Who Are Lightweight E-Bikes Really For?

In recent years, we've seen the rise of the low/mid assist EMTBs hitting the market, with more and more people bridging the gap between MTB and EMTB by choosing these machines! But who are these bikes really for and just how capable are they!?

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Do you prefer "full-fat" E-bikes or lightweight E-bikes? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

[heeroyui]

This is what I really want e-bikes for. Just enough motor to shred uphill, while still being light and agile. A trail transformer, to make xc trails feel much more thrilling.

[icoopify]

I ride a Levo SL. I chose a lightweight ebike because I still wanted to feel like I was riding a mountain bike, just with a little extra oomph to enable longer or more challenging rides. So far, after several hundred miles, I'm very pleased with my choice. I still regularly ride my "acoustic" bikes, too—a lot more than the ebike.

[tromansn]

SL strikes the happy balance between a traditional MTB & full fat e. A tail wind up the climbs, but still getting a good workout + without that drag factor, the boat anchor feeling over 16mph!

[PaulMoody]

Since buying a full fat Turbo Levo last year, several friends have gone the “lightweight emtb” route. Every one of them is regretting going light. Once they ride a full power bike, they realize their bike is weak at climbing - the most enjoyable aspect of emtbs. I love the weight (and power) of my bike - more stable and no less capable than any bike on the trails. Given the price is about the same, seems silly to buy something pretending to be something else. I’m not ashamed of riding an ebike - especially when I ride twice as much as befor and my amish bike friend.

[matthewtomlinson]

This is a really informative video into the motivations for people buying into this genre of emtb. I wish more people would take note. Unfortunately, reading through the comments here and other videos about this genre of emtb, it seems that there a lot of people who are maybe too young, too fit or just not mentally adept enough to comprehend that their riding scenarios are not the same as every other rider out there. Just accept that there is a place for all of us in emtb and indeed analogue mtb and get along.

[leebridgwater]

Levo SL, it's still a mtb but with some help. Plus it's reliable.

[ericphillips]

As a senior Whistler Mnt bike rider (67 years old and 37 years Mnt biking) I was finding as my fitness is diminishing my technical skills were starting to decline also. Most of the big tech rides in Whistler are accessed by climbing up crazy black diamond assent trail. Even the blue assent trails are steep and full of tight switch backs. Getting to the top was a massive ordeal and when I managed to do it I was totally blown. Riding down was sketchy at best and more aptly described as a series terrifying linked recoveries. This did nothing for my confidence.
Also it was getting harder to find ride partners. The boys I used to ride with aren’t boys anymore. I had been following the change in e-Mnt bikes to light weight and when Orbea came out with the Rise H10 I bought one right way.
What a game changer. Up or down it rocks. I could go on and on about it but I’m sure that everyone is getting the idea. There is one thing that I would like to mention which no one has talked about and that is the great handling that comes from all the weight that is now low down. The motor and the battery lowers your centre of gravity which only effect’s the handling in a good way. Balance and rolling obstacles is amazing.

[iThunderdon]

Orbea Rise FTW - Hydro model - best price-performance ratio and long rides with the extender

[MPUKC]

The Rise H10 has a 540Wh battery and is still only 19kg 👍🏼

[andersonsridebikes]

I think you are overlooking a group of riders that fit the Lightweight EMTB profile. I currently own a Specialized Enduro and Kenevo SL. I love the boost the Kenevo SL gives me while still feeling very similar to the Enduro on the trails. I owned the newest Levo for about a year and sold it because it was difficult to switch between the full power bike and the my Enduro. Now I can do my race pre-rides on my Kenevo SL and race the Enduro without having a big adjustment period when I switch between the two bikes. I will never stop riding traditional MTBs because they are still too much fun, and the Kenevo SL makes the perfect compliment to the traditional MTB. To be clear, I don't continue to ride traditional MTBs for exercise, I just think they are more fun on certain types of trails.

[apatriotofhopedanjohn]

POWER…. Everyday ALL DAY !!!
EBIKE and PROUD OF IT😊

[gfowkes]

At 58, and 25 years of riding, I've been struggling with my MTB fitness. I've worked on diet, exercise routine, yoga, etc, but sadly, it just feels like I've hit a fitness wall that I can't get past. I demoed a Levo, and loved it but it felt too big and cumbersome, especially when braking and laying it down into corners. Demoed the KSL, which I also loved but, if I'm honest, I don't need that much bike. I bought a Fuel EXe, which I'm hoping is a nice middle-ground between the Levo and the KSL. Will find out next week when I pick it up from the shop.

[chrisrussell]

I'm mid 70s now and had my Orbea Rise 18 months it allows me to ride and keep up with my local group ranging from full fat ebikes to analog bikes and fit riders.

[Birdpoo]

I sometimes ride where I need to lift my bike over a fence. Weight definitely makes a difference.

[Bearded_Mountain_Biker]

I started my e-bike journey with a Giant Reign E+1 that weighed 25kg. A tank. It also had a super low BB that made riding tech an issue. I upgraded to the Levo SL last year and it's incredible! I actually get MORE range on it that I did on the Giant. The bike is nimble and I get a fantastic workout on it. For me, that is important. And as you mentioned, I have young kids, so getting a great ride in without gassing myself got harder and harder.

[matthewtomlinson]

I have an Orbea Rise and have been riding Mtb for over 30 years. I bought the Orbea for several of the reasons mentioned in this video. When I first got it I was holding up fitter guys on mtbs due to being less fit. I also mainly ride natural trails and don't hanker after climbing really steep, technical sections. The main reasons full power bikes don't appeal to me is that, as Steve has said in the past, it's almost a different sport. Well, I've loved mtb over the years and I don't really want riding to feel like something different. Also, I am in the camp of not liking big, ugly batteries and motors.
I ride the Rise mainly in eco and can easily clear climbs I've never made on an mtb in trail (set at 32nm), so I don't see why I'd need 85nm. But that's just my scenario. We are all entitled to use them as we wish.

[dnomyarg]

I greatly preferred the light full suspension Levo SL when summiting Mt. Tamalpais, over the standard Levo, and gravel Grail:On. For the smoother Mt Tam terrain with lots of climbing and braking, it was easily the most fun.

You touched on loss of fitness as we age, and many, if not most times it's not from laziness, which is often implied, but accumation of illness and injury. And that includes their effects on handling the bike when not riding, such as loading it on and off a vehicle or rack. The 23+ kg bikes are really hard on my back. The Levo SL was a dream to handle after the much heavier standard Levo.

[GaryHarwood]

I’m a 70kg rider with an Orbea Rise H15. I’m also pretty fit for my age (53) and I’m getting so many Kom’s over full powered bikes, here in the Pyrenees

[someoldguy]

I love the feeling on my Spech SL above the 15mph cutoff compared to any EMTB