E-MOUNTAINBIKE – Premiering our long-term test bikes

What effect will a season of intense, real-world testing have on the current hottest bikes? Which components will survive the ordeals of rigourous daily riding? Will we see promises get broken? What are our insider tips when it comes to equipment and setting up your bike to get the most out of it? This is the exclusive first part of the huge E-MOUNTAINBIKE Long-Term Test, where we reveal what dreams are made of. Keep track of our test riders over the course of the season to ultimately find out which bikes are in it for the long run.

Our long-term test bike project sees us put the most exciting and hyped eMTBs under the microscope. The test bikes run the gamut of the market, with acclaimed group test winners, hands-down dream bikes and hybrid workhorses like S-pedelecs that are made for the distance. Our quest is to find out how these models fare in day-to-day usage. Are they durable? How likely is it that unexpected additional costs will rear their heads? And, of course, are these bikes going to translate into fun adventures, swift commutes, and satisfying big rides?

Our Test Team

Our long-term test riders couldn’t be a more diverse bunch, but they do have one thing in common: the will to spend as much time riding as possible. For each rider this is translated in a different way, seeing Sarah deploy the Spectral:ON as not only her daily commuter but also for weekend trails and bike holidays. Felix and Christoph, on the other hand, want a touch more gnar to really get the flow, which is why their picks of the Specialized Turbo Levo Expert and the new YT DECOY CF Pro should tick the boxes.

Our editor-in-chief and founder of E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine wanted to trial the most hotly discussed bike of 2019, which means we’ve got Robin on the brand new Haibike XDURO Nduro FLYON with the beefy TQ motor. And because Antonia fell so madly in love with her former test bike, we’ve decided that she won’t need to pine for long–she’s getting the Liv Intrigue back for long-term testing. And why not? After a short test stint, this bike has won her heart for the good times it offers on home trails and her commute, but now it’s the question of how long the honeymoon phase will last. Power commuter Valentin needs a bike that won’t let him down in the snow, the storms, the heat or the rush-hour traffic. What could be better than the Riese & Müller supercharger GX with Rohloff internal geared hub and an S-pedelec motor from Bosch with a 1000Wh capacity? The youngest member of the editorial team, part-time pensioner Manne (61) and his dog Henry, are still waiting for their yet-to-be-revealed long-term test bike, which will be disclosed in due course!

Keep reading to get to know the team and their bikes in more detail:

Specialized Turbo Levo Expert – Felix Stix

With a strong affinity to tearing up bike parks on weekends, Felix is the sort of guy that includes every potential trail into his commute and is known for deploying his eMTB on ‘shuttling’ duties to transfer between trails.

Interview

What are you expecting from the bike?
I’m relying on the Levo to have my back in every situation. As a commuter it needs to be super reliable. Punctures, broken chains and dead batteries are a pain on a weekend, but can be catastrophic on the way to a work meeting.

What made you pick the Turbo Levo Expert?
The Levo is an incredibly versatile bike and fun to ride. I’m a big fan of 29ers and I’m a bit reluctant to get close to any of the ultra fat plus tires found on other eMTBs.

What are your plans for the bike this year?
I’ll be using the Levo to commute to work, which is about 50 km each day. While I unfortunately don’t have any trails directly on my doorstep, the Levo’s generous battery will mean that I can still reach all the other local trails without having to touch the car.

Any initial tweaks to make on the bike?
I’ve already mounted a Supernova M99 MINI PRO front light with a long beam that runs directly from the Levo’s battery. It’s really useful for the commute, especially in winter. I also took off the TC display within minutes of getting the bike – I prefer a less-is-more cockpit.

Haibike XDURO Nduro 10.0 FLYON – Robin Schmitt

Into leisurely social rides and the odd bit of nail-biting trail acrobatics., Robin controversially picks green tea over coffee for breakfast, and will forgo a post-work beer in favour of kung-fu lessons. He mostly rides during his lunch break and on weekends.

Interview

What are you expecting from the bike?
Having already tested the Haibike XDURO AllMtn 8.0 FLYON, I was blown away by its performance despite the weight, so I’m expecting a great season on the XDURO Nduro 10.0 FLYON with a whole lot of power, eye-opening experiences and overworked facial muscles from grinning.

What made you pick the Haibike XDURO Nduro 10.0 FLYON?
Since the Haibike FLYON models were officially presented at EUROBIKE, they’ve really caught the attention of our readers. I’m very much into new technology and have been keen to get my hands on this latest concept to see how it works. I’m confident that it’s going to be a great match for me!

What are your plans for the bike this year?
Home trails, home trails, home trails – in my lunch break, after work or taking up my whole weekend, I plan on doing little else but notching up grins on local routes around Stuttgart. With the integrated light I’ll also be night-riding for the fun of it. The bike isn’t available yet though so I’m still waiting (im)patiently along with everyone else!

Any initial tweaks to make on the bike?
Not immediately. The spec looks really promising. As I start testing the bike we’ll see if anything crops up.

Canyon Spectral:ON 7.0 WMN – Sarah Fischer

An eMTB newbie that crushes over flow trails and swooping natural ones, Sarah loves riding with her girl pals and has already begun spreading the eMTB virus amongst the squad.

Interview

What are you expecting from the bike?
There’s an old German proverb that states “the ski lift is the best skiing instructor.” The same can be said for eMTBs. I haven’t been riding for that long and really want to nail down my skills and master more technical trails. I’m hoping that the Spectral:ON will grant me more time to ‘train’ the downhills.

What made you pick the Spectral:ON?
All I knew for certain was that I didn’t want a real tank to maneuver along trails, so I’m hoping that the Spectral:ON’s super agile handling will mean it rides a lot like my enduro bike. And did I mention how great the colourway is?

What are your plans for the bike this year?
The Spectral:ON is going to step in as a replacement for my car whenever possible during the week. I’ve already planned a cool route to work that takes me over fields and one super nice trail (it’s over too soon unfortunately) that drops me into the office. I really want to improve my skills so plan on doing some workshops with this Canyon too.

Any initial tweaks to make on the bike?
Nope – this Canyon is my first eMTB so I don’t really know what I’m dealing with yet.

YT DECOY CF Pro – Christoph Bayer

Big mountains, steep climbs and a little voice inside that often shouts louder than his own motivation. The YT DECOY is a ‘time machine’ for Christoph, intended to rake in epic moments once the office doors have shut.

Interview

What are you expecting from the bike?
YT’s motto is ‘Good Times’, which happens to be exactly what I’d like from this bike. A quick mountain peak after office hours, untrodden trails on a weekend, or just three rapid-fire loops on my home trails instead of the standard one lap on my regular mountain bike. I’m definitely hoping for a hell of a good time with the YT DECOY!

What made you pick the YT DECOY?
YT are a German brand that sell directly to consumers with a range that has got more and more impressive each year. I’ve been stoked on each of their mountain bikes that we’ve tested at the magazine. So when I saw the stats for the DECOY I could tell that it ticked all my boxes with first-rate suspension, decent looking geometry and well-thought-out components. Things will heat up later this year when YT make it possible to retro-fit a 700 Wh battery.

What are your plans for the bike this year?
This bike is basically going to be an addition to my usual bikes – those ones that I’m testing daily for ENDURO Magazine. I envisage it being my ‘time machine’, where I can cram more action into my ride time.

Any initial tweaks to make on the bike?
None. I’m just going to convert it to tubeless and set the suspension up to my preferences. Other than that the spec looks damn near perfect.

Riese & Müller Supercharger GX Rohloff HS – Valentin Rühl

There are 17 kilometres separating Valentin’s front door from his desk, and he grinds these out on the bike whatever the weather. When he isn’t on the way to work, then you’ll find him in the bike park with a whole lot of suspension or out in the wild with his analogue camera.

Interview

What are you expecting from the bike?
First and foremost it needs to get me safely from A to B. I’ve had so many punctures recently, and could really do without those happening in the woods after the sun has set. I’m also curious to see how often I’ll have to charge the 1000 Wh capacity battery. I’ve never ridden an S-pedelec over an extended period of time.

What made you pick a Riese & Müller model?
I was on the prowl for the ultimate commuter bike that doesn’t just have long-lasting components but also lights and mud guards to boot. I’d also like to take some strain off my back so the mounts for frame bags are an added bonus. The maximum support goes up to 45 km/h, which should majorly reduce my commute – and, you never know, might be quite fun too 😉

What are your plans for the bike this year?
Ride into work every single day. Plus I’d also like to do a few weekend trips with the bike too.

Any initial tweaks to make on the bike?
Other than changing the saddle I think this bike has everything to make any commuter’s heart sing for joy (:

Liv Intrigue – Antonia Buckelei

You know when you try something in a shop and it’s just right? Well, that’s exactly how Toni felt about the Liv Intrigue E+ 1 Pro. After her first spin there was no taking this bike away from it’s rider.

Interview

What are you expecting from the bike?
The Liv Intrigue is my do-it-all bike for trail adventures, commuting or just cruising down to the lake for a dip. For me, it’s all about having fun when riding off-road. I want to ride uphill with ease and then tear down the other side on technical trails.

What made you pick the Liv Intrigue E+?
It’s not easy finding the right bike when you’re only 160 cm. Often the frame size might be ok, but you’ll discover that the suspension isn’t suited to lightweight riders. The Liv Intrigue E+ is designed for female riders and immediately won me over on the first test I gave it.

What are your plans for the bike this year?
There are so many trails and mountain tops in the mountains around Chiemgau, where I live in Bavaria, that I still haven’t conquered. Of course, they won’t all be reachable by bike, but the Liv Intrigue E+ 1 Pro will definitely help me make progress in my to-do list.

Any initial tweaks to make on the bike?
I changed the saddle straightaway, as it was damn uncomfortable. I’ll also put a more aggressive back tire on very soon. But other than that the bike has made a great impression so there are no more updates on the horizon.

Are there any bikes you’d like to see on long-term test? Send your suggestions to: hello@ebike-mtb.com

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