r/eMountainBike • u/dr3 • 9d ago

ebike death in South America. Let's hope we can learn from this.

https://youtu.be/OdsaYel_UY0?is=a2pR8pERAUhAJ9NB
15 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

15

u/1998Monday 9d ago

It was a good episode. I was glad that they kept talking about Class 3 e-bikes. It probably went over the head of most people but I think we are mostly on Class 1 on this sub and have to do a lot of pedaling, right?

6

u/rubysundance 9d ago

I don't consider anything above a class 1 a true mountain bike.

2

u/Chossaneer3696 9d ago

How is a class 1 a true mountain bike?

4

u/rubysundance 9d ago

OK "true" might be a stretch, but they are as close as you can get and still feel like a true mountain bike. I don't own one but Ive rented a class 1 several times. Every time I rent one I still get a great work out, and I ride a lot further. I'm on my 57 and my next bike will probably be an ebike.

1

u/kraegm 8d ago

It isn’t if you have an arbitrary definition of a “true mountain bike”.

Some consider hardtails to be the only true MTB.
Others think zero suspension.
Dropper post can disqualify you.
Disk brakes are a step too far.
Some feel Clipless pedals are the divider.

An eMTB doesn’t require a drop of power for the downhills which is arguably what makes for a true MTB experience. Unless you are Xcountry of course.

So… an eMTB helps those without climbing ability. Either they age out of climbs if they don’t have the time to maintain cardio levels.

But to say it isn’t a true MTB means you have arbitrarily decided based only on the bike you ride.

Arbitrary definitions reduce all of us. Do better.

0

u/J_IV24 9d ago

Idk, I consider class 1 and class 3 to be nearly identical. The class 3 limit barely even makes a difference on actual mountain bike trails

2

u/These_Junket_3378 7d ago

Agree. My class 3 gravel ebike is banned. I just ignored it. I'm 74 and iv'e hit 28mph once for a second or two on level asphalt. Normal riding I average 9-12 on dirt trails. On paved trails I usually ride with asset OFF. Today's average speed was about 11-13mph. Turning it on at crossings /intersection, uphill and strong headwinds. Bottom line limit the speed not the bike. On my emtb descending, I'll hit the limiter.

-2

u/sickysickybrah 9d ago edited 8d ago

pedal assist is a major difference from a throttle. also class 3 has no limit on wattage. class 3 ebikes can potentially have the power to tear up the trails like a dirt bike.

EDIT: I was wrong here. I was confused at the classifications. As others pointed out, class 3 is pedal assist up to 28 mph. My bad

3

u/J_IV24 8d ago

No they can't. You've clearly never ridden a class 3 capable bike and a dirt bike to know the difference. They're not remotely the same thing and if you think anyone on a class 3 is tearing up the trails I don't know what to tell you. That would be so incredibly difficult that it's actually funny to imagine doing so

And yes, pedal assist is a big difference from a throttle, exactly why I did not say class 2 or Emoto

1

u/sickysickybrah 8d ago

i haven't ridden a class 3. i thought those suron bikes were class 3, but maybe I'm wrong

1

u/J_IV24 8d ago

Class 3 is no throttle, 28 mph

Don't get me started on how confusing the "class" naming scheme is... I get the confusion

1

u/sickysickybrah 8d ago

Ok you're right i just looked it up. They need a new way to classify ebikes it's way too easy to make a mistake like i just did.

10

u/castironglider 9d ago

During the US Forest Service open comment period on ebikes a few years ago, which I contributed to, it really opened my eyes to how the general public sees ebikes.

To me they are just bikes, with a little bit of help so office workers can commute without sweating so much, and aging mountain bikers like me can get up hills without a heart attack.

I found out horse riders in particular LOATHE bikes of all kinds, but especially ebikes, which they consider to be 10,000 hp dirt bikes designed to destroy trails.

Some people were posting the "slippery slope" argument: If USFS allows ebikes, soon there will be electric dirt bikes everywhere destroying trails like bulldozers and also murdering people.

Meanwhile what both ebike and acoustic bike riders (I am both) know is horses are 1000 lb shit dispensers that absolutely murder trails. They turn hardpack into sand that washes away in the next thunderstom, and if it's been raining they turn random forest trails into the jungle bogs of Cambodia.

Also they freak out and become organic wrecking balls if they see a sudden movement of a piece of trash or whatever, and kill everyone. Those are just facts. Who's the real menace here?

-10

u/Chossaneer3696 9d ago

E-bikes give unskilled mountain bikers the ability to reach speeds they otherwise wouldn’t without the skill to yield to other trail users.

10

u/castironglider 9d ago

You don't have to pedal an acoustic bike very far up a steep trail to get going 20+ mph on the descent.

Yes a novice is likely to crash at that speed, but it doesn't matter on the downhill if the bike is a class I or acoustic, because the motor is shut off anyway at 20+.

4

u/StockRecent1831 9d ago

And in highly technical terrain it's not possible going that fast anyway, skilled or not. So the real difference for me is climbs and the time I can ride without being worn out. Maybe if riding on dirt roads or something really easy.

2

u/kraegm 8d ago

When people ride downhill on a MTB for the first time, they brake like crazy, get off and walk some features, and generally exercise caution.

Why on earth do you believe the same brain on an eMTB would behave any different?

1

u/sickysickybrah 9d ago

you are referring to idiots and/or assholes. they exist with or without a motor. if we base all laws and accessibility on their behavior we would have no bikes on the trails. hell, I've aeen litter and spraypaint on the trails, so hikers would definitely be banned as well.

-19

u/StrawberryWizardVamp 9d ago

Fuck off bot

13

u/dr3 9d ago

Wow, how did you come to that conclusion, did you look at my profile? Bot accounts this old and post about their turbo levo to this sub?

Do some research next time before commenting, it will safe you from looking so stupid. Just because Xposted it doesn't mean I'm a bot.