rocky mountain altitude powerplay vs specialized levo rocky mountain altitude powerplay vs specialized levo

Watch our video review of the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay here: Despite its ability to mob through straight-line chunder, it rips turns with surprising nimbleness that had me constantly grinning from ear-to-ear. It is precisely these that we work out clearly and tangibly so that everyone has all the relevant information to make the right purchasing decision for themselves and their personal requirements. For efficient charging, the best bet is to set a reminder to charge your bike up the night before a ride: set it and forget it until the morning of your adventure. This differs to my experience of riding other e-MTBs, where Ill typically only ride in the Eco or Trail modes on technical ascents. 2-Bolt ISCG05 Tabs. In fact, the 437mm rear centre length is identical between the two bikes, and should be noted as being incredibly short for an e-MTB with 29in wheels and 160mm of rear travel. If I was being really picky, Id suggest the seat tube angle could be steeper. That way, a glance is all it takes to see whether the bike might be what youre looking for. This differs to the Shimano and Bosch systems where you can lightly tick over the pedals in those high-powered settings, and still get maximum output fromthe motor. And the changes are significant enough to make it a feature worth having something thats not always the case with flip chips found on other full suspension bikes. Specialized does about $500 million in annual revenue, Rocky does around $40 million. With this group test, we provide answers to the most important questions when buying and help you invest your hard-earned money in the right place and prevent you from making the wrong purchase. The change made an immediate improvement to weight distribution, improving stability on the descents and offering balanced grip between the front and rear wheels. For the 2022 season, the bike industry has come up with numerous technical developments as well as exciting new approaches and battery concepts that influence performance and that you have to consider before buying. In the end, everyone has to decide for themselves which handling compromises they want to accept in favour of more battery capacity. Thats on the heavy side even for a big travel e-MTB, though theres certainly nothing dainty about this bike. We are convinced that more than 700 Wh in the tank isnt necessary for a trail all-rounder like the one we are looking for in this test. the best Bosch bike, the best bike with a 750 Wh battery or the best bike with 150 mm travel and 29 wheels. Remember the summer your little brother grew six inches and, for the first time, forced you to yell uncle when wrestling in the basement? And arm pump after a long run is also reduced (click here for an explanation of the term For a better overview, we present all 13 bikes and their tops and flops below. It makes more sense to have a battery capacity that is linked to the frame size. It's perfect for hyper-aggressive riders who want to ride the hardest trails without a chairlift or truck shuttle. 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) 89% of our reader survey participants plan to buy a full suspension bike, and we think thats a very sensible decision. As for rebound damping, I set both the adjusters on fork and shock a click or two slower than halfway. Then you should pay close attention now! For us, stone-baked pizza, a fresh ocean breeze and good espresso are just as much part of a successful day on the bike as flow on varied singletrack, the occasional adrenaline spike and high-fives at the end of the trail. Ive also spent some time self-shuttling at my local downhill zone as part of a standardised range test to see how far I could ride on a single battery charge. This increase in air volume gave me access to more travel, while providing a deeper and floatier feel to the rear suspension, with less bouncing around during seated pedalling an important aspect for an e-MTB. A steel chainring surely makes more sense for an e-MTB. However, we did not like the integration of the new Bosch Smart system and its 750 Wh battery. In the future, we expect to see huge internal battery capacities only on touring and trekking ebikes. It is somewhat planted, a byproduct of its overall mass and the mid-high suspension design, so while I have found itll take to the air, its not the poppiest bike going. Your personal setup and the factory settings of the suspension fork and shock from the bike manufacturer also play a major role. Testing the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay has been quite the journey of discovery. 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. 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. While a bit sluggish on flats, it's rowdy on descents. The highly responsive torque sensor means that while power comes on with minimal lag, it drops off just as quickly when you stop pedalling, which can occasionally be a problem on awkward technical climbs. We believe that every rider has different needs and preferences, and its up to you to find out what these are and then choose a bike based on that. The handlebars are a bit cluttered, especially for smaller riders. On bikes with Shimano or Specialized motors, the support levels of the motor can be adjusted to suit your personal needs via the app. As you pedal, the chain tightens and pushes up against a jockey wheel, which is the main torque sensor for the system. Top! If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. We also clear up half-truths, examine forum discussions, marketing promises and tell you what really matters. However, there have been times where I would have liked external control of the high-speed rebound to calm down the rear end when facing more violent impacts. 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. On flow trails, it also scores points with its poppy suspension and balanced riding position. With this in mind: forget about the numbers! And while the overall integration is neat and the controls on the Altitude Powerplay are a vast improvement over the previous model, the main buttons on the remote switch are too light and a bit vague. Unfortunately, the range of functions is significantly limited compared to Shimano and Specialized, and the added value is low. Its a heavy bike after all, and the deceleration is noticeable when the motor isnt engaged. While it has a specific use in mind with its unique character, it does what it is aimed at well. These lighter inserts arent necessarily employed for hardcore rim protection, but rather to lock the tyre beads in place to prevent burping. 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. You want a bike that delivers more motor power than a Bosch system? Press Fit BB89.5. And Mom wouldnt be able to save you. Price: $8999.00. The Jumbotron does allow you to personalise the motors assistance levels and Boost character though, which well touch on in a bit. As you can see, tires are a complex issue. Rocky Mountain. Copyright 2023 E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine. The difference in torque only becomes noticeable on very steep ramps and when starting and accelerating. Again, swings and roundabouts. Full Sealed Cartridge Bearings. My only complaint is that the 150mm dropper post felt on the short side, limiting how much I could move around the bike when jumping or bombing down much steeper sections of trail. Last years Best Buy and the cheapest bike (7,199) in the test field, it was unable to defend the title. The rubber fork bumper is simple, but does exactly what its meant to without need for a funky steering limiter headset. 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. What is important here is what is possible, not just what is stated on paper. 2019 Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay A70 E-mtb, Emtb - $4,000 craigslist - Map data OpenStreetMap bicycle frame material: aluminum bicycle type: mountain brake type: disc (hydraulic) condition: excellent electric assist: pedal assist frame size: Large make / manufacturer: Rocky Mountain suspension: frame and fork (full suspension) With the range extender, even really long tours are no problem. Unfortunately it doesnt have a clock a simple but much appreciated feature that we love about the MasterMind TCU display on the new Levo. Clack-clack-clack, bzzz, bzzz youve probably heard it before. . Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Review Home Reviews Brands Rocky Mountain Reviews . A couple of rides in, I removed the single volume spacer out of the Float X2 shock. One thing to note is that our test bike features the extended lower headset cup, which should only come on the Instinct frames. 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. After all, its rarely the average rated power that is decisive for real riding but the maximum power and torque in the respective support levels that the motors can release during peak loads. Pedal strikes also became an issue, as the BB ends up being quite low in that slack setting. Of course, price plays a role for most of you. The Trek Rail 9.9 leaves the test crew with very mixed feelings. the best eMTB of 2021, the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10K, went into this test almost unchanged and demonstrated that it is still a strong all-rounder. Personally, Im not sure Id want to give up the travel though, especially when the Altitude Powerplay handles as well as it does. If you want to chase over trails at high speed, it wont be. The Dyname 4.0 motor on the Rocky Mountain does not have an app, but here too you can fine-tune the support levels via the display. Actually, the rule here is: more is more! Dual bearings are employed in the chainstay pivot for increased stiffness and durability, while external shields are added to all pivot bearings to ward off contaminants. Last years test winner i.e. Tailles dispo. A fast trail ride with maximum support, a long tour, commuting, an excursion with a child or dog trailer, low support to optimise the range people use their eMTBs in different, sometimes contradictory ways, and it makes sense to be able to adjust the motor individually beyond just the available support modes. Complementing the new drive unit are two completely redesigned modelsthe trail-focused, 140mm-travel Instinct Powerplay and the 160mm-travel, e nduro-oriented Altitude Powerplay. Only knock? In terms of connectivity and customisability of the motor system, it sets the tone in the test field together with the Specialized S-Works Turbo Kenevo SL. All in all, its all about the right balance and set-up. There have been some small rolling changes to the Altitude Powerplay in that time, but the 2022 model sees the platforms biggest overhaul yet with an entirely new chassis, an updated motor, bigger battery and a refined user interface. An eMTB is more than the sum of its parts and the arms race for metrics like battery size, motor power or suspension travel rarely produces better bikes. 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. In fact, I was able to clean one bastard of a climb on my local test circuit that I have never cleaned before. Tops & flops, winners and losers of the group test, Find out everything you need to know in our motor group test, a complete reference in our sister magazine ENDURO, click here for an explanation of the term, Weve summarised what this can cost per year and what you need to bear in mind. Was. Which of these would perform better for Mostly scetchy jump trail as well as a pump track with a steep fire road climb. Batteries with a 600700 Wh capacity have become firmly established on sporty eMTBs in recent years and hit the sweet spot for most of you. In this group test, were not just looking for the best eMTB of 2022. The motor is seamless and quiet and the powertrain's position gives it an aggressive feel on descents. But is more always better? Tires are elementary. Like every person, every bike has its own character that inevitably embodies both strengths and weaknesses. The motors have an average torque of 81 Nm. But whats surprised me most about this bike is just how adaptable and enthusiastic it is for all-roundriding. For this, eMTBs should have four-piston brakes with discs of at least 200 mm. This is the best way to find out which battery concept suits you. I came into this test expecting the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay to be a heavy, excessively powerful and glued-to-the-ground e-MTB. Congratulations! Ive been testing a Medium size in the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay C70 to suit my 175cm height. My only other concern is with the rear end length. I had the pleasure of riding the original model at the European launch way back in 2017, but weve admittedly not had a heap of experience with Rocky Mountain bikes since then. Compare. This is indeed a bloody good e-MTB. However, were very fortunate that we get to work where others go on holiday, i.e. Power is nothing without control. For 2022, numerous manufacturers present bikes with enormous battery capacities of up to 1,034 Wh and celebrate their increased range. Its actually great encouragement, and if you go for it, its possible to ride this bike very fast uphill. But, what the relatively small Rocky Mountain has accomplished by making its own power unit, might actually put them ahead of where the billion-dollar behemoth, Trek, is right now with its e-bike platform. The SCOR 4060 Z ST XT impresses with its touring capabilities, the customisable paint protection films and the fun ride on flow trails. Besides chain and drivetrain maintenance, your brakes, tires and suspension are the most important candidates for being serviced regularly. The two most expensive bikes in the test field, the Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo and Specialized S-Works Turbo Kenevo SL, cost 15,000 each. But if you compare them in a meaningful way, they provide exciting insights into trends and developments. Class 2 e-bikes are throttle-assisted and are equipped with a motor that can move the bike forward without pedaling. Inevitably, that also includes the battery and motor concept. - Brilliant cornering performance As part of our annual reader survey, more than 16,520 E-MOUNTAINBIKERS answered around 90 questions, helping us to make this test as relevant as possible! 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. As a Light eMTB with the lowest motor output (35 Nm) in the group test, the Kenevo SL is an exotic bike and has no chance of winning the test as an all-rounder, but it still has its advantages. There are four assistance modes you can choose from; Eco, Trail, Trail+ and Ludicrous. Speaking of climbing, the Dyname 4.0 motor doesnt produce a lot of overrun. Altitude lineup | Rocky Mountain DESIGNED FOR Enduro WHEEL SIZE 29" & 27.5" FRONT TRAVEL 170 mm REAR TRAVEL 160 mm Race circuits or Sunday Shreds, the Altitude has you covered. If there is one bike that will convert diehard enduro riders into e-bike junkies, the Levo SL is it. We are looking for the best all-rounder that can take on any trail! The Instinct employs a shorter stroke shock, which shrinks rear travel down to 140mm. Internal Cable Routing. Mid-drive motors provide power in the same way: the difference is in location mid-drive motors are located in the middle of the bike, in the bottom bracket area. The first consideration for many uninformed ebike buyers is a bikes range. It speeds up acceleration and allows you to access more power with less input, at the expense of draining the battery a bit faster. There is huge power under the hood, but because of the progressive delivery, you have to pedal with some meaning in order to access it. Fork RockShox Yari RC 160mm 37mm Offset Shock - Masses of torque on tap Thanks to its strong riding performance and intuitive handling, it is suitable for beginners as well as experienced trail acrobats. The motor is called Dyname 4.0, and like the frame its had a significant update for 2022. With the exception of the Dyname and Brose motor in the Levo, all motors in the test field rattle, some more, some less, loudly. The pedalling position on the Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Carbon 90 Rally Edition is comfortable, making it ideal for longer outings. With that in mind, here are seven of our favorite eMTBs today. The rubber compound can be more durable and harder for reduced rolling resistance e.g. The other has the new Smart System 2022, which is also based on the Bosch Performance Line CX motor. The powerful and adaptable Dyname 4.0 motor is ready to go when you are, surging forward with 108 Nm of torque the. Planet3 is een niet-invasief afstemapparaat dat eenvoudig te installeren en te verwijderen is omdat het in het achterwiel van de ebike is genstalleerd. The swings and roundabouts of designing a modern e-MTB eh? Yet today, bikes with batteries are the fastest growing category in the sport. Add to Basket. If you value easier handling and more riding fun, you have to find the right balance less is often more. Altitude Powerplay Alloy 30 Coil New Color $6,199.00 USD Altitude Powerplay Alloy 50 New Color Read the new issue of E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine now. They incorporate new technologies, new motors and in some cases huge batteries that will make the 2022 bike season more exciting than ever. for 2023. Bosch bring up the rear in this respect. : Maxxis Minion DHF WT EXO 27.5 x 2.5 / R = Maxxis Aggressor WT EXO 27.5 x 2.5. That is A LOT of power, but Rocky has worked hard to make the motors output as directly proportional to rider input as possible, so its more like a dimmer switch than an on/off button. For years, pedal-assists were forbidden from trails, non-existent in shops, shunned from mainstream media and magnets for vitriol. We gathered the most interesting facts from the test field for you and compared them with last years test. As you can see, just an annual inspection isnt enough. Tero X kommer med en Turbo Full Power 2.2-motor fra Specialized, og batteri p hele 710 watt-timer (den rimeligste utgaven har 530Wh), og dreiemoment opp mot 90 newtonmeter. If you put the specs and marketing slogans aside and examine the characters of each of the bikes, you will find a model for almost every riding style and terrain in this test. 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. A clever modular concept can be a sensible alternative to a standard system with a 630 Wh battery. But its not just kinematics, components and suspension travel that are decisive. While we cant comment on long-term durability, so far weve not encountered any issues with the Dyname 4.0 motor on our test bike.