This electric full-suspension MTB is said to be able to handle up to 661 lbs of total weight and spits out a peak of 26 mph under throttle. It costs just $1,400
Didn’t read all the text, but just had a look on the photos and your comment so judging on that…
Having the shock and swingarm mounts on top tube is all good, this is quite common suspension design. See example
Now everything else though… This bike looks like a 150 euros “mountain” bike from a supermarket with a electric motor slapped on top. Everything from the frame to groupset and brakes yells extreme cost savings.
Mechanical disk brakes are really do not provide enough stopping power to be installed on any mountain bike. Reliability is about as good as for hydraulics, but can be repaired on the road so points for that.
The frame looks extremely flimsy on rear, there’s basically no sideways support besides the shock mount, rear axle and main pivot. Expect the rear to swing sideways like it was on a hinge.
e: there seems to be something but the swingarm still looks terribly under engineered slab of metal. It’s usually made in 1 piece to offer more rigidity sideways. This is both to make the rear less flimsy and to protect the shock from sideways forces that could damage it.
The groupset just looks like it came from a supermarket, I’d expect the shifting to work flawlessly until you get out from the shop if that far. Crazy size front chainring, like 40+ teeth? That thing is going to hit the smallest root or rock you’ll find on the trail and bend… Usually 1by setups have around 28-34 teeth chainrings on front.
Also looks like the front chain ring is just pressed steel and not narrow-wide design to help hold the chain in place. Together with lack of clutch on the rear derailleur, I don’t have high hopes for the chain to stay on at all… Seth made a good video on this topic just recently
Suspension seems surprisingly better than the cheapest Walmart shit, but can’t comment more since I have no idea of the make/model of those.
Super annoyingly in the pictures there was a rear rack installed in a way it would hit the frame or seat when the suspension is actuated. Very idiotic to even post a picture of it.
A mountain bike does not have a stand. No. For the very simple reason that they WILL get caught on something and cause a crash. It’s a huge safety risk and the manufacturer should know this.
Add the tire choice (size and tread) as well as everything else suggests this bike is at absolutely maximum meant for well serviced gravel roads, and anything more is a great hazard to the rider…
Yes the price is lowish for emtb, but you should not buy a bike like this. There’s probably 200 ecommuters around the same price that would do better than this bike shaped object… Or you can buy very well equipped hardtail or entry level full susser for that price. You will not find a full suspension emtb that’s safe to ride on trails at this price
And yes I’m overly angry for this because of asshole companies marketing these badly shaped anchors as something you could hit the mountains with safely. In reality you end up creating a lump of waste metal and probably a trip to hospital
this is quite common suspension design. See example
TIL. Thanks!
On all your points, I generally agree. With the exception on the mechanical disc brakes – but reasonable people will disagree – and on the bike-shaped object (BSO) designation. And that’s just because I don’t think it would be too outlandish to believe the manufacturer wanted the “look” and some of the credentials of an MTB but otherwise intends for this ebike to mostly remain on the road and paved bike paths.
If people buy sports cars as daily drivers, I would guess the clientele for this ebike is meant for people buying a bike to a specific budget. Which isn’t necessarily wrong. But unlike a true-and-proper BSO (eg Walmart sub-$100), I think this bike is still usable for transportation. Maybe the manufacturer’s advertising has airs above its station, but still usable nonetheless. So it just barely escaped the BSO branding.
I also suspect this bike was delivered in a box, so perhaps it came with more features than would be installed if this ebike was about to be used on a technical trail. And that for the purpose of the review, all included parts were mounted, including those that make zero sense when off-road.
Your point on meant for everyday random use I agree for sure. I just think the budget on this bike is wasted too much on the looks instead of creating a decent budget ebike, as true bike shaped object
But I guess my decades spent on cycling as a serious hobby give me a bias against selling shit bikes for folks
Didn’t read all the text, but just had a look on the photos and your comment so judging on that…
Having the shock and swingarm mounts on top tube is all good, this is quite common suspension design. See example
Now everything else though… This bike looks like a 150 euros “mountain” bike from a supermarket with a electric motor slapped on top. Everything from the frame to groupset and brakes yells extreme cost savings.
Mechanical disk brakes are really do not provide enough stopping power to be installed on any mountain bike. Reliability is about as good as for hydraulics, but can be repaired on the road so points for that.
The frame looks extremely flimsy on rear,
there’s basically no sideways support besides the shock mount, rear axle and main pivot. Expect the rear to swing sideways like it was on a hinge. e: there seems to be something but the swingarm still looks terribly under engineered slab of metal. It’s usually made in 1 piece to offer more rigidity sideways. This is both to make the rear less flimsy and to protect the shock from sideways forces that could damage it.The groupset just looks like it came from a supermarket, I’d expect the shifting to work flawlessly until you get out from the shop if that far. Crazy size front chainring, like 40+ teeth? That thing is going to hit the smallest root or rock you’ll find on the trail and bend… Usually 1by setups have around 28-34 teeth chainrings on front.
Also looks like the front chain ring is just pressed steel and not narrow-wide design to help hold the chain in place. Together with lack of clutch on the rear derailleur, I don’t have high hopes for the chain to stay on at all… Seth made a good video on this topic just recently
Suspension seems surprisingly better than the cheapest Walmart shit, but can’t comment more since I have no idea of the make/model of those.
Super annoyingly in the pictures there was a rear rack installed in a way it would hit the frame or seat when the suspension is actuated. Very idiotic to even post a picture of it.
A mountain bike does not have a stand. No. For the very simple reason that they WILL get caught on something and cause a crash. It’s a huge safety risk and the manufacturer should know this.
Add the tire choice (size and tread) as well as everything else suggests this bike is at absolutely maximum meant for well serviced gravel roads, and anything more is a great hazard to the rider…
Yes the price is lowish for emtb, but you should not buy a bike like this. There’s probably 200 ecommuters around the same price that would do better than this bike shaped object… Or you can buy very well equipped hardtail or entry level full susser for that price. You will not find a full suspension emtb that’s safe to ride on trails at this price
And yes I’m overly angry for this because of asshole companies marketing these badly shaped anchors as something you could hit the mountains with safely. In reality you end up creating a lump of waste metal and probably a trip to hospital
TIL. Thanks!
On all your points, I generally agree. With the exception on the mechanical disc brakes – but reasonable people will disagree – and on the bike-shaped object (BSO) designation. And that’s just because I don’t think it would be too outlandish to believe the manufacturer wanted the “look” and some of the credentials of an MTB but otherwise intends for this ebike to mostly remain on the road and paved bike paths.
If people buy sports cars as daily drivers, I would guess the clientele for this ebike is meant for people buying a bike to a specific budget. Which isn’t necessarily wrong. But unlike a true-and-proper BSO (eg Walmart sub-$100), I think this bike is still usable for transportation. Maybe the manufacturer’s advertising has airs above its station, but still usable nonetheless. So it just barely escaped the BSO branding.
I also suspect this bike was delivered in a box, so perhaps it came with more features than would be installed if this ebike was about to be used on a technical trail. And that for the purpose of the review, all included parts were mounted, including those that make zero sense when off-road.
Your point on meant for everyday random use I agree for sure. I just think the budget on this bike is wasted too much on the looks instead of creating a decent budget ebike, as true bike shaped object
But I guess my decades spent on cycling as a serious hobby give me a bias against selling shit bikes for folks