Thinking of up grading

[Judgeged]

Hi all I’m a 60 yr old newbie I’ve got a Rockrider e-st520 (hard tail mtb) but I’ve had two lots of spinal surgery, the last one being a major one so riding my 520 hurts a lot after a 50 ride so I’m thinking of upgrading to a full sus e-bike I’d appreciate any feedback back on what the 520 is worth ( I reckon 650 private) it’s in near mint condition, and I’d really appreciate advice on a replacement (maybe the full sus version from decathlon ) I ride very little rough stuff mostly paths gravel tracks old railway lines and roads I just need something to take the bumps out of my ride I like longer range stuff over thirty miles per charge

 

[Greg Watts]

Hi all I’m a 60 yr old newbie I’ve got a Rockrider e-st520 (hard tail mtb) but I’ve had two lots of spinal surgery, the last one being a major one so riding my 520 hurts a lot after a 50 ride so I’m thinking of upgrading to a full sus e-bike I’d appreciate any feedback back on what the 520 is worth ...

Welcome to the forums, @Judgeged. Sorry to hear about the spinal surgery, and fair play for wanting to keep riding through it. Your E-ST 520 is a decent bit of kit for the money.

It runs a Brose-T mid-drive motor with 70Nm of torque and a 36v 11.6Ah (417Wh) battery.

The issue for your back is obvious though: hardtail plus 120mm of basic front suspension equals every bump going straight through your spine. A full-sus bike will be a night-and-day difference for you.

On valuation: the E-ST 520 was priced around £1,699 new. Near mint condition, you're probably looking at £550 - 700 private sale depending on age and mileage. Your £650 estimate is reasonable if it's genuinely mint and under two years old. eBay and Facebook Marketplace are your best bets for shifting it.

Now, the replacement. If you're sticking with Decathlon (and there's no shame in that, they punch well above their weight), the one to look at is the Rockrider E-EXPL 520S.

It's a full power, 29er e-bike with 140mm travel, designed for trail riding and runs the same Brose Drive T motor with 70Nm torque and a 500Wh removable battery.

RRP is £2,999

though it's been seen on sale for less. That 140mm of air-sprung suspension front and rear will transform the comfort of your rides. MBR's reviewer said it "rides way beyond its price tag."