bike they carry their speed. However, you are riding a "hill" that has about 150 elevation drop. Try it on the steeps and you will be happy. 2nd note: I have ridden 3 Shimano powered ebikes and that motor is inferior to the Bosch motor in almost every way. Once you've spent enough time on them you'll be able to tell the difference.

You could try rev grips on the ebike to try to take away some pay on the uphill.

I’m like vice versa , was sold to e-bikes a lot , and now it’s just stays at home while I’m riding my hardtail , I just miss hard work, natural pedaling and light handling feel :) however there is a spot in 15 km away from - this is where e-bike shines, I commute there, ride there and then commute back. And most importantly, when I do this 15 km to the spot - I’m not tired to ride :) also e-bike shines if you don’t have much time to ride, so on e-bike you can squize as much laps as you can in short time

You actually can go 20 mph uphill if you have the fitness. Here in Oregon, we will actually race uphill and the workout is great. When you tackle 4000 to 5000 ft of climbing in one ride and then get the reward of a ton of downhill, you just really can't appreciate an ebike until then.

I like riding the trail on Eco mode, with the sweet spot between Eco-Low and Eco-Med (E8000). Any more and my speed can exceed by skill and its gets dangerous!

I find with my ebike if I put it in 0 or 1 it has added resistance from the motor that is charging the battery. VS if I do not turn the bike on at all, there is none. Weird, it is a hub motor though.

Cushcore install is #1 on my ebikes. At least on the rear, XC on the front is lighter but still gives some protection. A coil fork/shock also helps with the extra weight to offset the weight needing higher pressure. Also .. keep your normal bike, and have 2 ebikes. It's not if, but when the motor/battery/wiring/something will fail. Especially when it comes to that POS Shimano ep8. I am on my 3rd motor and have zero trust in it. Next is a Bosch probably.

Hey Evan, you should take my Levo on a few rides to see if there is any difference in opinion from e-bike to e-bike.

I will caveat this comment right now -- I no longer ride trails. Too old and creaky, 3 joint replacements in 2 years' time. You're riding mid-mount, the most versatile AND expensive way to go. Your experience with parts is supported (a need for downhill/Red Bull parts)! I have 2 ebikes, 1 HT, 1 FS. The rear wheel is motorized. (A 3rd conversion kit awaits my deterioration of balance, a front motorized wheel for a trike.) So, to sum up, I'm jealous; can't ride like I did even just 6 years ago. But I'm easier on parts due to that limitation. BTW, I also have a HT that only pedals. Both HTs are down for new parts -- a disc brake adapter mount for one, brake cable and (unexpectedly) chain for the other. Both should be up by Turkey Day. One last note: I have to recharge more often because I weigh 330#. Were I my ideal weight, I'd get a whole extra day of battery life.

Maybe try a smaller ebike? I have the fuel exe and I can get a heck of a workout or stay in zone 2 depending on what I want to do for the day. I don't have a bike ebike but I can say with certainty that my ebike is just as fast downhill as my Trail 429.

Great tune

You seem a fairly light person, but keep breaking wheels, is that a speciality? The chunk doesn't seem to be too chunky..Here in Valencia chunk is basically what we ride, normally we ride natural trails that are cleaned up now and then, but full with sharp stones. We never break wheels and only few people use cushcores. Most ride mid to heavy casings, which I recommend!

Those sl motors will wear out way quicker because people will ride them in turbo all the time

I managed 700 miles on a Gx axs setup on my emtb (and probably +100 miles with the same groupset on my hardtail originally). I changed my chain 3 times over a 2 year period and the 3rd chain began to slip on the worn cassette before I changed to a brand new chain and cassette a few weeks ago. I haven’t snapped a chain and mainly used my emtb for long distance rides (40+ miles a time). Ebikes aren’t actually very much more expensive than mtbs, I would much prefer to buy a £10k+ full suspension ebike than spend the same amount on a full suspension mtb.

Took me awhile to get my t7e set up. Keep messing with it. I put a longer stem on, 160 fork and put it in high flip chip. 29 front and back.

Not weird to run through a dhr ii in maxxgrip that fast. On a normal bike it only lasted me 3 months, 500 kms. It's also the thing that killed the flow in the negative #2 part.

Run some air pressure. Been running home built ebikes for several yrs. Tubes and about 30lbs. Fifty lbs. is about the average for even pro bikes. Tubeless never appealed to me on ebikes. Most of all my riding is north west Arkansas as well. I find the only down side with my ebikes is the knobs don`t have a long life on the back position in the rocks. Big jumps I don`t think are for ebikes. The ability to assist in climbing is where they are priceless. Go to Whistler or Squamish or any big mtn. courses and see how many folks are honking up to the top. Lifts, shuttles or ebikes. You choose your type of assist.

I actually went to bentonville last weekend for the Enduro race and for Thursday and Friday rented ebikes it was my first time on a ebike I liked it for the fact I could rocket up climbs without being exhausted but going downhill did not feel as good as my normal bike either way ebikes definitely have the pros and cons.

I had one and got rid of it, it was really cool but basically all the trails I ride I can ride without it anyway, I didn't like being paranoid with charges and batteries, I felt super self conscious on it since I'm a younger rider and basically just felt like it was a lot of extra hassle for a benefit I personally didn't need

thats why superlight e bikes like specialized exist they are the weight of a big enduro bike and because they are the weight of a enduro bike they won't wear out the components as much and they can jump.

Would a bike be under "way more stress" with a 140 vs a 160 pound rider? I'm not sure I am agreeing with you on that one. Yea, the bike is heavier but not as much as rider weight varies... Thoughts? And yea, sprung vs unsprung weight yea yea yea :) I totally agree that one huge downside (at least on the one I rode for a day) is the need to just keep pedaling. It always feels like if you let up on the pedals it's like it wants to quickly slow down, even on downhills. Too, was on very fast singletrack and found myself constantly up against the speed limiter. It was still fun - but a different riding experience from my usual ultralight hardtail.

I’ve always thought the additional weight argument on Ebikes was a strange one. The difference in weight is usually 20lbs, and I can probably pick ten different avid mtb’ers, and their body weights would probably range in 50-60lb differences. The 20 additional lbs on the bike seems negligible.

Hey Evan, I’m not sure if I’m late to this observation but if you take it out of “turbo” mode going downhill; your ebike won’t govern your speed allowing you to get at it faster and flow much better than you were showing. The lower the mode the higher your threshold over 20mph will be.🤙

12 speed on the ebike is a big negative, I think polygon was smart to originally ship it with a 10 speed, anything over that is overkill and a lot weaker

Ebike owner for over 3 years. Once you burn through the regular spec parts, be sure to replace with ebike specific and you’ll have no issues going forward. Emtb rims, tires and LINKGLIDE are essential.

I plan on converting my e-bike to single speed and running a HD bmx chain to address the same issue you mentioned about snapping/stretching chains and wearing out the rear cassette like there's no tomorrow. I just need to decide on a reasonable gear ratio.

5:47 Which rim is this? If the rim can't handle this it's not made for it, for the reason you mentioned.

I ride my e-bike tons I’ve put 1500 kilometres and haven’t snapped my chain I have to issues gaining speed either it rides like my regular just heavier🤷

That polygon looks sick

Really depend on the bike on all points and regular mtb can cost just as much For example look at Santa Cruz Nomad in any build. There are non ebikes that are way more spendy then the Nomad and Ebikes as well

The ebike tech looks awesome but I wouldn't touch one until I'm way older, just don't need a crutch like that. Also been seeing more and more trails banning ebikes. For dirt paths though they could be awesome.

I have those same grips!

Jumping on a yeti 160e is excellent. Rolling resistance is near zero. Surprised with this review!

Maintaining Zone 2 on mountain bike trails is really hard, so I see that alone as being a big upside for those who can afford it. Similar for people who have health issues that can limit exertion - that boost might be the difference between somebody riding the bike or riding the couch.

1200 KM, bike park, jumps, enduro, city communiting, rid eto work. No repairs, drivetrain and brakes probably good for another 4000 or so km.... and countiless vertikal.... Just take care and dont overdo it... its fine... and I jump, push more than 180 w average on my own... sprint to the next green light and have a heartrate up to 180.... dont know what you are talking about... I changed the 29 to a 27,5 at the front to have fun.... TWO big crashes and not even a missaligned steering angle... Use the Sachs RS in all modes depending on the mood or difficulty.... Just keep riding,

I beat the piss out of my e-bike and the only stuff Ive replaced is the typical stuff other than suspension upgrades. I’ve never broken a chain, but all my buddies have e-bikes and they snap chains often.

Is there any good e-bikes for under 5.3k? Looking to one in the future

Please do a review on ragley mmmbop I think you would really like it

You should try cyc photon Emile conversion. Best of both worlds light and fast

There are a lot of trains of thought: Some might get out on the trail who might not other wise. I think those who ride regular mountain bikes for fun and fitness may ride e-bikes but still ride regular bikes. I don't think anyone that has little fitness and starts on an E-bike will ever switch to a regular bike because it will be too hard. I see alot of people puttng in strava times on an e-bike trying complete with regular bikers and of course there are those who have an e-bike with regular clothes and no helmet passing regular mountain bikers up hills. I personally dont like them for ME but I also dont have to buy them for someone else so what ever you like. I grew up riding BMX and I ride for fun and fitness. There was is an E-MTBer on youtube that is heavily over weight saying he was going on a light ride and proceeded to climb an really hard hill for regular bikes in my area and he was passing guys on the way up. So he may never have ridden a regular bike but he was riding. So it good and lame at the same time.lol. If you want an E-Bike..get one :)

@evansmtbsaga what psi did you have in when you busted that wheel?

So i bought a 4k$ aero road bike to train on vs an e bike. Sure, technical skills aren't quickly improving, but man going from that massive gear on the road bike to the mtb i fly. Cardio wise its been great!!

Uphill flow brother. Climbing a rough tech on an e-mtb is extremely satisfying. In my head, they're made more for uphill tech, then going downhill, which can be awkward on loose and narrow trails, it's too heavy for me.