Aussie deciding which ebike to upgrade to

Jackie

Jackie

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Queensland, Australia
Hey All,
Just sold my 2022 Giant Reign E+2 and looking to upgrade. I liked the suspension on the Reign but it felt like the power was lacking. Looking for a new ebike with good suspension travel and power without spending massive dollars as I already have a new Santa Cruz Nomad, 2018 Giant Trance, 2022 Giant Revolt an old Scott Contessa road cycle and three dirtbikes (2023 YZ250F, 2023 TE300, 2012 DRZ400E) and not enough time to ride them all.

Options so far are Amflow, Forbidden Druid CorE, Focus Sam2 6.9 (great price!) or a Santa Cruz Bullit.
 
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You need to be more specific about what your intended use is. If climbing and playfulness is your preference. Then the Amflow. If downhill, the the Focus or Cruz. The Forbidden a compromise if you want both.
 
Astro66 said:
You need to be more specific about what your intended use is. If climbing and playfulness is your preference. Then the Amflow. If downhill, the the Focus or Cruz. The Forbidden a compromise if you want both.
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That's probably why I'm struggling to decide. I race cross country, gravity and have just started DH racing. I want something that climbs well, has burly suspension, ideally is <$10kAUD and needs to be competitive against Amflows, S-Works Levo 4's and all the chipped bikes etc.

I would race XC and GE on the ebike but wouldn't race it DH but would use it to self-shuttle while training for DH.
 
Have you considered one of these?

www.99bikes.com.au

Merida eOne-Eighty 900 Electric Enduro Bike Anaconda Green/Black

The Merida eOne-Eighty 900 Electric Enduro Bike is designed for dedicated enduro riders. It boasts a sturdy alloy frame and offers 180mm of suspension travel at both the front and rear. Equipped with a Bosch Performance Line CX motor and an 800Wh battery, this bike delivers smooth and controlled...
www.99bikes.com.au www.99bikes.com.au
 
I would go the bullit on that list. But I doubt very much the bullit will be anywhere near close to $10k aud.
 
HandsomeDanNZ said:
Have you considered one of these?

www.99bikes.com.au

Merida eOne-Eighty 900 Electric Enduro Bike Anaconda Green/Black

The Merida eOne-Eighty 900 Electric Enduro Bike is designed for dedicated enduro riders. It boasts a sturdy alloy frame and offers 180mm of suspension travel at both the front and rear. Equipped with a Bosch Performance Line CX motor and an 800Wh battery, this bike delivers smooth and controlled...
www.99bikes.com.au www.99bikes.com.au
Click to expand...
I am open to different brands. I actually went to look at the Merida one sixty 6000 a couple of months ago but was shown the SC Nomad with better specs for a great price so went with that instead. My husband has the same Merida ebike as your avatar and I originally wanted to get the same but they didn't have my size available anywhere at the time so I went the Giant. I loved the suspension, brakes and handling of the Reign but was disappointed with the motor.

I definately need to do more research on options. There's so many!
 
Plummet said:
I would go the bullit on that list. But I doubt very much the bullit will be anywhere near close to $10k aud.
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I'm open to other options. I never thought I could afford a SC but picked an analogue one up at a great price just a month or two ago, hoping I might jag it with the Bullitt too :)
 
Jackie said:
I am open to different brands. I actually went to look at the Merida one sixty 6000 a couple of months ago but was shown the SC Nomad with better specs for a great price so went with that instead. My husband has the same Merida ebike as your avatar and I originally wanted to get the same but they didn't have my size available anywhere at the time so I went the Giant. I loved the suspension, brakes and handling of the Reign but was disappointed with the motor.

I definately need to do more research on options. There's so many!
Click to expand...
I have to say - I love my Merida so am very very biased.

I came to this after a few years on a Giant Reign SX acoustic bike and this is the closest I have ever come to the way the Reign felt. Deep feeling suspension and almost feels like it’s running 10-20mm more travel than it is.

I’ve had a lot of fun with the Shimano motor and zero issues as well.
 
Jackie said:
I'm open to other options. I never thought I could afford a SC but picked an analogue one up at a great price just a month or two ago, hoping I might jag it with the Bullitt too :)
Click to expand...
If you want to smash dh laps then get the look at 170mm+ ebikes.

Orbea wild was on my list.
The Merida Eone sixty -7000 Shimano EP801 is worth a look
 
Amflow with a coil and 170mm fork is super capable. But likely not good enough for real downhill riding. The longer travel Forbidden with the Avinox looks the goods but how long are they going to be before arriving in Oz?

Are you going to race this bike? I’d consider a Gen5 Bosch. As much as I like my Avinox (Amflow) if I were racing I’d want less resistance over the limiter and I think Bosch is better here. My Amflow has a bit more drag than my Gen 3 Levo, although it’s improving with time (and some fork lube spray). The Amflow is a beast uphill but on flat ground there’s better. It’s great for fitness though. :) The motor seems to release at 30kmh it between 25 and 29 I feel it. I’m actually thinking of trying a different chainring to change the ratios a bit. Maybe a 36.

I don’t race so it’s not a big deal. And like I said it’s improving. For riding for fun I love this bike. But if I were sitting on the limiter all day maybe not as much. It’s not *bad*. But there’s better.

Gordon
 
Looks like right now $10k will buy you a lot of bike at 99Bikes in Oz.
I limited the search to $10k and Bosch and there were a LOT of choices.
Why Bosch, when I love my Shimano so much? Gen 5 updates in July will make these Bosch Gen5 bikes class-leading, IMO.
And you can get a lot of bikes with that motor that are well-specced for a lot less than you could a week ago.
 
HandsomeDanNZ said:
Looks like right now $10k will buy you a lot of bike at 99Bikes in Oz.
I limited the search to $10k and Bosch and there were a LOT of choices.
Why Bosch, when I love my Shimano so much? Gen 5 updates in July will make these Bosch Gen5 bikes class-leading, IMO.
And you can get a lot of bikes with that motor that are well-specced for a lot less than you could a week ago.
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Agree with Dan. Though I would stick with Shimano, so you can integrate the Electronic Transmission, and add the Racing Firmware to the EP801.

I would go the Merida eOne-Sixty 6000 at AUD$7K and add a Di2 XT derailleur and Linkglide Cassette. That would only cost about AUD$700. This will give you full Auto-shift, as well as Freeshift on a Carbon Fibre framed EMTB. But the issue is size.

What size do you need @Jackie.
 
Plummet said:
If you want to smash dh laps then get the look at 170mm+ ebikes.

Orbea wild was on my list.
The Merida Eone sixty -7000 Shimano EP801 is worth a look
Click to expand...
Thanks @Plummet I had a look at the Wild's just now... starting at 12.5kAUD. Merida is similar spec but <10k but the Merida is 27+kg!! I'm gonna have to get my excel spreadsheet on and start comparing.
 
Astro66 said:
Agree with Dan. Though I would stick with Shimano, so you can integrate the Electronic Transmission, and add the Racing Firmware to the EP801.

I would go the Merida eOne-Sixty 6000 at AUD$7K and add a Di2 XT derailleur and Linkglide Cassette. That would only cost about AUD$700. This will give you full Auto-shift, as well as Freeshift on a Carbon Fibre framed EMTB. But the issue is size.

What size do you need @Jackie.
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Racing firmware?? What would that mean for me? Increased torque?
I'd be a medium frame.
 
flash said:
The longer travel Forbidden with the Avinox looks the goods but how long are they going to be before arriving in Oz?

Are you going to race this bike?
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Pre order on the Forbidden now, delivery in September or October I think. I'd be reluctant to commit to a bike so far off delivery considering I'm currently ebikeless.

I will race it XC and GE, I've put the Gen5 Bosch at the top of my list :)
 
Jackie said:
Racing firmware?? What would that mean for me? Increased torque?
I'd be a medium frame.
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Increased over-run. And the ability to maintain full power and torque, right up to the speed limit. But you need the EP801 motor.

99 bikes have stock of the new Merida E-One sixty 6000 in Medium at AUD$7K. I have the the new E-One sixty 400 in Medium, as well as the Amflow PL Carbon Pro. Whilst the Merida is a really capable EMTB. The Amflow is in a different league. But I'm not a downhill charger. I prefer a playful EMTB for jumps and technical climbing.

1746680855850.png
 
Jackie said:
I will race it XC and GE
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For GE the motor doesn't matter. But for XC, you will want the DJI motor. So Focus will be better for GE. Amflow for XC. I only mention these as they meet your budget.

So it seems the Focus meets your budget and riding requirements the best. But I love the Amflow.

Best of luck.
 
A bit off topic but I am curious how was the resale market for your Reign? I have the same 2022 Reign E+2 with recently upgraded shock 👍 , motor power is not an issue for me. Thanks!
 
Jackie said:
So I went with a Merida eOne Eighty 700. Had two rides on it and happy with it so far.
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Ok ....... That's a 27kg 180/180 big hitting Downhill bike. Not sure it will be the best for XC racing, but it is a great EMTB. And a fantastic price at the moment.
 
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