Do e-bikes make that big a difference?

[Me rida my bicycle]

Yesterday I had such a laugh at Bloemendal. The one table had all the "serious" cyclist thin, lycra wearing guys looking serious drinking espressos (I guess) and the table next to them the complete opposite with their e-bikes.

It just looked like the big guys where having more fun. 

 

[MTBRIDER1234]

This has probably been said on here already, but I will say it again. 

E bikes are much more confidence inspiring and stable on the downhills due to the extra weight down low. I am not sure if they do it anymore, but I remember that there was a period in time where the DH racers were putting lead weights on their bikes to make them more stable and handle better.

To put it in context, the specialised alloy levo has similar geometry to my PYGA slakline, and a little less travel. But it does weigh about 9kg more. The difference when descending was huge, the Levo was so point-and-shoot, and it trucked over everything and kept on going regardless. It felt so much more stable and planted, and I am sure that I am on average probably faster riding an E bike on the downs , especially on rough and rocky trails. However, the PYGA is suuuuper playful and easy to throw around, despite the fact that I sized up, so I find it to be a much more fun and nimble bike. It definitely feels more agile that a bike of its travel should, and that is one thing that most E bikes can't match.

So it pretty much boils down to:

E bike = more stable, planted and confidence inspiring

Normal bike = more playful, nimble and lively

*this is just based on my experience and opinions, so it will probably differ for some.

[Paul Ruinaard]

8 minutes ago, MTBRIDER1234 said:

This has probably been said on here already, but I will say it again. 

E bikes are much more confidence inspiring and stable on the downhills due to the extra weight down low. I am not sure if they do it anymore, but I remember that there was a period in time where the DH racers were putting lead weights on their bikes to make them more stable and handle better.

To put it in context, the specialised alloy levo has similar geometry to my PYGA slakline, and a little less travel. But it does weigh about 9kg more. The difference when descending was huge, the Levo was so point-and-shoot, and it trucked over everything and kept on going regardless. It felt so much more stable and planted, and I am sure that I am on average probably faster riding an E bike on the downs , especially on rough and rocky trails. However, the PYGA is suuuuper playful and easy to throw around, despite the fact that I sized up, so I find it to be a much more fun and nimble bike. It definitely feels more agile that a bike of its travel should, and that is one thing that most E bikes can't match.

So it pretty much boils down to:

E bike = more stable, planted and confidence inspiring

Normal bike = more playful, nimble and lively

*this is just based on my experience and opinions, so it will probably differ for some.

What the man said. I have a Stumpy Sworks with a very nice new Pike on the front - by all accounts a competent bike. But given the ebike (Levo)  has more rubber, more fork (Lyrik 170mm) and more weight when it gets steep on the down and the rock gardens it trucks down through stuff so much better. 

For an average rider this is so much more confidence inspiring. I can say it allows me as an overweight older guy to ride through and over things i would not normally pedal in to easily.