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Review: Electric MTB -- Wow! Philpug and Tricia's Ownership Edition

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Philpug: I tried my first e-bike a couple of summers ago -- and almost two years to the day later, I bought one. I am writing this follow-up review not as a discussion on cheating, accessibility, and stigma, all that stuff; instead I want to explain how and why we went from being extremely intrigued to actually making the purchase.

First, I didn’t wake up one morning intending to buy an e-bike. No, I kind of backed into it. It started when Tricia and I got our bikes ready to ride this year. With everything Covid going on, and being unable to ski, you would have thought we were excited to switch gears and go ride, but that wasn’t really the case. Tricia’s allergies were getting worse and worse, and she could barely ride more than a couple of miles -- literally, as in two or three -- before she was done. This made it not fun for either of us. So, the intent was to upgrade her ride to an e-bike, which we felt would level the playing field so both of us could enjoy riding again.

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Tricia: [cough] So there I was with a sinus headache and tight chest from spring allergies and a huge desire to get out on the bikes, but hesitant at the same time because I wasn’t sure if I could last very long. I’m not sure if Phil loves to climb, but he seems to go for it and clear stuff that I have always looked at as a necessary evil to enjoy the trails on the other side of the climb. I always had to take breaks to drink extra water and grab a Ricola. Having a test ride on the Moterra two years ago, I had hopes that going "e" would keep me enjoying the trails. [/cough]

Philpug: Tricia and I started exploring the options, brands with which we have some sort of affiliation through the site, but it came down to a universal lack of inventory and limited availability. Exhausting our options, we came back to Cannondale (not that that's a bad thing).

Tricia: I knew I didn’t want a Moterra, not because it isn't a good bike but because it has evolved into a longer travel bike, more enduro-esque, not the type of riding that I prefer.

Philpug: For 2020, Cannondale started producing an electric version of the Habit, the Habit Neo. With available model options here in the US, the Habit Neo 2 was the best choice for her. Now, how to make this happen with limited financial exposure? With the supply and demand of bikes being disproportionate, used bikes have been selling for way above their value. By pulling some strings and using industry pricing, the outlay to the new bike was very minimal. So, we put one of our Triggers up on Facebook marketplace, and it was gone within hours. Off to order Tricia’s bike.

Like I said, I myself wasn’t in the market for an e-bike at this point ... but when I saw how fast the first Trigger sold, well, being a salesman at heart, when I see money waved in my face, my head automatically starts nodding up and down and my hand automatically extends to accept it.

Tricia: [Cough] This is when I started to literally hear gears turning in Phil’s head.[/cough]

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Philpug:
I contacted one of the other people who had expressed intense interest in Trigger No. 1, and Trigger No. 2 was gone within the next hour. The second Habit Neo 2 was immediately placed in the order banks.

First impressions Well, this is the first bike I ever bought without test riding; I never even saw it in person. So, other than having ridden a regular Habit, I went into this completely blind. At 5’11” I always felt I was in between a medium and a large. and since I couldn't test ride, I was going to have to go with my gut. Except the decision was made for me, since Cannondale was out of larges. I am glad this was the case, because stepping up to the Habit with the 29-in. wheels from the Trigger with the 27.5s, it was indeed the right choice. Comparing mediums, the wheelbase is almost 5 cm longer on the Habit Neo than the Trigger (120.5 to 115.8 cm). The medium Habit Neo is more like a medium plus. But even with the longer wheelbase, it is still more nimble than the Moterra, which has evolved into a big-mountain bike.

Along with its big brother, the Neo 1, the Neo 2 is the first level that incorporates Bosch’s Performance Line CX Gen4 drivetrain with the Kiox display and 625Wh battery. The lower-level Neos have a 500Wh battery. My first rides out, I had 35 mi on the battery with 22% left, so I see no reason that someone cannot get around 45 mi out of a full charge. I would say that 80% of the battery usage was in Eco, 15% Tour, and 5% eMTB; I never even touched the highest setting, Turbo. In addition, 90% of the Tour and eMTB usage was actually on the road, riding to and from the trailheads. The Kiox display is very intuitive. It can be paired with your mobile device, and all of the data can be transferred right to it along with sites like Strava. Remembering and comparing the newest Bosch Performance CX to the previous one I rode with the Moterra, the evolution is very noticeable.

On the trail. As mentioned, the new Performance CX is seamless, with very little delay or even jerkiness that was apparent but still could be felt in older models, it felt just normal ... well, normal if I were Superman. The Maxxis 29x2.6 Rekons don’t initially have the bite and feel of the Maxxis Minion DHF 27.5x2.5 front, High Roller II 2.4 rear, but I still have to play with the tire pressures. I was initially tempted to swap the SRAM GX/NX derailleur/shifter combo over to Shimano XT, but I can definitely feel this is a step up from the NX that was on the Trigger.

The extra wheelbase is felt more on the descents than the climbs. It feels like I am actually descending more slowly than I am climbing, even though I know that is not true. I think I just need to trust the bike and the tires. Of course, a lot has to do with technique: I still think back to what @Erik Timmerman taught me more than a decade ago: press down the inside handlebar and point the knee where you want to go. Just like skiing: basics, basics, basics.

Tricia: The first time I sat on my Habit Neo 2, which I bought without trying first, I thought, "WOW, this is a lot of bike." Even though it is a medium, same size as my Trigger 3, it sure doesn’t feel like the same size. More on that later.

One of the things I absolutely loved about the Trigger 3 was the lightweight frame and nimble feel on flowy trails. I knew that light was something I’d be giving up by switching to an e-bike. At the time I got the medium Trigger 3, there was no doubt it was the right size for me, so I naturally ordered the Habit Neo 2 in a medium as well. The first time I sat on the Habit to get the suspension set up, I wondered if a medium was a mistake because it sits a bit higher and definitely feels big compared to the Trigger. But, it's mine now, so let's get ready to ride.

Once we got on the trails, I felt more comfortable with the size and was confident that a small would have been too small, so we just need to tweak the setup a bit. Tight switchbacks are something that I’ve struggled with and have been working on at the progression trail system north of Reno, but this bike has me back inside the learning curve. Whether it's the 29-in. wheels instead of 27.5, or the 5cm-longer wheelbase, this is something I must get used to. I’ve only had two solid rides on this new Habit of mine, but I climbed a few things that I would have either struggled with or opted out of in the past. One ride was 13 mi, which is pretty long for me during the height of allergy season.

We have plans to cut the handlebars down about an inch off the 780 mm to make them fit my wingspan a little better; other than doing that, tweaking the suspension a little, and adjusting the seat position, we are ready to roll.

Philpug: I am very happy that I made the e-jump. This is the first time in getting back into riding that I am really excited to get out. I even went for two rides one day, something I haven’t wanted to do since I don’t know when. I am now looking for reasons to go for another ride. Now, seeing a climb now and thinking "I got this" instead of slumping my shoulders and thinking of an excuse for why I could turn around makes everything so much more fun now.
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Tricia: After a week of ownership and a few more rides under my padded shorts, we had tweaked the suspension and moved the brake levers to address my smaller hand span. We rode up Peavine again, on one of the longer rides I’ve had in a very long time, going through some nice flowy trails as well as a handful of tighter switchbacks. With the latest fit adjustments, I was able to make my way through switchbacks that seemed daunting to me just a week ago. The most important improvements to my ride have been endurance and confidence: I’m not as fatigued so I can stay out longer with my head in the game, and the added wheelbase and 29er wheels seem to roll over things that once caused chaos in my head. I may just get in the Habit of riding longer distances.

I can say this is one of the best purchases I’ve made in a very long time for my health and summer activities.

Philpug: I will add one last thing. While Tricia was writing the last of her contribution above, I went for a quick 1:30 ride. I blasted out 14 mi with 1600 ft of elevation gain. I came back sweaty and spent. I got a great workout, and I could not have had a better time. In fact, I don’t recall ever having as much fun riding as I have had since we got these new Habit Neo 2s.
About author
Philpug
I started skiing in the mid-70s in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania; from then on, I found myself entrenched in the industry. I have worked in various ski shops from suburban to ski town to resort, giving me a well-rounded perspective on what skiers want from their gear. That experience was parlayed into my time as a Gear Review Editor and also consulting with manufacturers as a product tester. Along with being a Masterfit-trained bootfitter I am a fully certified self proclaimed Gear Guru. Not only do I keep up with the cutting edge of ski gear technology, but I am an avid gear collector and have an extensive array of bindings as well as many vintage skis.

Replies

Regarding the wish for light and nimble, that segment is now being addressed. Specialized has the Levo SL, and several other brands are doing the same concept:
Smaller motor, smaller battery=lighter bike.
For people who don’t need to use the ‘turbo’ mode on ‘traditional’ e bikes, and especially lighter riders, this seems like a very useful option.

One warning before you drop thousands of dollars on an e-mtb: check where you can ride it around your house. For example, in my town (Duluth, MN) e-bikes are not allowed on the mtb trails, so, you would be limited to gravel roads and paved bike paths.
 
Regarding the wish for light and nimble, that segment is now being addressed. Specialized has the Levo SL, and several other brands are doing the same concept:
Smaller motor, smaller battery=lighter bike.
For people who don’t need to use the ‘turbo’ mode on ‘traditional’ e bikes, and especially lighter riders, this seems like a very useful option.

One warning before you drop thousands of dollars on an e-mtb: check where you can ride it around your house. For example, in my town (Duluth, MN) e-bikes are not allowed on the mtb trails, so, you would be limited to gravel roads and paved bike paths.
The LaPierre E-Zesty is the first seriously light EMTB at sub 40lb. I think it makes sense. As I mentioned in my original discussion, I agree 100% with @tball, there is little reason to have this much power on a mountain bike, the max of 20 MPH is not needed, 12-15MPH at the most, you don't need more than than for climbing and speeds higher than that are usually dowhill and the assist is not needed there. Different applications such as around town and commuting, I can see the need of the higher top end. The only time I have used even the next level up from Tour while trail riding was when I wanted to make up some time to get home. I have yet to use "Turbo" other than on the road.
 
Trisha,
would just like to comment on the allergies

This march i came down with either allergies or a rhinovirus or both and it was bad long and weird enough for me to call the doctor to inquire is this some weird covid.
She told me to double down with flonase + a gen2 antihistamine (zyrtec,claritin, allegra). These work differently and are complimentary and can be used together. The gen2 antihistamines (i chose zyrtec) are much more effective and have much much fewer side effects than older drugs like sudafed or benadryl. I dont notice any side effects personally.
Additionally the doctor told me to use nasalrinse regularly, which I have been doing after waking up in the morning as well as returning from the outside/hiking and taking a shower.
I have an electric kettle which i boil the water the night before so have sterile cooled water next day for the nasal rinse (warm slightly again before using).

This has been successful and after about a week the regimen started working and everything cleared up after suffering for 4weeks.

If you are still suffering give it a try or ask your doctor for more advice first.

All of these are available at Costco without prescription

Zyrtec (cetrizine hcl)
Flonase (fluticasone propinate) spray
neilmed nasal rinse kit
electic kettle

some more info on gen2 antihistamines here
 
I bought an electric Trek Commuter+ 8 last year. I put close to 600 miles on it that summer and fall. Best bike purchase I’ve made. It opened up all kinds of terrain for me. It allows me to stay on the bike during climbs so I keep pedaling rather than stop and walk. It allows me to go for longer rides and enjoy them more. The bike puts the wind in my face which I love. As a result I want to get out and ride. It’s just plain fun to ride. I rode motorcycles in the past, the e-bike gives me the motorcycle feel with the benefit of great exercise. My ride yesterday was 23 miles in 2 hours. It was my third ride this season. If you are looking for more biking fun I highly recommend going the e-bike route.

Me age 68, height 6’1", weight 205#, knee issues.
 
Follow Up:
I have about 150 miles or so on the Habit 2 Neo and it is time for my first upgrade and that is the tires. As I mentioned in the initial post, I just didn't feel the Maxxis Rekons were doing the job for me..in the softer terrain that we have here in North Reno. I am sure it is a great tire but I think it is a misapplication for me. I origionally planned on running them longer but on my last ride, I got a hole in the sidewall, not sure how or exactly where but it was right near a trail head so dealing with it was not an issue. The plan now is to install some Minion DH's, F&R, the same tires that I ran my Trigger and very happy with. I will report back on them after I get a few rides.

I am still surprised how much I like the 29" wheels and how much more confidence they bring..even the marginal Rekons. I guess I will eat some crow on that. I had a Specialized Epic 29er when I moved out here and it just felt bleh. I guess that had more to do with the minimal travel that the wheels and more upright rake.

I will say my rides have gotten a bit slow in one aspect in that more and more I'm stopped at trail intersections asking how I like my E-bike. Not that it's a new Habit or a Cannondale but that it is an E. These questions are coming from young and old, men and women. We have actually let some other cyclists try it. The one specific time was a woman that all we could hear was giggles as she rode away. He friend that stayed back (as collateral) said she is going to be pissed, pointing to her Santa Cruz, "She just bought that last week, now you ruined her".
 
Last edited:
Follow Up:
The plan now is to install some Minion DH's, F&R, the same tires that I ran my Trigger and very happy with. I will report back on them after I get a few rides.
@DoryBreaux installed the new Minion DHF and DHR's and I immediately felt a difference..it was like going from a 98mm to a 104mm ski. With every change and especially one as important as with changing tires, there is always a cost for performance somewhere. While the Rekons were fine, their limit could be felt in the soft moondust we have here in Reno and they didn't have quite the grip I was used to from my previous experience with the DH's on my Trigger. I immedately noticed a bit of numbness on the steering especually in tighter switchbacks but that was also companied by more grip in those switchbacks where the dirt was the loosest and rockiest, this is part of my goal and the gain I was looking for. The other gain I wanted was more confidence and grip where the trail had a double fall line, the Rekon just didn't have the grip from the side of the tire in this terrain, expecially from the front tire. Again, this is where the DHF stepped up and did it's job.

I might miss some of that Nth nimbleness, as nimble as a 29x2.6 tire on a 50lb EMTB could be, but I am willing to forego that for confidence in the terrain I was getting bounced around in. As @Ron reminded me, you are on an EMTB, you can deal with a bit sluggishness. He is right, in my application, the pluses out weigh the minuses. With that said, I don't think it is a combination I would suggest for @Tricia's bike. She feels the 29" is already a lot to get though tighter switchbacks and these would make it a bit more difficult. I am pretty sure she will stay with the Rekons.
 
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Reactions: Ron
Congrats @Philpug and @Tricia on the new steeds in the stable. Like you, I was a little skeptical, and then in, and then all the way in on my Gazelle commuter. I now bike commute more often than not and ride more with the kids. Even loaded it up with catchers gear, a bucket of baseballs, and a couple bats and took it to 10 year old baseball practice. It just makes me want to ride and take little trips on it when before I would have been perfectly content to keep my fanny in the recliner.
 
You might try Bontrager XR3 rear and XR4 Front for tricia's bike, Also, Maxxis Aggressor is another really nice tire. The Rekon is not the tire for loose, deeper moon dust or kitty litter.
 
sorry, I cant edit for some reason, You can also look at a Ardent in a 2.40. Not sure of the clearance on those bikes but wider is better :).
 
+1 for the Maxxis Agressor. I am using it on the rear and it is great for UT trails. I run the DHF on the front.
 
Trisha,
would just like to comment on the allergies

This march i came down with either allergies or a rhinovirus or both and it was bad long and weird enough for me to call the doctor to inquire is this some weird covid.
She told me to double down with flonase + a gen2 antihistamine (zyrtec,claritin, allegra). These work differently and are complimentary and can be used together. The gen2 antihistamines (i chose zyrtec) are much more effective and have much much fewer side effects than older drugs like sudafed or benadryl. I dont notice any side effects personally.
Additionally the doctor told me to use nasalrinse regularly, which I have been doing after waking up in the morning as well as returning from the outside/hiking and taking a shower.
I have an electric kettle which i boil the water the night before so have sterile cooled water next day for the nasal rinse (warm slightly again before using).

This has been successful and after about a week the regimen started working and everything cleared up after suffering for 4weeks.

If you are still suffering give it a try or ask your doctor for more advice first.

All of these are available at Costco without prescription

Zyrtec (cetrizine hcl)
Flonase (fluticasone propinate) spray
neilmed nasal rinse kit
electic kettle

some more info on gen2 antihistamines here
My routine is to shower after participating in outdoor activities where I may have dust or pollen on me.
I also hydrate constantly while riding bike with a camelback.
Itake Allertec (Zyrtek) before going to bed
If I wake up with sinus pressure, which seems to happen about 3-4 days a week, I take Sudafed and Neilmed rinse.
If I have pressure in my ears I take meclizine, which is for motion sickness.
So, I'm pretty much doing what you're doing, and have been for about 5 years.
 
+1 for the Maxxis Agressor. I am using it on the rear and it is great for UT trails. I run the DHF on the front.
The Agressor was my second choice and if the DHR II was not in stock, I probably would have gone with it.
 
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Reactions: Ron
My routine is to shower after participating in outdoor activities where I may have dust or pollen on me.
I also hydrate constantly while riding bike with a camelback.
Itake Allertec (Zyrtek) before going to bed
If I wake up with sinus pressure, which seems to happen about 3-4 days a week, I take Sudafed and Neilmed rinse.
If I have pressure in my ears I take meclizine, which is for motion sickness.
So, I'm pretty much doing what you're doing, and have been for about 5 years.

Sounds good, if it's working thrn its working!. The only suggestion is to try is to sub in the flonase (flucosinate) steroid nasal sprays that you would take every day in an attempt to reduce or not need to have to take the gen1antihstamines (sudafed/meclizine) for those flareups events.
 
Sounds good, if it's working thrn its working!. The only suggestion is to try is to sub in the flonase (flucosinate) steroid nasal sprays that you would take every day in an attempt to reduce or not need to have to take the gen1antihstamines (sudafed/meclizine) for those flareups events.
I do well with Rhinocort or its generic. It used to be prescription only but is now OTC. Once per day, no bounce effect.
 
The LaPierre E-Zesty is the first seriously light EMTB at sub 40lb. I think it makes sense. As I mentioned in my original discussion, I agree 100% with @tball, there is little reason to have this much power on a mountain bike, the max of 20 MPH is not needed, 12-15MPH at the most, you don't need more than than for climbing and speeds higher than that are usually dowhill and the assist is not needed there. Different applications such as around town and commuting, I can see the need of the higher top end. The only time I have used even the next level up from Tour while trail riding was when I wanted to make up some time to get home. I have yet to use "Turbo" other than on the road.
The crowded trails during COVID have highlighted how 20 MPH e-bikes are way too fast. From what I'm seeing our multi-use paths have twice the number of users than they normally would and lots of new e-bikes.

The majority of e-bikes are going way to fast. It's just like driving on the freeway when most the cars are going 65 MPH then a few knuckleheads put us all at risk by driving 110 MPH and weaving in and out of traffic. That's exactly what I see from many e-bike riders.

I understand why they need to be that fast for commuting, but I don't think they belong on trails with strollers, kids, dogs, skateboarders, etc, as they are here.

To make matters worse, most e-bike riders don't have the bike handling skills to be riding that fast in tight quarters, especially on paths not designed for that speed. 20 MPH e-bikes on multi-use paths make for a very dangerous situation.
 
The crowded trails during COVID have highlighted how 20 MPH e-bikes are way too fast. From what I'm seeing our multi-use paths have twice the number of users than they normally would and lots of new e-bikes.

The majority of e-bikes are going way to fast. It's just like driving on the freeway when most the cars are going 65 MPH then a few knuckleheads put us all at risk by driving 110 MPH and weaving in and out of traffic. That's exactly what I see from many e-bike riders.

I understand why they need to be that fast for commuting, but I don't think they belong on trails with strollers, kids, dogs, skateboarders, etc, as they are here.

To make matters worse, most e-bike riders don't have the bike handling skills to be riding that fast in tight quarters, especially on paths not designed for that speed. 20 MPH e-bikes on multi-use paths make for a very dangerous situation.
I cannot say I am surprised. As I have said, we agree they have too much power in some applications and that is on singletrack and where you are experiencing issues. While I have not been on paved trails in years, the last time was when I used to ride the Schuylhill trail when I still lived back east. This was a fantastic 30 mile trail that connected Valley Forge with downtown Philadelphia, it was one of the first major rails to trails. Back in the 90's we had the same issue with families with strollers but the issue then was road bikes and riding groups speeding down it and these were going well above the 20MPH speeds of what the Ebikes can do now. So, this mixing of speeds is nothing new, back then we dealt with the entitlement of the rider, now we are dealing with some inexperience. I agree these trails because of the traffic do need to have some speed enforcement.
 
@tball I am sorry that you have experience such rudeness on your trails.
From my experience this has not happened. I am on an e-bike and I find myself pulling off to the side frequently for riders who are not on e-assist bikes. Its the indian not the arrow.
Someone who's going to ride too fast on a crowded trail with an e-bike will ride too fast on a crowded trail without one.
 

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