A little about me, I'm 5'9" 205lbs, been riding MTBs for over 30yrs, and many years ago used to race expert DH. I'm an aggressive DH rider and I've always thought climbing was a necessary evil to mountain bike riding, this is just my opinion.
This is my 1st ebike, I test rode a 2017 Levo about 2yrs ago. I don't have much to base my opinions on about ebikes, except that these class 1 ebikes are so much fun!
Climbing
Who are we kidding, it has a motor, pick a mode (ECO, Trail or Boost) and slay just about any climb in your way! What I find and I'm sure most can agree when you've ridden an ebike for some time is you keep your same cadence as before, you just go faster. Since you keep the same cadence, your heart rate elevates to almost the same level as non-assist bike. Caution, boost will eat up your battery quickly and is probably the worst mode to pick when going up single track. Way too much power! Compared to my 2017 Trek Fuel, ECO is maybe 2 to 3mph faster climbing, Trail mode 3 to 4mph faster and boost 5 to 8mph faster. Only place you can do 20mph climbs is flat or slight incline, if someone tells you different, then they have some serious leg strength and lung power!
ECO is the mode I choose when riding with fellow MTB riders. ECO mode is very smooth engagement and predictable. ECO is slightly stronger than most riders. Also choose this mode for all day adventures! The bike climbs well in ECO, but on steep climbs, I would appreciate lower gearing. The big 27.5 x 2.8 DHRII just grips and claws its way up just about anything.
When riding by myself, I usually pick Trail mode. Trail mode is like ECO, very smooth and natural feel to it. Trail mode has enough power, that the gearing feels pretty good for most climbs.
Boost as I said earlier is way too powerful for single track. Boost is not as smooth, kind of abrupt and stays on slightly longer after you stop pedaling.
For this Shimano motor, I personally believe the sweet spot is between 75 to 90 cadence and this motor feels very natural in ECO & Trail.
Downhill
This bike comes equipped with high end suspension on both end (Front E36 160mm / Rear Float DPX2 155mm). The Tazer has modern geometry (HTA 64.6, STA 75.4, BB Height 347mm, CS 450mm) and fairly short CS considering there's a motor in there. I believe every bike has its sweet spot to where you ride/balance on the bike. This bike likes to be slightly behind center and when corning, move to the center, slightly weigh the front and it just rails. The Tazer just kills the DH, confidence inspiring for just about any trails I've come across so far, from groomed trails to steep techy stuff to big jumps or drops, the Tazer just takes it all in stride. I do believe the weight 48lbs, helps to smooth out the trails and cushion the landing. I've not noticed the weight when riding this bike, only when I have to pick it up. My Strava times for the Downhill sections are either the same or slightly faster compared to my 2017 Trek Fuel.
I'll update this thread with the components and of course any upgrades I do.
Note: components crossed through indicates upgrade
Frame: Tazer, Carbon Fiber, large, 155mm travel, 64.9 HTA
Motor: Shimano Steps E8000 20mph 250W / ECO / Trail / Boost
Fork: FOX FACTORY E-BIKE 36 FLOAT, Kashima, 160 mm, FIT GRIP2, 15QRx110 BOOST, 51mm Offset
Shock: FOX FACTORY FLOAT DPX2, Trunnion Mount, EVOL, 3-Position Lever 185x55mm
Crank: Shimano XT 165mm, 34T
Pedals: Shimano XT trail
Shifter: 11-speed XT DI2 11 speed
Derailleur: Shimano XT DI2 11 speed
Cassette: Shimano 11-speed XT Cassette 11-42
Chain: Shimano E-bike, 11 speed
Chain Guide: E-Thirteen Chain Guide
Saddle: Fabric Scoop Radius Elite w/ Cr-Mo Rails
Seat post: Fox Factory Series Transfer, 31.6mm, 150mm travel w/Raceface Lever
Handlebar: Niner Carbon 31.8 - 760mm
Stem: Renthal 35mm
Brakeset: Shimano XT 4-Piston Hydraulic Disc, 203mm Front and Rear
Headset: Cane Creek 40 Series, ZS44/EC49.40
Grips: Lock-On Revgrips
Wheelset: Front: 29" Bontrager Carbon Proline 30mm inner width / Rear 27.5" Bontrager Carbon Proline 40mm inner width Tubeless
Tires: Front: 29X2.60, MINION DHR II, FOLDABLE, 120TPI, 3CMAXX TERRA/EXO+/TR
Rear: 27.5X2.8, MINION DHR II, FOLDABLE, 120TPI, 3CMAXX TERRA/EXO+/TR
Travel (front/rear): 160mm / 155mm
Stock Build Weight (no pedals): 47lbs 7oz 47lbs with pedals and stock tubed rear wheel
Geometry
I'm 5'9" Large frame
475mm reach / BB Height 347mm / BB drop 12mm / HTA 64.9 / STA 75.4
Chainstay length 450mm / Wheelbase 1260mm / Fork Trail 118.88mm / Fork offset 51mm
This is my 1st ebike, I test rode a 2017 Levo about 2yrs ago. I don't have much to base my opinions on about ebikes, except that these class 1 ebikes are so much fun!
Climbing
Who are we kidding, it has a motor, pick a mode (ECO, Trail or Boost) and slay just about any climb in your way! What I find and I'm sure most can agree when you've ridden an ebike for some time is you keep your same cadence as before, you just go faster. Since you keep the same cadence, your heart rate elevates to almost the same level as non-assist bike. Caution, boost will eat up your battery quickly and is probably the worst mode to pick when going up single track. Way too much power! Compared to my 2017 Trek Fuel, ECO is maybe 2 to 3mph faster climbing, Trail mode 3 to 4mph faster and boost 5 to 8mph faster. Only place you can do 20mph climbs is flat or slight incline, if someone tells you different, then they have some serious leg strength and lung power!
ECO is the mode I choose when riding with fellow MTB riders. ECO mode is very smooth engagement and predictable. ECO is slightly stronger than most riders. Also choose this mode for all day adventures! The bike climbs well in ECO, but on steep climbs, I would appreciate lower gearing. The big 27.5 x 2.8 DHRII just grips and claws its way up just about anything.
When riding by myself, I usually pick Trail mode. Trail mode is like ECO, very smooth and natural feel to it. Trail mode has enough power, that the gearing feels pretty good for most climbs.
Boost as I said earlier is way too powerful for single track. Boost is not as smooth, kind of abrupt and stays on slightly longer after you stop pedaling.
For this Shimano motor, I personally believe the sweet spot is between 75 to 90 cadence and this motor feels very natural in ECO & Trail.
Downhill
This bike comes equipped with high end suspension on both end (Front E36 160mm / Rear Float DPX2 155mm). The Tazer has modern geometry (HTA 64.6, STA 75.4, BB Height 347mm, CS 450mm) and fairly short CS considering there's a motor in there. I believe every bike has its sweet spot to where you ride/balance on the bike. This bike likes to be slightly behind center and when corning, move to the center, slightly weigh the front and it just rails. The Tazer just kills the DH, confidence inspiring for just about any trails I've come across so far, from groomed trails to steep techy stuff to big jumps or drops, the Tazer just takes it all in stride. I do believe the weight 48lbs, helps to smooth out the trails and cushion the landing. I've not noticed the weight when riding this bike, only when I have to pick it up. My Strava times for the Downhill sections are either the same or slightly faster compared to my 2017 Trek Fuel.
I'll update this thread with the components and of course any upgrades I do.
Note: components crossed through indicates upgrade
Frame: Tazer, Carbon Fiber, large, 155mm travel, 64.9 HTA
Motor: Shimano Steps E8000 20mph 250W / ECO / Trail / Boost
Fork: FOX FACTORY E-BIKE 36 FLOAT, Kashima, 160 mm, FIT GRIP2, 15QRx110 BOOST, 51mm Offset
Shock: FOX FACTORY FLOAT DPX2, Trunnion Mount, EVOL, 3-Position Lever 185x55mm
Crank: Shimano XT 165mm, 34T
Pedals: Shimano XT trail
Shifter: 11-speed XT DI2 11 speed
Derailleur: Shimano XT DI2 11 speed
Cassette: Shimano 11-speed XT Cassette 11-42
Chain: Shimano E-bike, 11 speed
Chain Guide: E-Thirteen Chain Guide
Saddle: Fabric Scoop Radius Elite w/ Cr-Mo Rails
Seat post: Fox Factory Series Transfer, 31.6mm, 150mm travel w/Raceface Lever
Handlebar: Niner Carbon 31.8 - 760mm
Stem: Renthal 35mm
Brakeset: Shimano XT 4-Piston Hydraulic Disc, 203mm Front and Rear
Headset: Cane Creek 40 Series, ZS44/EC49.40
Grips: Lock-On Revgrips
Wheelset: Front: 29" Bontrager Carbon Proline 30mm inner width / Rear 27.5" Bontrager Carbon Proline 40mm inner width Tubeless
Tires: Front: 29X2.60, MINION DHR II, FOLDABLE, 120TPI, 3CMAXX TERRA/EXO+/TR
Rear: 27.5X2.8, MINION DHR II, FOLDABLE, 120TPI, 3CMAXX TERRA/EXO+/TR
Travel (front/rear): 160mm / 155mm
Stock Build Weight (no pedals): 47lbs 7oz 47lbs with pedals and stock tubed rear wheel
Geometry
I'm 5'9" Large frame
475mm reach / BB Height 347mm / BB drop 12mm / HTA 64.9 / STA 75.4
Chainstay length 450mm / Wheelbase 1260mm / Fork Trail 118.88mm / Fork offset 51mm
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