Buying advice for a emtb n00b

[Pete_rides]

Hi emtb heads,

Looking for an advice on a emtb purchase. Riding mostly Chicksands, Twisted Oaks, Woburn, etc. Sometimes hitting BPW and FoD and the like but not too often. Usually do all day rides. Beginner-intermediate rider.
Budget around 4500£ but no too keen on going to the top without discussing options first. Currently looking at:
- Cube Hybrid One77 HPC 800 SLX - great bargain for a new one at 3600£ but it seems like a machine for Canada and not low vert UK trails
- Norco Fluid VLT 140 C2 - another bargain at £4K, worried about battery (Bosch SX, 400W) lasting a 4-5 hours sesh
- Canyon Strive:ON CFR - probably the best choice at 4.3£ with a 625W battery but worried about Canyon's service/warranty/repair rep
- Specialized Turbo Levo Gen 3 Alloy/Comp - the basic ones are basically gone now, Comp alloy is 4450£ nowadays, another banger bike but with the options above, should i even consider it?
Please help!
Thanks in advance

 

[MJO]

With the brand you mentioned, I'll probably go for Specialized, especially if there's a local dealer nearby.
Not a fan of headset routing cable, and that's Cube One77.
Norco Fluid VLT, if you're okay with SL non-fatty ebike, should be OK then.
Canyon Strive is okay, but another headset routing cable.

 

[JoeBlow]

I would look around on-line. about 4 years ago I bought an Orbea Wild that matched the spec of a Specialised, component wise. I can't recall the exact Specialised model, but it was approx. £6500. At the time the Orbea Wild was £5400 in Leisure Lakes but I got mine from Germany for £3900 and it's been fantastic. It came assembled, the only thing I had to do was change the brake levers round so the front brake was on the right. I think it may have been Bike-Discount but not entirely sure.