Help choosing first eMTB

I’m returning to cycling and looking at getting an eMTB. I was in my LBS today looking around and was initially looking at a Cube Stereo HybridOne44 HPC, however I also saw the Trek Rail+5 which given the better warranty protection and potential build quality, the covers on the Cube could easily be bent back unlike the Trek which appeared solid.

This leads me to the point of this post as I wondered what peoples experience with the Rail+5 was. One benefit of the Cube is that for the same money the actual spec is very good and seems better than the Trek, Fox Suspension, XT brakes, Kiox 400c controller.

I’ve also seen what appears to be a good deal on a Rail+ 8 which works out about £100 cheaper than the Cube and wondered if the 8 was actually worth £800 more than the 5 for my purpose

CH19830 said:

I’ve also seen what appears to be a good deal on a Rail+ 8 which works out about £100 cheaper than the Cube and wondered if the 8 was actually worth £800 more than the 5 for my purpose

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Depends what you want to do with your bike?

We've had our Rail 5's since January 2022. Mine has done 5,000 miles, wife's has done 2,000 miles . No motor failures, nothing broken, no warranty claims. To be fair, both bikes have been gradually upgraded so that all that now remains stock is the frames, motors, and batteries. But I do maintain them really well, hate stuff that breaks.

Maybe wait until April? DJI are announcing a motor update and maybe there could be some more options for you to consider Amflow has a sale on at the moment too as they are clearing stock for the updated motor and maybe a new frame.

Amflow

Depends what you're after. If all you want is outright power and no character go for an avinox powered bike.
If the motor is second to the bike ie you care more about handling, geometry, ride feel etc then test riding a few is the best option.

Before I got my Whyte Kado RS I test rode an amflow pl carb, specialized levo 4 comp carb, trek rail 9.7, and was eyeing up the mondrakers too. Never considered a cube actually..
The amflow felt like riding an old heavy specialized status crossed with a moped and was cramped cause the sizing runs small, the levo 4 felt amazing until you started getting air or it got rowdy then it felt unbalanced and erratic presumably cause of the high center of gravity, the trek was okay but just felt a bit dead, like good at everything but not amazing at anything, then managed to get my leg over a kado and was blown away, it felt somewhat like the trek but with more character which i assume is due to the low center of gravity design and just rode like it had the ability do be hucked about when i wanted to, railed where i wanted it on a berm, composed in the air, balanced over chunder, honestly I spent 5 minutes on one up a local trail and went home and purchased one

Are the days gone where we recommend the bikes that are supplied and supported by the local bike shop?

I like the Trek, The Cubes are usually better bang for buck on components.

What has the nicest colour

PM140 said:

CH19830 - I'm in a similar situation, what did you end up buying ?​

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I'm co. asking.

VWsurfbum said:

Are the days gone where we recommend the bikes that are supplied and supported by the local bike shop?

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Thats always my first port of call , we will miss them when there gone

After visiting a couple of shops, I ended up buying a Trek Rail 8. This was based on the ride, having a Trek store within 45 mins of where I live and a decent deal. I’ve done about 200 miles on it and other than a creaking headset which was fixed with a bit of grease it’s been great