E-MTB Group Test! – Four Electric Mountain Bikes Reviewed – Vital MTB Test Sessions
The new and exciting 2020 Santa Cruz Heckler, Specialized Turbo Levo SL, Trek Rail, and Norco Sight VLT 29 get ridden and scrutinized on motorized trails outside of Boise, Idaho. In this fast-paced video, we break down their strengths and weaknesses, what we think of this type of bike, and pick our personal favorites. Welcome to Vital MTB Test Sessions for E-bikes. Click play and DIG IN!
Key timestamps:
0:00 – Intro
1:32 – Bike Intros
2:47 – Hill Climb Challenge
4:44 – Specialized Turbo Levo SL Review
9:03 – Sprint Challenge
9:40 – Norco Sight VLT 29 Review
12:39 – Bike Lift Challenge
13:23 – Santa Cruz Heckler Review
17:12 – Trek Rail Review
21:53 – E-MTB Thoughts
23:04 – Our Favorite Bikes and Motors
Why E-bikes? Listen to The Inside Line Podcast:
https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/E-Bikes-and-Why-Were-Testing-Them-The-Inside-Line-Podcast,2919
You can learn more about the bikes at:
https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-US/bikes/heckler
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/turbo-levo-sl
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/rail/
https://www.norco.com/bikes/e-mountain/e-all-mountain/
Tested by Brandon Turman, Brad Howell, and Sean “Griz” McClendon
Video by Shawn Spomer and John Reynolds
Why every single MTB -eMTB video includes only full suspensions ? Give some hardtail love, you know there are also casuals 🙂
i love trek bikes it’s the best bike company in the world
What do they mean by “swap the contact points” at 12:04?
I like my Schwinn with banana seat and sissy bars. I beat these trails guys all day long.
These are not bicycles. Motorcycles. We are doomed! As always. Path of lest resistance. Lazy people.
Any brand dirt bike < ebikes…..ef’n ridiculous!
…. Awesome video! what’s the name of the sound track which you used on the beginning of the video ???
What differs bicycle from motorcycle is in their names – the engine. These two-wheelers have engine.
Can I have one from the Philippines
Worth every cent. Maybe you should reassess what you are spending your money on. Young kids with no money I feel sorry for. Others not.
If I had coin coming out my ears, and I assure you I don’t, I’d still say, "how much"? No amount of group think should compel any clear thinking free man into believing that to be acceptable.
With that being said, they’re all pretty awesome, I want 2 of each, and every optional product available to tweak on ’em.
You did a great job breakin’ ’em all down too btw guys, thanks 😉
Nice video. I personally ride e mtb. I think age or athleticism is not an issue when it comes to that fun part of the e bikes. Watch new my video riding e mtb on snow in 4 October. Here is link to it: https://youtu.be/qS0yiushNpk
I work at a specialized shop and we sell so many e- bikes. Mostly for people who are retired couples. Commuter bikes. The mountain bikes are just behind them. I have 2 kenevo and Levi so I can rip with my son. If not I couldn’t rip during the week because of the daylight. ! Can’t replace this time.
I was lucky enough to demo the specialized turbo levo..and i would choose that simply because of how lightweight it was..and how to me it just felt like a great mountain bike but gave my 51yr old body a slight push when I needed it..that being said ..where I live in connecticut…every single great trail system I’ve been on have signs posted everywhere that say absolutely no E-BIKES!…
You guys need to ride to more e bikes. When the climbs get that steep you gotta drop the seat and move forward. Pretty much impossible to keep the front end down while the seat is up.
Thumbs up for good times on two wheels! What should we test next? Full tech details and ratings: https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/Vital-MTB-Test-Sessions-Four-Exciting-Electric-Mountain-Bikes-Reviewed-Head-to-Head,2924
Key timestamps:
1:32 – Bike Intros
2:47 – Hill Climb Challenge
4:44 – Specialized Turbo Levo SL Review
9:03 – Sprint Challenge
9:40 – Norco Sight VLT 29 Review
12:39 – Bike Lift Challenge
13:23 – Santa Cruz Heckler Review
17:12 – Trek Rail Review
21:53 – E-MTB Thoughts
23:04 – Our Favorite Bikes and Motors
sad.. when a $13,000 bike cant make it up a small hill… lmao… go buy a sur ron
I’m
Oddly enough, after hacking the software, due to ridiculous cut off speed, the Brose motored Kenevo is astonishingly good. None of the issues that have come up with these motors has occurred, making it a far, far better performing EMTB. Eco mode is plenty for a close to average MTB workout on climbs, considering its weight. Saves huge on battery, allowing for 3-4 hours of use, cycling in all 3 modes. A bike hitting these speeds and being this heavy, needs ALL of its 180mm travel. Would not trade it for any of these bikes.
Ebikes are for men with weak legs.
Next time use KG over Lbs please
Really great reviews. A shame you didn’t have something in there with a mullet setup.
Uuh… I’ll take the tram.
Yeah no.. I don’t need to look at bikes that cost a kidney.
I can buy a car, dirt bike, etc, brand new line-ups, for less than $13,000. Seriously? I guess a sucker is born every day. For example: https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/supersport/models/yzf-r6 or https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/motocross/models/yz450f-monster-energy-yamaha-racing-edition
Ok. My next search is gonna be affordable e bikes
All these E bikes make me laugh…put on your big boy pants and go out and a dirt bike already….
Imagine needing help to ride your bike 😂. The younger generations are gonna look like stick figures barely turning the pedals while a 10000watt motor throws them up the mountain.
O
This is an awesome review!!! I think Jeep electric bike by Quietkat also deserves a spot on this list – https://ebikegeneration.com/blogs/news/quietkat-jeep-e-bike-a-review
https://youtu.be/dc3wVYRmcm8
Hmm? Guess brands such as Moustache, Raymon, and Conway, are not good enough. All three brands, would destroy those in your impudent video.
Specialized is by far miles ahead in the ebike category.. putting the sl against these big motors is just not a fair advantage.. the speci motors are like tesla´s vs a Nissan leaf
One word… LUNA! My money would go with the LUNA X1 – and pocket 6 to 7K.
at what point do you just buy a dirt bike?
These are so cool to me but the fact that some of them cost as much as my Harley FLD is a slap in the face.
29ers and long chainstays is the worst thing you can do to an ebike and it’s actually the trend.
Haven’t even watched the vid as they’re all WAY too expensive and are ugly too heavy and will be completely out dated in just a couple of years…Waste of money the lot of them ..!!
Haibike should be in the mix
I’m afraid if I ride one I will never want to go back to regular mountain bike
Get wet
BALLERS ONLY!!!
I need that not an ebike sticker! Where to buy?
Please help me one mountain bike bro please.i am an Indian guy
Why would you include the SL here? Different bike, designed for a different ride.
Picked up a killer deal on a Felt Redemption E30 and I’m sure it’s every bit as good as these bikes but only cost me $3500 brand new! Absolutely loving it
Shoulda had the normal levo
Hi
Excellent 👍
👌👌👌
👍🇬🇧👌
Sehr gut meine freund
Thanks for doing a good robust assessment of these 4 eMTBs. Watching was worth all 25mins of my time!