5 New Enduro Bikes (and 1 eMTB) Tested For Efficiency | 2021 Summer Field Test

[@123dwd]

i want to see a 300w stage up the hill on the VLT with a dead battery, cmon Levy one more run

[@CarkeekW]

Even a 500wh when the battery finally dies you are about done too unless you weren't putting in the usual effort. Its not as bad as a dh bike because it has better gearing and geo so its not a total horror story.

[@BurnsRubber]

Nice work. XC hardtail w/control tires would be a good control to gauge how much efficiency is lost in weight and squish on an absolute scale. E-bike time is interesting too.

[@lukaberazategui6205]

Awesome video! One recommendation, a limitation to this test is the time it takes to reach the 300w on every bike therefore starting at the cones at already 300w takes out the variation in time in order to reach such speed/energy.

[@nickrowell2651]

I was thinking this too but I am thinking he was outputting the same amount of power through all the gears, and shifting up when it felt he needed to. So wattage would be a measure of power being applied rather the speed. But I am not sure, so if anyone wants to correct me, feel free.

[@tonybasoni8443]

Whish you would have added a bike like a Ibis Ripmo or a similar good climbing, less enduro (trail) bike to see how much time/effort is lost with an enduro bike like these.

[@willhurst]

Ripmo isn’t really a full on enduro bike through. It’s more of an aggressive trail bike that can do enduro if needed. I have the Ripmo and I also have a specialized enduro. The enduro actually climbs 9/10’s as good I would say though. Usually enduro bikes have more travel, like 160 or 170 rear or more. Ripmo is only 147.

[@tonybasoni8443]

@@willhurst ,....Yes, this is what I am talking about, how do these enduro's climb compared to the trail bikes that can go down almost as well, but can go up better. It is harder to get a longer travel heavier bike up the hill than it is to get a lighter, better climber down the hill. How much harder is it to get these up than it is something like a ripmo. Having a ripmo type of bike in this would have been a great comparison to see the time difference on this same hill. Would it be 5 seconds faster, 10, 30, etc. And like he stated, this was only 2 minutes of climbing, what about when the climb is 1 hour? How much longer is an enduro going to take and how much is it going to take out of you getting it to the top? There is not going to be much difference in effort getting a shorter travel bike down the hill, and likely only a few seconds slower. All the difference is in going up. I want the easiest bike for going up the hills, as the climbing takes a good 75% of the ride time and effort.

[@beholdtheflesh88]

the prior efficiency test (from last year) had both trail and enduro bikes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJ2Tl4uFpZmiiq8

[@BurnsRubber]

Probably not much different from the We Are One. Very similar travel and kinematics. WAO is slacker (63 vs 65deg), so Ripmo may feel better climbing. After putting on the control tires, the biggest difference will be weight on a fire road climb. I ride a Gen 1 Ripmo.

[@willhurst]

@@BurnsRubber yeah, agreed, I think the slacker HTA definitely makes it lean more enduro than trail. Otherwise almost same bike. Considering the WAO crushed here id imagine the Ripmo would do the same since it’s very similar in many regards.

[@terolappalainen81]

Hi, When will the Specialized Status 160 test come 🤗

[@erichbachman7363]

These tests are getting better and better. Thanks for the intel!

[@s4-mtb678]

Dude, you should've started the clock at a point when you were already at 300watts. The getting up to speed makes a difference. Just saying....

[@Mockle07]

Isn’t getting up to speed part of riding a bike and therefore a worthy part of the test?

[@williamheffernan5826]

@@Mockle07 agree with you dude. Getting to the 300 Watts will be easier on the bikes that are more efficient and therefore represented in the results.

[@s4-mtb678]

Yes but as he got tired getting up to the set power is not the same with a heavy bike that it would be with a lighter one.

[@BurnsRubber]

Agree. Rolling starts at 300w would be most accurate.

[@VincentJGoh]

As long as he's averaging 300w, I don't think it's that big a deal. The time it took to ramp up to 300 is balanced out by the time he spent OVER 300. It's really only a matter of a couple seconds anyway. The times wouldn't shift my much even with a rolling 300.

[@jeromeweite5333]

So goood ! Thank you for the tests guys !

[@thelmaviaduct]

That intro music 😂😂😂 Gangsta Paradiso 😉😂😂😂

[@HeretiCflow]

Mike's eyebrow wiggle in the intro get me every time. xD "Milhouse, lower those eye brows... AND the other one!"

[@Mububban23]

Watching the highlights of the EWS at Finale Leguri, they had a 2 HOUR CLIMB to start one stage, with only a couple of minutes before they had to bomb back down again so lots of riders only just made their start times. So yeah, pedalling efficiency would make a difference for those guys and girls!!!

[@JoeMACofNAC]

The take off for that e-bike was incredible.

[@dirtboxk1ng]

How would the specialized enduro compare?

[@chimps4gimps]

Nice vid. Can we have a most fun bike please? I’m not fussed about going fast. Granted it’ll be subjective , but that’s for you guys to work out 😂👊🏼

[@rider2416]

Purple is fast af

[@unknownKnownunknowns]

Would the results be identical if you tested them in Trail mode instead of wide-open?

[@eliasdanieli5461]

The profile shots look soo good

[@SpencerBaum]

Very impressed with how well the spire did for being such a big bike. I fully expected the yt to beat it by at least a couple seconds

[@ssjj9584]

Should of used a good peddling trail bike like the Ibis Ripley to compare instead of an e bike.

[@jazzunit8234]

I bought a Rocky Mountain but I like the Commencal Meta

[@montechie]

Awesome, love these tests and is one part why the PB reviews are my favorite. Hard to account for everything, but I think this and the rest of the reviews gets enough data to help a decision. I'd like to get some feedback on those idler designs from people riding in mud.

[@futsalkeegan]

Hate to be the science guy here, but I noticed that Levy is using normalized power (NP) on the head unit. This is a rolling weighted average of power, and thus can be slightly off based on power fluctuations and what was done in the previous 30 seconds of riding. I think using average power would be one way to at least minimize error in this highly scientific lab test.

[@grasenwillink4554]

I wish I can do track stands as well as you

[@dudeonbike800]

Add using the brakes to your track stands. Brake on, weight shift, brake off allows you to push the bike backwards so it's almost like track standing a fixie.

[@bobohunter1776]

You should test a Niner. The linkage is crazy efficient.

[@sjaan7370]

With emtbs it's not 'you should', but more 'you can'! Its that pushing yourself harder to go faster while making your heart feel like its going to explode through your chest so rewarding 😂 And those unreachable acoustics tech climbs are no longer unreachable, just a total blast!! 🤘 Best Arnie voice, 'I'll take the 32lbs 1500 watt, 7x7 enduro in the 250km range' Only what you see on the shelf pal!

[@alexperit]

We are one arrival? Is it name of bike company?

[@BradTVB]

Yt capra 💪🤘

[@FelixT370]

Bad warranty

[@BradTVB]

@@FelixT370 sad to hear that

[@hicapasforlifeyeet4391]

Sick Yeti knock off 🤙

[@jaselikesbikes]

I need a Spire E!

[@LastAphelion]

It's coming but not soon enough

[@julienklaine6531]

what is the brand of the gps support ?

[@sorinvladu7021]

Not entirely sure what you're asking. It looks like he has a garmin 1030 plus. It supports normal gps, glonass, and galileo

[@basicwrc]

Levy is stud

[@AmericanRustWorker3369]

I wish they weren’t so ridiculously expensive otherwise I’d love to get one

[@pineapplepizza8645]

why is there a float X on the spire? i thought the float X only came on the alloy deore build

[@PatBK]

It's a Rockshox super deluxe ultimate like it's supposed to be on the Carbon GX...

[@pineapplepizza8645]

@@PatBK yeah sry i guess my eyes were weird watching this vid at 3am

[@Palios33]

Never thought an ebike would be so much faster

[@jaselikesbikes]

Impressive Levy but why do it at 300 watts? Maybe 250 would have been better for you and for the everyday MTB'er? Also can't believe you were exactly 300 watts or are you a machine?

[@arandomJohn]

Putting out 300 W for 2 minutes 6 times is a workout. I hope Mike got a donut afterwards.

[@Nullking_]

Mike levy coming in selling us on EMTB bike efficiency hahah.

[@MicheleFerrariAX]

pretty crazy that DH bike (norco) can climb

[@meganNefarious]

Cuz it's not a DH bike lol

[@samperi01]

cool music

[@jakebleazard3354]

Dh bike efficiency test please

[@ThunderGoatz]

give us the huck to flat damn it

[@Alex-mb5ww]

Nice

[@marcsee4072]

GOOD legs, great time

[@joserodriguez9183]

Lol when U no u bored

[@chriscameron3161]

Should have repeated the test with the shocks locked out as well. And not just to see Levy suffer more.

[@ricusmate]

The more I see these new bikes the more I love my old variable travel and geometry Kona Abra Cadabra. Has the rearward axle path of the high pivots but reduces travel from 160 to 100 on the climbs. It's lighter but doesn't use planet destroying carbon.

[@Bigmountain73]

and Levy just answered why nobody who starts out on an ebike will every change over to a mountain bike..... so "ebikes grow the sport" is a clown comment.

[@sorinvladu7021]

yes he also explained that on the podcast

[@montechie]

At least in the U.S. they would change over when they realize they can't ride as many trails after dropping $12K on an e-bike. Many states you can only take them on mixed-use motorized trails right now.

[@Mockle07]

E Bikes are PART of the sport… hence, “growing the sport”. The whiney, tribal “my type of bike is best” babies seem to be predominantly normal MTB riders, not e bike riders. The existence of ebikes doesn’t make me enjoy my normal bike any less 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@BurnsRubber]

@@Mockle07 e-bike is a motor cycle

[@meganNefarious]

Motorcycles have throttles

[@meho1010]

twice as many runs...every time...all day long.

[@gravity.gourmet]

Please tell that all the ebike haters. The double downhillruns with the same effort and time 🤘

[@joeyvalentic4439]

literally less sustained effort

[@Mockle07]

Plus, many of the e bike haters will gladly ride up a hill in a bus or chairlift! Riding your e bike up the hill is cheating but getting on a bus is hardcore?! 🤦🏼‍♂️😂

[@drunken_moose]

How much does Mike Levy weigh? Because he sure is out of breath at 300W for 2 minutes.

[@erod6468]

If only this test would be actually useful if they included, say, an Evil Insurgent MX so we can get some real perspective. 🤔

[@rolux4853]

Why does the Evil Insurgent give you a better perspective?

[@kaseyburlingham2861]

I only care how they climb with the pedal assist or lock lever flipped. Couldn't care less how it climbs in the open position!

[@PatBK]

I asked last time already and I'm gonna ask again: why don't you use the lockout? Not trying to hate, but it just seems odd to not use something that is there to help you... That's a bit like going downhill with the fork locked out, just because...

[@SwolePapi15]

Probably to show how the suspension system performs, not how well it simulates being a hardtail

[@matpewsey]

Exactly as Swole says. Plus this is to simulate how efficient each design is. You wouldn't lock out up a technical climb where you need grip, but the efficiency how how the bike climbs become relevant.

[@PatBK]

I get you, but the lockout was made exactly for smooth fireroad climbs like the one in the video, where the suspension does not have to be active. If I were a bike-designer I would desing my enduro-bike in a way that the suspension performs best while decending and then I'd try and make it climb good aswell, and of course I am going to use the lockout to achieve efficency on fireroad climbs so that i do not have to sacrifice grip for the technical climbs... So long story short: I think it would be closer to real life it they'd use the lockout on the fireroad and then did a technical climbing test without the lockout. Because let's be honest, no mountainbiker is going to stand at the bottom of a huge fireroad climb and go: "No, I'm not going to use the lockout cause that's cheating!"

[@meganNefarious]

Because most people don't fuss around with their lock out because they forget to open it up before they descend lol.. I never lock my 160mm out and it pedals just fine..