Why This Tiny Bike Brand Is Beating The Competition

Crestline Bikes, formed in late 2020 release their first ebike, and it really is a brilliantly designed Bosch Race powered bike that is already ahead of many of the big superbrands in the ebike space.
Priced at $11,999 the bike is available in 2 travel formats, 150mm or 175mm of rear travel.
Check more on the bike here: crestlinebikes.com/shop/rs-7550/

[@MacFarlane123]

Keeping the bars clean and integrating the screens in the frame is a game changer! love that!

[@chickenclips]

I went to school and jolled with Troydon in my younger years. Everything he does turns to gold. He's just one of those dudes. Kudos to him and his company. Long may they do well. And send us some bikes to SA pls lol. If you read this Troy, gooi mielies pappie. Well done!

[@chrisroberts9860]

$13000 and sold out, awesome looking bike Rob but it’s out of my price range!

[@emveeess839]

$12,000 US and "All bikes from the first small batch that arrived early in March are SOLD OUT and have shipped but we have more shipping very soon".

[@darrinkulyk9560]

Dental Bike ..... my 2019 CF Warden was 3500$ bought with 300km lady rode 😎

[@khajaamjid4898]

Bloody hell 13000 dollars 😢

[@johnandjuli]

I checked out this bike at Sea Otter last weekend and I met Troydon and Mark. The bike is awesome, fit and finish is really good. It just felt rite on a test ride. Troydon and Mark are first class. They answered all my questions and took the time to explain the bike and their company to me. They truly want to provide the best bike for us riders. The founders of the company as riders and racers- you just can't go wrong with Crestline

[@LeeCruz-bl4qz]

I know I’m gonna get ripped for saying this but there is value in this bike. Comparing this bike to the Wild M-LTD, Bulitt, S-Works Levo, Shuttle, Rail 9.9, 160E, Oso the Crestline is right there in the price point on high end build bikes. Would it help Crestline to build lower build spec bikes to offer varying price points, most likely yes. The way the bikes sit now It’s a one and done bike where you don’t have to throw more money at it to upgrade components. It’s what got me to buy one. People that rip on the price should be ripping on the entire industry as a whole for the outrageous cost of manufacturing. Just imagine what the cost would be if crestline made their frames in the US or UK!!

[@zwingler]

12 Thousand xD These prices are just stupid for real.

[@andrextr]

As an happy owner of a Husqvarna 180mm ebike , I also don’t understand why there are so few long travel e-bikes options in the market 🤷‍♂️

[@FernFlowMtb]

Very thoughtful and well-researched review (as always) especially mentioning the factory and other very specific details! I’ve been ripping this bike for a while and cannot be happier with it!

[@_wehrwolff1831]

vCard Vvvv😂 Pp

[@haemmertime]

Small Brand $ high end components $$ integrated design $$$ This definitely will cost to much for most people.

[@HenkP85]

End of 2019 I spent 6.000 Euros for an YT Decoy Pro Race and I thought "This is ridiculous expensive for a bike". For the same premium parts in 2022/2023 the known brands claim 10-15k. 2023 and 2024 will be tough years for bike brands. Don't think that people will spent that money any longer in the EU.

[@mikeyjack74]

I just bought the core3 Mx when they had the 25% off sale here in California. Out the door I spent 5300. Can’t imagine spending double that for a bike. I’m just an average guy who likes riding and am not in a pissing contest with people who can’t ride any better than me with their 12k bikes. Makes no sense

[@MrRossi78]

We will be struggling to pay the bills soon, never mind buying a 10g bike 😂

[@Magoo71]

Another great review Rob! Being a tall guy, you always seem to like the bigger bikes. Also gives you the ability to control these monsters just like you want to do. Looks like an excellent bike! Thanks!

[@sinisakalicanec6823]

13,000 euros for an e-bike plus tax, well, who is crazy nowadays to put such prices on a e-bike 😮, I live and work in Germany, my colleague works in a large industry that produces e-bikes in Germany, he himself says that nowadays the most expensive premium materials, the most expensive production of the e-bike itself cannot cost more than 8,000 EUR, all of this above is marketing and a curse for quick profit.😢

[@energ8t]

COGs are usually 25-20% of MSRP for most product (e.g.- company I work for). If COG’s are 8,000 for this bike, that’s pretty hefty. They have to account for their profits and reseller margins too based on a niche market and lower volumes. They aren’t becoming overnight millionaires. I understand it’s the reality we live in today, but that doesn’t make it affordable.

[@emveeess839]

@@energ8t a voice of reason amongst those who live in a bubble world of cheap consumer junk.

[@scotttacchi2991]

As many other comments..$12,000 is simply not competitive. The 2023 Orbea Wild offers much better value (still expensive).

[@LeeCruz-bl4qz]

The Orbea Wild M-LTD is the best comparison to this bike. M-LTD is $12k🤷🏼‍♂️

[@shanecurnyn4612]

@@LeeCruz-bl4qz let me decode all of these posts “I’d like to publicly state my total opposition to the very existence of things that are not within my wheelhouse. This includes: large houses, first class cabins, very good looking people, very fit people, expensive cars / motorcycles/bicycles. If I can’t afford it or if my wife won’t let me buy it nobody should be allowed to even make it. And if the do make these things I can’t have, I proclaim them stupid and not worth the money. Thank you.”

[@LeeCruz-bl4qz]

@@shanecurnyn4612 😂😂😂

[@crestlinebikes]

If you configure an Orbea wild with a kiox screen and similar components it’s $12500 and that does not even seem to have the new bosch CX-race motor included. If you’re looking at the orbea entry level builds you’re not comparing apples to apples. Same thing if you compare our bike to a high end built SC or Specialized what you’ll find is ours are actually cheaper. An S-works levo “on sale” is the same price as our bike. Food for thought.

[@byronswogger]

​​​​@@crestlinebikesexcept those brand you mention have service shops all over the country. Usually factory-direct brands like yours are better value, like yt, fezzari, comencal etc.

[@oliverbourne9599]

Yep .... very interesting. Bosch, long travel, mullet. That puts a bike on my radar 🤘

[@SamsBikes]

Hey Rob nice video on the Crestline looks like a beast of ebike! I hope all is well and speak soon !

[@MrMooStone]

My KTM Kopoho e-bike had the charging on the frame just like the Crest line in your content. Good content and see your workshop is quite clean as well then some i have seen. 👍

[@pigshed]

They seem to have already built and excellent reputation for communication and working with customers. Nice bike ! Great Video.

[@chickenclips]

Is that you zimmer

[@pigshed]

@@chickenclips It is .... Shsssss 🙂

[@michael_emtb]

Fantastic looking bike!! I wish it (and more) came as a frameset/motor/battery option.

[@BazippysVideos]

I ride a 180mm haibike from 2018, Today i did a few downhill runs, then i did some cross country and finished with some roadie style climbs in the peaks on road. Long travel ebikes make perfect sense imo

[@ioannisparaskevopoulos1120]

This is the bike which test review have been waiting for...a friend of mine bought it after selling his Bullit, and says it performs way better than the Santa Cruz. I think this and that Unno Mith are the top Emtbs with the Bosch motor right now, and not forget that new Gas Gas with the new Sram motor and WP suspensions. Waiting for the test ride review!

[@jordanmackay3568]

Orbea Wild best by a mile surely

[@LeeCruz-bl4qz]

@@jordanmackay3568 Why?

[@ioannisparaskevopoulos1120]

@@jordanmackay3568 Nice bike but no mullet option

[@acarp4766]

Great to see these guys continue doing and growing what they love... Used to try and keep up with troyden and mark when I drove the shuttles up mt lowe and wilson... a decade ago... Might have to call them up and give them some business.

[@da12641]

the vision of Crestline is amazing, bikes are amazing. Pricing, you have to sell your kidney to get one. For all the emtb/mtb vendor, I hope the industry falls. The pricing is way too expensive.

[@gbuzztard]

Agree! The markup must be ridiculous

[@emveeess839]

did you not hear "This is a small bike company". It's all very custom small volume and hence expensive. If you can't afford it too bad. go whinge somewhere else.

[@janeblogs324]

When a MTB is twice the cost of a motorbike its worrying

[@jrambo7495]

That bike isn't all that!

[@glynnb6572]

​@emveeess839 it doesn't matter if it's a small company or not. And good for them if they are making it work, but pricing 99.9% of the customer base out isn't the best way forward for me. Why shouldn't some smaller brands actually compete worldwide v trek/santa cruz etc? That's all I would "whinge" about. I dont want to be beholden to the bigger names.

[@tizer1028]

Wow! This has everything I want on a ebike. Now just the little matter of price.

[@sergiolandz6056]

its crazy, you can get a high performance dirt bike or quad for the same price.

[@Deathbyredbull]

Please make more crestline videos! The bike looks 🔥🔥🔥

[@christianferrone2619]

It’s awesome that two dudes can design a bike first try that’s better looking and better designed than all other e-bikes on the market today.

[@mozzjones6943]

That's opinion though. It's nice that some passionate well liked bikers have made an ebike, And it's well made for sure, But too much fan boy hype going on in these comments lol. It's not the best looking bike in my opinion, Not even close. And not the only one with long travel (even though there aren't that many), It's just another ebike on the market but a good one.. Not good enough for the price imo, And there are many passionate people in the bike/ebike world.

[@roddas26]

This looks like an awsome rig. An the Ohlins always makes a bike look mint.

[@owenhealey4012]

looks like a heckler

[@scruby7968]

100% with you on rhe long travel ebikes. That why I went from a Jam2 to a Sam2. The only thing that bothers me now is weight... particularly if I'm at lifted/shuttled venues.

[@Nomikeal]

Even if the crestline bikes are more expensive than the big brands, the idea of supporting a smaller company makes the price easier to swallow. A lot of small business success or failure can come down to one extra sale that month

[@LeeCruz-bl4qz]

During the process of ordering one their bikes, I was able to speak to one of the owners directly about the setup and what he suggested for me to do. It’s clear these guys are passionate about what they do and their customer is 💯

[@Mi_Mono]

Hard disagree. Big brands for cheaper is the way I'd go. No brainer for me, but also just an oppinion.

[@duancoviero9759]

​@@Mi_MonoI must agree, you get technical support on top of the more approachable price.

[@WeeSmokey]

What an absolute machine 🙀 i really love my cube stereo hybrid and it is super reliable so have never needed to uograde but would totally consider this beast 💪

[@madmountainman5197]

Looks like they've used Santa Cruz for design inspiration. 😉

[@hatueytavarezolmos4858]

They made a great decition by using the Bosch motor; Shimano does not have any support, my Kona Remote 160 DL has been out since last august because Shimano does not have replacement motors. Also they do not sale parts for the motor, if something as simple as a bearing fails you have to change the whole motor

[@vashon100]

decition ?

[@westoncraig]

lovely bike... but the downfall with the E-bikes is hitting the 15mph wall. I've experienced it with my Cube and when you ride one thats de-restricted, its just so much better in every aspect.

[@Certago]

Nah, who doesn't like to spend 10 grand on a bicycle that craps out at 15 mph? 😂

[@jay8miller]

Big fan of the integrated Kiox, I hope that’s the future!

[@boyuap]

VPP suspension.. what a good looking E-bike..I hope crestline make an all mountain and enduro bike too..

[@spencerwvcmoon]

Beautiful bike well thought out! Rear mud clearance/protection looks dubious for UK tho.

[@Casualfulltime]

Looks amazing!

[@DiMoNxO]

Good job bro keep it up, the other day I saw this Bewatt brand, I would like to know what you think of the Bewatt ebike. Thank you

[@MrRossi78]

How did you get a white one? On thier website this size of travel is only available in black.

[@Govermentsound]

Main issue is price, nowadays for £5k you can pick up a decent capable full suspension bike, the vast majority of most eebs rides the same 💪🏾

[@DownhillDesireMTB]

oof that looks stellar!!👍

[@bikebrostouring]

13:08 Hey Rob, what camera do you use in your studio/ in this scene?

[@Theclarksonmtb]

I like the bosch integration, very clean cockpit, I decided to go big travel full fat...whyte E180s I now refer to it as the Tank😂

[@Paulo-fr3xm]

Great looking bike Rob, nice looking package, but another ridiculous price by the looks!!

[@davidwhite4874]

12000 bucks to you....

[@Indictedheart]

First bike in a while I'd like to try out. I like the high power enduro Long travel bikes.

[@brynoss]

Was chatting to these guys at SeaOtter, bike looked 👌

[@steveharper4017]

Looks really good Rob. What is the pricing like?

[@Dano71R]

A frame kit would be nice for the European market.. the bike looks awesome 😎

[@cannonballebikesltd9660]

Cheers Rob, Great eBike and good to see these smaller companies delivering exceptional quality and design.

[@slickrock1371]

I'm interested in seeing the rear suspension cycled in the video.

[@VovanCBR]

what about weight, and battery from smart system has different connector and CAN control. which is not the case for regular 625 battery

[@crestlinebikes]

Bosch make a 750wh, 625wh and 500wh for the new smart system. We’ve used all 3 options in our bike and they work perfectly. You therefore have the ability to drop the weight by as much as the difference between a 750wh battery and a 500wh battery which equates to approx 1/3 in battery weight at most.

[@mr1982davies]

i have a lot of respect for troyden iv recently taken ownership of cresting dh rs205 vhp and im now looking at getting there E bike it looks amazing

[@vashon100]

their vs there

[@johnnyd3859]

Loving my Scott Ransom!!

[@sortemout6]

really well done ... nice VERY FULL intro

[@robintaylor3860]

Great job

[@michalmalanowicz7595]

I'm sorry, but you can go with Scott e-Ransom for half the price. Sure, the bike starts to be a bit dated, but still rocks and you don't really need much more to rip on hard enduro / downhill tracks. But if you're lucky enough to afford such beast - yeah, nice one!

[@marklouieadame]

I really wished they priced it aggressively competitive price lets say top end 8k and 2 series step down 6k and 4k emtb

[@garyfuller6553]

Hi Rob, I was wondering if you were close to releasing your new review after riding this. Thanks Gary

[@neilmouneimne5451]

Rob, how does it compare to the Pole Voima?

[@lassipullinen-wj4nt]

There is some intresting long travel ebikes on market allready. POLE VOIMA is one of the best and i really hope you make some testing and video with KTM PROWLER 180mm front and 170 mm rear and high standing on ews-e last seasons... POLE and KTM teams makes good work and they achieved quite high scores on ews-e

[@LeeCruz-bl4qz]

Would of bought that prowler instead of the crestline if it was available in the US. When that bike does make it here, the angry “bikes are overpriced” crowd are gonna lose their shit

[@su1raM]

Hi Rob. Since you often mentioning that you like long travel ebikes, any chance that you reviewing soon scott ransom eride?

[@blockhead3654]

Looks amazing

[@86jacob86]

Looks awesome but how does it ride???

[@energ8t]

Such a sick bike… but limited terrain legally where I live and it’s $12K. That’s some SERIOUS coin when I already own a sick MTB. I have some Cascade Components on my bike. Great parts. I am also aware a top end road bike is the same price.

[@jeffriley2502]

I like the direction. Availability in the USA?

[@khadetechnology]

How much does it cost to get a bike frame made

[@BrandonTaylor-bg1xv]

Lovely bike if you have money there's no limit what you can buy as with everything in life.... Good review 👍

[@duanethompson2879]

🔥ooooooo, also equipped with the sweet new SRAM XX Eagle AXS derailleur? 🤤(or was that a little personal touch, Rob)

[@odinata]

What do you mean the kiox is countersunk in the top tube? You can clearly see its proud of the top tube.

[@chrism5768]

I was looking at this bike last night. I'm torn between the top model timp peak and the Crestline. I'm having a hard time seeing the 2k+ price difference.

[@Justin-fs1te]

Save your money, some douchebag will just steal it anyway.

[@gabrielemorosini9547]

What if I buy the bike in Europe and have a problem with it? Do I need to ship it back to the US for warranty and stuff like that? That's the main issue with very small brand...

[@robstyle7573]

Essentially you're only buying a frame, all other components are readily sourced locally, all bearings etc. That's one of the good things about the bosch ecosystem aswel, you can just take that to your local authorised dealer.

[@zannadootothetenth]

I hope to get a bike when things connect.

[@zonoskar]

They’re not beating anyone in the aesthetics department.

[@austinramos71to23]

a person who likes biking would enjoy sum like that fr

[@flippy66]

Lost me at $12K 🤣

[@shanecurnyn4612]

So much whining about $. These are either (1) toys for rich guys to hang in the garage or (2) daily drivers for folks who live and breathe this sh*t in between injuries. If you really want the best you can scratch together the cash and/or credit to buy one. If not, you can get something for half the price that will work 90% as well and put just as big a smile on your face. The $ complaints are about bruised egos not actual realities of economics or manufacturing.

[@LeeCruz-bl4qz]

Well said. The crazy part about it is the bike is valued fairly well for a top of a line build spec compared to what’s out there. It’s the fact these guys are making a top of the line build only, people can’t wrap their heads around it🤯

[@egbah428]

I'd like to know how it compares to my trek rail 9.8

[@andrewgreenwood8727]

Looks amazing Rob ! What's the warranty on the bike ? & What is the price please !!

[@mikeyjack74]

12k not sure on warranty. Didn’t read much past the price tag haha

[@freddysalgado641]

If it's anything to go on, I have recently seen Sam Blenkinsop's name popping up on Strava E mountain bike mode in my neck of the woods. We know he was picked up by these guys, haven't seen him on bike 1st hand but KOM's are being murdered. It's cool looking, but darn that's alot of coin for that bike, I'll save up for Athertons version 😂. Leaves me wondering how close an e-bike half the price in capable hands would perform in comparison? Longer travel for the extra weight does make sense for the amount of pounding these bike are subjected to.

[@rodbarton2354]

Beautiful bike ❤❤❤

[@graysquirreltreeservice7299]

Crestline vs orbea wild what bike ??

[@kangsterizer]

looks great but id never buy a 12k mtb, even if i have more than the budget for it , these are outdated within a year and drop price extremely fast when the new model comes around

[@MTBzine]

Rob, when is the ride review of this bike coming?

[@RobRidesEMTB]

4-6 weeks

[@shawnstradwick5637]

Wow, this bike is just amazing and beautiful. I just bought a brand new turbo levo. I do not know how to convince my wife that I need a brand new Crestline. Lol

[@MTBzine]

What's the weight of the bike?

[@sergiolandz6056]

Them bikes are cool and all but the prices is just mind numbing. Hopefully i the near future they will cost less than a motor bike or quad or side by side if we compare the price of this one.

[@KongraDNB]

Lovely looking bike. Wouldn't consider buying one purely for the price though.

[@szyszkojad666]

Great looking bike, not fan of the price though. There is an art to creating bikes which offer good value for money. Not everyone needs top of the shelf components so I wish they offered more budget friendly versions.

[@streddaz]

There’s plenty of brands that offer low spec bikes, you just aren’t going to find that with any small boutique company. It’s like saying why isn’t there any cheap exotic Supercars 💁‍♂️

[@szyszkojad666]

​@@streddaz And what is so special about these bikes made by small companies? Their frames are made in the same factories in Taiwan, China or Vietnam as all the other brands. Maybe there is better quality control and screws are tightened with the right torque? Are they faster uphill or downhill? Are they much lighter in comparison to the competion? Are the frame materials better? I see where you're coming from with your comparison to cars - you can basically buy a new car for the price of that bike. Bike prices, inflation aside, have been going up for a while now and we're not getting more for that money, I'd argue we're getting less - i.e. Trek increased prices while lowering the spec for some models like Trek Remedy, also many new bikes arrive in appaling state like they didn't have any quality control at all or with components which are not working properly. So there are ways to compete with big brands like innovation, good value for money, quality, good warranty, easy maintenance solutions or at least make the freaking bike look like a piece of art if you demand this kind of money. I just don't see the point of 12k dollar "butique" bikes which seem not to offer any of those. Bikes are getting more and more expensive each year without much in return and that's what I'd like to see change with small companies - if you want more money for you bike than the competition show that it's worth it.

[@streddaz]

@@szyszkojad666 the point is, that someone will buy it simply because it unique, and while people are willing to pay the price that bikes are now, bike manufacturers will keep the prices high. I’m sure if you had an item that you could sell for a lot of money you wouldn’t say “I’ll sell it cheap because someone might not be able to afford it”, you are of course going to sell it for the most you can get.💁‍♂️ If the economy goes down the tubes in the next year or so, prices will come down, but until that happens I can’t see prices dropping.

[@lucasbhogal3790]

I miss long travel light Emtbs with a rear lockout option, for a fair price, not like 15k and above, and i dont like carbon, but I love the design and values of crestline, since I have noticed them on Social media

[@jeffmilum5858]

what emtnb do you miss that is better and lighter than what is available today?

[@benjackson1958]

Try and get the Scott ransom eride for a review. Would love to hear your thoughts. 180mm front and back!

[@dannywild100]

i have one and it's sick !!!! put we are one strife wheels with i9 hubs and a coil and the 23 zebs have some videos on my channel

[@benjackson1958]

@@dannywild100 do you ever feel “over bike” or pretty good all round?

[@dannywild100]

@@benjackson1958 no not at all , it's so good on everything , great all around bike , it actually won loam wolf's ebike of the year last year , thats why i bought it

[@johnhouston8297]

Hey Rob, have you ridden this bike yet? Would like to hear your thoughts.

[@greggory448]

How much does it cost 🤔

[@mikehighfield4767]

Outrageous. It's a bike. The engineering required compared to a car is small. There will be a back lash as the market won't bear the prices. Unless ebikes are for the elite and super rich.

[@emveeess839]

sold out. does that look like a big backlash to you? another winger with no idea about how markets work...

[@mikehighfield4767]

@@emveeess839 One born every minute, what was the production run, 10?

[@Ollv33]

@@emveeess839 how many units my dude. I can price something at $30k and make 1 and have a sold out sign for the one dumbass that bought it.

[@emtbtrailrider539]

which is better CRESTLINE big travel VS POLE VOIMA ID?

[@shanecurnyn4612]

🍿

[@Scott-wz4sc]

Oh wow! Didn't realise the prices was double of other decent ebikes 😂

[@323johnnybravo]

I really don’t want to hate on this bike but who asked for a more expensive Santa a cruz lol ??

[@peterlundgren8867]

Rob, if you want to pronounce Öhlins the right way it does not start with the O-sound. It is pronounced more like the same start as in Earl or the vowel in bird. Ö is not related to O in other aspect than the shape and is a different letter in the Swedish alphabet. Good luck!

[@RobRidesEMTB]

Thank you!

[@tomquimby8669]

So this is a new ebike manufacturer? which seems to mean that they buy an off the shelf motor, get the frame made for them by another company, source the frame linkages from another company. Really then it's an assembly company. Much like going to your local quality bike shop and asking them to source the parts and build your bespoke bike.

[@crestlinebikes]

Our bikes are designed from the ground up. Cascade did the engineering and kinematics working together with us as we did all the 3d surfacing and carbon development. Any other major bike company like Trek, Specialized, Orbea etc all follow the same process. We used a platform that we know works well if engineered and tuned correctly. All CNC parts were also designed from the ground up and manufactured to our spec not simply sourced as you say. It made no sense to be different for the sake of being different when it came to suspension layout. We rather chose to make sure we used something tried and tested that works! At the end of the day the way the bike rides and the way the motor and system performs are the most important things to us as riders. Form follows function. You are correct that after the frame it is down to components but 90% of the components on all bikes from any brands come from other companies and are sourced so the most important thing is your foundation that you build on and that being frame functionality, how well your suspension platform works and of course your bikes geometry. Those things will always remain our primary focus. 👊

[@chriswiles87]

What about Fantic ebikes?

[@rinky_dinky]

thats a VPP rear susp design no ?