Many E Hardtail Owners Out there?

[gelfy666]

In my quest for "still" trying to decide on what ebike to get, I was wondering if many own hardtail bikes?.
Ive always preferred hardtails to full sus for my riding, but wondered how they are in ebike versions. Most I've seen seem to run up to a 2.8 tyre, so a bit of bounce there.
The more I look the more confused I get.

 

[StuckintheSpokes]

I got 2 of them. They were bought with inexperienced riders in mind. They’re great for the older person who fancies having some grunt on country lanes, bridle paths and a bit of cross country trail. Anything with fast descents are a no no.

I would never give a serious rider a hardtail EMTB.

 

[R120]

I have one, though it is far from stock. I love riding it and you can push it hard, as you can see from the spec of mine I built it to take abuse.

It’s a 2018 Vitus E- Sentier - last year they did two models, stock and a VR version with a good high spec same as the E-Sommett VR (which I also have), whereas this year they just do a base spec.

Main problem with EMTB hardtails is most are designed/marketed as entry level bikes, and ones you can get rowdy on are almost non existent or something you will have to upgrade a lot of parts on

Thread on it here

Back in black . . . - EMTB Forums

 

[gelfy666]

My Stanton is my rowdy bike lol.... The ebike is just so I can cycle around Cannock and the Welsh Hill without my fellow riders having to wait at the top of climbs for me... I'm not an aggressive down hiller by any means.
Ive had a full sus non electric bike and just didn't bond with it.... This is why I'm wondering.

 

[Taff]

Yep got one too. Trails, flowing single track and x c rides that do not need a full susser.
Been there and done all that as they say.. 2.6 tires are enough for what I need.
No point lugging the weight if uou dont need it. Can pedal it all day with power off on a flat trail.

 

[2unfit2ride]

I had one, I now have a Merida E120 because it was the shortest FS I could find with the shimano motor, I like the comfort & traction of a FS & the weight matters less on a emtb.
HTH.

 

[Northumbrian]

I got 2 of them. They were bought with inexperienced riders in mind. They’re great for the older person who fancies having some grunt on country lanes, bridle paths and a bit of cross country trail. Anything with fast descents are a no no.

I would never give a serious rider a hardtail EMTB.

Big statement !!..... another Vitus Sentier rider here, and I love it, long and low, it loves fast single track. You just don’t have the comfort on the rough stuff,
Can’t see why a serious rider can’t use one ....?

 

[xcentric]

If it helps, when I was looking I decided I needed (well, wanted) an ebike and so applied the usual mtb perspective, where weight is important, and so looked at hardtail. This was for what was originally going to be for a longish (16 mile) commute each way on country lanes bike. Tried a 2017 Levo HT, nice bike, loved the e-experience. But then realised that the issue of weight was much less important, and that the battery would compensate for most of the disadvantages, leaving me with a much comfier ride in almost every circumstance, and more capable downhill. Tried one, found no issues with the additional weight (which is not overly much more in % terms as the motor and battery blast most weight saving issues out of the water anyway). Completely happy with my choice. I come from the earliest days off mountain biking - had one of the first Specialized bikes into the country - so started on fully rigid bikes (still have one, in fact) and progressed to an Ibis Mojo full suspension. So I've done my fear share of hardtail riding, and am convinced that full suspension is usually the right answer for an e-mtb....

 

[R120]

For me its that I like hardtail, snd that's why I wanted one - for most people if looking at one bike and riding decent trails then an FS will always be the right choice, but I love taking the hardtail out, and ride it on pretty much the same terrain I will ride the Sommett. Its something different, and something I often find rewarding on the local trails as to ride it fast you have to be on it all the time mentally, and most of all fun.

 

[gelfy666]

May be full sus doesn't suit me because of my weight? 125kg with riding gear.

 

[R120]

Yes its probably harder to get a good set up, I would have thought a coil shock might be the answer - quite a few big boys on here who have got their bikes set up well.

If I was looking at one bike, that was going to be taken on proper trails, irrespective of how hard you might ride it, I would go for an FS, unless your budget can't stretch.

 

[gelfy666]

Local suspension specialist says I'd need a 800lb spring ?..... But they could sort me out with a 708lb spring ?

 

[stiv674]

Sorry to hijack the thread a bit, I'm looking at getting a hardtail soon for country lanes and harder tracks etc.

I've narrowed it down to either a Focus jam2 or Specialized Levo, the Levo is about £500 cheaper but has cheaper components, but maybe better or at least quieter motor, I have the Focus TEC pack so will obviously be able to use that on the HT, extra levo battery is £700 or so...

Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[R120]

The Levo HT really is a very basic spec bike, if you already have the Focus battery I would go for the Focus, it’s a better resolved bike too IMO for more serious trail riding

 

[stiv674]

The Levo HT really is a very basic spec bike, if you already have the Focus battery I would go for the Focus, it’s a better resolved bike too IMO for more serious trail riding

Thanks, that's sort of what I'm thinking, I just like the idea of having something different. I tried a Giant Fathom, it was nice but the motor seemed a bit too aggressive to me, and quite noisy.

 

[flash]

I have a merida eBig9 as well as my full sus. I bought it for a few reasons.

1. As a backup in case my 160 is in the shop.
2. As a bike my son can ride with me.
3. A "commuter" for quick trips to the shop. I have a set of wheels with slicks on them.
4. I wanted a spare battery and I got a deal on the whole bike.
5. I'm entertaining the idea of doing some short touring (2 to 4 days) with pub stays. I did a lot of bike touring when I was younger.

At the moment it gets ridden 2-3 times a week. Mostly short rides on pavement when I don't want to take the car. I live in a non-city urban area so it's perfect for that. I'm happy I have it. However, if I were to get only one bike it would be a full sus, every time. A spare set of wheels and lock out the rear shock and there's not a huge difference. But I want to ride off road mostly. Roads and paths are a secondary to me. If commuting was the main usage I'd choose the hard tail.

Gordon

 

[Oohmyknees]

I'm on a Specialized Levo hard tail and agree with R120, the spec is basic. Very nice frame and motor. The £500 saving could go towards a new fork and brakes though. I've just put fox 34 and XT brakes on mine for about £550 and will change the drive train at some point but it's doing ok for now. The Brose motor is sublime but the smaller capacity battery can be annoying. If you have the Focus tech-pack though, it seems like a no brainier really

 

[stiv674]

I'm on a Specialized Levo hard tail and agree with R120, the spec is basic. Very nice frame and motor. The £500 saving could go towards a new fork and brakes though. I've just put fox 34 and XT brakes on mine for about £550 and will change the drive train at some point but it's doing ok for now. The Brose motor is sublime but the smaller capacity battery can be annoying. If you have the Focus tech-pack though, it seems like a no brainier really

I've ridden a couple of Specialized bikes and I do like the brose motor... I suppose there's worse decisions to make

 

[Lee67]

I also have an ht and fs emtb.... prefer the ht, its a Giant Fathom e1pro.. so very good spec, yes the motor isnt quiet but boy it has some grunt!! And 80 miles with 6000 ft of climbing is ace !!!

 

[dirt huffer]

I wonder how compliant most hardtail eBike frames are?

I would love to see a high-end steel or Ti ebike frame... something with some spring...

A lot of the aluminum frames i see look "stiff" but looks can be deceiving, especially with how they can manipulate the butting of aluminum frames now days

 

[R120]

I wonder how compliant most hardtail eBike frames are?

I would love to see a high-end steel or Ti ebike frame... something with some spring...

A lot of the aluminum frames i see look "stiff" but looks can be deceiving, especially with how they can manipulate the butting of aluminum frames now days

I would say that due to the need to accommodate the motor and battery the frames are pretty built up, they are quite hard to compare in terms of compliance to a regular hardtail, my Vitus is actually very similar except for the down tube to the regular Sentier from what I can tell.

I think it would be difficult to make a super compliant frame and also factor in the weight of all the EMTB gubbins.

 

[mrich]

In my quest for "still" trying to decide on what ebike to get, I was wondering if many own hardtail bikes?.
Ive always preferred hardtails to full sus for my riding, but wondered how they are in ebike versions. Most I've seen seem to run up to a 2.8 tyre, so a bit of bounce there.
The more I look the more confused I get.

BMC Alpenchallenge, hardtail and rigid fork.
Using it on loooooooong railtrails and alpine adventures, but have also punted it around some singletrack with no ill effects!

 

[04fuxake]

I got 2 of them. They were bought with inexperienced riders in mind. They’re great for the older person who fancies having some grunt on country lanes, bridle paths and a bit of cross country trail. Anything with fast descents are a no no.

I would never give a serious rider a hardtail EMTB.

 

[Frankenbetty]

I got an entry level Vitus E-Sentier and initially I thought It was a bit harsh on the lumpy stuff but a set of Marzocchi Z2s and carbon bars plus going tubeless and dropping tyre pressures a bit made the world of difference to the ride. i Will probably get a full suss eventually for taking to the mountains in Spain but for the local trails it’s perfect and I love it ?

 

[BuckSaw]

I'd love to get a steel e-mtb hardtail with aggressive geometry similar to a Chromag Rootdown. I love picking technical lines apart on my current hardtails, and I also really enjoy what I can do on my Rail.