New to eMTB, looking for info & recommendations

[Squonk]

As the title says really. I've been an occasional cyclist for years, it's about the only form of exercise I actually enjoy. Where I live now there are loads of forest tracks, not too technical but more hilly than I can comfortably get up without oxygen and a defibrillator on standby, so I'm looking at eMTB's. We have quite a good salary sacrifice bike scheme at work so I'm looking to buy something decent, probably in the £3-4k region. I'm assuming hardtail because that's what I'm used to, but I'm open to persuasion on full suspension as I do like being comfortable and I'd trade comfort for speed any day. Seem to be a few different motors around, Bosch seems to be common.

So, what should I be looking for? Seen a few Cube bikes which look good, plus several brands I've not come across before. Any advice / tips appreciated.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

On an eMTB I would consider rear suspension to be necessary, as you will be going faster and thus need more comfort and traction

Plus you’re going be sitting down more to aid traction and instead of standing up hills, you’ll be sitting down

 

[HaloRazor6]

2026 is going to be a bumper year for emtb's with lots of new "full power" reasonably priced bikes. For the price youre looking at an alloy frame will give you a better equiped bike, but the big discounts are starting with plenty of 24 and 25 model bikes discounted.whyte do the Kado which is an excellent bosch powed alloy bike at a reasonable cost from a UK company.

 

[mw3230]

It sounds to me that you probably don’t need a full on mountain bike and a more touring style of hybrid would do what you wanted. I have a Cube Kathmandu and it is great for the road, trails, tracks, forest path and a little not too extreme off roading. It’s powerful, has a great range and is comfortable. This and similar bikes from other manufacturers are worth a look

 

[HaloRazor6]

Imho, Dont t buy from "the online only" manufacturers" go to your LBS and have a few demo blasts round the car park, just get the LBS to price match, although if your using the RTWS your discount is the income tax/NI amount (never used it as I cant ride to work.

CUBE bikes seem to suffer from squeaks and creaking noises but that may just be the forum minorities highlighting those issues.

P.S. the Gen 5 Bosch motors are worth paying for imho.retailer

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Imho, Dont t buy from "the online only" manufacturers" go to your LBS and have a few demo blasts round the car park, just get the LBS to price match, although if your using the RTWS your discount is the income tax/NI amount (never used it as I cant ride to work.

CUBE bikes seem to suffer from squeaks and creaking noises but that may just be the forum minorities highlighting those issues.

P.S. the Gen 5 Bosch motors are worth paying for imho.retailer

The shop I bought from, the most excellent Berkshire Cycles ….absolutely wouldn’t sell me one remotely and insisted I had to do the 650 mile round trip to collect

Really glad I did, as the owner hand built me a great bike with the latest motor and battery (at the time)

A few here bought from that shop too

 

[Davey B]

I'd definitely be going for a decent full suspension MTB ebike rather than a hybrid type bike. My reasoning being that it is easy to put some more road orientated tyres on a MTB, lock out the suspension and use it on the road or canal path types areas whilst also being able to use it 'properly' if MTBing becomes your thing. I'd also be tempted to have a good look at 'as new' 2nd hand emtbs and ignore the salary sacrifice/BtoW thing. It may well end up saving you money...there always seem to be plenty for sale.

 

[Squonk]

It sounds to me that you probably don’t need a full on mountain bike and a more touring style of hybrid would do what you wanted. I have a Cube Kathmandu and it is great for the road, trails, tracks, forest path and a little not too extreme off roading. It’s powerful, has a great range and is comfortable. This and similar bikes from other manufacturers are worth a look

Thanks, hadn’t considered that style, will have a look

 

[Squonk]

Imho, Dont t buy from "the online only" manufacturers" go to your LBS and have a few demo blasts round the car park, just get the LBS to price match, although if your using the RTWS your discount is the income tax/NI amount (never used it as I cant ride to work.

CUBE bikes seem to suffer from squeaks and creaking noises but that may just be the forum minorities highlighting those issues.

P.S. the Gen 5 Bosch motors are worth paying for imho.retailer

That’s good advice, unfortunately our salary sacrifice scheme is limited to online only. I will be having a look in person before committing, hoping to have an idea of what I want before that.

 

[Davey B]

When you say Online Only...what scheme is it and what online stores does it allow you to use? There may be a work round. (Everything I've ever read about buying an expensive e-bike has shouted "Buy from a bricks and mortar shop for the inevitable battery/motor issue")

 

[Pukmeister]

When I showed interest I went on cycle forums and got in touch with a local knowledgable guy who let me try his Giant Trance E+2 and I was instantly blown away by it. He explained how its chainset, full suspension and brakes were almost as good as (but way expensive less to maintain/replace) the next bike in the range. Also its Yamaha motor was more reliable than the Brose motors in the similarly priced Specialised Levo models.

He then spoke to the local Giant store manager with me and I arranged to buy the outgoing 2019 model as the newer 2020 model was imminent in a new colourway and at a discounted £3300 verses the normal £3999 RRP.

I only ride trails rather than downhill but I wouldn't entertain a hardtail anymore now having ridden both types.

I've had my ebike now since late 2019 and although I don't get to ride it as much as I would like, its still a fantastic piece of kit that I enjoy having.

 

[adventuredon]

Have a look on eventbrite for e cycling events near you. I went to one London, free and on an outdoor velodrome. Loads of different manufacturers. All free, ride around and up and down. Worth looking for these to get a better understanding of hub, belt, gears, automatic etc

 

[Mr Bean]

As the title says really. I've been an occasional cyclist for years, it's about the only form of exercise I actually enjoy. Where I live now there are loads of forest tracks, not too technical but more hilly than I can comfortably get up without oxygen and a defibrillator on standby, so I'm looking at eMTB's. We have quite a good salary sacrifice bike scheme at work so I'm looking to buy something decent, probably in the £3-4k region. I'm assuming hardtail because that's what I'm used to, but I'm open to persuasion on full suspension as I do like being comfortable and I'd trade comfort for speed any day. Seem to be a few different motors around, Bosch seems to be common.

So, what should I be looking for? Seen a few Cube bikes which look good, plus several brands I've not come across before. Any advice / tips appreciated.

I've just taken delivery of a Trek Powerfly 800wh bike, list at just over £3k, after salary sacrifice just under £2k. No long-term experience, but what I can vouch for, is that it seems to tick all the boxes I was looking for.

 

[Jeremy]

I can strongly recommend the Cube 144 Stereo. It's a beast of a bike and copes with heavily rutted, muddy, stoney trails. It's very powerful, comfortable and I've yet to drain the battery. Get's me to places in Devon that I wouldn't have otherwise found.

 

[G5RJO]

I use a 2024 cube eMTB with a Bosch Gen4 motor, the latest generation, Gen5 motor system can have a higher torque, 100 rather than 85nm. I've never thought the bike needed more oomph as it were, it carried my lardy 25 stone + arse around very well, even better now I'm under 18 stone.

I went hardtail because I was over the weight limit for a full suspension bike.

Fitted a 'thud buster' seat stem to increase the comfort; a comfy saddle is a godsend.

A lot depends on where you intend riding, and only you know that one. I use canal towpaths and converted railway line walkways, that sort of thing, I often do 35 mile loops and it uses maybe 50% of the battery on average, a bit more over the winter, a bit less in the summer. (800w battery).

Maybe pop to a shop that'll let you have a few test rides to see how you go. I had my bike from https://www.theelectricbikeshop.co.uk/ they have a fair few shops around the country and have open days... it may be worth a look.

One thing to consider is the cost of maintaining it, not your usual bike servicing, but increased servicing on the drivetrain as they chew through chains and cassettes...

As a tip here, do not invest in the best quality light weight chains and cassettes... they cost more, but wear out a lot faster as they're often alloy, pay less and buy entry level steel... I do LOTS of miles and I'm now adept at swapping out drivetrains...

Roger

 

[L2RKE]

My Cube Stereo is great. Never very rarely use more than 50% battery in one go. Tackles mud and deep sandy trails with ease.

 

[g00ner]

Get a yellow one

 

[TIJ650]

As the title says really. I've been an occasional cyclist for years, it's about the only form of exercise I actually enjoy. Where I live now there are loads of forest tracks, not too technical but more hilly than I can comfortably get up without oxygen and a defibrillator on standby, so I'm looking at eMTB's. We have quite a good salary sacrifice bike scheme at work so I'm looking to buy something decent, probably in the £3-4k region. I'm assuming hardtail because that's what I'm used to, but I'm open to persuasion on full suspension as I do like being comfortable and I'd trade comfort for speed any day. Seem to be a few different motors around, Bosch seems to be common.

So, what should I be looking for? Seen a few Cube bikes which look good, plus several brands I've not come across before. Any advice / tips appreciated.

Bicycles have probably evolved more than anything else in the last 10 years. They’re all amazing tbh. I’ve always gone with hard tail with my MTBs. But the e ones are game changers. One of the best things you can buy. Take on trains too

 

[Davey B]

I use a 2024 cube eMTB with a Bosch Gen4 motor, the latest generation, Gen5 motor system can have a higher torque, 100 rather than 85nm. I've never thought the bike needed more oomph as it were, it carried my lardy 25 stone + arse around very well, even better now I'm under 18 stone.

I went hardtail because I was over the weight limit for a full suspension bike.

Fitted a 'thud buster' seat stem to increase the comfort; a comfy saddle is a godsend.

A lot depends on where you intend riding, and only you know that one. I use canal towpaths and converted railway line walkways, that sort of thing, I often do 35 mile loops and it uses maybe 50% of the battery on average, a bit more over the winter, a bit less in the summer. (800w battery).

Maybe pop to a shop that'll let you have a few test rides to see how you go. I had my bike from https://www.theelectricbikeshop.co.uk/ they have a fair few shops around the country and have open days... it may be worth a look.

One thing to consider is the cost of maintaining it, not your usual bike servicing, but increased servicing on the drivetrain as they chew through chains and cassettes...

As a tip here, do not invest in the best quality light weight chains and cassettes... they cost more, but wear out a lot faster as they're often alloy, pay less and buy entry level steel... I do LOTS of miles and I'm now adept at swapping out drivetrains...

Roger

Good post Roger.

 

[Akulaking]

If you’re not doing hardcore off roading a hardtail with a suspension seat post and good quality gel saddle is an another option.