Francis, You have probably seen that even here in Colorado, trails are welcoming e-bikes. Jefferson County (Golden area) opened all their trails to ebikes. Boulder East of the foothills are allowing ebikes. Fruita bookcliffs and several new areas in the grand Junction area allow ebikes. Even some of the Colorado Trail has ebike access. This is why I finally adopted an ebike and am enjoying climbing that 15% grade hill again that I used to ride 30 years ago. It is the golden age of ebikes as you and I hit our golden age. eRide-on. :D --Rich
@@HarryKuloh Good one. There is a a subtle rule about emtb; Where they are not allowed, they are allowed for "people with mobility issues" Whatever defines that? I have a mobility issue climbing 20% grade. But the bottom line, one does not have to provide any medical proof by law according to ADA. I think as long as people are not running over other riders, it is all fair game. We are back to the etiquette once again and the youngsters can poo poo it all they want. Yell at me. I'm old and my skin is thick. Even FC has the best come back line. "I'm cheating alright, I am cheating life!"
Thank you for the update brother man. So good to hear about Colorado. All that mountainous terrain needs to be enjoyed. Yes, the ridiculously steep trails we tackled in our youth are now handled and enjoyed frequently.
I ride road bike for fitness and mtb for fun. Now that I switched to e-bike I have 3 times as much fun. I just turned 70 and I ride my e-bike where I want regardless if they are allowed or not!
I enjoy hearing your thoughts and input on the sport and the industry. Very insightful. I did have to sell my heckler SL. I was too frustrated with the motor issues. It was bliss on two wheels but I’m back doing analog now and actually enjoying my rides much more at the moment.
Great share my friend. You got a taste of the E and it energized your regular mountain biking as well. Now you know what to look for in the next ebike. With bleeding edge tech though, it's good to have a backup ebike too
I disagree (to a point) about number 8 I do not care about my PR for the climbs because I know that is not a fair comparison …..but the e-bike is of little advantage on the downhill….some might even say a disadvantage with all the extra weight and not being as nimble. I personally have found (unexpectedly) that my skill level has increased since switching to an e-bike. I am not as gassed after a long climb…and now I can concentrate on technique better on the down. My times are getting faster and I feel more confidence in riding the down.
Oh, I've made many, many videos agreeing with this. Emtbs help you descend better, ride and handle a bike better. No question. First-timer, intermediate and expert all benefit from 3x the descending practice and elevation drop
@@Charlie-wt7ct it definitely feels more planted…. But the extra weight means more momentum…so I find I have to be on the breaks a bit more (and harder) for the tight turns
My PRs are different now. Did I need max power? Have I ever ridden this before? Am I faster at the same power level than last time? I don't bother comparing climbs in eco vs turbo, obviously turbo will be faster. But eco vs eco or turbo vs turbo? Damn straight I'll compare! 😁
Excellent points. I’m in position to drop a pretty penny on my first e-MTB. Regarding support for the motors and availability is very important. It’s really just pointing me towards the Pivot Shuttle AM and SC Heckler SL as both have support in my city. However, I’m hesitant about the Fazua system. Bosch is definitely leading In reliability. Also, do you think SC is gonna reveal a new Bullit soon? I hope it comes with a Bosch lol
Pivot Shuttle AM if it's your first E. Need that range to open up options. Heckler SL is awesome but no extender batteries. Yes, some major releases coming this fall... allegedly.
@@EMTBReviewhey! I just wanted to update you. I ended up getting the Shuttle AM shortly after I made this comment(yes, I missed out on the new LT). That being said, I’m still happy with my purchase. It has more capacity than the Vala. I ended up setting it up as a mullet, and you were right the entire time, it rides better. Overall, this is the best bike I’ve ever owned and ridden. With the mullet setup the cornering is substantially better, you will be able to tell immediately. As a side note, at 5’7” I was always between sizes and I size down. This is the best fitting bike I’ve had, no need for 50mm riser bars as with all my other bikes. Thanks for your very descriptive videos on the AM, it certainly helped me in my decision.
@@EMTBReview Well said, also my impression sometimes, pretty unsatisfying how unreliable some motors turn out in real world environments after "years of development", as they always claim
@@RCReviewChannel Some of them, yeah, might be true, but many of these ebike motor companies are coming from the automotive industry, they have decades of experience for this kind of stuff (bosch, zf, sachs, mahle, brose) and all of them claim they have ridden hundred thousands of kilometres/miles on their system and then there is one non-sponsored youtube video and they fail miserable, that's pretty insane... but when I think about it, there might indeed be a correlation between the most reliable motors and companies that have a longer tradition from the automative industy, isn't it? They seem to have proper testing techniques and of course also a better financial background for R&D. The motors still have major flaws like rattle and general loudness, but at least the reliability seems to be better (if we ignore brose's first years on the market )
The haters are still hating and e-MTB is illegal in all county and state parks in the "OC". Also, my BBS02 is still functional with eight years of off road activity and neither failures nor maintenance. This is not unusual for Bafang.
Thank you for the update. Sad to hear about the OC but some areas will change slower than others for sure. Those Bafangs are sturdy motors for sure. Especially for the price.
Funny thing how snobs still like to tell me I'm cheating, meanwhile I just had to send my motor in because I just put 5000 miles on my Levo! I just tell them I'm twice as fast as them, I put in 400% more time in the saddle and I have 1000% more fun!
Until these motors are a lot more reliable and can go average 10000 miles without failing and need to be replaced il be sticking to my analogue bike. If you brought a brand new motorcycle and the engine packed up after 2000 miles you’d be wanting your money back and Rightly so.
Good stuff and with over 2000 miles of emtb riding (less than 2 years), I'd have to agree on all points! Midwest (St Louis region and surrounding 6 hr radius) trail access for class 1 is good to go. My 1000 mile review of my Giant Trance E+ mentions a lot of the same points: ua-cam.com/video/vsRKQyXp-to/v-deo.htmlsi=trt0LPKoUzH-iZCd
It is possible for sure and we've all tried it. But it is so demotivating and unrewarding. It's like pedaling in sand. Good workout but very few can stick with it.
My Specialized Turbo Vado SL is so light 33 lbs , weighs 1 pound more than my Giant Stance full suspension bike, you can pedal it easily with the motor off😊
Francis, You have probably seen that even here in Colorado, trails are welcoming e-bikes. Jefferson County (Golden area) opened all their trails to ebikes. Boulder East of the foothills are allowing ebikes. Fruita bookcliffs and several new areas in the grand Junction area allow ebikes. Even some of the Colorado Trail has ebike access. This is why I finally adopted an ebike and am enjoying climbing that 15% grade hill again that I used to ride 30 years ago. It is the golden age of ebikes as you and I hit our golden age. eRide-on. :D --Rich
Nice!
I just ride emtb everywhere.
@@HarryKuloh Good one. There is a a subtle rule about emtb; Where they are not allowed, they are allowed for "people with mobility issues" Whatever defines that? I have a mobility issue climbing 20% grade. But the bottom line, one does not have to provide any medical proof by law according to ADA. I think as long as people are not running over other riders, it is all fair game. We are back to the etiquette once again and the youngsters can poo poo it all they want. Yell at me. I'm old and my skin is thick. Even FC has the best come back line. "I'm cheating alright, I am cheating life!"
Thank you for the update brother man. So good to hear about Colorado. All that mountainous terrain needs to be enjoyed.
Yes, the ridiculously steep trails we tackled in our youth are now handled and enjoyed frequently.
I ride road bike for fitness and mtb for fun. Now that I switched to e-bike I have 3 times as much fun. I just turned 70 and I ride my e-bike where I want regardless if they are allowed or not!
You for sure are doing it right. Live long and prosper in what this life has to offer.
You summed up the emtb thing perfectly, love your videos, please do this full time!👍
Thank you my good man. Very kind words.
I enjoy hearing your thoughts and input on the sport and the industry. Very insightful. I did have to sell my heckler SL. I was too frustrated with the motor issues. It was bliss on two wheels but I’m back doing analog now and actually enjoying my rides much more at the moment.
Great share my friend. You got a taste of the E and it energized your regular mountain biking as well.
Now you know what to look for in the next ebike. With bleeding edge tech though, it's good to have a backup ebike too
I love your videos
You do an excellent job
You are a great benefit the any community
Well said, great overview!
Thank you sir. Random thoughts in my head just had to be organized
I love my Trek Fuel EXe. TQ is the best
That's a great solution for light power, quiet, short range needs.
We here in the UK, can ride our eebs anywhere, there's no issues on any mountain trail or bike parks for us 🤪
Makes so much sense!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I disagree (to a point) about number 8 I do not care about my PR for the climbs because I know that is not a fair comparison …..but the e-bike is of little advantage on the downhill….some might even say a disadvantage with all the extra weight and not being as nimble. I personally have found (unexpectedly) that my skill level has increased since switching to an e-bike. I am not as gassed after a long climb…and now I can concentrate on technique better on the down. My times are getting faster and I feel more confidence in riding the down.
Oh, I've made many, many videos agreeing with this. Emtbs help you descend better, ride and handle a bike better. No question.
First-timer, intermediate and expert all benefit from 3x the descending practice and elevation drop
Others have said that the extra weight in the rear can provide more traction on the downhill?
@@Charlie-wt7ct it definitely feels more planted…. But the extra weight means more momentum…so I find I have to be on the breaks a bit more (and harder) for the tight turns
Reason number 5 is a reason I almost I wished I waited to jump in… canyon spectral battery on the Fritz!
My PRs are different now. Did I need max power? Have I ever ridden this before? Am I faster at the same power level than last time? I don't bother comparing climbs in eco vs turbo, obviously turbo will be faster. But eco vs eco or turbo vs turbo? Damn straight I'll compare! 😁
Excellent points. I’m in position to drop a pretty penny on my first e-MTB. Regarding support for the motors and availability is very important. It’s really just pointing me towards the Pivot Shuttle AM and SC Heckler SL as both have support in my city. However, I’m hesitant about the Fazua system. Bosch is definitely leading In reliability. Also, do you think SC is gonna reveal a new Bullit soon? I hope it comes with a Bosch lol
Pivot Shuttle AM if it's your first E. Need that range to open up options. Heckler SL is awesome but no extender batteries.
Yes, some major releases coming this fall... allegedly.
After owning ebikes for a few years I say buy a bike from the best shop closest to you, their help is invaluable 😊
@@EMTBReviewhey! I just wanted to update you. I ended up getting the Shuttle AM shortly after I made this comment(yes, I missed out on the new LT).
That being said, I’m still happy with my purchase. It has more capacity than the Vala. I ended up setting it up as a mullet, and you were right the entire time, it rides better. Overall, this is the best bike I’ve ever owned and ridden. With the mullet setup the cornering is substantially better, you will be able to tell immediately. As a side note, at 5’7” I was always between sizes and I size down. This is the best fitting bike I’ve had, no need for 50mm riser bars as with all my other bikes.
Thanks for your very descriptive videos on the AM, it certainly helped me in my decision.
Most emtb motors brands only offers 2years warranty, it should be at least 5years.
exactly. It is a true crime because they are experimenting and doing R&D on us during these developmental years.
@@EMTBReview Well said, also my impression sometimes, pretty unsatisfying how unreliable some motors turn out in real world environments after "years of development", as they always claim
@@e_mtb Bike companies had no idea how to long-range test motors and electronics in the past decade. Hopefully that will improve
@@RCReviewChannel Some of them, yeah, might be true, but many of these ebike motor companies are coming from the automotive industry, they have decades of experience for this kind of stuff (bosch, zf, sachs, mahle, brose) and all of them claim they have ridden hundred thousands of kilometres/miles on their system and then there is one non-sponsored youtube video and they fail miserable, that's pretty insane... but when I think about it, there might indeed be a correlation between the most reliable motors and companies that have a longer tradition from the automative industy, isn't it? They seem to have proper testing techniques and of course also a better financial background for R&D. The motors still have major flaws like rattle and general loudness, but at least the reliability seems to be better (if we ignore brose's first years on the market )
The haters are still hating and e-MTB is illegal in all county and state parks in the "OC". Also, my BBS02 is still functional with eight years of off road activity and neither failures nor maintenance. This is not unusual for Bafang.
Thank you for the update. Sad to hear about the OC but some areas will change slower than others for sure.
Those Bafangs are sturdy motors for sure. Especially for the price.
Yes the down side… Loam wolf explained that well….you lose the super quiet and zen like experience of a huge extended climb on analog bike.
Just buy a proper mtb frame for 500, a good battery 1500wh, a bbshd and a cheap vesc controller... 2500$ max.
Downside of E bike is the limit is 25 km/h thats realy slow becuse the law here in EU/Sweden
Funny thing how snobs still like to tell me I'm cheating, meanwhile I just had to send my motor in because I just put 5000 miles on my Levo! I just tell them I'm twice as fast as them, I put in 400% more time in the saddle and I have 1000% more fun!
Until these motors are a lot more reliable and can go average 10000 miles without failing and need to be replaced il be sticking to my analogue bike. If you brought a brand new motorcycle and the engine packed up after 2000 miles you’d be wanting your money back and Rightly so.
My Specialized Turbo Vado SL a 21' has thousands of miles with zero problems, it's a blast 😊
Good stuff and with over 2000 miles of emtb riding (less than 2 years), I'd have to agree on all points! Midwest (St Louis region and surrounding 6 hr radius) trail access for class 1 is good to go.
My 1000 mile review of my Giant Trance E+ mentions a lot of the same points: ua-cam.com/video/vsRKQyXp-to/v-deo.htmlsi=trt0LPKoUzH-iZCd
Very, very cool share and experience.
NO…with all due respect, you absolutely cannot get a good analog mountain bike for anywhere near $900.
Why not turn off the motor and just pedal you will get stronger
It is possible for sure and we've all tried it. But it is so demotivating and unrewarding. It's like pedaling in sand. Good workout but very few can stick with it.
My Specialized Turbo Vado SL is so light 33 lbs , weighs 1 pound more than my Giant Stance full suspension bike, you can pedal it easily with the motor off😊
Lies
Rrrrrrrright?
Explain Lucy?