The Rise of the Electric Mountain Bike

I’m continually shocked at how much disdain and vitriol e-bikes—especially the mountain variety—elicit. If you raise the topic among a group of cyclists, as I did recently at Outside’s annual bike test, you’re sure to get an earful about how pedal-assist bikes are making the world a lazier place, causing all manner of trail conflicts and trail closures, and generally just ruining cycling. My position: Calm down, people. We’re talking about bicycles, not Satan. Then I usually send naysayers off to ride one of these machines. When they return, they’re inevitably grinning ear to ear.To get more news about Fat Tire Electric Bikes, you can visit magicyclebike.com official website.

That’s because, like it or not, e-bikes are fun to ride. Long, slow climbs become quicker. Lunchtime rides become more interesting because you can ride farther and see trails that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible in such a short time. And whole new trail systems are accessible as the assist opens up terrain that would be too steep, loose, rocky, or brutal on a standard pedal bike. In short, rather than be afraid of e-mountain bikes, we should see them for what they are: a new tool. In the same way you’d choose an enduro bike for shredding supergnar descents or a cross-country bike for all-day endurance epics, an e-mountain bike is simply another arrow in the quiver for situations when standard pedal bikes might not be as much fun.

For clarity, the e-mountain bikes in this review are electric-motor-equipped bicycles that only go forward if you pedal them. Officially, they are categorized as Class 1 e-bikes, which means they have no throttle and a top-assisted speed of 20 miles per hour. (Class 2 and Class 3 varieties have throttles and/or different top-assist speeds. We’re limiting our coverage to Class 1 because most of the advocacy for trail use is currently for these models.) Though critics like to try and characterize all e-bikes as motorcycles, this couldn’t be further from reality. All of these bikes generate less than one horsepower, and they do it only when you are pedaling, akin to riding with a strong tailwind.

I took a fleet of the latest out on a range of trails throughout New Mexico and was amazed by how much these machines have advanced since my first ride back in 2013. Like all technology, these bikes are going to continue improving. But if you’re in the market and can swallow the high price tag, I feel they have come far enough that they’re well worth buying.

The new Turbo Levo is effectively the 2019 Stumpjumper equipped with 29-inch wheels, a Brose motor, and a built-in 700-watt-hour rechargeable battery. I start here because it was my favorite, though it’s also true that it’s the most expensive in the test by a wide margin. With 150 millimeters of travel on a full carbon frame and carbon wheels, this bike approaches what unassisted downhill bikes weighed (45.1 pounds for a size medium) and felt like a decade ago, except the motor gives you extra power when you need and want it.

The Brose motor is probably the least seamless in this review, meaning it feels a little jerky and powerful when it engages. However, it is also the quietest, which I appreciate above almost everything when I’m in the woods. Power levels are indicated by a series of LED panels built into the top tube, not a display on the handlebars, which makes gauging a little more difficult but not impossible. The turbo button, to give a quick boost to the top power, is a great addition, as is the walk-mode button—just hold it for a one-mile-per-hour assist on hike-a-bikes. The 700wh battery is the biggest capacity on the market, which equates to longer range. And while it’s not as easy to remove the battery as on the Intense or Trek (reviewed below), it’s doable with the included tool. Specialized has also done a great job of building its own app to tweak power levels and diagnose problems, should they arise, as well as a calculator to help estimate range.

Otherwise, this is just a stupendously capable bike that will assist you with three various levels of power. While the 2.6-inch tires were fine, I personally feel like the added weight of the bike feels more confident with 3-inch tread, which will fit if you choose. And the bike is not so heavy that you won’t be able to pedal home should the battery die. I’ve slashed plenty of nasty singletrack with this bike, and while the power comes on hard, I always appreciate it. The suspension is firm and ample, and it makes the bike feel more capable than the numbers suggest. Yes, the Levo is expensive, but the truth is, you could get a less expensive model and, thanks to the motor, still enjoy the same ride.