8 LIGHT eMTBs TESTED - Santa Cruz, Specialized, Cannondale, Ari, Transition, Trek, Giant, Karbon
Vložit
- čas přidán 14. 05. 2024
- Welcome to Vital's 2024 SL e-bike Test Sessions! This year, we gathered up a pile of SL e-bikes, three testers, and spent a week zipping around the hills of Northern California to figure out what makes each bike tick. From motor feel and battery life, to maneuverability and stability at speed; to small intricacies like display and app usability, charging interface or cable routing; we put each bike through the wringer, and here is what we uncovered. Enjoy!
Video Contents
0:00 - Intro, What and How We Tested
6:11 - Cannondale Moterra SL Overview
9:27 - Cannonale Discussion
33:43 - Giant Trance X E+ Elite Overview
36:50 - Giant Drive System
46:28 - Giant Spec - Odd Choices
51:22 - Giant On-Trail Performance
58:17 - Giant Battery Performance
1:01:45 - Giant Bottom Line
1:05:30 - Transition Relay Overview
1:08:39 - Transition Drive System
1:16:10 - Transition Build and Ride Performance
1:23:11 - Santa Cruz Heckler SL Overview
1:26:30 - Santa Cruz Heckler SL, Drive System, Build
1:36:05 - Santa Cruz Ride Impressions
1:40:18 - Santa Cruz Bottom Line
1:43:20 - Karbon Powerline SL Overview
1:47:01 - Karbon Powerline SL Drive System
1:55:15 - Karbon Powerline SL Frame and Build
1:59:47 - Karbon Powerline SL Ride
2:05:05 - Trek Fuel EXe Overview
2:08:30 - Trek Fuel EXe Drive System
2:15:58 - Trek Value
2:17:10 - Trek Ride Impressions
2:23:46 - Trek One-Piece BarStem
2:25:11 - Ari Nebo Peak Overview
2:28:10 - Ari Nebo Peak Drive System & Value
2:33:21 - Ari Nebo Peak On-Trail
2:39:32 - Specialized Turbo Levo SL Overview
2:43:31 - Specialized Turbo Levo SL Drive System
2:52:29 - SPecialized Levo Ride Impressions
Thanks to these brands for supporting the test!
Tannus Armour Inserts - tannusamerica.com/products/ta...
Feedback Sports - feedbacksports.com
Maxxis Tires - www.maxxis.com/us/tires/bicyc...
Read our SL E-MTB Test Sessions article - www.vitalmtb.com/features/vit...
More mountain bike news and reviews - www.vitalmtb.com
#ebike #emtb - Sport
Excellent analysis and a really good review. Thanks, guys.
So cool to see the local trails on vital🤘
As an owner of the giant I gotta say it’s probably the most underrated ebike out there. I have the version here in the test and while I agree with some of the negatives they pointed out overall it’s a beast. Change out the bars, internally routed headset nonsense, and maybe brakes depending on your style and it’s a beast. Put the fork to 160 overstroked the rear and it’s even more of a beast now. Throw on the battery extender for an extra lb and you keep up with battery life with full fats with ease.
Oh and maybe you got a defect live valve because mine works amazingly and I notice it. And love it. But I am considering swapping to rockshox stuff cuz the new stuff is just so damn good. Especially for a taller/heavier guy like myself.
I agree. The Giant and the Cannondale would be my top picks. May rarely use the 85nm but nice to know it’s on tap if you ever want it
Yeah, that was just the best ebike comparison review ever! Great work.
FYI, we have a Norco Fluid VLT in-house for testing (it wasn't here in time for this test) and our previous Orbea Rise test can be found here - czcams.com/video/gE4QpI28oQI/video.html
Too bad the Mondi Dune didn't come out a bit earlier. Would have been great to see some Bosch motors on test.
this is an incredibly solid review. everything you said about all the bikes were spot on. ive tried almost all the bikes and the specialized always came out on top. you guys captured the differences perfectly.
Great job!thanks for the review,would also like to see the fluid vlt review hopefully soon
fluid vlt is in-house for testing. didn't arrive in time for this test
I have the Trek Exe. Changed it to a 150 rear, 160 fork. Mullet out back. Still a great trail bike, but a little more capable. Also, im 5'8" and tend to prefer mullets except for short travel 29ers. This review is solid. I ride it with a buddy that has the ari and one that has the newer levo sl. The guy with the ari has 20 percent more battery than we do at the end of the ride.
Guy in the Ari is still riding a 20% weirder bike though
@@joehoeper3941what’s “weird” about it?
I also have an EXe and absolutely love it. Stock rear but I did go up to a 160 fork. Motor is super quiet and punchy enough to make the climbs not suck, but you definitely still have to work for it. Rides like a normal bike, a really well sorted one.
FYI overstroking the shock on the EXe comes dangerously close to seatstay bridge/seat tube contact at bottom out, so be careful I guess. It's like 2-3mm gap.
@@whitest_kyleThanks for the warning. I had that concern too, but i think my medium frame has more clearance than just a couple mm. Also, frame is fairly stiff, which i like, and doesnt flex as much as most of the bikes i have ridden. In any case, will keep an eye on it. Thanks!
Regarding the fazua's motor matching cadence. I turned the acceleration off because I like the initial stroke to feel like a regular bike and it got rid of that odd movement. I think it's the acceleration kicking it at odd times in the pedal strokes. (Heckler SL)
Very nice detailed reviews, I watched the whole thing. 😊
My interests were the Giant (without live valve) and the Santa Cruz (Fazua motor). Thanks for that! 👍
just watched it for the third time! agree with everything.
This is pretty extensive test. The Cannondale did great!
Great reviews. I was hoping to have the Shuttle SL compared too. Definitely interested in this category. thanks
You are able to dim the FAZUA top tube lights with black electrical tape.
Love this style and format - would love to see this done more in the future. Great test category- well done, fellas❤
Will try the tape trick, wish they would update the app preferences to allow you to dim or only display the led on mode changes and battery level changes for a set time. Distracting currently
agreed. an app update vs electrical tape on $8000-10000 bikes seems more appropriate.
@@ShapeThingsI would also think very distracting on night rides. That's why I went with the Bullit.
I bought the Trek Fuel EXe 8. The little extra weight from the alloy frame really helps plant you for a more supple ride.
Awesome to see my local trails used for this test ....doesn't the Cannondale have an option to run rear 29er?
Orbea rise and pivot shuttle sl….. you can’t have an sl test without those
our rise test - czcams.com/video/gE4QpI28oQI/video.html
Where is the Pivot SL?
My buddy loves his Karbon
Love riding my Gen 2 Levo SL. It's not the fastest nor the most capable but it is the most fun bike I have I just want to ride it all the time. I have the Comp Carbon size S3 and it weighs 39lbs(without pedals). I don't mind having the RE when riding with full fats it adds around 2 lbs and it's still super light!
Same issues with the SC Bullit, way too much chatter feedback in the back. Installed an 11.6 and instantly made it better, but I feel like the suspension design on the SCs has a limit. Would love to see Zeroed or Gamux make a belt driven pinion gearbox ebike.
Are they ever going to release the kenevo sl 2 in the US?
The karbon powerline sl can be bought from Alibaba for like 3k.... its a light carbon lce930
Will you be testing the Mondraker Neat?
Jmp being used for a test is so sick!
And making it look radder than it is 😂 tho, (I think it was Simonetti?) had some impressive sends on Cinderella.
@@ShapeThings bro, it's very rad for being a backyard destination
@@ultimatist I know a lot people like it. Having an e-bike does make the monotony of climbing back to Cindy & Chap much more enjoyable (ie faster)
As someone whose stanina is hit hard by medical issues. I've been looking at a few e mtbs that are more pedal assist than full power. But then i see the price of some of these bikes, and its kinda wild how expensive they are.
Curious to see how the new Norco sits within these bikes!
That Nebo looks like a done deal with that performance and price!
Simplon Rapcon Pmax TQ great light e bike
Did not expect to see JMP to be featured so prominently! Would post the Leo Once Upon a Time in Hollywood pointing gif if I knew how. I find running a cowbell is recommended descending Chaparral and Cinderella, as annoying as it may be.
we rode mid-week, so it was fairly empty.
S5 on the Levo is a big tank - how big are the testers? great review btw.
ahhh , got it from the website :)
Wish you guys got out on the Norco Fluid VLT to test the Bosch SX system.
we have the fluid vlt in house for testing. it wasn't available for this test.
Holy crap, a 3 hr video! Can we get this distilled?
chapter markers and 1.5x speed is your friend : ) or hit our site for the write-ups - www.vitalmtb.com/features/vital-mtb-test-sessions-lightweight-sl-e-bikes
Would have liked to see the new Norco fluid
we have the fluid vlt in house for testing. it wasn't ready before our test happened.
@@vitalmtb good stuff
where's the Orbea Rise?
our rise review - czcams.com/video/gE4QpI28oQI/video.html
SRAM transmission domination!
Buy one, burn one, borrow one. Go.
Buy the Heckler, burn the Karbon, borrow the Cannondale
Can believe how bad I want a Cannondale
WOOOOOOOOWWww
That Nebo Peak is sexy
my shimano ep8 motor got e01022 code before 26 month. Not durable motor it is.
This video would be a lot shorter if they stopped using the word “like”
Orbea rise ?
our rise test - czcams.com/video/gE4QpI28oQI/video.html