What you want improved on your next SL e-bike

[Scott_123]

I own a Canyon Spectral OnFly (TQ50) and an Amflow PL Carbon Pro. Both bikes have about 1,300 miles on them riding the same trails. I’m simply providing some perspective from someone who owns both. I don’t know if the SL market will survive, I guess each manufacturer must decide if their sales numbers support the R&D that goes into producing them.

 

[TorAtle]

The Orbea Rise SL is a pretty good example of a detuned full power motor (albeit yesterdays full power) with a small 400Wh battery to form a "SL" bike. The only disadvantage is 500 gram weight penalty plus a bulkier motor area. Same could be done with the Avinox motor if they would be willing to manufacture a small battery. The rest is just a choice of components and software configuration.

My point being that you don't have to start with a tiny TQ motor to create a great SL bike...

 

[Str1fe]

The first Avinox motor was already good enough. They could have focused on reducing weight and improving range with the M2 motor, and the mid-power category could really have been under threat. But with so many people asking for more power, I guess they made the right choice from a sales perspective.

 

[G-Sport]

Better walk mode! Had a right slog with the bike on Kinder a few days ago as the walk mode seemed incapable of matching my pace and had no power on steep bits (in lowest gear) but also managed random wheel spins now and again.

 

[Emailsucks98]

Unfortunately I think the SL market is going to slowly die. I said a year ago I see SL and full power merging into one eventually. Full power bikes are getting lighter and in many cases they weigh the same or are lighter than many SL bikes on the market.

Did a 3000' ride with a friend recently, me on a Slash+ (580wh) and him on a Forbidden Druid-E (800wh). Guess what, we used the same battery %!

I don't think either of us were surprised. Much of the climb was conversational pace (pretty much max for my Slash+ with thermal limiting). Of course I was working harder.

He had owned both a Slash+ and an EXe previously. He thought the TQ was likely more efficient, quieter and better ride feel at lower power levels vs the DJI. But of course, he prefers the DJI everywhere else & isn't going back.

That's the rub: nobody is doing objective testing to compare, say the DJI motor with a 600wh battery at low assist levels, to a TQ HPR60/580wh.

I don't see the SL market going away, because battery WH=weight. Some people are always going to prefer working harder on a lighter bike. Now if that's a smaller battery with a tuned-down full-power motor, I'd still call it an SL.