Emtb ???

[Dodgy69]

Been thinking again...

Fancy one but maxxing at about 3k. I'm told full suspension is fine on ebikes and reckon better to have , just in case I get on the rough stuff. Bosch motors gen 3/4 get plenty of support, what about yamaha.?

Battery in or out for charging ease.? Do I need big wheels. ?

I know nowt about these bike's, any advice would be greatly received.

[weeksy]

We have an older Yamaha in the wifes Giant/Liv... it's perfectly fine if a little noisy, but it is a 2020 model so they may have improved it.

You don't NEED bigger wheels, but they do roll better arguably, but also turn slower.. there's arguments for both.

I charge hers with battery in... but it's about 10s to remove if i were inclined.

Depends on your perception of 'rough' but even fields with tractor wheel tracks are nicer on a FS...

Don't neglect setup though. Many newbies just buy a bike and ride it, hate it and never use it.. MTBs are not motorbikes, as @Couchy has found out, things like moving something 10mm (seat, bars, stem) etc or adding/removing just 10psi from a 250psi shock can actually make a decent difference.
If you use the bike regularly in winter in UK it WILL need attention in terms of bearings etc... I see other peoples bikes and cringe at their bearings, have a wiggle of it and the thing rattles all over the place lol.. As you may have seen, i'm pretty fussy though

[Couchy]

Get a trek rail 5 plenty with discount, try and get the 625 battery and try for a local dealer. Keep it clean never jet wash it and dont change gears under load. Only got the cheapest cassette and chain as they do like to get through them. I get 1200-1500 miles from mine. A lot of issues you read about are water related as the motors aren’t rated for jet washes. A gentle hose is enough to clean them with. Bosch do have best reputation, mine have all been fine although I do like to change every couple of years and under 3000 miles. I do have a shimano one as well which so far has been ok but I did buy from a local shop and it is a lower powered one. However it wasn’t near your budget.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I've had my Haibike Hardnine 8 for 3 years this summer, I don't miss not having rear suspension, I've ridden my mates Trek full suspension and I didn't like how the rear suspension felt, it squatted and ran wide in bends. Mine has 29" wheels, which are great for cross country stuff, but make it a bit long in tight, technical going.

The only things I've had to replace are chains, sprockets and brake pads, I don't jet wash it, I let the mud dry and then brush the worst off, followed by a gentle hose wash, I leave the battery in for charging, in fact I think the only time I've taken it out was when I first got the bike to see how to do it.

But since buying my Suzuki 18 months ago I've not used the Haibike much.

[Dodgy69]

Got a bit of research to do but talking to blokes who've got them works best. Two lads at work got them and think there ace. Specialise and cube.

Just looking on ebay with him and something like this might be the kind of thing that'll do.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256037225821 ... media=COPY

Probably looking to buy in June.

[weeksy]

Got a bit of research to do but talking to blokes who've got them works best. Two lads at work got them and think there ace. Specialise and cube.

Just looking on ebay with him and something like this might be the kind of thing that'll do.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256037225821 ... media=COPY

Probably looking to buy in June.

1. Yes that's ace.
2. That's had a life.
3. The battery will die
4. The motor first
5. I wouldn't buy a used E-mtb.... EVER...
6. Well maybe i would, but only from @Couchy

[Dodgy69]

Could be a gamble.

[weeksy]

Could be a gamble.

the problem comes that say a motorbike is a gamble, but it needs XYZ you can easily go to your local dealer and buy XYZ, Ebikes are sometimes not quite that simple. Servicing a motor can be more expensive than getting a motorbike serviced and some items/motors etc are not servicable. They're basically scrap and a new motor needed. I'm not an expert on which models are or are not able to be repaired instead of replaced.

[Ditchfinder]

Definitely go full sus unless you will never ride rocky stuff. If you do go hardtail then look for big tyres 2.6" minimum.

I have a 1st iteration Shimano Steps in my Vitus Full Susser and the motor has never been any trouble but with a 500wh battery 3000ft of climbing off road and it's empty. My mates Bosch equipped hardtail with a 625wh battery usually has another 20% left when mines empty.

Because of the extra weight suspension linkages wear out quicker so keep an eye out for play in bushes and bearings if buying 2nd hand.

Oh and test ride - if they won't allow a test ride walk away. Ask how many battery charge cycles have been done - the software on the bike should show it - some even give you an indicator of battery health.

Mine hasn't done as many miles as that Cube and battery health is already down to 90%.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Got a bit of research to do but talking to blokes who've got them works best. Two lads at work got them and think there ace. Specialise and cube.

Just looking on ebay with him and something like this might be the kind of thing that'll do.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256037225821 ... media=COPY

Probably looking to buy in June.

My mate has one of those, that's the one I rode and didn't like, the geometry is quite slow steering.

[Couchy]

Second hand......avoid specialized/shimano they need a warranty and in the case of shimano they don't sell parts to anyone else. Bosch second hand if it rides ok and you can see battery health then you can get gen 3 or 4 rebuilt so budget for that, £700 should cover it. Budget for new cassette and chain too. Batteries are £700 ish so you need a diagnostic on that too. With those budgeted for you're at new bike with warranty price. They can be reliable as mine have been* but I see too many people jet washing them.

*I had a new specialized in 2021, after two new motors in 2 months I rejected it and went back to bosch.

[Mr Moofo]

E-bike motor go bang a lot more often that normal MTBs
I don't know of one Eeber who has not had issues with the motors - sometimes self inflicted - sometimes not. But buy from somewhere local, or somewhere with a really good support network, because the chances are you will need it.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

E-bike motor go bang a lot more often that normal MTBs
I don't know of one Eeber who has not had issues with the motors - sometimes self inflicted - sometimes not. But buy from somewhere local, or somewhere with a really good support network, because the chances are you will need it.

You vaguely know me, I've had no problems with mine

[matt]

Had canyon spectral ON for almost 3 years now, Shimano e8000 motor 500wh battery . It's 29 front wheel,27.5 rear which I really like.
It's been brilliant, really well put together . Ridden it hard in all weathers ,I don't pressure wash it , and I always take the battery in the house. Battery health now showing 91%.
If I was to replace it now I would probably go for a trek rail with the Bosch motor and a bigger battery .though . (The bigger the better in my opinion) just because of the more positive feedback of the Bosch system,although I would definitely consider another canyon.

[Mr Moofo]

E-bike motor go bang a lot more often that normal MTBs
I don't know of one Eeber who has not had issues with the motors - sometimes self inflicted - sometimes not. But buy from somewhere local, or somewhere with a really good support network, because the chances are you will need it.

You vaguely know me, I've had no problems with mine

Okay - I will edit it to almost all ....

[Mr. Dazzle]

E-bike motor go bang a lot more often that normal MTBs

I dunno, on a clockwork bike the motor is your knackered old self

[Dodgy69]

https://mtbmonster.com/sale-trek-powerf ... m_keyword=

[Dodgy69]

Sizing....

Seen a trek rail 5 on good discount in a medium. I'm 5 9 or 175cm and that's top of the range for medium. Large seem to go 5 9 to 6 2 ish. Is it a matter of sitting on one and see. ?

Think I've got it down to trek or cube, might up the budget a bit and buy new.

[millemille]

Sizing....

Seen a trek rail 5 on good discount in a medium. I'm 5 9 or 175cm and that's top of the range for medium. Large seem to go 5 9 to 6 2 ish. Is it a matter of sitting on one and see. ?

Think I've got it down to trek or cube, might up the budget a bit and buy new.

Large, definitely.

[Nordboy]

Sizing....

Seen a trek rail 5 on good discount in a medium. I'm 5 9 or 175cm and that's top of the range for medium. Large seem to go 5 9 to 6 2 ish. Is it a matter of sitting on one and see. ?

Think I've got it down to trek or cube, might up the budget a bit and buy new.

Large, definitely.

Hmmm, I'm 5'10" and my ebike is a medium, that's deffo the right size for me. I do only have short arse legs mind you!!