Is there no ebike forum?

qclabrat

qclabrat

Well-Known Member
All the talk about no gravel forum got me wondering if we got short sighted on not having an ebike forum. I'm pretty sure ebikes will be around long after we've forgotten about fatbikes and gravel bikes. I actually liked the cyclocross forum, though I never raced. Tech talk, race recaps, kinda exciting. Bike packing? Now that's really niche and sure we don't want to put out then retract again. So here's mine for questions and facts of everything ebikes.
 
Looking at a bike with the Shimano EP6 motor. How's it compare with the new EP8? Seems it has similar specs but cost less as it's a lower priced build
 
qclabrat said:
Looking at a bike with the Shimano EP6 motor. How's it compare with the new EP8? Seems it has similar specs but cost less as it's a lower priced build
Click to expand...
I think the main difference between EP6 and EP8 is EP6 isn't as tunable as EP8 where you can go to the e-tube app and adjust the torque and power for each mode setting.
 
qclabrat said:
All the talk about no gravel forum got me wondering if we got short sighted on not having an ebike forum. I'm pretty sure ebikes will be around long after we've forgotten about fatbikes and gravel bikes. I actually liked the cyclocross forum, though I never raced. Tech talk, race recaps, kinda exciting. Bike packing? Now that's really niche and sure we don't want to put out then retract again. So here's mine for questions and facts of everything ebikes.
Click to expand...
Can we please for the love of god fix the ignore button?!!
 
tonyride said:
I think the main difference between EP6 and EP8 is EP6 isn't as tunable as EP8 where you can go to the e-tube app and adjust the torque and power for each mode setting.
Click to expand...
What if I'm looking for a mid level ebike and don't care about the fine tuning. There are many new sub 3k bikes using it and since I'm just window shopping and read some reviews, it looks like an option for those on a budget.
 
pibbles said:
Can we please for the love of god fix the ignore button?!!
Click to expand...
Screenshot_20250326-160043.png
 
qclabrat said:
What if I'm looking for a mid level ebike and don't care about the fine tuning. There are many new sub 3k bikes using it and since I'm just window shopping and read some reviews, it looks like an option for those on a budget.
Click to expand...
It is understandable for someone who haven't had a proper ride on an ebike to think they don't need to fine tune it but you will feel differently after a couple of rides at different parks. You'll want different power, torque, and sensitivity levels for different types of trails. Tuning can be done for each of the 3 modes. Just sayin'. I don't know what brand the <$2K eMTB you're looking at is but when it comes time to upgrade it'll be much easier to sell a well-known brand than one that's questionable.
 
Last edited:
Bike N Gear said:
Prepare to be disappointed if you don't care about the fine tuning. Though, you'll appreciate your second Ebike more.
Click to expand...
So are there no decent mid level builds for ebikes? I'm looking to dip my toes in but not jump out and give up on analog bikes. A few years back I test rode a Giant Stanche which was terrible, afterwards, I demo'd a Rocky mountain which was much better. Though I'd imagine tech is better now
 
qclabrat said:
So are there no decent mid level builds for ebikes? I'm looking to dip my toes in but not jump out and give up on analog bikes. A few years back I test rode a Giant Stanche which was terrible, afterwards, I demo'd a Rocky mountain which was much better. Though I'd imagine tech is better now
Click to expand...
Then the bike I'm selling is perfect for you.... assuming you ride a medium. Feel free to take it for a spin.
 
qclabrat said:
So are there no decent mid level builds for ebikes? I'm looking to dip my toes in but not jump out and give up on analog bikes. A few years back I test rode a Giant Stanche which was terrible, afterwards, I demo'd a Rocky mountain which was much better. Though I'd imagine tech is better now
Click to expand...
When I started shopping in late Spring of last year, I had a similar opinion - I just want some help... And then I test rode a bunch of bikes from Halter's. The only "mid-power" bike I strongly considered was the Moterra SL. That really is a great bike. I ended up going with a full-power Heckler mainly because it feels a lot like my normal enduro bike (a 2019 Megatower).

The tech is definitely getting better, but it will be in small increments for a while. Any bike you buy now will likely serve you well for many years. Personally, I don't plan on upgrading until gearbox/belt drive bikes become more common.
 
Low end e-bikes are far more problematic that low end muscle bikes (as they called them in Spain). Brakes, suspension, tires and the entire drivetrain take an absolute beating on e-bikes. The average speed goes up and the weight of course does too.

Personally, I’d stick with bikes that offer a sram transmission group set as this is truly the first drivetrain built with e-bikes in mind. Look for a mechanical version of this in the next few weeks.

We have tried to move a few lower end e-bikes in the shop but they just sit. Once a parking lot test ride is done, it’s game over. That said, we still have in stock and/or have access to many prior year e-bikes at significantly less than original price.

In the game of e-bikes, the saying is typically “buy once, cry once”.
 
The sram gx cable shifter with the single shift shifter works just fine on my Kenevo. One-gear-at-a-time works just fine. You cannot speed shift with 90 nm.
 
My thoughts on drivetrain, first off 12 gears on an e-bike are too many. Cost of replacement would be next. Once or twice a year I snap a derailleur so getting it back on the trail shouldn't be a car payment. I tried to make the ebike version Microshift advent X work since I have had good luck on analog bikes but the cassette even though steel sucked. I have since switch to Shimano Linkglide 11sp and 10 speed on both e-bikes and short term performance has been super. Shifting is smoothest out of all three, the secret sauce is in the cassette. I'll update on how the cassette holds up, Shimano claims 300% more life then hyper glide. If this holds true I'll be happy as I prefer the Shimano over SRAM shifter.
Screenshot_20250327-090910.png
Screenshot_20250327-091054.png

I don't buy the gimmicky you can't break a transmission derailleur
 
jdog said:
Personally, I’d stick with bikes that offer a sram transmission group set as this is truly the first drivetrain built with e-bikes in mind. Look for a mechanical version of this in the next few weeks.
Click to expand...
Or... now:

$190 for an Eagle 90 RD. $670 for a full groupset.

The Eagle 70 sounds interesting. Mainly the 10-52 cassette that works on a HG hub body. I wonder how cross-system compatible that will be with other SRAM 12 spd systems.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom