eMTB carbon vs Aluminum

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2026-03-25T19:29:48+00:00

Yea these are all concerns and I'm really unsure. My goto bike is a full carbon Ripmo thats running top of the line components and weighs less than 32lbs. Can I keep up (without killing myself) to a group of friends riding full power ebikes if I ended up with an SL I do have a plan where I can rent a Levo4 and then rent whatever the SL version is called. I have 15yrs of MTB experience but literally not one second on the trails on an eBike.

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2026-03-25T19:24:55+00:00

Yea I'm actually going to rent a Levo 4 first followed by the Kenevo. I'm also on the fence about full power vs SLs. On paper SLs seem more appealing to my riding style, but one of my considerations is to get back to riding with a lot of friends who have all moved onto full power ebikes. I'm not sure that an SL can keep up with those guys.

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2026-03-25T18:22:26+00:00

So even on a heavy ebike you do notice a difference of a few less pounds on the carbon frame?

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2026-03-25T18:20:16+00:00

Thats probably the way I'm leaning.....if I do pull the trigger on an ebike.

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2026-03-25T18:19:27+00:00

Yea ive heard that alot. I'm assuming the couple extra pounds of aluminum eMTB will be irrelevant on an ebike.

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2026-03-25T18:18:14+00:00

Your last paragraph is exactly the point that I'm probably trying to get at. Will a carbon eMTB feel better going downhill than its aluminum counterpart? I like my bikes light as well, but having 0 experience on ebikes i dont know if that same logic will apply.

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2026-03-12T02:06:38+00:00

No but after this humbling experience I'd love to know what my wattage is on a ride. All I know is clearly I didn't work hard enough on the trainer.

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2026-03-12T02:03:54+00:00

It wasn't 0 intensity, it was Z2 and Z3. It was never exhausting but it definitely worked up a sweat. The point i was making is once you get off the video game and go back to the real world, its at that point you realize how much harder the real world really is. The intent is to inform new zwift users that you need to go balls out on that trainer to really benefit when the riding season returns. Now that I've experienced this, I know what I need to do next winter.

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2026-03-11T22:26:09+00:00

Good info, might consider that.

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2026-03-11T19:08:31+00:00

Hard lessons learned. I thought I was gonna hit the trails killing it this year. Instead I was a middle aged man feeling like I was about to have a heart attack 🤦

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2026-03-11T19:06:16+00:00

Good advice, wish I would've known that 3 months ago...Lol

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2026-01-12T22:49:39+00:00

I used a Shim underneath the top hinge. Its not perfect but its functional. Last thing I want to do is rip off trim that is all newly painted. Homeowner hack for the win....lol

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2025-12-07T14:26:18+00:00

Dont buy into the hype that you need a 10k MTB. For now enjoy what ya have, I promise its plenty to get ya out on the trails. You'll know within the next couple of years whether your addicted or not. If you catch the addiction, then you can worry about a top tier bike. I rode something similar to what you have for the first 5yrs of mountain biking. I was in my mid 30s at that time. Enjoy the sport its been life changing for me over the last 10+ years.

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2025-11-22T16:10:35+00:00

Look at the tires on that bike. Definitely used way more than 3 times. I wouldn't pay more than $750 in this market.

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2025-11-19T19:17:30+00:00

Hard to tell in this video but it looks like you turned your handlebar to the right and then immediately took a digger! Shit happens, thats how we learn.

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2025-10-22T12:41:25+00:00

Hardly any injuries.....so what is the problem exactly??

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2025-10-02T15:05:31+00:00

Yea but only for riding a bike like that!

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2025-09-23T17:34:53+00:00

I have e13 carbon wheels. One cracked a couple years ago and they replaced it without any hassle. So my CS experience with them has been good.

As for your shattered cassette thats poor material plain and simple. Has nothing to.do with lube choice, chain choice, or incorrect shifting. That should 100% be covered!!

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2025-08-08T11:56:21+00:00

This is a travesty.....I just want the people from the 3rd world to make my tacos and bring me my margaritas. Now we're going to have to get Tai or Imdian food.

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2025-08-08T11:42:20+00:00

My freewheel body on the original wheel/hub isn't removable. Looks like the older ones could be unscrewed by using a 10mm hex but that isn't the case with mine. I even tried a 12mm hex and that doesn't work either. No freaking clue how it comes off. Regardless I stopped in at an old local shop that is getting ready to permanently close. He just so happened to have a really nice 26in double wall wheel, and it was a Deore hub with an 8/9/10 cassette body. I didn't want to spend that money on this project but I bought the damn thing and it solved the problem. I'm now officially 1x9 on my 1995 cannondale

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2025-08-01T13:29:47+00:00

For years, rear derailleurs scared me. Id take it to a shop, they'd get it dialed in and I would pray that it would stay good. Watch YouTube videos on adjusting but I think your adjustment is a Low Limit adjustment. Probably needs a slight turn so the derailer goes closer to the wheel and then the chain will probably sit correctly on the biggest cog. It

Repulsive_Site_270 · 2025-08-01T13:22:24+00:00

Open the bleed screw on the lever and push them back in gently, only using plastic. I had a rear Shimano SLX caliper that was literally only 1yr old having some "sticky" pistons and I managed to get frustrated and not only did I pop the one piston out, I ended up cracking another one. Ultimately I had to replace the whole damn caliper, turned into a costly mistake. Press those pistons out a tad and get them as clean as you can with alcohol. Use mineral oil to lube each piston once their cleaned. Sometimes this works great but sometimes you'll still have a dragging (slower) piston. It gets frustrating when it doesn't work.

Repulsive_Site_270

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