Duane_Bosch Posted February 3, 2017 Posted February 3, 2017 electrified and old MTB, Please post pics and how you did it? I'm keen to do this to my old SS
Zebra Posted February 4, 2017 Posted February 4, 2017 Please post pics and how you did it? I'm keen to do this to my old SSwill do... interestingly, I have a mate who owns 2 x Specialized MTB's, he loved my conversion, so he then went to ride a Spec Levo, (admittedly it was a 29" fattie Spec Levo, and he MUCH preferred my sub-R20K build! He reckoned that the human-interface was better - I have 9 adjustable levels of pedal assist displayed on the handlebar, and the levo you need to crane your neck down to see the 'lights' on the side of the battery, etc. 500W of PURE fun, admittedly the LEVO has 550W, but other than that, little real difference, in fact I suspect the motor is out of the same factory, and ditto for the 48V battery pack... Cheers
Zebra Posted February 4, 2017 Posted February 4, 2017 ...the Specialized Epic is one of a few full-suss MTB's (tere are others) that can accommodate a battery WITHIN the triangle, SO much better than having the battery up high/out back, on a rack.... Chris
Hairy Posted February 8, 2017 Posted February 8, 2017 Can one use the word BATTY if there are no pics of Emily?
Hairy Posted February 8, 2017 Posted February 8, 2017 must Tjune him it is Zebra ...... not Zeeeeebra
Hairy Posted February 8, 2017 Posted February 8, 2017 Smaak his energy (No pun intended) in his review!
Raydek Posted February 8, 2017 Posted February 8, 2017 Lol. Check his gimbal review, lots of 'energy'
BuffsVintageBikes Posted February 8, 2017 Posted February 8, 2017 I rode a Spez Levo Fatty for the first time this past weekend and I'm in love with the bike. I could easily live with one in my stable right now, never mind when I'm older (50 qualifies right?). So why...Firstly because I've been out of cycling for a while and I'm lacking the base fitness to stay with all my mates on the longer and steeper stuff but I haven't lost any of my trail shredding skills so I can hang with them on the downhills.A bike like this would allow me to join them on rides less than 80km's (apparently the battery range) without killing myself in the process and I'll still get a solid workout in. Secondly because I much prefer downhill shredding to the uphill slogs on my local trail and this bike would allow me to play to my hearts content For sure, it won't be my every day ride but it sure will serve a purpose
Headshot Posted February 9, 2017 Posted February 9, 2017 The impact of ebikes will be felt all over. Take social media for example. Imagine the uphill KOM's on Strava being destroyed by some ebike riding smoker with a massive boep? As a friend suggested - an ebike won't help too much on tech trails and single track that is steep down. The extra weight and poor handling will make them slower in certain situations. The problem for us is that these unfit, unskilled riders will then make it to the fun descent before you on your normal bike and then proceed to clog the trail with their 25kg beast. Another point is that the ebike rider may well spend more time riding a trail because they can pedal up several more times than a proper biker and in so doing wear the trails out more. How about a "heavy vehicle surcharge" for e bikes? :-) I think its a matter of time before trail access issues also arise. Part of the reeason MTB has gained so much access to trails and even our own national park is because it is a human and gravity powered sport. We hardly get up hills faster than a trail runner for instance. Ebikes are in an other league on this score. I have revised my opinion somewhat. I have seen a few people out on ebikes and you hardly notice them. I am persuaded that the pedal assist aspect makes them not much more damaging to trails and I think that for some kinds of rider they make perfect sense. I still think they are too heavy, too expensive and look ugly and therefore I'd rather not own one but each to his own.
Skinnyone Posted February 9, 2017 Posted February 9, 2017 Companies like Trek and Specialized who donate money to local trails are not really going to introduce trail damaging bikes to any market are they? I personally find that the most damage to trails is braking ruts from people dragging/skidding the back wheel instead of modulating the brakes correctly. Very little damage on uphills or flats... Having done some homework on these bikes, the current regulations in SA state that so long as the motor cannot drive the bike without human input (pedal assist), the motor output does not exceed 250W and is cut off from assisting at 25km/hr then they are classified as a bicycle and do not need licensing etc. I know there are work arounds/hacks to the limiters etc but so be it... Having ridden a couple of E-bikes I don't think you work that much less - the faster/more boost you want from the motor, the harder you have to pedal...I have got off an E-bike just a knackered as a normal bike, just having done the route a couple of minutes faster. For me the difference comes in where my commute to work is a 25km one way trip (50km a day) so currently it takes about an hour and a half to 1hr20min - depending on lights, traffic density etc. If I could cut that time down by 10-15min by using an E-bike, I would! Love them or hate them they are here to stay...
Zebra Posted February 9, 2017 Posted February 9, 2017 I rode a Spez Levo Fatty for the first time this past weekend and I'm in love with the bike. I could easily live with one in my stable right now, never mind when I'm older (50 qualifies right?). So why...Firstly because I've been out of cycling for a while and I'm lacking the base fitness to stay with all my mates on the longer and steeper stuff but I haven't lost any of my trail shredding skills so I can hang with them on the downhills.A bike like this would allow me to join them on rides less than 80km's (apparently the battery range) without killing myself in the process and I'll still get a solid workout in. Secondly because I much prefer downhill shredding to the uphill slogs on my local trail and this bike would allow me to play to my hearts content For sure, it won't be my every day ride but it sure will serve a purpose Hi Buff, are you also 'Buff' on the WD Forum?Cheers, Chris a.k.a. Flying Brick
BuffsVintageBikes Posted February 9, 2017 Posted February 9, 2017 Indeed I am Chris I'm also the oke who now has your Bianchi shirt signed by Big Mig thanks to my stepfathers generosity
Zebra Posted February 9, 2017 Posted February 9, 2017 thanks Buff, yes, makes sense now - enjoy the shirt - Big Mig was somethilng of a hero of mine!Chris
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