Retyred1

Hardtail all the way for me. I’ve always said if I’m still riding at 80 years of age I may look at a FS, but meanwhile the hardtail does all I want. Sometimes think owners believe they need the most expensive bike (which usually are FS) thinking that it’ll climb and perform better. The opposite normally happens.

I think you brought well. I'm no expert as the only ebike I've ever ridden is a Yamaha powered Haibike. But I love it.

A wee bit of trivia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_Street In New Zealand a couple hundred kms from home. I've walked it and it really is steep!

I agree here RobF, I've had a Haibike Sduro (Yamaha) for near 2 years and done over 2500kms. Never once replaced the chain or any other gear - in fact I've only ever had 1 puncture. I really can't understand why some members are replacing chains and cassettes after a few hundred kms. Going by remarks on here a Yamaha should chew through chains, being practically zero cadence. To be fair I don't bother measuring my chain with a Park tool, far rather just do a good visual check. It is kept well oiled with my own mix. Most of my riding is off road mountain tracks ( I live in a mountainous area in NZ) so it does get a good workout. Perhaps at my age I'm not as strong as some riders so this may contribute to chain life. I've never ridden a bike with a hub motor so can't comment on that.

Thanks guys, I think I have my head around what you have said. I guess one of my queries was is it normal for a bike manufacturer to have a tapered head on the frame yet install a straight steerer. I can only assume at this stage that the head is a normal size.

When I purchased my Haibike Sduro Hardnine I knew it was their budget model so I intended to upgrade a few bits as time and $ permitted. The Suntour forks were high on my upgrade list. I have been offered some Pikes off a new bike at a great price but just checked to make sure they would fit. The steering head on my bike had a large taper from bottom to top so thought this was ok but dropped the forks to be sure. The stem was straight! There was a smaller Crown race bearing top and larger on bottom and I guess inserts inside the head. Wondering if this is a true taper head with inserts to allow the fitting of the straight stem or a straight head just made to look good? Never seen this on a factory setup but I guess was done to save a few dollars on the fork setup.

Your probably right, Toyota & Yamaha have a very close relationship with each holding shares in the other company, but not ownership. In the past they have worked with each other on motors and very closely in racing, I once owned an import Toyota van that was supplied to Yamaha racing - even had Yamaha brand on the alloy cam cover! 2012 Toyota & Yamaha entered into an arrangement to build ebikes. Don't know if this still exists.

I believe Yamaha is a subsidiary of Toyota. Sure I've read that somewhere.

D8veh/Jerry, I have never attempted to lace a wheel - it's the only job on my bikes that I am a bit afraid to do. I am replacing the front forks on my Haibike 29 and considering converting from 9mm QR to 15mm through axel, which means a new hub. Would lacing this wheel be achievable by an amateur who is handy with tools & bikes in general, or best to leave to the experts? Would I need any specific tools? Sorry OP for breaking into your thread.

You've certainly had some bad luck with the Kalkhoff, pity, because they do look a nice bike. I have a Haibike Sduro 4.0 Hardnine, which I believe is similar to the Trekking 5.0. Done approx 2000km with absolutly no problems. The Yamaha motor is a little noisier than some other types but it certainly has other advantages. Hope it all goes well for you, you deserve it.

This is an ebike forum so I know I shouldn't be dicussing non electric bike. The argument on hardtail v full sus comes down to horses for courses. Anyone who spends time on a HT will understand the handling advantages, there is a 'directness' that comes from having a ridgid back end that no FS bike can ever replicate. The shorter chainstays and slacker geometry assist around tight corners and the fixed rear wheel position gives great feedback. The latest frame geometry and weight advantages allowed by HT's are the reason most top riders are riding or returning to them.The FS bikes certainly have their advantage downhill where a little more weight can be a good thing. But uphill on that hard slog a good rider on a hardtail wins every time. I hate going fast downhill, it truly scares the hell out of me, plus not having spare dollars to spend and as a most my rides being very hilly and technical a hardtail suits me just fine.

Be very aware before spending a lot of hard earned money on a top spec full sus bike it will not automatically turn you into a good rider. Most top competitive riders use hardtails, unless in downhill events where full sus does help, but for climbing and versatility a top rider on a hardtail will win every time. A full suspension may give you comfort but that's about all. When I used to enter local races it amused us that riders that turned up with top spec bikes, huge suspension travel etc. were usually in the last few to finish.

The OP stated he won't be riding red and blacks.

40 years of biking - mainly off road and I've never had a full sus bike. I have ridden some and don't like them at all, don't seem to climb as good on steep undulating tracks and the general feeling of bouncing do nothing for me. May be good for quick downhill runs though. I would spend my money on a reasonably specced hardtail but don't go overboard with top line stuff - it's not necessary. 160mm suspension etc. are really over the top on an ebike and are aimed at 'look at me!' type riders. My thoughts only.

To me, as a totally uninterested party living half a world away the tour seems to be full of corruption and bullying, but that's just my personal opinion and who am I to question?

[quote="anotherkiwi, post: 385305, member: 12940" Seriously congratulations on the AC, back where it belongs, out of the hands of US billionaires Great to see Team NZ win the AC but l'm just not sure if the taxpayer should be paying for a bunch of rich pricks to play with their toys and get paid millions to do it. Be interesting to see what format that they choose though.

What a great bunch came over to New Zealand to show their support for the Lions Rugby team - don't know what parts of Britain and Ireland they came from but a small touristy town near us was a sea of red between games, estimated 20,000 travelled over and really captured the hearts of us Kiwis with their ready wit and respect toward our country. And if the Press can be believed, spent a lot of dosh. Also drowned out the All Black supporters at the tests! So glad to have them here and see you all again in 12 years.

No - that's an easy mistake to make - the rotations are still the same where ever the magnet is on the spoke.

I brought a sDuro 29er 4.0 hardtail around 3 months back. This is Haibike's budget model, has the brilliant Haibike frame but cheaper components. Absolutly love it. The so called 'Yamaha zero cadence' is in my opinion the way to go - make rough hills far easier to climb. Also the hardtail for me is great - climbs and handles a lot better that a FS model (maybe not as good downhill but I don't rock jump anyway) and easier to maintain. I intend to upgrade some of the components as I can afford it - Rockshoxs will be first as soon as my local shop replaces a set. It has Acera derailleur and shifter but I've had these on previous bikes and find them extra reliable and able to take plenty of rough stuff, although probably will replace the shifter at some stage. Brake are Tektro hydraulic disks and are fine. Wheels seem pretty good but will keep an eye on those. By the time I finish I will have a bike that will suit me, far better than spending extra on a top spec bike that performs worse. I honestly don't think you can get much better than a Haibike.

I really wish dongles or the like we're never invented. I can see major problems with access to conservation land here in New Zealand where a lot of walking tracks also allow bikes. While I was on one a few weeks back, noticed an ebiker on a hub motor type bike travelling at speed up a single way track and yelling at walkers to get out of his way. At the rate he was travelling it must have been derestricted and had a throttle fitted as there wasn't much pedalling going on. People didn't look at all happy. Only takes a few upset walkers to complain to DOC and ebikes will be barred from these areas. From a selfish point it wouldn't affect me too much as I have access to a huge privately owned mountainous sheep station that includes probably hundreds of kms of farm tracks and old miners trails.

Well done! Doesn't it feel good when purchasing something from people that treat you so good? Gives you that piece of mind about handing over so much hard earned cash. Do the bikes have Shimano or Bosch motors?

Hi Emco5 If you do find an answer to your query can you please let us know - I intend to fit larger tyres on my wife's Shimano Steps powered Scott and would prefer to have the correct speed showing.

Hi John, welcome to the forum. Never seen a Powerfly before but by coincidence I was in my local bike shop yesterday and noticed these great looking bikes, had a closer look and they were Powerflys. Just in the shop a couple of days earlier. Really impressed with the build quality - as good as I've seen but I'm no expert. They only had FS models so wouldn't suit my type of terrain or riding style but they were great lookers. All the best with your purchase and hope it performs as great as it looks.

Great hearing that your Yamaha Sduro is still going strong after so many miles. Certainly gives me confidence in my purchase a couple of months back. Mine is the Sduro Hardnine 4 which is Haibike's budget model. I am really happy with the way it performs and so glad that it's a hardtail- most of the tracks I ride are very steep mountains and comparing my bike with my mates XDuro FS on these steep uphill slopes really shows the difference - although some of this may be due to the Yamaha 'zero cadence' allowing quicker pickup around rocks and obstacles. We have swapped bikes and he also prefers the Yamaha for climbing, - downhill may be a little different though!. No trouble yet with my cassette but I don't ride hard so hopefully it'll be ok although only done 600 kms. I will replace the front forks with Rock shoxs as soon as my local bike shop has a spare set from a new bike. The derailleur (Acera) seems ok along with the wheels, and no need to replace. Even being an entry model the bones and motor certainly seem very good and a little upgrading in the coming months will get it where I want it.

Hi AK. Yes, the Nevis is a bit out of the way but there's some great rides up there, big event once a year is the Pub to Pub MTB race from Garston Pub to Bannockburn pub. 80 kms of gutbusting riding, usually attracts several hundred competitors. Also love the tracks around the Manorburn Dam (where you would have gone skating) and of course the Central Otago Rail Trail passes close by. A pioneering project in NZ, this is where 150km of old rail track was lifted and a bike trail constructed - world renowned and passes over numerous bridges, viaducts and through tunnels, tens of thousands bike it each year and has given an economic boost to the region. Hope your son enjoyed his stay here and weather treated him ok - Queenstown seems to be very attractive to the younger ones! A couple of pics to show that not all of Central Otago is "dead mans gulch"!