What makes a good eMTB and what should I look for in an eMTB? In terms of connectivity and customisability of the motor system, it sets the tone in the test field together with the Specialized S-Works Turbo Kenevo SL. The clunky remote of the new Smart System, flooded with buttons, is ergonomically one of the worst in the entire test it is only marginally improved upon by the Purion, another Bosch option. Class 3 electric bikes integrate a motor that activates only when the rider is pedaling and top out at 28mph (and feature a speedometer). However, it could no longer defend its title. Class 2 e-bikes are throttle-assisted and are equipped with a motor that can move the bike forward without pedaling. The good news is that trained bikers ears will be able to tell whether the motor is in its comfort zone or is about to fade out, like when youre about to stall your car. With availability limited and eMTBs a big investment for many, its especially important to know about the latest technologies and the huge differences between models before buying one. The Norco Sight VLT C1 and Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay C70 have some catching up to do. The Altitude Powerplay Alloy 50 has a better fork and more travel, while the Turbo Levo Comp Alloy has 29 / 27.5 aluminum wheels and better components. The YETI 160E T1 is the deserved Best in Test and thus the best eMTB of 2022. In such a system, an XL bike would have more battery capacity than a size S or M bike. At 95 kg, am I already too heavy for my eMTB? This is accessed in a tuning menu through the Jumbotron display, and you have five levels on offer, with the default setting from the factory being 0. 150mm Travel. 15 Dec 2022 First rides on the Trek Rail 9.9 XTR with Bosch Smart System A similar inflection point has hit cycling on a much larger scale. And while the big 38 is a great match, providing a solid and secure platform up front, it isnt as supple or as well supported compared to the higher-end versions that feature the more complex GRIP2 damper. Along with a lighter weight build kit, the Instinct Powerplay is targeted at longer distance riding on less extreme terrain. In addition, the small remotes have a cleaner look than the Bosch solution and are also less exposed on the bike. That is A LOT of power, but Rocky has worked hard to make the motors output as directly proportional to rider input as possible, so its more like a dimmer switch than an on/off button. Even while out of the saddle, with my chest hanging over the bars to keep the front wheel weighted, the power feels easy to modulate, allowing you to make the most of the high-traction suspension and grippy rubber. In other words, we go into the test knowing that some bikes will score a ten on the scale for a certain characteristic, whereas others will get zero or just one point for the same characteristic. And thats a good reflection of the market! Range, suspension travel or motor power considered in isolation will never tell you whether the bike fits your individual demands and riding style, or whether the overall bike concept works and delivers what it promises. - Brilliant cornering performance Do you run out of juice? The Norco Sight VLT C1 offers an enormous range with its 900 Wh battery and Shimano EP8 motor. Like every person, every bike has its own character that inevitably embodies both strengths and weaknesses. Giving the range as an absolute number would inevitably be incorrect and misleading. The bikes in the test field not only differ enormously in their intended use and character but also in their battery concepts. Specialized Kenevo SL vs. Orbea Wild vs. Mondraker Chaser - YouTube Mal Wieder eine Sonntagstour mit der Bande.Lacher sind wie immer. No bike manages to combine almost irreconcilable opposites as well as the YETI 160E T1. In the future, we expect to see huge internal battery capacities only on touring and trekking ebikes. This is the best way to find out which battery concept suits you. Federal law classifies all electric bikes as "motorized", and as such, does not allow them on trails or land where motorized vehicles are prohibited. Allow me to jog your memory. Made for aggressive, all-day riders, the newly-launched Shuttle is turning heads. One other important note on noise the Dyname 4.0 motor suffers none of the annoying rattle found in the current Shimano and Bosch motors. A steel chainring surely makes more sense for an e-MTB. The all new Altitude is now rolling on 29" wheels and is sure to be one of the best Enduro bikes on the market. The first consideration for many uninformed ebike buyers is a bikes range. - Mid-high pivot Smoothlink rear suspension design Motor performance is highly sensitive in all four assistance modes, with the peak power output simply being the difference between them. The motor anchors above and forward of the crankset, with a small drive sprocket that sitsclose to the main pivot. 10 people spent 9 days in Tuscany, including sun, sea, awesome trails, arm pump and dolce vita. Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Carbon 70. Despite the ratings, the review itself is crucial, because thats where we explain the bikes character traits in detail and give you a deeper understanding of the sum of the bikes parts. Find out here which approaches actually lead to more trail fun. The motor is called Dyname 4.0, and like the frame its had a significant update for 2022. Other bikes are capable of covering an equally wide range of applications while also outperforming the MERIDA in individual specialisations. However, there is still some mechanical noise and vibration thats caused by the idler and lower chainguide. And Mom wouldnt be able to save you. EMTBs are delicate, high-tech devices that need regular maintenance and care. 2022 Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Carbon 70, - Superb handling is up for anything Fitting a GRIP2 damper would be an excellent upgrade, and Id be quite curious to try a coil shock too. HI GUYS In this video I'm testing the new 2019 Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Carbon 70.I made a Bikeporn, Bikecheck and a Test, with a lot of footage.Hop. Also new is a slim controller by the left hand grip, and a display unit thats integrated into the frames top tube. The Altitude Powerplay's linkage does have one significant difference from other Rocky MTBs, and that's the mid-high main pivot location. As part of our annual reader survey, more than 16,520 E-MOUNTAINBIKERS answered around 90 questions, helping us to make this test as relevant as possible! The Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay Alloy 70, Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Alloy 70, and Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy are all aluminum frame full suspension mountain e-bikes. Rotwild could tease out much more trail performance with different choices. Internal Cable Routing. On the note of the motor, some folks may be bothered by the fact that the Altitude Powerplay doesnt use a Shimano or Bosch system. Tires are elementary. Despite its small 375 Wh battery, the ROTWILD R.E375 ULTRA has a Shimano motor with plenty of power. Even the biggest battery isnt worth much without clever positioning and balanced weight distribution. Of note is that the Altitude Powerplay and Instinct Powerplay frames are virtually identical. The DoubleDown casings are most certainly a must-have, and while you could improve the overall range by fitting lighter and faster-rolling rubber, it would be a total waste of this bikes capabilities. Instead of always riding with a large battery capacity and the associated weight, its very practical to be able to increase capacity with an additional external battery, whenever you need greater range. This is in contrast to the latest Bosch motor, which continues to deliver power for a little longer if you take a brief pause on the pedals, helping to push you up and over a big root or rock slab. Youll also need to replace the chainring more frequently than usual, as its made from alloy. It rolls on 29in wheels, and it's equipped with a 170mm travel fork and 160mm of rear travel. The suspension consists of a FOX 38 Factory GRIP2 fork and FOX FLOAT X2 Factory shock, controlling 170/160 mm travel at the front and rear. The Altitude Powerplay Alloy 70 has a better fork and more travel, while the Turbo Levo Comp Alloy has 29 / 27.5 aluminum wheels and better components. There are sliding scales at the end of each review, giving you a visual representation of the bikes handling. Further geometry adjustment can be found in the Ride-4 flip chip at the lower shock mount. Mullet-who? RIDE-9 Adjustable Geometry + Suspension Rate. But if you compare them in a meaningful way, they provide exciting insights into trends and developments. Ride stats from RM Altitude from Strava, Garmin and Ebikemotion app: Moving time 1h 9m, distance 10.4 miles, elevation gain 2,091 ft., estimated average power 155w, energy output 647 kJ. There is no such shuttle mode on the Altitude Powerplay, which requires a more collaborative performance between your legs and the motor. Their ever popular line of E-Bikes, the Rocky Mountain Powerplay, feature spec upgrades on many models along with an expanded Instinct BC line. **** #pandemic #deliverycosts: The massive bike boom and the consequences of coronavirus have resulted in huge challenges for the whole bike industry. The Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Alloy 50, Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay Alloy 50, and Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy are all aluminum frame full suspension mountain e-bikes. Were thrilled to see Rocky specing proper Maxxis DoubleDown tyre casings front and rear, and in a decidedly uncommon move, the wheelset has also been fitted with CushCore XC tyre inserts. At the beginning of the new season we test the flagship bikes of the year and price plays a subordinate role. As you pedal, the chain tightens and pushes up against a jockey wheel, which is the main torque sensor for the system. Bosch bring up the rear in this respect. From Light eMTBs with limited motor support to powerhouses with plenty of grunt, everything was represented. You want a bike that delivers more motor power than a Bosch system? Class 1 e-mountain bikes (and electric bikes overall) are pedal-assist: an integrated motor provides assistance to the rider and is activated by pedaling the bike. Partway through a ride I flipped the dropout chip into the long setting, which took all of about five minutes. We dont re-invite such bikes every time. It is the best touring bike in the test field and, after some suspension tuning, also a good all-rounder that will appeal to both beginners and advanced riders with its easy going and good-natured handling. But is different any better? Thats why you should also consider the maintenance costs for service parts and consumables. Battery capacity depends on the weight of the rider and riding conditions: if you're riding uphill into a headwind, expect to drain that battery a lot quicker than bombing hills. The rubber compound can be more durable and harder for reduced rolling resistance e.g. Regardless of price or material, all models are equipped with the same Dyname 4.0 motor and 720Wh battery, and feature the same 8-way adjustable geometry. Four long years after the Canadian brand introduced its very first electric mountain bike, the 2nd generation Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay has finally arrived. How did the individual eMTB in this group test fare? Which routes and trails did we ride? Noise is also comparable to Bosch, and is significantly less whiney than a Shimano EP8 motor. However, were very fortunate that we get to work where others go on holiday, i.e. The discrepancy between motor displays couldnt be greater: The test field has everything on offer, from year-old displays with the sparse functionality and look of a Tamagotchi, to modern displays with numerous features, to minimalist, fully integrated concepts where the display is no longer present at all. We believe that every rider has different needs and preferences, and its up to you to find out what these are and then choose a bike based on that. The bikes with 700+ Wh batteries in this group test all have the same problem: the longer and heavier batteries have a negative impact on handling. Our Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay C70 test bike has delivered near faultless performance during our time with it, which is hardly a surprise given its such a well specd bike. Heres how the Altitude Powerplay faired; Ill admit I was surprised that the Altitude Powerplay managed to clock up over 2,100m of climbing in one hit. The stats of the updated Shuttle are eye-popping: 726 watt-hour battery, 160mm front fork, 29-inch wheels and the newest Shimano motor all, in a 45-pound package. And while the overall integration is neat and the controls on the Altitude Powerplay are a vast improvement over the previous model, the main buttons on the remote switch are too light and a bit vague. The best eMTBs are able to combine seemingly contradictory characteristics, like being agile yet composed. Secondly it can produce more grunt at lower Amps. Therefore, we cannot make a general statement about the suspension travel. Remaining: 76%. The difference here may simply boil down to the progressive suspension rate. Watch our video review of the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay here: Despite its ability to mob through straight-line chunder, it rips turns with surprising nimbleness that had me constantly grinning from ear-to-ear. And is range really that important to you, or would you rather have good handling on the trail? The trail network around Monte Arsenti provides the ideal test conditions, allowing us to work out both the big and small differences that separate the 13 eMTBs on test. - CushCore inserts as standard There are some very natural and easy to control motors like the Shimano EP8, and there are some that require attention, care and the right cadence, like the Dyname 4.0. Until my scheduled shin transplant pans out, its difficult for me to say. Like every car, every bike has a maximum permissible weight, which is specified by the manufacturer to ensure that the bike and all its components can withstand loads up to this rating. Most eMTB hardtails simply arent made for the trails! Its possible to reduce the leg effort required to bring on the motors power via the Boost setting. TCS velocorner.ch offers 15'000+ bikes from 300+ bike stores and individuals.. 5% OFF. The handlebars are a bit cluttered, especially for smaller riders. One of the bikes uses the old Bosch 2021 system. But thats not the case on the Altitude Powerplay. One thing to note is that our test bike features the extended lower headset cup, which should only come on the Instinct frames. To make the differences as clear as possible, we use the whole scale. Rocky Mountain, Shimano and Specialized use a minimalist handlebar remote to ensure that you always hit the right button in the heat of battle. In the same way that Giant has collaborated with Yamaha, and Specialized has partnered with Brose and Mahle, Rocky Mountain has employed the services of fellow Canadian brand Propulsion Powercycle to help engineer the motor for the Instinct and Altitude Powerplay models. The group test in figures: Background to the test field, the most exciting facts and interesting trends. Out of the box the Altitude is quite long and slack up front, but the back end is very short at 437mm. While the ride height was good, and the suspension felt pretty plush, I did find there to be a lack of sensitivity deeper into the travel. YETI have combined all their geometry and suspension know-how in a great overall package powered by a Shimano EP8 motor and 630 Wh battery, creating a bike that is the new benchmark in trail performance, for everyone from beginners to pros. Class 1 electric bikes can reach speeds of up to 20mph. Then again, Mick found the novelty of all those features quickly wore off during his long-term test of the Levo. Usability is poor, because too many buttons have to be operated with only one finger. As a Light eMTB with the lowest motor output (35 Nm) in the group test, the Kenevo SL is an exotic bike and has no chance of winning the test as an all-rounder, but it still has its advantages. Instead of blindly buying the bike with the highest battery capacity, you should ask yourself a few questions: Our group test clearly shows that when it comes to battery capacity, a crucial rule of thumb applies: as little as possible and as much as necessary! The dropper should have as much travel as possible. Preventing the front from lifting on technical climbs requires a lot of physical effort as you have to shift . While the Dyname 4.0 motor packs a ridiculous amount of power with near-instantaneous response, the progressive delivery makes it highly controllable. With this group test, we provide answers to the most important questions when buying and help you invest your hard-earned money in the right place and prevent you from making the wrong purchase. It always depends on the overall system. Read this chapter for the answers as well as a summary of our test philosophy and our opinion on school grades for bike tests. NEW: Before we get into the review, we would like to tell you about our latest print edition. YT have the highest payload in the test field at 127 kg. Every product is carefully selected by our editors. Particularly on the front, better traction outweighs minimally higher rolling resistance. We planned the test route based on your preferred riding style and terrain as indicated in our reader survey of over 16,000 participants. More battery capacity automatically means more weight and, due to the larger dimensions, usually a position that worsens the weight distribution, leading to compromises in handling. )! Being a lighter rider and on flat pedals, I personally found the suspension to be too kicky. In reality, the freedom of movement is limited, just like on the SCOR, despite the apparently short seat tube. Tuscany, staying in the bike hotel Massa Vecchia. Weve summarised what this can cost per year and what you need to bear in mind. Firstly, this motor is incredibly responsive. However, its important not to confuse price with the real value i.e. In our annual group test, in which we search for the best eMTB of the year, we tested and compared the 13 most exciting and hottest eMTBs of the season. Our test crew munched on 300+ pieces of pizza. At the other extreme, the button on top of the controller is somewhat hard to push. No matter which you choose, the conversion is simple and the connectivity options remain unchanged. Besides chain and drivetrain maintenance, your brakes, tires and suspension are the most important candidates for being serviced regularly. The two most expensive bikes in the test field, the Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo and Specialized S-Works Turbo Kenevo SL, cost 15,000 each. Weighing in at 49 pounds, it's designed with a more playful geometry thats nimble enough to handle all but the most technical terrain. Exceptions are last years test winners and best buys.