E mountain bikes

Edited Date/Time 8/23/2022 6:41am
So I’m scheduled for a knee replacement in December. Been trying to sell my Husqvarna 300 for a little while. Ready to just trade it in and pick up an e bike. Thing is I know nothing about them. Looks like I have access to Specialized and Husqvarna e bikes. Anyone have any experience or input with these bikes? I’m sure I’ll buy another dirt scooter later but have found it hard to ride anymore. It pretty much kills a whole day with the loading and driving and all that. Also, takes away from our family day. However, I have a lot of trails that I could ride all around my house much more frequently. Any info on these e mtb bikes would be greatly appreciated.
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8/18/2022 5:03pm Edited Date/Time 8/18/2022 5:04pm
Do yourself a favor and spend a little bit more for a good one. You don’t need the $15K model, but my friends who tried to save a few bucks, ended up selling the one they bought to upgrade.
I bought a Pivot, so I can’t answer any questions on the Husqvarna E-Bike, but Specialized makes a great line of E-Bikes.
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stone881
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8/18/2022 5:07pm
Langhammx wrote:
Do yourself a favor and spend a little bit more for a good one. You don’t need the $15K model, but my friends who tried to...
Do yourself a favor and spend a little bit more for a good one. You don’t need the $15K model, but my friends who tried to save a few bucks, ended up selling the one they bought to upgrade.
I bought a Pivot, so I can’t answer any questions on the Husqvarna E-Bike, but Specialized makes a great line of E-Bikes.
This ^....you could also save some coin buying a YT.
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8/18/2022 5:09pm
Was lookin at this just have no idea what I’m lookin at or lookin for! Pretty sure I want a 29er and definitely E-bike.


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8/18/2022 5:10pm
stone881 wrote:
This ^....you could also save some coin buying a YT.
YT makes a great bike, without the middle man to drive up the price. Not sure if they are caught up from COVID, but they hadn’t had any bikes to sell awhile back.
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The Shop

8/18/2022 5:10pm
stone881 wrote:
This ^....you could also save some coin buying a YT.
I know absolutely nothing about mountain bikes. Whats a YT?
basslips
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8/18/2022 5:59pm
My wife has a Levo Comp. It's pretty base model as she doesn't shred. The Brose motors are super quiet and smooth. She's had it about 2.5 years, had the battery replaced under warranty a couple months ago. Just got back from the shop for a tune up. Replaced cassette, chain, and front chainring and a fork oil change. 1200 miles on the bike.

I have a Santa Cruz Bullit with a coil shock now for 16 months. Has the Shimano EP8 motor. It is much louder, not as smooth and has a funky clanking noise. Appears that is an issue regardless of what brand of bike they are in. The bike is great on steep trails and feels kinda like a super light dirt bike, is more planted and just feels great. On trails that aren't all that steep the bike kinda takes the fun out of it since its heavy. I have to ride it way harder to make it fun.

Depending on what kind of trails you have or will ride, or "how" you like to ride should dictate what kind of e bike to get. If I had a do-over I would take some of the new light-weight e bikes out now, but the Levo SL was the only real option at the time. I never really use "boost" to haul ass up the hill and mostly ride with my wife who is a beginner. So I ride mostly with the bike off on flatter ground or just in Eco mode which is the lowest power setting.

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8/18/2022 6:17pm
Where I live and most western states e-bikes are not allowed on mtb trails.

I’ll likely get one at some point, and ignore the signs, it’s basically lawless here in Oregon anyway.

They would be great for pre-riding off-road race courses.
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2
cjmx
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Fantasy
8/18/2022 6:19pm
Definitely some good info here. I agree with spending more money now and not later. YT makes great bikes but their ebike has a smaller 540wh battery. Depending how long you want to ride and what mode you’re in this could be a factor. I went with a Commencal ebike and love it. I still pedal my “amish” bike more but on recovery days or riding with other ebikes it’s great. It’s addicting doing laps on fun downhills. If the smaller battery isn’t an issue look at YT and also Canyon. Commencal is worth looking at too. Inventory could limit your decision.
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basslips
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8/18/2022 6:25pm
Where I live and most western states e-bikes are not allowed on mtb trails. I’ll likely get one at some point, and ignore the signs, it’s...
Where I live and most western states e-bikes are not allowed on mtb trails.

I’ll likely get one at some point, and ignore the signs, it’s basically lawless here in Oregon anyway.

They would be great for pre-riding off-road race courses.
Lots of "legal" places to ride here. Look for BLM land. Around you, Madras, and Horse Ridge on the way to EFR are emtb friendly. We've ridden a ton near Tumalo and Peterson Ridge in Sisters, but do stay away from Bend now with our e bikes. Tons of assholes ride there anyway so not a major loss. However I have friends that ride a ton all over from Bend local stuff all the way up to Wanoga, and the xc trails around Bachelor and they see tons of e bikes out enjoying the trails.



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1
8/18/2022 6:50pm
cjmx wrote:
Definitely some good info here. I agree with spending more money now and not later. YT makes great bikes but their ebike has a smaller 540wh...
Definitely some good info here. I agree with spending more money now and not later. YT makes great bikes but their ebike has a smaller 540wh battery. Depending how long you want to ride and what mode you’re in this could be a factor. I went with a Commencal ebike and love it. I still pedal my “amish” bike more but on recovery days or riding with other ebikes it’s great. It’s addicting doing laps on fun downhills. If the smaller battery isn’t an issue look at YT and also Canyon. Commencal is worth looking at too. Inventory could limit your decision.
Whats considered a good size battery? The husqvarna has a 630wh battery. The dealer I would potentially be trading with only has specialized and husqvarna
8/18/2022 6:53pm
Where I live and most western states e-bikes are not allowed on mtb trails. I’ll likely get one at some point, and ignore the signs, it’s...
Where I live and most western states e-bikes are not allowed on mtb trails.

I’ll likely get one at some point, and ignore the signs, it’s basically lawless here in Oregon anyway.

They would be great for pre-riding off-road race courses.
basslips wrote:
Lots of "legal" places to ride here. Look for BLM land. Around you, Madras, and Horse Ridge on the way to EFR are emtb friendly. We've...
Lots of "legal" places to ride here. Look for BLM land. Around you, Madras, and Horse Ridge on the way to EFR are emtb friendly. We've ridden a ton near Tumalo and Peterson Ridge in Sisters, but do stay away from Bend now with our e bikes. Tons of assholes ride there anyway so not a major loss. However I have friends that ride a ton all over from Bend local stuff all the way up to Wanoga, and the xc trails around Bachelor and they see tons of e bikes out enjoying the trails.



Sorry man but that is far from the truth. Most the places you just named were moto singletrack that we’ve lost to mtb and are not open to e bikes, peterson ridge, horse ridge and all the bend area trails in specific. Sure you can ride ebikes on blm roads and USFS roads that allow dirt bikes but roads are boring even on dirt bikes. In general BLM land follows the same guidelines as the USFS demeaning ebikes a motorized vehicle. It’s whatever, you probably won’t get cited but you’re 100% illegal riding a ebike on the trails you’ve named.
2
cjmx
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Fantasy
8/18/2022 7:06pm Edited Date/Time 8/18/2022 7:07pm
cjmx wrote:
Definitely some good info here. I agree with spending more money now and not later. YT makes great bikes but their ebike has a smaller 540wh...
Definitely some good info here. I agree with spending more money now and not later. YT makes great bikes but their ebike has a smaller 540wh battery. Depending how long you want to ride and what mode you’re in this could be a factor. I went with a Commencal ebike and love it. I still pedal my “amish” bike more but on recovery days or riding with other ebikes it’s great. It’s addicting doing laps on fun downhills. If the smaller battery isn’t an issue look at YT and also Canyon. Commencal is worth looking at too. Inventory could limit your decision.
Dirtydeeds wrote:
Whats considered a good size battery? The husqvarna has a 630wh battery. The dealer I would potentially be trading with only has specialized and husqvarna
630 is normal size. I get around 30 miles in trail mode with some boost, some eco and a lot of elevation gain riding in Colorado. I don’t know much about the husky ebike but I know specialized makes great bikes including their ebike.
1
Chrispmoto
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8/18/2022 7:45pm
Up here in BC, Rocky Mtn are pretty popular and have a great motor.
They are getting more and more accepted, I think only one trail where I live is off limits as it’s in the alpine.
Pretty stoked with my new ride, sometimes I wonder if I should have just bought a new 2 Stroke instead tho!! 😂
5
basslips
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8/18/2022 7:48pm
Where I live and most western states e-bikes are not allowed on mtb trails. I’ll likely get one at some point, and ignore the signs, it’s...
Where I live and most western states e-bikes are not allowed on mtb trails.

I’ll likely get one at some point, and ignore the signs, it’s basically lawless here in Oregon anyway.

They would be great for pre-riding off-road race courses.
basslips wrote:
Lots of "legal" places to ride here. Look for BLM land. Around you, Madras, and Horse Ridge on the way to EFR are emtb friendly. We've...
Lots of "legal" places to ride here. Look for BLM land. Around you, Madras, and Horse Ridge on the way to EFR are emtb friendly. We've ridden a ton near Tumalo and Peterson Ridge in Sisters, but do stay away from Bend now with our e bikes. Tons of assholes ride there anyway so not a major loss. However I have friends that ride a ton all over from Bend local stuff all the way up to Wanoga, and the xc trails around Bachelor and they see tons of e bikes out enjoying the trails.



Sorry man but that is far from the truth. Most the places you just named were moto singletrack that we’ve lost to mtb and are not...
Sorry man but that is far from the truth. Most the places you just named were moto singletrack that we’ve lost to mtb and are not open to e bikes, peterson ridge, horse ridge and all the bend area trails in specific. Sure you can ride ebikes on blm roads and USFS roads that allow dirt bikes but roads are boring even on dirt bikes. In general BLM land follows the same guidelines as the USFS demeaning ebikes a motorized vehicle. It’s whatever, you probably won’t get cited but you’re 100% illegal riding a ebike on the trails you’ve named.
Yeah I know most mtb trails in C.O. were dirt bike trails, I didn't say anything in regards to that. Not trying to argue over what is "legal" or not so whatever, but the small system in Madras is open to e bikes. Also, Oakridge isn't far over the hill. All trails on BLM there are 100% e bike legal, hell Alpine is even open to dirt scooters!

basslips
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8/18/2022 7:54pm
cjmx wrote:
Definitely some good info here. I agree with spending more money now and not later. YT makes great bikes but their ebike has a smaller 540wh...
Definitely some good info here. I agree with spending more money now and not later. YT makes great bikes but their ebike has a smaller 540wh battery. Depending how long you want to ride and what mode you’re in this could be a factor. I went with a Commencal ebike and love it. I still pedal my “amish” bike more but on recovery days or riding with other ebikes it’s great. It’s addicting doing laps on fun downhills. If the smaller battery isn’t an issue look at YT and also Canyon. Commencal is worth looking at too. Inventory could limit your decision.
Dirtydeeds wrote:
Whats considered a good size battery? The husqvarna has a 630wh battery. The dealer I would potentially be trading with only has specialized and husqvarna
For a full powered e bike, like stated before, 630wh is common and larger ones are available in different brands. The Levo's can come with 700wh. Norco's I believe have up to or close to 900wh batteries, and many brands have smaller battery packs that can be carried in a pack or on the bike to extend range. We've done over 30 miles rides. All depends on the power level you choose to ride in.

I'd read up on the bikes you like and try to learn as much as you can. My brother in law bought a Husky e bike and he says it's a jenky POS. I've never seen it.
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Rotaholic
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8/18/2022 7:57pm Edited Date/Time 8/18/2022 7:58pm
I would definitely look at the Trek Rail, great bosch motor and battery and nice geo with a decent spec, would be hard to find a better first ebike for someone. The rail 7 and 9 are great entry bikes.

The new giant reigns are the best value for money right now.

A YT decoy with a coil shock rips but is more of a shred bike.
Crush
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8/18/2022 8:01pm
I'd get one with a Bosch motor for a start.

And as much as people love the specialized I don't know many people who haven't broken shocks on them. Shit design.

Trek Rail or Focus Jam/Sam are the best bets imo.

I love the idea of the Norco battery ranges and geometry, but again, the rear suspension design is asking the shock to be structural as well as a shock, just silly.
Fourth_Floor
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8/18/2022 8:17pm
I got a Luna Cycles X2 last winter with the Ludacris option and that bike is amazing!! I have just as much fun on it as my dirtbike. I believe the motor is capable of 2500 watts vs the 750 that the other ebikes are restricted to and on a 50lb mountain bike it is so much fun. You can basically go anywhere/climb anything on it. I find the extra oomph it can put out makes it fun to jump stuff that you'd never be able to on the restricted bikes but for normal trail riding I have it in the lower power modes. Kinda nice to have that extra power for when you get a bug up your ass and want to get sendy.

I researched for months before buying it and it was between the Luna and the Intense Tazer MX Pro. I'm glad I went with the Luna.
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nytsmaC
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8/18/2022 8:25pm Edited Date/Time 8/18/2022 8:25pm
I was in the exact same situation as you, I went with the YT Decoy Pro Race. It’s been awesome, I love it.

I will throw out the idea of trading your 300 in on a 350 or 500/501 type dual sport bike if you have trails close to home. I picked up a FE501, plated, I ride out of the garage, ten minutes of pavement to some epic single track trails and exploring. No need to truck/trailer your bikes to a riding area if you can do that, it really saves a lot of time and hassle. I can go out for a few hours and get some great riding in without it taking up the whole day, just like with the mountain bike. It’s a game changer.
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jcolsch
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8/18/2022 8:28pm
Dirtydeeds wrote:
Was lookin at this just have no idea what I’m lookin at or lookin for! Pretty sure I want a 29er and definitely E-bike. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/08/18/564548/s1200_9F865730_BDCA_4869_BF7C_E9D9B7095A8E.jpg[/img]
Was lookin at this just have no idea what I’m lookin at or lookin for! Pretty sure I want a 29er and definitely E-bike.


I was the operations manager for a bike company who sold these. If it were me, I'd get the full power over the SL. you won't miss the weight, you save money, and you get more power.
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8tensolutions
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8/18/2022 8:36pm
Levo is the way to go. Excellent dealer network to assist with updates or any concerns, terrific warranty, and the best e bike hands down. The SL rides more like a "real bike", but the full power one is rowdy for sure and a lot of fun. Try to ride both and decide from there.
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AgileMike
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8/18/2022 8:36pm
Specialized is the leader in eMTB by far. Just go look at a few of the forums. Most moto guys will like the full Leco and not the SL, which has a smaller motor and smaller battery. Do yourself a favor and don't buy one until you try a Levo. You can rent them from bike shops that sell them usually l.
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nskerb
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8/18/2022 8:43pm
Couple things I’d recommend. Like stated above just get the full power not the light weight ones.

I’d say stick with a more name brand mtb company over one like the husky.

If you can afford a really nice one, go with specialized, yeti, trek, norco, so on.

Like stated above, YT has really good value, also look into commencal bikes, same thing as YT, they are AWESOME value compared to the other big brands since they are DTC. To be honest, YT has really great bikes but I hear their customer service can be really bad if you break a part.

One last thing is this. If you’re looking at picking up a close to new used bike, make sure it has a shimano EP8 motor or the Bosch equivalent (newest model). The ebike world is very new, so every year or so the motors get very big and tangible upgrades.
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8/18/2022 8:57pm
nskerb wrote:
Couple things I’d recommend. Like stated above just get the full power not the light weight ones. I’d say stick with a more name brand mtb...
Couple things I’d recommend. Like stated above just get the full power not the light weight ones.

I’d say stick with a more name brand mtb company over one like the husky.

If you can afford a really nice one, go with specialized, yeti, trek, norco, so on.

Like stated above, YT has really good value, also look into commencal bikes, same thing as YT, they are AWESOME value compared to the other big brands since they are DTC. To be honest, YT has really great bikes but I hear their customer service can be really bad if you break a part.

One last thing is this. If you’re looking at picking up a close to new used bike, make sure it has a shimano EP8 motor or the Bosch equivalent (newest model). The ebike world is very new, so every year or so the motors get very big and tangible upgrades.
Not sure if I’ve made it clear or not but I’m getting no bites on selling my dirt bike. So I’m thinking of trading it in at a dealer who only sells Husky or Specialized. While I appreciate all the other suggestions from everyone I’m thinkin if this dirt bike doesn’t sell here shortly I’ll be goin with something in the specialized family as I haven’t heard anything about the husky. Thanks for the info on the motor, I might have to stop
in soon and see exactly what they have in stock as I know most dealerships websites never match with their showrooms.
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1911
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8/18/2022 9:00pm
I just bought this one month ago. Giant Trance X Advanced E+O. Yamaha motor.
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nytsmaC
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8/18/2022 9:15pm Edited Date/Time 8/18/2022 9:27pm
I see you’re in central Texas. Don’t make the mistake of going for the Kenevo, bigger isn’t necessarily better. The extra suspension travel sounds good on paper but the reality of it is it really just makes fun trails dull and boring. Nobody needs 180-200mm travel unless you are an advanced rider doing double black diamond terrain. Think of it like riding a CR500 on an arenacross track. Mountain bikes are a classic case of less is more.

For what it’s worth I live in BC, with some of the steepest and gnarliest downhill riding in the world. I just sold my dedicated downhill bike, as my 170/165mm travel Decoy is capable of doing anything and it’s excessive for a lot of the trails here, but it’s also capable of doing the gnarliest stuff that I personally am willing to try on any bike. The downhill bike was redundant and it just made things easier, it rolled slower, it deadened a lot of trail features and was generally less fun to ride. 140-160mm is the sweet spot, and that is still plenty capable if you live near a proper downhill bike park.
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Stewyeww
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8/18/2022 9:16pm
Lots of options, head to vitalmtb.com and ask on the forums there.
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