Any alternatives to the Rockrider e-st900?

Hey, I'm new from the UK. I'm looking to get my first emtb to help me get back outside as part of a slow recovery from a long-term illness. Beginner mtber. Because of that I'm looking to get a bike that can do nearly all the work for me to start with and I can extend the trips later if/as I recovery. I'm trying to avoid anything that's too heavy in case the bike has a problem.

I'm mainly in a hilly and wet area, and will probably be 80% on paths, fields, bog, mud.

Budget £1,800.

I'm looking at the Rockrider e-st900, as it's got good reviews. It seems to have been downgraded at some point from a 90Nm motor to a 70Nm though? I can't see much else in terms for alternatives.

Are there any other good alternatives to the Rockrider I should be considering for under £1,800?

Maybe the Rockmachine Storm e70-29? I'm not sure on the quality of Halfords.

TheWho said:

Hey, I'm new from the UK. I'm looking to get my first emtb to help me get back outside as part of a slow recovery from a long-term illness. Beginner mtber. Because of that I'm looking to get a bike that can do nearly all the work for me to start with

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You might be better off with a hub drive and a throttle until you get back into shape? With a mid-drive you need to pedal all the time.

Brian VT USA said:

You might be better off with a hub drive and a throttle until you get back into shape? With a mid-drive you need to pedal all the time.

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Thanks, I hadn't realised that. I'll have to see if I can find anything with a hub drive.

Brian VT USA said:

With a mid-drive you need to pedal all the time.

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You need to pedal all the time with a hub drive as well (if legal). Unless you go for a legislated throttle but theres only 1 or 2 companies in the UK that sell them.

What will be the primary use of the bike? Road or trail?

Planemo said:

You need to pedal all the time with a hub drive as well (if legal). Unless you go for a legislated throttle but theres only 1 or 2 companies in the UK that sell them.

What will be the primary use of the bike? Road or trail?

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Trail.

Without going secondhand I'm not sure you'll do much better than the Rockrider for that money tbh. You'll want a mid drive for hills anyway, and at least the bike will cope with trails/mild off road stuff OK. If it were me I would take the Decathlon bike over the Halfords one too.

Maybe someone else will chime in if theres any better options up to £1800

Welcome to the forum

Planemo said:

Without going secondhand I'm not sure you'll do much better than the Rockrider for that money tbh. You'll want a mid drive for hills anyway, and at least the bike will cope with trails/mild off road stuff OK

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Okay, so having a good look around at second hand I could get a Cube reaction hybrid pro 625 2021 for about £1,300. Is it worth the risk of second hand to get that better bike? Will it still have good support/power as a hybrid?

TheWho said:

Okay, so having a good look around at second hand I could get a Cube reaction hybrid pro 625 2021 for about £1,300. Is it worth the risk of second hand to get that better bike? Will it still have good support/power as a hybrid?

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There's quite a few on the forum with the 900
Good value for the money, I've had mine 2 years over time upgraded parts, one of the first things I did was swap the tyres out for faster rolling