I am totally blow away by how much fun eBikes are. I am a BELIEVER! I have been riding for over 20 years and have never been so excited about mountain biking as I am right now.
I have a ebike ..I would never go back to a standard bike.. with the ebike you can ride longer and have a lot of fun ..with the standard bike by the time you ride to the top and ride down your not going to really want to ride back up..now with the ebike you can ride all day.. that all I have to say about that
Just recently discovered this channel (via SydFixesBike). So nice to see you two work together making great content. And eBike's got me into biking at "advanced" age. So fun and if you give a real effort "helping" the motor (torque based assist) it is serious training *but* you have a decent speed up-hill!
Loved this particular comparison because I own a 2020 RIP9 RDO 29er! In fact it’s my do everything bike, could’ve gone with the JET9 but being 6’2/220 lbs and considered 100% disabled from my 21 years in the military the RIP9 is more plush on my body. Also allows me to bomb the rough downhills with more confidence. I also completed 90% of our Boise trail challenge (body failed on me so couldn’t complete) but also climbed the full Everest on your challenge on this bike. (Signed up for the half but past that quick) Btw our friend Fairlee did a lot of our trail challenge because her husband was doing it but she’s pretty busy being a nurse right now. So I might have gotten an ebike especially with my broken body but our trail system around Boise is ebike friendly. About 90% of our trail system they are not legal. Turn 50 soon and the way my body is headed I’ll need an ebike in the not so distant future but threw a 30t chainring on my RIP9 to save my knees and the bike is amazing! Happy trails!
Macky thanks for a great comparo between eBike and a "analogue" bike of the same build. I just got my first new bike in 25 years...and it has batteries! my first eBike. I only have about 100 miles on my new bike, so still learning how to ride it. So I really enjoyed this video! Thanks Macky!!! I still have my last race bike, a full suspension 22lb 75mm Ventana! Pedaling my 50 lbs + of bike is way different! I agree that the weight makes it not as easy to jump and pop!
Hehe. The fire road is rough too! Aspeñola's singletrack is definitely the best way up. Love seeing some Jemez riding on youtube! E-bikes really might be the future to get the most out of liftless park riding.
Pro Mtb rider on Ebike in Turbo riding up a technical trail and speed was 10mph. I believe the concerns that regular riders on Ebikes are going to cause havoc when riding uphill and meeting others coming downhill is a bit overstated. I own a Focus Jam2 that has the Shimano E-8000 motor which isn't as powerful as the Niner's Bosch motor (70 nM torque compared to 85) and having ridden lots of trails I didn't believe it would be an issue once someone actually tried riding one of these beasts. Of course this discussion is relating to Class 1 bikes alone.
@jriden Thanks for your comment! Obviously ebikes shouldn't race in the same categories as normal bikes or be in the same strava leaderboards -- sorry if our earlier response implied that -- but we do believe that Class 1 should be treated the same as a standard ebikes in terms of trail access, as they don't cause any additional trail damage and the safety concerns are overstated as the OP pointed out. Most ebike riders don't go that much faster on trail than Macky does on a normal bike. Going 15mph uphill on a trail is not easy on an ebike unless you are on a dirt highway. We understand that certain already overcrowded trail areas may need to restrict ebikes, but that isn't the norm at most riding areas (at least in the US). If you check out our previous video of riding with Macky's dad, you will see why we feel like the increased access that ebikes afford is a good thing! (And, yes, some people will be jerks on ebikes, but there are jerks on regular MTBs too, sadly.)
@@sydandmacky Exactly. I'm in WNC and 98% of trails are closed to all ebikes. Of course you wouldn't know it because there are plenty of them out there and 98% of those people are perfectly courteous and responsible. I hate that I essentially have to be a criminal to just ride the same trails I did 10 years ago. I've had leg and back issues and have a hard time climbing on a regular bike. I ride on off peak hours and I do my best not to climb faster than a fit person on a regular bike. I ride trails that are within my ability and I know when to call it a day. Just the same as I have for the last 30 years. The ultimate irony is that I fought the same access issues in the 90's in the NE. Take out "but there is a motor" and sawp it with "but its a machine". The reality is that I can ride safer and more in control now on an emtb with modern geometry, brakes and wheels than I could as a kid in 1990 on SM1000.
I just sold my first e-bike. I made the mistake of buying a cheap one. Life is too short for cheap bikes. Next bike, NO hub motor! That may be good for a street bike but not MTB.
Well said! An e-bike is a great training tool in any arena. I bet a pro downhill or Enduro rider would make it perform much differently than a non e-bike on the downhill sections. Thanx for the comparison. Stress less, ride more. Be good, do better!
We have an old DH park, lifts closed but you are permitted to ride it... its a couple hours from my home, if it was an hour or so closer I would have to own a big 150mm + travel E bike :)
Thanks for the comparison. I really think Niner missed an opportunity to be different with the RIP e9 to instead develop a lightweight, 250-300W 35-40lb e-bike like the Specialized Levo SL (which people have gotten down to 32lb with battery) that would be far more playful while still offering solid hill assistance and would better align with the "Pedal damn it" motto. Instead they made a 50+ lb overpowered tank, like all the other e-bikes.
The question shouldn't be whether we should have or want ebikes. We definitely like them. At least I do. The real question is whether we'd want chairlifts anymore! Why sit in an elevator when you could be riding? As ebikes become lighter and lighter, the future looks like light ebikes that can pop, but ones that will also take the edge off of those climbs and make them fun, too! Higher powered ebikes can definitely help us up trails that don't have chairlifts at all, but are extremely challenging or nearly impossible to climb for anyone.
Great trails. Funny thing. I was starting this vid and had one of my dogs outside as you came across those 3 deer then right after that a deer went through my yard. Lol
Only criticism I have on the E bike is the suspension isn’t the same as the RIP9. I understand that can’t put that same suspension on the ebike but ahh that would be rad. The Rip9 is so good.
You technically can put the same suspension on, but Fox found that people preferred a different tune and beefier crown on the e-bike. So we wanted to ride the proper fork for the bike, even if it isn't EXACTLY the same as the other bike
Syd just pointed out that I misread this comment and you were talking about the CVA vs Horst suspension. We asked Niner about that and they said it was impossible to put CVA on it because of the motor and also, since there is a motor, the pedaling properties of CVA aren't as necessary...
Great vid, keep rocking! But is it possible to change the gopro settings so when it goes fast in the forest it isn't just 6 pixels moving about? I find that either recording and uploading in 4k helps a lot, but if you can only record in HD, try upscaling after the fact in the software. I think it has to do with YT compressing the heck out of HD vids making it look pretty horrible at times.
Nice comparison! I’m totally down for ebikes, especially as a training tool for racing. Being able to get more laps in to get ready for an Enduro would be great & you’re still getting a solid workout in when climbing; it’s not like that disappears. Maybe one day I’ll get one!
Thank you for NO ( WEEEE ) this time. Did you record heart rate on both rides ? After riding 1500 miles on my EBB I find mine very close to reg analog bike when in eco mode and when cranked up through some XC trails. My 2020 saying is....You can ride the struggle bus or party bus, whichever makes you happy !!
Ebikes allow people to get to places they don’t often do due to fitness. More people on trails which weren’t always accessible for all may mean some trails get extra wear. Bikes are heavier and take more to stop. Surely this must have a slight increase in trail damage alone.
I think initially people might end up skidding a bit more (maybe their first ride) but after that they'll start braking earlier and the wear on the trails will be the same as a normal bike. It is probably true that some trails that are hard to get to will get more wear, but in my experience, those trails are often more fun with a bit more wear because the lines get ridden in...
Thought you were training for the Everest attempt. How does an e-bike fit into this? I'm not knocking e-bikes, I think they have a place in the MTB world but I was just wondering. Did the sponsor ask for these videos? I went to my local MTB shop yesterday and saw a husband and wife looking to buy one. It's a trend that has really gotten big so I was just wondering.
We're just enjoying riding them and wanted to share with all of you! This was also a couple weeks ago. More recent rides have been primarily regular bike...
I think there great bikes for people who just don’t physically have the ability to ride a regular bike and I like the fact that they are reviewing them so that people know what they are in for and how to use e bikes rather then just having a whole bunch of people on turbo all the time flying pass you
@jriden nope, they definitely have a huge place in 'proper' MTB. i don't see many RUclipsrs pushing them, i just see a few guys trying them out! the more information there is on Ebikes for people like you and even people who are more stubborn and ignorant the better.
@jriden @bananas stuff guys I was just asking a question. Let's all be cool and I'll owe you a beer when we ride together. This is the internet and we don't always agree but as Mountain bikers we do owe each other respect.
Yes but if you had to spend your own very hard earned cash and could only one or the other, and you didn’t race for a living. Which one would you choose?
"Same bike", "same build" - it's not, cause: "one is aluminium, one is carbon. One has a cva back, the other does not. So they share the same name. Great.
Ok, enough of the advertisements and showing off your bikes. Get on that e-bike and jump the van. Want to see a proper slow-mo on that fork to flat. And don't scratch your dad's bike!
I am totally blow away by how much fun eBikes are. I am a BELIEVER! I have been riding for over 20 years and have never been so excited about mountain biking as I am right now.
Love that you are now testing EBikes... they are a game-changer!
Ebikes allow people of different ages and abilities to ride the mountains together.
Cheers for the shout-out! -a paja volunteer.
I think ebikes are going to end up being the most significant development in cycling of this century
I have a ebike ..I would never go back to a standard bike.. with the ebike you can ride longer and have a lot of fun ..with the standard bike by the time you ride to the top and ride down your not going to really want to ride back up..now with the ebike you can ride all day.. that all I have to say about that
Just recently discovered this channel (via SydFixesBike). So nice to see you two work together making great content. And eBike's got me into biking at "advanced" age. So fun and if you give a real effort "helping" the motor (torque based assist) it is serious training *but* you have a decent speed up-hill!
Loved this particular comparison because I own a 2020 RIP9 RDO 29er! In fact it’s my do everything bike, could’ve gone with the JET9 but being 6’2/220 lbs and considered 100% disabled from my 21 years in the military the RIP9 is more plush on my body. Also allows me to bomb the rough downhills with more confidence. I also completed 90% of our Boise trail challenge (body failed on me so couldn’t complete) but also climbed the full Everest on your challenge on this bike. (Signed up for the half but past that quick) Btw our friend Fairlee did a lot of our trail challenge because her husband was doing it but she’s pretty busy being a nurse right now. So I might have gotten an ebike especially with my broken body but our trail system around Boise is ebike friendly. About 90% of our trail system they are not legal. Turn 50 soon and the way my body is headed I’ll need an ebike in the not so distant future but threw a 30t chainring on my RIP9 to save my knees and the bike is amazing! Happy trails!
Love the back to back comparison ! It looks like a lot of fun going uphill and downhill on the eMTB!!
Macky thanks for a great comparo between eBike and a "analogue" bike of the same build. I just got my first new bike in 25 years...and it has batteries! my first eBike. I only have about 100 miles on my new bike, so still learning how to ride it. So I really enjoyed this video! Thanks Macky!!! I still have my last race bike, a full suspension 22lb 75mm Ventana! Pedaling my 50 lbs + of bike is way different! I agree that the weight makes it not as easy to jump and pop!
Hehe. The fire road is rough too! Aspeñola's singletrack is definitely the best way up.
Love seeing some Jemez riding on youtube! E-bikes really might be the future to get the most out of liftless park riding.
Pro Mtb rider on Ebike in Turbo riding up a technical trail and speed was 10mph. I believe the concerns that regular riders on Ebikes are going to cause havoc when riding uphill and meeting others coming downhill is a bit overstated. I own a Focus Jam2 that has the Shimano E-8000 motor which isn't as powerful as the Niner's Bosch motor (70 nM torque compared to 85) and having ridden lots of trails I didn't believe it would be an issue once someone actually tried riding one of these beasts. Of course this discussion is relating to Class 1 bikes alone.
Completely agree. Class 1 should be treated as standard bikes in our opinion.
@jriden it only increases the torque you put out, you don't have a throttle, you really can't do massive burnouts, etc.
@jriden Thanks for your comment! Obviously ebikes shouldn't race in the same categories as normal bikes or be in the same strava leaderboards -- sorry if our earlier response implied that -- but we do believe that Class 1 should be treated the same as a standard ebikes in terms of trail access, as they don't cause any additional trail damage and the safety concerns are overstated as the OP pointed out. Most ebike riders don't go that much faster on trail than Macky does on a normal bike. Going 15mph uphill on a trail is not easy on an ebike unless you are on a dirt highway. We understand that certain already overcrowded trail areas may need to restrict ebikes, but that isn't the norm at most riding areas (at least in the US). If you check out our previous video of riding with Macky's dad, you will see why we feel like the increased access that ebikes afford is a good thing! (And, yes, some people will be jerks on ebikes, but there are jerks on regular MTBs too, sadly.)
@@sydandmacky Exactly. I'm in WNC and 98% of trails are closed to all ebikes. Of course you wouldn't know it because there are plenty of them out there and 98% of those people are perfectly courteous and responsible. I hate that I essentially have to be a criminal to just ride the same trails I did 10 years ago. I've had leg and back issues and have a hard time climbing on a regular bike. I ride on off peak hours and I do my best not to climb faster than a fit person on a regular bike. I ride trails that are within my ability and I know when to call it a day. Just the same as I have for the last 30 years.
The ultimate irony is that I fought the same access issues in the 90's in the NE. Take out "but there is a motor" and sawp it with "but its a machine". The reality is that I can ride safer and more in control now on an emtb with modern geometry, brakes and wheels than I could as a kid in 1990 on SM1000.
Love the emtb videos!! Recently got an emtb so much fun!! Grinning the whole time, is spot on.
Thanks for the comparison and shout out to ebikes. They are tons of fun. I have one and enjoy the tech climbs - makes choosing lines such a strategy.
I just sold my first e-bike. I made the mistake of buying a cheap one. Life is too short for cheap bikes. Next bike, NO hub motor! That may be good for a street bike but not MTB.
Well said! An e-bike is a great training tool in any arena. I bet a pro downhill or Enduro rider would make it perform much differently than a non e-bike on the downhill sections.
Thanx for the comparison. Stress less, ride more.
Be good, do better!
We have an old DH park, lifts closed but you are permitted to ride it... its a couple hours from my home, if it was an hour or so closer I would have to own a big 150mm + travel E bike :)
Ha those epic New Mexico thunderstorms. I'm glad you brought it up.
Be careful on your dads new bike lol
Thanks for the comparison. I really think Niner missed an opportunity to be different with the RIP e9 to instead develop a lightweight, 250-300W 35-40lb e-bike like the Specialized Levo SL (which people have gotten down to 32lb with battery) that would be far more playful while still offering solid hill assistance and would better align with the "Pedal damn it" motto. Instead they made a 50+ lb overpowered tank, like all the other e-bikes.
maybe in the future...
The question shouldn't be whether we should have or want ebikes. We definitely like them. At least I do. The real question is whether we'd want chairlifts anymore! Why sit in an elevator when you could be riding? As ebikes become lighter and lighter, the future looks like light ebikes that can pop, but ones that will also take the edge off of those climbs and make them fun, too!
Higher powered ebikes can definitely help us up trails that don't have chairlifts at all, but are extremely challenging or nearly impossible to climb for anyone.
When climbing on the e-bike it looks as if you were going downhill 😂👌
Great trails. Funny thing. I was starting this vid and had one of my dogs outside as you came across those 3 deer then right after that a deer went through my yard. Lol
Only criticism I have on the E bike is the suspension isn’t the same as the RIP9. I understand that can’t put that same suspension on the ebike but ahh that would be rad. The Rip9 is so good.
You technically can put the same suspension on, but Fox found that people preferred a different tune and beefier crown on the e-bike. So we wanted to ride the proper fork for the bike, even if it isn't EXACTLY the same as the other bike
Syd just pointed out that I misread this comment and you were talking about the CVA vs Horst suspension. We asked Niner about that and they said it was impossible to put CVA on it because of the motor and also, since there is a motor, the pedaling properties of CVA aren't as necessary...
Great vid, keep rocking! But is it possible to change the gopro settings so when it goes fast in the forest it isn't just 6 pixels moving about? I find that either recording and uploading in 4k helps a lot, but if you can only record in HD, try upscaling after the fact in the software. I think it has to do with YT compressing the heck out of HD vids making it look pretty horrible at times.
E bike looks amazing.
Nice comparison! I’m totally down for ebikes, especially as a training tool for racing. Being able to get more laps in to get ready for an Enduro would be great & you’re still getting a solid workout in when climbing; it’s not like that disappears. Maybe one day I’ll get one!
Thank you for NO ( WEEEE ) this time. Did you record heart rate on both rides ? After riding 1500 miles on my EBB I find mine very close to reg analog bike when in eco mode and when cranked up through some XC trails. My 2020 saying is....You can ride the struggle bus or party bus, whichever makes you happy !!
To your point about stopping the bike; will an ebike contribute more to trail erosion and brake bump creation? Or would it come down to rider skill?
Emtb wont create more trail erosion any more than a big guy on a mtb will.
Ebikes allow people to get to places they don’t often do due to fitness. More people on trails which weren’t always accessible for all may mean some trails get extra wear. Bikes are heavier and take more to stop. Surely this must have a slight increase in trail damage alone.
I think initially people might end up skidding a bit more (maybe their first ride) but after that they'll start braking earlier and the wear on the trails will be the same as a normal bike. It is probably true that some trails that are hard to get to will get more wear, but in my experience, those trails are often more fun with a bit more wear because the lines get ridden in...
Will you be replacing the motos in the van with the bikes?
Probably not. But possibly adding the e-bikes 😁
wow i need an e Bike
Nice vid
Thought you were training for the Everest attempt. How does an e-bike fit into this? I'm not knocking e-bikes, I think they have a place in the MTB world but I was just wondering. Did the sponsor ask for these videos? I went to my local MTB shop yesterday and saw a husband and wife looking to buy one. It's a trend that has really gotten big so I was just wondering.
We're just enjoying riding them and wanted to share with all of you! This was also a couple weeks ago. More recent rides have been primarily regular bike...
I think there great bikes for people who just don’t physically have the ability to ride a regular bike and I like the fact that they are reviewing them so that people know what they are in for and how to use e bikes rather then just having a whole bunch of people on turbo all the time flying pass you
@jriden nope, they definitely have a huge place in 'proper' MTB. i don't see many RUclipsrs pushing them, i just see a few guys trying them out! the more information there is on Ebikes for people like you and even people who are more stubborn and ignorant the better.
@jriden @bananas stuff guys I was just asking a question. Let's all be cool and I'll owe you a beer when we ride together. This is the internet and we don't always agree but as Mountain bikers we do owe each other respect.
@J. Clark - thank you for being a voice of reason!
Bosch motor?
Yup
Yes but if you had to spend your own very hard earned cash and could only one or the other, and you didn’t race for a living. Which one would you choose?
That's a tough question. And honestly, I don't know!
I like them chunky and loose , lol
theyre probably about the same price -_- who knew
"Same bike", "same build" - it's not, cause: "one is aluminium, one is carbon. One has a cva back, the other does not. So they share the same name. Great.
First
Ok, enough of the advertisements and showing off your bikes. Get on that e-bike and jump the van. Want to see a proper slow-mo on that fork to flat. And don't scratch your dad's bike!
What do you think this is Pink Bike...🤣🤣🤣