I prefer hartails for mtb...but what about emtb?

[Gregz]

I'm ready to buy an emtb, and not sure if I should get a full suspension. I'm comparing the Aventon Ramblas and Current ADV. A few years ago I bought an enduro full suspension, and it was so much less efficient for me, that it was like riding in sand practically...and I sold it. I don't have the strongest legs, and a hardtail was fine for our local trails. I did take the enduro bike to bentonville, AR and did some downhill trails and it was amazing.

I'm thinking an emtb would give me that power that would make the full suspension a non issue...but I'm still not sure. I watched a review of a guy who said going from the Current to the Ramblas helped him not be scared to do jumps. I've never ridden a heavy ebike, so I was hoping for some insight from some of you here.

 

[RustyIron]

I'm thinking an emtb would give me that power that would make the full suspension a non issue...

I've never ridden a heavy ebike, so I was hoping for some insight from some of you here.

Hey, Greg.
Weight and efficiency aren't that big of a deal on an eMTB. In the days of covered wagons and Amish bikes, you'd have to worry about the weight of every component, rolling resistance of tires, etc.

A new day has dawned. We have powerful and efficient motors that allow us to run heavy, slow rolling tires that actually provide traction. We can have big brakes that slow us down from warp speed. We can splurge on inefficient gadgets like dropper posts. We no longer need to dress like prancing dandies in skin-tight shorts and shaved legs.

When picking out your new bike, don't be limited by an old-school mentality that forced us to ride hardtails and cross country geometries. The motor gives you the ability to ride the fully capable bike that you always wanted, but didn't have the strength or stamina to power.

 

[Kramer]

I'm lucky enough to have a hardtail, a full sus analogue enduro bike and a full sus e-bike.

Like you, for most of my riding I preferred the hardtail to the full sus analogue, for the same reasons. The enduro bike is great on the correct terrain, but a lot of the time it's just a bit of a pig to pedal, and it actually makes the trails too easy.

The e-bike removes the downside of the pedaling inefficiency from a full sus. Another advantage is that on an e-bike moving over rough terrain, at the speeds that you'll be going, suspension makes it much more controlled, even on easier, flatter terrain.

 

[steve_sordy]

Even the aggressive DH boys are adding lead weight to their mtb frames. They probably got the idea when they were using emtbs to get to the top of the hill faster so that they could get more DH runs in. Then discovered that extra weight helped the bikes work better on the rough stuff.

 

[Rob66]

I had similar thoughts and went with a hardtail E bike. What i hadn’t appreciated was the marked increased speed uphill and that you climb less out of the saddle compared to analogue MTB. Needless to say i rapidly bought a full suspension EMTB and my arse thanked me for it!