What e-MTB?

[Frimley111R]

I appreciate there is a long running thread on e-bikes but going through that lot to potentially fine what I am after is time I don't have.

So, I have a Boardman 8.6FS 2020 model but am considering an e-MTB but don't know where to start! Some are £££££ and some are £2k. £3k up seems a good price range (although still 3 times more than my Boardman!). I'm not familiar with the brands that aren't very well known like Orange, Cube, Specialized, etc. so not sure what is a decent brand and what is a one off newby brand.

Where do I even begin?

[m_cozzy]

Basically you buy a specialized levo from either Berkshire bikes, don skene or raceco as they will offer the best warranty support when it goes wrong.

[sjg]

Along the same lines, whatever your decent local bike shop stocks. Chances are fairly high you'll need a warranty repair at some point so being able to drop it off easily is key rather than needing to make a long trip or strip off parts yourself to send away.

[Frimley111R]

m_cozzy said:

Basically you buy a specialized levo from either Berkshire bikes, don skene or raceco as they will offer the best warranty support when it goes wrong.

Well thanks for that! Now i can't unsee the £5k+ Specialised Levo! Monthly payments are as much as my first car

[stuarthat]

Just bought a cube 160 from leisure wheels kash coating still die hard xc rider but this bike is so much fun .

[Ziplobb]

I bought a Scott Apect 10 I think last year, superb but if kit, does everything i need it to do. Seems to have a good spec.

[Ashtray83]

I have a Levo turbo HT at the moment I’m thinking of upgrading to a full suspension I’m currently tossing up between the Specialized and The YT decoy that looks awesome to

[cavey76]

OP you have just created an invite for dozens of posters to recommend their bike. I'll get in on the game and do the same. I similarly to another poster have a Cube 160. £4200 and i get you might baulk at the spend but maybe check if your employer has a C2W scheme you could use in someway to make this more palatable.

Cube, Specialized and Orange are not unknown names being bastions of the industry these days but as another poster suggests i would seriously give some love to a local(ish) bike shop who can help you out. You may have warranty but i wouldnt want to scare you, no issues so far after 300 miles on my Cube. The other reason for local i would suggest in the time of Covid getting a discount reseller to prioritize you is less likely than the guy from round the corner who knows he'll get a bit of repeat business from you.

Lastly a plug, If you are in NI, Paul at Cookstown Cycles did me a turn and sourced my 160 SL. Very helpful guy and has been rewarded with other bike business for his help.

[Frimley111R]

cavey76 said:

OP you have just created an invite for dozens of posters to recommend their bike. I'll get in on the game and do the same. I similarly to another poster have a Cube 160. £4200 and i get you might baulk at the spend but maybe check if your employer has a C2W scheme you could use in someway to make this more palatable.

Cube, Specialized and Orange are not unknown names being bastions of the industry these days but as another poster suggests i would seriously give some love to a local(ish) bike shop who can help you out. You may have warranty but i wouldnt want to scare you, no issues so far after 300 miles on my Cube. The other reason for local i would suggest in the time of Covid getting a discount reseller to prioritize you is less likely than the guy from round the corner who knows he'll get a bit of repeat business from you.

I guess so, hopefully it'll help others in the same boat. I run my own Ltd company and so was looking at the C2W scheme this morning after a client said he saved £2800 on his e-MTB!

I'm not fussed where i buy it from and am more than happy to use a local bike shop.