My wife commented on how Danny really explained everything without a sales pitch but with integrity. Thanks for putting this together, shame not to see the Levo SL in the mix. Agreed though that Spesh needs to update it soon.
I rarely see Giants compared in these videos. 1000 mi no issues on my Reign, 5 power modes a great climber and descender, my friends all have had issues esp. the Levo"s
Despite some comments from viewers about the number or selection of bikes rated here, I think this is one of the best review videos I have seen, picking up on the slightest of realistic details that I dont hear in some other reviews as well as the pros/cons of each bike. Looking forward to the 2nd part
The stem can be lowered on the action team by changing the cable entry points to the sides of the frame as in all the other stereo hybrids. If the travel is too linear you can add spacers to have it more progressive. If the 170mm of travel is too much, there is a 140mm version of the action Team with 150mm of travel. And well carbon is always stiffer than aluminum. Guess thats simply a matter of taste. just saying...
This is such a refreshingly good comparison video! Love how much focus there was to cover the bikes from a handling and ride experience perspective - so many eMTB comparisons seem to get hung up on the motor performance and torque curves and the like.
I was in between the Merida e-160 8000 and the Rail 9. It came down the the price, bought the Merida for AU$7700(RRP AU$8999) $2800 cheaper then the Trek AU$10499(they wouldn't give me any discount). Its amazing the difference in price here in Australia compared to UK and Europe where the e-160 is actually more expensive than the Rail 9.
It's the same in Russia. Actually, Merida is 20% cheaper in Russia than in EU, plus if you manage to get a discount and it might actually be up to 40% cheaper than in Germany )
For the LEVO, just put a 27,5 in the rear (mullet), put the frame in high position, and you will have a new LEVO, very much capable enduro riding bike! Try and review!
I have US spec 2020 E Genius 920. It's a great bike. It is a very long and stable bike to start. I'm kind of curious what the reason for the ransom is. The Genious already feels pretty heavy on the DH side of Enduro. Having the coil as an option is great but I have never found myself saying "this needs to be slacker and more planted". OTOH Scott is basically writing off the US emtb market. They have 3 Genious models, 1 Ransom, and 2 Stike. None if them make any sense in terms of price and spec. The silly thing is that they sold everything they brought over last year and then seem to have decided there was no market worth pursuing.
Buy a Trek and never look back! ❤ Just constantly smiling on mine days after I've rode it! Trek Rail 9 GX Gen 2! Ebike are expensive but make the most of riding time! Great Video 👍! Very easy and Informative watch!
I bet it goes unnoticed because they don't have the marketing power but the lapierre GLP2 is in my opinion ahead of the competition. Better balance and weight at the same power. Not a surprise it won all the competitions it was used in.
I have been told that the Yamaha motor is the one that actually has the most sensors out of all which turns into a smoother ride. Giant bikes use them and they are the biggest bike seller in the world, that should mean something, I guess...How come there are no bikes with it on the test?
FEEL is a very empty word. When someone says "it feels stronger", what's that suppose to mean? Numbers are where its at, trusting the bike makers and the makers of the drive units is total BS. Any review with out dyno numbers is just a waste of time.
@@lukasbormann4830 that's not true. Giant Yamaha with 500wh is similar in range with Bosh 625. I do regular rides with mates on Bosh 625, Giant Yam 500, Shimano E800. Giant Yam is the most powerful I would say similar power to Bosh. Shimano is the weakest and has the least range. The Giant did a really good job on Yam's motor and the sensors do the job very well.
@@aaddaammsskkyy were talking about the shimano ep8 here and no, 500w can't get you as far, only when the 625 bike has slower rolling tires, more suspension, is heavier and the rider uses more assistence
@@lukasbormann4830 This is where the 6 sensors fitted to Yam's motor come to. They save energy. You don't need to belive just try and you'll see :) Ps. Auto assistance can waste energy, but no in Giant Yam's
Great job guys . Very interesting and thorough test with the bikes available . I assume it’s hard to get any bikes to test given the current supply chain issues.
Thanks! Yes very difficult to get test bikes at the moment, and even with five bikes, transporting them, charging them, cleaning and maintaining them was a big challenge!
Good video gents, very detailed and pragmatic. I thought the format worked well too... especially since Alan now talks naturally rather than like he’s doing a voice over for a Michael Bay action movie trailer 😜 To all the “where is the Yamaha/Orbea/Haibike” commenters, there are how many manufacturers and models available now?! There is no way an independent channel is going to be able to get them ALL together at the same time let alone have the resources available to test them properly. All group tests have omissions, it is what it is.
Thank you for staying this. There are way too many whingers acting like spoilt brats in the comments. A sad reflection of rampant lack of maturity and appreciation in society.
Still waiting for pt2 We bought the Rail9 we love it..Couldn’t ask for a more capable bike..A week later had to be returned to the shop to adjust the battery latch 😬 After seeing how the battery sits on top of the motor and can easily shift the battery over narly ground or rock gardens, I really think the latch needs redesigning or re-engineering..I would even go as far as upgrading it so others with the current models can change out the locking device.. Apart from that love the setup.. 👍
Thanks for this post, I was contemplating the Rail 9, however, this is not the first time I've seen people commenting on the battery latch. Guess I'll go for the Orbea Wild FS. Best bang for the buck down here in Brazil.
@@brunofonseca9686 Goodluck with your purchase..Unfortunately bike shops aren’t very honest about faulty bikes I can understand why..If I was to spend ten grand on a Yamaha wr 450 you probably wouldn’t find anything wrong with it even the brakes would have great stopping power..Seems to be a lot different with these mountain bike companies.
Specialized has soft running gear as in wheels cassettes freehubs motors seat post but it's still a great bike as I have the top of the range, the YT is the same soft running gear, so if you buy a Ebike 1 dealer is close and not full of excuses 2 learn how to look after it 3 changing gear is very important as a cassette is easy to wreck with the power these bikes have.
I'm really keen on getting an eMTB. I got back into MTB a couple of years ago after many years not riding and got a Whyte 905 as I didn't want to spend a fortune in case my interest didn't stick. However it had but I'm now in my mid 40s not very fit and struggle to get out as much as I'd like due to family commitments and I'm now beginning to see where an eMTB might be of benefit. They also seem to have come a long way even in just the last couple of years while I've been back riding. My only worry is longevity of things like the batteries and motor etc. as I would maybe use it to commute more to offset the cost involved. I occasionally commute on my Whyte and have a reasonable route around 12 miles which is mostly offroad and I prefer as I'm not into buzzing along the road.
I agree. Those batteries don't last forever. Also motor maintenance etc. I am 60 and know e power is for me. But i think i need $5000 minimum to save up!
@@kenneth7197 Yeah, I like the look of something like the Orbea Rise myself. Not quite a full powered eMTB but you save some weight and get a more traditional feel (apparently). Range is sacrificed though and the battery is harder to remove for maintenance. I'd have to go bottom spec though (M20) and upgrade parts as they wear. I'm a bit worried about going for a motor system not by one of the bigger brands on this kind of bike which would obviously cost less but be harder to get serviced maybe.
the "4 stroke motor bike" analogy is so spot on about the Rail, So lucky I have a 9.9 (as well as a Slash) and the Rail rewards high cadence and aggressive lines. Haters I am sure will hate, but if you know ....you know.
@@knotsofast777 its unreal, truly..if you know, you know. Staying in the sweet spot of the cadence and the motor yields (more fitness for sure), more battery life and like you perfectly put it "as close to flying on the ground" as you can get.
You can adjust how long and how strong The motors will continue after you stop pedaling just move the slider on the profile where it Says"shuttle"(atleast on specialized)if you put it all on max it will even continue to pedal if you take your feet of the pedals
Funny you mention lack of overturn on the ep9, that's exactly why I ride an ep8 as it's the most natural motor to ride. Also with the ep8 etube app, you can tune the exact parameters of the motor including tourque multiplication.
In the USA Merida and Whyte are not available . The Cube bike is available but at very limited dealers . Trek doesn’t have a Rail 9 in the states but has a series of Rail’9’s 9.9, 9.8, 9.8xt, 9.7etc. The bike you tested looks to match the Rail 9.8xt here. Specialized available extensively and super popular here as well but the Turbo Levo Sl is by far the most popular . Looking forward to trying an Orbea Rise and both the Santa Cruz emtb’s next year.
The 9.8 XT is here as well in the UK but back to back not much difference. Carbon frame really i test road both and got the Rail 9 amd saved myself £800 i dont need carbon!
Good catch. Didn’t seem like a true apples to apples where it concerns the Levo and Rail in this video. Agree, that Rail looks to be spec’d out like a 9.8 in the US, which costs ~$8k. The Levo Comp comes in at $6300 and doesn’t have as high end components, obviously given the price difference. A more appropriate comparison to the Levo Comp I think would’ve been the Rail 9.7 Or go with a Levo Expert which seems more comparable to the 9.8. I’m trying to decide between both of these bikes now and I can’t find an equal model comparison anywhere.
I have a bike with the e7000 motor. It’s really good and the interface with the switch and minimal display is great . You are right about you need to be in right gear when you stop or it’s hard to get going. Very natural feel motor and plenty of power for my needs.
Spot on about the the Levo and Trek. I had first Gen Levo, 2020 Levo, 21 Niner RIP9E and now Trek Rail 7. Rail is exactly what it does. You have more confident going into corners and it carries speed through it the best that I have ridden. BTW, the niner is no slouch either.
Obviously would be great to see some more bikes but other than that I love the honest review that shines through this. Tough to do in todays world where money often finds it way into decisions or opinions. And great to hear where Specialized really fit in with an honest review especially on the Brose side of things. Everyone says don't buy your bike based on the motor and that makes sense but it's still one of the key factors, after all we are talking about powered bikes.
I test rode the Specialized and the Trek, I prefer the Levo. 4 yr warranty is huge. The time I could run the motor was double the Trek, both solid bikes.
Have come up with 2 inventions. 1 is called the h-bike where someone else rides your bike and you just sit in the back and do nothing. 2 is called the r-bike where you just sit on couch and watch a POV shot of someone else riding your bike. If these 2 works out I have my last and final invention which is the n-bike in which you just buy a bike and leave it ensembled in you garage.
The Yamaha YDX moro can be bought at Yamaha dealers. Pw-x2 motor. 4 position sensor in rear hub, magura brakes, 160mm rockshocks, and can detect when it needs more power by the new sensor. 4500$ Needs to be on the list.
Motor overrun as a positive, desired feature? Probably you can get used to it and embed in your riding, but Shimano’s cut-off allows you to ratchet like a normal bike and gives you full control over the slow tech stuff.
levo comp all the way. changed the fork to 170mm, rear to coil, and flipped the "flip switch" with an assegai front and dhr2 rear. you have no idea what this bike is capable off...
Thank you for a truly excellent nuanced review! There are way too many whingers acting like spoilt brats in the comments. A sad reflection of rampant lack of maturity and appreciation in society.
Specialized owner Kenevo, 3 motors in one year and waiting for Specialize to review my concerns about the 3rd motor. If you take out the motor issue (belt issue) the bike is amazing.
I love my Turbo Levo 2020. It’s so good, I have completely forgiven all the problems. I’ve been a MTB rider for 55 hrs (yes, correct) and have no patience now for problems unless justified. So, I’d buy another tomorrow, even though I’m on my 3rd motor (latest 2021 now with new sealed bearing and software update for the belt), second battery connector, second main on-off switch (frame switch).
@@Coolcmsc I’ve got the 2020 kenevo and love it ...prob the best warranty about ..... just don’t get the hose pipe on it...which I did on the first one ...
I got my bike back. I love my bike again. It wasn’t the motor the issue, it was the chain ring and the new chain. The chain ring replaced and the noise is gone
@@Coolcmsc Wow! You “have no patience for problems unless justified” and yet with all those problems in 55 hours on a massively overpriced bike, you consider them “justified”. Do you consider the fact Specialized lied when they said there were no problems with the original motor justified too?
I got a Trek Rail 9 a few weeks ago. The only thing i don't really like is the Code brakes. I will be swapping them to shimano 8120s and I'll put a good tyre on the front
The battery removal of the specialised is a nightmare compare to any other brands(Whyte excluded). Regarding some of the NO NO specified against EP8 is exactly the big plus... Guys, how come no Giant bike is included in your selection? Not very serious... Furthermore the Giant motors are amazing... my 2 cents :) :)
You know all shootouts are kinda apple vs oranges: whats got to do a long chainstays 29er all mtn vs a 27.5 snappy one vs a slack long travel mullet ... each ebike has a specific trail geo oriented, nosense try to find the best mixing categorys.
The fork in the cube is 170 mm, not 160 as stated in the video, to change the linear feeling that you didn't like, was not enough to fit some spacer during the shock setup?
The Turbo Levo is best bought a size up. That fixes the length thing and makes steeper stuff fine - and once you have the longer reach, that longer rear triangle helps down steeper stuff. In fact, this is well known and the criticism in the vid is a little excessive: they picked the wrong size frame, maybe? Surely not 🤣🤣🤣
Aside from the argument that someone of average height should not be on an XL frame, sizing up is actually very difficult on the Turbo Levo as the head tube and seat tube get very tall on the XL.
@@MBRmagazine Well, that’s all assuming the sizing’s correct in the first place.... Having said that, I agree I’m conceding yet another Turbo Levo weakness. I completely agree about the actual numbers, obviously. In the real world most of us inhabit, the dropper allows descents without buzzing yer buttocks, even on a sized sized up frame and the wheels are 29" on all of them of course. Small changes in the bottom bracket height and the ‘switch’ do need to be considered and weren’t mentioned, but I’ll not rant here. Riders at pro-standard - not me then 🤣 - don’t need reviews of this kind and I certainly can’t speak on their behalf... Up hill, it’s nice to be able to have almost straight legs and yet feel somewhat ‘inside’ the frame. Sizing up the Turbo Levo will give a slightly ‘teetering’ feel for those who are ‘bang-on’ each size. But for everyone else who are either above or below an exact size, you’d need to be a superb rider to demonstrate the differences against the clock or detect the difference ‘blind’ without actually knowing the frame size before riding. And buttock buzzing on a 150mm single fork also requires access to a certain type of track. And perhaps Specialized built the Kenevo for DYFI?
Some great bikes in the video, but still makes me wonder why nobody ever includes the Rocky Mountain Powerplay, which has one of the best motors and ride kinematics available? But that is my personnel opinion, still a good video and always enjoy watching them👍🏼
@@richardbrooks4549 out of the bikes in this test, the Whyte is the one I like. All ebikes are good in their own way which is where the motor really comes in to play. When I am on a steep technical climb I prefer my motor even in boost mode to give me back what I put in, not instant full beans causing either wheel spin or the front wheel to pop up. Most ebikes are amazing downhill, more because we are so much more fresh at the top of the climb, therefore more energy to expend on the downhills. That's where mine come in to its own. Which one did you prefer?
@@ElectricMountainBiker I couldn’t live with that battery problem on the Whyte. And it is low spec for the price. I think the Merida is better. But, I much prefer the offerings from the on line companies. The Decoy or Thok TK01 are better specced and massively better value for money
@@richardbrooks4549 could not agree more with the online offerings as well mate 👍🏼 Bang for buck nothing beats them, the YT is nice and was a strong contender for my purchase. Unfortunately for my bank I stupidly did a demo on the Rocky 🤣 The Merida, is by far the best looking bike as well.
We’ve tested and loved the Powerplay in previous years, but we really wanted to focus on the biggest brands here. Plus it was really difficult to get the bikes for this test because of the ongoing supply issues. While it would have been nice to test more bikes, it was difficult enough to transport, charge, clean and maintain the five that we had! 👍
@JF that may turn out to be a super rad bike indeed, though it has only just been announced. The heckler has been out for the better part of a year now, so im expecting it to be included.
Would be interested to hear your thought on which bike of the two tests you thought was the best. Either the shop bought Trek Rail or the direct sales YT Decoy?
Difficult one to answer. As ever, some people are happy buying direct, some would rather deal with a shop. In terms of the bikes themselves, the Decoy is probably slightly more fun to ride if you're around 5ft 10in, but the Trek will be better balanced if you're taller. We also prefer the Bosch motor on the Trek, but the coil shock on the YT felt amazing.
I got very excited when I saw this video, just to find out Trek does not offer the Rail 9 in the US. After looking at their lineup, it would have been the only Rail in the lineup I would have been interested in
If Maxxis is supporting an eMTB video ask them why are they not making DD or downhill casings for anything above 2.5 which is the majority of ebikes tyres!
Whether the battery is removable seems to be far too significant an issue just because of one tester. If you can afford a new ebike, you can get a power supply.
Needed to include a lot more bikes (Focus, Haibike, Giant etc) to make it a true ‘ best ebike 2020’ or at least mention why various other brands weren’t included or ruled out. Enjoyed the video though.
It was extremely difficult to get those five bikes together for the test owing to the huge supply issues at the moment. Also, transporting, charging, cleaning and maintaining more than five bikes becomes a massive job for one person.
Good job, I just watched a trek rail 9 review somewhere else and they agree with the exception that they found that the bike kept loosing bolts/parts. Did not know if better Loctite would solve it, but felt Trek had work to do in that area.
Not in this case. The only sponsorship for this video came from Leatt for the clothing, Maxxis for the control tyres and Orange Sealant for setting up tubeless.
When does Part 2 come out? You guys do the best bike tests, could you consider mentioning max rider weight on these bikes? For example is the Levo max weight the same on alloy models as their carbon counterparts, because I am a heavier rider I am seriously considering your top pick, the TREK Rail because of the max rider weight.
why not bring in the kenevo? most of the ebike reviews always fault to pick the right Specialized ebike for their test! they test the burly ebikes against the turbo levo instaid of the kenevo... and the ones that test the "trail" ebikes they test against the Levo SL wich is also not the direct competitor from specialized!! to my knowledge right now the only brand that has a competitor for the Levo SL is ORBEA but is annoying that Specialized isnt compared properly against other brands because of wrongly choosing the bike to test...
I assume you’ve ridden all of these bikes then Lee? I mean that’s a punchy, definitive statement so clearly you must have, right? The Levo rarely wins any group tests like this... in fact I can’t think of any off the top of my head. P.S. If you do bother replying, don’t forget punctuation 👍🏻
@@Mockle07 I deal in used e-bikes and have ridden many different models: Specialized levo + kenevo, trek rail, cube stereo hybrid, whyte e150, focus jam2, haibike etc... so have ridden a few? I haven't ridden the shimano ep8 motor yet! Specialized has been way ahead for years, but acknowledge that the other brands have caught up a bit in the last couple of years, especially with integration and yes the Specialized 2.1 motor has had issues but Specialized stepped up and have seem to have sorted the motor issues now & extended warranty to 4 years ( you don't get that kind of service from any other bike brand) there was many thing's imo they didn't consider but i guess the video would have been to long if they did. Rgds
@@leeredmond6420 With respect, unless you have ridden these specific models you simply can’t pass comment on their verdict. The Levo is unquestionably a fantastic bike and set the standard for integration (still the best in my opinion) but based on numerous tests, it just doesn’t ride quite as well as a few others. It certainly doesn’t make it a bad bike though. Comparison tests like this focus on fun factor, rideability, value and how they are to live with and as I said, all group tests on other channels (that I have seen) have the Levo beaten as well. I agree, Spesh have gone above and beyond to rectify the motor problems, still eye-wateringly expensive for what you get though.
@@Mockle07 Hey that's just my opinion, i am yet to find a bike i personally like riding better than a levo. They also missed out many e-bikes the title shouldn't be e-bike of the year, just best out of ones tested?
@Mountain Bike Rider I would love it if you could get the Rocky Mountain Powerplay back to put up against the rest. I partly brough mine due to your original shootout which you guys featured it in
Removing the battery easily is a must even if you have power in the garage or shed if you live in the cold climates as you should not store the battery in cold temps
@@jumbleross A big advantage with an easily removable battery is that if you have to park the bike by removing the battery its less likely to be stolen even if it is locked.
Why did you not run a Rocky Mountain Power Play? Those are shop bought and the other of the eMTB to be in the top 10 of the eMTB Enduro World Series. Is this only about the motors due to RM making their own?
Good afternoon I'm having a hard time deciding between a full carbon frame and an aluminum frame for an ebike. Is it worth paying more for a carbon one? Or have better material?
Finally an honest review not a paid for ad type. Well done guys.
Thanks!
My wife commented on how Danny really explained everything without a sales pitch but with integrity. Thanks for putting this together, shame not to see the Levo SL in the mix. Agreed though that Spesh needs to update it soon.
Thanks!
Yamaha GIANT for me. daily 2 hour trail rides, one sm repair, 2 years strong. Yamaha!
I rarely see Giants compared in these videos. 1000 mi no issues on my Reign, 5 power modes a great climber and descender, my friends all have had issues esp. the Levo"s
Yes! They are missing Giant. Love mine. Reign. Solid all around.
Not paid enough maybe.
Despite some comments from viewers about the number or selection of bikes rated here, I think this is one of the best review videos I have seen, picking up on the slightest of realistic details that I dont hear in some other reviews as well as the pros/cons of each bike. Looking forward to the 2nd part
The stem can be lowered on the action team by changing the cable entry
points to the sides of the frame as in all the other stereo hybrids.
If the travel is too linear you can add spacers to have it more progressive.
If the 170mm of travel is too much, there is a 140mm version of the action Team with 150mm of travel.
And well carbon is always stiffer than aluminum. Guess thats simply a matter of taste.
just saying...
Will you pls stop interrupting him and let him finish??!! Great content. Poor lead presenter.
Yeah it's really annoying
Agreed. Made it really hard to watch.
Yup!
This is such a refreshingly good comparison video! Love how much focus there was to cover the bikes from a handling and ride experience perspective - so many eMTB comparisons seem to get hung up on the motor performance and torque curves and the like.
Glad you liked it!
I was in between the Merida e-160 8000 and the Rail 9. It came down the the price, bought the Merida for AU$7700(RRP AU$8999) $2800 cheaper then the Trek AU$10499(they wouldn't give me any discount). Its amazing the difference in price here in Australia compared to UK and Europe where the e-160 is actually more expensive than the Rail 9.
It's the same in Russia. Actually, Merida is 20% cheaper in Russia than in EU, plus if you manage to get a discount and it might actually be up to 40% cheaper than in Germany )
For the LEVO, just put a 27,5 in the rear (mullet), put the frame in high position, and you will have a new LEVO, very much capable enduro riding bike! Try and review!
Great stuff! Props to you all for the vid, top eeb chat and ace production quality 👊
Thanks Rob 👊
Store Bought brands need a second part as alot of good brands were excluded. I'd love to see how the Scott Ransom eRide stacks up.
I have US spec 2020 E Genius 920. It's a great bike. It is a very long and stable bike to start. I'm kind of curious what the reason for the ransom is. The Genious already feels pretty heavy on the DH side of Enduro. Having the coil as an option is great but I have never found myself saying "this needs to be slacker and more planted".
OTOH Scott is basically writing off the US emtb market. They have 3 Genious models, 1 Ransom, and 2 Stike. None if them make any sense in terms of price and spec. The silly thing is that they sold everything they brought over last year and then seem to have decided there was no market worth pursuing.
Brilliantly informative and detailed review and nice to see the Levo not being the be all and end all of EMTBs. more of the same please!!!
Buy a Trek and never look back! ❤ Just constantly smiling on mine days after I've rode it! Trek Rail 9 GX Gen 2! Ebike are expensive but make the most of riding time! Great Video 👍! Very easy and Informative watch!
I bet it goes unnoticed because they don't have the marketing power but the lapierre GLP2 is in my opinion ahead of the competition. Better balance and weight at the same power. Not a surprise it won all the competitions it was used in.
I have been told that the Yamaha motor is the one that actually has the most sensors out of all which turns into a smoother ride. Giant bikes use them and they are the biggest bike seller in the world, that should mean something, I guess...How come there are no bikes with it on the test?
It's not powerful enough and eats up the most battery
FEEL is a very empty word. When someone says "it feels stronger", what's that suppose to mean? Numbers are where its at, trusting the bike makers and the makers of the drive units is total BS. Any review with out dyno numbers is just a waste of time.
@@lukasbormann4830 that's not true. Giant Yamaha with 500wh is similar in range with Bosh 625. I do regular rides with mates on Bosh 625, Giant Yam 500, Shimano E800. Giant Yam is the most powerful I would say similar power to Bosh. Shimano is the weakest and has the least range. The Giant did a really good job on Yam's motor and the sensors do the job very well.
@@aaddaammsskkyy were talking about the shimano ep8 here and no, 500w can't get you as far, only when the 625 bike has slower rolling tires, more suspension, is heavier and the rider uses more assistence
@@lukasbormann4830 This is where the 6 sensors fitted to Yam's motor come to. They save energy. You don't need to belive just try and you'll see :) Ps. Auto assistance can waste energy, but no in Giant Yam's
Hurry up guys, I really need part 2
Two pros here who know what they're talking about. Outstanding review
no Giant/Yamaha???
No
No Haibike w/ Yamaha or Rocky Mountain w/ their new motor? 😜
Another video to come yet
To be honest, it's disappointing the media doesn't try harder to find the truth. How hard is it to get a Norco, Rocky or Giant?
@@IronX77 I guess great value per buck ebikes with affordable prices do no need those reviews
@@IronX77 What do you know about Media?
@@IronX77 YT?
Great job guys . Very interesting and thorough test with the bikes available . I assume it’s hard to get any bikes to test given the current supply chain issues.
Thanks! Yes very difficult to get test bikes at the moment, and even with five bikes, transporting them, charging them, cleaning and maintaining them was a big challenge!
I have the Rail 9 and its epic.. Whats not to love pretty much a Slash with the awesome bosch motor Rails up hills and smashing down. Amazing bike
Has anything changed your opinion for you over the year? My uncle owns one and I wasn't sure if I wanted to pull the trigger on it too.
Good video gents, very detailed and pragmatic. I thought the format worked well too... especially since Alan now talks naturally rather than like he’s doing a voice over for a Michael Bay action movie trailer 😜
To all the “where is the Yamaha/Orbea/Haibike” commenters, there are how many manufacturers and models available now?! There is no way an independent channel is going to be able to get them ALL together at the same time let alone have the resources available to test them properly. All group tests have omissions, it is what it is.
Thanks!
Thank you for staying this. There are way too many whingers acting like spoilt brats in the comments. A sad reflection of rampant lack of maturity and appreciation in society.
Still waiting for pt2 We bought the Rail9 we love it..Couldn’t ask for a more capable bike..A week later had to be returned to the shop to adjust the battery latch 😬 After seeing how the battery sits on top of the motor and can easily shift the battery over narly ground or rock gardens, I really think the latch needs redesigning or re-engineering..I would even go as far as upgrading it so others with the current models can change out the locking device.. Apart from that love the setup.. 👍
Glad you’re enjoying it! Part two is out at the end of Jan as we only finished testing the bikes before Xmas.
@@MBRmagazine Nice Happy New year 🥳 Look forward to seeing your video 👍
Thanks for this post, I was contemplating the Rail 9, however, this is not the first time I've seen people commenting on the battery latch. Guess I'll go for the Orbea Wild FS. Best bang for the buck down here in Brazil.
@@brunofonseca9686 Goodluck with your purchase..Unfortunately bike shops aren’t very honest about faulty bikes I can understand why..If I was to spend ten grand on a Yamaha wr 450 you probably wouldn’t find anything wrong with it even the brakes would have great stopping power..Seems to be a lot different with these mountain bike companies.
Specialized has soft running gear as in wheels cassettes freehubs motors seat post but it's still a great bike as I have the top of the range, the YT is the same soft running gear, so if you buy a Ebike 1 dealer is close and not full of excuses 2 learn how to look after it 3 changing gear is very important as a cassette is easy to wreck with the power these bikes have.
I'm really keen on getting an eMTB. I got back into MTB a couple of years ago after many years not riding and got a Whyte 905 as I didn't want to spend a fortune in case my interest didn't stick. However it had but I'm now in my mid 40s not very fit and struggle to get out as much as I'd like due to family commitments and I'm now beginning to see where an eMTB might be of benefit. They also seem to have come a long way even in just the last couple of years while I've been back riding. My only worry is longevity of things like the batteries and motor etc. as I would maybe use it to commute more to offset the cost involved. I occasionally commute on my Whyte and have a reasonable route around 12 miles which is mostly offroad and I prefer as I'm not into buzzing along the road.
I agree. Those batteries don't last forever. Also motor maintenance etc.
I am 60 and know e power is for me. But i think i need $5000 minimum to save up!
@@kenneth7197 Yeah, I like the look of something like the Orbea Rise myself. Not quite a full powered eMTB but you save some weight and get a more traditional feel (apparently). Range is sacrificed though and the battery is harder to remove for maintenance. I'd have to go bottom spec though (M20) and upgrade parts as they wear. I'm a bit worried about going for a motor system not by one of the bigger brands on this kind of bike which would obviously cost less but be harder to get serviced maybe.
the "4 stroke motor bike" analogy is so spot on about the Rail, So lucky I have a 9.9 (as well as a Slash) and the Rail rewards high cadence and aggressive lines. Haters I am sure will hate, but if you know ....you know.
9.9 also. I go (and go and go) and I know. As close as it gets to flying on the ground.
@@knotsofast777 its unreal, truly..if you know, you know. Staying in the sweet spot of the cadence and the motor yields (more fitness for sure), more battery life and like you perfectly put it "as close to flying on the ground" as you can get.
Sold my slash as never ride it now i have tbe rail 9
I've gone through two Brose motors in my Kenevo. Brose blows. Going with the Rail 9.9.
You can adjust how long and how strong The motors will continue after you stop pedaling just move the slider on the profile where it Says"shuttle"(atleast on specialized)if you put it all on max it will even continue to pedal if you take your feet of the pedals
Funny you mention lack of overturn on the ep9, that's exactly why I ride an ep8 as it's the most natural motor to ride. Also with the ep8 etube app, you can tune the exact parameters of the motor including tourque multiplication.
In the USA Merida and Whyte are not available . The Cube bike is available but at very limited dealers . Trek doesn’t have a Rail 9 in the states but has a series of Rail’9’s 9.9, 9.8, 9.8xt, 9.7etc. The bike you tested looks to match the Rail 9.8xt here. Specialized available extensively and super popular here as well
but the Turbo Levo Sl is by far the most popular . Looking forward to trying an Orbea Rise and both the Santa Cruz emtb’s next year.
The 9.8 XT is here as well in the UK but back to back not much difference. Carbon frame really i test road both and got the Rail 9 amd saved myself £800 i dont need carbon!
Good catch. Didn’t seem like a true apples to apples where it concerns the Levo and Rail in this video. Agree, that Rail looks to be spec’d out like a 9.8 in the US, which costs ~$8k. The Levo Comp comes in at $6300 and doesn’t have as high end components, obviously given the price difference. A more appropriate comparison to the Levo Comp I think would’ve been the Rail 9.7 Or go with a Levo Expert which seems more comparable to the 9.8. I’m trying to decide between both of these bikes now and I can’t find an equal model comparison anywhere.
you will never beat Bosch German engineering 👌🇩🇪
I have a bike with the e7000 motor. It’s really good and the interface with the switch and minimal display is great . You are right about you need to be in right gear when you stop or it’s hard to get going. Very natural feel motor and plenty of power for my needs.
Spot on about the the Levo and Trek. I had first Gen Levo, 2020 Levo, 21 Niner RIP9E and now Trek Rail 7. Rail is exactly what it does. You have more confident going into corners and it carries speed through it the best that I have ridden. BTW, the niner is no slouch either.
I would never buy a Trek they're way over priced.
Good one! Thank you guys! When is part 2 coming? With the direct sell brands?
Would love you guys to review the Rocky Mountain.
Obviously would be great to see some more bikes but other than that I love the honest review that shines through this. Tough to do in todays world where money often finds it way into decisions or opinions. And great to hear where Specialized really fit in with an honest review especially on the Brose side of things. Everyone says don't buy your bike based on the motor and that makes sense but it's still one of the key factors, after all we are talking about powered bikes.
I test rode the Specialized and the Trek, I prefer the Levo. 4 yr warranty is huge. The time I could run the motor was double the Trek, both solid bikes.
Have come up with 2 inventions. 1 is called the h-bike where someone else rides your bike and you just sit in the back and do nothing. 2 is called the r-bike where you just sit on couch and watch a POV shot of someone else riding your bike. If these 2 works out I have my last and final invention which is the n-bike in which you just buy a bike and leave it ensembled in you garage.
I have an n-bike. Love lookin at it!!
@@Squiggy486 lol
The Yamaha YDX moro can be bought at Yamaha dealers. Pw-x2 motor. 4 position sensor in rear hub, magura brakes, 160mm rockshocks, and can detect when it needs more power by the new sensor. 4500$ Needs to be on the list.
Motor overrun as a positive, desired feature? Probably you can get used to it and embed in your riding, but Shimano’s cut-off allows you to ratchet like a normal bike and gives you full control over the slow tech stuff.
levo comp all the way.
changed the fork to 170mm, rear to coil, and flipped the "flip switch" with an assegai front and dhr2 rear.
you have no idea what this bike is capable off...
Thank you for a truly excellent nuanced review!
There are way too many whingers acting like spoilt brats in the comments. A sad reflection of rampant lack of maturity and appreciation in society.
Specialized owner Kenevo, 3 motors in one year and waiting for Specialize to review my concerns about the 3rd motor. If you take out the motor issue (belt issue) the bike is amazing.
I would never buy Specialized for that reason. Let alone the ridiculous price!
I love my Turbo Levo 2020. It’s so good, I have completely forgiven all the problems. I’ve been a MTB rider for 55 hrs (yes, correct) and have no patience now for problems unless justified. So, I’d buy another tomorrow, even though I’m on my 3rd motor (latest 2021 now with new sealed bearing and software update for the belt), second battery connector, second main on-off switch (frame switch).
@@Coolcmsc I’ve got the 2020 kenevo and love it ...prob the best warranty about ..... just don’t get the hose pipe on it...which I did on the first one ...
I got my bike back. I love my bike again. It wasn’t the motor the issue, it was the chain ring and the new chain. The chain ring replaced and the noise is gone
@@Coolcmsc Wow! You “have no patience for problems unless justified” and yet with all those problems in 55 hours on a massively overpriced bike, you consider them “justified”. Do you consider the fact Specialized lied when they said there were no problems with the original motor justified too?
I got a Trek Rail 9 a few weeks ago. The only thing i don't really like is the Code brakes. I will be swapping them to shimano 8120s and I'll put a good tyre on the front
Change the pads, you'll be surprised how good you can get them working
@@jimbo4203 what pads woyld you suggest mate?
@@Burbs1976 think they were Trucker organic, they were way better then stock pads that seemed glazed over
The battery removal of the specialised is a nightmare compare to any other brands(Whyte excluded). Regarding some of the NO NO specified against EP8 is exactly the big plus... Guys, how come no Giant bike is included in your selection?
Not very serious... Furthermore the Giant motors are amazing... my 2 cents :) :)
Was wondering the same where are the Giant Bikes?
Frustrating how you cut each other off in conversation so much.
The guy on right does it every video, super annoying
@@sinbad656 Yeah, he should let the other guy finish speaking before taking his turn
You know all shootouts are kinda apple vs oranges: whats got to do a long chainstays 29er all mtn vs a 27.5 snappy one vs a slack long travel mullet ... each ebike has a specific trail geo oriented, nosense try to find the best mixing categorys.
The fork in the cube is 170 mm, not 160 as stated in the video, to change the linear feeling that you didn't like, was not enough to fit some spacer during the shock setup?
OMG! You ask him a question and interrupt every answer?! It's making my teeth itch.
The Turbo Levo is best bought a size up. That fixes the length thing and makes steeper stuff fine - and once you have the longer reach, that longer rear triangle helps down steeper stuff.
In fact, this is well known and the criticism in the vid is a little excessive: they picked the wrong size frame, maybe? Surely not 🤣🤣🤣
Aside from the argument that someone of average height should not be on an XL frame, sizing up is actually very difficult on the Turbo Levo as the head tube and seat tube get very tall on the XL.
@@MBRmagazine Well, that’s all assuming the sizing’s correct in the first place....
Having said that, I agree I’m conceding yet another Turbo Levo weakness. I completely agree about the actual numbers, obviously.
In the real world most of us inhabit, the dropper allows descents without buzzing yer buttocks, even on a sized sized up frame and the wheels are 29" on all of them of course. Small changes in the bottom bracket height and the ‘switch’ do need to be considered and weren’t mentioned, but I’ll not rant here. Riders at pro-standard - not me then 🤣 - don’t need reviews of this kind and I certainly can’t speak on their behalf...
Up hill, it’s nice to be able to have almost straight legs and yet feel somewhat ‘inside’ the frame. Sizing up the Turbo Levo will give a slightly ‘teetering’ feel for those who are ‘bang-on’ each size. But for everyone else who are either above or below an exact size, you’d need to be a superb rider to demonstrate the differences against the clock or detect the difference ‘blind’ without actually knowing the frame size before riding.
And buttock buzzing on a 150mm single fork also requires access to a certain type of track. And perhaps Specialized built the Kenevo for DYFI?
Try put a Mondraker XR in the 2022 Emtb of the year mix they are such a great looking bike that seem to be forgotten about.🤘
Some great bikes in the video, but still makes me wonder why nobody ever includes the Rocky Mountain Powerplay, which has one of the best motors and ride kinematics available?
But that is my personnel opinion, still a good video and always enjoy watching them👍🏼
Great to know what your personnel thought, but what did you think?
@@richardbrooks4549 out of the bikes in this test, the Whyte is the one I like. All ebikes are good in their own way which is where the motor really comes in to play. When I am on a steep technical climb I prefer my motor even in boost mode to give me back what I put in, not instant full beans causing either wheel spin or the front wheel to pop up.
Most ebikes are amazing downhill, more because we are so much more fresh at the top of the climb, therefore more energy to expend on the downhills. That's where mine come in to its own.
Which one did you prefer?
@@ElectricMountainBiker I couldn’t live with that battery problem on the Whyte. And it is low spec for the price. I think the Merida is better. But, I much prefer the offerings from the on line companies. The Decoy or Thok TK01 are better specced and massively better value for money
@@richardbrooks4549 could not agree more with the online offerings as well mate 👍🏼
Bang for buck nothing beats them, the YT is nice and was a strong contender for my purchase. Unfortunately for my bank I stupidly did a demo on the Rocky 🤣
The Merida, is by far the best looking bike as well.
We’ve tested and loved the Powerplay in previous years, but we really wanted to focus on the biggest brands here. Plus it was really difficult to get the bikes for this test because of the ongoing supply issues. While it would have been nice to test more bikes, it was difficult enough to transport, charge, clean and maintain the five that we had! 👍
I couldn't wait for the rail 9 so got a rail 7 and will upgrade the suspension to suit, as is it's ok and a great bike.
Great video guys, it's great to see some honest unbiased reviews rather than infomercials from embn
Thanks!
Not cool to go around slagging other channels
Your missing the best one: Santa Cruz Heckler.
@JF that may turn out to be a super rad bike indeed, though it has only just been announced.
The heckler has been out for the better part of a year now, so im expecting it to be included.
Nah, Santa Cruz is nice but way to overpriced
Waaayy to expensive
I think you meant Bullit* ;P
Retailer told me Bosch has best reliability and amazing support and parts availability.
That cube is gorgeous
Would be interested to hear your thought on which bike of the two tests you thought was the best. Either the shop bought Trek Rail or the direct sales YT Decoy?
Difficult one to answer. As ever, some people are happy buying direct, some would rather deal with a shop. In terms of the bikes themselves, the Decoy is probably slightly more fun to ride if you're around 5ft 10in, but the Trek will be better balanced if you're taller. We also prefer the Bosch motor on the Trek, but the coil shock on the YT felt amazing.
They should make the bikes without a rear shock , imo the rear shock ruins the bikes.
Beautiful video , thumbs ip
I have the Yamaha ydx Moro pro and I love it
Absolutely amazing bike.
Can't wait for 2022?
Where's Giant in this?
I sure wish you would review the KTM Prowler e bike. Its amazing!
I got very excited when I saw this video, just to find out Trek does not offer the Rail 9 in the US. After looking at their lineup, it would have been the only Rail in the lineup I would have been interested in
Loved this, very in-depth and thorough.
Left out the Cannondale Moterra. Which might be the best if not one of them.
Love my eMTB mullet! I blow the doors off Shop ebikes on climbs with my Bafang m600 full carbon.
Love the videos just watched shop bought and consumer direct, great to know which is best overall
If Maxxis is supporting an eMTB video ask them why are they not making DD or downhill casings for anything above 2.5 which is the majority of ebikes tyres!
Loving the levo. looks mean.
No mention of Jeep's offerings in either video...worth a mention maybe ?
Great video, I liked the second presenter interrupting. Both made great points, good duo.
Please Please do a 2022 ebike of the year 🤘
Yep, we're working towards it!
Guys when is Part 2 coming?.
End of January 👍
Whether the battery is removable seems to be far too significant an issue just because of one tester. If you can afford a new ebike, you can get a power supply.
Nonsensical irrelevance to the actual issue
Please upload part 2 ✌️👊
Just finished filming it yesterday, so it should be up next week.
Needed to include a lot more bikes (Focus, Haibike, Giant etc) to make it a true ‘ best ebike 2020’ or at least mention why various other brands weren’t included or ruled out. Enjoyed the video though.
It was extremely difficult to get those five bikes together for the test owing to the huge supply issues at the moment. Also, transporting, charging, cleaning and maintaining more than five bikes becomes a massive job for one person.
@@MBRmagazine appreciate that. Have to wait till end of March till I get my new ebike I ordered a month ago.
I somehow like that shimano motor doesn’t have this override.. it is fun on technical climb but actually it feels much more natural without it.
Good job, I just watched a trek rail 9 review somewhere else and they agree with the exception that they found that the bike kept loosing bolts/parts.
Did not know if better Loctite would solve it, but felt Trek had work to do in that area.
Streets ahead!
The bright lights in the eyes of the reviewers of the bikes you love will tell you nothing except that they are the sponsored kind...
Not in this case. The only sponsorship for this video came from Leatt for the clothing, Maxxis for the control tyres and Orange Sealant for setting up tubeless.
@@MBRmagazine you don't even pump your own tyres up?
I use gorrilla tape n track pump
How does the trek and Whyte compare with the YT?
Interesting that the bike that started it all isn't in the mix (Haibike). Also none of these are profiling the Yamaha system.
Wow, great review, all bikes covered so in detail. Great Job, and a new subscriber for your channel :-)
When does Part 2 come out? You guys do the best bike tests, could you consider mentioning max rider weight on these bikes? For example is the Levo max weight the same on alloy models as their carbon counterparts, because I am a heavier rider I am seriously considering your top pick, the TREK Rail because of the max rider weight.
why not bring in the kenevo? most of the ebike reviews always fault to pick the right Specialized ebike for their test! they test the burly ebikes against the turbo levo instaid of the kenevo... and the ones that test the "trail" ebikes they test against the Levo SL wich is also not the direct competitor from specialized!! to my knowledge right now the only brand that has a competitor for the Levo SL is ORBEA but is annoying that Specialized isnt compared properly against other brands because of wrongly choosing the bike to test...
Kenevo comp. best bike of the year 2021
4year motor warranty and dealer network make specialised the toyota of e bikes
The four year warranty doesn't do much good when your thirty miles from nowhere and your brose motor quits .
I'd like to see the bafang ultra motor
Wrong! The Levo should have been top i thought these guys knew about bikes??
Especially with it’s amazing record of reliability and incredible value for money
I assume you’ve ridden all of these bikes then Lee? I mean that’s a punchy, definitive statement so clearly you must have, right?
The Levo rarely wins any group tests like this... in fact I can’t think of any off the top of my head.
P.S. If you do bother replying, don’t forget punctuation 👍🏻
@@Mockle07 I deal in used e-bikes and have ridden many different models: Specialized levo + kenevo, trek rail, cube stereo hybrid, whyte e150, focus jam2, haibike etc... so have ridden a few? I haven't ridden the shimano ep8 motor yet! Specialized has been way ahead for years, but acknowledge that the other brands have caught up a bit in the last couple of years, especially with integration and yes the Specialized 2.1 motor has had issues but Specialized stepped up and have seem to have sorted the motor issues now & extended warranty to 4 years ( you don't get that kind of service from any other bike brand) there was many thing's imo they didn't consider but i guess the video would have been to long if they did. Rgds
@@leeredmond6420 With respect, unless you have ridden these specific models you simply can’t pass comment on their verdict. The Levo is unquestionably a fantastic bike and set the standard for integration (still the best in my opinion) but based on numerous tests, it just doesn’t ride quite as well as a few others. It certainly doesn’t make it a bad bike though. Comparison tests like this focus on fun factor, rideability, value and how they are to live with and as I said, all group tests on other channels (that I have seen) have the Levo beaten as well.
I agree, Spesh have gone above and beyond to rectify the motor problems, still eye-wateringly expensive for what you get though.
@@Mockle07 Hey that's just my opinion, i am yet to find a bike i personally like riding better than a levo. They also missed out many e-bikes the title shouldn't be e-bike of the year, just best out of ones tested?
I really want the cube ❤️❤️❤️
Great overview and test. Can't wait to ride that Rail!
@Mountain Bike Rider I would love it if you could get the Rocky Mountain Powerplay back to put up against the rest. I partly brough mine due to your original shootout which you guys featured it in
So if removing the battery isnt a concern for you then surely the whyte won that?
We’d fully recommend the Whyte if you don’t need to remove the battery regularly. 👍
@@MBRmagazine i have one. Amazing bike. Without the battery as an issue would u give it a 10?
Removing the battery easily is a must even if you have power in the garage or shed if you live in the cold climates as you should not store the battery in cold temps
@@jumbleross A big advantage with an easily removable battery is that if you have to park the bike by removing the battery its less likely to be stolen even if it is locked.
Why did you not run a Rocky Mountain Power Play? Those are shop bought and the other of the eMTB to be in the top 10 of the eMTB Enduro World Series. Is this only about the motors due to RM making their own?
Good afternoon I'm having a hard time deciding between a full carbon frame and an aluminum frame for an ebike. Is it worth paying more for a carbon one? Or have better material?
Which is winner?
What about the new commencal meta power 29 2021 ohlins edition 🤙👍
We’ve got a Meta power in our direct sales test. The video should be out by end of January.
Let the guy talk! You interrupt him every time he speaks!
Yeah man that got so annoying i had to stop and come back to this video a number of times.