rocky mountain altitude powerplay vs specialized levo

for 2023. The motors have an average torque of 81 Nm. TCS velocorner.ch offers 15'000+ bikes from 300+ bike stores and individuals.. Its a little lacking in features compared to Specializeds MasterMind TCU display theres no phone connectivity, and it doesnt display metrics like ride time or altitude. - 8-way adjustable geometry Do you run out of juice? Our reader survey showed that three brands are particularly interesting and important to you: Specialized, Haibike and CUBE. A steeper seat tube angle would no doubt improve the seated climbing position, but it would affect the riding position and likely compromise comfort elsewhere. Then again, Mick found the novelty of all those features quickly wore off during his long-term test of the Levo. No? Actually, the rule here is: more is more! But is different any better? Price: $5,299 List Pros: Smooth and consistent power output, modern geometry, Cons: No digital display, wimpy tires and fork, center of gravity feels high. Thats why you should also consider the maintenance costs for service parts and consumables. **** #pandemic #deliverycosts: The massive bike boom and the consequences of coronavirus have resulted in huge challenges for the whole bike industry. Bikes come shipped from the factory in position three (also known as neutral), and these are the key numbers it delivers; Adjusting the Ride-4 geometry chip is even quicker than the dropouts, with only a single 5mm hex key required. 2020 Santa Cruz Heckler Carbon CC X01 RSV E-Bike. FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING. Again, swings and roundabouts. Most expensive bike in the 2021 group test: Specialized S-Works Levo/Levo SL for, Most expensive bike in the 2022 group test: Specialized S-Works Levo/Kenevo SL for, Cheapest bike 2021: FOCUS JAM 6.9 NINE for, Cheapest bike 2022: SCOTT Ransom eRIDE 910 for, The Norco Sight VLT C1 has the largest internal battery capacity at, The fact that only 2 Bosch-equipped bike are represented in the test field is due to the limited availability of Bosch bikes with the new Smart System at the time of the test and the fact. VTTRocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Alu 50 2019. We also want to test them in the way you ride and use them in the real world otherwise our work wouldnt make any sense. The most important factors to consider when investing in an electric mountain bike are battery power, charging times, and hub drives versus mid-drives. ** without range extender Einfach. No matter which you choose, the conversion is simple and the connectivity options remain unchanged. In addition to the options that you expressed an interest for, our know-how and expertise also played a role in the selection, with many exciting new models on the market that contribute to making this test so interesting. In addition, the small remotes have a cleaner look than the Bosch solution and are also less exposed on the bike. - CushCore inserts as standard Thats exactly why you need to know not just what you need to pay attention to, but also what is less important. Software also has a huge influence on the riding experience and on the differences between the motors. And is range really that important to you, or would you rather have good handling on the trail? E. Rubbee X e-bike conversion kit . EMTBs are delicate, high-tech devices that need regular maintenance and care. Most eMTB hardtails simply arent made for the trails! The Orbea Rise M-Team is a master of all disciplines and secures our coveted Best Buy. Easy installation. In other words: the best overall package of handling, uphill, downhill and touring performance, design, motor, specs, battery concept and detailed solutions. For increased sensitivity, the lower shock pivot rolls on dual bearings rather than a conventional bushing. As a result, the prices of eMTBs are subject to short-term changes and fluctuations. It impresses with the best system integration, high stability on fast descents while maintaining manoeuvrability and agility, as well as its modular battery concept. Last years Best Buy and the cheapest bike (7,199) in the test field, it was unable to defend the title. Our aim is to work out the individual character of each bike and tell you for whom and to what it is best suited and what its not intended for! The Trek Rail 9.9 leaves the test crew with very mixed feelings. Hub-drive motors are located in the front or rear wheel of the bike and apply force directly to the drivetrain via the pedaling inputs of the bike. And that has serious consequences for how much youll enjoy the ride! Some bikes have been previously featured in our group tests due to multi-year development cycles, but how much sense does it make to test a bike like the Cannondale Moterra Neo for the umpteenth time if nothing has changed except for small details in the spec with a successor likely due to replace it soon anyway? Our test crew munched on 300+ pieces of pizza. Whether on flow trails, technical singletrails, in the bike park or on a tour, the Orbea Rise M-Team is a true all-rounder that inspires in every discipline. However, to integrate the long battery in the down tube, a cutout over half a metre longer is necessary. The stats of the updated Shuttle are eye-popping: 726 watt-hour battery, 160mm front fork, 29-inch wheels and the newest Shimano motor all, in a 45-pound package. However, we did not like the integration of the new Bosch Smart system and its 750 Wh battery. Rocky is offering the frame in sizes SM-XL. Great dampers and high-performance components make it a fully capable whip thats functional on a wide variety of trails. It speeds up acceleration and allows you to access more power with less input, at the expense of draining the battery a bit faster. Our test field only featured tires from Schwalbe or MAXXIS. PAGE 1 of 2. Afterwards, youll not just be well equipped for buying an ebike or have even found your dream match, youll also have gathered numerous insights and expert knowledge indispensable for trail talk, the pub and forum discussions! A couple of rides in, I removed the single volume spacer out of the Float X2 shock. Digital & free: by Jonas Mssig, Rudolf Fischer, Julian Schwede. Their ever popular line of E-Bikes, the Rocky Mountain Powerplay, feature spec upgrades on many models along with an expanded Instinct BC line. Youll get the most out of the Dyname 4.0 drive unit when spinning at a cadence of 85-120 RPM, and theres actually a dedicated page on the Jumbotron display that shows a big tick when youre in that zone. - Brilliant cornering performance Power is nothing without control. Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Carbon 90 Rally Edition Rocky Mountain jensonusa.com $9,059.00 SHOP NOW Same attributes as our race proven Altitude Heavy If you're an experienced rider looking for more juice, the Powerplay is your play. Ive been testing a Medium size in the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay C70 to suit my 175cm height. It is the best touring bike in the test field and, after some suspension tuning, also a good all-rounder that will appeal to both beginners and advanced riders with its easy going and good-natured handling. Click here for more information or order it directly in our shop! That said, lots of power isnt necessarily better, as you will read further on. Wir haben das Powerplay Alloy 70 ausprobiert. . The other has the new Smart System 2022, which is also based on the Bosch Performance Line CX motor. Along with the new motor the Altitude Powerplay gets a larger 720Wh battery, and its now easily removable with just a 4mm hex key required to slide it out from the downtube. Weve been looking for the best all-rounder that wont let you down on any trail, whether uphill or downhill, and offers a carefree package of performance and riding fun for all rider types and skill levels. the best Bosch bike, the best bike with a 750 Wh battery or the best bike with 150 mm travel and 29 wheels. Imagine the kinds of rooty, rocky, horror fests reserved for bravest or craziest and thats where youll likely find the Bullit. However, if youve miss-timed a shift and find yourself tackling a steep incline in a higher gear than optimal, the motor still manages to produce decent grunt at lower RPMs, not unlike a Bosch motor. For some of our testers it was just 160 mm! The Altitude Powerplay Alloy 50 has a better fork and more travel, while the Turbo Levo Comp Alloy has 29 / 27.5 aluminum wheels and better components. Thats a hefty amount of riding, and more often that not Id run out of steam well before the battery ran out. On the one hand, it convinces with its chic and customisable paint job, good climbing characteristics on technical uphills and great suspension. One of the most. Full Sealed Cartridge Bearings. Out of stock. EMTB fullys arent just at the spearhead of eMTB development, offering more fun and safety than hardtails, they are also most in demand. In general, it is important to choose a tire that suits the area of use and your personal needs, so that it fits you and your bike. After all, a bike is only as good as the interplay of all its components in the real world! In the same way that Giant has collaborated with Yamaha, and Specialized has partnered with Brose and Mahle, Rocky Mountain has employed the services of fellow Canadian brand Propulsion Powercycle to help engineer the motor for the Instinct and Altitude Powerplay models. The rubber fork bumper is simple, but does exactly what its meant to without need for a funky steering limiter headset. The motor never punches too hard, even if youve left it in Ludicrous mode. As you can see, we didnt make the win quite as easy to determine as it would be in a world championship. The Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Alloy 50, Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy, and Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay Alloy 50 are all aluminum frame full suspension mountain e-bikes. Like the longer travel Altitude, it gets the new motor and Ride-4 chip. Tailles dispo. To get some more concrete numbers though, I subjected the Altitude Powerplay to our standardised shuttle range test. Firstly, big kudos to Rocky Mountain for providing a masterfully detailed online manual for the Altitude and Instinct Powerplay models, which contains lots of useful information on setup, including baseline shock pressures and damper settings. time stamps 0:00 intro 2:48 mid travel full power e bikes 3:27 mondraker crafty 4:08 rocky mountain altitude powerplay 5:06 trek . Lying there, pinned under his superior strength, you had the gut-wrenching realization that life would never be the same. Suspension-wise I didnt find the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay to be as gooey-plush as the Specialized Kenevo SL, which is my personal benchmark out of all the big travel e-MTBs weve tested. The bikes in the test field not only differ enormously in their intended use and character but also in their battery concepts. The motor is called Dyname 4.0, and like the frame its had a significant update for 2022. I came into this test expecting the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay to be a heavy, excessively powerful and glued-to-the-ground e-MTB. It still provides experienced bikers with good reserves, satisfies beginners with its intuitive handling and is also a comfortable touring bike, but ultimately cannot keep up with the stronger competition as an all-rounder. To help you answer all these questions and more, we present the most important battery concepts in detail in this article. Featuring a claimed progression of 44.1%, which is very high, the frame is compatible with both coil shocks and high volume air shocks. Congratulations! Therefore, we cannot make a general statement about the suspension travel. This is indeed a bloody good e-MTB. The Altitude Powerplay and Instinct Powerplay will be available this winter from Rocky Mountain dealers. In the end, everyone has to decide for themselves which handling compromises they want to accept in favour of more battery capacity. Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Review Home Reviews Brands Rocky Mountain Reviews . Long climbs are suddenly much easier. It tips over effortlessly, dropping quickly into turns with minimal hesitation and, providing you commit and stay off the brakes, a distinct lack of understeer. Just because you have the range doesnt mean youll have fun riding! The bigger the disc, the better the control, the better the modulation on long descents and the better the resistance to fade. - On the heavy side. The clunky remote of the new Smart System, flooded with buttons, is ergonomically one of the worst in the entire test it is only marginally improved upon by the Purion, another Bosch option. We also clear up half-truths, examine forum discussions, marketing promises and tell you what really matters. To put it through its paces, Ive taken the Altitude on chunky off-piste singletrack, swoopy flow trails and big alpine point-to-point rides. The excellent tyre spec and mid-high suspension design generates masses of grip, allowing the Altitude Powerplay to claw up rough and loose technical climbs with stability and quickness. With a smooth ride and easy handling, it is suitable for beginners as well as high-speed junkies. Its claimed to be smaller and lighter, while maintaining the whopping 108Nm of torque that its predecessor was known for. There are some clear recommendations for a trail all-rounder, which needs to work well for every rider and on every trail. The good news for all price-conscious buyers: in our next issue, we will have a group test of cheaper models. In this group test, our aim is not to find the best bike with a certain technical feature or component i.e. But out in the real world, this can backfire and make many bikes worse for trail use. With this in mind: forget about the numbers! If there is one bike that will convert diehard enduro riders into e-bike junkies, the Levo SL is it. However, you dont have a free choice with every manufacturer. The future of eMTBs doesnt just look promising, it also looks versatile. Price: $8999.00. In our search for the all-rounder with the best overall package of handling, motor performance, battery capacity, weight and trail performance, we have also considered the questions you should ask yourself before buying. SPECS ROCKY MOUNTAIN ALTITUDE POWERPLAY CARBON 70 MSRP: $7400, 6000 Motor: Rocky Mountain proprietary Battery: 48V/1,632 Wh Charge time: 4 hours (80% in 2 hours) Top speed: 15.5 mph/25 km/h (with assist) Range: 25-45 miles (40-70 km) Drive: SRAM EX1 Brakes: SRAM Guide RE, 200mm front/rear Controls: Rocky Mountain proprietary, plus Ebikemotion app Nope, I want my cake and I want to eat it too. Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Carbon 70 Bike 2023 Compare. The Instinct Powerplay Alloy 50 is close to greatness but is held back by its controls and components. It is the right bike for sporty downhill junkies who dont want to lose any time on the forest tracks on the way to the start of the toughest trails. Whichever is your favourite, its important that the display and remote are in a protected position and that they are intuitive and ergonomic to use. Four long years after the Canadian brand introduced its very first electric mountain bike, the 2nd generation Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay has finally arrived. There are also differences between the individual motors and bikes when it comes to motor noise under full load. The Altitude Powerplay Alloy 50 has a better fork and more travel, while the Turbo Levo Comp Alloy has 29 / 27.5 aluminum wheels and better components. With availability limited and eMTBs a big investment for many, its especially important to know about the latest technologies and the huge differences between models before buying one. The Dyname 4.0 motor is one of, if not the most distinctive element of the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay, so lets start there. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Same attributes as our race proven Altitude. One of the bikes uses the old Bosch 2021 system. There are huge differences not only in motor power, but also in battery capacity for bikes that are aimed at similar applications: models like the Specialized Kenevo SL Light eMTB with a 360 Wh battery and 35 Nm torque output, take a different approach with less battery capacity and sometimes less motor power, while manufacturers like Norco, packing 900 Wh, exhaust all possibilities to integrate as much juice into the down tube as possible. The Altitudes kinematic is indeed very progressive, which provides a heap of big-hit support that will no doubt suit the freeriding Vanderhams and Simmons out there. In some ways it fulfilled those expectations, but in other ways it totally surprised me. Fortunately, the industry is becoming more and more aware that reality is usually much more complex and that a bike, its capabilities and its characteristics cannot be expressed in numbers alone. Rocky Mountain altitude or specialized enduro? While the ride height was good, and the suspension felt pretty plush, I did find there to be a lack of sensitivity deeper into the travel. As a result, the same motor can feel quite different in two different bikes: this can be due to the suspension kinematics, the geometry, the spec and the integration into the bike, amongst other things. Five years ago, we explained that that laboratory range measurements arent representative of the real world and that the bike industry is yet to find a useful and realistic solution to this. However, there are some compromises when it comes to stability through fast trail sections and traction. It makes more sense to have a battery capacity that is linked to the frame size. The generous frame protection is brilliant, and on some of our more savagely rocky test trails, I was mighty glad to have short 165mm alloy crank arms under my feet. Personally, Ive not found the reduced overrun to be an issue for the majority of trails Ive ridden, and both motors are easy to adapt to after a few rides. Although you dont necessarily need the biggest disc rotors as a 70 kg flyweight, you will still benefit from them. The Altitude Powerplay Alloy 30 Coil has a better fork and more travel, while the Turbo Levo Alloy has 29 / 27.5 aluminum wheels and better components. The motor is seamless and quiet and the powertrain's position gives it an aggressive feel on descents. What counts is a good combination of modulation, stability, braking power, adjustability, heat resistance and control. Firstly, this motor is incredibly responsive. YETI have combined all their geometry and suspension know-how in a great overall package powered by a Shimano EP8 motor and 630 Wh battery, creating a bike that is the new benchmark in trail performance, for everyone from beginners to pros. On the bikes with Specialized and Dyname 4.0 motors, the display is elegantly integrated into the top tube. Specialized realized many riders dont need massive batteries and would rather save weight. In general, you should follow manufacturer recommendations as theyll have the most experience. Even still, soft pedalling doesnt automatically deliver you full power. How long are your longest rides and how much ascending do you realistically do? First of all: you cant have whichever remote you want. In the future, we expect to see huge internal battery capacities only on touring and trekking ebikes. Planet3 is een niet-invasief afstemapparaat dat eenvoudig te installeren en te verwijderen is omdat het in het achterwiel van de ebike is genstalleerd. Price: $10229.00. Were told this was down to a simple availability issue at the factory. With so many different tire manufacturers and special models on the market, its hard for even well-versed tech nerds to keep track of everything. The Instinct employs a shorter stroke shock, which shrinks rear travel down to 140mm. - Proprietary motor may be a turnoff for some No bike manages to combine almost irreconcilable opposites as well as the YETI 160E T1. Remember, there is no simple answer to the question of, How far will I be able to ride on a single charge? We delve deeper into the topic of range and battery capacity in the next chapter. I found it easy to adjust the Ride-4 and dropout flip chips, and pulling the shock out to alter the spring volume showed just how cleanly everything fits together. Gear Patrol participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. I spent a full day out riding in Eco mode alongside a pack of regular mountain bikes, which proved to be a good match for my non-motorised friends, while barely touching the sides of the 720Wh battery. Belying its 24kg weight, the Altitude Powerplay is remarkably adept at flip-flopping through repeat chicanes and high-speed berms, with a lovely mix of agility and unflappable predictability. It doesnt offer the same amount of overrun as a Bosch motor for conquering ledgy moto-style climbs, and I suspect that taller riders may also wish for a steeper seat angle and longer rear end. For the front we recommend a tire up to 2.6 wide with puncture-proof MAXXIS Doubledown or Schwalbe Super Gravity casing and 3C MaxxGrip or ADDIX Ultra Soft (purple) respectively. Nothing is more annoying than the wrong purchase or a bike that bucks, protests or simply doesnt want to fit your requirements. First of all, a big thank you! Despite the ratings, the review itself is crucial, because thats where we explain the bikes character traits in detail and give you a deeper understanding of the sum of the bikes parts. Rocky Mountain Altitude PowerPlay (2018 - 2020, all models) Rocky Mountain Instinct PowerPlay (2019 - 2020, all models) Focus SAM2 (2018-2019, Shimano drive, Novatec & DT Swiss hubs only) Focus JAM2 (2018-2019, Shimano drive, Novatec & DT Swiss hubs only) Giant Trance E+ Pro (2019 - 2020, all models) Specialized even has a special Shuttle mode that further reduces the required leg input, with the idea being that you can climb uphill with the minimum of effort required, so you save all your energy for the descents. Compare. A practical side effect is that these bikes can be placed upside down, which is particularly important for models where the battery is removed from the down tube. Given its weight, the stocky wheels, dual-ply tyres and sticky-compound Assegai up front, that amount of elevation gain is impressive. If you mostly ride on gravel, forest and meadow trails, a less heavily treaded tire with a thinner casing is sufficient. The prices shown here are as they were at the time of our testing. The longstanding outcasts of the two-wheeled world, electric bikes, have become industry darlings almost overnight. Class 1 e-mountain bikes (and electric bikes overall) are pedal-assist: an integrated motor provides assistance to the rider and is activated by pedaling the bike. There is no such shuttle mode on the Altitude Powerplay, which requires a more collaborative performance between your legs and the motor. Nonetheless, thanks to the brilliant handling of eMTB mode and the easily controllable Turbo mode, we are still huge fans of the Bosch Performance Line CX motor! We dont just want to test the bikes that interest you the most. The best electric mountain bikes best overall specialized turbo levo comp alloy $7,500 at specialized best value off road aventon aventure $1,999 at aventon bikes best mixed wheel marin bikes. Most brands choose motors from either Bosch or Shimano, with Specialized being another exception because of their use of the Brose motor. The cockpit itself shows great attention to detail. The rubber compound can be more durable and harder for reduced rolling resistance e.g. 2022 Rocky Mountain Altitude Carbon 90 Rally Edition Bike. Copyright 2023 E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine. An inexpensive bike with cheaper components but a coherent overall concept can perform much better than many expensive bling-bling bikes. They have a maximum load of just 94 kg and 95 kg respectively. Despite its small 375 Wh battery, the ROTWILD R.E375 ULTRA has a Shimano motor with plenty of power. For anything more, you can find all the details on the best tires for eMTBers in our tire group test of over 50 tires. In reality, the freedom of movement is limited, just like on the SCOR, despite the apparently short seat tube. Turning the Boost level up to +2 is a bit like increasing the Support level on a Specialized Levo, or the Assistance Character on a Shimano system. On the trail, it scores points with its light-footed but demanding handling, which will suit experienced flow trail riders best. - Mid-high pivot Smoothlink rear suspension design As a pedal-assisted e-mountain bike, the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Alloy 70 is powered by a Dyname 4.0 Mountain Bike Drive, 250W nominal power, 880W peak power, 108Nm max torque motor and a Li-Ion, integrated, removable; compatible with second Overtimepack battery (314 Wh), 720 Wh battery. Fork RockShox Yari RC 160mm 37mm Offset Shock Words: Jonas Mssig, Rudolf Fischer, Julian Schwede Photos: Julian Lemme, Robin Schmitt, Peter Walke. If you think, Cool!, we have to disappoint you. So, grab a beer or a cappuccino and enjoy the next pages filled with information, background knowledge, (tech) know-how, tops & flops and the most important tips for newcomers and experts alike. However, there is still some mechanical noise and vibration thats caused by the idler and lower chainguide. Even while out of the saddle, with my chest hanging over the bars to keep the front wheel weighted, the power feels easy to modulate, allowing you to make the most of the high-traction suspension and grippy rubber. If I was being really picky, Id suggest the seat tube angle could be steeper. With a tough carbon frame, a 625 watt-hour battery and more than six inches of front-fork travel, this bike can climb and descend with the best of them. Cable management is nice and tight, though the external wiring at the handlebar and along the non-driveside chainstay isnt as tidy as some other bikes on the market. The Orbea Rise shows how its done! Our Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay C70 test bike has delivered near faultless performance during our time with it, which is hardly a surprise given its such a well specd bike. Orbea shows how its done with the battery and motor concept of the Rise. For example, FOX recommends a complete service of the FOX 36 or 38 at annual intervals or after 125 hours of use whichever comes first. All bikes with Shimano EP8 or Bosch Performance Line CX motors have a design-related motor rattle when the chain is loaded (under suspension compression), which usually occurs on the downhill or on flat or rough ground. They are your only contact with the ground and influence traction, braking distances and the handling of your bike, as well as contributing to its suspension. As you can see, tires are a complex issue. Exceptions are last years test winners and best buys. The Shimano XT brakes have been powerful and totally consistent, with the non-finned pads delivering a rattle-free ride. Sadly, on the Rocky Mountain, the battery rattles. Perhaps the noisy idler also convinced me that the Altitude Powerplay wouldnt be as efficient as its competitors. Bosch bring up the rear in this respect. Class 3 electric bikes integrate a motor that activates only when the rider is pedaling and top out at 28mph (and feature a speedometer). Do you want a minimalist display or an unobtrusive Shimano Bluetooth connector (EW-EN100 dongle)? Want to avoid unpleasant surprises after buying your bike? RIDE-9 Adjustable Geometry + Suspension Rate. Theres nothing but thumbs up for the tyre spec, especially the choice of a 3C MaxxGrip compound up front.