Ribble Cycles Mahle x20 or Mahle x30, worth the extra money?
Discussion
Having done a lot of endurance exercise over the past 30 years, unfortunate health issues mean I can no longer run in any meaningful way.
Hence I am thinking of getting back into cycling using the "cheat" of electricity. I have my eye on this
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-allroad-sl-r...
This has the x20 motor which reviews imply is better than the newer x30 which is on some of Ribble's cheaper bikes, has anybody got any experience of either motor and/or Ribble's electric range? I have not ridden one yet, how much difference does the motor make to somebody who is now a relatively unfit cyclist?
Any thoughts appreciated!
I can't help with any comparison of the differant Mahle motor options, but I can highly recommend the Ribble ebikes.
Health problems meant I had to stop riding back in 2018, but an SLE got me back out on the road and I'm now able to go out on some fairly intensive rides, safe in the knowledge that the electrical assistance will get me up any hill without pushing my heart rate into the critical zone. Its also pretty handy in stiff headwinds as, as soon as you dip below 16 MPH, it will start giving you a bit of a helping hand.
The Mahle powered bikes really do feel like a normal road bike until the motor kicks in, and the assistance is progressive and feels very natural. I think the x20 is a step forward from the original motor I have, although I have absolutely no complaints. I think the bikes are brilliant for building initial fitness. You can start pretty much using some degree of motor power for 80-90% of the ride, and as you get fitter and faster, you just end up getting assistance on the hills.
While this reviewer is obviously supported by Ribble, I think it gives a good sense of what an ebike can offer to even quite capable riders...they are just great fun and make getting back into cycling so easy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNbhliPQYNE
The only thing I'd check is the Ribble frame geometry against something like the Orbea Gain. The SLE geometry is quite racy, I'm guessing the Alroad will be a bit more relaxed but it might still be worth checking.
Health problems meant I had to stop riding back in 2018, but an SLE got me back out on the road and I'm now able to go out on some fairly intensive rides, safe in the knowledge that the electrical assistance will get me up any hill without pushing my heart rate into the critical zone. Its also pretty handy in stiff headwinds as, as soon as you dip below 16 MPH, it will start giving you a bit of a helping hand.
The Mahle powered bikes really do feel like a normal road bike until the motor kicks in, and the assistance is progressive and feels very natural. I think the x20 is a step forward from the original motor I have, although I have absolutely no complaints. I think the bikes are brilliant for building initial fitness. You can start pretty much using some degree of motor power for 80-90% of the ride, and as you get fitter and faster, you just end up getting assistance on the hills.
While this reviewer is obviously supported by Ribble, I think it gives a good sense of what an ebike can offer to even quite capable riders...they are just great fun and make getting back into cycling so easy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNbhliPQYNE
The only thing I'd check is the Ribble frame geometry against something like the Orbea Gain. The SLE geometry is quite racy, I'm guessing the Alroad will be a bit more relaxed but it might still be worth checking.
philcray said:
Having done a lot of endurance exercise over the past 30 years, unfortunate health issues mean I can no longer run in any meaningful way.
Hence I am thinking of getting back into cycling using the "cheat" of electricity. I have my eye on this
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-allroad-sl-r...
This has the x20 motor which reviews imply is better than the newer x30 which is on some of Ribble's cheaper bikes, has anybody got any experience of either motor and/or Ribble's electric range? I have not ridden one yet, how much difference does the motor make to somebody who is now a relatively unfit cyclist?
Any thoughts appreciated!
A quick Google of Mahle X20 vs X30 brings up this.Hence I am thinking of getting back into cycling using the "cheat" of electricity. I have my eye on this
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-allroad-sl-r...
This has the x20 motor which reviews imply is better than the newer x30 which is on some of Ribble's cheaper bikes, has anybody got any experience of either motor and/or Ribble's electric range? I have not ridden one yet, how much difference does the motor make to somebody who is now a relatively unfit cyclist?
Any thoughts appreciated!
"The Mahle X30 is designed for more versatile, all-around e-bike riding, offering balanced performance and integration with the X20's digital ecosystem but with a less powerful 45Nm rear hub motor that requires more rider input on steep inclines. In contrast, the X20 is a lighter, high-performance system with a more powerful 65Nm rear hub motor, providing a sportier, more responsive ride with less physical effort for high-performance e-road and gravel bikes"
I've had a few non electric road bikes over the years and currently have a Ribble Al-E Hybrid with the X30 system. Works a treat with panniers, rear child seat and child on it. Gets me to work to when needed.
X20 sounds perfect for a road bike.
I have a Merida eSpeeder with X35 motor. It has been great for two years now - we had one (very wet and bumpy) day where the thing played silly sausages, but pulling apart last connector on the chainstay, drying, and reconnecting really firmly solved it.
Other than that it has good range, low rolling resistance and feels more natural than many other mid-mount motors.
The only thing we do not like is the button to operate where you have to learn morse code to make it work...two buttons would have solved all that faff!
Other than that it has good range, low rolling resistance and feels more natural than many other mid-mount motors.
The only thing we do not like is the button to operate where you have to learn morse code to make it work...two buttons would have solved all that faff!
I m actually in a really similar position and had the exact same question when I started looking into these bikes. After years of running, switching to an e-bike feels like a big step, so I totally get the curiosity about how much the motor really helps. From what I ve read, bikes like the Ribble Allroad SL R e are designed to feel very natural almost like a normal road bike but with a subtle push when you need it. Reviewers often say the assistance is smooth and lightweight, not like a full-on boost, but enough to make climbs and longer rides much more manageable .
I m also wondering the same about the X20 vs X30 motors, because there s a lot of mixed opinion out there. The general impression seems to be that the X20 is more refined and lighter, which probably suits a road-style ride better, especially if you re coming back from a lower fitness level. From what I ve gathered about e-bikes in general, the biggest difference is confidence you can ride further and tackle hills without that fear of burning out, which sounds ideal in your situation. In a way, it reminds me of a Morse code translator you still put in the effort and create the signal, but the system helps interpret and smooth things out so the overall output feels clearer and easier to handle. You can check more about it here https://themorsecodetranslator.net/ But yeah, like you, I d really like to hear from someone who s actually ridden both setups before making the jump.
I m also wondering the same about the X20 vs X30 motors, because there s a lot of mixed opinion out there. The general impression seems to be that the X20 is more refined and lighter, which probably suits a road-style ride better, especially if you re coming back from a lower fitness level. From what I ve gathered about e-bikes in general, the biggest difference is confidence you can ride further and tackle hills without that fear of burning out, which sounds ideal in your situation. In a way, it reminds me of a Morse code translator you still put in the effort and create the signal, but the system helps interpret and smooth things out so the overall output feels clearer and easier to handle. You can check more about it here https://themorsecodetranslator.net/ But yeah, like you, I d really like to hear from someone who s actually ridden both setups before making the jump.
Edited by joeroot09 on Friday 27th March 19:55
i've got one of these, using the X35 motor system, and its been great, Carbon frame, and SRAM Apes AXS gearing, worth a look if you are in the market. Full disclosure, this from my LBS, so a win for me. Also comes in road version.
https://www.rmcycles.co.uk/bikes/electric-bikes/ar...
https://www.rmcycles.co.uk/bikes/electric-bikes/ar...
Mahle system is great and proper German engineering (via Spain), the x35 was my intro. Best cost effective system BUT it's fully locked down all components are serial coded to the frame. So no DIY possible, frustrated with the range as it's hilly and I'm big I shirked at £500 for a tiny range extender I tried a YouTube DIY attempt. Being largely clueless I knackered the Mahle battery BMS. Replacement has to be fitted by approved shop, so £900! For days labour as it's sooo integrated and all cables/hoses must come off etc
So went AliExpress crazy and converted old bike to mid hub drive (torque sensor) and existing ex Mahle x35 bike to rear hub (cadence pas) for much much less than this and I love them both (crazy OEM prices when Chinese tech is so available, so good and so cheap). No need to worry about battery degradation as when mahle integrated I left bike in freezing garage over winter and seemed to charge to 100% all the time. Now with detachable batteries I keep them indoors and can charge to 100% as I need to. So like a leccy car I'm looking after it much more
So Mahle was a great gateway to me as an ex serious rider fallen into I'll health. X20/30 is torque sensing so more natural but with sensor in bottom bracket this can be sensitive to the elements possibly. X35 is cadence sensing that mimics torque/effort and does a damn good job. Having both I'd say they're both great and slightly different but I'll happily ride either
So went AliExpress crazy and converted old bike to mid hub drive (torque sensor) and existing ex Mahle x35 bike to rear hub (cadence pas) for much much less than this and I love them both (crazy OEM prices when Chinese tech is so available, so good and so cheap). No need to worry about battery degradation as when mahle integrated I left bike in freezing garage over winter and seemed to charge to 100% all the time. Now with detachable batteries I keep them indoors and can charge to 100% as I need to. So like a leccy car I'm looking after it much more
So Mahle was a great gateway to me as an ex serious rider fallen into I'll health. X20/30 is torque sensing so more natural but with sensor in bottom bracket this can be sensitive to the elements possibly. X35 is cadence sensing that mimics torque/effort and does a damn good job. Having both I'd say they're both great and slightly different but I'll happily ride either
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