Most Hardtail eMTBS are Awful - Can I Make One That's Actually Good? First Ride on my eBIKE Hardtail

[@hardtailparty]

A few more thoughts and takeaways... 1) this was way more fun than I expected 2) One thing that really stood out was the speed I can go while seated. On an analog hardtail you climb so slow that little bumps don't matter. With a motor, you can now climb 2-3x faster, which means it's a bumpier ride. That doesn't matter if you're standing, but if you're seated on a hardtail, that means more jostling and vibration transferred to the rider. A suspension seatpost/dropper would solve this. 3) after this ride I ended up drilling a hole in the side of my seat tube at the bottom near the bb junction. This allows the motor to rotate fully up to touch the dt, and aloes the dropper to exit out the side and not get pinched. It was the best solution I could come up with. 4) for mountain biking, the 34t was just fine, but for city commuting I'm going to try a 38t.

[@TheLoamMountaineer]

Nice message at 5:00

[@hindesite]

Nice. I fitted a PNW suspension dropper, it works OK but not as comfortable or small bump compliant as a decent full suspension. TBH, having 27.5+ and less pressure probably makes more difference.

[@hardtailparty]

@hindesite have you adjusted the pressure on it?

[@hindesite]

@@hardtailparty Yes, I set it up for my weight with clothing and gear. It hasn't required any further adjustment. Because the movement is quite vertical it doesn't align with the actual rear bike movement so isn't as compliant as other suspensions might be.

[@hardtailparty]

@@hindesite I've had really good experience with mine. Maybe it's my steep seat angle

[@ReeferCheifer13]

I bought my first mountain bike (hardtail) two years ago in inspiration of this channel! Riders love! 💗

[@zethjugos1250]

Just hearing u laughing during ur ride is so good to hear! Have fun!

[@farmallf12]

I am very glad you are out riding, I have always enjoyed the channel, being I am a hardtail lover. I very much understand having compromised health, I suffer from severe migraines, and having the support of an ebike has been awesome. I live in Chattanooga and we have some truly world-class stuff around here. Anytime you want to come to Chattanooga, I know all the trails we can do some e hardtailing. Sincerely, Jeremy

[@hardtailparty]

Im so sorry to hear of your health challenges. I rode raccoon mountain when I was there last. Tons of fun. Is it legal to ebikes there?

[@farmallf12]

@hardtailparty absolutely

[@farmallf12]

@hardtailparty Raccoon Mountain just barely scratches the surface. Chattanooga area trail initiatives have done a great job with our trail systems, not only in quality but quantity as well. In the past 6 months, a world-class gravity center was completed, a mere 4 miles from my house.

[@hardtailparty]

@farmallf12 congrats, sounds awesome. When I'm feeling better ill have to make a trip out there. My body isn't strong enough to hold itself up on big jumps or drops, so I'm avoiding gravity trails right now.

[@Kaelidoz]

I'm really surprised that you're finally getting into e-hardtails ! Been rocking one myself since 2017, it's great.

[@thereisnospoon1979]

So much fun to see you having so much fun with this bike! 🤩

[@Rekon2005]

I appreciate what you do and your content is so great. I’m not an e-mtber but I have no issue with them. If it allows someone to experience what I get to experience on the trails then that’s fantastic. I’m sorry people leave cranky comments, there’s better things to do with our energy. Take it easy, Steve!

[@ec63580]

It’s great that you were able to move somewhere that officially allows e-bikes on the trails! I rented an e-bike on a visit to Bentonville because I’ve been struggling with some fatigue and how to build back fitness (not major chronic issues like yours, but it’s still discouraging), and it was amazing to be able to ride everywhere and go exploring without totally wearing myself out!

[@50whatnomadtravelnursemtb5]

Hmm, you've really opened my eyes to this kit, instead of buying a complete bike this seems like a great option. Glad to see you enjoying more rides out on the trail, thanks for sharing always.

[@ChrisHouseHobby]

Steve. My buddies and I love your channel. You are the go to for hardtail reviews. I am building a kona into right now and have a bunch of surlys. Thanks for all your content and views 😊

[@hardtailparty]

Rock on! Hardtails are so fun. Thanks for watching

[@mikejones420]

Loved the video Steve, great to see you riding, and smiling, enjoying life. I don't get the gatekeeper mentality at all, I view our sport of mountain biking as a sport for who ever wants to ride, no judgements from me. I ride just to get out in the woods and enjoy nature, stop by a river or pond, have a snack, maybe a camp fire, and just love life.

[@tmwei396]

I'm so glad to hear what you said starting at the 4:50 mark about having fun no matter what your bike is. I have a FB group for mountain bikers over sixty. In that age group you can expect a good number of members to be riding e-MTBs and I specifically said the group supports them but there's a handful of people who just bash e-bikes in general and tossing out insulting memes and comments. Anyway, great video and now you got me thinking about my hardtail. Cheers.

[@Spacechoppers]

E-bashers keeping it real, haha! Some funny memes out there, like the guy riding the escalator for his off-season training. My issue is entitled attitudes and lousy etiquette associated with ebikes in my neighborhood. Most aren’t disabled, just out of shape, fat wallets, and too lazy to ride a real bike.

[@tmwei396]

@@Spacechoppers The problem there is with the riders, not the bike. I agree, I can't stand those people either. I've come across people like that when I'm riding my analog bikes too but they are in the small minority. A rude person on an ebike is rude no matter where they are. You can't ban ebikes because of those few rude people and deny those like Steve here and others who love and respect the sport enough to not abuse it the ability to continue to get outdoors and be active and do what they love.

[@hardtailparty]

@@Spacechoppers i try to avoid painting with too broad a brush. Im sure there are people who are out of shape with fat wallets mixed in there. I guess my reply is... That's ok. Good for them for getting outside and enjoying nature. I've found that a lot of people who enter this sport via the ebike world usually end up getting an analog bike when their fitness catches up. It's great to see all sorts of bodies, incomes, and people in nature and all the trails. The only thing I cant advocate for is riding ebikes on jon sanctioned trails, that only hurts all of us.

[@Spacechoppers]

Well, you can actually ban ebikes from natural surface trails and allow disabled cyclists to still use them as an ADA accommodation, but the bike industry just wants to normalize it for profit. Call me a gatekeeper, whatever, gates keep out the riff raff.

[@tmwei396]

@@Spacechoppers I'm not sure what is wrong with allowing the industry to make a profit. With out it what would be the motivation for innovation? Mountain bikes, or bikes in general, are so incredible today compared to just 20 years ago and this wouldn't happen without innovation.

[@shawnclone5143]

Steve, as others have said it's so good to see you able to be out riding again. Your enthusiasm for just having fun riding has been one of the biggest draws for me personally. But, since you moved to Bentonville, I've found the added bonus of seeing trails in Bentonville I feel like I could ride. The Sadona stuff usually looked intimidating to me, and so much of what i've seen in Bentonville is the more hardcore stuff and had me hesitant to go try it. But i've seen you riding stuff that reminds me of the stuff we have in central IL and it has me thinking I may need to try and fogure out a yrip after all. Thank you for that!

[@stevelitespeed]

You may know Steve but you can set more modes from the display, 3, 5 or 9. The app on the phone doesn't change and still allow you 3 setting but the system will adjust the power delivery over more modes. I like the 5 modes setting giving a nice fine tune of what power you want.

[@hardtailparty]

Indeed. Pretty cool you can do that. For my riding I actually feel like 3 modes is just about right.

[@shaunroach7829]

Great seeing you enjoy the ride Steve!!! Great break down and informative on how the motor helped you but the bikes riding capabilities were still great with some adaptation. Looking forward to you showing us more trails in Bentonville on this bike !!!

[@RebBoySF]

Awesome review, I appreciate this so much. It's exactly how I felt when I bought my first ebike, a steel hardtail Marin Pine Mountain E1 (Shimano E7000 motor with 27.5 x 2.8 plus tires). After months searching, I found it "old stock" (2020-2022) at a local bike shop. One ride in, and I immediately felt a lot like your review here. As a hardtail and steel enthusiast, it was actually my perfect intro to ebikes (I now also have a full suspension carbon ebike for when I want to push my limits). Reviews like this will hopefully renew interest in steel hardtail ebikes. So, if you ever want to take out a Marin Pine Mountain E1 for a test ride, let me know.

[@kylepatton3346]

Always great to see an upload Steve! Have been curious about the eHardtail for a while, Marin had the Pine Mountain E1 for a while which I always thought was such a neat bike. Would love to hear more of your thoughts on the Coast Dropper and suspension droppers in general, especially in comparison to low travel full sus or running a plus/midfat tire in the back.

[@hardtailparty]

@@kylepatton3346 my binary rigid ride vid talks about the coast dropper a bit

[@curtlarson99]

So great to see you riding again

[@jg2wheels]

Working around foul weather, I was able to get out on my hard tail today. Canfield Nimble 9 that Steve convinced me to buy years ago. Your new terrain is similar to what I have here in East TN. Thanks for all the inspiration! 🤙🏻

[@MTB.Trials.Student]

Glad to see you out and having fun! I can see where an eMTB is an enabler for you at this time. If I was in your position, I would definitely be riding one. Fortunately I don’t have to right now. I completely agree with your comments on riding MTBs. There is a perception that you need to go fast or big if you ride an MTB. You don’t have to do that to have fun. Keep up the great work!

[@Pcgdean]

So glad you are back you are still the hardtail king to me

[@mtb7018]

Great to see you out shredding brother 🤘🤘🤘🤘👊👊👊👊

[@scottk.8494]

My wife and I just moved to and settled in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia where there is excellent riding. My problem is that I'm always out of shape making me unmotivated to ride. We just put a Rogue Echo rower in the gym we made in the basement, and I'm hoping that gets me fit so I can actually enjoy the ride. It sucks struggling right from the get-go. This e-bike is looking tempting to make a second bike with. My current bike is a nicely built 2021 Growler. It has a Z1 fork lowered to 140mm, Formula Freeride Brakes, custom wheel set with 350 hubs, 25mm wide EX 471 and XM 421 hoops, converted to 12 speed, Race Face 165 Aeffect R Cinch cranks, PNW Loam dropper, PNW bar/stem, and 2.35" Spec. Ground Conrtol tires. Its a great do everything bike. I think I built it up to be a good Downcountry hardtail. I might lower the fork down to 130 though. That was the stock fork height and it felt great. I've watched your review of the Growler many times. I appreciate and enjoy your content. Your videos on this e-bike kit has intrigued me, and has me thinking for a future build 🤔

[@TubeYou7]

When I was out there I was struggling to find a whole lot of mountain bike trails. Lots of white water stuff but mountain biking didn't seem like a huge priority for the area.

[@allenperry9151]

Sick man awesome build

[@fatbikeaddiction1385]

I bet you would have crazy fun on an ELOM Grizzly . It s a Hardtail Fatbike with a light Aluminum Frame

[@hardtailparty]

I think the 480mm chainstay is going to be a deal breaker for me sadly.

[@VikBike-w6w]

Top notch ! Great vibe and feedback as always. I'm on the same project. Did you choose the Stanton for its smooth comfort ? Keep the faith and have fun on any bike.

[@hardtailparty]

I chose the stanton cuz I had it sitting on my wall and I didn't know how the slackline rode. Im so glad I did, it's a special bike (but the stack feels too low for my tastes)

[@VikBike-w6w]

Thanks a lot for your videos and your way of riding bike, fun is the best treatment, in mother's earth garden.

[@dennismiller1602]

Steve, thanks for the share! After watching your build video on this one, I ordered this frame in 16.5” Luna sunrise color which reminds me of my original MTB purchase a metalic blue 1996 trek single track(: Cheers to a successful upcoming e-build!

[@hardtailparty]

Enjoy it!

[@jasonhabib9618]

Hey Steve...good to see the content and fun coming back to you and your channels! How do you think that conversion kit would play with an RSD Sargeant V2 Titanium hardtail? Mines a medium that I run with both 27.5 and 29ers. Thanks!

[@hardtailparty]

I think it would be fantastic

[@Kristian_Saile]

I don’t have an ebike nor have much riding time in one (though a lot of friends have added them to their quivers) but you are a perfect example of how they get more people able to have fun riding.

[@mrsith1402]

I agree that more people riding is better. Glad to see you riding so much.

[@TodorMoskov]

What a brilliant video! I appreciate the wisdom in it.

[@hindesite]

Great alternative for the cranks - especially shorter options - is Miranda (a "bit cheaper" than 5Dev :-). I fitted 155mm cranks to my Photon, big improvement for older people or those with physical limitations, hip or knee problems etc. You need the lowest offset ISIS cranks you can get for the Photon since the motor already has a huge Q factor.

[@PointLinePlaneShop]

Keep it up! Love your channels!

[@tommontgomery2674]

I've built two hardtail Nashbar MTBs with Tong Sheng torque sensing mid-motors. The first I built for my 72 year old self to be able to ride trails with my healthy son and keep up. The second was for my spouse to long ride around town together with me. She is not a bike rider normally, but will ride the ebike no problem. The Tong Sheng is no powerhouse but feels more natural to pedal than a Bafang mid-motor I have ridden. The hardtails are pretty rough on the rocky trails around here and I have destroyed rear spokes and derailleurs on both bikes offroad. The Suntour forks are adequate for my skills. The bikes are very lightweight and maneuverable with aluminum frames. Especially when I use a tiny 7ah(stealthy) battery. The Tong Sheng also rotates forward but has an anchor extension to bolt to the rear chainstays which works very well if it's possible to use it.

[@hindesite]

Agree with the comment about the controller display. I would really like an option to display the assist setting instead or speed in large numerals (I use a XOSS GPS for speed etc). I work around the problem by stepping up or down 3 or 4 clicks, then I know it is either back to off or set to 3, and work up or down from there.

[@matthewspring2496]

I did the same thing to my Whyte 905 hardtail. Having so much fun on it :)

[@CJ101RC]

After your videos on this kit I picked one up for my RSD fat bike. That bike is a blast but a beat down, this should bring that thing alive for me.

[@hardtailparty]

Awesome!

[@CJ101RC]

The chain stays may be a problem. To clear them with the chain ring and chain ring guard the drive side has to space out a ways, then the non drive side crank doesn’t clear the stay. That’s with the 100mm BB. I ordered the 120mm and spindle and some spacers. Might have to source a crank that flares out.

[@lenyarbrough8445]

Regarding the motor pinching your dropper cable: maybe a 3D printed piece of plastic ?

[@schafmuhkuh3160]

I ordered my photon last week. I'm extremely excited to see how the motor performs against my Bosch CX gen4

[@hardtailparty]

@@schafmuhkuh3160 cool, I hope you used my link to support the channel.

[@DD-xx8wh]

great episodes ! e bikes... great assist option for many folks who need it. I found lower and centered battery the better, maybe give up (use a camelback?)or move the water bottle.

[@jadinc77]

I think this summer I'll build a full suspension bike (mostly for parks), but I will never get rid of my hardtail. It makes some of the tame trails around me so much fun.

[@mikecandler4350]

The Motobecane Elite eAdventure has been a great hardtail e-bike for my wife to get out and ride with me. Powered by a Shimano E5100M STePS Mid Drive Motor, the Elite eAdventure packs plenty of power to the pedals. Fun bike to ride.

[@IdrisFashan]

I agree, I don’t like Turbo modes AT ALL, and I’ve found so few points in my riding that I need them. Basic lower powered, higher torque performance is so much more useful for me. 💙

[@JuggernautMTB]

Hmm, wonder if applying one of those rubber bumpers on the down tube or motor; like you see on DH bikes to protect the frame from impacts by the dual crown fork would work?

[@PeterCPRail8748]

Looks like you got it dailed nice!

[@johnsheetz6639]

I have a buffet with a program called the only problem is I have to unplug my display every time I want to change it and I'm worried about ruining my harness

[@georgesinclair1393]

I have several of them! 65 and wish we had them years ago!

[@mountainlessmtb9940]

Nice work 🤘🔥🔥🔥

[@mattsmith2015]

Kona has a decent looking e-hardtail, similar to the Honzo geometry. Maybe they'll send you one for review.

[@StefsMTB]

I ride a '23 Rocky Mountain Instinct Power play, and I don't use an app. Everything is configured with the onboard system. All the power delivery and fine-tuning, different ride modes, and all motor characteristics are all configured on board. All accessible during a ride. Some of this you don't even have to stop.

[@heywood165]

If you get the chance try the Rocky Mountain Fusion. I've not tried it, but own the full suspension (Altitude) and the motor seems very similar to the one you're riding. I'd be interested to hear how your homebrew and a designed bike compare.

[@hardtailparty]

@@heywood165 will do. It looks like the fusion powerplay has a thru axle rear hub, and the regular fusion has a qr.

[@jeffp5418]

I have a 2021 specialized stump jumper. Which CRC kit would you recommend to use?

[@jaimedaniel1566]

All about the fun 🤘. I'm always surrounded by much superior bikes than my own, but it's just like when I was a kid on my cheap bmx. never competing with anyone. I really don't feel like I'm missing out by not paying any attention to the so called gate keepers.

[@wazmanyo]

Would this ebike kit work with a singlespeed? Is it worth it?

[@fredEVOIX]

I rented emtbs 4 times 2 first were hardtails...and the last one wasn't supposed to be but at least I didn't pay for it, problem is simple emtb torque require you to be seated and push the rear wheel down or it's going to break traction and do burnouts (the wear on the rear tire was dramatic on the rental hardtails) even seated the little hops your rear wheel does also break traction it's the reason why most emtb come with non lockable shocks you don't want them, another side effect of riding with a motor is that you'll go to places you would not have pedaled usually steep bumpy rocky rooty terrain which don't associate well with not rear shock, my regular bike was a cross country (with susp lock it was pretty much a hardtail) I did mostly flat gravel roads etc...now I'm going up and down enduro trails, because that's what emtb are made for, where they shine, that rock step you had to dismount and push, now you can just pedal over it

[@William.N]

Looks like you are having a great time in Bentonville

[@waynegiles9320]

Have you seen the Orange MsIsle? EP801 powered hand built hardtail.

[@Frankh1]

Will this motor fit on my Stanton Switch9er?

[@psychowillie7173]

What about for a Singlespeed? Wife could never figure out the gears, so I put her on an ss, and she loved it. This might allow us both to get a workout while riding together.

[@hardtailparty]

@@psychowillie7173 it could be done, but most ebikes really like the right gear. The power delivery is very different when you're in too hard of a gear, and cadence (crank rpm)! will limit your top speed. That said, it could definitely be done. Youll just want to make sure her bike handling skills can handle faster speeds, or she can get herself into trouble fast. Maybe you could limit assist levels in the beginning as she gets used to it.

[@hardmtnbiker]

I don't know because I have never rode those woodsey flat trails nor an e-mtb. Just from my stupid opinion, I think those trails are perfect for a hardtail and perfect for an e-bike. They seem flat and being able to use a motor to keep it lively is a win and they don't look like they need a Trail bike or especially don't need a 160mm full suspension

[@lastnamefirstname7652]

Steve, have you moved? This does not look like Sedona. Or are you on a road trip? Looks like a fun ride!

[@hardtailparty]

I moved. See my past few videos

[@ajdgx2]

I generally disliked e-bikes, but seeing how they can benefit people has completely changed my viewpoint. Thanks for encouraging us to be better people 😊

[@hardtailparty]

@@ajdgx2 thank you for being open minded!

[@TheFuel89]

I just don't like the look of that battery sticking out, but it probably is a lot lighter that way, rather than making the frame wide enough to fit the battery inside. Been riding my Grand Canyon:ON for almost two years now. Got it for commuting but it got me hooked in mountain biking so bought acoustic bike (hardtail ofc) as well and I'm having fun with either of them!

[@acewray]

Thanks for your reviews. VERY different backgrounds going from AZ to AR.

[@hardtailparty]

@@acewray i know! Bentonville is 180* different from AZ in every single way, not just the trails

[@anthonynazzal1958]

A lot of emtb full suspension bikes feel pretty planted and ground hugging, assuming due to the extra weight etc. this bodes especially true for emtb that happen to have an analog counterpart (ie specialized stumpy evo vs levo or Orbea Occam vs rise). The emtb “ variant “ (and I do use that term loosely ) tend to feel more planted. Being that your test bike is a hardtail, with the extra weight etc, do you feel the bike is more ground hugging than before or since it’s a hardtail, are deflections and pings off objects more pronounced? I know you’re running larger tires, so there’s some room for adjustment in that to add a “little” more cushion by playing with tire pressure but generally speaking, I’m curious as to your thoughts I can’t really think of real mountain bike hardtail that has both an analog and electrified variant to be able to compare the two. Most emtb hardtails are designed as such, and geo/ bb height wheels/tires are all pretty dependent on that design. Love the experiment and love that it seems to be a solid option! I also love the diy nature of it all.

[@hardtailparty]

The bike feels heavier and less "lively/reactive" to the trail than before. I attribute that to the weight

[@josephawatson]

ebikes open up a whole new world for people who get chronic fatigue or are 60 plus not in great shape. glad to see you riding one. it puts people on the trails that might not have been able to before. it also allows you to ride more trails when you have a single day to get to in places like bentonville.

[@65hillsy]

The 2020 Norco Fluid VLT 1 is a great hardtail eMTB, i believe. I own one myself. Sadly they don't make them anymore.

[@NaZ-rs1dd]

We got a Merida Big Trail 500, an analogue MTB, and it gets ridden just as much, if not more, than the EMTB. Simply because we feel that the EMTB, which is also a Merida, is just too heavy for those simple and fun days out.

[@stevenreyes3680]

Oh, I like the motorcycle effect. 160nm’s ( with a throttle)to a 24”X 2.8 rear, 26” front, putting the torque to the ground. Yeh, it nothing like a mountain bike going up the hill. Except for going downhill, I don’t go any faster downhill, but bike gets up to speed really fast. Bike is 60lbs and I just don’t notice it really on the trail. Going fast on straights it feels more planted. And the balance is near perfect. The drifts are not at all alarming. Oh, front is 26” DHF super tacky and rear is 24X 2.8 Kenda Kaos…. Planing on 27.5 with 26” rear…

[@VikBike-w6w]

Does it feel more playfull than a "normal" full sus e-mtb (like the one you have) ?

[@mrskywalker115]

The only issue weve had with hardtail emtb is the extra weight really beats up the rear wheel as its harder to lift weight off the wheel as the bike physically weighs more so cant avoid it. If I was going to build one Id do a very compliant steel frame and a wheel with DH tire and insert with strong rim. Other than that no reason a hardtail cant work and you can build them fairly light(under 40lbs is not hard if starting with bike in 30lb range)

[@SwordFighterPKN]

For trails mid drive is the way to go. Bike is way better balanced. For hunting go with a hub drive. The ability to put the system into walk mode if you break a chain is great. For commuting your pick but mid drives are more efficient.

[@paulharrison3298]

Hey Steve, how does the conversion affect tire pressures on the trail?

[@hardtailparty]

@@paulharrison3298 it acts like you weigh 17lbs more than you do.

[@georgekrpan3181]

Do you think that a carbon dual suspension XC bike could withstand this conversion? Is the carbon frame strong enough?

[@hardtailparty]

@@georgekrpan3181 it depends on the frame, but I'd assume so, especially if it has iscg tabs to stop the rotation of the motor

[@georgekrpan3181]

@@hardtailparty Thanks, I value your expertise. Have you seen the Bimotal conversion kit? It attaches to the rear brake bosses and has a disc rotor with a gear on it that engages with the gear on the motor. If I recall correctly, the kit + battery weighs 8lbs.

[@raduturcanu8393]

Here in EU there are plenty of hardtails emtbs. People bought them because these are way cheaper and we generally don't have crazy trails, there are paved and unpaved roads everywhere. And, most importantly, you can use the hardtail emtb also for commuting as it allows rear rack and panniers. I guess Americans have been victims of social media and marketing and thought it's mandatory to go on steep descents and hard DH stuff to get recognition from friends and be accepted as true biker. Emtb hardtails are great for commuting + exploring the land + light trails + affordability.

[@stephenkohler3472]

Thanks for focusing on the fun side of the sport. Going big and being fast is just candy. Most of us are looking for a meal.

[@EMTBTroy]

I have a Kona El Kahuna, its a solid and fun emtb

[@americanautoduelist2233]

I think your on a trail behind my house. 2020 salsa timberjack review brought me to the channel

[@hardtailparty]

💪

[@xtrainerchronicles2085]

Smiles are the best medicine

[@yoondaman316]

Is there any way to run the dropper cable fully internal on the Sherpa frame to eliminate pinching?

[@hardtailparty]

Not on this model. It is on the sedona (that was a design feature I fought for)

[@josesigala5277]

I would love to see you review and test the aventon ramblas

[@hardtailparty]

With 465mm chainstays I really don't think I'm going to like it. This is what I mean by most emtb hardtails have awful geometry.

[@nickconol1428]

Fox 34 vs sid or pike?

[@rantingwrench]

I’ve been riding a Specialized Levo SL for the past month or so and it’s been such a good feeling to get back out and do the sorts of rides I used to do before long COVID. I do miss riding my hardtail though. Maybe in some parallel universe, Banshee can license the SL 1.2 motor from Specialized and fit it into an Enigma frameset! 😊

[@rantingwrench]

It would be interesting to see if you could collaborate with a company you have some history with - Stanton, Banshee, Radical Bicycle Co - and have them build you a frame that would fit a more neatly integrated motor from Bosch, Shimano or Bafang maybe.

[@hardtailparty]

@@rantingwrench I've been considering this idea myself. I wonder if I could modify an existing bike to fit one in...

[@porschephiliac4356]

New idea for the Maniak 😂

[@farmallf12]

I have a 2018 Cannondale neo cujo 27.5 and a new Giant trance advanced.

[@johnnydoe66]

I myself have no desire to get or even ride an e-bike, but I understand the need for them, especially for those riders with limitations. A friend of mine who's 75 had developed a chronic lung issue and went from riding 10k miles a year (He's a roadie only) to literally struggling to ride maybe 2k a year. He finally got himself an e-bike, and it made it easier for him to ride more than 40 miles now. When he was healthy, we would do 100+ miles, but at the peak of the illness, he could barely ride 30 miles. Now he's back to riding metric centuries with us. I am now 58 yrs old and I ride purely for the enjoyment. I don't care about averages or distances. I am riding for myself and enjoying every ride.

[@hardtailparty]

Im sorry to hear about your buddy's health challenges. Im glad he can still get out. I'd gladly trade all my ebikes for a healthy body.

[@lenyarbrough8445]

Now you need to make an e-Singlespeed and make EVERYONE bothered except me; I’ve wondered if that might be useable on our Bella Vista trails. Thoughts?

[@hardtailparty]

I responded to this idea in the comments of the last video. Most people (including me before I ebiked) don't realize how inefficient an bike motor is with the wrong gear. If you get the gearing just right, it'll be good for a ~5mph window. Anything outside of that won't work great in my opinion. Just like our legs, ebikes don't like to push too hard of a gear, it's just extra work and eats the battery faster

[@TheLoamMountaineer]

Im building a Marin El Roy ebike and I am going to call it “Big Steve” 😂👍👍🇺🇸

[@strictly666]

I put a 1000w bafang kit on mine. Throttle too. It’s a hot rod. Let er rip!

[@simonsays5979]

I have been absent from KZbin for a bit. Did you and your family get moved?

[@Shredding-q1f]

Your rotors look masive for a hardtail Lol. 😂 What size rotors are you using?

[@mattsmith2015]

Really no such thing as too much braking power, especially with a heavy e-mtb.

[@hardtailparty]

​@@mattsmith2015200mm on these. Just like with cars, when adding more power, you should always add more stipping power too

[@UKMitchy]

You probably are finding the mental health aspect of riding is good for you as well. I'm mostly riding my 2022 Orbea Rise these days. Getting older (66) and less flexible. Been riding mtb for just over 30 years. The last 5 years or so I have noticed that I'm slowing down. I have done gym exercises, stretching, and cardio to help., but if I have a few days off the bike, it's not as easy to just jump back on. I have a Kona Honzo ST, had a couple of Cotic Souls, (I'm in the UK), but rarely ride it off road now. I am starting to feel the bumps more. Spending more time on a gravel bike or adventure bike. Hardtails are fun, but getting older isn't. I spend more time riding on my own as well. Just don't want to ride at someone else's pace any more. I don't care if it takes me longer, it's more about riding than getting somewhere fast.

[@SethMoniz-n5z]

Makes my day to see Steve on the trail! Love prayer and kindness to your family !

[@hardtailparty]

Thank you so much Seth. I'll never take a day for granted when I can get outside and ride

[@rumbolzpunktde]

bought a rose bonero+ a month ago. Carbon frame, TQ-Motor an 16,7kg. Great! Don‘t like 25kg e-Motobikes.

[@SethMoniz-n5z]

Locals with a permit should be able to ride emtb in Sedona.

[@hardtailparty]

I'd love to see this happen. I can't help hut wonder if it'd be abused. I have a good video on this topic over on big brain party

[@RadicalBicycleCo]

Someone say Chill-E-Dog…?

[@ShadLife]

I must have missed the video where you moved to Bentonville. I haven't watched in a while so I guess that makes sense...😂 As for negative comments, I just ignore them and delete them. The people who feel the need to insult or put others down are the ones who don't feel good inside. If you are one of those people, trust me, we clearly see that you are hurting inside.

[@georgesinclair1393]

My hardtail Biktrix has a Wren air fork 6” of travel on plus tires

[@fulgenciomanzano2452]

❤

[@stevebennett3587]

👍😉

[@DyLLIHuJIa]

перемести батарею в рюкзак и будет отличный баланс