When I think Surly bikes, the first thing that comes to mind is steel frames built to take a thrashing. No frills, no bells (well maybe on some) and certainly no motors — until now. Surly entered the E-cargo market at Frost Bike in St. Paul, Minnesota, with the release of the Big Easy. The E-cargo world is growing by leaps and bounds, as more and more people are looking to ditch their cars and cargo bikes are a solid alternative to a minivan. But why an e-bike? Because the load capability of some modern cargo bikes are so high that they are more like 18-wheelers than bicycles and pedaling an 18-wheeler is hard.

Surly’s new E-cargo Big Easy boasts a weight for the rack itself at a respectable 200lbs of cargo, while the full weight limit for the rider, gear, and all racks is 400lbs total. Impressive. The Big Easy is a full steel Surly design crafted around the Bosch Performance CX drive unit. The Performance CX unit boasts a maximum torque of 75 Nm and has many modes to fit your load: Eco, Tour, EMTB, and Turbo. The Performance CX can support up to speeds of 6 mph, which makes pushing your bike much more relaxed, especially fully loaded or after a long day at work.

Component highlights include relaxed mustache style bars, internal cables, and housing and, four-piston Tektro brakes. Surly adds a damping headset for smooth and stable handling under heavy loads, and a tall headtube for easy steering. The Surly Big Easy is capable of running dual batteries for extended range, and Bosch downtube batteries are interchangeable allowing for easy swapping an aftermarket purchase. Large-volume 26×2.5 ExtraTerrestrial tires and durable wheel builds give the rider peace of mind, knowing they won’t get stranded on the roadside with the kids. The Surly Big Easy frame also integrates seamlessly with Surly Bill and Ted trailers for maximum cargo potential.

The ride of the Surly Big Easy is similar to the name, easy and smooth, though mine was equipped with less cargo than most. A characteristic that sticks out is that the bike handled much like a “regular bike.” I didn’t feel that I was riding a large cargo bike, the ride was steady and smooth. From the upright riding position and the headset dampening the ride is comfortable, the chromoly steel frame soaking up the bumps and hum that accompanies many other loaded alloy cargo bikes. Component spec is spot on for the intended purpose, the brakeset stops the Big Easy capably, and shifting is smooth and predictable.

Riding assisted is still a novelty to me, but I quickly understood the utility when taking the Surly Big Easy up a small snow covered hill at a nearby ski resort. Most of my riding on the Big Easy was in the saddle and I noticed the Bosch delivers predictable and consistent power, never lurching. Different modes are available to the rider and all are super smooth and powerful from what I experienced. The bike never lunged when stomping on the pedals and each acceleration was smooth and stable.

It’s clear who the intended customer is for the Big Easy and how it can help with tasks such as moving, shopping and picking up the kids. The $5000 price is pretty heavy, but so is all that gear and spending time in cars. If you are someone who wants to ditch the car entirely and not depend on your buddy with a truck for moving, I suggest you take the Big Easy for a test ride.

For more info cargo over to www.surlybikes.com

The post Surly Big Easy first ride impressions appeared first on Mountain Bike Review.

With a retail price of $4599 the Fezzari Wire Peak Elite offers a smart component mix that doesn’t immediately have you thinking of upgrades.

What Is It

The Fezarri Wire Peak Elite is the middle offering in the Utah bike maker’s pedal-assist e-bike line-up. The all-aluminum frame is gorgeous but even more compelling is the component spec and price. The Fezzari Wire Peak Elite sits in the middle ground between trail bike and enduro bike. With 140mm of rear wheel travel via a RockShox Deluxe RT shock and the Fezzari TerraLink suspension design, the pedaling platform is efficient yet forgiving on hard hits. The Elite model features an e-bike specific 150mm RockShox Yari RC fork. Interestingly, the two remaining e-bike models in the Fezzari lineup feature 160mm of travel (Pro model) and 140mm (Comp model). The Wire Peak also offers a choice in wheel size. Each of the three models is available in 27.5+ with up to a 2.8” tire or in a 29er option with room for up to a 2.6” tire.

The Shimano E8000 250w, 70Nm torque motor and 504Wh removable battery are integrated into a modern aggressive geometry frame.

Fezzari Wire Peak Elite Component Highlights

• Shimano E8000 250w, 70Nm torque motor and 504Wh removable battery
• 150mm RockShox Yari RC fork
• RockShox Deluxe RT shock
• SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain
• SRAM Guide RS 4-piston brakes with 200mm rotors
• X-Fusion Manic internal dropper seatpost (sized to the customer)
• WTB ST i35 2.0 wheels
• Maxxis DHF 27.5×2.8 Front, Maxxis Rekon 27.5×2.8 Rear
• Capability to run 29er wheels with 29×2.6 tires
• Weight: 50.3 pounds size XL w/out pedals

Recipe for Success

The brilliance behind the nimble agility of the Fezzari Wire Peak Elite was the simple design choice to build the battery/motor system around a bike with fun geometry. Some manufacturers build the bike around the battery/motor system and have to make sacrifices in geometry that can negatively affect handling. The Wire Peak suffers none of those negatives. In fact, the Wire Peak is just as active and easy to maneuver as a good non-motorized bike in the same travel class. It’s just heavier, of course. About xx pounds to be exact.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1Mih-l1lJU

The result of this design philosophy is a geometry that pushes the boundaries of “modern” with a steep effective seat tube angle of 76 degrees, which puts you into a very efficient position for pedaling. The 66 degree head tube angle is relaxed enough to provide comfort and stability on fast steeps without feeling floppy and clumsy on flat low-speed trail sections. The relatively short 435mm chainstays assist in keeping the bike as nimble as possible while maintaining high speed stability when the going gets chunky. There are three models ranging from the Comp model at $3599 to the Pro model at $5599.

The Fezzari 23-Point Custom Setup is a quick and easy way to reduce the stress of indecision or lack of knowledge about proper bike fit.

How To Buy

Fezzari is a direct-to-consumer bike seller, which means no distributors or bike shops. The savings generated from shortening the chain translate into lower prices for the consumer and quicker product feedback to Fezzari. That feedback helps them make on the fly corrections and speeds up product design. One of the most intriguing and important points of service offered by Fezzari is their 23-point Custom Setup. When you are ready to order a Fezzari bike, you can supply the salesperson with information that is specific to you including age, riding style, height, weight, inseam, arm length, torso length etc. This information helps Fezzari customize the bike specifically for you and the way you ride.

As a certified mountain bike instructor I am constantly amazed when I see riders atop brand new ill-fitted bikes, especially women on “women’s specific” bikes. This quote from the Fezzari website sums up women’s bike fit perfectly in my mind.

The Wire Peak looks good at any angle. It’s guaranteed to spark conversation.

“What about Women’s Specific Bikes? We go way beyond a generic woman’s fit to a person-specific fit. Each person has a different size hand, inseam, torso, etc., than someone else. We will fit the bike to you, not to a generic hypothetical woman… We at Fezzari believe every bike should fit you specifically. That’s why we offer Person-Specific Sizing. Yes, we know the general assumptions that women like shorter reaches to the handlebars, or softer rides, for example. But instead of generalizing, we get specific sizing data from you (not women in general) and then build the bike to fit you.”

If you already know what you want down to seat post and stem length then you can skip the 23-Point Custom Setup and place your order. I choose to supply the Fezzari Team with my body dimensions, ride style, and even sent them a few YouTube videos of trails that I ride frequently. After reviewing the information they offered their suggestions and I agreed with their recommendations so I placed my order. A week later my bike was in my garage.

This is how you properly ship a bike. The bike is fully protected from careless brown Santas and it ships mostly assembled.

Boxing Lessons

Manufacturers listen up. Here is how you properly protect a bike for shipping AND make it easy for the consumer to remove, assemble and be ride ready in minutes. I have received many demo bikes over the years and this is by far the best packing job I have observed. The bike was very well protected with lots of foam, cardboard and plastic armoring. The bike was also 90% assembled which means it took longer for me to carefully remove the protection bits than it did to assemble the bike.

On the Trail

After assembly I was happy to see that the fork and shock pressure were already set for my weight and the cockpit was pretty close to the way I like it. Everything was pre-set such that all I had to do was set tire pressure and install my pedals.

My fiancé Jeni and I decided to hit up one of our favorite local flow trails in Nevada City. Hoot Trail is a short, flowy trail with so many pumpable rollers, doubles and big berms that despite being less than 1.5 miles long you’re panting and exhausted by the time you reach the bottom.

The energy saved by climbing on a pedal-assist bike is best used for playing on rocks or sessioning fun sections of trail.

Riding up the connector trail I was immediately struck by how easy the bike pedaled in Eco mode. Duh, it’s an e-bike. But having not ridden any bike in months I was utterly out of shape and fully expected even this mild climb to take a toll. That wasn’t the case. I was still working, but with much less effort, which made it easy to warm up my muscles before the downhill section.

Hoot Trail was, well, a hoot. There’s no denying the Fezzari Wire Peak Elite is a heavy bike, but when you begin pumping rollers and popping off trail features you quickly forget about the extra weight. When tight turns started appearing faster than I expected I winced, thinking I would plow right through them and into the underbrush. But instead the bike followed my lead and went where I pointed it without drama. When I chose a bad line, I simply shifted my weight and placed the bike back where it should be.

The battery features a keyed lock to reduce the likelihood of theft.

Sometimes it was too late to change lines, but the massive tires and solid frame soaked up the rough hits and changed those bad lines into alternate lines. One of the coolest features of pedal assist is the ability to throw in a pedal stroke or two to generate enough speed to hit that feature you were trying to decide if you should hit, but your indecision caused you to lose speed. How many times have you looked at a feature on a new trail and wanted to hit it but by the time you made up your mind it was too late and you didn’t have the speed?

Sometimes you’ll turn around and re-ride the section and other times you’re too tired. I found my time on the Fezzari Wire Peak Elite to be filled with more of those re-ride scenarios. Not because I missed the feature the first time, but because it was so fun I wanted to ride it again and pedaling back up the hill was so easy.

The battery can be removed from the bike downtube and charged indoors or inside a vehicle using the battery adapter available from Fezzari for $40.

With all of the fun downhill out of the way it was time to climb back up the mountain to the truck. The climb out of Hoot is generally pretty gradual over approximately three miles, but Jeni wanted to take an alternate route up the road then onto another trail. The first part of the road climb is steep and Jeni, who despite winning her class in the 2018 California Enduro Series, was also out of shape and was already breathing hard. She kept casting an annoyed look my way when I chatted away while pedaling almost effortlessly up the trail.

We’ve since ridden a handful of other local trails to get a feel for how the Wire Peak rides on less flowy trails with ledges, giant boulders, technical sections and chunky rock gardens. In all cases the fun continued.

My personal bike is size large Evil The Calling, a bike famous for being agile and fun to ride. There wasn’t one spot on any of the trails we rode that left me wishing I had brought the other bike. I’m not saying the Fezzari Wire Peak Elite is better or worse. I’m saying it was fun and did everything I wanted it to do and made me smile the entire way.

The cockpit is a touch on the busy side.

The XL frame’s reach feels a bit shorter than expected when seated due to the steep seat tube angle, but when standing in attack position the bike feels very balanced and no special adjustments were needed to keep weight on the front tire to maintain cornering traction. On steep terrain the bike feels very stable and well controlled.

The SRAM Guide RS brakes on the other hand were a bit underpowered on long steep sections of trail and began to fade despite cold ambient temps in the mid 40s.The brakes never failed and braking strength was still sufficient for panic stops, but I would be concerned if the temperature were in the high 90s and/or I weighed a lot more than 175 pounds.

Total pedal-assisted range is variable. Max range under ideal conditions is listed as 60 miles. Ideal conditions would consist of trails with minimal elevation change while using Eco mode in mild battery-friendly temperatures (65F-85F) and likely a rider who weighs less than 190 pounds. As tested, range appears to be 25-40 miles under hard riding with 3000+ feet of elevation gain using a mixture of Eco, Trail, and Boost modes. Thus, Fezzari’s estimate of 60 miles max range appears to be correct.

This is not a light bike.

Don’t let the idea of being regulated to Eco mode for max range spoil your fun, though. I found the combination of the SRAM Eagle drivetrain and Eco mode to be more than enough pedal assist in most conditions except for steep sustained climbs or when just plain exhausted. At that point Trail mode was my go-to mode for saving my legs for more fun stuff further down the trail.

Boost mode is kind of ridiculous. The power available in Boost mode is almost unusable except for steep climbs or when you need a huge surge of speed like when a huge bear is chasing you. The first time I stuck it in Boost mode and stood up to mash the pedals down I was reminded of the scene in “Gone in 60 Seconds” when Nicholas Cage hit the nitrous button on Eleanor in the famous LA River car chase. Go Baby Go indeed! Until you hit 20mph and then the fun ends.

Suspension is supplied by RockShox.

Pedal assist shuts down at 20mph and then it’s all you and a 50-pound bike. Talking about going from a hero to a zero in less than a second. But the speed governor is there for a reason and if we want to help ensure e-bikes have a place on our trail systems then I’m okay with the limitation. If you want to climb hills any faster than you really should look into a different sport.

First Charge

Charging the Fezzari Wire Peak Elite is pretty straight forward. The bike comes with a Darfon 120v 2.4a battery charger, which plugs into the wall and directly into the charge port on the non-drive side of the downtube. Charging takes approximately 3-5 hours to complete.

Alternatively, you can remove the battery from the bike and charge it indoors. This is more efficient and generally a better place to store the battery during extreme hot or cold weather, which can negatively impact long-term battery health. To charge it while disconnected from the bike you will need a special adapter available from Fezzari for $40. On the road charging while traveling can be done with a properly sized power inverter such as this affordable unit by BESTEK. We will detail how to accomplish mobile charging in the long-term review.

Assembly is quick and easy. Even a caveman could do it.

Early Verdict

The Fezzari Wire Peak Elite is a solid bike and I mean really solid. When you pick it up it feels like it was carved out of a solid block of steel. But when you ride it the weight disappears and it is way more nimble than a bike of its weight and length should be. The Pro model is a bit lighter with more carbon fiber bits and generally higher spec components, but bang for buck is very high with the Elite model.

Simply put, the Wire Peak is damn fun and everyone who has pedaled it around a bit steps off with a huge grin and just stares at it muttering things like “that’s rad” or “holy crap that was fun.” But could this bike serve as our only mountain bike?

Geo chart for the Fezzari Wire Peak Elite.

We plan on giving the Wire Peak a thrashing on more rugged trails this spring in an effort to expose any weaknesses or durability concerns, as well as answer the question: Can an e-bike be a quiver killer? Stay tuned.

Learn more at www.fezzari.com.

The post Fezzari Wire Peak Elite E-bike First Ride Review appeared first on Mountain Bike Review.

Ebikes in Downieville, CA

We’ll publish the results shortly and compare them to the survey we ran last year.

Create your own user feedback survey

The post Take the 2019 Mtbr Ebike Survey appeared first on Mountain Bike Review.

Trek releases all-new Rail and Powerfly Hardtail e-MTBs

Trek unveiled additions to its electric mountain bike lineup recently, releasing the all-new Rail—a long-travel e-MTB for hard-charging trail riders—along with new Powerfly Hardtail models built for adventure-minded off-road riders who want to explore more. It’s a new era for e-MTB, and these new models are ready to rip the trails and explore the road less traveled. 

Trek’s new Rail and Powerfly Hardtail models are trimmed with Bosch’s all-new Performance Line CX drive system, which is significantly smaller and lighter than its predecessor and offers far less drag and pedaling resistance when you’re charging the trail beyond the maximum assist speed.

All-new Trek Rail e-MTB

Rail is a wildly capable e-MTB that rips just as hard as its non-electric brethren, then powers you back up the mountain, no lift ticket necessary.

Rail models are built with parts chosen specifically for e-MTB use. All forks have beefier legs and crowns so they won’t flex under hard riding. Every model also has extra-powerful 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes, and 12-speed Eagle drivetrains for smooth, consistent power delivery.

All Rail models are equipped with the best in Trek trail tech, including Active Braking Pivot (ABP), Mino Link adjustable geometry, and Straight Shot down tube with Knock Block.

Rail features Trek’s exclusive Removable Integrated Battery (RIB) system, which integrates the battery into the frame for protection and gives you easy, tool-free, drive-side access. Most models come with a bigger 625Wh battery for better range and longer time between charges.

Rail is available in OCLV Mountain Carbon and Alpha Aluminum options, and most models are ready to order now through Trek’s wide network of retail partners.

Trek Rail e-MTB Geometry

Prices range between $4,999.99 MSRP and $11,999.99, with Rail 5 and Rail 9.9 at either end of the spectrum.

Trek Powerfly Hardtail

All-new Powerfly Hardtail models now deliver even more capability to off-road riders who want to explore more terrain. They share the same compact and lightweight Bosch Performance CX drive system as the all-new Rail, on a hardtail frame that’s equipped with Trek’s Removable Integrated Battery (RIB) system.

The system fully integrates a Bosch PowerTube battery into the frame with a compact one-piece battery and cover. Select Powerfly Hardtail models are now available with the longer-range 625Wh battery.

All models in the new Powerfly Hardtail family have 120mm travel forks; Smart Wheel Size for the best fit; and Women’s models with alternate colorways, Women’s Specific Design saddles, and lower standover on the XS, S, and M frames.

Powerfly Hardtail models are available in a wide range of options, with availability varying by market.

Powerfly e-MTB Geometry  

Pricing: 

• Rail 5 $5000
• Rail 7 $6000
• Rail 9.7 $6500
• Rail 9.9 $12,000

For more information on the Trek Rail and Powerfly e-MTBs roll over to Trekbikes.com

The post Trek releases all-new Rail and Powerfly Hardtail e-MTBs appeared first on Mountain Bike Review.

Enduro World Series will host e-bike enduro racing

The Enduro World Series (EWS) is excited to announce it is extending its partnership with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to include the management and development of e-bike enduro racing from 2020 onwards. 

The Enduro World Series will develop the format and growth of e-bike enduro internationally alongside the UCI and will launch a new flagship international series in 2020, Enduro World Series-E (EWS-E). The series will feature three rounds across Europe in France, Switzerland, and Italy – with the overall winners crowned the Enduro World Series-E Champions. 

The EWS first held an e-bike test event in Finale Ligure in Italy in 2018 but delayed launching a full series until both the format of racing could be fine-tuned, and a solution to the monitoring of motor assistance could be answered. Two years later, the EWS now believes it is time to bring this new format to the highest level, beginning in Europe.

This new format will retain the core values of existing Enduro World Series races but held on separate courses that will challenge riders on a wide variety of terrain and feature racing on a mix of uphill and downhill highly technical Special Stages. The addition of technical climbing will not be the only difference to traditional EWS enduro racing, though, as EWS-E will also bring the Liaison Stages into the challenge with tighter times and more singletrack than ever before. This combination will push both the rider’s physical and bike handling limits to the max in a multi-loop and intense course, driving the development of e-bike technology and e-bike trail management and design forwards.

“Based on the experience and know-how of the Enduro World Series (EWS), this innovative format of the competition will offer spectacular racing while ensuring the highest standard of sporting integrity.” David Lappartient, UCI President 

For the past two years, the EWS has also been working behind the scenes to develop the technology that can monitor e-bike power output to ensure EWS-E can offer truly fair competition. More information about this new system will be available in early 2020. 

The first EWS-E race will take place as a stand-alone event in Valberg, France over July 17-18 2020, followed by a competition alongside the existing EWS finals in Zermatt, Switzerland (August 29 – 30), finishing in Finale Ligure, Italy alongside the Trophy of Nations on a big final weekend of racing for the season on September 25-26, 2020.

A statement from the Enduro World Series Board of Directors said: “We have always aimed to innovate within the EWS and so we are delighted to begin an exciting journey in the development of an e-bike enduro format that will push riders and technology and create a whole new form of exciting enduro-format racing.”

“We are motivated to help drive technological development, including the launch of electronic monitoring of E-bike motors for fair sport and work to make sure trail access and important developments for the future of this discipline are carefully managed. Starting in central Europe in 2020, we will work to expand the EWS-E to new countries when the time is right.”

UCI President David Lappartient said: “The UCI is looking forward to the introduction of an electric-powered version of Enduro with the launch of the EWS-E from 2020. Based on the experience and know-how of the Enduro World Series (EWS), this innovative format of the competition will offer spectacular racing while ensuring the highest standard of sporting integrity. This new series confirms the current status of E-MTB as a fast-moving cycling discipline.”

Specific rules and regulations for EWS-E will be released in early 2020.

For more information on EWS check out Enduroworldseries.com

The post Enduro World Series will host e-bike enduro racing in 2020 appeared first on Mountain Bike Review.

Larger wheels, a slacker head angle and an improved power system are some key updates to the 2020 Shuttle.

Though some will argue where e-bikes fit within trail management here in the U.S., it is obvious they are taking the industry by storm and will no doubt help to open the sport of mountain biking to more riders. As one of the leading brands in the boutique MTB market, Pivot is one of only a couple mid-sized brands to have jumped into the e-bike market and it seems to be serving them well.

For 2020, the Shuttle is in its second iteration with a few key changes and upgrades to the bike’s power system and geometry. Changes from the previous shuttle include the addition of 29” wheels combined with 160mm of front travel and 140mm of rear travel utilizing a dw-link suspension design. For 2020, the Shuttle also integrates an updated geometry to accommodate the change in wheel size, an updated Shimano STEPS power system with an integrated yet removable battery.

Related: Mtbr’s e-bike forums

Like the previous iteration, the latest Shuttle features a complete carbon fiber frame artfully crafted around the Shimano STEPS e-bike drive unit and battery system. Designed to keep weight low on the bike, the battery is integrated into the downtube while the motor sits between the battery and the bottom bracket. In addition to the low weight positioning, the Shuttle is touted as one of the lightest eMTB’s on the market with an advertised weight of less than 45lbs.

Utilizing a full carbon frame, the Shuttle integrates all the technology of a high-end trail bike into a sub 45lbs. eMTB.

2020 Pivot Shuttle Highlights

• 140mm dw-link rear travel, 160mm front travel
• 29-inch wheels (27.5+ compatible)
• 65.2-degree headtube angle
• Shimano STEPS E7000 or E8000 motor with 504 watt-hour battery
• Full bike sub 45lbs.
• 10-year frame warranty
• Small to X-Large frame sizing fitting rider heights from 5’4” to 6’7”
• Two build options: Team XTR ($10,499) and Race XT ($7,899)
• More info: pivotcycles.com

Shimano STEPS System

STEPS stands for SHIMANO Total Electric Power System. The system is designed to ride like a normal mountain bike due to its small size that allows manufacturers to use similar geometry as non-eMTB’s. The system is low profile with an integrated protective cover and is designed specifically to handle the abuse of technical trail riding. Coming in at 6.2lbs the compact drive unit offers a relatively natural pedaling feeling while it’s compact design offers a comfortable level of ground clearance. The Shuttle utilizes an internally mounted 504 watt-hour lithium-ion battery designed to take up to 1,000 charge cycles with no loss in power. Though the battery is fully integrated into the downtube it can be removed in about 3-5 minutes by removing 8 T-25 torx screws and can be done on the trail unlike the previous version of the shuttle.

Shimano STEPS e-bike system supplies the power for the Shuttle and features an easy to use bar-mounted display.

Pivot Shuttle Build Packages

For 2020, Pivot added two build options for the Shuttle, giving consumers a more economical build option in addition to the high-end $10k+ top-shelf build. Another significant change is the departure from Shimano’s Di2 electronic shifting system. Opting instead for mechanical shifting, which is a welcome change in our opinion. The two build options, include the high-end Team XTR build retailing at $10,499, and the “cheaper” Race XT build retailing at $7,899 (tested here). Both include full Shimano drivetrain componentry and brakes, Fox suspension, and DT Swiss wheels.

Team XTR

Fork FOX 36 Factory 160 mm
Rear shock FOX Factory FLOAT DPX2 140 mm
Motor/Battery Shimano STEPS E8000 504 Wh
Drivetrain Shimano XTR 12 speed
Brakes Shimano XT four-piston 203/180 mm
Seatpost FOX Transfer 150 mm
Stem Pheonix Team 45 mm
Handlebar Pheonix Team Carbon 760 mm
Wheels DT Swiss EB1535 29″
Tires MAXXIS Minion DHF/DHRII 29×2.5″/2.4″

XT Race

Fork FOX 36 Performance 160 mm
Rear shock FOX Performance FLOAT DPX2 140 mm
Motor/Battery Shimano STEPS E7000 504 Wh
Drivetrain Shimano XT/SLX 11 speed
Brakes Shimano BR-TM520 four-piston 203/180 mm
Seatpost KS Rage 125 mm
Stem Phoenix Team 45 mm
Handlebar Pheonix Race Aluminum 760 mm
Wheels DT Swiss EB1935 29″
Tires MAXXIS Minion DHF/DHRII 29×2.5″/2.4″

The Shuttle is a Class1 e-bike, meaning the drive unit assists in the riders pedaling and is not actuated using a throttle. A Shimano E7000 drive unit and an integrated yet “removable” 504wH battery, the 2020 Shuttle offers a larger range over the previous offering.

Shuttle Geometry

The Pivot Shuttle’s geometry is up to speed with modern trail bikes.

Utilizing a modern trail bike geometry, the Shuttle is designed around technical trail riding with a long, slack demeanor. Due to the changes in travel and wheelsize from the previous version, the geometry has also changed slightly. With a 65.2 degree head angle and 74 degree seat angle, positioning on the bike in an upright and comfortable position. Our large test bike has a 123cm wheelbase, highlighted with a 43.8cm chainstay length giving the bike a planted yet nimble demeanor. The biggest geometry change over the previous Shuttle is the BB height that has increased from 348mm to 363mm, for 1.5cm of additional clearance.

Pivot Shuttle First Ride Impressions

After a few initial rides aboard the new Shuttle, we can note that it is a true improvement over the previous version. The addition of 29″ wheels gives the bike a more planted and capable feel, while the slacker head angle and longer travel fork greatly improve the bike’s descending capabilities. Comfort is a key quality of the Shuttle and we’ve been impressed with the overall geometry of the bike, though the slacker headangle and longer travel fork do slow the bikes handling characteristics in slow-speed areas on the trail quite noticeably.

Climbing aboard the Shuttle is quite enjoyable and we’re excited to extend our riding zones and ride abilities aboard it in the coming months.

On our first few rides, the improvements in the Shimano power system have been noticeable and we look forward to testing and documenting the bikes range. We’re looking forward to putting many more miles on it to give you a full review in the coming months.

Share your thoughts: What are you curious about with the new 2020 Shuttle that we can help to highlight with more saddle time?

The post First Ride: 2020 Pivot Shuttle eMTB appeared first on Mountain Bike Review.

YT announce DECOY Pro 29 and DECOY Base 29 all-mountain range

An all-mountain eMTB with a license to shred

Now that we know that eMTB’s can look good, feel great and deliver plenty of ‘Good Times’ both up and down the trails, YT embarks on a new mission with their new DECOY models. Both the Pro 29 and Base 29 model are categorized as all-mountain bikes as both geometry and kinematics of the bike have been adjusted for longer rides and highly efficient uphill performance, while 150 mm of travel still unleash that addictive adrenaline rush on technical downhill trail sections; very much to the liking of brand ambassador and World Enduro Super Series Champion Manuel Lettenbichler.

Related: Mtbr’s e-bike forums

“I was stunned the first time I got to ride the DECOY 29. I was wondering how it would feel to handle an EMTB with 29’’ wheels? In short: unbelievable. The stoke was real powering up steep, technical uphill sections and sending it back down the trails. I am used to big hits and high speeds with my background and I have to say, this bike is just rad. YT has created a perfect all-rounder and new possibilities to send it in the upcoming season.”

– Manuel Lettenbichler, YT Family Member

Geometry and Specs

In comparison to the E-enduro with its mullet set-up, the DECOY 29 has been built with all-mountain terrain in mind. Both head and seat tube angles are steeper due to which the rider’s center of gravity shifts further forward and the chainstays are longer, allowing more pressure to be added to the front wheel on steep, technical climbs.

The 29-inch wheelset will make quick work of any obstacles in the way and enables a convincingly smooth ride. The geometry can also be adjusted thanks to the Flip Chip, which drops the BB by 7 mm and results in a 0.5°-slacker head and seat tube angle if required. The Shimano E8000 motor and 540 Wh battery deliver powerful assistance on both the DECOY Pro 29 and Base 29 models.

“Our current DECOY is made for riders that want an EMTB capable of riding a variety of aggressive off-road trails, but with a special emphasis on more technical and gravity or enduro oriented riding. While this is great for a lot of people, there are others that seek something different and the DECOY 29 could be a better choice. It’s ideal for people that live in less demanding or flatter terrain, but still want to have a real off-road EMTB. Whether you choose the DECOY or DECOY 29, YT’s EMTB bikes are always dedicated to real off-road riders, just like our other mountain bikes. For sure they can take you to the ‘Biergarten’ also, but only after you ride every trail you can find.”

– Chris Hilton, CTO YT Industries

The Pro 29 model comes with a FOX 36 FLOAT Performance Elite E-Bike+ fork and 150 mm travel creating a sensation of complete control in the most technical terrain and is complemented with the high-performance FOX FLOAT DPX2 Performance Elite rear shock. The 12-speed Deore XT drivetrain from Shimano ensures precise gear shifting while the SRAM Code RSC brakes deliver the necessary braking power.

The Base 29 model is an entry-level EMTB with high-tech specs. Equipped with 150 mm of front travel courtesy of the RockShox Yari RC and RockShox Deluxe Select rear shock the Base model is well-prepared for every challenge that may come the rider’s way. The 12-speed Shimano SLX drivetrain ensures riders always find the right gear at the right time to get the job done. Both the Pro 29 and Base 29 models rely on DT Swiss wheels and MAXXIS Minion DHR II tire combinations that deliver superior traction in the most difficult conditions.

For more Information about YT Industries: yt-industries.com

The post YT announce DECOY Pro 29 and DECOY Base 29 all-mountain range appeared first on Mountain Bike Review.

38+ lbs, modular batteries in a package that doesn’t call attention to the fact it’s an e-bike.

Four years ago, we rode the Specialized Levo around the jeep trails of Moab, Utah, and it opened our eyes to the possibilities e-bikes could offer as we discussed here. The Swiss-based engineering team asked me what I wanted to see next and I asked for a sub-40 pound e-mountain bike with less power but with modular batteries for configurable range. This year, Specialized invited a crew of journalists to Cape Town, South Africa, for a product launch. They immediately called me out and said, “Francis, we are here to deliver what you asked for.”

Specialized Levo SL Highlights

• Much lighter than the standard Levo
• Less power, smaller batteries
• Smaller, more efficient motor
• 150mm of front and rear suspension
• Five models range in price from $6,525 to $16,525
• Available now

We traveled a long way to experience how the Levo SL climbed and descended. Photo by Gary Perkin

Specialized introduced the Levo SL, a lightweight addition to the Levo eMTB line weighing in as low as 38-pounds with 150mm of front and rear travel. It is the lightweight counterpart of the Levo, which comes in at a hefty 47-pounds with a similar component spec. This bike is targeted for the rider looking for an e-bike experience that is assisted but feels closer to riding a traditional mountain bike. It’s lighter and more agile with less motor power and asks for more rider participation. This bike can be characterized as light, poppy and nimble, with more power contribution from the rider’s legs. It can also be a good option for Levo owners who rarely use, the Turbo, fully-assisted mode of the Levo or other popular eMTBs today. Surprisingly, despite the lower weight, the range was not compromised.

Here’s how the Levo SL fits into Specialized’s e-mountain bike family.

How is the Levo SL different from the Levo?

The platform is very similar to the current Levo, with 150mm front and rear travel. But with the smaller motor and battery, the frame is much sleeker and the chainstays are 18mm shorter. The geometry is unchanged from the Levo with identical reach and seat tube and head angles. The stock stems have been shortened to 45mm from 50mm across all sizes. And there are quite a few notable component changes across the board.

With the smaller motor and battery, the bike hardly looks like an e-bike. The down tube is thinner and the big bottom bracket frame box above the chainring on the Levo is reduced significantly on the SL.

The biggest difference is the motor and battery and this is where the weight reduction is achieved. The heart of the system is a smaller, more efficient motor, developed exclusively by Specialized and currently in use in the Creo line of road and gravel bikes. The motor produces 240-watts at peak power, compared to the Levo motor that produces 565-watts. Torque on the SL motor is 35nm compared to 90nm for the Levo. Not only is the SL motor less powerful, but it is also more efficient running cooler when driven at less demanding levels. With these lower motor power demands, the battery is reduced from the traditional 500wh to 320wh. Massive weight savings were achieved here.

The Levo SL trades a bit of power for a lighter weight chassis. Photo by Gary Perkin

Component changes

There have been significant improvements to the spec of the Levo SL compared to the Levo. First, 12-speed is now used extensively across the line. This is a key improvement as the Levo uses a dated 11-speed system that is a bit limited in range with a 42-tooth big cog.

The next improvement is the elimination of all Specialized dropper posts. This was widely seen as a weakness in the line with limited dropper lengths and the absence of any damping control. Droppers will now be X-Fusion Manic posts throughout the line or SRAM AXS wireless post on the S-Works or Founder’s models. Dropper length shipped with bikes will be size-specific ranging from 125mm to 170mm.

First Ride Impressions

The Levo is the smoothest, most natural feeling e-bike in the market and we’re happy to report that the new SL continues this tradition. It is almost undetectable when the motor starts assisting and when it cuts off. And at 20mph when the motor shuts off, one can just keep pedaling along to higher speeds since the drag of this motor is noticeably less than Levo’s or other motors in the market.

The noise level though is now noticeably louder than the Levo, especially under load and high RPM. The original Levo motor is the quietest in the market, virtually undetectable in some situations with its unique belt-drive inside the motor. For compactness, the new SL motor does away with the belt-drive and goes about the task of gear reduction with a series of plastic and metal gears. The result is a louder, higher-pitched noise that travels farther and is more detectable with the human ear. The noise level is very similar to that of Shimano and Bosch motors but at a slightly lower level.

Levo SL Reliability

Of course, we don’t have extensive experience yet with the durability and reliability of this motor but we predict it will be more trouble-free than its predecessors. Our reasoning is three-fold. First, there is no more belt-drive inside this motor which was the culprit of the majority of Levo 2.1 motor problems. Second, this motor has been in the public’s hands for about a year now in the Creo road and gravel bikes and we really haven’t heard of many issues about reliability problems with it. The motor really does not seem stressed, putting out 240 watts as opposed to the 565 watts of the Levo motor. And finally, Specialized has implemented much more intensive testing and QC protocol for this development, logging hundreds of thousands of actual trail time hours on this motor before its release.

The new motor is a compact, low-drag powerhouse

Levo SL weight-loss details

The Levo claims it lost 8.8 lbs on comparable S-Works spec’ed bikes and that is indeed true. However, that would be comparing the Levo’s 700wh battery to the Levo SL’s 320wh battery which will have less range. For a better comparison, the Levo SL would need to have the range extender mounted which adds 2.2 lbs but puts the SL’s battery at 440wh. Surprisingly, this allows the Levo SL to deliver about the same range as the Levo, albeit expecting more contribution from the rider. But it is a good option to have with the SL’s modular battery system. The rider is allowed to carry as much or as little battery as needed for the ride.

• Lost 8.8 lbs, same spec. Really 6.6 lbs with comparable range range
• Motor lost 2.4 lbs, now 4.3 lbs
• Battery lost 6.4 lbs, or 4.2 lbs same range

The range extender battery drops in the cage and is connected to the charging port.

Getting the same range from a smaller battery

Early experience so far is the Levo SL’s 460wh battery delivers about the same distance and climbing range as the Levo’s 700wh? Smoke in mirrors or is this actually true? From our six rides on this bike, this is actually true. But of course, the experience is not identical and here is where the extra range comes from, given a smaller battery.

• The Levo SL contributes a max of 240 watts instead of 565 at any given time.
• The bike is up to 8 lbs lighter.
• Less drag on this motor allows more contribution from the rider.
• Motor is more efficient and runs cooler.
• Software expects a lot from the rider.
• Wants around 110 watts before it delivers full power.
• Full torque is not delivered at low RPMs.
• Need to shift and spin at a higher pedaling cadence.
• No shuttle mode.

How to make the Levo SL even lighter

What’s really exciting to us is the Levo SL, even the S-Works, is not a whittled down ultralight bike with every ounce shaved off at the factory. It is actually a beefy build and there are opportunities to save significant weight. There is a rumor-ed sub 34 lb Levo SL in the Specialized headquarters where they got the weight tuners to shave ounces off the bike. Here are some of the components that might provide the biggest weight savings when replaced.

• Wheels – 1800 gram Roval Traverse wheels
• Burly Butcher Grid Trail Tires. These are around 1200 grams each.
• Brakes 4 piston Sram with big rotors
• Claimed weight is in size large with inner tubes

Thus, it is exciting to us that there is an opportunity to save weight without compromising soo much, depending on the application. For starters, we have 1,290 gram Bontrager wheels and 700-gram tires that work very well in our local trails. Of course, pursuing a lighter weight is not a worthy pursuit for most e-bike owners.  But it’s an interesting endeavor, perhaps buy a Comp Carbon model, save money and get it to weigh less than an S-Works.  And with the low drag characteristic of this motor, one can run it with no battery or pedal home with a dead battery without much difficulty.

The low weight makes the Levo SL handle just like a traditional mountain bike. Photo by Gary Perkin

Final Thoughts

It’s love at first sight indeed as we specifically asked for this bike five years ago when we rode the first Levo. It doesn’t look like an e-bike and it doesn’t ride like an e-bike. It just seems more like a bike. As we set it up, tune it and lift it around the garage, it just feels like a normal bike, hardly calling attention to itself.

Riding it, the biggest revelation is the bike’s agility and ability to change direction. It feels like a quick-handling all-mountain bike and it doesn’t call ask the rider to make an adjustment or build-up to it. The weight certainly has a lot to do with it but it’s also well supported by the suspension. The chainstays are 18mm shorter than the Levo, so it’s easier to change direction and throw around corners and switchbacks.

The new Levo has a brand new motor, modular batteries and a 38 lb weight in top spec.

The motor is smooth. Just like the Levo, the motor comes on subtly. It feels natural and it leads the category in the seamless delivery of power. The way it cuts out too at the speed limit is almost transparent and barely detectable. It doesn’t cut out too early but it’s not abrupt either at 20mph. And when it cuts out at the speed limited 20mph, it doesn’t feel like pedaling in quicksand all of a sudden. The drag of the motor system is so low that one can pedal at 21 mph and above, much like an unassisted mountain bike.

On the downsides, the motor is louder than before now that the internal belt has been removed. It’s not quite as loud as Shimano or Bosch motor it’s louder than the Levo. Reach is a bit short and dated with 435mm for a Medium. A 15mm lengthening would have been good given the shorter spec stem and evolving geometries. And finally, we would have wanted to see some Shimano 12-speed spec or better third party dropper posts.

Philosophically, we appreciate that the battery is treated like water now, meaning “carry as much or as little as you need”. The Levo asks you to carry an eight-pound battery even though you’re just going on an hour lunch ride. That’s like carrying a gallon of water for your quick ride. This new platform with modular batteries allows you to carry as much or as little as you need.

The cost of admission to the SL club is very high. $6k plus for the entry-level model with much less power and a smaller battery is pretty discouraging and will put this out of reach of most. On top of that, $450 for the 160wh battery extender is a bit much, too. For the riders looking to pedal a lot and ride a lot and pursue one of the best e-bike handling experiences available today, the Levo SL is a very good answer.

Comp ($6,525)
Comp Carbon ($7,525)
Expert ($9,025)
S-Works ($13,525)
The Founder’s Edition ($16,525)

For a comprehensive FAQ about the Levo SL check here.

For more information, visit: Specialized.com

The post First Ride: Specialized Levo SL appeared first on Mountain Bike Review.

We traveled to South Africa to ride the new Specialized Levo SL. Photo by Gary Perkin

The Specialized Levo SL was just introduced and it is an intriguing addition to their E-Mtb line which includes the Levo and the Kenevo. We got to ride the Levo SL extensively during the product launch and it is something we’ve actually been asking for, a light, sub-40 lb ebike with less power and with modular batteries so the range can be configured for the desired ride.

It is indeed light at around 38 lbs for the top model and less powerful with smaller batteries. The surprise is it’s incredible usable with enough power and range to climb 5000-foot peaks. And it’s nimble and playful on the downhills. We see it as a unique product in the category that will attract a lot of new users. Riders who are athletic and want an experience very similar to non-assisted mountain bikers will be intrigued. They will be called upon to pedal quite a bit but the rewards will be very satisfying.

Check here for our ride report on the Levo SL.

Here’s how the Levo SL fits in their eMTB line

WHEN CAN RIDERS GET A TURBO LEVO SL?
The Turbo Levo SL will be available globally on February 4th.

DO ALL THE MODELS HAVE THE SAME RANGE OR RIDE TIME? WHAT IS IT?
Since all Turbo Levo SL models share the same motor and internal battery, the bikes’ potential range are nearly identical. Range varies with how you ride, where you ride, and which mode you ride in, but you can expect up to 3.5 hours of ride time using ECO mode from the internal battery alone. With a Range Extender battery (included with the S-Works and Founder’s Edition models and available as an accessory on other models) up to an additional 1.5 hours of ride time can be obtained with every Range Extender battery used.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmFYKSFjxcU

HOW MANY MODELS ARE IN THE NEW TURBO LEVO SL LINE?
There are five models in the Turbo Levo SL family. The Founder’s Edition Levo SL, S-Works Levo SL, Levo SL Expert, Levo SL Comp Carbon, and Levo SL Comp.

WHAT’S THE TURBO LEVO SL’S PRICE RANGE?
The Turbo Levo SL ranges in price from $16,525 (Founder’s Edition Levo SL) to $6,525 (Levo SL Comp). Those prices are in US Dollars. Please verify with your local Specialized marketing representative to verify pricing in regions outside of the United States. Each Turbo Levo purchase price includes a $25 donation to the Outride Foundation/Soil Searching trail initiative.

WHAT SETS THE TURBO LEVO SL MODELS APART FROM ONE ANOTHER?
The S-Works Levo SL and Founder’s Edition models come equipped with Range Extenders (with the Founder’s Edition coming with 2 Range Extenders). These same Levo SL Range Extenders, it’s worth noting, can be purchased separately and used on all Turbo Levo SL models. The motor and internal battery assemblies, however, are shared across the entire Levo SL line. Consequently, the primary differentiator between the four carbon-framed models is brake, drivetrain, suspension and wheelset component spec. Additionally, the Turbo Levo SL Comp features an M5 alloy (rather than carbon) frameset.

WHAT’S THE WEIGHT RANGE WITHIN THE LEVO SL LINE?
Weights vary by size and model. The S-Works Levo SL, for example, comes in at 17.35Kg/38.25lb (for a size Large) while the Comp comes in at 19.4Kg/42.7lbs (also in size Large).

WHAT’S THE WEIGHT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE S-WORKS LEVO SL AND THE S-WORKS LEVO?
The S-Works Levo SL is 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds) lighter than the S-Works Levo, which is already the lightest bike in its full-power class.

THE LEVO SL FRAME CLOSELY RESEMBLES THE LEVO FRAME—WHAT MAKES THEM DIFFERENT?
The Turbo Levo SL’s kinematic performance is modeled after that of the Turbo Levo and both bikes feature a similar Sidearm-style chassis, but the Levo SL features a ride quality that’s closer to that of the lightweight Stumpjumper.

HOW MUCH SUSPENSION TRAVEL DOES THE LEVO SL POSSESS?
The Turbo Levo SL features 150 millimeters of travel, front and rear.

WHICH REAR SHOCKS CAN I RUN ON THE LEVO SL?
The Turbo Levo SL accepts standard-mount shocks with a 210-millimeter, eye-to-eye length, and 52.5-millimeter stroke.

WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM FORK TRAVEL THAT I CAN RUN ON THE LEVO SL FRAME?
All Turbo Levo SL models were designed around, tested, and equipped with, 150-millimeter forks. We do not recommend running 160mm (or greater) travel forks.

WHAT THE MAXIMUM TIRE SIZE THAT WILL FIT ON THE LEVO SL?
All Turbo Levo SL models are equipped with 2.3” tires, which is the tire size we recommend on these bikes. While it may be possible to accommodate some manufacturers’ 2.4 tires (with minimal clearance), riders will have to verify this on a case-by-case basis since tire size varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Special Founder’s Edition

CAN RIDERS CHOOSE TO RUN A MIXED WHEEL (29/27.5) COMBINATION ON THE LEVO SL?
The Turbo Levo SL was designed around matching (front and rear) 29-inch wheels. Though a non “plus-size” 27.5 rear tire will fit, running that smaller-diameter rear wheel will substantially change the Levo SL’s geometry—and not for the better. Even with the flip-chip, the Levo SL’s frame was not designed to have adequate BB height/crank to ground clearance with this kind of “mixed” wheel setup.

WHAT SETS THE NEW SPECIALIZED SL 1.1 MOTOR APART FROM THE SPECIALIZED 2.1 MOTOR FOUND ON THE LEVO AND KENEVO MODELS?
In a word, everything. The SL 1.1 is not only significantly smaller and lighter than the 2.1 motor, it also features different internal components. While the Specialized 2.1 motor was purpose-built for delivering the most power possible, the Specialized SL 1.1 motor was purpose-built around the lightest system possible.

WHAT’S THE WEIGHT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SPECIALIZED SL 1.1 AND SPECIALIZED 2.1 MOTORS?
The SL 1.1 motor weighs 1,100 grams (2.4 pounds) less than the Levo and Kenevo’s 2.1 motor.

HOW MUCH DOES THE SPECIALIZED SL 1.1 MOTOR WEIGH?
At just 1.95 kilograms (4.3 pounds), the SL 1.1 Motor is essentially half the weight of other crank-based motors. The magnesium motor casing is one of several advancements that help make the motor so light.

IS THIS THE SAME MOTOR THAT’S USED ON THE SPECIALIZED TURBO CREO?
The Turbo Levo SL motor is the same motor system featured on the Turbo Creo. The Turbo Levo SL does, however, benefit from additional advanced software, including walk assist.

WILL ANY OTHER BIKE BRANDS BE USING THIS MOTOR (ALBEIT, WITH DIFFERENT BRANDING) ON FUTURE BIKES?
The Specialized SL 1.1 motor is only available on Specialized Turbo bikes.

HOW MUCH POWER DOES THE NEW SPECIALIZED SL 1.1 MOTOR DELIVER?
Our Specialized SL 1.1 motor amplifies rider power up to 240 watts and 35Nm of both peak and sustained power. We tuned our motor to deliver constant, strong support across a wide cadence range for a very natural feel while pedaling.

HOW DOES THE SPECIALIZED SL 1.1 MOTOR COMPARE TO THE FAZUA EVATION MOTOR—IN TERMS OF WEIGHT AND POWER?
The Specialized SL 1.1 motor is a full kilogram (2.2 pounds) lighter than the FAZUA Evation motor. The SL 1.1 motor also features full-powered support through a wider cadence range (10-120 RPM). The FAZUA, by contrast, exhibits a significant support drop at cadences above 90 RPM.

AT WHAT SPEED DOES THE TURBO LEVO SL’S MOTOR DISENGAGE?
All Turbo Levo SL models are equipped with a decoupling mechanism that disengages the motor completely when the bike reaches the top speed specified by the country in which it was sold.
In Europe, for instance, this max speed is 25 kilometers-per-hour. In the United States, the maximum speed is 20 miles-per-hour. At speeds greater than this, the motor no longer provides any kind of assistance. We also designed our motor to provide no resistance, so at these higher speeds, the Levo SL exhibits no more drag than a conventional bottom bracket. It feels like you’re riding a traditional Specialized trail bike.

WHAT IS THE TURBO LEVO SL’S BATTERY CAPACITY?
All Turbo Levo SL models use the same Specialized 320Wh internal battery. The Founder’s Edition Levo SL, however, comes equipped with two 160Wh Range Extender batteries, which effectively doubles its capacity. The S-Works Levo SL comes with a single 160Wh Range Extender battery that increases onboard battery capacity by 50 percent. The 160Wh Range Extender battery kit will also be available as an aftermarket product and can be used on all Turbo Levo SL models.

IS A RANGE EXTENDER INCLUDED WITH EVERY TURBO LEVO SL?
The 160Wh Range Extender comes standard with the S-Works model and two Range Extenders are included on the Founder’s Edition model. For other models, the Range Extender (adding up to another 2 hours of ride time) will be available as an accessory and is the perfect tool to extend your Turbo Levo SL rides even farther.

DO ALL THE MODELS HAVE THE SAME RANGE OR RIDE TIME? WHAT IS IT?
Since all Turbo Levo SL models share the same motor and internal battery, the bikes’ potential range is nearly identical. Range varies with how you ride, where you ride, and which mode you ride in, but you can expect up to 3 hours of ride time using ECO mode from the internal battery alone. With a Range Extender battery (included with the S-Works and Founder’s Edition models and available as an accessory on other models) up to an additional 2 hours of ride time can be obtained with every Range Extender battery used.

WHAT IMPACTS THE RANGE AND HOW CAN I GET THE MOST DISTANCE POSSIBLE?
There are many variables that influence range. The rider’s weight, fitness, and position on the bike, as well as the bike build, bike weight, tire choice, and tire pressure all impact range. Several environmental influences, such as trail conditions, elevation, and weather can impact range as well. The less motor support you require, the longer the battery will last. Riding in ECO mode will generally provide the longest battery life. Our Smart Control feature within the Mission Control App gives you the most control to ensure you longest ride time available.

STELLENBOSCH, South Africa – 28 January 2020 – during the 2020 Specialized Levo SL launch. Photo by Gary Perkin

HOW MUCH WEIGHT DOES THE RANGE EXTENDER ADD TO THE TURBO LEVO SL?
The Range Extender battery weighs 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds).

HOW DOES THE RANGE EXTENDER ATTACH TO THE TURBO LEVO SL?
While the Range Extender fits in a normal water bottle cage, we recommend using the Specialized Z-Cage along with the included band for increased security—especially on rougher terrain. The Z-Cage has passed extensive testing that ensures that Range Extender batteries are held secure despite the shock and vibration experienced on rough trails.

HOW MUCH DOES THE RANGE EXTENDER COST?
The Range Extender will be available in the aftermarket and will sell for $450 USD.

WHAT IS SMART CONTROL AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
Using the Smart Control feature of our Mission Control App enables you to enter how far, or how long, you want to ride, as well as how much battery you would like to have left at the end of your ride. Smart Control then takes care of all battery management to reach those targets. It does this with a smart algorithm that checks the bike’s status every 10 seconds. Keep in mind, with Smart Control initiated on the app, assistance modes cannot be altered via the TCU on the bike’s top tube. It’s worth noting if at any point you choose to ride with no assistance, meaning you’re not getting any motor support, the system is still on and recording/sharing data to display on apps or ANT+ enabled devices.

STELLENBOSCH, South Africa – 28 January 2020 – Francis Cebedo of MTBR during the 2020 Specialized Levo SL launch. Photo by Gary Perkin

HOW DO YOU CHARGE THE TURBO LEVO SL’S BATTERY?
Included with every Turbo Levo SL is a Specialized 48V charger that plugs into a port at the bottom of the bike’s seat tube, just above the bottom bracket. The Range Extender is charged with the same charger. After plugging in your charger, it will take five seconds for the TCU to light-up and indicate charging. When all blue bars are illuminated, the bike is fully charged. A green LED on the charger indicates “standby,” while a steady red light indicates “charging.” S-Works bikes and Founder’s Edition bikes will ship with a “Y” cable that allows both the internal battery and Range Extender to be charged simultaneously. You can also gauge the status of your battery charge when you are away from your bike. The Mission Control App can relay your Levo SL’s current charge status directly to your smartphone.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CHARGE THE TURBO LEVO SL?
You can expect your Turbo Levo SL’s internal battery to charge from 3% to 100% in approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes. A Range Extender will charge from 3% to 100% in approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes. Both the internal and Range Extender batteries will charge (simultaneously) from 3% to 100% in approximately 3 hours 20 minutes with a “Y” cable.

CAN THE INTERNAL BATTERY BE REMOVED FOR CHARGING?
Yes, it can. However, the Turbo Levo SL’s internal battery is fully integrated into the frame and is intended to be charged while in the frame. In order to get the battery out of the frame, you need to remove the motor first. It’s this kind of integration that allows the Turbo Levo SL to be so light. If you want to fly with your Turbo Levo SL, the internal battery needs to be removed. You can carry a Range Extender in your carry-on luggage and when you arrive at your location, you can ride the Turbo Levo SL with just the Range Extender.

STELLENBOSCH, South Africa – 27 January 2020 – Francis Cebedo of MTBR during the 2020 Specialized Levo SL launch. Photo by Gary Perkin

Levo

MISSION CONTROL/MOTOR TUNING
HOW MANY RIDING MODES ARE THERE AND HOW MUCH ASSIST DO THEY OFFER?
There are three assisted riding modes: ECO, TRAIL, and TURBO. ECO mode matches your effort up to 30% of the motor’s power, TRAIL mode matches your effort up to 60% of the motor’s power, and TURBO mode matches your effort to 100% of the motor’s power—or 240 watts. That said, all three assist modes can be tuned almost infinitely to personalize power levels via our Mission Control App. There is also an unassisted riding mode when no power from the motor is desired.

HOW DOES THE TURBO CONTROL UNIT ON THE BIKE’S TOP TUBE WORK?
The Turbo Control Unit has two buttons and a battery level display. The bottom button is used to turn the bike on, while the top button is used to select one of the three assistance levels—or to ride with no assistance at all. Quickly push the button to cycle through different modes—1/3 blue circle is ECO, 2/3 blue circle is TRAIL, and the full blue circle is TURBO. Press and hold the button until all blue lights turn off to ride with no assistance.
When a Range Extender battery is connected to your Levo SL, the Turbo Control Unit will display five additional green bars that indicate the charge status of the Range Extender battery.

For a first ride review of the Levo SL, click here.

For more information, visit: Specialized.com

The post Specialized Levo SL: Everything you need to know appeared first on Mountain Bike Review.

All photos by Ian Collins

Santa Cruz joins the e-mountain bike movement

In the timeline of every movement, there are key points that mark its adoption and acceptance. In the e-bike movement, we consider the introduction of this Santa Cruz Heckler to be one of those moments in time. Why? Because Santa Cruz, although not number one in ownership continues to be the most desirable brand among enthusiast mountain bikers year after year. Whatever they do, in terms of frame design, wheel sizes, styling, colors, and even decals, riders and other brands seem to follow.

That’s why the introduction of a Santa Cruz e-bike is a significant one and judging by the number of leaks we’ve seen on our forums, this is a highly anticipated release.

What they’ve come up with is a bike based on the Bronson Platform, with 150mm rear and 160mm front travel rolling on 27.5 wheels. The other key attribute is the use of the Shimano STEPS E8000 motor and the 504 wh internal battery.

Why the Bronson Platform?

The silver bullet of this bike is it has a new lower-link suspension design. This is an absolutely crucial attribute that will maximize the longevity and competitiveness of this bike in the marketplace. This is Santa Cruz’s new suspension layout that has proven better than the upper link design in every way. Pedaling efficiency, suppleness, traction and big hit ability all seem better with the new suspension layout. But the lower link is in the way of the motor and battery so it is a real estate issue and no one has successfully released a lower link e-bike to date. Santa Cruz solved the puzzle with this Heckler so we have something pretty special to play with here.

Santa Cruz went with the 27.5 wheeled platform to address the agility issues of e-bikes. These assisted machines tend to weigh around 50 lbs and that slows down a bike’s handling and maneuverability. 2.6 Minions tires are their spec and there are no options for going with 2.8 tires, mixed wheel sizes or 29er configurations.

Compared to a Bronson, the chainstays grew 15mm from 430 to 445 due to the room required by the motor and the lower linkages. Standover height rose 24mm from 721 to 745 on a medium bike. They went with a 5mm shorter crank length from 170mm to 165mm for most sizes to prevent pedal strikes associated with the required spinning of cranks to keep the motor engaged. Reach was increased 9mm from 436 to 445 perhaps to be more current and to balance out the increased chainstay length. Everything else stays within a mm or two of the Bronson. The flip-chip is maintained to adjust the head angle by half a degree.

Something interesting to note is the Heckler is available in the high end CC Carbon only. Perhaps we’ll see the more affordable C Carbon in later versions of the bike but we doubt that an aluminum version will ever be sold. A C Carbon frame typically weighs 1.75 lbs more than the CC and that is really not of great consequence in an assisted bike that weighs around 48 lbs. A frame/motor only option is not available for purchase at this time.

Too soon, too late or just right?

So there’s quite a debate in the Mtbr Forums discussing whether this is a good or bad move for Santa Cruz. Among loyal fans of the brand, there is a split between, “Finally! Yes it’s a good move.” and “No, the end is near. Cancel my subscription” The other discussion revolves around is if this move is, “too soon, too late or perfectly timed.”

In our opinion, this is an absolutely crucial move as the mountain bike world is buying e-bikes at an unpredictably fast rate. When we asked another major bike manufacturer if and when they believed e-mountain bikes would surpass traditional mountain bikes in revenue, they answered, “Yes, and in some markets/countries, it has already happened.”

200mm direct mount rear brakes give a hint of this bike’s descending core values.

Santa Cruz is certainly not an early adopter here and they are in version one of their e-bike while others are already on their third revision of their offerings. But it is absolutely key that Santa Cruz gets its first e-bike out in production to allow them to participate, compete, and dominate in this category. They need to understand the category, learn from their customers and build up an entire engineering team focused in this realm.

Checking out the 6 lb. internal battery and its portaging options.

The lower link suspension

The good news is there is an opportunity in e-mountain bikes, particularly in suspension quality. No one has yet produced a lower link suspension e-bike and Santa Cruz answers that with this Heckler effort. A classic real estate problem with the motor and the suspension competing to occupy the same space, Santa Cruz solved the puzzle with an elegant design.

Everything fits with proper suspension kinematics intact. And a big water bottle fits and it looks dialed and well-proportioned. The chainstays had to be lengthened a bit and the top tube raised but they came up with an elegant solution.

How does it ride?

First off, the bike is meticulously put together and this is of ultimate importance in an e-bike. We’ve tried so many that shake, rattle, and roll that it makes the experience unpleasant. A motor or battery mount gets loose or a wire gets dislodged and it wreaks havoc on the system. These bikes are portly and they will climb and descend 2-3 times more than traditional bikes so it’s key that they’re put together perfectly. We’ve only had one ride on it but we could tell immediately that this bike was dead quiet. And looking at their special jigs and hand-picked staff to assemble just these bikes, we’re confident that this will fare well in a mid and long term shakedown tests.

Tire clearance and mud shields were put to good use today.

Climbing and traversing terrain, the ride is unmistakeably Shimano. It’s not the smoothest or most powerful but it’s predictable and dead-on balls reliable. Sound is noticeable, especially at very high loads or pedaling cadence. And with the 20 mph speed limiter, it really starts limiting power at 18 mph. The suspension is very calm ad controlled. It doesn’t bob much under power and the bike has great traction climbing rocks and roots since the rear is still responsive to terrain, even under all that power.

Descending is where this bike excels as it is a rock-solid bruiser. We bombed down the rough segment Enchanted loop in Wilder State Park about 10 times and each time was so calm and composed. Any line was easy and it was a delight to adjust, react and point the bike down many different option lines. Jumping, this feels right at home and it was easy to get up in the air, boost little roots and drop off bigger ones. There is so much opportunity to send this machine down demanding terrain at ballistic speeds. It’s planted and calm, yet still playful. The 27.5 wheels, stiff chassis, and supportive suspension work in concert to deliver a ride that just feels like a burly all-mountain mountain bike.

The switch is discretely placed above the bb area.

Working with the Shimano STEPS E8000

Santa Cruz had to get in the e-bike game and they could not afford to get it wrong. They had to choose a motor and battery that was proven, reliable and serviceable. After an extensive search, they arrived at the E8000 motor and its new, internal 504wh battery. This is a proven system that is supported by many service centers around the world.

We agree that this is the most reliable, bulletproof system around and it is a good horse for Santa Cruz to place their first e-bike bet on.

But many other bike manufacturers have been using it for years and it has some limitations. It’s not the smoothest and quietest system around and the software and phone app options are limited. The good news is it now has a smaller internal battery that Santa Cruz is one of the first to use. But it is only 504wh in capacity. And unless Santa Cruz creates their own battery, that will be the upper range limit of the Heckler which will be about a 4000 foot climb ride.

What we liked

• * absolutely dialed suspension

• * Spec and build is of the highest quality

• * stunning color choices

• * 27.5 with 2.6 Minions is a great choice

• * bulletproof motor system with great service and support

• * Internal Shimano battery is safe and reliable. Rider can carry a spare battery for big adventures

• * 46 lb weight on the top model is competitive

There are many more opportunities now descend and learn.

What we didn’t like

• * Limitations of the Shimano system software and range. And it’s hard to differentiate from other bikes using the same system

• * 504 wh battery is a limitation especially today

• * Pricey and only Carbon CC

• * Two years late

• * The competition is very stiff

• * It’s not a 29er and it cannot support that configuration which is the faster, burlier platform

• * It would be good to get at least one Shimano 12-speed build to match the motor system and take advantage of their great brakes

* This is the safe bet but it’s not innovative in a red-hot market

Pricing

Bike Weights:

Bottom Line:

It is great that Santa Cruz finally has an entry in the e-bike market to allow it to evolve and compete in this category. The bike is a safe bet and many fans of the brand will flock to it. It is a dialed package with excellent suspension but its range, motor, price will prevent it from elevating above this very competitive category.

But it is the opening shot from Santa Cruz and we’re sure to see many more episodes in this saga.

For more information, visit: https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-US

Q&A with Santa Cruz Bikes’ Seb Kemp:

We sat down with Seb Kemp and asked him the tough questions

Mtbr: What are some of the names you considered for this new bike why not the name ‘e-Bronson’?
Santa Cruz Bikes: Once someone suggested ‘Heckler’ it just felt right. Once that tiny piece was ticked off it was back to the real work of design and engineering.

Mtbr: Can you describe the team that was dedicated to the product development of the Heckler? What kind of support did they get from the rest of the company? When was this team assembled and how do you see it growing in the next three years?
Santa Cruz Bikes: Three years ago there was a small core team assembled to just explore ebikes, what it could mean for the future, research the market and the current offerings, and discuss/debate if we should do it or not. After that, we built a plan to get us to this point we’re at today (and beyond). We hired additional members of the engineering team to help this. Aaron Foley was the lead designer on this but he tapped into the collective experience and knowledge of the entire engineering team to get this done and everyone has had a hand in this bike. I think the engineers really enjoyed the challenges of designing an ebike and they were jazzed to make something they’re really proud of. And they should be. From the Product Management side, Todd Ford was hired to manage all the additional ebike sourcing and speccing details. Again, he was not on an island and the team used past experience to inform future decisions. There’s also been a lot of other decisions and problem-solving inside the Santa Cruz (California) factory to tool up a new assembly unit within the building specifically for the Heckler. It’s been so great to see all the teams approach the challenges and new needs to make this happen.

Mtbr: At MTBR are we consider 700 Wh batteries or modular batteries to be crucial to enjoying the massive sweet spot options of the ebike. Given your 500 Wh battery, what options will your riders have now and in the future to have a longer range?
Santa Cruz Bikes: We tried a lot of different bikes in different configurations and feel that the 500Wh Shimano battery was the right choice for the Heckler because it balances output with lighter (than 700Wh) component weight to make a really agile and uncompromised ebike. For the kinds of rides you might need more battery for it’s likely you’ll need more than 700Wh anyway, so we made sure the battery is really quick and easy to swap out with an additional 500Wh battery.

The other color of the Santa Cruz Hecker is ‘black’. Green shows up depending on light.

Mtbr: Given that some of your competitors are already on version two or three of their ebike efforts what are you going to do to bridge the lost time gap and accelerate or expand your ebike offerings?
Santa Cruz Bikes: I don’t wanna throw shade but a lot of “first offerings” that are and have been available on the market looked, felt and rode like they were rushed to market. We spent the time making the Heckler really dialed so really we feel it’s as good or better than anything out there. Big words, but out on the trail (where it matters) I think that’s just the truth. Word on the street with dealers is that some established players are trying to block the Heckler being sold in some stores (IBDs), so we must have done something right if those guys feel threatened.

Mtbr: Is your Shimano motor tuned in any way to work differently for your purposes? Do you have different support levels of power curves? Or will the heckler have the same motor behavior as other ebikes that use it in the market?
Santa Cruz Bikes: So we have a default setting that we use when setting up the bikes but the beauty of the Shimano e-Tube app is that riders can customize the support levels.

Mtbr: Why did you choose Shimano over other motor brands? Did you consider a custom motor or battery system? Are you restricted to using Shimano now in future efforts or is that wide open?
Santa Cruz Bikes: We tried them all. We deliberated everything. Shimano was the choice because of their bombproof construction (reliability), that Shimano is a global presence (worldwide rider support at any bike shop), that they’ll be around in years to come (reliability of aftermarket support), that they’re well known for building really good components (a proven record of making super reliable ebike motors and batteries etc), they’re investing heavily in their ebike component program (research and development), that we could get all the components from one supplier (a durable, complete system), and the way the Shimano system rides is great.

Mtbr: What about trails and the impact of ebikes? What efforts are you taking to protect trails, your brand and ensure ebikes become part of a healthy mountain bike ecosystem?
Santa Cruz Bikes: We won’t be dooming your favorite spot like some kooks, if that’s what you mean. We promote responsible mountain biking and giving back. Have done so for 25 years. I believe we give back and put more effort into trails, trail groups and rider experiences than any other mountain bike company. This past year we increased that commitment to a three-year, $1million effort to support the trails, communities, and access to trails: PayDirt. Ebikes or regular bikes, it’s still mountain bikes and we’re no leech.

The post First Ride – Santa Cruz Heckler E-Bike appeared first on Mountain Bike Review.

Earlier today, Santa Cruz unveiled it’s first e-mountain bike, the Heckler. The name may be old, stretching back to the earliest days of the brand in the ’90s, but the bike is a modern e-mountain bike based on the Bronson frame platform.

• Related: First Ride – Santa Cruz Heckler E-Bike
• Related: Santa Cruz Heckler thread in the Mtbr forums
• Related: First Ride: Specialized Levo SL

When will the Santa Cruz Heckler be available?

The Santa Cruz Heckler is currently available through authorized retailers. If you really want one, you can shop here.

How much does the Heckler cost?

At the time of launch, the Heckler is available in four different builds. Pricing starts at $7,399 and tops out at $13,099.

How much does the Heckler weigh?

The four builds currently available range in price from 47.78 pounds to 46.29 pounds.

How much suspension travel does the Heckler have?

As mention in the introduction, the Heckler is based on the Bronson frame platform, with  150mm rear travel via a VPP suspension and is designed around 160mm suspension forks.

Can I run a coil shock on the Heckler?

According to Santa Cruz, the Heckler is not designed to run a coil shock.

What wheelsize does the Heckler use?

Like the Bronson, the Heckler is designed around 27.5-inch wheels.

What’s the widest tire I can run on a Heckler?

According to Santa Cruz, the Heckler is optimized for 27.5×2.6 tires but can be used with 2.5-2.8-inch tires.

What motor and battery does the Heckler use?

The Heckler is powered by a Shimano STEPS E8000 motor with a 504wh internal battery.

Here’s why Santa Cruz chose this particular motor for its first e-mtb:

“We tried them all. We deliberated everything. Shimano was the choice because of their bombproof construction (reliability), that Shimano is a global presence (worldwide rider support at any bike shop), that they’ll be around in years to come (reliability of aftermarket support), that they’re well known for building really good components (a proven record of making super reliable ebike motors and batteries etc), they’re investing heavily in their ebike component program (research and development), that we could get all the components from one supplier (a durable, complete system), and the way the Shimano system rides is great.”

What is the Heckler’s geometry?

Though the Heckler is based on the Bronson, some changes to the bike’s geometry were made to optimize the platform for e-biking. The chainstays are longer, the head tube taller and the reach is slightly longer across the five-bike size range. In addition to these geometry changes, the crank-arm length was shortened from 170mm on the Bronson to 165mm on the Heckler.

Santa Cruz Heckler geometry.

How does the Santa Cruz Heckler ride?

Check out our first ride review of this new eMTB here.

The post Santa Cruz Heckler: Everything you need to know appeared first on Mountain Bike Review.

First Look: Canyon Spectral: ON

Today, Canyon introduces the next generation of Spectral: ON, a bike that’s lighter and as nimble as its predecessor, yet Canyon claims it’s even more capable of the most challenging climbs and descents. When Canyon launched the Spectral: ON two years ago, it immediately turned heads – a very playful, capable e-MTB – something that was rowdy and rolled fast. 

The first-generation of Spectral: ON e-MTB was only available outside of the United States. That changes today when the second-generation Spectral: ON debuts in the United States in the form of the Spectral: ON CF 7.0 model.

The Spectral: ON CF 7.0 will soon be available, direct to consumers, on Canyon.com for $4,999.

Canyon Spectral: ON 2020 updates

The most obvious change for 2020 is the Spectral: ON‘s sleek, carbon front-triangle and neatly integrated, internal battery. The new design sheds weight,  is supposedly just as stiff and, more importantly, lowers the bike’s center of gravity—which vastly improves the handling. 

The Spectral: ON is powered by the rider and Shimano’s E8000 drive system. Shimano’s lightweight and compact motor gives us the flexibility to design the best-handling chassis possible. E-mountain bikes can exact a heavy toll on their components. After all, when you introduce a motor to the mountain bike equation, you also add weight, speed, and mileage to the mix. The Spectral: ON is equipped with massive 203 mm rotors and powerful four-piston disc brakes. Each model is outfitted with burly FOX 36 or RockShox Lyrik forks. Canyon took this opportunity to fine-tune the bike’s geometry and suspension kinematics with an eye towards increasing rider control, going up and down the mountain.

A new fiber-reinforced skid plate simultaneously shields the motor from rocks and serves as a bash guard for your chainring. A custom Canyon SD: ON saddle gives you more leverage to scale steep climbs.

The Canyon: ON bar and stem reduce cockpit clutter by allowing you to route wiring through the bar and stem. And a top-tube mounted USB-C charging port ensures that you never run out of the juice to power up your light, smartphone, GPS unit, or other devices you want to bring along for the ride.

The Spectral: ON sports 150mm of front and rear suspension. This was also one of the first production “mullet” bikes of its era—sporting a 29” front wheel and 27.5” rear wheel. That’s still the case, though Canyon since moved to a 27.5 x 2.6 tire on the rear, for a more precise feel when cornering and stable sensations on the ground. In short, this bike plays on the rowdy end of the e-MTB spectrum. All Spectral: ON models are backed by the power of Shimano’s E8000 drive. Now for 2020, there’s now an on/off button and USB-C charging socket conveniently located on the top tube.

Sizing and Availability

Canyon now offers the Spectral: ON in four sizes, Small, Medium, Large, and X-Large accommodating riders from 5’4” on up to 6’3”. While there are several Spectral: ON models available in Europe, Canyon United States is entering the American market with a single model, the $4,999 Spectral: ON CF 7.0. The Spectral: ON CF 7.0 comes equipped with a stellar parts kit that includes a RockShox Lyrik Select suspension fork, RockShox Deluxe Select shock, Shimano XT/SLX drivetrain, four-piston Shimano MT520 brakes, and an Iridium dropper post. 

For more information check out Canyon.com

The post First Look: Canyon Spectral: ON 2020 e-MTB appeared first on Mountain Bike Review.