E-mtb vs normal mtb
Discussion
nickfrog said:
As I said you protest far too much to have any credibility.
I have twenty years in the industry so you can doubt my credibility if you wish but the fact remains ebikes are slow, cumbersome and apart from going up hill in certain circumstances worse than a normal bike in every way.Edited by nickfrog on Tuesday 14th May 10:27
How are they slow?
You have a battery and motor. you go faster.
There's no difference in speed downhill either tbh.
the weight is there but not significant on a well set up bike. But you get more runs so that's an acceptable trade off.
Fitness isnt the only reason to cycle. fun is a big factor.
You make so many generalisations i really dont think you know what the f
k you're on about
You have a battery and motor. you go faster.
There's no difference in speed downhill either tbh.
the weight is there but not significant on a well set up bike. But you get more runs so that's an acceptable trade off.
Fitness isnt the only reason to cycle. fun is a big factor.
You make so many generalisations i really dont think you know what the f
k you're on aboutpobs said:
Anything to back that up with or am I to consider you the ombudsman of truth and that is the end of the matter? 
I've ridden loads of ebikes and have worked for two large ebike manufacturers (a big red American one and a small british white one). All of their 'e' products are in my opinion generally pants.
They are slow, unreliable and purchased by people who would have bought golf clubs to show off a few years ago.
You can kid yourself that you are getting exercise if you like or that they are increasing cycling participation, but the bottom line is they do nothing that you couldn't do on a regular bike.
On top of this batteries are a real problem to dispose of or recycle.
Why would you want to get rid of or dispose of a battery ? Then youve just got a sI've ridden loads of ebikes and have worked for two large ebike manufacturers (a big red American one and a small british white one). All of their 'e' products are in my opinion generally pants.
They are slow, unreliable and purchased by people who would have bought golf clubs to show off a few years ago.
You can kid yourself that you are getting exercise if you like or that they are increasing cycling participation, but the bottom line is they do nothing that you couldn't do on a regular bike.
On top of this batteries are a real problem to dispose of or recycle.
t analogue bike? And they clearly make people grumpy
joema said:
How are they slow?
You have a battery and motor. you go faster.
There's no difference in speed downhill either tbh.
the weight is there but not significant on a well set up bike. But you get more runs so that's an acceptable trade off.
Fitness isnt the only reason to cycle. fun is a big factor.
You make so many generalisations i really dont think you know what the fk you're on about
Really? You ride your ebike to the local trails do you? Or do you have to drive it there because riding it above 25kmh is like pedaling through treacle?You have a battery and motor. you go faster.
There's no difference in speed downhill either tbh.
the weight is there but not significant on a well set up bike. But you get more runs so that's an acceptable trade off.
Fitness isnt the only reason to cycle. fun is a big factor.
You make so many generalisations i really dont think you know what the f
k you're on aboutI'm also pretty sure the EDR stage times are generally faster than the E-EDR stage times for the same downhill sections.
You say weight isn't a significant factor, I imagine your chain and cassette disagree if you have a mid drive bike. How's that service life working out for you?
Want to ride 150km? - better get that backpack out for all the spare batteries you'll need.
Also - best of luck getting proprietary spares for your bike once its' over five years old.
If you're happy with your ebike then i guess that is fine, good for you but you're kidding yourself if you think it is better than a normal regular bike.
Edited by pobs on Tuesday 14th May 16:26
I don't mind the weight, better traction on the super loose trails near me.
if exercise is the point, then how is treacle a problem? Full of holes this argument. If anything heavier is better as it gives you a wider range of resistance options for any given incline.
I'll accept that cruising over 25k on a bike is more fun. Pros and cons!
But you can hack the bike easily to remove this limit if it's a real issue. I ended up taking mine off
As for maintanence, the only problem I've had with mine in 6 years of fairly regular use, is munching through a chain and cassette within 18 months. Though since adjusting my riding style very slightly, i've had no further problems in that regard. I had a near identical experience my first EV tyres.
if exercise is the point, then how is treacle a problem? Full of holes this argument. If anything heavier is better as it gives you a wider range of resistance options for any given incline.
I'll accept that cruising over 25k on a bike is more fun. Pros and cons!
But you can hack the bike easily to remove this limit if it's a real issue. I ended up taking mine off
As for maintanence, the only problem I've had with mine in 6 years of fairly regular use, is munching through a chain and cassette within 18 months. Though since adjusting my riding style very slightly, i've had no further problems in that regard. I had a near identical experience my first EV tyres.
Edited by lizardbrain on Tuesday 14th May 16:15
said:
if exercise is the point, then how is treacle a problem? Full of holes this argument. If anything heavier is better as it gives you a wider range of resistance options for any given incline.
E-bikes undermine the core benefit of cycling: consistent, self-powered exercise. Beyond reducing physical exertion, e-bikes face a double whammy of impracticality: their motor assistance typically cuts off above 25 km/h, limiting speed without providing the full workout that traditional bikes offer. This makes them less effective for fitness and less efficient for faster travel.pobs said:
E-bikes undermine the core benefit of cycling: consistent, self-powered exercise. Beyond reducing physical exertion, e-bikes face a double whammy of impracticality: their motor assistance typically cuts off above 25 km/h, limiting speed without providing the full workout that traditional bikes offer. This makes them less effective for fitness and less efficient for faster travel.
Okay you are definitely trolling now. I shouldn't have fallen for it. You 100% do not have professional experience in this industry ....
I do hope you don't have skinny tyres on your bike as they reduce physical exertion by about 25%
pobs said:
Really? You ride your ebike to the local trails do you? Or do you have to drive it there because riding it above 25kmh is like pedaling through treacle?
I'm also pretty sure the EDR stage times are generally faster than the E-EDR stage times for the same downhill sections.
You say weight isn't a significant factor, I imagine your chain and cassette disagree if you have a mid drive bike. How's that service life working out for you?
Want to ride 150km? - better get that backpack out for all the spare batteries you'll need.
Also - best of luck getting spares for your bike once its' over five years old.
If you're happy with your ebike then i guess that is fine, good for you but you're kidding yourself if you think it is better than a normal regular bike.
I would have to drive to the trails on any bike unless I'm XC'ing so that is irrelevant. Environmental impact isnt great but then we're also car enthusiasts too? as someone else has said, take up jogging or somethingI'm also pretty sure the EDR stage times are generally faster than the E-EDR stage times for the same downhill sections.
You say weight isn't a significant factor, I imagine your chain and cassette disagree if you have a mid drive bike. How's that service life working out for you?
Want to ride 150km? - better get that backpack out for all the spare batteries you'll need.
Also - best of luck getting spares for your bike once its' over five years old.
If you're happy with your ebike then i guess that is fine, good for you but you're kidding yourself if you think it is better than a normal regular bike.
dont really care about service life. It's changing gears just fine and when it goes I'll replace it with linkglide which is hardly bank breaking.
Who is even riding 150km on an obsolete bike. is that a standard amount?
Your 5 year old obsolete bike is probably out of date and lacks spares anyway.
and for most of us there is no speed difference.
If I get more time descending I'm having more fun! therefore it is better for most of my riding these days.
pobs said:
nickfrog said:
As I said you protest far too much to have any credibility.
I have twenty years in the industry so you can doubt my credibility if you wish but the fact remains ebikes are slow, cumbersome and apart from going up hill in certain circumstances worse than a normal bike in every way.Edited by nickfrog on Tuesday 14th May 10:27
But that's utterly irrelevant as, as already and patiently explained to you, this is not a binary choice. You can have both, for different days or different moods. I know enough people who love both to confirm that and prove that your facts are merely reflecting your preference or bias or both.
Which still doesn't explain where I have said they were great, where I am invested in them and what marketing I am falling for.
Until you've explained that, I will consider your level of credibility as very close to zero.
lizardbrain said:
Okay you are definitely trolling now. I shouldn't have fallen for it. You 100% do not have professional experience in this industry ....
I do hope you don't have skinny tyres on your bike as they reduce physical exertion by about 25%
Edited by pobs on Tuesday 14th May 19:06
nickfrog said:
Which still doesn't explain where I have said they were great, where I am invested in them and what marketing I am falling for.
Until you've explained that, I will consider your level of credibility as very close to zero.
Just the fact that you are arguing the counterpoint to mine, it's not unreasonable to assume that you have at least sipped the ebike kool-aid.Until you've explained that, I will consider your level of credibility as very close to zero.
Either that or you are an enthusiastic contrarian, so likewise back at you on the creditability scale.
pobs said:
PushedDover said:
Why would you want to get rid of or dispose of a battery ? Then youve just got a st analogue bike? And they clearly make people grumpy
you'll be grumpy too when your battery bricks itself after a firmware update and you have to buy a £600 replacement.t analogue bike? And they clearly make people grumpyNext !
pobs said:
nickfrog said:
Which still doesn't explain where I have said they were great, where I am invested in them and what marketing I am falling for.
Until you've explained that, I will consider your level of credibility as very close to zero.
Just the fact that you are arguing the counterpoint to mine, it's not unreasonable to assume that you have at least sipped the ebike kool-aid.Until you've explained that, I will consider your level of credibility as very close to zero.
Either that or you are an enthusiastic contrarian, so likewise back at you on the creditability scale.
I have actually demonstrated it's not a fact as I know people who find ebikes better than accoustic bikes and others who like both. For the moment I actually prefer acoustic bikes for my needs but I am open minded about them.
What do you mean by "ebike kool aid"? As I said already I am super cynical about marketing. I judge a product by its own merits. No more, no less.
pobs said:
How many motor replacements/repairs has your 'fantastic' levo had?
None in 4000 miles & I don't ride a Levo. Or a Kenevo or any other Spesh. I do however, know how to look after a bike.pobs said:
You can doubt my experience if you like, but here’s a juicy tidbit from my professional experience. When I was at that big American bike company with the red logo, they rolled out e-bikes to prop up sagging road bike sales - no other reason. In 2014, sales dipped, and marketing whipped up e-bikes as the perfect bait for folks with cash to burn. Not because they were better than regular bikes—just a shiny new gimmick. Kudos to them, I guess, for convincing everyone they need one now.
Shocking. Bike company in blatant attempt to sell bikes. Pobs
What would you say to someone like me who has 5 main bikes which are an enduro fully, trail fully, hardcore hardtail, gravel/bikepacker and an eeb who loves riding them all. They're all different, have different uses and perform better at some things than others.
I'm keen on keeping my fitness as high a level as possible to the point I also have a roadie permanently mounted to a smart trainer for when the weather sucks yet still, I love to get out on my eeb because when I'm in the mood it's just fun. You sound like someone who's forgotten that some things can just be fun and that people will do them for that reason and that reason alone.
What would you say to someone like me who has 5 main bikes which are an enduro fully, trail fully, hardcore hardtail, gravel/bikepacker and an eeb who loves riding them all. They're all different, have different uses and perform better at some things than others.
I'm keen on keeping my fitness as high a level as possible to the point I also have a roadie permanently mounted to a smart trainer for when the weather sucks yet still, I love to get out on my eeb because when I'm in the mood it's just fun. You sound like someone who's forgotten that some things can just be fun and that people will do them for that reason and that reason alone.
pobs said:
Barchettaman said:
That statement is so incorrect, both objectively and subjectively, that’s it’s almost laughable.
Anything to back that up with or am I to consider you the ombudsman of truth and that is the end of the matter? I currently ride a 26” analogue Corratec hardtail, a Cube e-hardtail and a Benger e-commuter bike (both with Bosch drivetrains), a Tern Link 20” folder when I travel on the German high-speed trains and a Dahon 26” folder with a Swytch front wheel for jobs away with the car.
You mentioned “15kg of battery and motor”.
The current Bosch CX Performance drivetrain weighs 4kg for battery and motor. So you’re incorrect about weight.
Subjectively, the newest e-MTBs with the smaller mid motors and integrated batteries look absolutely superb.
I’m genuinely disappointed for you that you haven’t enjoyed your time on e-MTBs and can only suggest that you give them another try. I will be out on my Cube tomorrow in the Kaisergebirge here in Austria. On Sunday I had a thrash around on the Corratec, which was fun but I think (on reflection) I would have enjoyed it more, and done a longer ride, on the Cube.
None of the batteries on any of the e-bikes in our family (my wife commutes into Frankfurt on one) have ever bricked themselves.
My Cube is now on 14,500km. It’s had a main bearing rebuild in 2021 for €200 and is probably due another. I haven’t had reliability issues but I know PusheDover hasn’t been as fortunate.
Our bikes don’t chew through cassettes and chains in the same way that other posters have experienced, but I deliberately run 9-speed on everything so it’s cheap to replace.
Edited by Barchettaman on Tuesday 14th May 19:32
I ride analog Mtb and e-bike s, for me and few riders the ‘emtbs are very good in fact brilliant,raced Xc for years, rode most places on them,but emtb is awesome in Wales, surrey and the alps I doubt anyone will any quicker downhill they really do fly as for fitness they will test the toughest of riders if you want that,as you can climb much faster therefore you will decent more sections going down fast is tiring , I have done over 2000 miles on mine on second cassette, just change the chain when required,the motor can be overhauled for just over £200 ,or reconditioned aroumd £450 ,so less than a Suspention service ,for some reason I did go bigger at BPW on my analog ,do what makes you happy, why many people look like they are having a stroke in wales on the long climbs is beyond me.
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