best 180mm travel ebike

• Best eMTB Of The Year: Haibike Nduro 7

by Ben Haworth December 19, 2023 4

This Haibike Nduro 7 was simply the bike that was the most capable of any and every bike I rode in the past 12 months. Capable everywhere.

• Brand : Haibike
• Product : Nduro 7
• Info : haibike.com
• Buy : Leisure Lakes
• Price : £5,599
• Tested : by Benji for Singletrack World Magazine Issue 150

The Nduro 7 cleaned more terrain than anything else I tested in 2023. Great downhill. Jaw dropping uphill. Confoundingly agile everywhere. About the only thing it couldn’t do was be easily lifted over obstacles. It was a big beast but I had many a beautiful ride on this e-bike. In a year of mega hyped machines it was nice to see one of the oldest names in e-MTBing appear out of nowhere and take the e-Crown. Great geometry, lovely suspension, excellent tyres, decent motor. And not £1,000,000.

Here’s our full review from August…

Haibike is one of the original e-bike brands. It has been doing e-bikes pretty much longer than anyone else (Google: ‘Haibike eQ Xduro’). It took a pretty bold attitude – not to mention a pretty thick skin – to do full-on e-bikes back in… 2010(!) And it shows.

Haibike quite clearly doesn’t really care what anyone else thinks of its bikes. It is shameless. As it should be. Time has proved it right. Haibike hasn’t been held back by looking back. Or by kowtowing to tradition. Or classic bicycle aesthetics.

I don’t think I’m being rude or incorrect by pointing out that Haibike was often mocked for its uncompromising designs. Its bikes have never looked ‘normal’. But look where we are now. A lot of other brands’ e-bikes are beginning to look more and more like Haibikes. It appears as though e-bike aesthetics are finally getting confident enough to be what they need to be, as opposed to trying to hide what they are.

The Haibike Nduro 7 is a big travel, full-power e-bike with 180mm of suspension front and rear and 85Nm of torque from a Yamaha PW-X3 motor that gets its power from a 720Wh battery in the downtube. Those aren’t the only numbers that exude bigly. The reach is decent. The head angle is slack. The seat angle is steep. The seat tube is long and fat. The chainstays are long.

And the weight is… what it is. Which is to say, not light.

There is nothing that isn’t sturdy on this bike. From the Mavic E-Deemax wheels touching the dirt to the aluminium handlebar above the Fox 38 fork, it is all burly. There is nothing carbon on the Nduro 7. This is all aluminium all of the time. And quite stout aluminium at that (going off the super scientific ‘flicking it with fingernail’ test). This is heavy metal baby.

As regards the e-specific stuff on the Nduro 7, the system is operated by a discreet remote control near the left-hand grip and there’s also a rather modest little unit that sits to the left of the stem. The latter unit has the (five) power setting LEDs, the battery level LEDs, the on/off button and a button for dimming the aforementioned LEDs. The battery level indicator is a bit crude in that it only has four LEDs so it’s hard to know exactly how your battery life is progressing during a ride.

One feature well worth not glossing over is Haibike’s MRS (Modular Rail System). This is a slot in the top of the downtube. This is how/where you can attach a water bottle or a piggyback range extender battery, etc. The MRS slot comes with a rubber strip filling it when you get the bike. The idea is, once you’ve fitted your bottle/battery/accessory, you can trim the rubber strip and reinsert it. MRS may look like a gimmick but I actually think it’s brilliant. And is a perfect example of Haibike being Haibike. Function first. 

The parts on the Nduro 7 were mostly excellent. A particular shout out to the Mavic wheelset and the perfect Schwalbe tyre spec. The Fox 38 and Float X2 rear shock proved to be excellent. It wasn’t quite all excellent, however. The Haibike dropper post only offers 150mm of drop. The Haibike grips were truly dreadful: hard and slippery. The 50mm stem was a bit on the long side for a bike this capable. And the usually dependable (on non e-bikes) Magura MT7 brakes weren’t powerful enough for this beast. A 220mm rotor upgrade would be good.

The Haibike Nduro 7 is a very e-bike (not a typo). It is the most e-bike, e-bike I’ve ridden. Cutting straight to the chase because I like to, I really loved this bike. It was by far my favourite bike in this test. Which surprised me perhaps more than anyone.

It just did everything I wanted it to and did it really well. I had more than a few niggles with it but its essential character and handling just totally won me over.

Niggles: uninformative battery level indicator, meagre dropper post, harsh grips, lengthy stem, slightly underpowered brakes. I also think that the Yamaha motor isn’t up there with the best (AKA Bosch). It doesn’t quite have the power. It also doesn’t seem to have the fuel economy either. But I’d have this bike over A.N.Other motor-ed bike any day of the week because of how it performs on the trail.

You’ll have noticed that I didn’t list its weight as one of my niggles. A couple of kilos is neither here nor there when almost all big-battery full-power e-bikes are 25kg+. The Nduro 7 is an excellent example of the fact that while the motor is hugely significant in the experience of riding an e-bike, it is not the be-all and end-all.

The Nduro 7 has truly excellent geometry and suspension. This is key. I would make the caveat that lower spec Nduro models may not ride as well; the premium Fox dampers on this Nduro 7 play a big and crucial part in this bike’s performance. A bike with this much travel and, yes, this much weight needs the very best dampers it can get. Lower end forks and shocks just aren’t up to the job.

A bike with 180mm of travel at both ends is clearly going to be principally intended for descending, yes? Yes. And no. This bike is a truly exceptional descender, yes. But that’s not all that it is. It is also the best technical climbing bike I have ever ridden. It goes up… anything. Even though it doesn’t offer the top-end grunt of a Bosch bike, its long chainstays and genuinely steep seat angle more than make up for it. In fact, it goes to show that it is geometry that’s way more important for executing daft ascending challenges, more than mere motor wattage.

Despite it ostensibly being ‘just’ yer basic four-bar layout, the 180mm of travel is super well controlled. It is not supersoaker mattress. There is feedback and support there. Both the fork and the shock also offer a decent degree of low speed compression adjustment too, should you want to fine-tune things.

As briefly touched on, the descending skills of the Nduro 7 are legion. It is a long ol’ bike that fears no gradient, nor speed. Bring it on. But here’s the rub (actually, what’s the opposite of ‘rub’?), it isn’t glued to the ground. You can get daylight under its tyre contact patches. Looking at it on paper, you shouldn’t be able to. But we don’t ride on paper. We ride on trails. And there’s no denying that it was perfectly capable of changing channel across ruts and deliberately stepping out of rear wheel traction to make tight corners and so on.

The main thing that slightly held the bike back from its full potential were the brakes. If it was my bike (and I wish it was), I’d be browsing for some even bigger rotors right away. The stem swap and the upgrade to a longer travel dropper can wait for a bit.

The Haibike Nduro 7 was an excellent reminder that you can’t judge a book (or maybe in this case it should be a Kindle) by its cover. There’s no way a bike this… big cannot be a handful to ride, right? Wrong, as it turns out.

Through a combination of geometry and suspension kinematics from Haibike, working in tandem with some suitably high-end Fox shocks, the Nduro 7 proved itself to be an amazingly adept e-bike that could take on anything. The Nduro really does showcase just what riding horizons can be opened up on a well-executed e-bike.

Sure, the Yamaha system isn’t quite as good as other systems, but it can do the job. What you’ve never had, you’ll never miss and all that. I would say that if you were thinking of getting this bike, you should also budget for an external range extender piggyback battery. Partly because the MPG of the Yamaha system is pretty mediocre, but partly because you’ll just want to ride this bike all the freaking time. Everything, everywhere, all at once.

Haibike Nduro 7 specification

• Frame Aluminium, 180mm
• Fork Fox Float 38 Performance, 180mm
• Shock Fox Float X2 Performance
• Wheels Mavic E-Deemax
• Front tyre Schwalbe Magic Mary Addix SuperSoft 29×2.4in
• Rear tyre Schwalbe Big Betty Addix Soft 27.5×2.6in
• Chainset Haibike The Crank Aluminium, 165mm, 36T
• Drivetrain Shimano Deore SLX, 10-51T
• Brakes Magura MT7 203/203mm
• Stem Haibike The Stem, 40mm, 31.8mm
• Bars Haibike The Bar, 780 x 25mm, 31.8mm
• Grips Haibike MTB
• Seatpost Haibike Dropper Post, 34.9mm, 150mm
• Saddle Fizik Terra Aidon X5
• Bottom Bracket Yamaha
• Motor PW-X3, 85Nm
• Battery Intube, 720Wh
• Size tested L
• Sizes available S, M, L, XL
• Weight 27kg
• Head angle 63.5°
• Effective seat angle 77°
• Seat tube length 470mm
• Head tube length 130mm
• Effective top tube 631mm
• BB height 5mm BB drop
• Reach 480mm
• Chainstay 460mm
• Wheelbase 1,305mm

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Orange Switch 6er. Stif Squatcher. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. Ebikes are not evil. I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld. Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.

• This topic has 4 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 6 months ago by hot_fiat .

What tacky brand and model names

I used to think Haibikes were ugly as sin, but now I realise they were just ahead of the game in the world of ugly bikes. If I could get that in black it would be on my list at that price

I guess it’s not possible to ride every bike. For my part I’ve just started my emtb journey with the Orbea M20 Rise plus a few upgrades and it’s an awesome piece of kit. It’s in the process of changing my life for the better. Can’t ask a bike to do more. One thing I would say is that weight is important and the Orbea at sub 18 kg is just about manageable. Don’t think I’d want to be lugging anything heavier into and out of the car or over obstacles.

Soon to be seen being pedalled to the nearest Biergärten on wide, flat, Center Parcs-like trails through the Schwartzwald every Sonntag. I’ve never seen so many top of the range Haibike gnarpoons in one place being bimbled along.

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Crestline RS75/50 EMTB Long Term Review - Is This The Best Long Travel E-bike?

Words by: Trevor Mejia

How Can A Small Brand Do This? 

Crestline Bikes has released their highly anticipated E-Bike, the RS75/50 and RS50/75 EEB with 175mm and 150mm of rear travel respectively and we are super excited to share these amazing bikes with our eager customers! The EEB is equipped with the new Bosch CX-R (Race) motor with 85Nm of torque and a 750wh battery. The small brand out of Southern California has been hard at work developing this bike alongside Cascade Components to perform as one of the best E bikes on the market. The bike has been designed around full customization so that the end user can get exactly what they are after. The two owners of the company and great friends of Worldwide Cyclery, Mark Clemens and Troydon Murrison are both certified shredders who have pushed and developed these bikes to their fullest potential. Both versions share the same carbon frame with the difference being a shock size and flip chip configuration.

Having released their RS205 last year, the brand is staying true to their downhill roots by making the best riding downhill bikes they can. For 2023 they have also signed Sam Blenkinsop, downhill world cup legend where he will be competing in the DH World Cups, Crankworx events on the RS205 and even some e-mtb races on the  Crestline RS75/50 . 

Frame Details: 

The  Crestline RS 75/50 comes stock with 175mm of rear suspension travel combined with a 180mm fork for the best experience in rough terrain or for racing circumstances. The RS 50/75 comes stock with 150mm of rear travel and a 160mm fork for a more lively and fun ride. These figures are very customizable via changes in shock stroke and a flip chip on the rear Cascade suspension linkage. The shock size/travel configurations are as follows:

• 230mm x 57.5mm flip chip in ST (short travel) = 150mm travel
• 230mm x 65mm flip chip in LT (long travel) = 175mm travel

Since there are different stroke lengths available for a 230mm length shock, Crestline is allowing their customers to play around with this. For example, you can run a 65mm stroke shock with the ST flip chip to give the bike 162mm of travel. 

There are only 3 sizes available RH-2, RH-3 and RH-4, however, this was on purpose due to how much adjustability is available. For the RS75/50, the RH-2 and RH-3 come stock with MX mixed wheels with 29” front and 27.5” rear. The RH-4 comes with 29” wheels front and rear. This 29” rear involves a different rear triangle which is available from Crestline for the smaller sizes along with a 27.5” rear triangle for the RH-4 if requested. The RS50/75 comes with 29” wheels front and rear in all sizes. 

There is a straight 56mm headtube with a ZS56 - ZS56 pressed in headset which allows for the possibility of a different reach and angle adjustments as well as a DH dual crown! Crestline has teamed up with Works Components to provide a +/- 5mm reach adjustment headset for tapered forks and a +/- 10mm reach adjustment for DH dual crown forks. Works Components also produces great anglesets so you can play around with geometry if you feel so inclined. 

Crestlines are all UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger) equipped for consistency in derailleur hangers across the world and compatibility with SRAM’s newest T-Type Transmission Drivetrain , something that is very useful for e bike situations. 

There is plenty of space for an extra large water bottle on the downtube as well as mounts on the bottom of the toptube for tool storage! This is something that we really appreciate and keeps things clean while ensuring you always have the repair essentials on your bike. 

Bosch CX-R (Race) Smart System: 

Bosch’s CX-R motor is similar to their previous model, but this newer version has been slimmed down in weight to 6.1lbs and has an overdrive race mode that keeps the motor running for a second longer to keep momentum everywhere. This motor produces 85Nm of torque at 400% of your own pedal power. Combined with a 750wh battery, this bike can get you up the hill fast but also last a while so that you can do exactly what Crestline’s motto says: “All The Laps”. 

Integrated into the top tube is a computer display from Bosch that looks clean and functions as it should. To go with this is a wireless remote on the handlebar and a power button/mode selection underneath the toptube.  The charging port is placed on the side of the bike where the top tube and down tube meet. Previously with the Bosch system the computer was sticking out on the handlebar and the remote placement was not very ergonomic with wires coming out of the units for both. Now with the remote being wireless and an integrated computer screen, Crestline has been able to integrate a super clean Bosch system to their bikes. This is very impressive for a brand as new and small as Crestline to pretty much have better integration and utilize the newest Bosch technology before just about any other brand at the time of this review. 

Crestline RS75/50 Specs: 

• RS 75/50 (175 rear travel / 180 front travel) 
• RS 50/75 (150 rear travel / 160 front travel) 
• Sizes: RH2, RH3, RH4
• Bosch CX-R Race motor and smart system
• 750wh battery
• Adjustable reach and headtube angle via headset cup
• MX Mullet or 29” wheel size setup
• Different rear travel options 
• Full carbon frame with internal tubed routing 
• Cascade Components Suspension Kinematics 
• DH Dual crown compatible

RS75/50 Geometry:

On Trail Performance: 

We have been riding and testing a RH-3 RS 75/50 EEB stock setup from Crestline for a while now and have been extremely impressed with its performance and capabilities. It is easy to write off such a small company producing their first e-bike, but with Mark, Troydon & Cascade Components at the reins, nothing has been overlooked and everything has been built for a rider that really knows what they are looking for. Our bike does not have the new CX-R motor but luckily the benefits from the updated motor are marginal. Besides that, the Bosch system is extremely powerful, the fastest we have tested to date and with the 750wh battery, you can manage to get more than enough riding time. Their motto really is true with “All The Laps”. On the first few rides I was shocked when I could get 6-8k of elevation gain on a single charge, oftentimes with some battery life to spare. That all depends on your terrain and how steep the climbs are, but needless to say it can pretty much ride as long as your hands can keep up. 

It took a little bit of playing around with the Ohlins suspension to get comfortable on the Crestline RS75/50. I ended up running the air pressure for somebody who weighs about 220lbs and I weigh 180lbs. To be fair, the terrain that it has been put through is extremely rocky with huge compressions so most e bikes would need to be oversprung anyway. The Ohlins fork feels pretty good once you get it dialed in, again it takes a little longer to get to that happy spot compared to Fox or Rockshox but when you do the whole package feels amazing. The rear end has a great feel, with our Ohlins air shock the bike rode high in its travel while having a very predictable feel, never getting bucked or wallowing through multiple compressions. As Cascade has proven their kinematic expertise with making links for other brands, you can imagine when they got a blank platform to do what they wanted, this bike really excels the harder you push it. Also, our test bike came with Shimano Xt 4 piston brakes with 203mm rotors, and as fast as this bike goes I could easily see how a 220+ rotor front and rear would help add some braking power. 

We swapped out the One Up cockpit for a Trail One Components bar, stem and grips to keep things consistent and installed Cushcore in the rear to save the wheels and allow for running lower pressures. This bike really takes on everything that you throw at it, riding the burliest trails with no issue and still wanting more. I have to compare it to my personal bike, the Specialized Kenevo SL which has similar travel numbers and is impressive when pointing downhill. The RS 75/50 keeps up no problem and I would argue that it is even faster when gravity is on your side. Combined with the Bosch system, it blows the Specialized out of the water when it comes to pedaling up anything. 

When first riding this bike, I had forgotten that it came stock with the mullet setup. I could feel that it was turning on rails but I didn’t know if the dirt was that good at the time or if the bike was just working correctly. Turns out the mixed wheels really do turn that well and still keep speed like a 29er.  After dialing the suspension and getting comfortable with the weight of the burly bike, I have to say it is the fastest E-Bike that I have ridden up and downhill with not much to be changed. 

• Customizable reach, rear travel and wheel size 
• Bosch CX-R motor and clean looking smart system 
• Designed to go fast and feel comfortable 
• The Bosch motor does clank around a bit when riding downhill 
• Only one build kit and no frame only options at the moment 

Worldwide’s Takeaways:

We have been nothing but impressed by the results of Crestline Bikes’ first E-Bike, the Crestline RS75/50 . They have really done things right and made a bike that excels when going fast. Even though there is only one build kit at the moment, the build spec is spot on and ready to ride the roughest trails or even get out and race right from the box. The Bosch motor is impressive and is the fastest we have tested so far, plus paired with a 750wh battery, you’ve got power and range for days. The kinematics and rear suspension linkage made by Cascade components is sought after by much of the industry so it is awesome to see it come stock and designed around this bike. I don’t see any of us getting off this E bike any time soon and we are excited to continue adding up the miles aboard a Crestline .

May 11, 2023

bosch › crestline › Crestline Bikes › Ohlins › rs75/50 › SRAM ›

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THE BEST eBIKES FROM OUR 2022 eMTB SHOOTOUT

Putting 13 ebikes through the gauntlet.

Video by Treeline Cinematic Photos by Dusten Ryen

Over the last year or so, it seems like every time we show up at a trailhead or open our e mail box, we’re getting asked “So, what’s the best eMTB out?” W e absolutely love nerding out on bikes , talking tech and ride experiences, which is why we love our annual eMTB Shootout. It lets us test and review some of the best eBikes on the market and offer insight as to who the ideal rider or customer may be for each bike. Now in its fourth year, T he Loam Wolf ’s eMTB Shootout has continued to grow and evolve as we seek to bring the most honest and thorough reviews and comparisons out there. T hanks to comments and feedback from viewers, we listen to what topics matter most to you and focus our testing energy and review processes accordingly.     This year we made a fun little video introducing you to some of the things we look for when testing bikes and looking for terrain as well as our test crew, which we hope you’ll enjoy watching. But if you’re more of a words person, or you’re on the site while you’re pretending to work in the office, we’ve summarized it in words below.   

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. The Setting    |    2. The Goal    |    3. The Stats    |    4. The Bikes – Enduro    |    5. The Bikes – Trail    |    6. The Crew    |    7. The Winners    |    8. The Sponsors    |    9. The Gallery

THE SETTING | KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE

We take our fan’s comments seriously, and after two years of winter test sessions in the desert settings of Palm Springs, CA and then St. George, Utah, we moved our eBike shootout to a much greener destination with more trees than cacti. Last fall we drove around looking for potential locations that would offer a wide variety of terrain, welcome eBikes and would be a ton of fun to visit. Knoxville, Tennessee ended up being the best fit for this year’s test and we couldn’t have had a better time enjoying the trails and southern hospitality on display. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Knoxville’s mayor, Indya Kincannon, is a mountain biker that’s helping to facilitate the ever-growing network of awesome trails and infrastructure for MTBs and eMTBs alike in Knoxville and the surrounding area.  

The city of Knoxville, and specifically the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission and Appalachian Mountain Bike Club (AMBC) , have made some major investments into mountain biking and outdoor recreation as a whole. The city has built greenways filled with skinnies, other fun pump and jump features, wall rides and more. What’s better is that they’ve got one of the best urban bike trail centers we’ve been to, ever: Baker Creek Preserve . The kind of place we’d be stoked to have within a couple hours drive, never mind cycling distance from a city. They’ve got a paved pumptrack and slopestyle jump line; a large, varied skills area and plenty more in the Baker Creek Preserve. Just beyond the family-friendly fun zone is a huge variety of singletrack trails that offer riders a wide variety of options, from fun and effortless flow trails through to rough and chunky rocks. For those looking for their freeride fix, there’s even some big jumps thrown in for good measure on the awesome Devil’s Racetrack.

Our crew also visited Sharp’s Ridge, which is a trail network on the north end of Knoxville that has some fun options including a brand-new trail that we couldn’t get enough of. We were thankful for the electric assistance as we lapped and lapped the fun descent filled with both natural and man-made jumps, long off-cambers and some tire ripping berms. The trails at Sharp’s Ridge offered some fun, mellower singletrack for us to test the Trail category (155mm travel and less) eBikes, too. We found the terrain to be very natural and on-par with what we expect a majority of trail riders to encounter. Sharp’s also has a couple of very fun black diamond trails with some jumps and berms that are a blast to ride.   

If you are looking to visit the region, other neighboring trail networks including Haw Ridge and Vee Hollow can be reached with a short car journey. However, when it came time to finding a place to test the Enduro category (160mm and more) eMTBs, our crew preferred driving 40 minutes north of Knoxville to Windrock, for its Bike Park and separate “XC” trail area. The two full days we spent at Windrock were not only a ton of fun as it was our crew’s first time there, but they gave us some of the most demanding terrain to test what these long-travel enduro eMTBs – and our bodies – were capable of.

As with all of our bike and product shootouts, the team’s biggest goal is to objectively test each bike as thoroughly as possible, so that we can report our findings and opinions to you and hopefully offer some clarity to help you decide on the bike you’ll be most stoked on. Mountain bikes and eBikes have gotten more and more expensive, and the team is well aware of the significance a purchase of this magnitude holds for many of you. For that reason, we do our best to go the extra mile, or take that extra lap or five, to make sure we’re absolutely confident in our results.   

In order to achieve that goal, we set up parameters for testing and produced documentation sheets for each tester to fill out as they developed their thoughts throughout the test period. We also partnered with Schwalbe tires once again to equip each bike in each category with the same tires, to give each bike as consistent of a feel as possible. We mounted Schwalbe Eddy Current tires on our Trail category bikes and Big Betty/Magic Mary combos on our Enduro category bikes.

CUBE STEREO HYBRID 160 HPC RACE 625

Travel: 160mm / 170mm Motor: Bosch Performance CX Gen 4 Battery: Bosch PowerTube 625WH Size Tested: Large Weight as Tested: 54.6 lbs MSRP: $6,149.99

MONDRAKER LEVEL R

Travel: 170mm / 170mm Motor: Bosch Performance CX Gen 4 Battery: Bosch PowerTube 750WH Size Tested: Medium Weight as Tested: 57.9 lbs MSRP: $7,999.99 at the time of filming (now $8,499)

NORCO RANGE VLT C1

Travel: 170mm / 170mm Motor: Shimano EP8 Battery: Custom, Removable 720WH Size Tested: Large Weight as Tested: 56.2 lbs MSRP as Tested: $10,098 (C1 + 720WH)

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ALTITUDE POWERPLAY C70

Travel: 160mm / 170mm Motor: Dyname 4.0 Battery: Removeable Li-Ion 720WH Size Tested: Large Weight as Tested: 54.1 lbs MSRP: $9,059

SCOR 4060 Z LT XT

Travel: 160mm / 170mm Motor: Shimano EP8 Battery: Darfon 720WH Size Tested: Large Weight as Tested: 51.5 lbs MSRP: $8,699

SCOTT RANSOM eRIDE 920

Travel: 180mm / 180mm Motor: Bosch Performance CX Gen 4 Battery: Bosch PowerTube 625WH Size Tested: Medium Weight as Tested: 54.5 lbs MSRP: $5,499.99 at the time of filming (Now $6,499)

YETI 160E T1

Travel: 160mm / 170mm Motor: Shimano EP8 Battery: Shimano 630WH Size Tested: Large Weight as Tested: 52.4 lbs MSRP: $13,000

YT DECOY MX CORE 3

Travel: 165mm / 170mm Motor: Shimano EP8 Battery: SMP YT Custom 540Wh Size Tested: Large Weight as Tested: 50.9 lbs MSRP: $6,999

CANYON SPECTRAL:ON CFR LTD

Travel: 155mm / 150mm Motor: Shimano EP8 Battery: Canyon BT 900WH Size Tested: Large Weight as Tested: 51.6 lbs MSRP: € 11,299 (Europe Only) / $10,500 (CFR)

NORCO SIGHT VLT C1

Travel: 150mm / 160mm Motor: Shimano EP8 Battery: Custom, Removable 720WH Size Tested: Large Weight as Tested: 55.5 lbs MSRP: $10,098 (C1 + 720WH)

SANTA CRUZ HECKLER CC X01 AXS RSV

Travel: 150mm / 160mm Motor: Shimano EP8 Battery: Integrated 720WH Size Tested: Large Weight as Tested: 48.4 lbs. MSRP: $13,299 at the time of filming (Now $14,249) 

SPECIALIZED TURBO LEVO EXPERT

Travel: 150mm / 160mm Motor: Specialized Turbo Full Power 2.2 Battery: Specialized M3-700 Size Tested: S4 (Large) Weight as Tested: 52.25 lbs MSRP: $11,000

TREK RAIL 9.9 XX1 AXS

Travel: 150mm / 160mm Motor: Bosch Performance CX Smart System Battery: Bosch PowerTube 750WH Size Tested: Large Weight as Tested: 51.9 lbs MSRP: $13,799.99

DREW ROHDE 39 | 5’11” | 165 lbs

Former ebike hater who’s fully embraced the Boost Life. He lives for raw, natural trails with lots of rough sections where you have to work to find flow and natural gaps. Drew has been testing and reviewing nearly 20 bikes a year, for the last ten years, making his depth of knowledge and experience aboard a wide variety of platforms incredibly deep. He regularly uses hand/foot feedback as a barometer for how suspension handles repeated high-speed hits or chatter on his favorite trails, which tend to be the roughest he can find.  Drew does not love the trend of making every bike a “flow trail” bike with super long, low and slack geometry numbers.

You may not know: Drinks Mountain Dew to get jacked up and eats too many burritos. He also has a theory that the best things in life are round, ask him about it.

ROBERT “SCOTTISH SASQUATCH” JOHNSTON 28 | 6’2″| 202lbs

Robert had been a part-time reviewer for a couple of years while working as a mechanical design engineer on some rather impressive projects. Despite our suggestions, he left the engineering world to join the Wolf Pack full time and up until our shootout, had only ridden an eMTB for a couple of laps! Robert is an absolute shredder with some killer style and line selection. The fact that he showed up with almost zero experience as an eBike rider was really awesome because we feel there’s a growing segment of riders who are just starting to get ready for the transition to the E world, and his fresh perspective would align perfectly.

You may not know:  After one night of following Drew to some TN honky tonks, Robert is now an eBike loving, country music enthusiast.

SEAN “SOURPATCH” LEICHT 31 | 6’1” | 160 lbs

As someone who hates climbing, it was odd that Sourpatch resisted riding an ebike for so long. He’s now a convert and loves zipping to the top of his favorite downhills. Sourpatch isn’t a big suspension tweaker or bike set up kinda guy. He likes to get on and go and let the factory settings be his guide. He’s a good barometer for the average consumer who may not spend a lot of time testing and tuning the bike from the shop floor. Sean likes jumping, steep downhills and hitting berms.

You may not know: Not an exaggeration when we say he hasn’t eaten a vegetable in years. If it ain’t neon, he ain’t eating it. He also doesn’t like sauce, or anything that’s not bagged for that matter.

RYAN “FRENCHIE” GAGNON 34 | 6’0” | 160lbs

The loose goose – Frenchie has been helping Drew test bikes for a number of years and is almost guaranteed to either break a part or crash trying. As a new dad, Frenchie’s riding time went from some to none real quick. He’s just now getting back on the bike and enjoying the benefits of ebiking as they allow him to get more DH laps in during his short pre-work rides. He represents the hardcore shredder who’s looking to ride fast and hard.

You may not know: Frenchie is partially blind in one eye after a high-heel incident at a party.

NIC “U-Turn” HALL 35 | 5’10” | 160 lbs

Recovering XC-dork turned endurbro, Nic Hall loves training, pedaling to stay fit and drinking gluten free beers. He is also our personal medic and luckily, we’ve never had to test his medical skills out. We think that’s a good thing because we’ve seen him work on bikes and cars and it usually doesn’t end up well, which is how he’s earned the nickname “U-Turn.” Nic values efficiency, speed and play when it comes to testing bikes, he just can’t leave those XC roots behind.

You May Not Know: Nic has been responsible for sabotaging a number of our test bikes during the last two shootouts in order to boost his chances at winning our friendly internal competition. Even at the peril and risk of others…What a shady character.

COLE “HIGH MAINTENANCE” GREGG 30 | 6’1” | 175lbs

Cole is relatively new to the team but brings tons of expertise to the game. He’s got a penchant for jumping high and taking way too long to set up his bike before he can ride it. He’s from Washington and spends most of his time catching air and ripping berms in that fine PNW soil, but we’re forcing him to learn to love rocks as much as we do. Cole is passionate about photography, diesel trucks, catching big air and has a serious fear of frogs.

You may not know: Cole has the most sensitive diet of anyone we’ve met.

BRIAN “DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM” NILES Cinematographer | @TreelineCinematic

As the oldest member of the crew, we are constantly impressed with Brian’s permanent smile and energy. His camera pack is almost as big as he is, yet he still hangs with us on the long days. Brian is also responsible for testing the walk mode on all of our eBikes. This testing usually coincides with one of his key expressions, “I’ve got nothing to prove.”

DUSTEN “GINGER SAM ELLIOT” RYEN Photographer | @DustenRyen

Artsy coffee fiend who masters the snaps behind the lens, Dusten is a vital piece of the crew and will amaze you with how long he can talk about any topic at all. If you ask, he’s got a story!

And he’s a great Craigslister .

BEST PLAY eMTB | TRAIL CATEGORY SANTA CRUZ HECKLER CC

When it comes to picking awards, some categories are easier than others to select. The Play category is usually a tough one and this year the Canyon Spectral:ON and Santa Cruz Heckler battled it out. This category is focused on the riders looking for a full-powered eBike that pops, jumps, slashes and plays as close to a non-eMTB as possible. The Santa Cruz Heckler is one helluva fun eMTB and you really do forget it has a motor when it comes time to rail corners and style your favorite jumps.

BEST ADVENTURE eMTB | TRAIL CATEGORY TREK RAIL 9.9

The Trek Rail has changed greatly since it won the last two eMTB Shootouts it competed in. The polarizing gaps in sizing take it from the fun, lively all-arounder to a more focused sled. The length, battery size and Bosch power unit make the Trek Rail a great option for cranking out big miles however. It also enjoys riding wide-open spaces at high speeds and is incredibly stable. Depending on your height, the gaps in sizing could be an issue however.

EBIKE OF THE YEAR | TRAIL CATEGORY SPECIALIZED TURBO LEVO

Holy Moly! Our entire crew loved this bike and felt the capabilities spanned across multiple disciplines. Be sure to check out our long term review as well as this bike’s detailed review as there are some interesting points worth discussing. That being said, when it comes to picking a Trail category eMTB that is equally at home everywhere, does all that you want it to, and offers the confidence and liveliness to keep you smiling all day long, the Specialized Levo leaves the rest in the dust.

BEST PLAY EMTB | ENDURO CATEGORY SCOR 4060 Z LT

The Scor 4060 Z LT XT is so playful that a couple of our testers actually thought this bike belonged in the Trail bike category after their first day on it. Sporting the shortest chainstays of the shootout, this eBike definitely favors playful riding, quick corners and catching air over pounding DH laps in the bike park.

BIG MOUNTAIN EMTB | ENDURO CATEGORY ROCKY MOUNTAIN ALTITUDE POWERPLAY

What a machine! The Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay C70 is a bike that almost our entire crew fell in love with. It has more power than any other bike in our shootout and when it came time to climb or grapple up the steepest terrain we could find, it won time and again. Once at the top, the Rocky Altitude drops its heals and gets to work. The mid-high pivot suspension is composed, sensitive and offers confidence on the chunkiest of terrain.

EBIKE OF THE YEAR | ENDURO CATEGORY SCOTT RANSOM eRIDE 920

Scott have done some magical things when it comes to making a long-travel eMTB that moves and plays so effortlessly. The Scott Ransom eRide is one of the most versatile eBikes in the shootout this year and is the bike most of our crew would spend their own money on. It’s a great value compared to other bikes and does everything so damn well. Climb, traverse, shred and send…The Scott Ransom eRide does it all.

• Rider Notes

2022 Whyte E-180 RS v3

A 27.5″ aluminum frame full suspension enduro e-bike with ultra high-end components. Compare the full range

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A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

E-180 RS v3

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Whyte Bikes e-180 Works MX With CX Race Whyte is pleased to introduce its latest gravity race eMTB: the all-new e-180 Works MX. Built around the first ever competition focused eMTB engine, the brand-new Bosch Performance Line CX Race Limited Edition motor, the e-180

Read Review

Jun 2022 · Alex Evans

Speed-focused ride thanks to supportive, sorted suspension and Goldilocks geometry

Immensely capable on gnarly terrain

Geometry flip chip makes marked difference to its ride

Well-specced

Easy to set up

Muted, soft-feeling ride

Better suited to hard chargers

Weight could be a problem for lighter riders

Sep 2021 · Mick Kirkman

The Whyte E-180 RS V3 is self-shuttling gravity enduro machine with 170mm travel out back, paired with a 180mm fork and the Bosch system.

One of the best long travel e-bikes on the market. Sublime suspension matched with ultimate control.

In some situations, this much suspension, strength and capability requires some serious manhandling. Could be even better with a 29in front wheel.

Dec 2019 · Felix Stix, Robin Schmitt, Jonas Müssig

Every inch of the Whyte E-180 RS V1 is trimmed to the bike's downhill performance. Can you even have fun with such a 180 mm travel beast outside of a bike park?

Mountain bike-like handling

Sensible and robust componentry

It won't hold you back

Rudimentary finish

Only two frame sizes

Loud on the descents

Last updated July 23 Not listed for 1,064 days

Mountain Bike Magazine

Scott’s New Ransom e-Ride – 180mm Front & Rear Travel Monster

[Press Release] – Givisiez, Switzerland. September 18th, 2020. Progressive geometry, outstanding versatility, the latest Bosch Performance CX, enduring 625Wh with a fully removable internal battery and 180mm of travel front and rear, the Ransom eRIDE ticks all the boxes!

When it comes to the design of our E-MTB range of eRIDE Bikes, our goal is always to provide the best E-Bike possible to the consumer. From All Mountain machines, to E-MTB’s for the MTB curious, we’ve  got top notch models for any type of riding. The all-new Ransom eRIDE successfully expands SCOTT’s eRIDE MTB range into the long travel enduro/freeride segment.

Versatility While developing the Ransom eRIDE, we had an E-Bike in mind that was able to go down the roughest trails, jump, corner, manual… nothing less that what you’d like to do with your enduro bike. On an electric bike, jumping, cornering and manualing also applies to the uphills and this versatility was at the center of the development of the Ransom eRIDE. A steep seat angle, centered weight and a slack head angle make this Ransom eRIDE a beast for anything from your favorite bike-parks to your home trails.

Suspension Topped off with more travel, the Ransom eRIDE benefits from a more sensitive suspension curve at the beginning of the travel together with firmer compression towards the end of the travel. The kinematic was specifically developed to meet the requirements of an E-Enduro bike.

“The goal was to provide the most capable E-Bike SCOTT has ever developed. With 180mm of travel front & back together with the 29er wheels and the aggressive geometry it makes it ride like a magic carpet…up and down!”

Andreas Ziegler  Product Manager eRIDE

Drive Unit & Assistence The Ransom eRIDE is assisted by the Bosch Performance CX Generation 4 with a maximum power output of 85Nm and support of 340%. Fully integrated, the 625Wh battery is removable for convenient charging options. Choose between 4 assist modes or opt for the comfort of the eMTB mode which automatically adapts to a natural feeling assist. Rely on the best drive unit available on the market.

• 29″ wheels as standard (27.5″ compatible)
• 180mm front and rear travel
• 85KM Maximum range
• 4 hour 50 minute recharge time to 100%
• 25 km/h maximum speed assist
• 625 WH maximum battery capacity

www.scottsports.com

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David Harrison

Table of contents, what are the best emtb forks (2024).

Forks are the piece of equipment which attaches your front wheel to your bike, however, they’re much more than that. They offer cushioning when hitting lumps and bumps, help you take on gnarly terrain and the type of fork you have can completely change your riding experience.

E-MTBs which are geared up for downhill and enduro riding have longer forks and provide more travel (movement). Meanwhile, cross-country, general trail and touring bikes have smaller forks and less travel.

Let’s dive head first into the world of e-bike forks

Best for Downhill

RockShox Boxxer Ultimate

Best for enduro.

FOX 38 Factory Grip 2

Best for trail.

RockShox Pike Ultimate

What’s the importance of a quality e-mtb fork.

The suspension setup on your e-MTB and particularly the forks dictate the type of riding your bike is capable of doing. Of course there are a few other factors, such as geometry, but a burly suspension is the component which makes your bike descent-focused, capable of taking the big drops and big impacts.

Without a decent fork setup your bike isn’t capable of heading into some of the gnarlier terrain and it can lead to injury.

Features of a Good Fork

E-MTB riding takes you to all sorts of varied terrain, with many different obstacles in your way, such as rocks, drops, roots and bumpy surfaces. Forks help your suspension soak up those impacts and help prevent those vibrations being thrown through your arms. This creates a much smoother riding experience and prevents you getting quite as tired, quite as quickly.

Performance

A good set of forks not only brings comfort, but also raises your overall bike performance, particularly in the e-bike suspension. Your bike can cope better with the obstacles and move faster over them safely, without giving you big jolts or throwing you off the bike. A good set of forks will help you glide over obstacles and keep you moving at pace.

With the forks making you feel both more comfortable and helping the bike perform better, this helps improve handling. You feel more in control with a good set of forks and this is very useful on the most technical terrain. Without a good set of forks, you would be feeling big impacts and the bike struggling, which reduces handling and control.

The three factors above lead to a safer riding experience . If you feel more comfortable, your bike is performing better and your handling is improved, this leads to a safer ride. A good set of forks helps to reduce the chances of crashing on bobbly and challenging terrain.

Customisation

The very best e-MTB forks allow you to tweak your setup to match the needs of the day's trails or change them to the needs of the rider. This allows you to have a bespoke riding experience, which will amplify all the points above.

Best e-MTB Forks

Rockshox boxxer ultimate – best for downhill.

• Price – $1,899
• Weight – 2.56kg
• Travel – 180mm – 200mm
• Wheel size compatibility – 27.5 inch & 29 inch
• Type of riding – Downhill
• Adjustability
• Elite standard
• Slimmer than competitors

The RockShox Boxxer is among the burliest fork setups on the market; it offers big travel, at up to 200mm, and is known for its reliability. It’s capable of taking on some of the wildest terrain and it’s valued by many of the top elite downhill riders as the fork of choice.

It’s been upgraded recently, with a new Charger 2.1 damper, which has ironed out a few kinks from past inceptions and it creates a much smoother riding experience. The fork’s rebound is one of its biggest selling points, it recoils better than most out there and means you retain traction on the trails and keep moving at pace.

The price is a big downside, it’s an expensive beast and it’s tubing is narrower, which some riders feel makes it less robust, but we’re content overall.

Links to product:

Fox 38 Factory Grip 2 – Best for Enduro

• Price – $999
• Weight – 2.18kg
• Travel – 160mm – 180mm
• Wheel size compatibility – 29 inch
• Type of riding – Enduro
• Ultra comfortable
• Great customisation
• Narrow travel parameters

Performance-wise, it’s hard to compete with the FOX 38 Factory forks. They can take on some gnarly terrain and often feel comfortable throughout – there is the perfect mix of dampening and recoil, which means you’re often gliding over obstacles.

They’re capable of taking on some of the toughest challenges you can throw at them, however, if you want to take on the biggest jump lines, then they won’t offer you enough travel. Otherwise, they’re as versatile as you can get, with excellent handling, tonnes of reliability and durability.

The price is steep, but you’re getting an excellent enduro product, and they’re often viewed as the best e-MTB fork for versatility.

FOX 38 Float Factory Grip 2

You can read more about how the FOX 38s performs on an e-MTB, in this Canyon review:

Canyon Torque:ON 9 Review (2023)

Rockshox pike ultimate – best for trail riding.

• Price – $1,054
• Weight – 1.86 kg
• Travel – 120mm – 160mm
• Type of riding – Trail
• Versatility
• Reliability
• Dampening could be improved

RockShox is undoubtedly one of the top companies on the market. The Pike Ultimate is a light setup, however it still has a stiffness that instills confidence out on the trails.

It’s robust, with the company’s best dampening technology and it has an ease of use to be able to tweak the setup – in terms of adjustability, this fork is right up there.

You can dial in the setup easily, which makes it very attractive to lots of different standards of rider. It’s compatible across a range of bikes, with a top end travel ability of 160mm – this range of options places it among the best forks for e-MTB.

Overall, it’s a beauty and RockShox manages to undercut some of the competition out there.

Link to product:

Fox Float 32 Factory Step-Cast – Best for XC

• Price – $829 (from $1,039)
• Weight – 1.38 kg
• Travel – 100mm
• Wheel size compatibility – 27.5inch and 29 inch
• Type of riding – XC and Touring
• Struggles on the gnarly stuff
• Limited range

One of the major headlines here is the incredibly lightweight nature of these front forks for e-mountain bikes. A low overall bike weight is exactly what you need on a good XC ride and these help contribute to that.

At only 32 inches long and with 100mm of travel, they’re clearly not made for the gnarly terrain, but they adequately do the job on an XC course and offer a pretty stiff ride, good for traction and speed.

They can still take a few lumps and bumps, but you would want to upgrade to a FOX 34 if you wanted anything more tricky than simply some undulating bobbles.

FOX 32 Float SC Factory

Marzocchi bomber z2 – best fork for touring and bikepacking.

• Price – $419
• Weight – 2 kg
• Travel – 100m – 150mm
• Type of riding –   Touring, Bikepacking, XC & Trail
• Can’t take the big hits

The Marzocchi Bomber Z2 is one of the best options out there for longer distance riding. Although it doesn’t carry FOX’s name, it actually has very similar technology as some of FOX’s top components, particularly in the air spring department.

The fork offers great stability, which is fantastic for longer distance riding, however, you can also adjust the setup if you need to take some on some more lumps and bumps.

Within its parameters it provides one of the smoothest riding experiences on moderate terrain, but it soon struggles in the descent-focused world as well as when things become more challenging.

It’s also super lightweight, which makes it efficient and it comes in at a very reasonable price – a good e-MTB suspension fork for people who want to pedal for hours on end.

Marzocchi Bomber Z2

Forks e-mtb frequently asked questions (faqs), how to choose the best e-mtb forks for you.

Think about the style of riding you’re most likely to be doing and your own ability. Are you experienced and want to take on the technical descent lines? Or are you heading on regular bike packing trips? Or are you new to the e-MTB game?

All these factors dictate the type of e-MTB forks you need. If you’re a beginner you don’t need a long travel gnarly set-up, go for something simple, which will build confidence – low travel and stability. If you’re gearing up for some wild terrain, you need long travel and playfulness.

How Much Travel Do I Need on My e-MTB Suspension Setup?

This isn’t an exact science and some other factors come into play regarding frame geometry, but this is a good general rule:

Cross country: minimal travel (to build up traction & speed) – 100-120mm travel.

Bikepacking/touring: low travel depending on terrain of the route – 100-140mm travel.

Trail: medium travel – 120-150mm travel.

Enduro: long travel – 150-180mm travel.

Downhill: seriously long travel – 180mm-200mm travel.

Are e-MTB Forks Different?

Yes, e-MTB forks are different from regular forks. E-MTBs are heavier bikes than normal mountain bikes and you’re often travelling at higher speeds. This puts a lot more pressure through the front of the bike and the forks need to be able to cope with that.

There are extra dampeners put in, to soak up the pressure and they often have air sprung components, to help with the recoil.

Final Thoughts

There you have it, our guide to the best e-MTB forks out on the market right now. Having the right set of forks on your bike for the style of riding you’re doing is hugely important. Think long and hard about what type of trails you want to be hitting – downhill, enduro, XC, bikepacking or just beginner style singletracks.

All of this dictates what you need – long travel versus short travel, cushioning suspension versus stiffness, etc. We’ve highlighted which sort of forks suit which sort of riding – so now you have no excuse to get it wrong. Go outside, hit the trails and put these forks through their paces.

+1 (918) 393 4169

[email protected].

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6 eMTBs you should know about

1. specialized turbo kenevo expert.

Expect the Turbo Keveno to add a boost to your downhill pursuits

© Specialized

• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Wheel size: 27.5" Plus
• Motor: Specialized 2.1
• Battery: 700Wh
• Price: $8,225/€ 6,899/£6,999

2. Scott Genius eRide 900 Tuned

Bolt on an additional battery and enjoy one of the biggest ranges around

• Wheel size: 27.5”-plus, 29”
• Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX
• Battery: Bosch PowerTube 625Wh
• Price: $7,499/€7,799/£6,799

6 tips for heading out on your MTB after dark

The best head-to-toe cold weather mtb kit for men and …, 3. moustache samedi 27 wide 6.

The French brand has been in the eMTB game for a while and it shows

© Moustache

• Wheel size: 27.5” plus
• Price: £5,750/€5,199/£4,699

4. YT Decoy CF Pro

The Decoy is made to handle whatever your throw at it

• Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
• Wheel size: 27.5” plus (rear), 29” (front)
• Motor: Shimano Steps E8000
• Battery: Custom 540Wh
• Price: $6,599/€6,599/£4,999

5. Lapierre eZesty AM 9.0

The eZesty is perfect if you're looking for a little boost

• Sizes: M, L, XL
• Wheel size: 27.5”-plus
• Motor: Fazua Evation 1.0
• Battery: Fazua 250Wh
• Price: $6,599/€5,999/£5,299

6. Cannondale Moterra SE

The Monterra SE is for serious shredding

© Cannondale

• Wheel size: 27.5” (size S), 29” (M-XL)
• Price: $8,500/€6,999/£6,199

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Let's get the best e-bike for Downhill

• Thread starter Dave976
• Start date May 2, 2022
• May 2, 2022

Active member

You can't change the battery quickly, compared to others, on the whyte. You've missed the Focus Sam2 from your list.  

dobbyhasfriends

🌹old bloke 🎸.

Downhill E-MTB | Torque:ON

Pole Voima Complete AXS - 29" full suspension E-bike

FOCUS SAM² | 2021 - 2022 Bosch | FOCUS Bikes

E*POWAH Elite World Champion

dobbyhasfriends said: I dont own these bikes but might be worth looking at. Downhill E-MTB | Torque:ON Meet Canyon’s downhill e-bikes -Torque:ON! Our uncompromising gravity bikes! Industry leading powerful motors and battery technology that set the standard for what a long travel E-MTB can do. Shred:ON! www.canyon.com Pole Voima Complete AXS - 29" full suspension E-bike Voima E-bike is the ultimate enduro, park bike, long-distance trail rig, and DH bike all in one, with a Bosch drive unit and 750wh Powertube. polebicycles.com FOCUS SAM² | 2021 - 2022 Bosch | FOCUS Bikes FOCUS Bikes is the leading premium brand of high end mountain bikes and road bikes with excellent quality - German Engineered for amateur athletes and professionals! www.focus-bikes.com Click to expand...

E*POWAH BOSS

Check also Specialized Kenovo with double crown fork  

Well-known member

• May 3, 2022

Pole or kenevo. The fork makes the bike  

Definitely Regin E-0 can’t beat the price point and checks everything you will ever need !  

Another bike to consider is the Haibike nduro 8 free ride If Haibike ever release the 2022 models that is, ohlins dh triple crown forks coil shock mt7  

• May 6, 2022
• Thread starter

Alexbn921 said: Pole or kenevo. The fork makes the bike Click to expand...

In Pole Voima specs they say that it is dual crown compatible. So you should be able to use it with proper DH-fork.  

The general problem is that most of these e-bikes suggested are not available in a store... Thanks everyone so far.  

Kenevieve said: In Pole Voima specs they say that it is dual crown compatible. So you should be able to use it with proper DH-fork. Click to expand...

Kenevo's are available used and then you can customize/upgrade it to the parts you want. The pole is available as a frame only and can be built just how you like it. Used DH forks are an option too. Nothing is in stock. Put your money down and wait just like everyone else. IMO The Kenevo is the best big bike made. It's incredibly capable on full DH tracks and still fun on the mellow ones. Plus it gives up almost nothing in the climbing department. I can keep up with Levo's on the climbs and beat shimano/bosch bikes.  

E*POWAH Elite

• May 7, 2022

Keggie said: View attachment 87392 Click to expand...

kbass24emtp

Cannondale just came out with a new Moterra DH. Supposed to come out in the summer here in the states.  

Tekmotiv.co.uk

Top Fantic models use Ohlins DH 38 e-bike - 29" 200mm  

Haibike makes a downhill bike with bosch. Battery is really easy to take out.  

michael.kozera

New dad 👶.

jempezen said: Officially you can't use a Kenovo on Downhill or BikePark He's only a category 4 bike Click to expand...

michael.kozera said: have you considered just making your own DH ebike? i made mine for WAY cheaper then buying a new one. mine is 1800peak motor watts (bbshd, 1500w nominal) so it goes stupid fast. 1600wh battery pack so it goes crazy far. 230mm rear travel and 200mm front. and at 62lb's its not even that heavy. total project cost ( at the time) cost me around 4g Canadian, of that 4g , 2g was the bike used. View attachment 87667 View attachment 87668 Click to expand...

Zimmerframe

Cris said: What kit is that ? That’s the cleanest conversion I’ve seen Click to expand...

dobbyhasfriends said: didnt know this existed, what a beast and spec for that money Click to expand...

BBSHD Intense 951 Hyper E-Bike

Giant Reign  

Dave976 said: Hi, I come from the Alps and I hate to pedal up to the top in UK... Usually, I do just something like 10 rides and I go home, which is quite annoying... So I want to move to an e-Bike for the following reasons: 1. Avoid the pain back on the hill 2. The bike is heavier, I just love it, it gives me more stability 3. I can ride for longer when I go on long MTB trails, not bad for some side fun 4. I can wear all the protections of this planet, and I can still make it for an entire day of riding, the second day to the recovery room in hospital though My primary use will be Downhill, so I wonder if the double fork models are so much better than the standard enduro fork. I identified a few bikes: - Giant Trance X X E+ Pro 2 2021 Trance X E+ Pro 29 2 (2021) | Giant Bicycles UK (4400 pounds, but probably I'd go for a Giant Reign around 6500 pounds) - Whyte: E-180 S (6000 pounds, this seems to be much better) - Husqvarna Extreme Cross 10 2021 - Extreme Cross 10 2021 (impossible to get in UK) - Fantic Fantic E-Bike - Downhill - Integra XXF 2.0 720Wh Race (I don't know much about this e-bike, but I found it there and it seems that it could be available somewhere in UK) The main discriminant is the fork , so, do I need to push my self to find a double fork model or I could be just fine with an enduro bike? I'd like to have the max safety when it comes to landing, so I think that the DH model is the way... I also need an e-bike where I can remove the battery quickly every time I need to charge it. The Giant and Whyte are available, but Husqvarna and any other model similar to that are impossible to find in UK... Probably Fantic is available somewhere, but then it always depends from the size etc. Click to expand...

yomoe said: Why has no one mentioned the Norco Range VLT?? 180mm of travel, 900mah battery (or option to choose smaller/ lighter one), an absolute beast of a bike for DH and anything/ everything in-between Click to expand...

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Five 170mm enduro mountain bikes, enduro bikes with that little bit more.

170mm enduro mountain bikes sit between the 160mm status quo and the 180mm monsters that are more designed for trucking bike parks and mini downhill tracks.

Don’t be put of by their enigma status however, a lot of brands are settling into this travel for their newest models. Could 170mm enduro bikes be the future? Here are five of the best that could set the trend.

Specialized Enduro

The Specialized Enduro went through huge changes at the start of this year. Most prominently the 650b model became a 170mm making it one of the biggest and baddest enduro bikes around. It doesn’t run an Ohlins shock though, which is disappointing,

This new Enduro is a bear, tearing through the woods, munching up woods and hauntingly powerful. Its colour scheme has a hint of Rupert too.

Pivot Firebird

Pivot is on a new bike spree at the moment with both the Firebird and the Switchblade being released in a couple of months. Both have very different purposes and the Firebird is the one that seriously caught our attention.

170mm of bike park destroying travel, a Fox Float X-2 driving Dave Weagle’s proven suspension system and Pivot’s usual attention to detail has us salivating for a ride. And if you were worried that it can’t do stoppies just check out this launch video with Bernard Kerr .

RADON SWOOP

When we tested the 170mm Radon Swoop we wondered if it might actually be top dog? The top of the heap of the current breed of enduro mountain bikes. They call it a super enduro but we say it’s a bike for ripping in the woods, pure and simple.

All–action, outrageous parts, and a tidy price. Don’t miss this.

The Capra is a bike that’s been a legend in our eyes since the day it was released . It blew open the doors to a new age of accessible and affordable bikes for the masses and it’s become this nation’s favourite in the process.

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Best mountain bike forks: XC, trail and enduro forks reviewed and rated

• Mick Kirkman
• January 10, 2024

With fork technology evolving, the singletrack is getting faster and faster - our pick of the best mountain bike forks will help you run smoother.

If you’re looking to make a significant improvement to a mountain bike’s ride quality, upgrading to the best mountain bike suspension forks is a smart option. The top models are likely to be one of the biggest investments you’ll make, but they pack the potential to totally transform your riding experience.

Fox Float 38 Performance Elite offers all the adjustments of the Factory model, at a slightly cheaper price.

1. Fox Float 38 Performance Elite

Best enduro and e-bike fork.

Weight: 2,360g | Travel: 160-180mm | Wheel sizes : 27.5 or 29in | Rating: 10/10

Reasons to buy:

• Supple yet supportive
• Ample adjustability
• Even light riders are well catered for now

Reasons to avoid:

• Yep, you guessed it: price tag
• Can get lost in the adjustments if you don’t know what you’re doing

Fox’s flagship single-crown fork is also our ultimate upgrade choice. As long as you have the budget, this burly-legged bruiser takes the roughest tracks in its stride. It’s more sensitive and slightly more composed than the RockShox Zeb, even if the adjustments are not quite as user-friendly. Indeed, in back-to-back testing at BikePark Wales, the 38 clearly had the edge over the RockShox Zeb on the same tracks on the same day, to the point we started to think that our Zeb was in need of a service.

As long as you’re careful and methodical with the dials, you can dial-in this fork exactly how you want it, and then its just a case of hammering as hard as you can, because the Fox 38 just keeps on coming back for more.

Read our full test review of the Fox Float 38 Performance Elite

Fox 36 Factory GRIP2 is perfect for most riders and even works well on e-bikes up to 160mm travel.

2. Fox 36 Factory GRIP2

Best trail bike fork.

Weight: 2,220g | Offset: 44mm or 51mm (29in), 37 or 44mm (27.5in) | Travel: 150 or 160mm | Rating: 10/10

• The best ever 36 by far
• Smooth and delicate everywhere
• Premium price tag over rivals
• Kashima coating looks great but doesn’t really transform performance

While it’s tempting to assume you need the extra strength and stiffness of the stout 38, many riders will actually be better off on the erstwhile 36. Why? Well it’s lighter and the chassis is still plenty stiff enough at popular trail bike travel. And the slimmer legs can actually help reduce harshness on mega-stiff carbon e-bike frames.

It still gets the same soft initial touch and reliable support as the 38, and the adjustments are just as wide and effective. We love the new chassis with its lower leg lubrication channels, that splash oil over the bushings and seals to keep it smooth and sensitive. And the pressure bleeders are a useful addition on hot days and long descents. Even the new dropouts can really help reduce binding and keep the ensure you’re maximising performance. As we said in our review, “the latest Factory 36 feels like floating in a bath of oil, but also informs enough about the terrain to ride precisely and actively by never being too wallowey or mushy”. So there you have it.

Read our test of Fox 36 Factory GRIP2 fork

For half the price of the most expensive forks, Marzocchi’s Bomber Z2 Rail delivers excellent performance.

3. Marzocchi Bomber Z2 Rail

Best value fork.

Weight: 2,010g | Offset: 44mm, 51mm | Travel: 100, 120, 130, 140, 150mm | Wheel sizes : 27.5 or 29in | Rating: 9/10

• Simple to set up
• Lots of grip
• Stiff chassis
• Great price-to-performance ratio
• Carrying some extra weight
• Lacking a bit of support
• Basic adjustments

Essentially a Fox 34 Rhythm in drag, the Marzocchi Bomber Z2 Rail offers excellent performance and low-maintenance at an affordable price. Everything is built big and burly to last, so it’s not the lightest fork on the block, but it needs less time in the workshop and less fettling by the trail-side to set-up.

Given the price, the Z2 is a surprisingly capable fork and responds well to being ridden hard. The highlights are the grip as there’s very little harshness, and it feels solid and secure landing big jumps and drops. As such it fits Marzocchi’s image as a freeride brand. To lift a quote from our review, “if you just want minimal faff and maximum ride time, the Z2 is ideal”.

Read our full test test review of Marzocchi Bomber Z2 Rail fork

RockShox SID Ultimate blurs the lines between XC and trail riding.

4. RockShox SID Ultimate

Best xc and down-country fork.

Weight: 1,508g | Offset: 44mm | Wheel size: 29in | Travel: 120mm | Rating: 10/10

• Great combination of low weight and supple performance
• Doesn’t ride like an uptight XC fork
• Price tag isn’t very light
• Needs regular servicing
• Not the stiffest fork if you charge hard

In many ways, we think the SID is the best fork in RockShox’s current range. It’s impressively light, bringing noticeable and significant weight savings, yet it’s sensitive, supportive, and stout enough for rallying hard. To spearhead a top down-country chassis, such as the Transition Spur , it’s a match made in heaven.

We’re mainly talking about the 35mm version, with 120mm travel, leaving the skinnier 32mm option for racing only. There’s a bit of flex under extreme loads, but given the SID’s weight and remit, it’s perfectly acceptable. Overall, the SID is an incredibly impressive fork that arguably bridges the gap between the masochistic world of XC racing and the baggy shorted smile-time of trail riding.

Read our full test review of the RockShox SID Ultimate

For simple set-up and a stout chassis, the RockShox Zeb Ultimate is a great choice. 

5. RockShox Zeb Ultimate

Best fork for easy of set-up.

Weight: 2,280g | Wheel sizes: 27.5 or 29in | Travel: 150-190mm | Offsets : 38mm, 44mm (27.5in), 44mm, 51mm (29in) | Rating: 9/10

• Great option for e-bikes and/or heavier riders
• Damping not quite as amazing as rival forks

Although the Zeb is slightly less adjustable than its rival Fox 38, it is a bit lighter, and more importantly is cheaper. There’s no lack of stiffness, so it’s a great upgrade for a long-travel e-bike if you’re a heavier rider.

The damper is easily adjustable, with dials that can be tuned like an amplifier, rather than endlessly rotated as you try to remember the clicks. And the adjustments really make a noticeable difference, too. Which encourages you to make changes on-the-fly and really dial in your set-up. Having ridden loads of Zebs and just as many Fox 38s, our experience is that the RockShox product has more damping and a more stuck-to-the ground feel, compared to the 38’s supple yet supportive response.

Read our full test review of the RockShox Zeb Ultimate

The icing on the cake of any short travel trail bike: The Fox 34 Float Factory.

6. Fox 34 Float Factory GRIP2

Best lightweight trail fork.

Weight: 1,770g | Offset: 44mm, 51mm | Travel: 130mm, 140mm | Wheel sizes : 27.5 or 29in | Rating: 10/10

• Four-way adjustable GRIP2 damper
• More sensitivity off-the-top
• Increased mid-stroke support
• Higher price point than rivals

34 diameter upper tubes may seem weedy in a world of 38mm options, but for most trail bikes with 130-140mm travel, they have ample stiffness. And the pinnacle of the trail bike fork market is the Fox 34 Factory, thanks to its impeccable damping and perfectly tuned air spring.

The performance of the 34 is exceptionally fluid and controlled, so it provides ample comfort and never gets flustered. The new chassis helps circulate the oil for improved consistency, and the four-way damping adjustments mean you can always get the right tune. Not a cheap prospect, but the ultimate performance usually comes at a cost.

Read our full test review of the Fox 34 Float Factory GRIP2

Smooth as silk: The Cane Creek Helm Coil MKII

7. Cane Creek Helm Coil MKII

Best coil-sprung trail fork.

Weight: 2,400g | Offset: 44mm | Travel: 130-160 (internally adjustable) | Rating: 9/10

• One of the best at beating trail chatter
• Sheer traction levels from that coil spring
• Coil adds weight

Coil-sprung forks are a rarity these days, but Cane Creek puts up a convincing argument that they still deserve a place at the top table. The Helm Air MKII comes in both air and coil options, and we’ve tested both, and rated them highly, but its the coil version that really got us excited. It also stands out as one of the few coil options on the market. So why the hype? Well, in our review we were blown away by the quality of damping and reduction in harshness. In turn, that meant more control and less fatigue, so we could take stupid lines, and push harder for longer. It was almost like cheating.

Yes, the coil spring adds weight and doesn’t have the breadth of convenient adjustability of an air spring, but if you’re looking for something left-field, and are already sold on the advantages of coil-sprung shocks, the Cane Creek Helm Coil could be the perfect complement.

Read our test of Cane Creek Helm Coil MKII

Which is the best fork? The suspense is killing me…

How we tested mountain bike forks

With plenty of time to put these forks through their paces, we ended riding everywhere from uplift days at BikePark Wales, Dyfi Bike Park and Revolution Bike Park, to big days out hammering Lake District bedrock. The forks here also either did extended time on Alpine riding trips, being pummelled by 10,000s of metres descending, or faced accelerated forces bolted to various all- mountain e-bikes.

All forks were then back-to-back tested systematically on the same bike (in the dry for maximum speeds and loads) on a local test track. The track we chose had a good mix of steep, twisty ruts up top and then high-speed, beaten-up braking bumps and berms towards the bottom. It’s a track known intimately to all test riders and chosen for how hard it works even a modern suspension fork.

RockShox’s latest and greatest Zeb Ultimate fork

Know the best mountain bike forks:

With suspension brands continually updating their products for improved performance, fork technology is a constantly evolving landscape. Leading players like Fox and RockShox will be familiar as original equipment on complete bike packages, while he smaller firms here have big ambitions for a slice of the aftermarket pie. With trickle-down development from oher areas such as motocross and rallying, there’s a really broad approach to design, technology and tunability among the brands represented.

Considering a fork literally just has to slide up and down to absorb bumps and stabilise the rider, a huge amount of R&D and technology lurks inside. Chassis stiffness, weight, damper architecture, seal and bushing friction, and adjustability are just some of the factors suspension engineers strive to improve. Forks also have to work for a wide range of rider styles and weights.

Most high-end forks come with mind-boggling adjustability, but whether you’re a suspension expert, or you just want to enjoy more speed, comfort and control, for this buyer’s guide put in the hard miles to really get to the bottom of which model delivers ultimate performance on the trail.

Digital shock pump

Air-sprung forks support rider weight with a tuneable air cushion. Air pressure is added via a Schrader valve with a specific high-pressure shock pump to tune ride feel and adjust spring rate and support.

Fox 38 volume spacer

Volume spacers

These aren’t used on every fork, but tweaking the size of the (positive) air chamber by adding or removing volume spacers (or in-built systems to do the same) affects the spring curve. More spacers increases spring progression and helps prevent harsh bottom-outs, while fewer spacers (a larger internal volume) softens the end stroke. Öhlins uses a separate, third, ramp-up chamber to tune progressivity.

External adjusters

External adjustment

Dials on the top and bottom of the fork legs adjust parameters to tune support and control. Separate damping dials allow specific tuning options as to how much oil is allowed through ports and shims inside to absorb impacts, but more options also introduce more opportunities to mess up settings. Having said that, most suspension brands and bike companies now offer decent tuning guides according to body weight, and these will give you a good start point to work from.

Stanchion diameter is an important metric for overall stiffness, with thicker fork legs generally adding weight. Bushing size and overlap, plus crown and brace construction also affect rigidity. Tapered steerer tubes are the norm – 1 1/8in to 1.5in at the base. Lower-leg assemblies use cast magnesium to save weight, and all forks here use a Boost 110mm axle spacing with quick- release-style or Allen-key fixings.

Positive and negative springs

Within the air spring there are typically two separate elements balancing breakaway friction and small-bump sensitivity against support. A negative spring pushes back against the main positive spring, and either takes the form of a separate (automatically equalising) air chamber or a coil spring.

Fork rake or offset has evolved as an important design element. Most brands now offer two different offsets in each wheel size, ranging from 37mm up to 51mm. It’s complicated, but offset affects steering feel and tyre stabilising force, so shorter offsets offer more stability and a ride quality that emulates a slacker head angle, while still keeping the bike’s wheelbase shorter.

Compression damping

Compression damping controls the rate at which displaced damper fluid is allowed to move during bump events. Low-speed controls low shaft-speed impacts like body weight shifts and rolling terrain, and high- speed damping absorbs harsh impacts like square bump faces and landings. Forcing oil through ports or shim stacks generates damping resistance, with energy converted into heat.

High Speed Rebound, Low Speed Rebound

Rebound damping

This is the damping circuit that controls the speed that the fork returns to sag after a bump event. Low-speed damping is the most common external adjustment. The damping circuit uses orifices and shim stacks to regulate the oil flow – ports can be opened or closed and shims made stiffer or softer. Some systems also act ‘dynamically’ and respond differently according to the shaft speeds (the speed the legs slide up or down).

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