Refresh! Recommend me a FS e-MTB under £4k

[G.P]

I made my mind up to get an eMTB about 18 months ago after a ride with Weeksy.
Life got in the way but after we move house in the next 4-6 weeks I'll be ready to actually buy the bloody thing.

Its only going to get fairly light use on the Witshire downs, Salisbury plain, Canal Tow paths etc, but I fancy FS simply for the comfort (have ridden a Specialised and a Moustache FS and both were luxurious compared to an HT bike).

Last time I looked the advice was deffo go for Bosch motor. Is this still the case? Looking for the lightest with best battery range.

Something like this:

https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/Electric-B ... ?filter=85

So what do you reckon?

TIA

[weeksy]

Can't go far wrong with that choice.

The one thing I would do though is see who your closest shop is and get from there, warranty and boxing up a 25kg monster is £50+ of anyones money.

Considering the work location you have next year, Tredz may be a good option. Or Hargroves in Swindon.

[weeksy]

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Orbea-Rise-H30 ... 245365.htm

[G.P]

Can't go far wrong with that choice.

The one thing I would do though is see who your closest shop is and get from there, warranty and boxing up a 25kg monster is £50+ of anyones money.

Considering the work location you have next year, Tredz may be a good option. Or Hargroves in Swindon.

Yep, Hargroves is Swindon and there's an ebike shop in Bristol now who do Cube also.

Is the Bosch Motor still the best in class?

[weeksy]

Can't go far wrong with that choice.

The one thing I would do though is see who your closest shop is and get from there, warranty and boxing up a 25kg monster is £50+ of anyones money.

Considering the work location you have next year, Tredz may be a good option. Or Hargroves in Swindon.

Yep, Hargroves is Swindon and there's an ebike shop in Bristol now who do Cube also.

Is the Bosch Motor still the best in class?

You have to wait for couch or others to answer that one mate, I know bugger all.

Me though, I'd go for the smaller lighter type like the Specialized Levo SL, they're not as powerful but lots lighter overall weight. For the distance and type of riding you'll do it will suit better

Lappierre do a EZesty which is lower type. Orbea too I think. But again, I'm lacking in knowledge

[Taff]

Weeksy's suggestion of a lightweight is bang on IMO, more than enough range for the riding you describe and you can add a range extender if it's not.

That oreba linked above had a great review on embn last week as do the spesh SLs.

I haven't ridden anything other than the Bosch motor and I've got the gen 4 (?) Bosch motor with the tour+ mode and it is an amazing but of kit.

You could consider a used bike, there's quite a few lockdown purchased bikes for sale that haven't been used much and there's a few companies popping up that can repair motors that are of of warranty

What you'll find at the £4k price point is that the spec of the suspension is lower but if you're not using it in full on DH anger then that becomes less important.

Edit

[Taff]

As coincidence has it, my mate had just messaged me saying that he's borrowing an oreba for the weekend from Tredz, but it's the £7k version.
I'm hoping to get out riding with him, if I do I'll let you know how it goes.

[G.P]

As coincidence has it, my mate had just messaged me saying that he's borrowing an oreba for the weekend from Tredz, but it's the £7k version.
I'm hoping to get out riding with him, if I do I'll let you know how it goes.

Cheers Taff.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

My mate has the Cube linked to above, he's done a couple of thousand miles on it, he had a problem with the cover for the charging port, which tooks months to come from Cube to our LBS. Apart from that it has had no problems.

I've got a hardtail Haibike which has been no trouble for the 1200 miles I've done on it, it needed a chain at 800 miles, and could now do with a new set rear gears, but that's emtbs, heavy on chains and gears.

[Nordboy]

I'd certainly recommend the Bosch motor, just for the manufacturer back-up.

Apart from that, there's still the issue of bike shortages. I'd try and get something from your LBS, again, for the back up and whatever is in stock or they can get hold of.

Personally, I'd also want a nice big battery, rather than the smaller motor/ batteries of the newer lightweight stuff.

[weeksy]

Personally, I'd also want a nice big battery, rather than the smaller motor/ batteries of the newer lightweight stuff.

For the riding he's specified?

[weeksy]

https://www.berkshirecycles.co.uk/brands

If I'm not mistaken, these guys are renowned experts in ebikes and fixing/supporting them.

[Taff]

Personally, I'd also want a nice big battery, rather than the smaller motor/ batteries of the newer lightweight stuff.

For the riding he's specified?

And that's the key isn't it. What are you going to be riding? How heavy are you and how much climbing do you expect to be doing.
I was seriously looking at the lightweight bikes because for about 70% of my riding that'd be perfect for me, but some of my bigger rides of 25+ miles taking in 3000ft of climbing and lots of deep mud would be asking a bit much.

Having said that, there's plenty of locals riding lightweight with battery extender.

[weeksy]

Personally, I'd also want a nice big battery, rather than the smaller motor/ batteries of the newer lightweight stuff.

For the riding he's specified?

And that's the key isn't it. What are you going to be riding? How heavy are you and how much climbing do you expect to be doing.
I was seriously looking at the lightweight bikes because for about 70% of my riding that'd be perfect for me, but some of my bigger rides of 25+ miles taking in 3000ft of climbing and lots of deep mud would be asking a bit much.

Having said that, there's plenty of locals riding lightweight with battery extender.

Its only going to get fairly light use on the Witshire downs, Salisbury plain, Canal Tow paths

[G.P]

Light in terms of punishment cos i'm old and Slow. I'd still like to be able to well over 50 miles at a time though.

[millemille]

Full power, Bosch or Shimano or gen 2 Brose (Specialised), biggest battery you can get. If you buy a lightweight emtb it'll be great until you ride a full power one and then you'll have massive buyer's regret.

Join emtbforums.com and check out the 2nd hand bikes on there. I don't know what size you need but there's everything from a £2.5k Vitus esommet to £10k+ Specialized's listed at the moment.

[Dodgy69]

I've never got near 50 miles at a time.

[Couchy]

Bosch motor without a doubt. Ignore the lightweight ones I’ve had one and pointless. Still heavy and less power/range than the full fat. The only fans of them are cyclists
The cube is fine just don’t ever take a jet wash near an ebike as the motors aren’t IP rated. Most issues are due to water.
I also have a specialized HT which is ok for gentler stuff and a more natural feeling motor than the bosch. But it’s a HT and even though spesh have a great backup their FS stuff does have issues, I had one new in 2020 and after 2 motors in 8 weeks I rejected it and went back to bosch.

[G.P]

Thanks guys. A couple of mates I'll be riding with have full power Bosch motors, both derestricted, so that's a big factor.
I'm getting thinking the Cube 120 with the Bosch a with 625 is the way to go.

Ihaven't looked into insurance yet, anyone got theft cover for when they are out and about?

[Taff]

It seems most home insurance covers up to £5k.

I've got one on the home insurance and the other on a stand alone policy with ALA insurance. There's plenty of insurance companies covering ebb's