Stella63

I think ideally I need to see both bikes - which is not easy when there's very little stock and none in my area. Rutland cycling do a 30 day trial period but they don't stock Trek bikes. Does any other online seller do that do you know?

Thanks. All this talk about dongles lol. I'm not looking into that, but appreciate the help on the forks and bikes .

Thanks - so 160 is probably ok - and suspension can be locked out for road use if wanted. Sounds good. Wish I could find somewhere near enough to try bikes out (hardly any in stock and not in my region). Do any online sellers do a 30 day trial period? I know rutland cyling do but they don't stock Trek.

Thanks. Yes I did think it didn't have the best fork. I assume the lower travel is because it's meant to be more of a "do all" bike rather than just a mountain bike. So the Rail 5 - would the fork travel of 160 be an issue when doing lighter trails or not? I've ridden the turbo levo on country roads (150 travel I think) with no issues. But assume the riding position is also different on the rail 5 to the powerfly fs4?

Cheers. Didn't realise the 4FS had a bigger battery.

Thanks. I'm not sure I understand all the technicalities there :-) Not bothered about a dongle. Just wondering if the Trail 5 is overkill or the Powerfly 4FS is underkill

Hello. Following on from my initial introductory message, I've given more thought to my biking needs and decided I want full suspension and pay a bit more than I'd been considering as a result. I've been hiring ebikes while on holiday the last few years and have used a Specialized Turbo Levo and a Trek Powerfly 5. The Trek was ok but a really bad ride on rough ground. The Levo is too expensive and they've changed a lot since I last rode one so not sure how different they are now. I have a lot of good trails in the area and although I don't do heavy mountain biking, do like to get out into the wilderness and some trails are a bit hilly and rough. I've kind of narrowed it down to Trek Powerfly 4FS and Trek Rail 5 and wondered what opinions there are on these two bikes. The Powerfly 4FS seems to fit my needs. But wondering if it would manage hilly trails as well as the Rail 5. The Rail 5 is probably more than I need but presumably it will still ride well on level trails.

Thanks.

Ok so any more recommendations for electric hardtail mountain bikes please? What do people think about that cube? It's hard finding things in stock as well so that might determine a few things. The other thing I'd looked at was the Specialized Turbo Tero 4,0 but it seems expensive when there are some full suspension bikes the same price. I liked the idea of the stepthrough version but that only comes as an "equipped" version and although equipped might be good it really makes it a lot heavier - 26kg - when most electric full suspension bikes are only about 23kg,

Ah ok. Hadn't thought about that!

What's a dongle?

I am not a serious biker - I'm doing it for exercise and enjoyment and to get out more. After some health issues last year and because I want to do more than just hire one on holiday. On the other hand I still want a good bike I enjoy riding :-) And prefer off road on trails - but will do short trips locally as well.

Can't afford 10k unfortunately .

So basically I'm ok with an electric hardtail mountain bike even with rocky gravel trails? And if it's a bit hard and bouncy at the back like the Powerfly I can make that better with different tyres? It didn't exactly jacknife on rocky terrain but it did mean I had to stand up all the time on rough ground. Grass was ok but the trail was just a flat level trail with the odd lumpy bit of stone.

Thanks. Can't remember which article I read where it basically said hardtail electric bikes are pointless for rough tracks.