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With eMTB technology and geometry improving rapidly, more and more members of the bike community have realized their value. For example, FOX recommends a complete service of the FOX 36 or 38 at annual intervals or after 125 hours of use whichever comes first. Despite the ratings, the review itself is crucial, because thats where we explain the bikes character traits in detail and give you a deeper understanding of the sum of the bikes parts. All in all, it is a good all-rounder with sacrifices to the range and high speed. With the range extender, even really long tours are no problem. However, there is no navigation system that comes close to the Bosch Nyon in this test field. This allows riders to tweak the BB height by up to 10mm, and adjust the angles by 0.8. I spent a full day out riding in Eco mode alongside a pack of regular mountain bikes, which proved to be a good match for my non-motorised friends, while barely touching the sides of the 720Wh battery. We planned the test route based on your preferred riding style and terrain as indicated in our reader survey of over 16,000 participants. Batteries with a 600700 Wh capacity have become firmly established on sporty eMTBs in recent years and hit the sweet spot for most of you. When it comes to trail fun, eMTBs with large batteries quickly fall behind. While this might sound like a vacation, its a lot of hard work too! The chainstay length can be adjusted however, with a dual position flip chip and a reversible brake mount that allows riders to easily extend the rear centre by 10mm. Weve summarised what this can cost per year and what you need to bear in mind. If you want to chase over trails at high speed, it wont be. Wir haben das Powerplay Alloy 70 ausprobiert. The advantages are obvious: more drop means easier mounting and dismounting as well as more freedom of movement and safety on the trail. MSRP: $6,500; MODEL YEAR: 2023; Read Review. From Light eMTBs with limited motor support to powerhouses with plenty of grunt, everything was represented. Price: $10229.00. The Altitude Powerplay Alloy 50 has a better fork and more travel, while the Turbo Levo Comp Alloy has 29 / 27.5 aluminum wheels and better components. Mullet-who? In general, there are big differences in the character of the models we tested, so you should be realistic about your own needs in terms of riding style and area of use when buying and be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of the respective models. This differs to the Shimano and Bosch systems where you can lightly tick over the pedals in those high-powered settings, and still get maximum output fromthe motor. Jan 26, 2022. The group test in figures: Background to the test field, the most exciting facts and interesting trends. However, it could no longer defend its title. Further geometry adjustment can be found in the Ride-4 flip chip at the lower shock mount. There are even models that can compete with downhill-focussed bikes and with which you can hunt Strava KOMs. Your personal setup and the factory settings of the suspension fork and shock from the bike manufacturer also play a major role. Unfortunately, it still rattles at high speeds through braking bumps, over edges and on landings, creating vibrations that can be felt in the bars and that upset the Rails composure. The YT DECOY MX CORE 4 is equipped with the Shimano EP8 motor in combination with the small 540 Wh battery, which was introduced at the beginning of 2019. It certainly soaks up awkward landings well, and I never once encountered a harsh bottom-out. Imagine the kinds of rooty, rocky, horror fests reserved for bravest or craziest and thats where youll likely find the Bullit. This is indeed a bloody good e-MTB. First of all: you cant have whichever remote you want. SPECS ROCKY MOUNTAIN ALTITUDE POWERPLAY CARBON 70 MSRP: $7400, 6000 Motor: Rocky Mountain proprietary Battery: 48V/1,632 Wh Charge time: 4 hours (80% in 2 hours) Top speed: 15.5 mph/25 km/h (with assist) Range: 25-45 miles (40-70 km) Drive: SRAM EX1 Brakes: SRAM Guide RE, 200mm front/rear Controls: Rocky Mountain proprietary, plus Ebikemotion app Mid-drive motors provide power in the same way: the difference is in location mid-drive motors are located in the middle of the bike, in the bottom bracket area. Even with the big battery, it takes less than four hours for a full recharge. The carbon frame is also nicely crafted. The Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Alloy 50, Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy, and Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay Alloy 50 are all aluminum frame full suspension mountain e-bikes. It looks and feels like a pedal bike and almost creates a new category as the first eMTB with a custom-engineered motor and battery. It still provides experienced bikers with good reserves, satisfies beginners with its intuitive handling and is also a comfortable touring bike, but ultimately cannot keep up with the stronger competition as an all-rounder. The Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo is a good all-rounder that, with a change of tires and tune of the suspension setup, can reveal its full potential. Instead of blindly buying the bike with the highest battery capacity, you should ask yourself a few questions: Our group test clearly shows that when it comes to battery capacity, a crucial rule of thumb applies: as little as possible and as much as necessary! Four long years after the Canadian brand introduced its very first electric mountain bike, the 2nd generation Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay has finally arrived. While it has a specific use in mind with its unique character, it does what it is aimed at well. According to Rocky Mountain, the new kinematic offers increased anti-squat in the early portion of the travel, and a more supportive leverage rate throughout. Most eMTB hardtails simply arent made for the trails! Trek attempts to prevent the battery from rattling with foam padding in the down tube. The Norco Sight VLT C1 offers an enormous range with its 900 Wh battery and Shimano EP8 motor. the trail performance and quality of the bike. As you can see, tires are a complex issue. Charging times will vary by bike model (and whether you're using a portable power bank or plugging directly into the wall), but the average charge time for an electric mountain bike is anywhere between 8-12 hours. Puncture protection is even more important on the rear wheel than on the front, so a puncture-proof casing is a must. the 3C MaxxTerra rubber compound from MAXXIS or ADDIX Soft (orange) from Schwalbe. : Maxxis Minion DHF WT EXO 27.5 x 2.5 / R = Maxxis Aggressor WT EXO 27.5 x 2.5. With a tough carbon frame, a 625 watt-hour battery and more than six inches of front-fork travel, this bike can climb and descend with the best of them. The insertion depth of the frame doesnt match the seat post, which means that it cannot be completely lowered into the seat tube. Were much more interested in what really matters. A practical side effect is that these bikes can be placed upside down, which is particularly important for models where the battery is removed from the down tube. Ive not suffered a single puncture throughout testing, and while there a number of small dents in the rear rim, the tough tyres and CushCore inserts have shielded them from the worst abuse. Rocky is offering the frame in sizes SM-XL. However, its important not to confuse price with the real value i.e. Not helping things, theres no audible beep to signal when youve changed mode. Once with the factory tune, and a second time with the Boost level turned up to +2. NEW: Before we get into the review, we would like to tell you about our latest print edition. In fact, I was able to clean one bastard of a climb on my local test circuit that I have never cleaned before. The low and central centre of mass is one of the main reasons for the outstanding handling of the Orbea Rise. Even in the long position, the Altitude Powerplay is still agile for a big rig. The Altitude Powerplay Alloy 70 has a better fork and more travel, while the Turbo Levo Comp Alloy has 29 / 27.5 aluminum wheels and better components. From here the next step was to investigate the dropout flip chip. Partway through a ride I flipped the dropout chip into the long setting, which took all of about five minutes. The generous frame protection is brilliant, and on some of our more savagely rocky test trails, I was mighty glad to have short 165mm alloy crank arms under my feet. Whether on flow trails, technical singletrails, in the bike park or on a tour, the Orbea Rise M-Team is a true all-rounder that inspires in every discipline. At 95 kg, am I already too heavy for my eMTB? At higher speeds and on flatter terrain however, the short back end felt unwieldy for such a heavy and powerful e-MTB. Its a little lacking in features compared to Specializeds MasterMind TCU display theres no phone connectivity, and it doesnt display metrics like ride time or altitude. 150mm Travel. A useful method to determine where you can ride your e-bike is to determine which class it belongs to: there are three, each with its own restrictions and designations when it comes to trail access. We have a clear goal: to help you find the right bike for you and your needs. Impossible? Specialized even has a special Shuttle mode that further reduces the required leg input, with the idea being that you can climb uphill with the minimum of effort required, so you save all your energy for the descents. The bike has an aggressive geometry best for more advanced riders, which allows it to stay nimble despite weighing 51 pounds. For efficient charging, the best bet is to set a reminder to charge your bike up the night before a ride: set it and forget it until the morning of your adventure. YT have the highest payload in the test field at 127 kg. On the note of the drivetrain, the Altitude Powerplay requires a longer chain than usual due to its idler and chainguide, so you may need to buy two chains when it comes time for a drivetrain service. Do you want a minimalist display or an unobtrusive Shimano Bluetooth connector (EW-EN100 dongle)? Thanks to a 672-watt-hour battery and a compact, low-mounted motor, it rips uphill for easy self-shuttling. Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Carbon 90 Rally Edition Rocky Mountain jensonusa.com $9,059.00 SHOP NOW Same attributes as our race proven Altitude Heavy If you're an experienced rider looking for more juice, the Powerplay is your play. Software also has a huge influence on the riding experience and on the differences between the motors. Thanks to a 672-watt-hour battery and a compact, low-mounted motor, it rips uphill for easy self-shuttling. So, the key questions we asked ourselves in this group test were: what type of rider will love this bike? Bosch bring up the rear in this respect. But, what the relatively small Rocky Mountain has accomplished by making its own power unit, might actually put them ahead of where the billion-dollar behemoth, Trek, is right now with its e-bike platform. In this group test, our aim is not to find the best bike with a certain technical feature or component i.e. However, to integrate the long battery in the down tube, a cutout over half a metre longer is necessary. VTTRocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Alu 50 2019. Power is nothing without control. Rocky Mountain 2022 Slayer Alloy 30 27.5" MTB Gold/Green. We also provide a lot of specialist knowledge, behind the scenes information and a report on the hottest trends all of this is wrapped in a high quality print format. By Jeremy Benson, Joshua Hutchens, Chris McNamara Jun . *with range extender A steeper seat tube angle would no doubt improve the seated climbing position, but it would affect the riding position and likely compromise comfort elsewhere. More battery capacity automatically means more weight and, due to the larger dimensions, usually a position that worsens the weight distribution, leading to compromises in handling. Lithium-ion batteries slowly lose capacity over time, so expect this additional cost down the line. Anything else would be misleading and besides being unfair to some brands, we would be patronising our readers. We also want to test them in the way you ride and use them in the real world otherwise our work wouldnt make any sense. - Brilliant cornering performance If you are between two frame sizes, you usually have the choice between more stability on the larger bike or more agility on the smaller one. Firstly, this motor is incredibly responsive. How long are your longest rides and how much ascending do you realistically do? But thats not the case on the Altitude Powerplay. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Digital & free: by Jonas Mssig, Rudolf Fischer, Julian Schwede. The lightweight eMTB with 150/140 mm suspension travel and 29 tyres always remains easy to control and elicits fun in every situation. Thats why you should also consider the maintenance costs for service parts and consumables. Das Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay gibt es jetzt auch mit Aluminium-Rahmen. Compare. Rocky Mountain have opted for a 48V platform for their batteries (most manufacturers run 36V) This is especially important for Australia. For anything more, you can find all the details on the best tires for eMTBers in our tire group test of over 50 tires. There are some very natural and easy to control motors like the Shimano EP8, and there are some that require attention, care and the right cadence, like the Dyname 4.0. E. Rubbee X e-bike conversion kit . Then again, Mick found the novelty of all those features quickly wore off during his long-term test of the Levo. The difference here may simply boil down to the progressive suspension rate. The Altitude Powerplay Alloy 50 has a better fork and more travel, while the Turbo Levo Comp Alloy has 29 / 27.5 aluminum wheels and better components. Hub-drive motors are located in the front or rear wheel of the bike and apply force directly to the drivetrain via the pedaling inputs of the bike. As with recent high pivot bikes weve tested like the Cannondale Jekyll and GT Force, I found this was exacerbated in dusty conditions, so its a good idea to keep the chain clean and well lubricated. On the front wheel we recommend a robust casing for puncture protection in combination with the softest rubber compound for more grip. A clever modular concept can be a sensible alternative to a standard system with a 630 Wh battery. With that in mind, here are seven of our favorite eMTBs today. Preventing the front from lifting on technical climbs requires a lot of physical effort as you have to shift . The Instinct employs a shorter stroke shock, which shrinks rear travel down to 140mm. In other words: the best overall package of handling, uphill, downhill and touring performance, design, motor, specs, battery concept and detailed solutions. Unfortunately, just because an eMTB is expensive doesnt mean it will last longer if you dont take care of it. Those results are listed a bit further down in this review. To get some more concrete numbers though, I subjected the Altitude Powerplay to our standardised shuttle range test. Unfortunately, the range of functions is significantly limited compared to Shimano and Specialized, and the added value is low. While we cant comment on long-term durability, so far weve not encountered any issues with the Dyname 4.0 motor on our test bike. Altitude lineup | Rocky Mountain DESIGNED FOR Enduro WHEEL SIZE 29" & 27.5" FRONT TRAVEL 170 mm REAR TRAVEL 160 mm Race circuits or Sunday Shreds, the Altitude has you covered. PAGE 1 of 2. Press Fit BB. In general, availability still poses major challenges for the industry in 2022. The rubber compound can be more durable and harder for reduced rolling resistance e.g. The higher the ratings on the scales at the end of each review, the better the bike is in these areas. Motor performance is highly sensitive in all four assistance modes, with the peak power output simply being the difference between them. But its clear that the Altitude Powerplay looks a little slack and a little short compared to a bike like the Norco Sight VLT, which has a 78 seat angle and a 455mm rear centre length in the XL size. Manufacturer: Rocky Mountain. We rode on doubletrack and woodland paths with obstacles of all kinds going both up- and downhill. Thanks to integrated batteries, top-end eMTBs can even be hard to differentiate from traditional gravel or mountain bikes. Generally speaking, I remained in the Trail setting during the test period, which netted me anywhere from 50-75km of riding with 2,000-2,400m of elevation gain. Based on this information, we let you decide whether the bike suits you and your requirements. Each bike review aims to answer these core questions, giving you a clear recommendation or even advising you to look elsewhere. Given its weight, the stocky wheels, dual-ply tyres and sticky-compound Assegai up front, that amount of elevation gain is impressive. Maybe weve tested it previously, maybe an exciting successor will be introduced this year, or maybe it will soon be available again and end up in one of our next tests. Weve been looking for the best all-rounder that wont let you down on any trail, whether uphill or downhill, and offers a carefree package of performance and riding fun for all rider types and skill levels. Some bikes have been previously featured in our group tests due to multi-year development cycles, but how much sense does it make to test a bike like the Cannondale Moterra Neo for the umpteenth time if nothing has changed except for small details in the spec with a successor likely due to replace it soon anyway? Nope, I want my cake and I want to eat it too. In this group test, there are considerable differences in terms of grip, steering precision, traction and puncture protection, which also influence the handling, riding experience and feeling of safety. Particularly on the front, better traction outweighs minimally higher rolling resistance. Just because you have the range doesnt mean youll have fun riding! A 630 watt-hour battery, Shimano motor and quality components round out this jack of all trails. Although you dont necessarily need the biggest disc rotors as a 70 kg flyweight, you will still benefit from them. In addition, the small remotes have a cleaner look than the Bosch solution and are also less exposed on the bike. It is the right bike for sporty downhill junkies who dont want to lose any time on the forest tracks on the way to the start of the toughest trails. The clunky remote of the new Smart System, flooded with buttons, is ergonomically one of the worst in the entire test it is only marginally improved upon by the Purion, another Bosch option. However, were very fortunate that we get to work where others go on holiday, i.e. Inevitably, that also includes the battery and motor concept. Giving the range as an absolute number would inevitably be incorrect and misleading. Its also significantly more responsive under power compared to the Kenevo SL, and it rails turns better too. A similar inflection point has hit cycling on a much larger scale. And is range really that important to you, or would you rather have good handling on the trail? Attention, spoilers ahead: the size or capacity of the battery increasingly determines handling on the trail. The Shimano XT brakes have been powerful and totally consistent, with the non-finned pads delivering a rattle-free ride. Thats why we prefer to provide you with some concrete tips here. Testing the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay has been quite the journey of discovery. Along with the new motor the Altitude Powerplay gets a larger 720Wh battery, and its now easily removable with just a 4mm hex key required to slide it out from the downtube. Nothing is more annoying than the wrong purchase or a bike that bucks, protests or simply doesnt want to fit your requirements. The two most expensive bikes in the test field, the Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo and Specialized S-Works Turbo Kenevo SL, cost 15,000 each. For each bike, we have explored the extremes for you and present the real range of use they are suited to. What does the best eMTB have to be capable of in 2022? Personally, Im not sure Id want to give up the travel though, especially when the Altitude Powerplay handles as well as it does. For specs, prices and all the details on the new Altitude and Instinct models coming into Australia, check out our first look story for more. In addition to the options that you expressed an interest for, our know-how and expertise also played a role in the selection, with many exciting new models on the market that contribute to making this test so interesting. We gathered the most interesting facts from the test field for you and compared them with last years test. One other important note on noise the Dyname 4.0 motor suffers none of the annoying rattle found in the current Shimano and Bosch motors. In terms of ergonomics, Bosch bring up the rear. Theres nothing outrageous about the geometry, and there are no surprises to the fit as a result. Here you have to be in the right cadence range for the motor, to minimise the noise. At the other extreme, the button on top of the controller is somewhat hard to push. Thats exactly why you need to know not just what you need to pay attention to, but also what is less important. The cheapest bike in the test field, the SCOTT Ransom eRIDE 910, costs 7,199 and enters the race as the reigning Best Buy from last year. The first consideration for many uninformed ebike buyers is a bikes range. Rocky Mountain's more aggressive and longer travel version of the Instinct Powerplay is designed for riders who want just more travel for a more aggressive riding style. Watch our video review of the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay here: Despite its ability to mob through straight-line chunder, it rips turns with surprising nimbleness that had me constantly grinning from ear-to-ear. Whats the best eMTB of 2022? Unfortunately it doesnt have a clock a simple but much appreciated feature that we love about the MasterMind TCU display on the new Levo. But if you compare them in a meaningful way, they provide exciting insights into trends and developments. Customized for the Rocky Mountain as the Powerplay 3.0, this motor system is an interesting addition in the fray of electric bike motors. How did the individual eMTB in this group test fare? What good are the best gears or the best motor on the trail if the suspension and geometry are no good? Drailleur AR. Complementing the new drive unit are two completely redesigned modelsthe trail-focused, 140mm-travel Instinct Powerplay and the 160mm-travel, e nduro-oriented Altitude Powerplay. Featuring a claimed progression of 44.1%, which is very high, the frame is compatible with both coil shocks and high volume air shocks. Battery capacity depends on the weight of the rider and riding conditions: if you're riding uphill into a headwind, expect to drain that battery a lot quicker than bombing hills. Add to Basket. - Controller buttons are too light and vague in use Even the biggest battery isnt worth much without clever positioning and balanced weight distribution. It inspires a load of confidence on technical descents, with the suspension gobbling up rocks and big hits with ease. However, there have been times where I would have liked external control of the high-speed rebound to calm down the rear end when facing more violent impacts. Even while out of the saddle, with my chest hanging over the bars to keep the front wheel weighted, the power feels easy to modulate, allowing you to make the most of the high-traction suspension and grippy rubber. If your favourite brand isnt included, thats no reason to throw in the towel. Find out everything you need to know in our motor group test. We strive to present the character of each bike in a clear and easily understandable way. Most expensive bike in the 2021 group test: Specialized S-Works Levo/Levo SL for, Most expensive bike in the 2022 group test: Specialized S-Works Levo/Kenevo SL for, Cheapest bike 2021: FOCUS JAM 6.9 NINE for, Cheapest bike 2022: SCOTT Ransom eRIDE 910 for, The Norco Sight VLT C1 has the largest internal battery capacity at, The fact that only 2 Bosch-equipped bike are represented in the test field is due to the limited availability of Bosch bikes with the new Smart System at the time of the test and the fact. Some modern eMTBs, such as the Norco, Rocky Mountain and Specialized Levo, rely on low seat tubes that make it possible to choose between several sizes, provided that a correspondingly long dropper post fits the bike. While many manufacturers rely on standard systems from Bosch and Shimano, our test also includes models that want to convince as Light e-MTBs with lower motor power and a modular battery concept i.e. Fork RockShox Yari RC 160mm 37mm Offset Shock In the future, we expect to see huge internal battery capacities only on touring and trekking ebikes. However, due to current production and delivery difficulties, some manufacturers, including Haibike, CUBE and BULLS were unable to provide a bike. After some experimentation, I settled back on the neutral position. The cockpit itself shows great attention to detail. Rocky Mountain 2022 Instinct Alloy 30 29" MTB Gold/Red. And again, the all important battery life. A couple of rides in, I removed the single volume spacer out of the Float X2 shock. With so many different tire manufacturers and special models on the market, its hard for even well-versed tech nerds to keep track of everything. And what type of rider wont? To make the differences as clear as possible, we use the whole scale. But its not just kinematics, components and suspension travel that are decisive. And while the big 38 is a great match, providing a solid and secure platform up front, it isnt as supple or as well supported compared to the higher-end versions that feature the more complex GRIP2 damper. Thanks to the small internal 360 Wh battery and the additional 252 Wh range extender, which is placed into the bottle cage, weight remains centrally positioned even with a total 612 Wh capacity. 2-Bolt ISCG05 Tabs. The problem: if you exceed the maximum permissible weight, this can have consequences for warranty and guarantee claims. Perhaps the noisy idler also convinced me that the Altitude Powerplay wouldnt be as efficient as its competitors. Orbea shows how its done with the battery and motor concept of the Rise. Wir haben uns einen berblick ber die Fully E-MTBs 2019 verschaft und stellen euch die Rder vor die es in unsere Top 10 geschafft haben. It is the perfect all-rounder that covers the whole spectrum from touring to bike park visits, scores with enormous riding performance and convinces with almost perfect and sensible equipment, even if it comes at a hefty price of 13,790. ** without range extender Ive also spent some time self-shuttling at my local downhill zone as part of a standardised range test to see how far I could ride on a single battery charge. Click here to learn more. Speaking of climbing, the Dyname 4.0 motor doesnt produce a lot of overrun. 2022 Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Carbon 70, - Superb handling is up for anything While the Dyname 4.0 motor packs a ridiculous amount of power with near-instantaneous response, the progressive delivery makes it highly controllable. Top! Our test field only featured tires from Schwalbe or MAXXIS. It rolls on 29in wheels, and it's equipped with a 170mm travel fork and 160mm of rear travel. Smartphone apps that can do this are available from (almost) all motor manufacturers. The good news for all price-conscious buyers: in our next issue, we will have a group test of cheaper models. A steel chainring surely makes more sense for an e-MTB. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Same attributes as our race proven Altitude. Thanks to its strong riding performance and intuitive handling, it is suitable for beginners as well as experienced trail acrobats. This configuration affords greater flexibility when designing the bikes suspension kinematics, and it also allows for a standard press-fit bottom bracket shell. This is because the guts of the Dyname 4.0 are spinning at a lower RPM, producing a lower pitch and generally less volume overall. 2022 Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Carbon 90 Rally Edition E-Bike. This change was obviously made to accommodate the motor, and it doesn't give the Altitude Powerplay a vastly different ride than RMB's other trail/enduro bikes.