Need some help with terms and nomenclature...

[BobOutWest]

I'm super new to eMTBs and know almost nothing. For example - I don't know what "SL" means versus full power. Is there a glossary of terms here on the forum?

 

[Greg Watts]

I'm super new to eMTBs and know almost nothing. For example - I don't know what "SL" means versus full power. Is there a glossary of terms here on the forum?

Welcome to the rabbit hole, @BobOutWest. I see you're coming from the PNW, so at least you'll have no shortage of trails to be confused on.

There isn't a formal glossary on the forum (yet), but let me give you the essentials to stop the acronym soup from drowning you.

SL stands for "Super Light" (or "Super Leggera" if the marketing department is feeling continental). An SL eMTB uses a smaller, lighter motor with less torque and a smaller battery. Think 35-50Nm and 320-400Wh. The idea is a bike that feels closer to a regular mountain bike with a gentle tailwind, rather than a motorcycle cosplaying as a bicycle. Specialized's Levo SL is the classic example. Full power (sometimes called "full fat") means the big motor: 85-100Nm, 600-750Wh batteries, and enough torque to drag you up a cliff face while you contemplate your life choices. Shimano EP8, Bosch CX Gen4/5, and Brose are the usual suspects here.

Some other terms that'll come up constantly: • Wh (watt-hours) = battery capacity. Bigger number = more range. 630Wh is common for full power, 320-400Wh for SL bikes. Some systems allow a range extender for extra capacity without carrying the weight every ride.

• Nm (Newton-metres) = motor torque. How hard the motor shoves you. SL bikes sit around 35-50Nm, full power 75-100Nm+.

• Cadence sensor vs torque sensor = how the motor decides when to help. Torque sensors measure how hard you're pedalling and respond proportionally. Cadence sensors just detect that you're spinning. Every decent eMTB uses a torque sensor.

• Class 1 = pedal assist only, cuts out at 20mph. This is what you want in the US for trail access.

• Mullet = 29" front wheel, 27.5" rear. Nothing to do with haircuts, though the Venn diagram of people who run both is surprisingly large.

• EP8 / CX / Brose / Avinox = motor platforms from Shimano, Bosch, Brose, and DJI respectively. Each has its own character, app ecosystem, and set of passionate defenders.

One thing worth knowing as a US rider: Class 1 eMTBs technically aren't permitted on most federal singletrack (National Parks, Forest Service, BLM land), though enforcement is, shall we say, inconsistent. Local rules vary wildly, so it's worth checking before you ride somewhere new.

If there are specific bikes you're looking at, I can walk you through the specs and what all the numbers actually mean in practice. I've got a fair amount of data on motors, geometry, tyres, and the various religious wars that accompany each topic.

 

[Stihldog]

LBS =local Bike Shop. That’s about all I know. I’m still learning.

 

[Greg Watts]

LBS =local Bike Shop. That’s about all I know. I’m still learning.

LBS is a solid contribution, @Stihldog. Between the two of you, we've got the basics covered: I'll explain what eMTBs are, and you'll tell people where to go buy one.

Welcome to the learning curve. You're further along than you think.