In the days of HUGE discounts it is probably a good branded bike with a 30 to 50% rebate. I just got a wonderful Specialized Tero X in their Online sale for 50% discount.
The best EMTB in the world. A question that can only be answered by an individual buyer. The tests and shootouts are, opinions, and opinions that do not define a winner or best for you. Facts: 1. Where do you ride most/where do you want to ride. This will dictate 90% of what bike you need. Hopefully, needs will outweigh the impulse for want. 2. Range and power 3. Reliability and serviceability 4. Bike fit 5. Cost, can you actually enjoy your purchase, with out regret or remorse. "This was worth it" is value and an experience on its own. That's it. Simple and plainly. Find the bike that is best held up to the "5 pillars." Once it's found, buy the cheapest model. Swap out what breaks or what, again, what YOU need more performance from. Best may cost, 10k or maybe, you might find, that sub 4k bulls or cube is perfect. Research is key. Cheers,
For me its 160mm travel FS with full power motor/battery. 2-3 kg weight difference doesn't matter on the trail as much as quality suspension and brakes. All emtb's are a blast so just choose one and ride!
I think the selection of the right bike for a typical weekend warrior should be similar to most outdoor/extreme sports. You have to vision the worst case scenerio that you expect to find in your planned ride and choose the bike that will get you through that safely, at your speed and fun. If you are a trail rider and plan to get off and walk when you encounter the track wash away or a rock drop between you and the rest of the trail then choose a good firetrail pedler. If you are going to mainly ride fire trails but expect to be able to beat all the obstacles then choose a 160/150. It always makes sense to have the bike that will get you through you worst case evening that's only 5% of the time. I always done that with sports clothing, surfing, skiing etc
Definitely a can of worms there Steve. As you point out, 99% of us could not tell the difference! Yes, having ridiculously deep pockets and buying the blingiest tech out there is great, but for us mere mortals you know what ever you buy, the next year model will be better or even cheaper (not), so I will stick with my 150/160 Leve Comp Alloy as that was my budget and EMBN recommended it but now affiliated with Canyon ……. 🤔
how 'bout a video with "best EMTB " per dollar category? Say like 2k to 3k 3k to 4k etc.? What do you think? That would seem to fit what you are discussing here with the Beer analogy ?
Thanks for the great Videos. My choice is the Dengfu E55 All mountain with 160 NM of Torque , 29er wheels , Rockshox front and rear and full Carbon frame
This is a great episode! I’m old enough to see mountain bikes evolve from hardtail w/ no suspension to eMTB of today, it’s really astonishing seeing topic like the “best eMtb” still carrying over through the years. I’m lucky enough to save up for 2 emtb (2020, 2024). Both bike brings the “little kid” in me out in the trail. Both bike lowest spec, one with EP8 the other Bosch CX. Through my experience, having many mountain bikes, the most important thing I learn when making my 1st emtb was LBS availability and components reliability (including drive unit) and manufacturers (bike brand) backing me up with warranty. I own Pivot Shuttle LT and AM both the lowest component spec, (I know, it’s expensive premium bike) but these bikes fit all my criteria’s. If they had aluminum frame eMTB those would have been my choice than carbon. Would be nice to see GMBN do those epic ride on lower spec build to show EMTB capabilities are not that much different.
Even if you are scared of the weight of an emtb (coming from an -at that time - excessive 100/120mm freeride bike 20+ years ago) consider the fact of your ability to regain strength. 40+ years old now, first month on a "heavy" propain ekano 2 al (190/170mm) was hard in terms of maneuverability. 2 Months in now and a rough 20km ride on all kinds of offroad terrain makes you feel great. Every mm of travel, once setup right (can/will be a difficult journey), gives you a lot of confidence downhill. Thought i was going slow, until i realized i was almost at the limit of the softest magic marry/big betty combo. Always a sweet cushion, if you take an unexpected drop to flatt from 1.5 meters. Suspension travel FTW! 😂
Pete's answer to what is the best motor was a perfectly valid response, and one people should pay attention to. Because really, riding any of these motors is great fun, but you can't ride them if they're broken! Reliability is a huge issue, and IMHO is way more important than 90nm vs 75nm or any of the other differences between motors. Nothing sucks more than your bike being in the repair shop, or even worse, waiting in a long queue to get into the shop!
I have Orbea Wild 160/180mm travel. Coil on the back. Geometry, motor with batery and suspension make this bike absolutely versatile. I feel comfortable during any ride. It is beast when you ride up and down on your home trail or donwhill section. It is comfortable for a long ride. Geometry is almost identical with Canyon Strive On. I think that this two eBike are one of the best in this yer..... Hello from Czech Republic :)
The honesty in this video is refreshing !! Agreed with mostly all, but components make a big difference such as brakes, suspension is a double edge sword as you said, so many things to mess up. I would say there isnt a best bike out there, we need to have more reviews quantifiyng if the bike is playfull or stable, if its serviceble friendly or not, if its beginer or advanced rider bike, more bias for handling or jumping etc... all of that is needed for you to understand if its the bike for you or not. Saying its the best its just marketing
The fact is that Canyon offers the best value for money on the market. Bikes with worse equipment will cost at least $1,000 more, so there's no need to think twice if you're looking for the best price-to-quality ratio. I've also experienced firsthand that they have highly customer-oriented support, which is extremely important.
They haven't the greatest support in the UK unfortunately, which is putting me off buying one,but they definitely give the best bang for ya buck by selling direct to the customer
You can't go wrong with Cube either I'm thinking. I saw a Stereo Hybrid 160 HPC SLX 750 going for £3300, which is seriously good value given that there's nothing unacceptable or rubbish on it, and it comes with excellent forks, a decent shock, decent wheels, great brakes and gears too. In terms of value, it's hard to find anything close to it given what you get for your cash.
@@marcopaganotto9125 By the way, I spent a long time deciding between Cube and Canyon. In the end, I chose the underdog purely because of the frame geometry. Marketing does its job :)
Canyon provides these media guys with a lot of free bikes.I am sure that they are professional in their work and judgments, Infact I'm sure they all mention this in each of the reviews.
I grew up in Poland where "standard" percentage was 40% with some home made stuff going up to 60ish% 7-8% is a stronger beer, not even stepping into wine territory, let alone stronger drinks so based on the introduction I came to conclusion I need 200-300mm travel for casual ride in a park :)
I love that beer potency comparison! Riders rarely take a tally of what really makes it click to provide the mountain bike experience they enjoy. It's easy to get sucked into bigger is better. It's taken me a long time to finally arrive at my 'best bike' configurations - basically a 130/140mm trail bike done up as a 'mini-enduro' bike w/ burly wheels, top grade suspension (I spend time dialling 'em in) and Saint brakes - weight is not a consideration. The e-bike I get will ultimately be very similar to my special blend meat-powered bike.
Warranty! Thank you for mentioning that. I have been very lucky with a handful of different eBikes that get very hard treatment. No issues except for a failure of a control unit that was replaced by Cube [160 Team]
Fitting a larger chainring to reduce cadence was my best mod. I went from a 32 to a 38 chainring on my Trek Rail 5 to reduce cadence on rail trails. Some swing arms do not allow such clearance for larger chainring. More compact and lighter motor of the new Bosch is cool. 600 battery size is big enough. Hell my small 500 battery is plenty enough and lighter.
What a video. Of all the talky, over expressed similar conversations with eMTBs etc., this is the first video that really drove home some great points, all using an acronym a lot of us adults can understand: alcohol. LOL(!) I mean, thank you Steve and EMTB folks. Good writing and way to keep all these similar conversations fresh. Seriously man, the alcohol simile is spot on with this conversation. @steve, buddy, you've been on about eMTBs for years now, and I really appreciate how you haven't bulked and changed with your opinions much.
Mine is the best E-MTB....LOL @Steve You are 100% right, these testers on UA-cam or writing for E-Magazines or Paper need to start testing the bikes the average people are riding. All those extra features are awesome and we all dream of having them but in the end. Most of use are riding a watered down version of those bikes, manufactories need to do a better job as well. I have a nice bike but I was able to take advantage of the post COVID market but I still had to make cuts to the bike build. I mean, it's a bike, I had to keep it below the cost of my motorcycle.
I'm def in the 'all day slog on eco' rider camp and consider my e-bike (a Trance E+) to be a land-rover to get me up hills & mountains that I'd not be able to reach otherwise. Which is why I like Steve's expedition videos - so well shot - but I guess expensive to produce. I'd like to see more about how the 'ideal' bike for that type of work.
Hey, wait, I Think 26 kg is a little too heavy 😅. Else, I agree with you on most of your points. I'd say, the best emtb is the cheapest one that will fulfill my skills. The point where all emtb industry really must evolve is price! and this is a point where we, consumers, could give them a help, by stopping to pay big money for novelties that are not so new, like the much praised dji emtb, for example, having a motor that gives 1000 watts and 120 nm torque, well, there are kitchen appliances that give 1.000 w and handtools with 120 nm torque, so, how the motor translates to a good cycling experience is what really matters to me, and so, how it was developed, with the aid of real world bikers and proven performance in competition.
Good one! What size is Steve riding here? Medium or Large? Any preference either way? I have similar body stats and torn between M or L. Sounds like Steve has a long torso too? Thx
thank you for giving a bit more of an informative solid opinion on what is the best emtb rather than discussing with no conclusion :) You can give your opinion, if we don't agree it opens up discussion so feel free to be a bit more honest and not hold ya tongue ;D
First off, excellent content right here guys. One word, subjective. Everything is subjective. Best of anything is subjective. There is no one "best", it's all subjective. My best, your best, anyone's best. What does best even mean? Your best may be my "oh hell no!" This is the best video you have ever given us, by far. You have a very difficult job of providing content that is informative, engaging and entertaining. But you have to be realistic and so do your viewers.
The problem is that, like mobile phones, the tech is throw away due to the fact most things are not repairable, which is why the Pinion MGU is looking more like the future proof option.
For me the best EMTB would have the pinon motor gear box so I stop breaking off derailers. I don't need a ton of power but I want power to come on quickly so it you start on an uphill the power kicks right away. I don't know how much travel is best as long as it soaks up the roots and small chop I would be happy with it. Aluminum hardtails suck, but maybe a full suspesion aluminum bike would be good with the right suspesion on it.
First time in two years since I’ve owned my Husqvarna with a EP8 motor I have rode with other e-mountain bikers. A couple of them were on the Orbea with the Bosch CX motor and a yeti with a ep8 all hi end 8K plus. My husky was 4700$ and did bangin.
I was going to buy a new bike but nothing is going to be better overall than my updated sealed 2018 1.3 aluminium brose motor carbon Levo. Added 170mm Fox 38's, 9point8 steering head Slacker kit , fully proven Rohloff hub ( goodbye derailleurs ), 29x3 front and yes 27.5 x3.25 rear tyres.(the best suspension initially is in the first contact piont of unsprung weight is tyres). It's the Quietest, smoothest strong power and drive train ever. Geometry now 63⁰ from 66⁰,wheel base 50mm longer, much higher frame ground clearance and 150mm cranks. Seat hard forward on rails to effectively steepen seat tube angle. It's very stable and really works for me and with a brand new spare motor and 2 extra batteries there is nothing out there smoother, quieter,more reliable and easier on my body. Silence up and down is golden. E=Mtb²
The best bike not only depends on what style of riding you do but also on where you ride. Riding in Florida is very different than many other places. Trails here are either flat and sandy or terrifying open pit mine scrambles. The sandy trails benefit from plus size tires and a full power motor and the trails through the old open pit phosphate mines benefit from a slack front end. That's not a bike that would be best for a bike park or trails with long climbs. It all depends on both how you ride and where you do it.
Not with you on weight. The best EMBT is the one you can live with. That you don’t have to buy a van for. That you can lift over a gate or out of the shed. My daughter is 60kg and can’t lift my 23kg bike. I have to really nail technique to lift the front wheel for drops and have trashed a rear wheel on a square edged hit. Rode a 19 kg Orange phase with the Bosch sx motor and felt like my old Mega. Amazing fun to ride.
I have the Spectral On, I've ridden the Strive On also. Spectral On was a better cornerer, and up hills. Stive On was took the hits and roots better. I only chose the Spectral ON because of the GPS. If the Strive had the GPS, I probably would have bought it. But, both bikes are amazing.
FT4U: "Is our sponsors emtb that costs an utter offensive amount of money, the World's best bike?"* *We (EMBN & CANYON) don't care what you think, it IS the worlds best bike.
best emtb... none of them so far. Requirements: - MOST IMPORTANT MAIN BATTERY IS CHANGABLE - today I do a short 2hr ripper after work, so I put in the 400wh.... But this weekend i go for a FULL DAY and put in the 600wh or even the 750! I always have the 250wh extender with me IN CASE I KEEP RIDING CAUSE IM HAVING FUN. aka insurance. I have too many time walked back with zero battery. F U. - lighter than fatter, i had more fun on a 19.5kg Heckler than the 22.5kg Bullit than a 25kg Canyon, even with downhill chunder. - 160ish up front.... 170ish is better - 160ish in back.... 170ish is better - 29 front and back, seems fine with the mullet but I prefer to keep it easy and not need to source two sizes... - Realistic battery power LEDS that tell me something.... i hated that on Bullit or Ransom or most others in fact, one light left and in minutes its red and minutes its dead.... f eh. the only ride that is scaled correct are Fazuas... one led left, means 25% left... bastards, how could they do so right! - chain guide.... how can a bike company really think their bike is legit without this option? Nice to haves - after that its ok if its 63.5 or 64.5 upfront... its ok if its 76 or 77 seat tube angle.... - good parts but I will always replace when worn or making me crazy. - not sure yet if i need a built in touch display with maps and tracking in the bike, but seems good idea.
It’s an important question as most people spending their own money will simply buy 1 e-bike even if they subscribe to the n+1 rule with conventional bikes.
Love your analyses, Steve...and that you don't always go with the either/or scenario. There are a lot of shades of grey. IMHO...THE best emtb...or ebike of any kind...is the one you look forward to riding every day. What could be better than that??
I'm too new to Emtbs have an opinion. My wife got me the Claud Butler Wrath which i love and changed my life for the better but when i do upgrade i will look carefully at my options
That's like asking "is this the world's best car/shoe/hammer" etc. It really depends on who you are. E.g. if you're a commuter, an eMtb is probably not the best eBike for you. You're probably better off with one that has a more upright position, built-in lights, mudguards, very low maintenance and possibly a rear rack. I use my ebikes primarily for commuting, and those are the most important things for me. Having a full suspension commuter bike would be lovely though, as not all asphalt roads are well maintained. Same with fat-bike tyres. Is the Koenigsegg Jesko the best car in the world? Maybe - but for everyday commuting, dropping kids off and picking them up, shopping, bumper to bumper inner city traffic etc., you're going to be better off with an older, already scratched up car with a decent sized boot.
After having somehow owned 3 mid drive emtbs (given the absolutely fkn stupid prices!) and ridden a few others, I've come to the conclusion that there's really not a lot of difference between them! And, ultimately I think the cost is prohibitive for most people these days, and also unjustified in terms of what you get for your money, consider what you get for 4k should you buy a Surron for example. So yeah, emtbs are great but the industry is literally taking the piss with the prices they're asking.
The best emtb is the one that you can afford within your budget for the trails/terrain that you ride. For me its a 2023 whyte E160s Mx. Is it the best ebike in the world, nope, but it's all the bike i need amd thats all that matters. FWIW it does have a couple of suspension upgrades but even as a stock bike it was brilliant
as a 26yo guy who only enjoy downhill speed, but the closest bikepark is at 3hour car, the specialized turbo kenevo expert is the best. now i switched tyo the YT decoy core 3 mx, wich i'm kinda enjoying more because its more agile/enduro oriented, and sadly around my area we have enduro like trails
Is all we need a good all rounder? Reality: Yes! Bike industry marketing depts: Absolutely not. There are some terrible bikes, but you'd have to look hard to find them and the vast majority are capable and fun to ride. Take the Trek Rail line up. Rail 5, not many places this would be a catastrophic failure waiting to happen for an average rider. Rail 9.9, all the bling but at a huge cost. Rail 9, I'd argue a sweet spot where you get the best bang for buck improvement over the 5 and very little compromise compared to the 9.9. But the point is largely moot. Outside of a pro rider where tenths of a second count, is a Rail 5 really going to be a bike you can't have fun riding?
First love your channel and info. I wonder if you can speak to the technology bleeding over to commuting or cargo style e-bikes. Knowing builders get great testing on the EMTB styles, many of us are not able to do that type of biking anymore.. if we ever could to begin with. That said.. we want the great tech and robustness that has been vetted and the lighter builds for older or smaller folks who want more topshelf products.
An interesting video Steve & most of your conclusions are probably correct , what’s the point of asking the best riders in the world to review a bike ? Most of us are just entusiastic amateurs & for me its about a bike that makes me feel better than i am at a price i can afford.
Steve's knowledge and the ability to dive deep into complicated subjects and providing very thoughtful insights is just phenomenal. Carry on standing your ground embn! can't please them all, but we are surely all pleased with your content!
even more confused now. Im an x cross country leisure rider with a 20 year old Mount Vision. Im retired so, getting on a bit now. What should i go for? I have a budget of about £6k
You need to find somewhere to give any bike youre considering a proper test. Most shops wont let you however... A motorbike dealer would expect you to want a test ride, but eMTBs it seems are different...
The best ebike in the world should offer water proof motors, freely available spare parts, fully recyclable and maintainable batteries, a 5 year or 20000km warranty, just to mention a few.
In the market for a new E bike. Leaning towards the canyon. I have had an Intence Tazer and a Gen 3 Levo pro . I don't see much from Levo anymore. Why is that? Thanks, guys
What do you think the best eBike in the world is? Let us know in the comments!
The Strive On.....hahahah
In the days of HUGE discounts it is probably a good branded bike with a 30 to 50% rebate. I just got a wonderful Specialized Tero X in their Online sale for 50% discount.
The Nicolai Saturn 16 MGU.
One that weighs 18.5kgs, has a 600w+ battery, ~85nM, gear box, 170mm travel front and rear and a 4 year warranty on electronics and motor.
The best EMTB in the world. A question that can only be answered by an individual buyer. The tests and shootouts are, opinions, and opinions that do not define a winner or best for you. Facts:
1. Where do you ride most/where do you want to ride. This will dictate 90% of what bike you need. Hopefully, needs will outweigh the impulse for want.
2. Range and power
3. Reliability and serviceability
4. Bike fit
5. Cost, can you actually enjoy your purchase, with out regret or remorse. "This was worth it" is value and an experience on its own.
That's it. Simple and plainly. Find the bike that is best held up to the "5 pillars." Once it's found, buy the cheapest model. Swap out what breaks or what, again, what YOU need more performance from. Best may cost, 10k or maybe, you might find, that sub 4k bulls or cube is perfect. Research is key.
Cheers,
Feels like this channel is becoming a marketing arm of Canyon to be honest
There sponsors
If you noticed he didn’t say it was the best.🤷🏼♂️
@@greggory448 I know. The channel has had other sponsors that didn’t feel like we were being force fed. Canyon check must be hitting different.
@@greggory448 There? You mean "Their"...
Canyon is good priced for the components how can you hate
The best EMBN is the one you can afford and have a good day on with your mates
We couldn't agree more!
For me its 160mm travel FS with full power motor/battery. 2-3 kg weight difference doesn't matter on the trail as much as quality suspension and brakes. All emtb's are a blast so just choose one and ride!
The "best" E MTB is the one you like the most .
You nail it on that one. No further discussion needed
Not if you love it and the technology fails you, etc. I love a '46 Ford van but it isn't the best!
well, then you don't like it and you get what you like .
Not really, I like a lot of crap bikes.
I think the selection of the right bike for a typical weekend warrior should be similar to most outdoor/extreme sports. You have to vision the worst case scenerio that you expect to find in your planned ride and choose the bike that will get you through that safely, at your speed and fun. If you are a trail rider and plan to get off and walk when you encounter the track wash away or a rock drop between you and the rest of the trail then choose a good firetrail pedler. If you are going to mainly ride fire trails but expect to be able to beat all the obstacles then choose a 160/150.
It always makes sense to have the bike that will get you through you worst case evening that's only 5% of the time. I always done that with sports clothing, surfing, skiing etc
Definitely a can of worms there Steve. As you point out, 99% of us could not tell the difference! Yes, having ridiculously deep pockets and buying the blingiest tech out there is great, but for us mere mortals you know what ever you buy, the next year model will be better or even cheaper (not), so I will stick with my 150/160 Leve Comp Alloy as that was my budget and EMBN recommended it but now affiliated with Canyon ……. 🤔
I love my levo alloy it's an amazing bike that is a "landrover"
how 'bout a video with "best EMTB " per dollar category? Say like 2k to 3k 3k to 4k etc.? What do you think? That would seem to fit what you are discussing here with the Beer analogy ?
I love the honesty in this video. In a market where people think the most expensive is the best this really put real life emtb into perspective.
Thanks for the great Videos. My choice is the Dengfu E55 All mountain with 160 NM of Torque , 29er wheels , Rockshox front and rear and full Carbon frame
Best emtb in the world is one you ride which you enjoy and does everything you need it to; the one that you can afford to properly maintain.
So glad you bought up reliability, and service, a lot of people want the very best of everything but never push them as they are supposed to be push
I think this is the best review video I’ve ever watched. What a great reminder that half these things don’t even really matter all that much.
This is a great episode! I’m old enough to see mountain bikes evolve from hardtail w/ no suspension to eMTB of today, it’s really astonishing seeing topic like the “best eMtb” still carrying over through the years. I’m lucky enough to save up for 2 emtb (2020, 2024). Both bike brings the “little kid” in me out in the trail. Both bike lowest spec, one with EP8 the other Bosch CX. Through my experience, having many mountain bikes, the most important thing I learn when making my 1st emtb was LBS availability and components reliability (including drive unit) and manufacturers (bike brand) backing me up with warranty. I own Pivot Shuttle LT and AM both the lowest component spec, (I know, it’s expensive premium bike) but these bikes fit all my criteria’s. If they had aluminum frame eMTB those would have been my choice than carbon. Would be nice to see GMBN do those epic ride on lower spec build to show EMTB capabilities are not that much different.
Even if you are scared of the weight of an emtb (coming from an -at that time - excessive 100/120mm freeride bike 20+ years ago) consider the fact of your ability to regain strength.
40+ years old now, first month on a "heavy" propain ekano 2 al (190/170mm) was hard in terms of maneuverability. 2 Months in now and a rough 20km ride on all kinds of offroad terrain makes you feel great. Every mm of travel, once setup right (can/will be a difficult journey), gives you a lot of confidence downhill. Thought i was going slow, until i realized i was almost at the limit of the softest magic marry/big betty combo.
Always a sweet cushion, if you take an unexpected drop to flatt from 1.5 meters. Suspension travel FTW! 😂
Pete's answer to what is the best motor was a perfectly valid response, and one people should pay attention to. Because really, riding any of these motors is great fun, but you can't ride them if they're broken! Reliability is a huge issue, and IMHO is way more important than 90nm vs 75nm or any of the other differences between motors. Nothing sucks more than your bike being in the repair shop, or even worse, waiting in a long queue to get into the shop!
I love Steve’s honesty. We need more vids like this
I have Orbea Wild 160/180mm travel. Coil on the back. Geometry, motor with batery and suspension make this bike absolutely versatile. I feel comfortable during any ride. It is beast when you ride up and down on your home trail or donwhill section. It is comfortable for a long ride. Geometry is almost identical with Canyon Strive On. I think that this two eBike are one of the best in this yer..... Hello from Czech Republic :)
One is full 29” the other a mullet so geometry can’t be almost the same but I’m not an expert
We are 100% aligned in opinions. I totally love your transparency! You gained a new big fan.
I have the Strive:ON Underdog and it's fantastic! The stock suspension is definitely solid
I heard you say BAFANG in the video and it made my heart happy ❤
We recently visited the BAFANG factory in China 👉 ua-cam.com/video/zjQcUZT0Dgw/v-deo.html
@@embn it was a great few posts. It would be wonderful to see an in depth review of the m560 when you can😀
The honesty in this video is refreshing !! Agreed with mostly all, but components make a big difference such as brakes, suspension is a double edge sword as you said, so many things to mess up. I would say there isnt a best bike out there, we need to have more reviews quantifiyng if the bike is playfull or stable, if its serviceble friendly or not, if its beginer or advanced rider bike, more bias for handling or jumping etc... all of that is needed for you to understand if its the bike for you or not. Saying its the best its just marketing
The fact is that Canyon offers the best value for money on the market. Bikes with worse equipment will cost at least $1,000 more, so there's no need to think twice if you're looking for the best price-to-quality ratio. I've also experienced firsthand that they have highly customer-oriented support, which is extremely important.
They haven't the greatest support in the UK unfortunately, which is putting me off buying one,but they definitely give the best bang for ya buck by selling direct to the customer
You can't go wrong with Cube either I'm thinking. I saw a Stereo Hybrid 160 HPC SLX 750 going for £3300, which is seriously good value given that there's nothing unacceptable or rubbish on it, and it comes with excellent forks, a decent shock, decent wheels, great brakes and gears too. In terms of value, it's hard to find anything close to it given what you get for your cash.
@@marcopaganotto9125 By the way, I spent a long time deciding between Cube and Canyon. In the end, I chose the underdog purely because of the frame geometry. Marketing does its job :)
please! Cube is equally the best value for money and their service parts network dwarfs Canyon .
@@marcopaganotto9125 Except that lots of Cube frames have failed, when actually e-bike frame failure is an extremely rare thing.
Canyon provides these media guys with a lot
of free bikes.I am sure that they are professional in their work and judgments,
Infact I'm sure they all mention this in each of the reviews.
I grew up in Poland where "standard" percentage was 40% with some home made stuff going up to 60ish% 7-8% is a stronger beer, not even stepping into wine territory, let alone stronger drinks so based on the introduction I came to conclusion I need 200-300mm travel for casual ride in a park :)
I love that beer potency comparison! Riders rarely take a tally of what really makes it click to provide the mountain bike experience they enjoy. It's easy to get sucked into bigger is better. It's taken me a long time to finally arrive at my 'best bike' configurations - basically a 130/140mm trail bike done up as a 'mini-enduro' bike w/ burly wheels, top grade suspension (I spend time dialling 'em in) and Saint brakes - weight is not a consideration. The e-bike I get will ultimately be very similar to my special blend meat-powered bike.
Warranty! Thank you for mentioning that. I have been very lucky with a handful of different eBikes that get very hard treatment. No issues except for a failure of a control unit that was replaced by Cube [160 Team]
Fitting a larger chainring to reduce cadence was my best mod. I went from a 32 to a 38 chainring on my Trek Rail 5 to reduce cadence on rail trails. Some swing arms do not allow such clearance for larger chainring. More compact and lighter motor of the new Bosch is cool. 600 battery size is big enough. Hell my small 500 battery is plenty enough and lighter.
I purchase a Zeb fork on sale for half price, but it was a waste for my type of old man riding...heavier than stock also. What a waste
Love my Cube Stereo Hybrid 140. 140/150mm travel 29er, great all rounder ❤
What a video. Of all the talky, over expressed similar conversations with eMTBs etc., this is the first video that really drove home some great points, all using an acronym a lot of us adults can understand: alcohol. LOL(!) I mean, thank you Steve and EMTB folks. Good writing and way to keep all these similar conversations fresh. Seriously man, the alcohol simile is spot on with this conversation. @steve, buddy, you've been on about eMTBs for years now, and I really appreciate how you haven't bulked and changed with your opinions much.
Mine is the best E-MTB....LOL @Steve You are 100% right, these testers on UA-cam or writing for E-Magazines or Paper need to start testing the bikes the average people are riding. All those extra features are awesome and we all dream of having them but in the end. Most of use are riding a watered down version of those bikes, manufactories need to do a better job as well. I have a nice bike but I was able to take advantage of the post COVID market but I still had to make cuts to the bike build. I mean, it's a bike, I had to keep it below the cost of my motorcycle.
I'm def in the 'all day slog on eco' rider camp and consider my e-bike (a Trance E+) to be a land-rover to get me up hills & mountains that I'd not be able to reach otherwise. Which is why I like Steve's expedition videos - so well shot - but I guess expensive to produce. I'd like to see more about how the 'ideal' bike for that type of work.
Love my turbo LEVO SWORKS GEN3
Hey, wait, I Think 26 kg is a little too heavy 😅. Else, I agree with you on most of your points. I'd say, the best emtb is the cheapest one that will fulfill my skills. The point where all emtb industry really must evolve is price! and this is a point where we, consumers, could give them a help, by stopping to pay big money for novelties that are not so new, like the much praised dji emtb, for example, having a motor that gives 1000 watts and 120 nm torque, well, there are kitchen appliances that give 1.000 w and handtools with 120 nm torque, so, how the motor translates to a good cycling experience is what really matters to me, and so, how it was developed, with the aid of real world bikers and proven performance in competition.
One things for sure that Ergon saddle is a so comfy and my best upgrade on my emtb
Spectral🤟
One day when i have the money
900 battery and one spare
Sky will be the limit 😁
I never look for a kilogram more or less🤪
Good one! What size is Steve riding here? Medium or Large? Any preference either way?
I have similar body stats and torn between M or L. Sounds like Steve has a long torso too?
Thx
thank you for giving a bit more of an informative solid opinion on what is the best emtb rather than discussing with no conclusion :) You can give your opinion, if we don't agree it opens up discussion so feel free to be a bit more honest and not hold ya tongue ;D
First off, excellent content right here guys. One word, subjective. Everything is subjective. Best of anything is subjective. There is no one "best", it's all subjective. My best, your best, anyone's best. What does best even mean? Your best may be my "oh hell no!" This is the best video you have ever given us, by far. You have a very difficult job of providing content that is informative, engaging and entertaining. But you have to be realistic and so do your viewers.
This was a great explanation
Never mind the bikes, what about that stick! Superb!
The problem is that, like mobile phones, the tech is throw away due to the fact most things are not repairable, which is why the Pinion MGU is looking more like the future proof option.
Great vid , personally I love my Specialized SL it does me for all what I do !
For me the best EMTB would have the pinon motor gear box so I stop breaking off derailers. I don't need a ton of
power but I want power to come on quickly so it you start on an uphill the power kicks right away. I don't know how much travel is best as long as it soaks up the roots and small chop I would be happy with it. Aluminum hardtails suck, but maybe a full suspesion aluminum bike would be good with the right suspesion on it.
First time in two years since I’ve owned my Husqvarna with a EP8 motor I have rode with other e-mountain bikers. A couple of them were on the Orbea with the Bosch CX motor and a yeti with a ep8 all hi end 8K plus. My husky was 4700$ and did bangin.
have ridden vs have rode
Im looking forward for a MGU pinion setup to arrive in new Zealand, definitely looking to get one.
I was going to buy a new bike but nothing is going to be better overall than my updated sealed 2018 1.3 aluminium brose motor carbon Levo. Added 170mm Fox 38's, 9point8 steering head Slacker kit , fully proven Rohloff hub ( goodbye derailleurs ), 29x3 front and yes 27.5 x3.25 rear tyres.(the best suspension initially is in the first contact piont of unsprung weight is tyres). It's the Quietest, smoothest strong power and drive train ever. Geometry now 63⁰ from 66⁰,wheel base 50mm longer, much higher frame ground clearance and 150mm cranks. Seat hard forward on rails to effectively steepen seat tube angle. It's very stable and really works for me and with a brand new spare motor and 2 extra batteries there is nothing out there smoother, quieter,more reliable and easier on my body. Silence up and down is golden. E=Mtb²
The best bike not only depends on what style of riding you do but also on where you ride. Riding in Florida is very different than many other places. Trails here are either flat and sandy or terrifying open pit mine scrambles. The sandy trails benefit from plus size tires and a full power motor and the trails through the old open pit phosphate mines benefit from a slack front end. That's not a bike that would be best for a bike park or trails with long climbs. It all depends on both how you ride and where you do it.
Not with you on weight. The best EMBT is the one you can live with. That you don’t have to buy a van for. That you can lift over a gate or out of the shed. My daughter is 60kg and can’t lift my 23kg bike. I have to really nail technique to lift the front wheel for drops and have trashed a rear wheel on a square edged hit. Rode a 19 kg Orange phase with the Bosch sx motor and felt like my old Mega. Amazing fun to ride.
Man you heat the sweet spot, what is the servicing like, PARTS AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE NOT ONLY SERVICE COMPANY PLUS ALL YOUR POINTS YOU SET:)
I think the best E-mtb is the one that fits me best, the way I ride and my skill level.
Problem is that You always want more..
Spectral On, mainly due to the 900wh battery....
@@perry8517 Strive:On 750wh with a 250wh range extender ftw🔥
I have the Spectral On, I've ridden the Strive On also. Spectral On was a better cornerer, and up hills. Stive On was took the hits and roots better. I only chose the Spectral ON because of the GPS. If the Strive had the GPS, I probably would have bought it. But, both bikes are amazing.
FT4U: "Is our sponsors emtb that costs an utter offensive amount of money, the World's best bike?"*
*We (EMBN & CANYON) don't care what you think, it IS the worlds best bike.
I have this bike and it's an amazing bike. Love my Canyon Striveon
Hi Steve one of your best, thanks for your honesty 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thanks for watching!
By no chance! There are fresh new contenders out there
best emtb... none of them so far.
Requirements:
- MOST IMPORTANT MAIN BATTERY IS CHANGABLE - today I do a short 2hr ripper after work, so I put in the 400wh.... But this weekend i go for a FULL DAY and put in the 600wh or even the 750!
I always have the 250wh extender with me IN CASE I KEEP RIDING CAUSE IM HAVING FUN. aka insurance. I have too many time walked back with zero battery. F U.
- lighter than fatter, i had more fun on a 19.5kg Heckler than the 22.5kg Bullit than a 25kg Canyon, even with downhill chunder.
- 160ish up front.... 170ish is better
- 160ish in back.... 170ish is better
- 29 front and back, seems fine with the mullet but I prefer to keep it easy and not need to source two sizes...
- Realistic battery power LEDS that tell me something.... i hated that on Bullit or Ransom or most others in fact, one light left and in minutes its red and minutes its dead.... f eh. the only ride that is scaled correct are Fazuas... one led left, means 25% left... bastards, how could they do so right!
- chain guide.... how can a bike company really think their bike is legit without this option?
Nice to haves
- after that its ok if its 63.5 or 64.5 upfront... its ok if its 76 or 77 seat tube angle....
- good parts but I will always replace when worn or making me crazy.
- not sure yet if i need a built in touch display with maps and tracking in the bike, but seems good idea.
Surely the best emtb in the world is the one you worked hard and saved for it’s becoming a fashion show now and it’s not cheap
It’s an important question as most people spending their own money will simply buy 1 e-bike even if they subscribe to the n+1 rule with conventional bikes.
So, you're saying, people that have 170mm travel drink special brew?
Love your analyses, Steve...and that you don't always go with the either/or scenario. There are a lot of shades of grey.
IMHO...THE best emtb...or ebike of any kind...is the one you look forward to riding every day. What could be better than that??
This is the video I needed. Great job! And where do I get one of those wisdom sticks?
I'm too new to Emtbs have an opinion. My wife got me the Claud Butler Wrath which i love and changed my life for the better but when i do upgrade i will look carefully at my options
That's like asking "is this the world's best car/shoe/hammer" etc.
It really depends on who you are. E.g. if you're a commuter, an eMtb is probably not the best eBike for you. You're probably better off with one that has a more upright position, built-in lights, mudguards, very low maintenance and possibly a rear rack. I use my ebikes primarily for commuting, and those are the most important things for me. Having a full suspension commuter bike would be lovely though, as not all asphalt roads are well maintained. Same with fat-bike tyres.
Is the Koenigsegg Jesko the best car in the world? Maybe - but for everyday commuting, dropping kids off and picking them up, shopping, bumper to bumper inner city traffic etc., you're going to be better off with an older, already scratched up car with a decent sized boot.
After having somehow owned 3 mid drive emtbs (given the absolutely fkn stupid prices!) and ridden a few others, I've come to the conclusion that there's really not a lot of difference between them! And, ultimately I think the cost is prohibitive for most people these days, and also unjustified in terms of what you get for your money, consider what you get for 4k should you buy a Surron for example. So yeah, emtbs are great but the industry is literally taking the piss with the prices they're asking.
This man speaks my language.
The best emtb is the one that you can afford within your budget for the trails/terrain that you ride.
For me its a 2023 whyte E160s Mx. Is it the best ebike in the world, nope, but it's all the bike i need amd thats all that matters.
FWIW it does have a couple of suspension upgrades but even as a stock bike it was brilliant
as a 26yo guy who only enjoy downhill speed, but the closest bikepark is at 3hour car, the specialized turbo kenevo expert is the best.
now i switched tyo the YT decoy core 3 mx, wich i'm kinda enjoying more because its more agile/enduro oriented, and sadly around my area we have enduro like trails
I heard that the Orbea Wild Aluminum rides better than the too stiff carbon version. Does anyone with experience can confirm or denied that?
Design vs quality are two different things, design is fantastic as a result of Fabian! Unfortunately quality control is NOT Canyon strong suit.
Is all we need a good all rounder?
Reality: Yes!
Bike industry marketing depts: Absolutely not.
There are some terrible bikes, but you'd have to look hard to find them and the vast majority are capable and fun to ride. Take the Trek Rail line up. Rail 5, not many places this would be a catastrophic failure waiting to happen for an average rider. Rail 9.9, all the bling but at a huge cost. Rail 9, I'd argue a sweet spot where you get the best bang for buck improvement over the 5 and very little compromise compared to the 9.9. But the point is largely moot. Outside of a pro rider where tenths of a second count, is a Rail 5 really going to be a bike you can't have fun riding?
It is the one you have!! And i think you hit it on the head. It's the one for the riding you went to do!!
I wish you would have touched a little more (maybe you did in another video? ) about geometry and how it makes a bike feel.
First love your channel and info.
I wonder if you can speak to the technology bleeding over to commuting or cargo style e-bikes. Knowing builders get great testing on the EMTB styles, many of us are not able to do that type of biking anymore.. if we ever could to begin with. That said.. we want the great tech and robustness that has been vetted and the lighter builds for older or smaller folks who want more topshelf products.
An interesting video Steve & most of your conclusions are probably correct , what’s the point of asking the best riders in the world to review a bike ? Most of us are just entusiastic amateurs & for me its about a bike that makes me feel better than i am at a price i can afford.
The weight is important. I want to be able to lift my bike over a locked gate. 24kg is ok for that
Pub/Brewery in my village offer 800 different kind of beers 😂
Steve's knowledge and the ability to dive deep into complicated subjects and providing very thoughtful insights is just phenomenal. Carry on standing your ground embn! can't please them all, but we are surely all pleased with your content!
Well I still love my Giant Reign E+0, 85nM, 750w/hr, does it all.
hi ! based on your experience ... now on summer deal.... which one is best buy for your money kinna deal ? torque on at 4800$ or strive on at 5500$
The best is the the one you like with actual dealer support.
Bang on review- honest & relevant for us mere mortals- Keep it coming 👍🚴🏼♂️👍
Glad you enjoyed it! More to come 🎉
I still love my Turbo Levo & it’ll do whatever you chuck at it 👌🏻
even more confused now. Im an x cross country leisure rider with a 20 year old Mount Vision. Im retired so, getting on a bit now. What should i go for?
I have a budget of about £6k
You need to find somewhere to give any bike youre considering a proper test. Most shops wont let you however...
A motorbike dealer would expect you to want a test ride, but eMTBs it seems are different...
Nice industry nine wheels ❤
The best ebike in the world should offer water proof motors, freely available spare parts, fully recyclable and maintainable batteries, a 5 year or 20000km warranty, just to mention a few.
And a standard charger/battery.
Was going to buy one but heard a few horror stories about cheap carbon frames and battery covers failing!? Anybody else?
If they pay you to say it is.
The best E-MTB is the one that fits all the motors, this disregard for the consumer is madness.
The most reliable is the best. Performance doesn’t matter if it breaks down a lot and you can’t trust it .
but this bike is heavy as hell....57lbs....waiting for new lighter bikes with DJI motor and batteries....yupp
Great content! You could make a print version and call it Dirt
Turbo all day bro 🚀
In the market for a new E bike. Leaning towards the canyon. I have had an Intence Tazer and a Gen 3 Levo pro . I don't see much from Levo anymore. Why is that? Thanks, guys
Brands must dread it when Steve gets one of their bikes he’s always close to whacking it with his stick
"Everyone thinks they have the best dog (bike) and none of them are wrong " E=Mtb²
Brave video 😂
I love my Haibike CF12 160