Discussion
I enjoy mountain biking, mostly on forest trails or bridleways. I hired an e-bike on holiday last week and was blown away by how good it was. It’s got me considering moving to an e-mountain bike but I know nothing about them. My budget will be firmly at the lower end of the scale.
My current bike is a Boardman MHT 8.9. I’m wondering if it’s worth considering a full suspension model, admittedly more expensive. I’d also like to attach a trailer or tag along bike for my 3 year old, something which the e-bike on holiday made feel very effortless to tow.
Any thoughts or advice as to what to look for or avoid are welcome
My current bike is a Boardman MHT 8.9. I’m wondering if it’s worth considering a full suspension model, admittedly more expensive. I’d also like to attach a trailer or tag along bike for my 3 year old, something which the e-bike on holiday made feel very effortless to tow.
Any thoughts or advice as to what to look for or avoid are welcome
I'd have a look at the 2nd hand market, there's so many deals on new ones so the 2nd hand market has taken a beating.
You don't say what ebike you hired but I've found the different motors seem to deliver power and reliability very differently, bosch is my favourite out of the big 3 atm, (shimano and the brose/specalized). Seems to deliver power at a wider range of cadence better and be more reliable
You don't say what ebike you hired but I've found the different motors seem to deliver power and reliability very differently, bosch is my favourite out of the big 3 atm, (shimano and the brose/specalized). Seems to deliver power at a wider range of cadence better and be more reliable
Chris at Newport Cycling repairs is just round the corner from me, has a very good reputation and shifts quite a bit of used stock.
https://www.newportcyclingrepairs.co.uk/
https://www.newportcyclingrepairs.co.uk/
Second hand ebikes can be great bargains but be aware that the main failure point on all eebs is the motor and that very few manufacturers extend their warranties beyond the original owner. Specialized are a notable exception & happily, their bikes are well rated as you'd expect.
With your son/daughter, there's a thing called Kids ride shotgun that might work if they're not too big. It amounts to a seat that mounts to the top tube, so your child can ride upfront & get his hands on the bars, right in the thick of the action. Might be more fun than tagging along behind, getting sprayed with mud!
https://kidsrideshotgun.co.uk/collections/front-mo...
With your son/daughter, there's a thing called Kids ride shotgun that might work if they're not too big. It amounts to a seat that mounts to the top tube, so your child can ride upfront & get his hands on the bars, right in the thick of the action. Might be more fun than tagging along behind, getting sprayed with mud!
https://kidsrideshotgun.co.uk/collections/front-mo...
Edited by President Merkin on Monday 23 September 11:34
Edited by President Merkin on Monday 23 September 11:57
That’s really helpful thanks. We have a baby seat but she is too big for that now. I like the idea of the tag along bike trailers too.
I’m pretty confused at the choice of bikes out there. I’m also wondering if the cycle to work scheme is worth considering as my company will allow you to spend up to £5000 over 2 years
I’m pretty confused at the choice of bikes out there. I’m also wondering if the cycle to work scheme is worth considering as my company will allow you to spend up to £5000 over 2 years
Generally with Emtbs they divide into two categories. Full power bikes that have motors in the 80-100nm range. These are big lumps, often around 24-25kg with 600-750 watt hour batteries that will give 25-50 mile range depending on where & how you ride.
The second category are SL, super light bikes. Same thing but lighter frames, smaller motors & batteries & usually a bit more effort required from the rider.
After that, it's the usual choices. Hardtail, full suss etc. Do you want a trail bike or a beefier enduro rig with longer travel suspension and so on. It pays to think about the kind of riding you'll be doing & match a bike to that but I'd say for about 90% of riders, a 150mm travel trail bike covers things.
If it were me, the must have list would be droppper post, hydraulic disc brakes, one by 12 speed drivetrain & decent quality (Fox, Ohlins, Rockshox etc) suspension. After that, it's all boutiquey stuff like wireless gear systems & bluetooth droppers and so on that look good & work well but are nothing you can't live without.
The second category are SL, super light bikes. Same thing but lighter frames, smaller motors & batteries & usually a bit more effort required from the rider.
After that, it's the usual choices. Hardtail, full suss etc. Do you want a trail bike or a beefier enduro rig with longer travel suspension and so on. It pays to think about the kind of riding you'll be doing & match a bike to that but I'd say for about 90% of riders, a 150mm travel trail bike covers things.
If it were me, the must have list would be droppper post, hydraulic disc brakes, one by 12 speed drivetrain & decent quality (Fox, Ohlins, Rockshox etc) suspension. After that, it's all boutiquey stuff like wireless gear systems & bluetooth droppers and so on that look good & work well but are nothing you can't live without.
If you are definitely getting a tag along then you might have to do without a dropper if it’s not sufficient extended out of the frame. Shouldn’t be an issue if there’s space to clamp to the base of the dropper but I’d be nervous clamping it to the moving part.
I’ve had a WeeRide and Croozer and both marked the post no matter how careful I was - I just purchased a cheap alloy post for the job.
I’ve had a WeeRide and Croozer and both marked the post no matter how careful I was - I just purchased a cheap alloy post for the job.
Edited by benny.c on Monday 23 September 17:04
President Merkin said:
Generally with Emtbs they divide into two categories. Full power bikes that have motors in the 80-100nm range. These are big lumps, often around 24-25kg with 600-750 watt hour batteries that will give 25-50 mile range depending on where & how you ride.
The second category are SL, super light bikes. Same thing but lighter frames, smaller motors & batteries & usually a bit more effort required from the rider.
After that, it's the usual choices. Hardtail, full suss etc. Do you want a trail bike or a beefier enduro rig with longer travel suspension and so on. It pays to think about the kind of riding you'll be doing & match a bike to that but I'd say for about 90% of riders, a 150mm travel trail bike covers things.
If it were me, the must have list would be droppper post, hydraulic disc brakes, one by 12 speed drivetrain & decent quality (Fox, Ohlins, Rockshox etc) suspension. After that, it's all boutiquey stuff like wireless gear systems & bluetooth droppers and so on that look good & work well but are nothing you can't live without.
Thanks that clears things up a little. I’m probably more at the trail bike end of things. I think budget will be up to about £4000 max The second category are SL, super light bikes. Same thing but lighter frames, smaller motors & batteries & usually a bit more effort required from the rider.
After that, it's the usual choices. Hardtail, full suss etc. Do you want a trail bike or a beefier enduro rig with longer travel suspension and so on. It pays to think about the kind of riding you'll be doing & match a bike to that but I'd say for about 90% of riders, a 150mm travel trail bike covers things.
If it were me, the must have list would be droppper post, hydraulic disc brakes, one by 12 speed drivetrain & decent quality (Fox, Ohlins, Rockshox etc) suspension. After that, it's all boutiquey stuff like wireless gear systems & bluetooth droppers and so on that look good & work well but are nothing you can't live without.
benny.c said:
If you are definitely getting a tag along then you might have to do without a dropper if it’s not sufficient extended out of the frame. Shouldn’t be an issue if there’s space to clamp to the base of the dropper but I’d be nervous clamping it to the moving part.
I’ve had a WeeRide and Croozer and both marked the post no matter how careful I was - I just purchased a cheap alloy post for the job.
Good point. I had wondered about that. The tag along bikes seem simpler to fit as they don’t appear to have a coupling near the rear axle I’ve had a WeeRide and Croozer and both marked the post no matter how careful I was - I just purchased a cheap alloy post for the job.
Edited by benny.c on Monday 23 September 17:04
stargazer30 said:
Check out the cube hybrid and cube stereo. They use Bosch motors and are full fat emtbs. I had the hybrid 625 pro and it was a beast.
I don't hate that idea. Cube are a big, well supported brand & the Stereo range, while being far from the last word in emtbs are decent bang for your buck. On the trail bike front, you can pick up a Stereo 140 HPC with a 750 watt battery for about £3k if you look around. That's a lot of bike for the money in ebike land.24lemons said:
Thanks that clears things up a little. I’m probably more at the trail bike end of things. I think budget will be up to about £4000 max
I have a Canyon spectral 8 which I think would be in your budget (they are on sale at the moment) probably more bike than you need but it's ace. I'd highly recommend it. It's a Shimano motor which I have had replaced under warranty but my bike shop said they all fail at some point and Shimano have very good warranty (2 years on the motor which renews when it's replaced).
I'm pretty sure Canyon do cycle to work too. Go for it!!
Plenty of options around the 4k mark. Have a look on the electric bike shop, they usually have quite a few bikes with 30% off
I bought a haibike nduro 7 for £3800, it's a big old thing and I'll never use it at it's full downhill potential but it rides very well and is surprisingly very good on the road too, nothing like old school big suspension bikes that pedal bob and sap all the power.
I bought a haibike nduro 7 for £3800, it's a big old thing and I'll never use it at it's full downhill potential but it rides very well and is surprisingly very good on the road too, nothing like old school big suspension bikes that pedal bob and sap all the power.
Not sure you need a full sup if only doing forestry tracks? Maybe a hard tail will be better. Far less to go wrong and setup, usually much cheaper. Loads of deals around this time of year as they want rid of 2024 stock ready for the 2025 stuff.
Look at something like the Mondraker Prime. We are big Mondraker fans as great UK support. Bosch motor is the one to go for, zero issues with any of our Bosch Mondraker bikes even using them constantly at bike parks like Bike Park Wales.
We have always cycled with our kids in trailers, now teens they are faster than me and love cycling. I did a little write up on my website about the evolution of bike trailers etc GetKidsCycling.com
Look at something like the Mondraker Prime. We are big Mondraker fans as great UK support. Bosch motor is the one to go for, zero issues with any of our Bosch Mondraker bikes even using them constantly at bike parks like Bike Park Wales.
We have always cycled with our kids in trailers, now teens they are faster than me and love cycling. I did a little write up on my website about the evolution of bike trailers etc GetKidsCycling.com
Hardtails v full suss is a debate for the ages. All I would say is if you do get on well & want to push on with more spicy riding, the deficiencies of a hardtail can become apparent quickly. But as noted, if the intended use is cruising round easy trails, then they're ideal.
I said above, match the bike to the riding you want to do but future proofing is no bad thing.
I said above, match the bike to the riding you want to do but future proofing is no bad thing.
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