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This is a long thread and I confess to not having read all of it as they tend to go a bit off track, but as others have suggested, if it's what you want, buy it. That's what I did. They are good bikes, Specialized warranty is legendary. With some lighter wheels etc mine was down to 18.5 kg including pedals. It handles well, used it for a bit of everything, woods, mountains, trails, including a 115 km cross country ride with some fitter non ebike pals (extender battery fitted for that one!). Mines for sale now though as I'm fit enough for the 'analogue' bike again. If you're worried about the cost, buy something like mine, half the price, under warranty, try it, use it, sell it on if you want to change up or try something else . You won't lose a bunch of money doing that and you'll have a bunch of fun doing it. Do it. Enjoy your new/used bike now.
Here it is, the "pig rolled in glitter".
I was finally invited to collect it after the 8th day of waiting for a PDI. I've spent the morning cleaning brake fluid off the fork legs and brake levers, greasy smears from the entire bike, sorted the absolute birds nest of hoses and cables, removed the broken dork disc which was flapping freely behind the cassette amongst other things. Absolutely, the worst build I've ever seen on a new bike.
But anyway it's here now and ready to ride. Unfortunately, there's 50mph winds and torrential rain outside so I might wait until Monday.
The plan was to ride Hamsterley today but the bike is 5 days late so the Mrs went up north without me.
I definitely need to go up to a heavier spring but other than that it feels mint. I'll do a fork service and see if there's a volume spacer in the negative spring. If there is I'll launch it into the bin where it belongs.
It comes up shorter than my other bikes but I deliberately sized down so the wife can ride it. The plan is to have another lighter spring or a basic air shock which we can quickly swap in and maybe a different handlebar. I really like the 800mm width and she probably wants 760 max.
It'll be a faff for a while but I can imagine us ending up with another e-bike by this time next year. Or she'll lose interest and I'll fully adopt this one.
I thought I was bad, but I've never seen someone trying harder to pretend they didn't really want an, ebike but circumstances mean they've been forced into it 🤣
Enjoy, you'll love it. It's OK to admit it! 😉
I fully admit I can't wait to ride it! I'm a bit paranoid about going solo at Wharny or Greno until it's added to the house insurance. I don't have that particular anxiety with my other bikes. Scallys aren't interested in human powered bicycles anymore.
I'm wondering how accurate these online spring calculators are. This has a 502lb spring and it's a bit on the soft side but the calculator is putting me well over 600lb.
Looks great - I’m sure you’ll have tons of fun on it!
Regarding the spring rate, like my Levo it’s not very progressive and has quite a high leverage ratio, so you’ll need quite a firm coil for your weight (and it’s heavier than a normal bike).
Got this on my watchlist
First ride today. The overiding feature was the storm and if I didn't have a new bike sitting here I would have stayed home.
I might as well drop some first impressions for the people who have read this far...
It took 50 minutes to go from near Meersbrook Park to Ox Stones above Lady Cannings. It's almost 6 miles, gradually uphill all the way and there was a fierce headwind. The battery plummeted from 100% to about 80% and then slowed down.
When I got there I did 2 laps of Blue Steel. This is where my main concerns were put to rest. On the twisty, bermy stuff the bike felt mint. It's silent, planted and it rips corners. Even though I set the fork up too hard and I'm running 50% sag on the rear it was very promising.
I started the return journey with exactly 50% left and only used 14% to get home.
I don't know how the bike is configured. I've only glanced at the app so have no idea what settings I'm running. The 'power' is erm, understated. The power delivery is very soft, you can barely feel it fading in and out. There's no hard cut when the assistance hits the speed limit which is nice.
The bike doesn't ride itself. I was still pedalling and getting a sweat on. Heart rate was 131 average and 172 max. It definitely doesn't pull you along like a full power bike it's more of a gentle push. Today though, in that wind, I managed to sit and spin when I definitely would have been off and walking on my other bike.
I need some kind of protection for the downtube because every little pedal and grain of sand hitting the carbon sounds like a gun shot.
I can't wait to ride it in less dramatic weather. New spring is on the way so suspension will be sorted this week. Even the Specialized tyres might survive the cut.
The wife, unfortunately, has to work all week. So she won't get her first taste until next weekend at the earliest. I'll just have to bed it in for her.
Glad you like it. We started in 2017 sharing an ebike. Wasn't long before we had more than one 😂
Regarding the tyres I fitted the new 2 4 Butcher Grid Gravities before we started our first trip in May. Just comming to the end of the last trip They have been hammered hard in all types of terrain and conditions. Run them at 16 psi front and rear with no inserts.
Not had a problem with performance and durability. Rear could be ready for replacing before the Peak winter.
Great stuff!
I think the most undervalued ebike thing is to make headwinds much less annoying - I’ve used mine for pure XC rides when it’s been too windy to ride in the woods safely (ash dieback making the trees even more likely to fall on you) and too windy to pedal a bike in the open at more than walking pace.
If the Specialized tyres are the T9 compound on the front and a Grid Trail or Grid Gravity casing on the rear (depending on your gnar factor) they’ll be good.
OP, Great to read you picked up the bike and enjoyed the first ride.
Now for the sales pitch...I have an Ohlins 18074 - 17 which is the 640lbs one if the 605 is too soft, £30 posted.
The 605 is 18075 series and mine is the 18074 which is 5mm longer, I think you're okay going slightly longer on springs, its shorter you have an issue, but do check if interested!
Thanks for the offer I'll let you know how I get on. I need a 67mm spring for my Airdrop, it might fit that.
I promise I won't post an article every time I ride the bike I did another familiar route today to get the feel for it.
I had very sore legs this morning. I never would have gone out if I didn't have a motor plus new bike vibes.
I went to Dronfield and explored the golf course area where I heard people were building trails. I'm pleased to report I found all the berms and jumps. I missed them last time, they're pretty well hidden.
It was a 32km/20mile loop and I used 85% battery. I thought I'd use more to be honest. I did some absolutely enormous road climbs which would be totally impossible on the normal bike. For me anyway.
I did lots of dicking around. Slithering up greasy climbs and shooting up and down steep bits. It was good fun.
I need to work out the power levels. Off and Eco basically feel exactly the same and Turbo is no different to Trail.
I need some proper trails next. Probably Wharny on Friday if the new spring arrives as I don't want to batter it while it's running so soft. Then I need to put it back to Wife Spec for the weekend.
The default app settings are awful. I run mine 25/25 in Eco, 50/50 Trail, 80/80 in Turbo. If I need 100% I use Microtune, mainly on my commute.
Enjoy! I love mine.
I use 25/25 50/50 80/100.
Power delivery in turbo starts limiting a bit at 40% battery and more severely at 20%
Then I need to put it back to Wife Spec for the weekend.
This is soooo leading to a second e-bike purchase 😀
I had very sore legs this morning. I never would have gone out if I didn't have a motor plus new bike vibes.
And I get that too. I put just as much effort in when on the e-bike - legs are just as sore afterwards but I've covered a lot more ground. 38km/1,180m elevation using 350Wh(ish) of my 430Wh battery, with quite soggy ground conditions at times and draggy tyres.
This is soooo leading to a second e-bike purchase 😀
Mate, you don't even know! I'm trying to decide which of my 2 regular bikes I can live without. Top choice I think would be a low spec Vala or Druid and frame swap my Airdrop as everything would fit. I love the Edit though. If I sold that I'd end up looking at DH bikes. It never ends.
Anyway, it's irrelevant for now it'll be this time next year before I'm seriously looking.
Also, yeah I'm working pretty hard because I'm pedalling with new-bike enthusiasm. I'm just doing it on climbs which I'd usually be walking up.