Just bought a Levo sl,its the best bike I've had by far. I've done way more riding on this bike than any other bike I've had, per ride. I never want to get off the thing🙂
Hi there just want to be very clear here that the aim of this video is to demonstrate the differences in such things as high and lower power motors, wheel size, weight, geometry, materials. You'll see that there is a mix of all these and it is simply one to try and help people make a decision on what type of emtb they need. A discussion on pricing of emtb's is a very real one i agree but remember that is not only a specialized phenomena, but certainly one we will cover in future. Cheers
@@stevejones7956 absolutely and the content has been great, thanks for your hard work. I think specialised have alienated a large portion of their consumer base with the new pricing structure. A 13k ebike isn’t going to appeal to the average owner who likes belting round a local bike park. It doesn’t help when you can get something far better equipped for half the price. I have a 7k commencal meta and it pisses on kenevos on the steep stuff
@@cristoffeemons1553 Hi Cristoff, yes i've been fortunate enough to ride that Commencal too, great bike. But surely the fact that the Kenevo here also does well compared to the more expensive bike says something too right? I'm curious how the Meta "pisses over the Kenevo" ?? In what way? Like i said the aim of this video is not a discussion on price but the details of bikes
@@stevejones7956 The commencal, in my personal opinion, is far better value for money and ridden right is more capable. Obviously I’m biased haha. Even at 8.5k for the expert spesh are pushing it ... the equipment doesn’t warrant the cost. I get the discussion and being able to see the bikes against each other is great. I particularly enjoyed the climb up sheepskull. I personally believe the Specialized lineup has become a bit confused. I don’t believe the kenevo needed an SL model, the levo SL is such a capable bit of kit.
Excellent review. Think you nailed the comparison between the four Specialized e-bikes. At age 73, my Levo SL provides enough uphill assistance for my needs doing cross-country in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and Nevada. Figure by age 75, I may want well more assistance; but, hopefully the more powerful bikes will be significantly lighter than they are now. Still a "weight weenie" here...LOL
Thanks Steve My comments mirror those of Bill Deras . Bought a Turbo Levo expert having said i was,nt ready for motor power for a few more years and love it . Can still walk when i get home. E bikes have opened up the environment and fun to a lot more people including those of us with disabilities ( in my case Parkinsons ) With big health benefits (Highly recommended )
Thank you for your excellent review. I am new to mountain biking and I have learned a lot of information from your videos in the last five months. I’m 52 I used to race BMX bikes when I was in my teens and 20s. But now that I’ve gotten older I’m definitely looking at Ebike. The two main bikes that I am looking at right now are the Kenevo expert and the Rocky Mountain. I just love the look of the dual crown forks. I have a cruiser full suspension E bike that has dual crown forks and love it. I live in Ohio so I think I might just wait until next year for the 2023 models to come out. So thank you again for all the information that I have received from your videos. Can’t wait to hit the trails next year.😊
I work as a bike salesman. We sell many of the top ebikes out there. I eventually settled on buying a Trek Rail 9.7 because of many factors. At $6500 US, it's an excellent value for a carbon frame with durable components. It also has 29" wheels, which, for me, was an obvious choice as they are efficient and roll over anything. It also has the Bosch motor which is reliable and torquey as all hell (great for long, tough climbs). And it has the easily removable 625wH battery, which I use all the time for transport and recharging. However the fork was the real letdown. It was only a 160mm Rockhox Yari. I started experimenting with various forks and lengths. I now ride the Rail with a Fox Factory 38 with 180mm of travel. (I also tried the Fox Performance 38 and a Rockshox ZEB. Not much difference between the three models.) The difference in most ebikes comes down to the fork. My buddies still have 160mm forks and there's no comparison to mine. My bike now climbs better, descends faster and smoother. Save your money, buy an inexpensive alloy frame trail ebike with 160mm travel up front, then upgrade to a 180mm. And, it really doesn't matter whether you choose the Fox 38 or the Rockshox ZEB. Both are excellent. You'll also get the benefit of a slightly slacker headtube angle and well as a slightly higher bottom bracket height. Win Win. Don't worry about the rear shock so much. It really doesn't have the same effect as changing out the fork. Now go out and shred some trail.
Great feedback Howie just wondering how you buy a carbon bike yourself but recommend an alloy one? Just want to make people aware Levo's begin at around 4800 too
Interesting ideas. FYI my 2021 9.7 Rail cost $7550 last year not $6500. Gonna get the new 2022 Levo just for fun and compare them before selling one. The Levo comes with the Fox 38 with 160. I wouldn't think recommending every bike would be OK adding longer travel to the fork but then I haven't tried it.
@@jimji2774 Try 180mm. Then ask why all ebikes don't come that way out of the box. You'll definitely notice the difference between the Levo and Rail. They are very different bikes. Enjoy the ride.
I'm so grateful that responsible bike makers like Specialized made ebikes that are so much still a bike, with software that makes pedaling help so seamless and natural. There were so many bad ways this segment could have gone, and so many arguments against emtb's that could have been made. Even the loudest critics need only look a few years into the future and admit to themselves that one day, they may need one to keep enjoying the sport they love, or else they would have to stay home. I'm past prime, it's okay to admit that. I still want to explore so badly, there are thousands and thousands of trails to be seen, and only so much leg power that I can put out without destroying myself. So, specialized earned their enormous price tag from me and I was quite willing to pay.
when I was a bit younger I used to go on weekly shop/club rides on my 3 x 9 speed FSR Stumpy where there were always two or three incredibly fit and talented riders on single speed hardtails. It seems to me that once we get to an era where everyone is on EMTB, then the SL bikes are for the guys who formerly rode these single-speed hardtails.
Depending on what you're looking for, it can be. Commencal doesn't have a shop you can walk into a try bikes, work with sales, mechanics etc, deal with the shop who sold it to you for maintenance, warranty etc. Also specialized is literally leading the ebike game with their motor/battery/app tech I own a new specialized enduro and meta and when it comes to an ebike I wouldn't even consider the commencal. But the +10k is a massive pill to swallow
Notice that EMBN is only showing Specialized - so suspect product SPROOKING $$ is involved. I love these guys and channel, but let's be honest, 'payola' or pay-for-play is involved
curious on the timed range/vert of kenvo sl with/without range extender vs turbo levo in eco/trail mode. as someone who likes using ebikes to do epic all day big rides, will the kenevo sl be able to do a 10k foot big day like my 2019 levo can?
I own a 2021 focus Sam2 6.8 and a new kenevo both are great bikes but the kenevo is definitely a big step up from the focus all round so to say that the specialized are over priced is rubbish you get what you pay for😉
Hello, I just got a Turbo Levo Pro, the suspension is great, the bike is really a update from generation 2. I hope they fixed the motor issues on 2021 and 2022 models...
The video I wanted to see, thanks Steve you aced it, it's one of your best and I'm glad you omitted the £ as that's wasn't what the shootout was about. I have but one question, I know what the Levo is like to pedal on the flat when it hits the 15mph limit, but what are the SL models like to pedal past the 15mph limit on the flat?
Lucky Steve - would love to have this choice of a different rigs. Specialized S Works is the Ferrari of mtb- always has been. Had to go with my budget & buy a Cube Stereo Hybrid . Great vid , keep it up !
Everything is overpriced in this world! If you have the money, buy it. If not, ride a different bike. S-works is the Ferrari of MTB. There are not many people how can afford a Ferrari.
@@ras0240 Yes, I agree that there are a lot of things that are overpriced, but may be they have a usp. But I'm wondering where the usp here is with these bikes? Except the frame, everything else is from some other manufacturer. Using Ferrari as an example to compare and justify the overprice is just as ridiculous as it can be!
@@joesan3597 your paying for a combination of things on some bikes ; such as ground breaking tech, quality of frame, build, performance etc......some people prefer a cheaper car to get from A to B, but put there money into an Emtb because that's where they get there pleasure from ; it's about what's good for you !!!! 👍😎
Awesome video Steve....Its a minefield with these new options. I have a 2019 Levo Expert and did think about an upgrade but I dont think the extra cost will give me much more of a bike for my riding JMHO. Keep safe folks
@@K88MUD no worries mate. Agree with the sentiment though. I have a 20 Kenevo expert that i have removed the triple tree from like here and also see no compelling reasons to change bikes.
How long is the motor rated to last? I don't plan on going on super crazy trails or anything. But I also don't wanna fork out that kinda money and have the motor die in a year or 2
In the end I think I had gathered some useful information, but I was mighty confused throughout the bulk of the video as the four bikes were so quickly jumbled in much of the presentation. I often lost track of which was which. This video was a good candidate for editing/layering in identification tags onscreen. I even heard the term "Kenevo two (too?)" out of Steve's mouth. I'm sorry, but to that point I was only familiar with "Kenevo" and "Kenevo SL". I missed the next couple sentences out of Steve's mouth as my mind was deciphering "Kenevo two". By the end of the video I felt somewhat exhausted and bleary-eyed having put forth so much effort in keeping track of which bike was which at any given time/comment. That was my experience. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@jimji2774 not at all, love long format anything. It’s just not organized as well as it could be. Labeling the different bikes would help make it a better review. I appreciate the effort
Hi , normally i have a turbo levo HT comp but i have a bad lower back. will it be a better choice to go for full sus ? I mainly use my bike on the road, because i ride to work with it. I hope you guys can give me some info!
Is the forestal Siryon with 65nm w/ 170/170 more for the buck? Then the kenevol sl? And is then the cyon the better as well for a sl trail bike with more power with remembering that it’s a disengagement system at peddling over the speed limiter? Is it safe to say better than the turbo sl?
Those companies make an insane amount of profit. If you compare the components some Chinese brand with the same components and even much better motor and battery will cost you more then half the price. It's all marketing brainwash!. Think about it it freakin a bycicles with 2 wheels 😂
After Kenevo 1.Gen. I bought the Kenevo SL SW and for my taste that’s the best compromise between the E and the regular Bike. Feels downhill like DH and uphill like XC. Light end much easier to handle in comparison with the Kenevo, what’s more a light e-motorcycle. So that’s my verdict after few months.
2 wheels carry our soul! It's a very nice video, I'm an electric mountain bike rider, I live in the Netherlands, I'm still waiting for my new channel. Good luck with my love.
I have a 2020 Kenevo. I have swopped the rear shock for an Ohlins TTX air which I really like. I have seen the Kenduro post and would like to know what I could expect if I went to a single crown fork, is it worth the effort, what was noticeable when it was done.
Hey Steve, if I wanted an ebike for the purposes of self-shuttling the downhills at FoD (and other UK destinations), maybe aiming for 10 runs in a day, would the KSL motor and battery have enough oomph to do that without my having to exhaust myself? I'm 70kg, moderately fit. Ideally I think I want something that feels more like an MTB than an eMTB on the trail and when hopping and jumping, but I don't want to be shattered at the top of the climbs!
Since pedaling efficiency is negated by the motor, doesn’t the choice in bike come down to geometry, battery, and wheel size preference? I’m getting a long travel eMTB just because it will fit me better and has a bigger battery.
Well that was quite a comparison but it left me more confused than ever - i will have to watch it a couple more times and give it thumbs up each time. I definitely want a full fat bike as I am used the power on my Trek Rail. I recently street tested a Levo Expert and then a Levo S-Works with the carbon wheels and just assumed the higher specs and lower weight on the S would be superior. Now I am questioning even that after your mentioning of the more compliant aspects of different rims and frames. I did notice the S seemed stiffer even just going up and down curbs on the street but it also seemed more agile just turning it around since I didn't have to balance as much weight. Think they were about 7 lbs different. I am wondering which Levo might be better for an older rider that likes up and down but doesn't ride too fast as I can't afford a high speed crash ? Thanks for the hard work.
I found the the sl is so deceiving really liked the light weight but having more power at hand with the levo I found it's so much more capable of a bike. Turns the flats into more fun which the SL can't do.
He does mention at the beginning that they chose Specialized bikes for this video because they are a channel partner. I think this is less of a review of the bikes and more of a review of the category each bike represents. The information provided translates to other brands with similar bikes. It would be nice to see some Treks and other brands mentioned more often, but they are running a for profit business and need to make money to pay the bills.
I want an Ebike for climbing , the coolest part about an ebike is that up now has a flow too . no thanks on the SL , removing half the fun . its -3x you . Im sure spec could up that output , those are rookie numbers.
Would you be willing to share the input and guidance Specialized gave you for this segment e.g. full transparency of any bias? Really nice work and amazing bikes.
@@stevejones7956 I'd like to know how much direction you allow your sponsors in the content you create. Perhaps a behind the scenes of how you develop an episode to include prep calls with vendors, agreement on points you would make if that work happens. Also, curious what your stance is on omitting information if asked by a vendor e.g. Specialized challenges with their ebike motors as an example of a challenging facts that certainly no vendor wants to highlight but the riders are talking about. I"m a lifelong Specialized customer so I only highlight that example because it was so well known. Thanks so much for all you do for EMTB!
@@stevejones7956 ha yes I had just scoffed my bacon and sausage sandwich or as its more commonly known olympians lunch... I will say hi next time... Good review as well.. Had the SL for nearly a year and I am loving it, find it just what I was looking for, something to take the edges off the climbs but still makes you know you have worked for it... Keep up the good work.
Thank you for the informative video. I live in the PHX desert and found the Levo to be more forgiving, better center of gravity, stronger motor for the gnarly climbs than the Levo SL. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated. Jg
Steve , first hi from Texas; I am in the market for a emtb and although I currently ride a 2013 Sworks stumpy (before that an Sworks Epec) and love Specialized I can't bring myself to spend 13k or 15k dollars on a new Levo. I am probably going to buy the Canyon Spectral 9 . I could buy that and possible their Egravel bike for what the Sworks cost. Specialized has jumped the shark
Will Nukeproof ever do an E version of the Scout or Reactor? That would be huge! Price point would be a concern though...could to they do a Reactor in Alloy for Sub £5k? Challenge issued..
All the mtb and emtb market is so saturated with companies because it's so profitable. They make a insane amount of profit on your backs. Simple things to do , check all the components they put and you will get the cost of a fraction from what they charge
hello friends i am in the possibility of a purchase of an e bike. i originally was thinking of a HT but not sure, is there a video on HT E bikes on comparisons? i was looking at the turbo levo SL but it only had 35 nm while alot of its competitors had 50 to 60 nm. i ride everything from paved city paths to trails in the mountains but struggle in the climbing of trails. my friends recommend me to get an E bike because of a permanent back injury that limits me to keeping up with them. all of my bikes are by specialized but are out of my price range and right now the giant fathom e 29 is doable in a HT. to me looking at the levo sl and the phathom E , the phathom E on paper you get a lot more for your money but is a bit more money then the levo sl. whats your thoughts?
KTM is a great offroad motorcycle but weighs almost 300 lbs and you can't ride it on most of the trails that allow ebikes. I dropped mine on my ankle and broke my foot in 5 places. Now when my ebike falls on me I just laugh and get up and ride.
Specialized are I suppose the benchmark when it comes to EMTB but their achilles heel will always be the motor, when and if they admit Shimano and Bosch are superior units and implement them into their bikes then they will never truly be world class. I personally don't want a 4 year warranty, what I want is a motor I can trust which Is why I will never buy another Specialized, and is the Specialized name really worth the premium they expect you to pay when more capable bikes at.more competitive prices are available, the fan boys will still buy them but the more astute buyers will look elsewhere.
I've personally seen many failures of both the makes you say and there's countless post online of others no emtb are without fault. I personally really value my 4 year warranty, my local bike shop are awesome I'm never without my ride more than a day. ✌
idk. ive ridden all the motors. the specialized feels better and has more power than everyone else.. i know people have had issues, but they are fast at fixing and many people experience no issues at all.
Wow .. that’s got to be the longest advert I have ever seen.. Wouldn’t buy a specialized ..way way over priced .. I think every yr they push it with there valuations on the bikes .. this yr they have probably took the piss more than any other manufacturer.
Specialized don't represent value for money and price a lot of riders out of the game plus motors are cheese and the pivots usually only last a few months before falling to bits, nice bikes when you pick them up but you soon grow to loathe them lol
Do you have motor problems? I thought about buying the 2020 model, because my bikeshop clears them out at a heavy discount. On the other hand there’s also a discounted Santa Cruz Heckler which I’d also consider. It is the top spec with X01 and the Santa Cruz Reserve Carbon rims with life long warranty. So the specs are way above the Specialized.
Hey Embn team, I've been reading all the comments and it seems to me like you are having popularity troubles by being so obviously marketing specialized all the time. Here goes a suggestion, please focus more in testing brand A against brand B and forget the sponsors, Specialized is now jeopardizing the Channel, please stop that and get into the old righ track where you were before and where I learned so many things that helped be a lot while choosing MI emtb. Thanks
@@terptv710 it dipend ... how carbon it's made ... carbon handlebars gives less vibrations to your hands cause the are little moore flexxible for example
Hi Scott fully agree but there are not many brands that do two different motor types, wheel, geometry, travel differences which ultimately is what we were after
I’d take the bait and buy one, if they’d only be priced within an somewhat reasonable limit. I’d happily pay 7-8k€for a good Carbon Modell, but you don’t even get a good entry level bike at that pricepoint when looking at Specialized.. Of course I’d love to have one, but it’s just ridiculous! Emtbn sadly lost the touch with the bikes their audience are able to ride. Have a look at gmtbn with Nukeproof and Canyon as a sponsor, these are bikes a broad audience is able to afford!
A good video, but much as I like Steve, I can’t believe his power output is 500 watts... that’s 2/3 of a horsepower... I suspect Specialized wattage inflation
@@maxflight777 yes, the nominal 250 Watts is very conservative, I saw some chaps put a data logger on a Specialized and they saw peak power draw by the motor of over 700 watts
WHilst i'm sure the Marketing dept at Specialized where having a wet dream about being able to cleverly name all their models with phonetically similar names, it makes comparison, such as in a video like this, absolutely impossible! By 3 min in i had no idea which bike was which...........
The kenevo sl doesn't put the E in enduro at all! It puts the R in enduro, for restricted!! Enduro means "endurance" there is no endurance in that pitiful battery, why would you spend 8-13k on a bike that restricts your riding distance 🤷♂️. If you took that to cwmcarn and rode the off piste tracks using the uplift road to climb, you would struggle to get 3/4 full runs. You can do way more on a normal bike. Pointless bike in my opinion, its aimed at rich people that only want to ride 10miles on a Sunday, not aimed towards real riders that want to push their limits. Really disappointed in this bike, i just hope they release a real kenevo next year with 800/900wh battery and put the REAL E into enduro, Because afterall isn't ebiking about pushing harder, further, longer and progressing in the sport, not going backwards and restricting what you can ride🤷♂️
@@stevejones7956 my point is, you couldn't do 30/40 miles with 4000/5000ft of climbing on it. Yes you probably could get the miles if stayed on relatively flat terrain, But an enduro/dh bike is ridden up long steep climbs, and i can do that on my old normal enduro, so for me the new kenevo would just restrict my riding capabilities,and for 8-13k just doesn't make any sense. This is in my opinion and everyone has different riding styles. But for me it's a deal breaker, i was really hoping for the new kenevo to push the boundaries more this time and come out with a 800/900wh battery which would enable me to push past what i can already do on a normal bike, and thats my motivation for buying a ebike. So in my opinion yes it is a disappointment as i will have to wait until next year to see if they bring out the proper kenevo. Love ebikes, but these small battery versions just don't do it for me thats all.
@@briandavis8675 Hey Brian... so is 30/40 miles with 4-5000ft your target? I did 26miles and 2200ft on just one 160Wh range extender in Spain. I think the point is the KSL and Kenevo are actually two totally different bikes but i see where you're coming from
@@stevejones7956 yeh i agree they are 2 totally different bikes, which is why ive never looked at the levo SL, it has always been a choice between the levo and kenevo, but i ride 29 so the old kenevo wasn't an option, so i may just go levo for now as thats a machine of a bike, and wait and see if a new Kenevo comes out next year or so. So yeh i wasn't slating the new kenevo, its just in my opinion for my needs from a ebike that it just isnt an option. 30/40miles 4000plus isnt a ride thats done on every ride, but its certainly coming more common with all the new tracks popping up esp over the wales area, so i wouldn't want a bike that couldn't provide that kind of ride if i was planning on doing it, i generally ride fod, dowies, shutcastle etc and my local area of Stroud, but they are still 20-30 miles rides around 3000ft ish. But the climbs obviously aren't as long and steep as they are over wales.
Blatant advertising and a mate of mine just got the top spec KTM crosser for £8800, that has an engine, clutch, way better suspension than these overpriced bikes. I've had a YT pro Decoy for just over a year now, paid £4300 what a bike! Once you've given you 'Spesh' heads a shake......
Always makes me laugh when you say emtbs get you to places normal MTBs will not get you, I'd disagree with some of the places my MTBs have got me over the last 32 years! I guess what you really mean is it's easier to get to those places with a motor doing most of the work for you. On my normal MTBs an epic 60+ 6000+ feet of elevation epic is very doable, if I were on an emtb I'd be worrying about the battery all the time.
You could do a 150 miler and 20k for climbing on a motorbike, wouldn't see you doing that on an emtb and having energy left the next day! Btw, I've done 76 miles and 12k of climbing and ridden the next day and the day after that.....
Just bought a Levo sl,its the best bike I've had by far.
I've done way more riding on this bike than any other bike I've had, per ride.
I never want to get off the thing🙂
Hi there just want to be very clear here that the aim of this video is to demonstrate the differences in such things as high and lower power motors, wheel size, weight, geometry, materials. You'll see that there is a mix of all these and it is simply one to try and help people make a decision on what type of emtb they need.
A discussion on pricing of emtb's is a very real one i agree but remember that is not only a specialized phenomena, but certainly one we will cover in future. Cheers
I think many are just trying to point out that the content has been very spesh heavy of late.
@@cristoffeemons1553 Hey Cristoff, agreed but then with the launch of KSL there are many questions too right?
@@stevejones7956 absolutely and the content has been great, thanks for your hard work.
I think specialised have alienated a large portion of their consumer base with the new pricing structure. A 13k ebike isn’t going to appeal to the average owner who likes belting round a local bike park.
It doesn’t help when you can get something far better equipped for half the price.
I have a 7k commencal meta and it pisses on kenevos on the steep stuff
@@cristoffeemons1553 Hi Cristoff, yes i've been fortunate enough to ride that Commencal too, great bike. But surely the fact that the Kenevo here also does well compared to the more expensive bike says something too right? I'm curious how the Meta "pisses over the Kenevo" ?? In what way?
Like i said the aim of this video is not a discussion on price but the details of bikes
@@stevejones7956 The commencal, in my personal opinion, is far better value for money and ridden right is more capable. Obviously I’m biased haha. Even at 8.5k for the expert spesh are pushing it ... the equipment doesn’t warrant the cost.
I get the discussion and being able to see the bikes against each other is great. I particularly enjoyed the climb up sheepskull.
I personally believe the Specialized lineup has become a bit confused. I don’t believe the kenevo needed an SL model, the levo SL is such a capable bit of kit.
Excellent review. Think you nailed the comparison between the four Specialized e-bikes. At age 73, my Levo SL provides enough uphill assistance for my needs doing cross-country in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and Nevada. Figure by age 75, I may want well more assistance; but, hopefully the more powerful bikes will be significantly lighter than they are now. Still a "weight weenie" here...LOL
Ah great! Thanks Bill!
Wow at age 73 riding! AMAZING! Im 14 overhere and looking at emtbs because i know i cant padel normal mtb because i had some operation on heart....
So how did it turn out 3 yrs later? LOL Did you get something else or keep it?
Thanks Steve My comments mirror those of Bill Deras . Bought a Turbo Levo expert having said i was,nt ready for motor power for a few more years and love it . Can still walk when i get home. E bikes have opened up the environment and fun to a lot more people including those of us with disabilities ( in my case Parkinsons ) With big health benefits (Highly recommended )
Thank you for your excellent review. I am new to mountain biking and I have learned a lot of information from your videos in the last five months. I’m 52 I used to race BMX bikes when I was in my teens and 20s. But now that I’ve gotten older I’m definitely looking at Ebike. The two main bikes that I am looking at right now are the Kenevo expert and the Rocky Mountain. I just love the look of the dual crown forks. I have a cruiser full suspension E bike that has dual crown forks and love it. I live in Ohio so I think I might just wait until next year for the 2023 models to come out. So thank you again for all the information that I have received from your videos. Can’t wait to hit the trails next year.😊
I work as a bike salesman. We sell many of the top ebikes out there. I eventually settled on buying a Trek Rail 9.7 because of many factors.
At $6500 US, it's an excellent value for a carbon frame with durable components. It also has 29" wheels, which, for me, was an obvious choice as they are efficient and roll over anything. It also has the Bosch motor which is reliable and torquey as all hell (great for long, tough climbs). And it has the easily removable 625wH battery, which I use all the time for transport and recharging. However the fork was the real letdown. It was only a 160mm Rockhox Yari. I started experimenting with various forks and lengths. I now ride the Rail with a Fox Factory 38 with 180mm of travel. (I also tried the Fox Performance 38 and a Rockshox ZEB. Not much difference between the three models.)
The difference in most ebikes comes down to the fork. My buddies still have 160mm forks and there's no comparison to mine. My bike now climbs better, descends faster and smoother.
Save your money, buy an inexpensive alloy frame trail ebike with 160mm travel up front, then upgrade to a 180mm. And, it really doesn't matter whether you choose the Fox 38 or the Rockshox ZEB. Both are excellent. You'll also get the benefit of a slightly slacker headtube angle and well as a slightly higher bottom bracket height. Win Win.
Don't worry about the rear shock so much. It really doesn't have the same effect as changing out the fork.
Now go out and shred some trail.
Excellent info here 👍🏻
Great input. Been debating between Rail 7 or 9.7. Thanks!
Great feedback Howie just wondering how you buy a carbon bike yourself but recommend an alloy one? Just want to make people aware Levo's begin at around 4800 too
Interesting ideas. FYI my 2021 9.7 Rail cost $7550 last year not $6500. Gonna get the new 2022 Levo just for fun and compare them before selling one. The Levo comes with the Fox 38 with 160. I wouldn't think recommending every bike would be OK adding longer travel to the fork but then I haven't tried it.
@@jimji2774 Try 180mm. Then ask why all ebikes don't come that way out of the box.
You'll definitely notice the difference between the Levo and Rail. They are very different bikes. Enjoy the ride.
I'm so grateful that responsible bike makers like Specialized made ebikes that are so much still a bike, with software that makes pedaling help so seamless and natural. There were so many bad ways this segment could have gone, and so many arguments against emtb's that could have been made. Even the loudest critics need only look a few years into the future and admit to themselves that one day, they may need one to keep enjoying the sport they love, or else they would have to stay home. I'm past prime, it's okay to admit that. I still want to explore so badly, there are thousands and thousands of trails to be seen, and only so much leg power that I can put out without destroying myself. So, specialized earned their enormous price tag from me and I was quite willing to pay.
Under rated comment
when I was a bit younger I used to go on weekly shop/club rides on my 3 x 9 speed FSR Stumpy where there were always two or three incredibly fit and talented riders on single speed hardtails. It seems to me that once we get to an era where everyone is on EMTB, then the SL bikes are for the guys who formerly rode these single-speed hardtails.
I'm enjoying all these speciaized adverts recently on the channel thanks
Amazing episode 😮😮. All the models of Specialized 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
13k for a specialised is obscene.
You can’t tell me that bike is worth twice my 2021 Commencal Meta Power.
Completely agree but got to remember it's all relative " can't tell me those Nike or ezzy trainers are worth twice my hiteck. ✌💚
Have Specialized TL, but my dream bike is Meta Power (side note :-) )
Depending on what you're looking for, it can be. Commencal doesn't have a shop you can walk into a try bikes, work with sales, mechanics etc, deal with the shop who sold it to you for maintenance, warranty etc. Also specialized is literally leading the ebike game with their motor/battery/app tech
I own a new specialized enduro and meta and when it comes to an ebike I wouldn't even consider the commencal. But the +10k is a massive pill to swallow
Notice that EMBN is only showing Specialized - so suspect product SPROOKING $$ is involved. I love these guys and channel, but let's be honest, 'payola' or pay-for-play is involved
@@ForbinColossus was nice to see Kona ebikes yesterday though
Thanks for using our music :)
curious on the timed range/vert of kenvo sl with/without range extender vs turbo levo in eco/trail mode. as someone who likes using ebikes to do epic all day big rides, will the kenevo sl be able to do a 10k foot big day like my 2019 levo can?
I own a 2021 focus Sam2 6.8 and a new kenevo both are great bikes but the kenevo is definitely a big step up from the focus all round so to say that the specialized are over priced is rubbish you get what you pay for😉
they are overpriced rubbish, they arent worth what you pay for them, you get a lot more focus for your money than you do a specialized
My 2019 Kenevo comp has been amazing, although now I’ve dropped 3 stone I’d be interested to try a SL.
Compare the range of Levo on ECO mode with Levo SL in turbo mode (same power)... that will give you a true range comparison.
Hello,
I just got a Turbo Levo Pro, the suspension is great, the bike is really a update from generation 2.
I hope they fixed the motor issues on 2021 and 2022 models...
The video I wanted to see, thanks Steve you aced it, it's one of your best and I'm glad you omitted the £ as that's wasn't what the shootout was about.
I have but one question, I know what the Levo is like to pedal on the flat when it hits the 15mph limit, but what are the SL models like to pedal past the 15mph limit on the flat?
Lucky Steve - would love to have this choice of a different rigs. Specialized S Works is the Ferrari of mtb- always has been. Had to go with my budget & buy a Cube Stereo Hybrid .
Great vid , keep it up !
Thanks Matt appreciate it
sold my s3 Kenevo for the new s4 Kenevo SL hope make the right choice
As long as you're fit enough 👍✌🏴
Thanks for the video finally I made my decision what to purchase great video I'm getting the regular levo full power bike 👍🏻
Good comparison, but these bikes from Specialized are simply overpriced. There is simply no Value For Money on these bikes.
these are just promo videos for Specialized
All EMTB, All bicycles are overpriced !! But people buy them !
Everything is overpriced in this world! If you have the money, buy it. If not, ride a different bike. S-works is the Ferrari of MTB. There are not many people how can afford a Ferrari.
@@ras0240 Yes, I agree that there are a lot of things that are overpriced, but may be they have a usp. But I'm wondering where the usp here is with these bikes? Except the frame, everything else is from some other manufacturer. Using Ferrari as an example to compare and justify the overprice is just as ridiculous as it can be!
@@joesan3597 your paying for a combination of things on some bikes ; such as ground breaking tech, quality of frame, build, performance etc......some people prefer a cheaper car to get from A to B, but put there money into an Emtb because that's where they get there pleasure from ; it's about what's good for you !!!! 👍😎
Excelente Review. Many thanks 😊 for all the help.
Awesome video Steve....Its a minefield with these new options.
I have a 2019 Levo Expert and did think about an upgrade but I dont think the extra cost will give me much more of a bike for my riding JMHO.
Keep safe folks
that's not Chris. Steve is the knowledgeable one.
@@jamesuk9 My bad.....watching a few video's this morning and got it wrong lol.....will correct it ;-)
@@K88MUD no worries mate. Agree with the sentiment though. I have a 20 Kenevo expert that i have removed the triple tree from like here and also see no compelling reasons to change bikes.
Thanks Richie, yes for sure an it was the minefield i was attempting to unravel
Is there a way for the specialized computer to keep the rider under a certain power level? As like a zone 2 training tool?
Have you made a video on the specialized Turbo Tero 5.0??
How long is the motor rated to last? I don't plan on going on super crazy trails or anything. But I also don't wanna fork out that kinda money and have the motor die in a year or 2
In the end I think I had gathered some useful information, but I was mighty confused throughout the bulk of the video as the four bikes were so quickly jumbled in much of the presentation. I often lost track of which was which. This video was a good candidate for editing/layering in identification tags onscreen. I even heard the term "Kenevo two (too?)" out of Steve's mouth. I'm sorry, but to that point I was only familiar with "Kenevo" and "Kenevo SL". I missed the next couple sentences out of Steve's mouth as my mind was deciphering "Kenevo two". By the end of the video I felt somewhat exhausted and bleary-eyed having put forth so much effort in keeping track of which bike was which at any given time/comment. That was my experience. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Haha!!! Ok. It wasn’t just me. I’ve never been so lost in a bike review, or any review. All good. Cheers!
@@brentcollins9727 agree a bit lost too, need titles animations
@@skaboa Just watch 3 times like I had to lol ! You tubers don't like vids that are too long.
@@jimji2774 not at all, love long format anything. It’s just not organized as well as it could be. Labeling the different bikes would help make it a better review. I appreciate the effort
Hi , normally i have a turbo levo HT comp
but i have a bad lower back.
will it be a better choice to go for full sus ?
I mainly use my bike on the road, because i ride to work with it.
I hope you guys can give me some info!
Is the forestal Siryon with 65nm w/ 170/170 more for the buck? Then the kenevol sl? And is then the cyon the better as well for a sl trail bike with more power with remembering that it’s a disengagement system at peddling over the speed limiter? Is it safe to say better than the turbo sl?
The bikes are awesome. The technology is awesome. The prices, however….
Prices are Crazy !
Those companies make an insane amount of profit. If you compare the components some Chinese brand with the same components and even much better motor and battery will cost you more then half the price. It's all marketing brainwash!. Think about it it freakin a bycicles with 2 wheels 😂
After Kenevo 1.Gen. I bought the Kenevo SL SW and for my taste that’s the best compromise between the E and the regular Bike. Feels downhill like DH and uphill like XC. Light end much easier to handle in comparison with the Kenevo, what’s more a light e-motorcycle. So that’s my verdict after few months.
2 wheels carry our soul! It's a very nice video, I'm an electric mountain bike rider, I live in the Netherlands, I'm still waiting for my new channel. Good luck with my love.
I have a 2020 Kenevo. I have swopped the rear shock for an Ohlins TTX air which I really like. I have seen the Kenduro post and would like to know what I could expect if I went to a single crown fork, is it worth the effort, what was noticeable when it was done.
Hey there, Kenevo is a great bike. I'd simply expect a different feel, i'm not sure i could say there is any massive performance gain
Hey Steve, if I wanted an ebike for the purposes of self-shuttling the downhills at FoD (and other UK destinations), maybe aiming for 10 runs in a day, would the KSL motor and battery have enough oomph to do that without my having to exhaust myself? I'm 70kg, moderately fit.
Ideally I think I want something that feels more like an MTB than an eMTB on the trail and when hopping and jumping, but I don't want to be shattered at the top of the climbs!
Since pedaling efficiency is negated by the motor, doesn’t the choice in bike come down to geometry, battery, and wheel size preference? I’m getting a long travel eMTB just because it will fit me better and has a bigger battery.
Well that was quite a comparison but it left me more confused than ever - i will have to watch it a couple more times and give it thumbs up each time. I definitely want a full fat bike as I am used the power on my Trek Rail. I recently street tested a Levo Expert and then a Levo S-Works with the carbon wheels and just assumed the higher specs and lower weight on the S would be superior. Now I am questioning even that after your mentioning of the more compliant aspects of different rims and frames. I did notice the S seemed stiffer even just going up and down curbs on the street but it also seemed more agile just turning it around since I didn't have to balance as much weight. Think they were about 7 lbs different. I am wondering which Levo might be better for an older rider that likes up and down but doesn't ride too fast as I can't afford a high speed crash ? Thanks for the hard work.
With age, I thought I had to give up riding up to Mt. Wilson Observatory-Cosmic Cafe. I may have just found my ride.
I'm a fan of the high power e bikes. If you want a light bike which you have to put loads of effort in then you might aswell get a normal bike 🤷♂️
Whats with the subliminal dude flash at 8.06?
Wich EMTB is Best for me ? Scott Genius eride 900 tuned , Moustache Trail 10 .
I found the the sl is so deceiving really liked the light weight but having more power at hand with the levo I found it's so much more capable of a bike. Turns the flats into more fun which the SL can't do.
I have 1000 miles on my sl so far with no problems at all , and its a blast , but if i ever get another one it would be the new levo
ummm I feel like I've been accosted by a salesman for Specialized.
splendid video ! I also learn something news from it, thank you.
Excellent review Steve👍😀 us boys and gals can't be any more satisfied with that😍stay safe and enjoy 💙💙💪🤪
Electric Specialized Mountain Bike Network..it’s getting beyond a joke now guys.
Sad but true... unfortunately
He does mention at the beginning that they chose Specialized bikes for this video because they are a channel partner. I think this is less of a review of the bikes and more of a review of the category each bike represents. The information provided translates to other brands with similar bikes. It would be nice to see some Treks and other brands mentioned more often, but they are running a for profit business and need to make money to pay the bills.
I made sense by realizing they are all too expensive. Even compared to my carbon Santa Cruz.
Any difference noticed in riding carbon or aluminium? (Not weight, just bike’s behaviour)
I want an Ebike for climbing , the coolest part about an ebike is that up now has a flow too . no thanks on the SL , removing half the fun . its -3x you . Im sure spec could up that output , those are rookie numbers.
Would you be willing to share the input and guidance Specialized gave you for this segment e.g. full transparency of any bias? Really nice work and amazing bikes.
Absolutely, what would you like to know?
@@stevejones7956 I'd like to know how much direction you allow your sponsors in the content you create. Perhaps a behind the scenes of how you develop an episode to include prep calls with vendors, agreement on points you would make if that work happens. Also, curious what your stance is on omitting information if asked by a vendor e.g. Specialized challenges with their ebike motors as an example of a challenging facts that certainly no vendor wants to highlight but the riders are talking about. I"m a lifelong Specialized customer so I only highlight that example because it was so well known. Thanks so much for all you do for EMTB!
@@srfrsean .....Crickets.....and you know he read it.
Was this a week ago Friday, think it was you at the cafe giving my black levo SL comp carbon a good stare... 😎 😎 😎
Eating a bacon and egg roll? guess so hahaha
@@stevejones7956 ha yes I had just scoffed my bacon and sausage sandwich or as its more commonly known olympians lunch... I will say hi next time... Good review as well.. Had the SL for nearly a year and I am loving it, find it just what I was looking for, something to take the edges off the climbs but still makes you know you have worked for it... Keep up the good work.
Thank you for the informative video. I live in the PHX desert and found the Levo to be more forgiving, better center of gravity, stronger motor for the gnarly climbs than the Levo SL. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated. Jg
Why no sworks SL?
Steve , first hi from Texas; I am in the market for a emtb and although I currently ride a 2013 Sworks stumpy (before that an Sworks Epec) and love Specialized I can't bring myself to spend 13k or 15k dollars on a new Levo. I am probably going to buy the Canyon Spectral 9 . I could buy that and possible their Egravel bike for what the Sworks cost. Specialized has jumped the shark
Expert model is on sale at the moment for $8250. Just not enough value in the higher trim levels.
Will Nukeproof ever do an E version of the Scout or Reactor? That would be huge! Price point would be a concern though...could to they do a Reactor in Alloy for Sub £5k? Challenge issued..
i own a levo turbo comp 2020 .)
and im F Loving it.
Question: Who is the Stig in all his videos?
All the mtb and emtb market is so saturated with companies because it's so profitable. They make a insane amount of profit on your backs. Simple things to do , check all the components they put and you will get the cost of a fraction from what they charge
hello friends i am in the possibility of a purchase of an e bike. i originally was thinking of a HT but not sure, is there a video on HT E bikes on comparisons? i was looking at the turbo levo SL but it only had 35 nm while alot of its competitors had 50 to 60 nm. i ride everything from paved city paths to trails in the mountains but struggle in the climbing of trails. my friends recommend me to get an E bike because of a permanent back injury that limits me to keeping up with them. all of my bikes are by specialized but are out of my price range and right now the giant fathom e 29 is doable in a HT. to me looking at the levo sl and the phathom E , the phathom E on paper you get a lot more for your money but is a bit more money then the levo sl. whats your thoughts?
My ktm350 gets up those hills with less input, plus it’s cheaper. 😂
mine also
In a public park and up a road ?
@@CarkeekW yup mine is registered so I can ride up public roads and some land but not all.
Well, my gray pigeon does it even faster and is even cheaper.
KTM is a great offroad motorcycle but weighs almost 300 lbs and you can't ride it on most of the trails that allow ebikes. I dropped mine on my ankle and broke my foot in 5 places. Now when my ebike falls on me I just laugh and get up and ride.
Hello please can you tell me the make of the clear glasses you are wareing in this video and ware id be able to buy them. Thank you Patrick.
Age 68 , Kenevo Sl 2022 Bike Big funn on the naturel trails . 2100Hm and 40% left so .Bill Deras the oldie's are not so bad 😁😃
Specialized are I suppose the benchmark when it comes to EMTB but their achilles heel will always be the motor, when and if they admit Shimano and Bosch are superior units and implement them into their bikes then they will never truly be world class.
I personally don't want a 4 year warranty, what I want is a motor I can trust which Is why I will never buy another Specialized, and is the Specialized name really worth the premium they expect you to pay when more capable bikes at.more competitive prices are available, the fan boys will still buy them but the more astute buyers will look elsewhere.
I've personally seen many failures of both the makes you say and there's countless post online of others no emtb are without fault. I personally really value my 4 year warranty, my local bike shop are awesome I'm never without my ride more than a day. ✌
idk. ive ridden all the motors. the specialized feels better and has more power than everyone else.. i know people have had issues, but they are fast at fixing and many people experience no issues at all.
who is they guy at 8:06 ??? speed to 0.25 if you want to catch him
Single crown Kenevo. Best bike, period.
how tall are you in cm?
i'm 172 hope s4 Kenevo SL is the right size
yo need S2
Why not make same ride at whales that you did on the new levo, but this time using the kenevo sl?
Been eying on this Specialized levo 170mm travel, but for the price I ended up on buying a YZ 250F😂
Doesn't a bike like the Orbea Rise give you the best of both worlds
How so? (I know nothing about that bike)
Wow .. that’s got to be the longest advert I have ever seen..
Wouldn’t buy a specialized ..way way over priced .. I think every yr they push it with there valuations on the bikes .. this yr they have probably took the piss more than any other manufacturer.
Hi there Paul, thanks for watching, i've pit a brief reply above
Specialized don't represent value for money and price a lot of riders out of the game plus motors are cheese and the pivots usually only last a few months before falling to bits, nice bikes when you pick them up but you soon grow to loathe them lol
Specialized rip off.
Thanks for your thoughts Adam. What would represent value for money in your eyes?
Lol ya what emtb with the specs spesh has Is cheaper? This comment was a year ago so this didn't age to well lolz
You have got light weight ebikes medium weight and heavy 35nm /60nm/90nm not just light and heavy.
Caught a snippet of Joe Buckley on a deck chair at 8:07,do I win a prize?😂🤣
None. They aren't worth that much by a lot.
U r lucky to ride every deamn top ebike out there
I've got the 2020 won't ever trust them again.
Do you have motor problems?
I thought about buying the 2020 model, because my bikeshop clears them out at a heavy discount.
On the other hand there’s also a discounted Santa Cruz Heckler which I’d also consider.
It is the top spec with X01 and the Santa Cruz Reserve Carbon rims with life long warranty.
So the specs are way above the Specialized.
@@rolux4853 You get an extended 6 year warranty (in most countries) on the motor on those models, so why not.
Hey Embn team, I've been reading all the comments and it seems to me like you are having popularity troubles by being so obviously marketing specialized all the time. Here goes a suggestion, please focus more in testing brand A against brand B and forget the sponsors, Specialized is now jeopardizing the Channel, please stop that and get into the old righ track where you were before and where I learned so many things that helped be a lot while choosing MI emtb. Thanks
Aluminuim is not softer than carbon ... Bruni ride Alluminium because specialzied don't invest anymore money on the DH bike market ...
Really are you sure 🤔 where did you get this?
As I believe it carbon is almost 4 times stronger than aluminium and almost twice as stiff. ✌
@@terptv710 it dipend ... how carbon it's made ... carbon handlebars gives less vibrations to your hands cause the are little moore flexxible for example
More specialized bike videos........ we get it they sponsor the channel, you’d think there were no other bike brands out there in the big wide world
Hi Scott fully agree but there are not many brands that do two different motor types, wheel, geometry, travel differences which ultimately is what we were after
Dont they all ride Canyons?
I’d take the bait and buy one, if they’d only be priced within an somewhat reasonable limit.
I’d happily pay 7-8k€for a good Carbon Modell, but you don’t even get a good entry level bike at that pricepoint when looking at Specialized..
Of course I’d love to have one, but it’s just ridiculous!
Emtbn sadly lost the touch with the bikes their audience are able to ride.
Have a look at gmtbn with Nukeproof and Canyon as a sponsor, these are bikes a broad audience is able to afford!
Is this Specialized TH-cam Chanel?! For a Chanel your size and supposed impartiality
They're not impartial and don't claim to be 🤔
Subliminal message at 8.07
Somewhere in this channel there must be ref to the Police Academy 3 movie of the famous "nice Bike, where do you put the batteries" clip...
I even can't afford $6900 polygon bromo N8
A good video, but much as I like Steve, I can’t believe his power output is 500 watts... that’s 2/3 of a horsepower... I suspect Specialized wattage inflation
The Bosch performance line CX is 600W !
Modern motor’s actually deliver this
@@maxflight777 yes, the nominal 250 Watts is very conservative, I saw some chaps put a data logger on a Specialized and they saw peak power draw by the motor of over 700 watts
I'd like them all. Lol
WHilst i'm sure the Marketing dept at Specialized where having a wet dream about being able to cleverly name all their models with phonetically similar names, it makes comparison, such as in a video like this, absolutely impossible! By 3 min in i had no idea which bike was which...........
Specialised sponsored by looks of it
Weighing the Bikes on a gas strut suspended van door doesn’t really make sense
I think embn should follow public opinion and step away from specialized.
Price and reliability just don't make sense to the masses.
That display is not next level apart from that half about !
Specialised again.
There are other brands.
Time to unsubscribe I think.
£13000 for a bike I can buy a top of the range 350 and have £3000 in my pocket
But fewer places to ride right Tony?
Please send me a free one 😮💨
The kenevo sl doesn't put the E in enduro at all! It puts the R in enduro, for restricted!! Enduro means "endurance" there is no endurance in that pitiful battery, why would you spend 8-13k on a bike that restricts your riding distance 🤷♂️.
If you took that to cwmcarn and rode the off piste tracks using the uplift road to climb, you would struggle to get 3/4 full runs. You can do way more on a normal bike.
Pointless bike in my opinion, its aimed at rich people that only want to ride 10miles on a Sunday, not aimed towards real riders that want to push their limits.
Really disappointed in this bike, i just hope they release a real kenevo next year with 800/900wh battery and put the REAL E into enduro,
Because afterall isn't ebiking about pushing harder, further, longer and progressing in the sport, not going backwards and restricting what you can ride🤷♂️
Hi Brian, sorry you're disappointed in the bike. Where did you ride it? 10 miles seems quite different to the experience i had
@@stevejones7956 my point is, you couldn't do 30/40 miles with 4000/5000ft of climbing on it. Yes you probably could get the miles if stayed on relatively flat terrain,
But an enduro/dh bike is ridden up long steep climbs, and i can do that on my old normal enduro, so for me the new kenevo would just restrict my riding capabilities,and for 8-13k just doesn't make any sense. This is in my opinion and everyone has different riding styles. But for me it's a deal breaker, i was really hoping for the new kenevo to push the boundaries more this time and come out with a 800/900wh battery which would enable me to push past what i can already do on a normal bike, and thats my motivation for buying a ebike. So in my opinion yes it is a disappointment as i will have to wait until next year to see if they bring out the proper kenevo. Love ebikes, but these small battery versions just don't do it for me thats all.
@@briandavis8675 Hey Brian... so is 30/40 miles with 4-5000ft your target? I did 26miles and 2200ft on just one 160Wh range extender in Spain.
I think the point is the KSL and Kenevo are actually two totally different bikes but i see where you're coming from
@@stevejones7956 yeh i agree they are 2 totally different bikes, which is why ive never looked at the levo SL, it has always been a choice between the levo and kenevo, but i ride 29 so the old kenevo wasn't an option, so i may just go levo for now as thats a machine of a bike, and wait and see if a new Kenevo comes out next year or so. So yeh i wasn't slating the new kenevo, its just in my opinion for my needs from a ebike that it just isnt an option.
30/40miles 4000plus isnt a ride thats done on every ride, but its certainly coming more common with all the new tracks popping up esp over the wales area, so i wouldn't want a bike that couldn't provide that kind of ride if i was planning on doing it, i generally ride fod, dowies, shutcastle etc and my local area of Stroud, but they are still 20-30 miles rides around 3000ft ish. But the climbs obviously aren't as long and steep as they are over wales.
seriously overpriced market. even the cheapest electric bikes which cost under 1000 € in 2019 cost 2000 € now hyperinflation also
Overpriced are the specialised bikes in my opinion
What would be the bike of your choice Adventure Wales?
Bikes for middle aged, middle management, mid life crisis, over weight blokes then! 😜
Blatant advertising and a mate of mine just got the top spec KTM crosser for £8800, that has an engine, clutch, way better suspension than these overpriced bikes.
I've had a YT pro Decoy for just over a year now, paid £4300 what a bike! Once you've given you 'Spesh' heads a shake......
congrats you bought a plastic piece of rubbish with wheels...just like everything made by YT
Always makes me laugh when you say emtbs get you to places normal MTBs will not get you, I'd disagree with some of the places my MTBs have got me over the last 32 years! I guess what you really mean is it's easier to get to those places with a motor doing most of the work for you. On my normal MTBs an epic 60+ 6000+ feet of elevation epic is very doable, if I were on an emtb I'd be worrying about the battery all the time.
big ride on an evo is 45miles and 10k feet (and having energy to do it the next day). you aint doing that on a regular mtb.
You could do a 150 miler and 20k for climbing on a motorbike, wouldn't see you doing that on an emtb and having energy left the next day!
Btw, I've done 76 miles and 12k of climbing and ridden the next day and the day after that.....
Is about getting to those places on the bike, not under the bike hahahahah