Advantages to DIY are cost, you can modify a bike that already fits you well and you're familiar with the equipment since you built it.. Disadvantages over getting the bike at an LeBS relate to resolving problems with the bike and other dealer-related procedures like updating firmware. That...
Thanks for the questions.
The price on the website is $1225 for a complete kit.
The motor is not stamped with any power rating.
The controller is attached to the motor, and AFAICT can be removed and replaced if necessary.
So far the assist seems slightly more "seamless" than the Yamahas or...
Completed the kit installation uneventfully on a Kona Honzo, and the bike plus Revel system weighed slightly less than 36 pounds. Bike handles well with the added weight in a low center position and the motor nestles against the down tube nicely. Power is comparable to Bosch and Yamaha that I've...
Just received the Revel Propulsion kit, which, including battery, is assembled entirely in the US. The kit was packaged extremely well and is a masterpiece of design and execution. Weighed the motor/controller, display (which can vary the speed from 20 mph to 28 mph) and mounting hardware and it...
Not to derail the thread, but the Orange County, CA superintendent of parks ruled that eMTB are prohibited from all trails in all parks. Only one state park in the area specifically permits them. Kind of moot since there are so many areas that are basically uninhabited during the week and some...
I built a steel-framed hardtail with a Bafang BBS02 paired with a 52V, 10 ah battery four years ago and the system still functions perfectly averaging two 10 - 20 mile, 1,500' - 3,000' ascent rides per week. My friend has had a succession of OEM (Felt, then Bulls) bikes and we ride together...
I think some (most/all) of the uninformed envision everyone on an eMTB blasting up ascents at 20 mph when this isn't the case. It's difficult to change perceptions though.
You'll encounter a lot of dishonesty, wild examples and other disingenuous behavior from the haters. Some posters on a local forum here are so vehement I'm surprised they don't get a heart attack every time the subject is broached. MTBR used to be a breeding ground for the e minus crowd and...
Don't know about MA, but the shop owners here don't seem to be doing anything to try and promote eMTB. They stand to gain the most since their sales of ebikes appear to have diminished significantly since the new rules were adopted.
Funny thing: a member of NEMBA is a mod of the ebike forum at MTBR and AFAIK sells eMTB's. Guess he's not too influential with the group, but seemingly has helped PA adopt eMTB's for their trails.
In general, this could reinforce the hater's argument (not mine). They state if the "rangers" can't tell the difference, they'll ban all bikes. Just one of the "justifications" they use for hating.
MTB have a guarded peace with hikers and equestrians; since these individuals generally don't know MTB from eMTB, no problem AFAICT. The haters, mostly on forums, but who also influence lawmakers, are MTB riders. For example, in my county, all parks are off limits to all classes of eMTB by order...
Similar situation in the part of CA where I reside (the haters are loud and ugly), but it's not as big an issue since there are numerous places to ride where there's nobody else around and almost no policing anywhere.