However, to integrate the long battery in the down tube, a cutout over half a metre longer is necessary. The Norco Sight VLT C1 and Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay C70 have some catching up to do. Its no doubt a much better looking bike, and it presents an appealing package with a different approach to the Specialized Levos, Merida eOne-Sixtys and Trek Rails that typically dominate our local trail centres. With most motors, using the full-powered Boost/Turbo mode tends to be overwhelming, dominating the ride and making the bike difficult to control. On smoother inclines, the motors sensitivity can also be felt through untidy pedalling technique. Unfortunately it doesnt have a clock a simple but much appreciated feature that we love about the MasterMind TCU display on the new Levo. the 3C MaxxTerra rubber compound from MAXXIS or ADDIX Soft (orange) from Schwalbe. 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 . Whats the best eMTB of 2022? Add to Basket. For the Altitude Powerplay, I actually performed this test twice. Featuring a claimed progression of 44.1%, which is very high, the frame is compatible with both coil shocks and high volume air shocks. If you value easier handling and more riding fun, you have to find the right balance less is often more. **** #pandemic #deliverycosts: The massive bike boom and the consequences of coronavirus have resulted in huge challenges for the whole bike industry. It is unbeaten in technical uphill terrain and also feels most comfortable downhill on challenging and fast trails. According to Rocky Mountain, the new kinematic offers increased anti-squat in the early portion of the travel, and a more supportive leverage rate throughout. So, grab a beer or a cappuccino and enjoy the next pages filled with information, background knowledge, (tech) know-how, tops & flops and the most important tips for newcomers and experts alike. Wir haben uns einen berblick ber die Fully E-MTBs 2019 verschaft und stellen euch die Rder vor die es in unsere Top 10 geschafft haben. With our years of experience and our comprehensive market overview, our personal buying advice will help you with your purchasing decisions and provide each of you with important information and recommendations. The Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo is a good all-rounder that, with a change of tires and tune of the suspension setup, can reveal its full potential. Class 1 electric bikes can reach speeds of up to 20mph. It rolls on 29in wheels, and it's equipped with a 170mm travel fork and 160mm of rear travel. Thanks to its strong riding performance and intuitive handling, it is suitable for beginners as well as experienced trail acrobats. Class 1 e-mountain bikes (and electric bikes overall) are pedal-assist: an integrated motor provides assistance to the rider and is activated by pedaling the bike. 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. For each bike, we have explored the extremes for you and present the real range of use they are suited to. The price range in the test field is wide but this doesnt mean that the differences in performance are just as great. Other bikes are capable of covering an equally wide range of applications while also outperforming the MERIDA in individual specialisations. 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 All in all, its all about the right balance and set-up. That cant be true! "The Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Carbon 70 represents the new benchmark in motor performance, leaving the competition behind. SPECS ROCKY MOUNTAIN ALTITUDE POWERPLAY CARBON 70 MSRP: $7400, 6000 Motor: Rocky Mountain proprietary Battery: 48V/1,632 Wh Charge time: 4 hours (80% in 2 hours) Top speed: 15.5 mph/25 km/h (with assist) Range: 25-45 miles (40-70 km) Drive: SRAM EX1 Brakes: SRAM Guide RE, 200mm front/rear Controls: Rocky Mountain proprietary, plus Ebikemotion app Bikes come shipped from the factory in position three (also known as neutral), and these are the key numbers it delivers; Adjusting the Ride-4 geometry chip is even quicker than the dropouts, with only a single 5mm hex key required. Just because you have the range doesnt mean youll have fun riding! During the first few rides, the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay didnt quite feel as stable as I was expecting for a big travel e-MTB. Many manufacturers are already working on increasing these limits but there is still a lot to be done in terms of maximum permissible weight and more clarity is urgently needed. 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. Otherwise you cant expect longevity or lasting performance, nor can you expect lasting riding pleasure! Power is nothing without control. The most powerful motors delivers 108 Nm of torque, the weakest just 35 Nm. If you want to chase over trails at high speed, it wont be. Ride stats from RM Altitude from Strava, Garmin and Ebikemotion app: Moving time 1h 9m, distance 10.4 miles, elevation gain 2,091 ft., estimated average power 155w, energy output 647 kJ. Ive been testing a Medium size in the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay C70 to suit my 175cm height. Want to avoid unpleasant surprises after buying your bike? 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. Specialized even has a special Shuttle mode that further reduces the required leg input, with the idea being that you can climb uphill with the minimum of effort required, so you save all your energy for the descents. Our test field only featured tires from Schwalbe or MAXXIS. E. Rubbee X e-bike conversion kit . Last years Best Buy and the cheapest bike (7,199) in the test field, it was unable to defend the title. They may have changed since then. Theres nothing outrageous about the geometry, and there are no surprises to the fit as a result. Exceptions are last years test winners and best buys. But FOCUS, MERIDA and Orbea also offer a considerable margin with 124 kg and 117 kg respectively. On the front wheel we recommend a robust casing for puncture protection in combination with the softest rubber compound for more grip. But is more always better? They are your only contact with the ground and influence traction, braking distances and the handling of your bike, as well as contributing to its suspension. The low and central centre of mass is one of the main reasons for the outstanding handling of the Orbea Rise. The 750 Wh battery can be removed to the side in typical Trek fashion. For years, pedal-assists were forbidden from trails, non-existent in shops, shunned from mainstream media and magnets for vitriol. The slackest position is great for full-blown descending, though I found that as I became tired towards the end of a longer ride, I was more likely to wash out the front tyre on flatter turns. Exclusive: first ride review of the new Specialized Tero X 6.0 eSUV 2023 fully-equipped eMTB full suspension bike for everyday and all-terrain use, Fox Union BOA in review Great fit for a solid stance. We believe that every rider has different needs and preferences, and its up to you to find out what these are and then choose a bike based on that. 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. 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. Specialized Levo Carbon E-Bike 2023 SAVE 25 %. Thanks to a 672-watt-hour battery and a compact, low-mounted motor, it rips uphill for easy self-shuttling. - 8-way adjustable geometry On the note of the drivetrain, the Altitude Powerplay requires a longer chain than usual due to its idler and chainguide, so you may need to buy two chains when it comes time for a drivetrain service. Yes, in something of a nod to Elon Musk, this bike has Ludicrous mode. 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. We dont just want to test the bikes that interest you the most. The slightly rearward axle path eats up square edges nicely, and keeps the rear wheel decidedly connected to terra firma. I found it easy to adjust the Ride-4 and dropout flip chips, and pulling the shock out to alter the spring volume showed just how cleanly everything fits together. The SCOR 4060 Z ST XT impresses with its touring capabilities, the customisable paint protection films and the fun ride on flow trails. The most important factors to consider when investing in an electric mountain bike are battery power, charging times, and hub drives versus mid-drives. - Proprietary motor may be a turnoff for some Did you enjoy this article? Rocky's new Powerplay models have a secret weapon to use on most other large brands competing in the eMTB sphere; their Dyname 4.0 power plant. With the new Smart System, customers have the option of modifying some riding modes. 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. The Altitude Powerplay is a lot of bike and there's a lot to like about it. It is fun to ride on flow trails and the suspension and high touring comfort are also a strength. 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. With eMTB technology and geometry improving rapidly, more and more members of the bike community have realized their value. Specialized does about $500 million in annual revenue, Rocky does around $40 million. Compare. The Altitude Powerplay and Instinct Powerplay will be available this winter from Rocky Mountain dealers. If you only ride it at moderate speeds or on easy trails, you wont feel much of this. Lokal. The Altitude Powerplay Alloy 30 Coil has a better fork and more travel, while the Turbo Levo Alloy has 29 / 27.5 aluminum wheels and better components. That is, until you ride them. The geometry is confidence-inspiring on the descents and still agile enough when singletrack is narrow. If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. My only other concern is with the rear end length. Made for aggressive, all-day riders, the newly-launched Shuttle is turning heads. 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. As such, I was able to run pressures as low as 22psi in the front and 24psi in the rear. Out of stock. A clever modular concept can be a sensible alternative to a standard system with a 630 Wh battery. For anything more, you can find all the details on the best tires for eMTBers in our tire group test of over 50 tires. Along with the new motor the Altitude Powerplay gets a larger 720Wh battery, and its now easily removable with just a 4mm hex key required to slide it out from the downtube. How did we test the bikes? Specialized realized many riders dont need massive batteries and would rather save weight. Also neat is that the frame will accept a SRAM UDH when the dropout is set in the longest position a useful feature for folks who like to travel with their bike. With the Shimano EP8 motor, you can even save two different profiles so that you can quickly switch between your configurations. This Brand is Putting a New Spin on Massage Guns, The Best Running Jackets for Cooler Weather, Here's the Skinny on Ooni's Electric Pizza Oven, The Best New Style Releases from 2023 (So Far), All the Boxing and Fitness Gear from Creed III, Tesla Investor Day: 5 Things You Need to Know, Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Carbon 90 Rally Edition. 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. Nope, I want my cake and I want to eat it too. For us, stone-baked pizza, a fresh ocean breeze and good espresso are just as much part of a successful day on the bike as flow on varied singletrack, the occasional adrenaline spike and high-fives at the end of the trail.