Full Suspension Ebike for Gravel Riding
Discussion
Like a few other threads I'm mid 40s and looking to get out more. I'm within easy reach of hundreds of miles of gravel forest tracks but there are fairly large hills which put me off going out on my current basic hard tail MTB. I've hired an eMTB a few times and I'm sold on the idea. Budget up to £5k.
Our local bike place seems decent and chatted through the options the other day. They suggested a hardtail (I didn't mention budget!) but I could afford a full suspension bike (looking at a Cube Stereo Hybrid 750). It feels like more bike than I need perhaps but is there a downside to having a bike with quite a lot of travel on the suspension (or having full susp at all) if not really used? Stock from somewhere local is also a challenge unless I want to wait a year or order online. I'd rather buy locally for a few reasons including maintenance.
My riding would be mainly gravel but some of the forest gravel can be more like small rocks and I will sometimes do trails with rooted bits etc. I'm less keen on falling off these days though so I don't think I'll be attempting to get into downhill or anything like that. There is a lot of serious gravel and MTB riding nearby but it's not for a me and I prefer the exploration and scenery (and exercise).
Appreciate it all depends and never easy without knowing everything about a person! Please go easy
Our local bike place seems decent and chatted through the options the other day. They suggested a hardtail (I didn't mention budget!) but I could afford a full suspension bike (looking at a Cube Stereo Hybrid 750). It feels like more bike than I need perhaps but is there a downside to having a bike with quite a lot of travel on the suspension (or having full susp at all) if not really used? Stock from somewhere local is also a challenge unless I want to wait a year or order online. I'd rather buy locally for a few reasons including maintenance.
My riding would be mainly gravel but some of the forest gravel can be more like small rocks and I will sometimes do trails with rooted bits etc. I'm less keen on falling off these days though so I don't think I'll be attempting to get into downhill or anything like that. There is a lot of serious gravel and MTB riding nearby but it's not for a me and I prefer the exploration and scenery (and exercise).
Appreciate it all depends and never easy without knowing everything about a person! Please go easy
First of all, good for you for wanting to get out.
I can’t help on the e-bike front but I own a gravel bike, hard tail and full suspension mtb. Given the motor will help no end, I’d go full suspension purely for comfort. I’ve ridden gravel tracks on all three bike and the full suspension makes a difference.
Also, if you start to crave tougher stuff, the bike is ready to go.
I can’t help on the e-bike front but I own a gravel bike, hard tail and full suspension mtb. Given the motor will help no end, I’d go full suspension purely for comfort. I’ve ridden gravel tracks on all three bike and the full suspension makes a difference.
Also, if you start to crave tougher stuff, the bike is ready to go.
orbit123 said:
They suggested a hardtail (I didn't mention budget!) but I could afford a full suspension bike (looking at a Cube Stereo Hybrid 750). It feels like more bike than I need perhaps but is there a downside to having a bike with quite a lot of travel on the suspension (or having full susp at all) if not really used?
Bluntly, yes, that would the wrong bike for what you describe. It is a mid travel, trail/enduro bike, and would be massively over specced for 'gravel tracks' as you describe.Also consider, that bike will be HEAVY. As in - its going to take a strong bloke to comfortably pick it up and lift it over a locked gate, for instance.
The vast majority of ebikes do, unfortunately - push you towards more weight, more travel, bigger tyres etc, a 'winch and plummet' style of riding.
Sounds like your bike shop have a good grasp of this.
Have a look at bikes using the Fazua motor and battery - these tend to be more of the lighter, less 'extreme' style of bike.
I think I would get bored with lots of fire tracks. Do you think you will want to go cross country more on grass, forest etc and other places (riding in the same place gets boring after a while).
The cube stereo hybrid is at the moment pound for pound one of the best ebike out there. It has the new 750 battery too so goes for miles.
I have one (second ebike after a YT DECOY) and I used it in a cross country 40 mile event on Sunday and it was perfect.
It still had 25% battery left and I did 4000ft of climbing. They also do a 120mm version of you want to ride more tracks. You can also lockout the rear shock if so.
I would consider getting a bike that has the ability to do more than you currently want it to rather than spending the money on a bike that would restrict you if you decided to go more off the fire tracks and couldn’t, you definitely regret that.
It’s better to lock out suspension you don’t need than not have it if you do in my view.
The cube stereo hybrid is at the moment pound for pound one of the best ebike out there. It has the new 750 battery too so goes for miles.
I have one (second ebike after a YT DECOY) and I used it in a cross country 40 mile event on Sunday and it was perfect.
It still had 25% battery left and I did 4000ft of climbing. They also do a 120mm version of you want to ride more tracks. You can also lockout the rear shock if so.
I would consider getting a bike that has the ability to do more than you currently want it to rather than spending the money on a bike that would restrict you if you decided to go more off the fire tracks and couldn’t, you definitely regret that.
It’s better to lock out suspension you don’t need than not have it if you do in my view.
Thanks both for such rapid replies! It's a difficult thing to navigate when you don't know a great deal.
100% correct about weight (really heavy!) but the hard tail option (£3k) seems to be around same weight as the full suspension one £4.5k). I believe the more expensive full suspension one uses lighter materials in different areas of the bike which is another reason it's more £s. I'm joining dots a bit but presume within ranges from likes of Cube the more expensive and off-the-shelf bikes have the more high tech materials and they tend also to be full suspension? It sounds like the shops are ordering what they think will sell 12 months ahead with ebikes as the lead times are so long.
I feel a bit like I might be paying another £1500 just to have a comfier ride with the full suspension - but I'm basically alright with that if it does mean I'd enjoy the ride a little bit more (logic being I might go out more).
I just don't want to pay the extra and find it's in some way worse having full suspension (enduro type bike travel)?
Cube do a 120 model too with way less travel which is ~£700 cheaper but stock seems to be a problem locally and I'm keen to buy local.
The bike shop guys are happy to sell either option but suggested the hardtail option first after listening to general plan for use.
100% correct about weight (really heavy!) but the hard tail option (£3k) seems to be around same weight as the full suspension one £4.5k). I believe the more expensive full suspension one uses lighter materials in different areas of the bike which is another reason it's more £s. I'm joining dots a bit but presume within ranges from likes of Cube the more expensive and off-the-shelf bikes have the more high tech materials and they tend also to be full suspension? It sounds like the shops are ordering what they think will sell 12 months ahead with ebikes as the lead times are so long.
I feel a bit like I might be paying another £1500 just to have a comfier ride with the full suspension - but I'm basically alright with that if it does mean I'd enjoy the ride a little bit more (logic being I might go out more).
I just don't want to pay the extra and find it's in some way worse having full suspension (enduro type bike travel)?
Cube do a 120 model too with way less travel which is ~£700 cheaper but stock seems to be a problem locally and I'm keen to buy local.
The bike shop guys are happy to sell either option but suggested the hardtail option first after listening to general plan for use.
My experience (very brief) on riding a full suss e-bike was that over the assist speed, which is only like 15mph, you are putting all your effort into lugging around the battery/motor that's no longer joining in!
Which seemed kinda pointless.
So, for a relatively flat riding the ebike seemed a bit redundant and a hardtail XC bike would get you there quicker for the same effort.
Add in gnarly hill sections though and the ebike is hilarious.
Which seemed kinda pointless.
So, for a relatively flat riding the ebike seemed a bit redundant and a hardtail XC bike would get you there quicker for the same effort.
Add in gnarly hill sections though and the ebike is hilarious.
Arguments for both, really.
A full suspension would probably be overkill for your intended usage BUT if you really get the bug and want to do some more challenging trails, well, in that case you’re ready to go.
A hardtail is a great way into e biking and is a highly versatile tool. I’ve done ca. 10,000km on mine as a commuter and it’s also been down some fairly sketchy trails.
Comfort wise, remember that adding a suspension seatpost to a hardtail makes a massive difference. I have a Cane Creek Thudbuster on mine. Ok, it’s never going to rival the capabilities of a full suspension but it’s well worth having.
A full suspension would probably be overkill for your intended usage BUT if you really get the bug and want to do some more challenging trails, well, in that case you’re ready to go.
A hardtail is a great way into e biking and is a highly versatile tool. I’ve done ca. 10,000km on mine as a commuter and it’s also been down some fairly sketchy trails.
Comfort wise, remember that adding a suspension seatpost to a hardtail makes a massive difference. I have a Cane Creek Thudbuster on mine. Ok, it’s never going to rival the capabilities of a full suspension but it’s well worth having.
orbit123 said:
I just don't want to pay the extra and find it's in some way worse having full suspension (enduro type bike travel)?
Cube do a 120 model too with way less travel which is ~£700 cheaper but stock seems to be a problem locally and I'm keen to buy local.
You could take a look at the Scott range, they have a 3 position lockout mounted on the bar to allow full, limited or no travel with both front and rear suspension (simultaneously).Cube do a 120 model too with way less travel which is ~£700 cheaper but stock seems to be a problem locally and I'm keen to buy local.
I've the Strike eRide 940 and find this a very useful future. If commuting on the road I'll have it locked out, but then select partial or full travel when off road dependent on the ride at the time.
Cheesecakerunner is technically right but you should take a spin off some full sus e bikes. They are a lot of fun.
I have a decathlon full sus ebike which I use mostly for commuting on but have put 1500kms on it in a couple of months and its not wearing too well so I am returning it. I took a spin on a carbon framed specialized turbo levo last week and it really was amazing, even though on paper the carbon frame isn't much lighter its much easier to move about say lifting the front wheel so would make it easier to bring on trains up stairs etc
Specialized also do a lightweight version with a smaller battery and less powerful motor if you don't want the motorbike sensation.
Re the cube, I rode one of those full sus e bikes some years ago and was really impressed too. Can only imagine the CUbe Stereo is a great bike now.
I have a decathlon full sus ebike which I use mostly for commuting on but have put 1500kms on it in a couple of months and its not wearing too well so I am returning it. I took a spin on a carbon framed specialized turbo levo last week and it really was amazing, even though on paper the carbon frame isn't much lighter its much easier to move about say lifting the front wheel so would make it easier to bring on trains up stairs etc
Specialized also do a lightweight version with a smaller battery and less powerful motor if you don't want the motorbike sensation.
Re the cube, I rode one of those full sus e bikes some years ago and was really impressed too. Can only imagine the CUbe Stereo is a great bike now.
Thanks for everyone for the different views. It's really helpful and very much appreciated.
I'm probably looking more for fun and getting outside into nature vs punishing myself climbing up hills. With the eMTBs I've hired I found (to my surprise) I didn't treat it like a motorbike and it just meant it was there when I'd normally give up and head home. It was pretty amazing and meant I went a lot further than I'd normally manage or I could do it faster vs stopping so often.
The full suspension feels like it's way more than I need right now but I'm aware I'm probably bad for not chopping and selling things so likely what I buy now will be what I have for a while. Depreciation on them seems like it can be an issue too - i.e. if I bought a £3k one then decide I need a £4.5k one! Some man maths in there though.
At least making sure I can lock the suspension if I go for full suss seems important and this 3 position system from Scott is very cool. From reading today it seems like a 120/140 might be ideal for me. The lockout on the Cube doesn't seem rigid either though so perhaps achieve similar effect. I'll keep on with the research!
I'm probably looking more for fun and getting outside into nature vs punishing myself climbing up hills. With the eMTBs I've hired I found (to my surprise) I didn't treat it like a motorbike and it just meant it was there when I'd normally give up and head home. It was pretty amazing and meant I went a lot further than I'd normally manage or I could do it faster vs stopping so often.
The full suspension feels like it's way more than I need right now but I'm aware I'm probably bad for not chopping and selling things so likely what I buy now will be what I have for a while. Depreciation on them seems like it can be an issue too - i.e. if I bought a £3k one then decide I need a £4.5k one! Some man maths in there though.
At least making sure I can lock the suspension if I go for full suss seems important and this 3 position system from Scott is very cool. From reading today it seems like a 120/140 might be ideal for me. The lockout on the Cube doesn't seem rigid either though so perhaps achieve similar effect. I'll keep on with the research!
Ledaig said:
You could take a look at the Scott range, they have a 3 position lockout mounted on the bar to allow full, limited or no travel with both front and rear suspension (simultaneously).
I've the Strike eRide 940 and find this a very useful future. If commuting on the road I'll have it locked out, but then select partial or full travel when off road dependent on the ride at the time.
I've the Strike eRide 940 and find this a very useful future. If commuting on the road I'll have it locked out, but then select partial or full travel when off road dependent on the ride at the time.
I bought a full suspension eMTB 18 months ago. I had never owned a full suspension bike before, and wasn't really looking for one but there didn't seem any reason not to go for full-suspension over hard-tail when I wanted an e-bike. It's no heavier than a hard-tail, doesn't bob weirdly when pedalling as I'd feared and has encouraged me to ride far more interesting tracks and trails. In particular it makes bridleways usable which would otherwise have been uncomfortably bumpy where broken up by horses' hooves.
Buying a bike for the purpose you have in mind is fine, but that's probably the riding you do currently. And that's probably covered by your existing bike. I'm glad I got something way overspecced compared to what I thought I wanted; it's expanded my rides and given me a great deal of enjoyment.
As for not keeping fit on an e-bike, I do still ride my other bikes. I had a fear that I wasn't getting as much fitness benefit from an e-bike as I would have before. When my longstanding riding partner asked if I had a motor in my standard bike because I kept leaving him behind on hills, I realised it was an unfounded concern.
Downsides: expensive to buy; heavy so you won't want to lift it over stiles (though bridleways should only have gates). Upsides: like riding a normal bike but climbing hills is more fun. A no-brainer really, once you've tried one.
ETA: mine is a 160mm/160mm travel bike and doesn't have full lockout on the shocks. It's probably good for jumping and stuff which I'll never do. But it does the stuff I do ride brilliantly, and is comfy riding on tarmac to get there.
Buying a bike for the purpose you have in mind is fine, but that's probably the riding you do currently. And that's probably covered by your existing bike. I'm glad I got something way overspecced compared to what I thought I wanted; it's expanded my rides and given me a great deal of enjoyment.
As for not keeping fit on an e-bike, I do still ride my other bikes. I had a fear that I wasn't getting as much fitness benefit from an e-bike as I would have before. When my longstanding riding partner asked if I had a motor in my standard bike because I kept leaving him behind on hills, I realised it was an unfounded concern.
Downsides: expensive to buy; heavy so you won't want to lift it over stiles (though bridleways should only have gates). Upsides: like riding a normal bike but climbing hills is more fun. A no-brainer really, once you've tried one.
ETA: mine is a 160mm/160mm travel bike and doesn't have full lockout on the shocks. It's probably good for jumping and stuff which I'll never do. But it does the stuff I do ride brilliantly, and is comfy riding on tarmac to get there.
CheesecakeRunner said:
That triggered a few as expected.
.
I think that was your objective with the "motorbike" thing..
You're of course quite right that for gravel use a FS ebike is far from optimum. Cost is not really a concern though as it is not yours.
But the main point is that as he develops as a rider, the OP might eventually use the bike properly and as intended, and at which point a gravel bike won't work.
CheesecakeRunner said:
nickfrog said:
But the main point is that as he develops as a rider, the OP might eventually use the bike properly and as intended, and at which point a gravel bike won't work.
You’re assuming they want to develop into a mountain biker. They may not. Gravel is not mountain biking, if anything it’s closer as a discipline to road riding. They may just want to get fitter, in which case, do the work.
Maybe I’m stuck in my ways, but after 40 years of racing BMX, CX, XC, and now mostly riding road with the odd bit of gravel I still struggle to see the use case for an ebike that can’t be met by just getting a bit fitter. It’s perfectly fine to just say you want one, but I see the same justifications of “big hills”, “can ride further”, “tired at the end of the ride”. If you want to get fitter or ride further, ride more, don’t get something that does it for you.
Perhaps it’s also because I ride motorbikes, that ebikes just seem to me an unnecessary thing in between cycles and motorbikes that are the worst of both worlds.
But hey, if the OP wants to blow 5 grand on an ebike, all power to him.
CheesecakeRunner said:
So if it’s just all about going fast, why not get a motorbike?
You wouldn't be very popular on a motorbike off road on the South Downs where I live.Besides, I am pretty sure ebikes require pedalling. You can even modulate the amount of power you supply.
They are the best of both worlds for a lot of people.
As a late 40 something, I have just got into cycling again.
The main reason I have lost a stone in weight, gained fitness and love pedalling again is because I have an Ebike. I am fairly certain, if I took my old bike out and tried the same I would have given up after my first commute or ride out.....and it would be back in the garage gathering dust.
Nearly completed 2500 miles in a little over nine months.
On this basis, I would highly recommend an ebike.
As stated, when I used to cycle more, gravel bikes were not even a thing.....so I cannot make any recommendations. I have a hard tail EMTB which with a swap of tyres turns from a good commuter thing into something I can use on tracks and heavier off road istuff. Although my days of tearing down Welsh mountain sides (without any suspension, I hasten to add) are long gone.....
To say you just need to get fitter is somewhat missing the point. You will get fitter using an ebike and enjoy it more too. IMO.
The main reason I have lost a stone in weight, gained fitness and love pedalling again is because I have an Ebike. I am fairly certain, if I took my old bike out and tried the same I would have given up after my first commute or ride out.....and it would be back in the garage gathering dust.
Nearly completed 2500 miles in a little over nine months.
On this basis, I would highly recommend an ebike.
As stated, when I used to cycle more, gravel bikes were not even a thing.....so I cannot make any recommendations. I have a hard tail EMTB which with a swap of tyres turns from a good commuter thing into something I can use on tracks and heavier off road istuff. Although my days of tearing down Welsh mountain sides (without any suspension, I hasten to add) are long gone.....
To say you just need to get fitter is somewhat missing the point. You will get fitter using an ebike and enjoy it more too. IMO.
Edited by mike9009 on Wednesday 14th September 21:37
Edited by mike9009 on Wednesday 14th September 21:38
CheesecakeRunner said:
nickfrog said:
But the main point is that as he develops as a rider, the OP might eventually use the bike properly and as intended, and at which point a gravel bike won't work.
You’re assuming they want to develop into a mountain biker. They may not. Gravel is not mountain biking, if anything it’s closer as a discipline to road riding. They may just want to get fitter, in which case, do the work.
Maybe I’m stuck in my ways, but after 40 years of racing BMX, CX, XC, and now mostly riding road with the odd bit of gravel I still struggle to see the use case for an ebike that can’t be met by just getting a bit fitter. It’s perfectly fine to just say you want one, but I see the same justifications of “big hills”, “can ride further”, “tired at the end of the ride”. If you want to get fitter or ride further, ride more, don’t get something that does it for you.
Perhaps it’s also because I ride motorbikes, that ebikes just seem to me an unnecessary thing in between cycles and motorbikes that are the worst of both worlds.
But hey, if the OP wants to blow 5 grand on an ebike, all power to him.
Caveat being I don't own an eMTB but I'd have one for the above reason. Just can't justify the cost so will have to stick with my pedally version for now.
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