Soldato
Maybe so but its still only ~£85 for a bearing set which is quite a bit cheaper than a full bike
Was gonna say where's the run down Rivilution and Graveyard etc, but yeah it'll just be getting chewed up this time of year.
Mountain Biking
- Thread starter Zefan
- Start date
Was gonna say where's the run down Rivilution and Graveyard etc, but yeah it'll just be getting chewed up this time of year.
Only bit I continue to use through winter is Ice Cream run.Maybe so but its still only ~£85 for a bearing set which is quite a bit cheaper than a full bike
Was gonna say where's the run down Rivilution and Graveyard etc, but yeah it'll just be getting chewed up this time of year.
The rest just don't stand up well when it's this wet.
Soldato
Used to take my bearings to a large bearings distro place and once measured, would then buy new + better quality bearings that would be much cheaper than the bike manufacturer wanted.
Soldato
When I had both my V10's bearing were covered under liftetime warranty by Santa Cruz 
Same with my Nomad had a few sets from them in my time.When I had both my V10's bearing were covered under liftetime warranty by Santa Cruz
Soldato
Had been eyeing up the RockShox Yari RC fork CRC had on sale for £200 for a few weeks, glad i waited now as i just looked and they were down to £160 so snapped them right up, that's my Christmas present sorted 
Associate
Unexpectedly the po lice brought my stolen bike back the other day !
Think I might hit some trails to celebrate ha ha
It looks like it's not actually been used but there are some marks where they cut the lock off... Little irks
Think I might hit some trails to celebrate ha ha
It looks like it's not actually been used but there are some marks where they cut the lock off... Little irks
Soldato
Glad you got it back, hopefully they got the thieves that stole it.
Finally got my rotors in today after Evri lost them 2 weeks ago so winter upgrades for my Vitus are finally complete, new fork, wheels and brake rotors.
Associate
Thanks
I don't think they found them
The bike was handed in as it had been dumped somewhere
Not sure why they didn't keep it or sell it but it works for me
Maybe they got cold feet !
I don't think they found them
The bike was handed in as it had been dumped somewhere
Not sure why they didn't keep it or sell it but it works for me
Maybe they got cold feet !
Morzine is great for a first time, more than enough trails to fit everyone.
The place I stayed is shut down now. Or I think it is
Was a 20 second walk from the pleny lift.
Soldato
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2004
- Posts
- 10,648
When I went in 2014 we stayed in Apartment Creve Coeur in Morzine just up the hill.
Big group splitting it made it relatively cheap.
Big group splitting it made it relatively cheap.
Soldato
my recommendation is don't get excited on widowmaker on your first day, and if you do make sure you took out the travel riding insurance first
Soldato
Ah Widowmaker, fun timesmy recommendation is don't get excited on widowmaker on your first day, and if you do make sure you took out the travel riding insurance first
Then mid run..
May have changed now, these are from 2006
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So considering an ebike. Absolutely no idea what is good or what is it bad. Current contenders are the oreba wild h10 and the canyon spectral cf8.
Anyone any suggestions?
Bosch is allegedly better than Shimano? Will I notice the 2kg by going for the wild?
Anyone any suggestions?
Bosch is allegedly better than Shimano? Will I notice the 2kg by going for the wild?
What kind of riding are you intending to use it for?
If you're going for a full fat emtb then you likely won't notice an extra 2kg. If you want a mid/light emtb I'd look at the lightest offerings.
Bosch cx gen 4 is generally regarded as one of the best motors for performance and reliability, though any of the big brands motors past 2021 will be decent.
They do all behave slightly differently, so I would recommend trying them if you can.
I only have experiance with the Bosch and Brose, from what I gather, Bosch gen4 power delivery is pretty well refined throughout it's range, Shimano's tend to feel less powerful and require more rider input towards the top of it's range, some people like it as it feels more natural.
Yamaha and brose are punchy down low but delivery isn't as refined as the Bosch near the top levels of assist.
None of them are "bad" and all with put a massive smile on your face.
If you want the most natural feeling motor that out powers all of them, have a look at the Dyname 4 exclusive to Rocky mountain. It's the only motor that applies the assistance directly to the chain rather than the cranks. It feels very natural with no over run, but does require a lot of rider input to get the most out of it.
Reliability is a mixed bag, you will read good and bad things about all of them. If getting an e-bike expect it to go wrong at some point.
Ideally it's best to buy from a local bike shop, this way any warranty claim can easily be sorted, unfortunately most of the best deals are from online suppliers, which can be slightly more of a faff to sort.
There are a lot of good deals around at the moment, do your research, try to test some if you can.
If you're going for a full fat emtb then you likely won't notice an extra 2kg. If you want a mid/light emtb I'd look at the lightest offerings.
Bosch cx gen 4 is generally regarded as one of the best motors for performance and reliability, though any of the big brands motors past 2021 will be decent.
They do all behave slightly differently, so I would recommend trying them if you can.
I only have experiance with the Bosch and Brose, from what I gather, Bosch gen4 power delivery is pretty well refined throughout it's range, Shimano's tend to feel less powerful and require more rider input towards the top of it's range, some people like it as it feels more natural.
Yamaha and brose are punchy down low but delivery isn't as refined as the Bosch near the top levels of assist.
None of them are "bad" and all with put a massive smile on your face.
If you want the most natural feeling motor that out powers all of them, have a look at the Dyname 4 exclusive to Rocky mountain. It's the only motor that applies the assistance directly to the chain rather than the cranks. It feels very natural with no over run, but does require a lot of rider input to get the most out of it.
Reliability is a mixed bag, you will read good and bad things about all of them. If getting an e-bike expect it to go wrong at some point.
Ideally it's best to buy from a local bike shop, this way any warranty claim can easily be sorted, unfortunately most of the best deals are from online suppliers, which can be slightly more of a faff to sort.
There are a lot of good deals around at the moment, do your research, try to test some if you can.
Associate
- Joined
- 23 Oct 2013
- Posts
- 1,207
There's so many emtb options that it kinda depends what you want to do, what riding you do and whether you're wanting to ride with mates...
After a bit of research I went for an Orbea Rise H15 just over a year ago.
I wanted a "light weight" option as I regularly need to lift the bike over fences, styles and in/out of the car. Despite being a "light weight" option, it's still 19kg and noticeable when you're knackered, dripping with sweat and need to hold it over your head while climbing something. I remember it becoming a pain to get it onto an uplift trailer at the end of the day (yes, ebike and uplift contradiction, but we were away for multiple days and fancied an uplift for 1 of them) - given the weight of my bike, I feel a 25-26kg bike would be quite annoying to lift/carry regularly. I also notice it on the trail it's just far less playful than my "normal" bikes, which is obviously understandable.
I wanted an ebike to get out for a quick blast on my own around work - this is amazing and is true. I can effectively double my average speed, or leave my energy for the downhills... Looking at my logs, my local loop from my doorstep is 20miles with 1km of climbing in 2hrs, this is ~90% in middle/trail mode and I've got 33% battery left. So, leaving it in boost would do the same loop in ~90mins. On a usual ride when I'm not against the clock I'll leave it off and ride it like a (heavy) normal bike and use eco/trail for the return leg. It's not a motorbike, it assists you, so you still need to graft (or just slap it in boost and spin) - so any range comparisons are a little wooly, as you can increase your range by putting more in yourself. So, if you're after fitness improvement, it's pretty good, as you can tailor the assistance.
If I'm meeting up with mates I find it divisive. If we're all on analogue bikes we're all "suffering" together on climbs, so it feels more inclusive - but if I'm unfit, recovering from a cold, etc. then I still reach for it... but there's no denying, even in the lowest mode you're WAY ahead on any technical/long climbs. This would be way worse with a full-fat ebike.
So, what do I think about the Rise...
mixed...
motor - Shimano RS. it's an EP-8 that's been software detuned from 85Nm to 60. I felt Shimano was one of the bigger/more-established players in the market, so it "should" be good. Also, with it being detuned, I thought it would be more reliable. Personally I've not had a problem with the motor - it's more audible in boost than some others, but it's not bad and certainly not a buzzing bee like some ebikes. But some Rise owners have had issues - but I think all bikes will... note - some have sw unlocked their bikes from 60 to the original 85Nm, so it is possible (at the expense of warranty).
battery - build in 540Wh. It's all in the bike and I think it works well. The 540Wh seems fine for me - as above, I think I could get about 30miles with 1500m climbing (apparently it's the climbing that kills the range), but more if I grafted more or used eco. BUT... if you ever want to fly with the bike then you need a removable battery... So I think the non-removeable isn't great - sure you can drop the motor and take out the battery that way, but it's a right pain.
Spec/brakes - v odd... it's a 19kg ebike with 150/140 travel, but only basic 2 pot brakes. the bike felt v underbraked and almost dangerous on some descents, so I swapped to something I was more comfortable with (Code RSC here).
build quality - shocking... Orbea's engineering dept need shooting for some of the Rise choices... The rear suspension arms are held by pinch-bolts that bottom out before tightening. MANY owners are finding that correctly torqued bikes have a bad squeak/wobble and some even allow the suspention upper arm to slide apart due to this pinch-bolt problem. There's no way this design should have been approved. It's easy to fix with either a washer each side (what I've done) or cutting down the bolt - but it's something no stock bike should need. The build is also annoying with cables loose in the bike's tubing, so they rattle (a lot) at times...
upkeep - remember all ebikes are heavier, so will go through components more. Chains stretch quicker, so need replacing more often - so budget for more maintenance/parts...
But, I do love it.
Others have found the frame geometry works well with coil shocks, so some have upped it to spec's similar to the Wild (170mm/160mm travel with a mullet setup), while also keeping it under 20kg. But... again, voiding warranty...
If I was to do it again...
I'd probably look at the Orbea Wild, as I think it's now only ~22kg
(but I remember seeing a video of a new bike which allowed the battery to be removed and ridden without it... can't find it now)
TLDR
ebikes are great but if you're riding with others then get a bike matching them. full fat ebike if that's what they have - lightweight if you're with non ebike riders (but it will still be a massive difference).
Plan to travel then avoid built-in batteries.
After a bit of research I went for an Orbea Rise H15 just over a year ago.
I wanted a "light weight" option as I regularly need to lift the bike over fences, styles and in/out of the car. Despite being a "light weight" option, it's still 19kg and noticeable when you're knackered, dripping with sweat and need to hold it over your head while climbing something. I remember it becoming a pain to get it onto an uplift trailer at the end of the day (yes, ebike and uplift contradiction, but we were away for multiple days and fancied an uplift for 1 of them) - given the weight of my bike, I feel a 25-26kg bike would be quite annoying to lift/carry regularly. I also notice it on the trail it's just far less playful than my "normal" bikes, which is obviously understandable.
I wanted an ebike to get out for a quick blast on my own around work - this is amazing and is true. I can effectively double my average speed, or leave my energy for the downhills... Looking at my logs, my local loop from my doorstep is 20miles with 1km of climbing in 2hrs, this is ~90% in middle/trail mode and I've got 33% battery left. So, leaving it in boost would do the same loop in ~90mins. On a usual ride when I'm not against the clock I'll leave it off and ride it like a (heavy) normal bike and use eco/trail for the return leg. It's not a motorbike, it assists you, so you still need to graft (or just slap it in boost and spin) - so any range comparisons are a little wooly, as you can increase your range by putting more in yourself. So, if you're after fitness improvement, it's pretty good, as you can tailor the assistance.
If I'm meeting up with mates I find it divisive. If we're all on analogue bikes we're all "suffering" together on climbs, so it feels more inclusive - but if I'm unfit, recovering from a cold, etc. then I still reach for it... but there's no denying, even in the lowest mode you're WAY ahead on any technical/long climbs. This would be way worse with a full-fat ebike.
So, what do I think about the Rise...
mixed...
motor - Shimano RS. it's an EP-8 that's been software detuned from 85Nm to 60. I felt Shimano was one of the bigger/more-established players in the market, so it "should" be good. Also, with it being detuned, I thought it would be more reliable. Personally I've not had a problem with the motor - it's more audible in boost than some others, but it's not bad and certainly not a buzzing bee like some ebikes. But some Rise owners have had issues - but I think all bikes will... note - some have sw unlocked their bikes from 60 to the original 85Nm, so it is possible (at the expense of warranty).
battery - build in 540Wh. It's all in the bike and I think it works well. The 540Wh seems fine for me - as above, I think I could get about 30miles with 1500m climbing (apparently it's the climbing that kills the range), but more if I grafted more or used eco. BUT... if you ever want to fly with the bike then you need a removable battery... So I think the non-removeable isn't great - sure you can drop the motor and take out the battery that way, but it's a right pain.
Spec/brakes - v odd... it's a 19kg ebike with 150/140 travel, but only basic 2 pot brakes. the bike felt v underbraked and almost dangerous on some descents, so I swapped to something I was more comfortable with (Code RSC here).
build quality - shocking... Orbea's engineering dept need shooting for some of the Rise choices... The rear suspension arms are held by pinch-bolts that bottom out before tightening. MANY owners are finding that correctly torqued bikes have a bad squeak/wobble and some even allow the suspention upper arm to slide apart due to this pinch-bolt problem. There's no way this design should have been approved. It's easy to fix with either a washer each side (what I've done) or cutting down the bolt - but it's something no stock bike should need. The build is also annoying with cables loose in the bike's tubing, so they rattle (a lot) at times...
upkeep - remember all ebikes are heavier, so will go through components more. Chains stretch quicker, so need replacing more often - so budget for more maintenance/parts...
But, I do love it.
Others have found the frame geometry works well with coil shocks, so some have upped it to spec's similar to the Wild (170mm/160mm travel with a mullet setup), while also keeping it under 20kg. But... again, voiding warranty...
If I was to do it again...
I'd probably look at the Orbea Wild, as I think it's now only ~22kg
(but I remember seeing a video of a new bike which allowed the battery to be removed and ridden without it... can't find it now)
TLDR
ebikes are great but if you're riding with others then get a bike matching them. full fat ebike if that's what they have - lightweight if you're with non ebike riders (but it will still be a massive difference).
Plan to travel then avoid built-in batteries.
Soldato
I nearly bought an orbea wild myself but then ended up with a Levo. I deliberated over it for ages but then there was some mad deals on last month and I couldn't resist.
Bosch motors seem to be the goto. I wouldn't touch a shimano one myself and although the brose on specialized had problems in the past they rectified a lot of it in recent years.
My levo has been awesome and the good thing with Specialized is the huge dealer network and warranty.
I paid £3600 for my base levo carbon with 700w battery but then I upgraded parts. Put a fox 38 factory on front (£600), magura brakes and disks (£190) then some bars and grips etc.
The levo comp alloy that comes with fox forks etc could be had for £3800 which was a damn bargain. Evans had it cheap too but not in good sizes.
Evans have mine for a decent price here too
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Associate
- Joined
- 23 Oct 2013
- Posts
- 1,207
I think the reality is, emtb are ace, but the weak link is the motor and they all seem to have bad reputations on different forums. It's much like any forum - people complain when they have a problem and don't post "another day, no problems" - so forums/groups are always swayed towards issues instead of praise, giving arguably false impressions...
on the face of this review:
enduro-mtb.com
Given the issues/concerns with the motor, in all honesty it would put me off buying direct. I love my YT Jeffsy and I looked at the Decoy, but the thought of needing to post a bike (or even just the motor) about puts me off. So I'd really look at what's available at a local shop, with a local support network.
Perversely I was the opposite of Hedge - When I chose the Rise I looked at the Levo and dismissed it due to the proprietary Specialized motor (and reading some issues), so thought the Rise's Shimano was more established and likely more reliable. touch wood I've not had issues - but it's likely the 1st thing to go wrong.
on the face of this review:
What’s the best Light-eMTB 2023? – We put 8 hot models to the test
We put the 8 hottest Light-eMTBs of 2023 for trail use through the wringer in our big group test.
enduro-mtb.com
- could put you off Fazua too...
Given the issues/concerns with the motor, in all honesty it would put me off buying direct. I love my YT Jeffsy and I looked at the Decoy, but the thought of needing to post a bike (or even just the motor) about puts me off. So I'd really look at what's available at a local shop, with a local support network.
Perversely I was the opposite of Hedge - When I chose the Rise I looked at the Levo and dismissed it due to the proprietary Specialized motor (and reading some issues), so thought the Rise's Shimano was more established and likely more reliable. touch wood I've not had issues - but it's likely the 1st thing to go wrong.