Buy A Cheaper E-Bike And Upgrade It? | Ask EMBN

Should you buy a cheaper e-bike model and upgrade it over time? Why are your EMTB gears jumping? Which bike brands will develop an electric mountain bike next? Should you mix the wheel size on your e-bike? Chris and Steve answer your EMTB questions ⚡️

We like to help here at EMBN so don't forget to leave us your questions in the comments below using #AskEMBN and we'll try and answer them ⚡️

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[embn]

Dont forget to leave your questions in the comments using #AskEMBN and we'll try to answer them ⚡️

[Jeremy_ab_ca]

IMO, upgraded wheels are the best upgrade. Going with a higher quality wheelset (including hubs) with a solid warranty (i.e. NOBL, We Are One) has been amazing for me.

[garryhaines]

Thia is such a good idea, i bought a second hand Cube HPC 160 from a dealer. This was the basic model which is a good model, over time upgraded everything Lyrick Ultimate 160, Hope 155 cranks, MT7 brakes, Hope hubs wheels, Spank Vibro bars, can go and on but over time its a more affordable way to do and now have a good spec bike.

[johnchristopher]

I’ve just finished the final part of the upgrade project on my hardtail Giant Fathom E+3 29er (installing Tannus Armour inserts onto my rear rims) . The bike originally cost me £1899 and over the two years of ownership I’ve changed everything except the battery, motor, handlebars, grips rims and crank arms. More importantly I’ve done everything on a budget, most of the components were sourced from eBay, Amazon and Facebook marketplace and I’ve learned a lot about building a better bike. It’s been a long and sometimes frustrating journey of discovery but the end result both for me and my bike have been worth it.

[BigART]

The smallest gear on the cassette causing the chain to jump is not always the chain or cassette itself rather than muck getting in between the gears. It happens a lot where I ride and if it skips I know it's 99/100 dirty. A quick clean and it's good to go again. If it's clean and still doing it and you know the derailleur is aligned correctly it will be the chain and or cassette. You can buy just that cog if it's Shimano. I'm not sure about Sram though.

[nedmorris]

Hyper eride - Fun bikel
Aftermarket suggestion. I'd like to add
a from hub motor, identical to rear.
Plug straight into original electronics
but with a thumb throttle. On some of
my big steep hills I'd like to boost the
boost :)
Cool if someone could make an easv
plug n play.
If it needs its own power, a water bottle
shaped power pack added on top of
eride battery..

[IgnacioSoltero]

I had this every same questions for a long time, since that what I did this past summer when buying my eMTB. I just wasn't sure if it was the right move, since I already did few upgrades that would have put me in higher class bike IMO. I got the Bulls Six50 E FS3 RSI, one of the first things I did was switch the pedals (to a pair I already had), then I got a new seat, shorter stem, higher rise bars, grips and tires. But the major thing I had to upgrade was the wheels, since I discovered months after purchasing it the was that wheels didn't have sealed bearings (surprised in this day and age, that any major bike comes with loose ball bearing hubs). My advice is research, research, research.

[stevieridesscotland]

I'm doing my emtb this way, couldn't afford the top model but over time will upgrade mine as I go and cash becomes available. So far cockpit forks and tyres changed and have enjoyed feeling the difference each upgrade has made.

[ianhill]

Got myself a kuberg freerider second hand, it's not an ebike but it's electric and has manitou dorado front fork and 12kw, it needed all new bearings and a full service but it eats up the Welsh mountains.

[johndoyle]

OK an old video, but I bought a basic full suss Haibike, and will upgrade components as and when I feel the need. The frame is very similar to the high ends, and for my style of riding, I may not need high end componetry.
Good advice, thanks.

[foldinghomealone]

#AskEMBN Can you give Pro tips for upgrading your EMTB? Since summer I'm the proud owner of a 2018 NDURO 9.0. As winter season is aproaching I'm thinking of upgrading my bike considering following upgrades:
- stiffer headset --> Intend BC Stiffmaster
- upgrade hubs to torque cap
- grease all bearings
- replace bolts with titan bolts
- replace tube tyres with tubeless
- replace quick release seatpost clamp with a non quick release seatpost clamp (why you need quick release with a dropper post???)
- ...

As you earn your incomes driving (e)MTBs I consider you pro-riders. As pro-riders I would assume that you upgrade your bikes instead of driving it as out-of-the-box.
What pro-upgrades (I'm not talking about better components like a better fork or suspension) would you do after bying a new (e)MTB

[Scott-hp]

I need help upgrading a askgo k10 e-bike I currently have 48v 15ah battery with a 650w motor but it sucks going uphill, what can I do to make it better

[melenriquez]

The DNA of a bike is it's frame. Pick the proper frame for your intended use. For example, the Trance and the Anthem may look the same on the surface, but the differences in the fork angle and other things, make one good at downhill while the other is faster and better all around, but weak at downhills. Of course, it goes without saying that buying a hardtail like an XTC, you can't really convert that to a full suspension. So, know if you will go full sus or not.

Thus, your first priority is to pick the proper frame for you. Then you worry about th other parts. Fork, handlebar, saddle, etc. Some are cheaper to upgrade or change (hb, saddle, pedals), but others are more expensive (like the fork or group set). If you can live with a modest subparts, you can use it till you've saved up enough money to upgrade them. Normally, people immediately change the saddle, grip, pedals, or hb. They are cheaper to change. Other times, one can simply import them from an older bike so it won't cost one anything.

In my case, I know I need to upgrade my fork (the most expensive one) from the Suntour XCM. But that will take a bit of time as forks usually cost more. I already have 10 speed cogs and XT shifters from older bikes, so I can get those and upgrade my existing 9 speed to 10 speed at no added cost. Maybe the only cost is a new chain as going 11-46T will require a longer chain.

[stevemansfield]

Coed y Brenin trail centre in snowdonia is the nuts. Try it out. Need to get my Nduro 8 up there.
Jumping 11 or 12 sprocket is either down to dirt between the sprockets or could be a loose flapping chain, or tension issue of the rear mech

[ludovicdouay]

Had the same problem of skipping gears after changing the chain on the small cogs. Changed the 3 smallest one and now it runs like new. Probably good for another chain.

[carstenreeder]

I just three weeks ago got a fantastic deal on a emtb that had to leave from the dealers place before the 2019 models come in for sale.It was not the high end version of the model but frame and motor are the same on the whole range. I already changed the tires, brakes, fork, seat, pedals and seat post. But mainly by stuff I had laying around anyway.So maybe the shock will be changed also in the future but I already have a bike that is close to my ideal for a very good price.

[richardswift]

I'll second the upgrade option... but beware, some upgrades can be a nightmare. I recently upgraded my Cube reaction to eShift/di2 - which involved a visit from a Bosch engineer to reprogram the drive unit, plus I had to reshape the hanger to get the derailleur properly aligned and the lower gears working.

Well worth the upgrade tho...

[rodmarker]

Nice vid ...:-) rather surprised no mention of motor on the upgrade section ... I mean changing a Bosch, Brose, Panasonic, Shimano or Yamaha is a bigger deal than changing the forks or modding your battery for greater range. And they are not the same in the way they support your ride ... I don't think you will be swapping them out as I am not sure it is possible. I think you could make a good vid on comparing the motor's / screens / etc

[AlexNijv]

I bought a cheaper ebike and upgraded it. As long as the frame, engine and battery are good, then you can upgrade overtime and end up with a high end bike. And not every part needs to be high spec, but then again, on high spec bikes they are saving on some parts ass well. Pay attention to the fork ass well, an aexpensive upgrade

[mel]

Upgrades totally, I bought the Spectral :ON 6.0, same motor, battery and chassis. Plenty of scope for upgrades. Part of the journey.