It not only covers a huge range of application but was also the strongest competitor to the test winner, the YETI 160E T1. We strive to present the character of each bike in a clear and easily understandable way. Thats exactly why you need to know not just what you need to pay attention to, but also what is less important. It is the best touring bike in the test field and, after some suspension tuning, also a good all-rounder that will appeal to both beginners and advanced riders with its easy going and good-natured handling. We think giving points according to a rigid scoring system isnt the most helpful approach since it oversimplifies this very complex topic and doesnt do it justice. Turning the Boost level up to +2 is a bit like increasing the Support level on a Specialized Levo, or the Assistance Character on a Shimano system. Even though almost all motors have a rated power of 250 W, huge differences become apparent on the trail. After all, body size is usually also related to body weight. It speeds up acceleration and allows you to access more power with less input, at the expense of draining the battery a bit faster. This differs to my experience of riding other e-MTBs, where Ill typically only ride in the Eco or Trail modes on technical ascents. Braaaaaap: this time the test field includes a bike that unrelentingly pulls away from any Bosch or Shimano motor uphill, but also engenders its own pitfalls! Yeti 160E C1 E-Bike 2023 Compare. Lying there, pinned under his superior strength, you had the gut-wrenching realization that life would never be the same. Our test field only featured tires from Schwalbe or MAXXIS. In my experience however, Ive found the geometry and handling on this bike to be nothing short of brilliant. And arm pump after a long run is also reduced (click here for an explanation of the term What makes a good eMTB and what should I look for in an eMTB? Whether on flow trails, technical singletrails, in the bike park or on a tour, the Orbea Rise M-Team is a true all-rounder that inspires in every discipline. 2022 Rocky Mountain Altitude Carbon 90 Rally Edition Bike. The best eMTBs are able to combine seemingly contradictory characteristics, like being agile yet composed. The good news for all price-conscious buyers: in our next issue, we will have a group test of cheaper models. Compare. That said, lots of power isnt necessarily better, as you will read further on. The most powerful motors delivers 108 Nm of torque, the weakest just 35 Nm. Does it suit you or not? Among all the specialists, there are also a few true all-rounders that cut a fine figure in almost every situation these are the contenders for the title of Best eMTB of 2022. Want to avoid unpleasant surprises after buying your bike? - Seat angle could be steeper Most brands choose motors from either Bosch or Shimano, with Specialized being another exception because of their use of the Brose motor. Full Sealed Cartridge Bearings. Tuscany, staying in the bike hotel Massa Vecchia. It rolls on 29in wheels, and it's equipped with a 170mm travel fork and 160mm of rear travel. The YETI 160E T1 is the deserved Best in Test and thus the best eMTB of 2022. Most eMTB hardtails simply arent made for the trails! The Altitude Powerplay Carbon 90 Rally Edition has a better fork and more travel, while the Turbo Levo Expert has 29 / 27.5 aluminum wheels and better components. Thanks to integrated batteries, top-end eMTBs can even be hard to differentiate from traditional gravel or mountain bikes. Speaking of climbing, the Dyname 4.0 motor doesnt produce a lot of overrun. Related Articles First impressions - The Ibis Oso Ride Review. The SCOR 4060 Z ST XT impresses with its touring capabilities, the customisable paint protection films and the fun ride on flow trails. The Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Alloy 30 Coil, Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay Alloy 30, and Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy are all aluminum frame full suspension mountain e-bikes. 2023 Thok TK01 R Review | A surprising package from an Italian e-MTB specialist, Trek Rail Review | A plush, powerful & frustratingly near-perfect electric mountain bike, 9 tuning tips to get the most out of your Bosch electric mountain bike | Bosch Smart System Review, 4 upgrades & 7 updates on our Fuel EXe long-term test bike | Trek Fuel EXe Review, This website requires Javascript for optimum viewing purposes. One of the bikes uses the old Bosch 2021 system. In a world of growing battery sizes, it is not an outdated oddity but manages to bridge the gap between all-round and Light eMTBs. With 170mm of travel, 630-watt hours of power, and Shimanos top-of-the-line EP8 motor, you can blast down the mountain and still stop on a moss-covered dime. Altitude Carbon 90 Rally Edition New Colour The most important factors to consider when investing in an electric mountain bike are battery power, charging times, and hub drives versus mid-drives. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Same attributes as our race proven Altitude. The perceived noise depends strongly on the resonance of the frame and varies from bike to bike. If you want to know more about what has caused this, you can find all the information here. Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay C70 | Dyname 4.0/720 Wh | 170/160 mm (f/r) 24.5 kg in size L | 8,800 | Click for review ROTWILD R.E375 PRO | Shimano EP8/375 Wh | 170/160 mm (f/r) 19,68 kg in size L | 8.999 | Click for review SCOR 4060 Z ST XT | Shimano EP8/720 Wh | 150/140 mm (f/r) 22,74 kg in size L | 8.299 | Click for review As for rebound damping, I set both the adjusters on fork and shock a click or two slower than halfway. The future of eMTBs doesnt just look promising, it also looks versatile. In addition, the small remotes have a cleaner look than the Bosch solution and are also less exposed on the bike. The trail network around Monte Arsenti provides the ideal test conditions, allowing us to work out both the big and small differences that separate the 13 eMTBs on test. Preventing the front from lifting on technical climbs requires a lot of physical effort as you have to shift . Just because you have the range doesnt mean youll have fun riding! Batteries with a 600700 Wh capacity have become firmly established on sporty eMTBs in recent years and hit the sweet spot for most of you. Like every person, every bike has its own character that inevitably embodies both strengths and weaknesses. The cheapest bike in the test field, the SCOTT Ransom eRIDE 910, costs 7,199 and enters the race as the reigning Best Buy from last year. How did the individual eMTB in this group test fare? Yes, you can steepen the angle by flipping the Ride-4 chip, but I dont want to steepen the head angle and lift the BB at the same time. If you are between two frame sizes, you usually have the choice between more stability on the larger bike or more agility on the smaller one. They have very long 470 mm seat tubes, limiting the choice of sizes. The Altitude Powerplay Alloy 70 has a better fork and more travel, while the Turbo Levo Comp Alloy has 29 / 27.5 aluminum wheels and better components. Was. The fact that the main pivot isnt sky-high no doubt contributes to this predictable weight distribution. There are even models that can compete with downhill-focussed bikes and with which you can hunt Strava KOMs. This isnt possible with the MERIDA, SCOTT and ROTWILD. the trail performance and quality of the bike. Like the longer travel Altitude, it gets the new motor and Ride-4 chip. Software topics such as connectivity or motor customisation/tuning also played an important role. Remember the summer your little brother grew six inches and, for the first time, forced you to yell uncle when wrestling in the basement? In our annual group test, in which we search for the best eMTB of the year, we tested and compared the 13 most exciting and hottest eMTBs of the season. With four assist modes on offer, the performance band of the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay spans a pretty wide gap. In terms of connectivity and customisability of the motor system, it sets the tone in the test field together with the Specialized S-Works Turbo Kenevo SL. Rubber compound, tread, tire width and casing all influence performance and each decision has specific advantages and disadvantages. Lithium-ion batteries slowly lose capacity over time, so expect this additional cost down the line. They have a maximum load of just 94 kg and 95 kg respectively. This is indeed a bloody good e-MTB. Its a little lacking in features compared to Specializeds MasterMind TCU display theres no phone connectivity, and it doesnt display metrics like ride time or altitude. Remember, there is no simple answer to the question of, How far will I be able to ride on a single charge? We delve deeper into the topic of range and battery capacity in the next chapter. Last years test winner i.e. The 750 Wh battery can be removed to the side in typical Trek fashion. In the same way that Giant has collaborated with Yamaha, and Specialized has partnered with Brose and Mahle, Rocky Mountain has employed the services of fellow Canadian brand Propulsion Powercycle to help engineer the motor for the Instinct and Altitude Powerplay models. Some now even use large 220 mm discs. Price: $5,299 List Pros: Smooth and consistent power output, modern geometry, Cons: No digital display, wimpy tires and fork, center of gravity feels high. While Ive found the long chainstay setting to work beautifully for my height and riding style, I do wonder how taller riders on the Large and XL frame sizes will find the rear centre length. The perfect suspension offers safety, reserves, comfort, control and enough feedback from the ground to actively manouevre the bike across the trail. Its also significantly more responsive under power compared to the Kenevo SL, and it rails turns better too. Sadly, on the Rocky Mountain, the battery rattles. In such a system, an XL bike would have more battery capacity than a size S or M bike. The motor is called Dyname 4.0, and like the frame its had a significant update for 2022. Five years ago, we explained that that laboratory range measurements arent representative of the real world and that the bike industry is yet to find a useful and realistic solution to this. Rocky Mountain 2022 Altitude Alloy 30 29" MTB Beige/Green. Rocky Mountain altitude or specialized enduro? EMTBs are delicate, high-tech devices that need regular maintenance and care. Thats why we invited two bikes from each of these manufacturers to the group test. Youll get the most out of the Dyname 4.0 drive unit when spinning at a cadence of 85-120 RPM, and theres actually a dedicated page on the Jumbotron display that shows a big tick when youre in that zone. Ive also spent some time self-shuttling at my local downhill zone as part of a standardised range test to see how far I could ride on a single battery charge. To get some more concrete numbers though, I subjected the Altitude Powerplay to our standardised shuttle range test. First of all: you cant have whichever remote you want. In general, availability still poses major challenges for the industry in 2022. As a result, an arms race for larger batteries has been taking place for years. The clunky remote of the new Smart System, flooded with buttons, is ergonomically one of the worst in the entire test it is only marginally improved upon by the Purion, another Bosch option. Testing the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay has been quite the journey of discovery. How do you ride your eMTB or how do you want to ride it? Great dampers and high-performance components make it a fully capable whip thats functional on a wide variety of trails. Hub-drive motors are located in the front or rear wheel of the bike and apply force directly to the drivetrain via the pedaling inputs of the bike. For increased sensitivity, the lower shock pivot rolls on dual bearings rather than a conventional bushing. But its not just kinematics, components and suspension travel that are decisive. While we cant comment on long-term durability, so far weve not encountered any issues with the Dyname 4.0 motor on our test bike. These stop providing assistance after the bike reaches 20mph or more. Most expensive bike in the 2021 group test: Specialized S-Works Levo/Levo SL for, Most expensive bike in the 2022 group test: Specialized S-Works Levo/Kenevo SL for, Cheapest bike 2021: FOCUS JAM 6.9 NINE for, Cheapest bike 2022: SCOTT Ransom eRIDE 910 for, The Norco Sight VLT C1 has the largest internal battery capacity at, The fact that only 2 Bosch-equipped bike are represented in the test field is due to the limited availability of Bosch bikes with the new Smart System at the time of the test and the fact. The Norco Sight VLT C1 offers an enormous range with its 900 Wh battery and Shimano EP8 motor. And no matter where you take it, its an incredibly fun ride. Find out here which approaches actually lead to more trail fun. Personally, Ive not found the reduced overrun to be an issue for the majority of trails Ive ridden, and both motors are easy to adapt to after a few rides. EMTB fullys arent just at the spearhead of eMTB development, offering more fun and safety than hardtails, they are also most in demand. Trek attempts to prevent the battery from rattling with foam padding in the down tube. If you want to delve deeper into the super exciting and complex subject of suspension, you will find a complete reference in our sister magazine ENDURO. E. Rubbee X e-bike conversion kit . Dry, boring, complicated: numbers have a bad reputation. Instead of always riding with a large battery capacity and the associated weight, its very practical to be able to increase capacity with an additional external battery, whenever you need greater range. Which routes and trails did we ride? Which of these would perform better for Mostly scetchy jump trail as well as a pump track with a steep fire road climb. The search for the best eMTB was exciting and a close call. For the front we recommend a tire up to 2.6 wide with puncture-proof MAXXIS Doubledown or Schwalbe Super Gravity casing and 3C MaxxGrip or ADDIX Ultra Soft (purple) respectively. Regional availability may vary. MD; Backorder. And what type of rider wont? And the changes are significant enough to make it a feature worth having something thats not always the case with flip chips found on other full suspension bikes. The prices shown here are as they were at the time of our testing. If youre an experienced rider looking for more juice, the Powerplay is your play. Thats on the heavy side even for a big travel e-MTB, though theres certainly nothing dainty about this bike. Pretty damn good at just about everything climbing, descending, cornering and going strong all day the new Spectral: ON CF 7 is for those who will ride nearly anything. Usability is poor, because too many buttons have to be operated with only one finger. Altitude Powerplay Carbon 90 Rally Edition: $13,129 CAD . This change was obviously made to accommodate the motor, and it doesn't give the Altitude Powerplay a vastly different ride than RMB's other trail/enduro bikes. The quality and type of pads also play a decisive role when it comes to powerful braking. But if you compare them in a meaningful way, they provide exciting insights into trends and developments. However, it could no longer defend its title. Drive System Dyname 3.0 Class 1 eMTB Drive | 250w | 108Nm | Upgraded High Cadence Boost & Power Extension Firmware Theres nothing outrageous about the geometry, and there are no surprises to the fit as a result. Did you enjoy this article? What counts is a good combination of modulation, stability, braking power, adjustability, heat resistance and control. Attention, spoilers ahead: the size or capacity of the battery increasingly determines handling on the trail. time stamps 0:00 intro 2:48 mid travel full power e bikes 3:27 mondraker crafty 4:08 rocky mountain altitude powerplay 5:06 trek . Click here to learn more. We also clear up half-truths, examine forum discussions, marketing promises and tell you what really matters. Weve summarised what this can cost per year and what you need to bear in mind. Although you dont necessarily need the biggest disc rotors as a 70 kg flyweight, you will still benefit from them. That bike has a remarkable ability to insulate your feet from whats going on underneath the wheels, leading to a cloud-like ride quality. The pedalling position on the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Carbon 90 Rally Edition is comfortable, making it ideal for longer outings. While many manufacturers rely on standard systems from Bosch and Shimano, our test also includes models that want to convince as Light e-MTBs with lower motor power and a modular battery concept i.e. Given all the updates, I was curious to see how the proprietary motor would perform alongside all the other e-MTBs weve been testing lately. Specialized Levo Carbon E-Bike 2023 SAVE 25 %. The new 2022 Instinct Powerplay The Instinct Powerplay is Rocky's Trail/All Mountain platform with 140mm of rear travel, paired with a 150mm fork. When it comes to trail fun, eMTBs with large batteries quickly fall behind. Troy Lee Designs Flowline and Flowline SE MTB Helmet A reasonable successor? Even with the big battery, it takes less than four hours for a full recharge. Altitude Powerplay Alloy 30 Coil New Color $6,199.00 USD Altitude Powerplay Alloy 50 New Color There are sliding scales at the end of each review, giving you a visual representation of the bikes handling. If you want a navigation aid, you should take a closer look at our navigation device group test. If you mostly ride on gravel, forest and meadow trails, a less heavily treaded tire with a thinner casing is sufficient. Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay C90 Mountain E-Bike - 2021, X-Large, Mechanical Shifting $7,239.99 In Stock Specifications Frameset Frame FORM Alloy. And while the overall integration is neat and the controls on the Altitude Powerplay are a vast improvement over the previous model, the main buttons on the remote switch are too light and a bit vague. As such, its designed for similarly rowdy riding as the Trek Rail, Specialized Kenevo SL, Giant Reign E+ and Norco Sight VLT. With that in mind, here are seven of our favorite eMTBs today. Youll also need to replace the chainring more frequently than usual, as its made from alloy. The Altitude Powerplay Alloy 50 has a better fork and more travel, while the Turbo Levo Comp Alloy has 29 / 27.5 aluminum wheels and better components. For years, pedal-assists were forbidden from trails, non-existent in shops, shunned from mainstream media and magnets for vitriol. YETI have combined all their geometry and suspension know-how in a great overall package powered by a Shimano EP8 motor and 630 Wh battery, creating a bike that is the new benchmark in trail performance, for everyone from beginners to pros. 150mm Travel. All in all, its all about the right balance and set-up. To make the differences as clear as possible, we use the whole scale. No matter which you choose, the conversion is simple and the connectivity options remain unchanged. Price plays a subordinate role because, understandably, manufacturers debut the most exciting technologies and concepts in their flagship models. It is the perfect all-rounder that covers the whole spectrum from touring to bike park visits, scores with enormous riding performance and convinces with almost perfect and sensible equipment, even if it comes at a hefty price of 13,790. Add to Basket. And is range really that important to you, or would you rather have good handling on the trail? The motor anchors above and forward of the crankset, with a small drive sprocket that sitsclose to the main pivot. When choosing a bike, its important to choose a concept that fits your personal requirements. The advantages are obvious: more drop means easier mounting and dismounting as well as more freedom of movement and safety on the trail. - CushCore inserts as standard It is unbeaten in technical uphill terrain and also feels most comfortable downhill on challenging and fast trails. The bikes in the test field not only differ enormously in their intended use and character but also in their battery concepts. Torque also has a big influence. We dont just want to test the bikes that interest you the most. It's perfect for hyper-aggressive riders who want to ride the hardest trails without a chairlift or truck shuttle. However, the suspension generates loads of grip, and combined with the robust tyres and well-balanced weight distribution, it absolutely rips through the corners. With smaller frame sizes or frames with a kink in the seat tube, insertion depth can often be a limiting factor. There are huge differences not only in motor power, but also in battery capacity for bikes that are aimed at similar applications: models like the Specialized Kenevo SL Light eMTB with a 360 Wh battery and 35 Nm torque output, take a different approach with less battery capacity and sometimes less motor power, while manufacturers like Norco, packing 900 Wh, exhaust all possibilities to integrate as much juice into the down tube as possible. In this guide, we break down what restrictions still apply to e-MTBs, what to look for and who should buy one. Puncture protection is even more important on the rear wheel than on the front, so a puncture-proof casing is a must. Heres how the Altitude Powerplay faired; Ill admit I was surprised that the Altitude Powerplay managed to clock up over 2,100m of climbing in one hit. the best eMTB of 2021, the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10K, went into this test almost unchanged and demonstrated that it is still a strong all-rounder. If you think, Cool!, we have to disappoint you. The bar has a fantastic profile with a suitable width and rise, the WTB saddle is totally agreeable, the Shimano I-Spec mounts are tidy, and the ODI grips are a really nice touch. In this group test, we looked for the best trail all-rounder that shines on every trail and delivers the best overall package of handling, uphill, downhill and touring performance, design, motor, specs, battery concept and detailed solutions. The discrepancy between motor displays couldnt be greater: The test field has everything on offer, from year-old displays with the sparse functionality and look of a Tamagotchi, to modern displays with numerous features, to minimalist, fully integrated concepts where the display is no longer present at all. Therefore, we cannot make a general statement about the suspension travel. Unfortunately, the range of functions is significantly limited compared to Shimano and Specialized, and the added value is low. - Brilliant cornering performance You can also remove the Kiox 300 display on the new Bosch Smart System, depending on your mood, and rely exclusively on the LED remote. To help you answer all these questions and more, we present the most important battery concepts in detail in this article. It is fun to ride on flow trails and the suspension and high touring comfort are also a strength. Please, It appears you're using an old version of Internet Explorer which is, Rear Centre: 437mm (Short) 447mm (Long). On smoother inclines, the motors sensitivity can also be felt through untidy pedalling technique. Introducing the new CUBE Stereo Hybrid ONE55 eMTB An ebike outside the box? At 95 kg, am I already too heavy for my eMTB? Four long years after the Canadian brand introduced its very first electric mountain bike, the 2nd generation Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay has finally arrived. There is of course huge torque on tap, which becomes apparent the harder you pedal. Altitude Powerplay lineup | Rocky Mountain DESIGNED FOR Enduro WHEEL SIZE 29" FRONT TRAVEL 170 mm REAR TRAVEL 160 mm Designed alongside our Dyname 4.0 drive system, the Altitude Powerplay has everything you need for aggressive enduro e-biking. With its sophisticated modular battery concept with a 360 Wh battery and 252 Wh range extender and throttled, 60 Nm Shimano motor, combined with an individual look, almost perfect spec and outstanding riding performance, the Spanish trail rocket convinces across the board. But whats surprised me most about this bike is just how adaptable and enthusiastic it is for all-roundriding. First of all, a big thank you! The change made an immediate improvement to weight distribution, improving stability on the descents and offering balanced grip between the front and rear wheels. Great deal on 2022 SPECIALIZED Turbo Levo Comp Carbon: Black - New - S3 frame size. Copyright 2023 E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine. By becoming a supporter of E-MOUNTAINBIKE, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Orbea shows how its done with the battery and motor concept of the Rise. If your favourite brand isnt included, thats no reason to throw in the towel. It was also much more planted on the climbs, allowing me to make better use of the massive motor power. Dankzij zijn planetaire mechanische tandwieloverbrenging benadert de magneet de reis 3 . This involves pedalling up a road climb with the motor set to the most powerful assistance level, before bombing back down along a variety of downhill runs to see how many laps I can get in until the battery runs flat. Today, eMTBs offer multiple levels of assistance that feel smooth and natural and many employ nearly silent motors. If I was being really picky, Id suggest the seat tube angle could be steeper. The Altitudes kinematic is indeed very progressive, which provides a heap of big-hit support that will no doubt suit the freeriding Vanderhams and Simmons out there. The Altitude Powerplay is a lot of bike and there's a lot to like about it. The suspension consists of a FOX 38 Factory GRIP2 fork and FOX FLOAT X2 Factory shock, controlling 170/160 mm travel at the front and rear. Thats why in our group tests we look at the value of the overall package and focus on the overall performance, not individual components. )! Class 2 e-bikes are throttle-assisted and are equipped with a motor that can move the bike forward without pedaling. Made for aggressive, all-day riders, the newly-launched Shuttle is turning heads. Whats the best eMTB of 2021? Words: Jonas Mssig, Rudolf Fischer, Julian Schwede Photos: Julian Lemme, Robin Schmitt, Peter Walke. We are convinced that more than 700 Wh in the tank isnt necessary for a trail all-rounder like the one we are looking for in this test. Rocky Mountain, Shimano and Specialized use a minimalist handlebar remote to ensure that you always hit the right button in the heat of battle. On flow trails, it also scores points with its poppy suspension and balanced riding position. You want a bike that delivers more motor power than a Bosch system? It is also not the right choice for beginners due to its demanding handling. Dual bearings are employed in the chainstay pivot for increased stiffness and durability, while external shields are added to all pivot bearings to ward off contaminants. The two most expensive bikes in the test field, the Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo and Specialized S-Works Turbo Kenevo SL, cost 15,000 each. How long are your longest rides and how much ascending do you realistically do? The bigger the disc, the better the control, the better the modulation on long descents and the better the resistance to fade. Federal law classifies all electric bikes as "motorized", and as such, does not allow them on trails or land where motorized vehicles are prohibited. A useful method to determine where you can ride your e-bike is to determine which class it belongs to: there are three, each with its own restrictions and designations when it comes to trail access. Tailles dispo. If you are prepared to work harder uphill, you will find a bike that really delivers on the way down. The Dyname 4.0 motor on the Rocky Mountain does not have an app, but here too you can fine-tune the support levels via the display.
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