Author: msumacc

Polygon Siskiu T7e

Posted on by msumacc

Best Priced eMTB

Polygon Siskiu T7e: https://bikesonline-usa.sjv.io/o4eWXm
For Starters

I’ve got to kick us off this time talking about the price of this bike. The Siskiu T7e is regularly priced at $4,199, but during their Black Friday sale BikesOnline has this bike priced at $3,199. Now, that’s an incredible price, especially considering that I mention more than once that this bike feels like a $5,000 bike with the level of components on it. Let’s get into it!

Motor & Battery

The Siskiu T7e is equipped with a Shimano EP801 motor and a Shimano 630 Wh battery. The EP801 is a 250W mid drive motor capable of producing 85Nm of torque. The battery charges to 80% in 3 hours and 100% in 5 hours and will carry you up to 87 miles in Eco or 31 miles in Boost. That battery is removable for convenient charging, but you can also charge it while it’s installed.

Drivetrain, Brakes, wheels & Tires

The Drivetrain on the Siskiu T7e is a mix and match Shimano 1×12. The shifters and rear derailleur give you crispy precision with the SLX range. The all-steel, 10-51T, microspline hub cassette is from the Deore line. The chain ring is 34T, also from Shimano.

The rims on the Siskiu T7e are 29ers from Entity. The XL3 is tubeless ready with a 35mm internal width. The tires are Schwalbe Hans Dampf which are also tubeless ready and 2.6″ wide.

The brakes on the Siskiu T7e are SRAM Code R hydraulic disc brakes. The rotors are 203mm both front and rear and the calipers are 4-piston. Part of being able to go fast is having the confidence in being able to stop, and these are confidence inspiring.

Suspension

The rear suspension on the Siskiu T7e gives you 140mm of travel from an SR Suntour Triair2. This has two piston set up adjustments as well as rebound adjustments, so you can really get it dialed in to just how you like to ride. The front fork will give you 150mm of travel from the SR Suntour Aion 35 Boost. This fork has boost thru-axles and a 51mm offset.

Extra Details

The size large Siskiu T7e that I’m riding came with a 170mm dropper post from TranzX and a saddle from Entity. I normally like Entity okay, but on this seat those shinier lines are kind of grippy, and I didn’t feel like I could move around on the seat as freely as I normally would. I’m also not a fan of the dropper post lever from TranzX, but that can easily be remedied with about 50 bucks. The Siskiu T7e comes with a side pull bottle cage and a 425mL bottle to fit in the triangle and under the suspension.

Final Thoughts

I’ve been wanting to ride the Siskiu T7e for a while now, and I really enjoyed my first ride out on this bike. This bike is gorgeous, and is packed with great components (especially for the price). I’m going to ride this a lot over the next few months to give you all a more long term review, but if you want to take advantage of that Black Friday pricing head on over to BikesOnline now using my link. It won’t cost you any extra, and it really helps out my channel by letting them know you got there from my review.

Siskiu T7e link: https://bikesonline-usa.sjv.io/o4eWXm

Lectric XPedition 2.0

Posted on by msumacc

A HUGE Upgrade for this Cargo eBike

Check out the XPedition 2.0 Here: https://lectricebikes.sjv.io/y2GVKy
For Starters

I recently got to travel out to the Lectric Headquarters as part of a media day, and I got to try out a few different bikes that I couldn’t talk about right away. However, I’m glad I can now tell you about the XPedition 2.0! This is an upgrade on the XPedition from the U.S. based company, and there are a couple of things that I knew I was going to be watching for.

  1. You all know I’ve been riding a different cargo eBike for a few months now, and I’ve complained about the speed wobble that occurs.
  2. The other thing is making sure this bike easily goes over 25 mph as a class 3 eBike.

I’m happy to report that it met and exceed both of these tests. Now, let’s get into the details.

Safety and Certificates

I mention in the video that the XPedition 2.0 passed a German standard for cargo bikes. A US-based bicycle testing lab put the XPedition 2.0 through the rigorous DIN standard testing process to prove the frame and fork can handle a 450lb maximum payload ride after ride. The XPedition 2.0 is rated to DIN 79010:2020-02.5.9.5.2. DIN testing is a crucial process used in various industries to ensure products meet specific standards for quality, safety, and performance. The term “DIN” stands for “Deutsches Institut für Normung,” which translates to the German Institute for Standardization. This institute develops norms and standards that are widely recognized and adopted globally.

The XPedition 2.0 is certified to UL 2849, and the XPedition’s lithium-ion batteries are certified to UL 2271.

Motor & Battery

The XPedition 2.0 is propelled by a 750W rear hub motor. The motor can produce 85Nm of torque and can peak to 1310W. The thumb throttle easily got me to 20mph and the newly added torque sensor easily and seamlessly took me up to top speed. There are several battery configurations and corresponding price points that you can order. For that reason, stating a mileage range is tricky, but the single (13Ah) battery version claims 60 miles of range while the Long-Range dual battery version (2 x 17.5Ah) claims up to 170 miles. Of course, all stated ranges vary based on terrain, weight, and level of power assist. Now most people aren’t taking a cargo bike on a 100 mile ride, but what it really means is that you can be confident running errands around town without worrying about your battery dying with a heavy load.

Drivetrain, Brakes, Tires, & Wheels

The XPedition 2.0 has a 1 x 8 drivetrain. The Shimano Altus derailleur will move you through the 11-32T cassette. The chainring is a 52T made out of forged aluminum. The long chain is from KMC and has an idler pulley for consistent chain tension. The brakes are hydraulic and the rotors are 180mm front and rear. The tires are 2.5″ wide on 20″ rims.

Comfort & Design

The XPedition 2.0 can haul up to 450 lbs. That a couple of small children kept comfy and safe by cushioned seats, running boards, and the orbitor, or a bunch of goods in the rear basket and up to four pannier bags. Any way you want it, you know you can haul it! This bike fits a wide range of heights with a dual extension seat post and fully adjustable stem. The chatter from the road can be calmed by the 50mm travel, dual spring front fork as well as an optional 40mm suspension seat post. The XPedition 2.0 comes equipped with a front head light, turn signals, and a rear tail light/brake light combo. The fenders will keep you dry, and the 15″ wide dual-leg kickstand will help keep you balanced.

Conclusion

At the time of publication, Lectric is doing special “launch pricing” for the new XPedition 2.0 with the single battery option costing $1,399 and the Long-Range dual battery option costing $1,999. I’m calling the XPedition 2.0 my cargo bike of the year for 2024, and at these special launch prices it’s a steal of a deal. If you’re interested in looking at the XPedition 2.0 or possibly getting one for yourself, I’d really appreciate if you used my links. It doesn’t cost you any extra, and it really helps out my channel.

https://lectricebikes.sjv.io/y2GVKy

Thanks for stopping by. Now, go ride your bike!

Superior XF 979 Trail

Posted on by msumacc

Full Carbon Frame & Full Suspension for only $2500

Superior XF 979: https://bikesonline-usa.sjv.io/jrNgaa
Ride Impressions 0:31

Today we’re looking at the Superior XF 979 Trail. This bike is super snappy and responsive. It was really quiet out on the trail. The geometry felt really comfortable at all speeds thanks to the modern head tube angle. The amount of travel felt really great for the type of riding that I think most people do, and at $2,500 at bikes online this full-carbon, full-suspension bike is a steal. Let’s get into the details!

Suspension 3:50

The front fork on the XF 979 is a Rock Shox Revelation with 140mm of travel. As I mentioned in the intro to the video, and this post, the head tube angle is 66° on this bike. Any lower than 65° and I feel like bikes get twitchy at slow speeds, and above 67° you get into the aggressiveness of an XC bike. So, this is really in that trail sweet spot. The rear shock is a Rock Shox Monarch with 130mm of travel. Front and rear both have lockout options for efficiency and adjustable air to match your weight and ride style.

Drivetrain, Wheels, Tires, and Brakes

The drivetrain on the XF 979 is a full Shimano 1×12. The shift levers, crankset (34T), and cassette (10-51T) are all the mid-range SLX. The chain is the bomb-proof, but “lower end” Deore, and where it really counts, the derailleur is the high end precision XT. It’s a mix and match system, with quality where it counts.

The XF 979 is a 29er with DT Swiss M1900 tubeless ready wheels and Schwalbe Nobby Nick tires. This bike is absolutely ready to shred.

The brakes are Shimano M6100 4 piston hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors front and rear.

The Extra Details

The XF 979 comes with a 150mm ONE Sport dropper post and a Fizi:k Terra Aidon X5 saddle. The headset is made by ACROS and has BlockLock to keep your bars from turning too far in an accident and damaging stuff… similar to the KnockBlock from Trek. To protect your carbon frame, and the beautiful paint job, there is a thick rubber rock guard installed on the lower half of the downtube that wraps under the bottom bracket.

Conclusion

I love a short travel bike, and I rode this bike on the perfect trail system for it. I don’t love a long travel bike because, honestly, where I live there is just no need. This bike was light, responsive, and just everything I could ask a full carbon, full suspension bike to be. If you’re interested in picking up the XF 979, or any other Superior bike, head over to BikesOnline and check out the line up. When you do, I’d really appreciate it if you used my link. It doesn’t cost you any extra and it really helps out the channel.

https://bikesonline-usa.sjv.io/jrNgaa

Aventon Abound SR

Posted on by msumacc

Nearly Theft Proof Mini Cargo Bike

Abound SR: https://alnk.to/cHNEnkT
For Starters

You might have seen my video or post on the original Aventon Abound back in January 2024. I’ve been riding that back all year and it is the perfect grocery-getter, and just all around town bike – I call it the truck. Well, today I’m super excited for us to take a look at the Abound’s little brother. “It’s SRsly fun”

The Abound SR is not just new, it’s got a ton of tech upgrades and security features that I’ve never seen before. The Abound SR is a shorter model, front to back, so your footprint isn’t as large as the original Abound, but the Abound SR can still haul 440 lbs (200kg)!

The Abound SR has a locking kickstand! Jump to 2:14 in my video to see how that works. We all know that nothing is theft proof. That doesn’t mean you should just give your bike away. If you live in a higher risk area for bike theft, this is definitely a feature worth considering.

Motor and Battery

The Abound SR has a 750 watt rear hub motor capable of 80Nm of torque. The electronics are all on a 36V system. The 20Ah battery uses LG cells. Aventon claims a range of up to 60 miles. That battery is removable, so you can take it inside to charge, but the charge port is also accessible while the battery is installed on the bike. Importantly, jump to 12:08 in my video to watch this beast climb. 36V systems aren’t supposed to be as good as 48V systems on hills, but this ‘mini truck’ crushed my hill climb test.

Tires, Brakes, and Drivetrain

The Abound SR has 3″ wide tires sitting on 20″ rims, and I’ve become a big fan of that combination. When there is no other suspension on the bike, that combo provides just a little grace on a bumpy road. This bike is equipped with Tektro brakes, which you all know I love. They’re easy to service and easy to find brake pads. These hydraulic brakes and 2-piston calipers are paired with a 180mm rotor in the front and 203mm rotor in the rear. The drivetrain is all Shimano with an 8 speed lever and Altus derailleur on a 12-32T cassette and 52T chainring.

Design, Comfort, and Safety

The Abound SR has an adjustable stem and BMX style bars with lock-on ergonomic grips. Also on the cockpit, a brand new display not yet seen on any other Aventon model. The display unlocks the kickstand (as mentioned earlier in this post), but it also unlocks the battery… there’s no key for it! Adding to the comfort level, is a 50mm suspension seat post.

The ACU (Aventon Control Unit) is located down by the kickstand, built into the frame. This is what controls the locks, passcodes, geo-fencing, 4G/GPS tracking, etc. I would love to see similar things on more bikes.

Helping to keep you safe in the daylight, dim light, and full dark is a headlight up front and a tail light with turn signals and a braking indicator. And keeping your cargo dry is a nice pair of Aventon fenders.

Final Thoughts

The Abound SR is a fantastic cargo bike! I love the smaller footprint and upgrades from the original Abound. If you’d like to check out this bike or any other Aventon models, I’d really appreciate it if you’d use my links. It won’t cost you any extra, and it really helps my channel. Abound SR: https://alnk.to/cHNEnkT

SuperHuman WeaponX eMTB

Posted on by msumacc

More Power than the DJI Mid-Drive

SuperHuman WeaponX: https://superhumanbikes.pxf.io/9gv3r5
For Starters

I tried out the WeaponX from SuperHuman. They have another model called the Weapon and you can check out the differences between the two models on their website. The full carbon, full suspension frame is the same on both models, but the WeaponX has a more powerful motor… so your local trail systems might help dictate which style is best for you.

Motor and Battery

The WeaponX is a mid-drive eMTB meaning the motor is by the pedals instead of inside the rear wheel. The motor is a Bafang M560 that will produce 140Nm of torque from 750W of sustained power and a 1,000W peak! The electronics on this bike are all on a 48V system. The 17.5Ah battery uses Samsung cells. SuperHuman claims on the website that this will carry you 70 miles, but those claims (for any company) are usually based on flat terrain with the lowest pedal assist level selected. The battery is removable, so you can charge it away from your bike. Watch out for the overrun on this, or any other Bafang bike.

Suspension, Brakes, and Drivetrain

The suspension on the WeaponX is from DVO. The rear shock is called Topaz T3 and is an adjustable piggyback airshock. The front fork is called Onyx and is adjustable to either 160mm or 180mm of travel as well as having compression and rebound adjustments. The brakes on the WeaponX are Magura MT5 hydraulic disc brakes with 4 piston calipers and 203mm rotors. I’ve never used these before, but they feel rock solid. The full drivetrain is a 1×12 Sram GX (not AXS).

General Items

The WeaponX cockpit comes with 780mm bars, lock on grips, and a nice color display. This also has a really short stem as is the case with most modern MTBs. This comes with a Tellis dropper post that has some shims so you can adjust the max height of the dropper when fully extended.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

I’ve got to be brutally honest here. The seat that comes on this bike is unlike any other MTB seat I’ve ever seen. Most people that are new to biking think you want more padding on your seat, but that’s not the case for experienced riders. If you’re buying a $6,000 bike, then I’m guessing you’re experienced. If you’re experienced, then you’re also going to be confused by the wheels that come on this bike. They are unmarked as far as branding (and look similar to the wheels that came on my $600 Walmart Giordano) and come with Schrader valves. They are double walled, which is something, but they aren’t tubeless ready. I’ve just never seen a high end bike come with wheels that were drilled for Schrader.

If you’re willing to spend a few hundred bucks on a wheel and tire upgrade, then this might be the bike for you. If you want to check out the WeaponX I’d really appreciate it if you used my link. It doesn’t cost you any extra, and it really helps out my channel.

Velotric T1 ST Plus

Posted on by msumacc

Light and Fast Class 3 EBIKE

Check out the Velotric T1 ST Plus here: https://alnk.to/cSIhdaH
For Starters

Hey guys! Today we’re looking at a new light, fast eBike from Velotric – the T1 ST Plus. This bike comes out of the box as a class 1 eBike, but you can easily change the top speed on the main display of the bike. I show you how to do that at 0:28 in my video. This bike also has Apple FindMy built in, so you can track it down if it’s lost or stolen. This bike is officially classified by Velotric as a fitness bike, and with its lighter weight (less than 40 lbs.) and skinnier tires it is a great fit for the road.

Motor and Battery

Before we really talk about the motor and battery, I want to mention that the T1 ST Plus doesn’t have a throttle. So, class 1 and class 3 are determined by speed without that option of having a throttle, and everything is pedal assist using a torque sensor. The bike runs on a 36V system powered by UL certified Samsung/LG Cells stored in the downtube (not the removable – take it inside to charge variety). The 350 watt rear hub motor 40Nm of torque and 600W peak output. All this powers you to a max speed of 28 mph using 3 custom riding modes with 5 pedal assist levels in each (customizable in the app) or to a flat casual max distance of 70 miles (est. range).

Tires, Brakes, and Drivetrain

The standard 700c rims that come on the T1 ST Plus are wrapped in Kenda eBike puncture resistant 700x40c tires. Those rims spin on Novatec aluminum alloy hubs with a 12×100 thru-axle. The T1 ST Plus is stopped with Tektro (5:06) hydraulic disc brakes and 160mm rotors front and rear. The drivetrain uses Shimano components where it counts with a matching 8 speed shifter and rear derailleur. The chain is from KMC, and it’s all turned with a 46T chainring and 170mm cranks.

Design, Comfort, and Safety

The T1 ST Plus claims to fit a rider sized 4’11” – 5’9″ for the regular and 5’6″ – 6’4″ for the large. The total weight limit for the bike is 350 lbs. The wide ranges are accomplished with an adjustable stem and a quick release on the seat tube for adjustments on the go. It has a kickstand for convenience, a full color display screen, and ergonomic grips. The T1 ST Plus has built in head light and tail light, but no brake light or turn signals.

I loaned The T1 ST Plus to a Buddy…

and this is what he had to say.

As soon as I saw the video for this bike I wanted to borrow it to commute. I have about a 14 mile commute to work, with one really steep/long river hill. The remainder is city and neighborhood streets of varying levels of busyness. This bike was impressive in Boost PAS 3 in terms of speed and how slowly it used battery. I bumped up to PAS 4 when I felt like I needed to try to stay with traffic better. I was regularly able to hit 30 mph in PAS 4. As you can see in the picture, I used half the battery for my 14 mile commute which took me 47 minutes… and normally takes an hour or more on an analog bike. This bike was light, fast, and stable. Nice upright position on the bike and a comfortable standover height due to the bent top tube design. I’m 5’10” and never felt uncomfortable when getting off the bike at stop lights. I would definitely recommend this bike!

Velotric Nomad 1 Plus

Posted on by msumacc

32 MPH Fat Tire eBike

Velotric Nomad 1 Plus
For Starters

This bike had minimal setup time out of the box. I really like the color of the one I reviewed (Forest), and there are 3 other colors to really make this bike fit your style. The Nomad 1 Plus will ship as a class 2 ebike with a 20 mph max speed, but I show you in the beginning of my video how to change that max speed.

Drivetrain and Brakes

The Nomad 1 Plus comes with a Shimano 8-speed shifter and derailleur and a 46T chainring. This bike comes with hydraulic disc brakes and 180mm rotors.

Lighting, Comfort, and Safety

The step-thru design, upright riding style, and swept back bars scream comfort. Adding to that is a nicely padded seat, with a quick release adjustment for the seat height as well as an adjustable stem making this bike fully customizable for riders between 5’1″ and 6’4″. This bike does come with a headlight/reflector combo in the front and a rear tail light with braking indicator.

Motor and Battery

The Nomad 1 Plus comes with Velotric’s own 750 watt, rear-hub motor capable of producing 75nm of torque. The battery is UL certified (just like on all Velotric bikes). It’s a 691Wh battery powering a 48 volt system. The range claimed for the Nomad 1 Plus in pedal assist 1 is 55 miles or 52 miles using just the throttle.

Wheels and Tires

The wheels on this fat tire bike are 26″ aluminum alloy on Novatec hubs. The tires are a beefy 4.0″ wide. It’s a puncture-resistant tire made by CST and I love the huge white markings on the side.

Final Thoughts

The Nomad 1 Plus is a great value at under $1,400 at the time of this review. It’s super stable and comfortable. I would love a bigger battery, maybe 800-850Wh, but if you live in a relatively flat area, and like to take it easy, this might just be the bike for you. If you decide to pick one up, please use my link. It doesn’t cost you any extra, and it really helps out my channel. https://alnk.to/74v9cAY

Cyke Falcon S eMTB

Posted on by msumacc

Double the Power of Shimano or Bosch eMTB Motors

Cyke Falcon S eMTB
For Starters

So, how much power is too much power. That’s a questions we’ll try to answer today. First off, the Falcon S is the 29er version of the Falcon line (also available are a 27.5 x 3″ Falcon A and 26 x 4.8″ Falcon X).

Design

The wheelbase on the Falcon S is an impressive 52″ (132cm)! This is one of the longest e-bikes I’ve ever ridden, but it also has an aggressive 64° head tube angle and a 74.3° seat tube angle. I found that all of these elements feel very confidence-inspiring on downhills and quite comfortable while pedaling throughout the trails. The frame is fully-upgradeable if you choose to as it does not use proprietary parts.

Tires & Brakes

The tires that come on the Falcon S are the downhill-ready 29 x 3.00″ Maxxis Minion DHF, and they are some of the beefiest tires I’ve ever seen on an MTB. These also have the EXO sidewalls which offer extra protection from sharp rocks. One of the most important parts of any bike is the stopping power, and the Falcon S comes with 4-piston hydraulic brakes from Tektro with massive 203mm rotors.

Suspension

Cyke wanted to get it right on their first eMTB and went with an air suspension. The Falcon S offers 150mm of travel both front and rear via a RockShox Recon SL up front and RockShox RS-DELUXE SELECT-C1 in the back.

Drivetrain

The rear derailleur on the Falcon S is a Sram X5 9-speed, and it works just fine. However, I would have liked to have seen a 10-speed minimum with a clutched rear derailleur. Without the clutch, there is just a bit of extra noise out on the trail. Again, this could be upgraded later if one were so inclined.

Motor and Battery

The Falcon S is sporting a Bafang mid-drive motor capable of producing 1,100 watts of peak power generating 160nm of torque! That’s 75nm more than the Shimano or Bosch motors that I’ve ridden in the past. Powering that motor is a massive 960Wh (20Ah) battery with LG cells. The whole thing is a 48V system.

Final Thoughts

The app is absolutely crucial for dialing in this bike to how you like to ride, and potentially just to make it legal on your local trails. I dive in to this topic in my video starting at 7:40.

Overall, I feel like this is the eMTB that a motocross rider would choose. The heavier weight and higher power output would probably feel really natural for that type of rider. I wish it had tubeless ready wheels, a dropper post, and a clutch rear derailleur. However, the beefy tires, great suspension, and heavier weight make this bike an absolute trail shredder. Oh, and the 160nm of torque allow you to climb just about any hill you can find.

If this sounds like the bike for you, I’d really appreciate it if you used my link. It won’t cost you any extra and it really helps out this channel.

Falcon S: https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=2593684&u=3657928&m=156949&urllink=&afftrack=

Velotric Discover 1 Plus

Posted on by msumacc

Maybe the Best Value Step-Thru E-Bike

Discover 1+ & Discover 2
For Starters

If you’ve been hanging around my site for a while, then this likely isn’t the first Velotric (say Velo like ‘hello’ and tric like ‘trick’) you’ve seen me review. If not, you can check out those reviews here: Discover 2, Velotric Comparisons, & Summit 1. Today we’re looking at an upgrade to the Discover 1 – the Velotric Discover 1+.

Velotric is starting to get a pretty solid list of bona fides. They are sold in over 1,000 stores in the U.S. The bikes are designed in California, and they are uncompromising in safety. Every battery is UL certified not only meeting the European standard but also the higher U.S. standard. The other way safety standard they are proud of is the ISO rating. The frame of the Discover 1+ is 150% stronger than what it is required to be by this standard, meaning this bike can handle 440 lbs. of total capacity.

Brakes, Tires, and Lighting

The Discover 1+ comes with 2-piston hydraulic brakes with 180mm rotors. The tires are 2.5″ wide road tires on 26″ rims. The tires are shielded with fenders and built into the rear fender is a tail light. The headlight on the Discover 1+ is upgraded 15 lux* over the original Discover 1.

Comfort and Design

The cockpit is comfortable with swept back bars and ergonomic grips. In the middle of those bars is a non-color, LCD screen. I found that it was easy to see in bright light and at night with no issues. Something the Discover 1+ model has that the Discover 1 didn’t have is an adjustable stem. This makes the bike feel way more customizable and comfortable across varying heights. This is a class 3 eBike, and the thumb throttle is located on the left side of the bars, along with the power button, pedal assist controls, and a bell. The front suspension on the Discover 1+ has been upgraded to 80mm of travel from the 60mm available on the Discover 1.

Drivetrain

The 7-spd Shimano Tourney rear derailleur is controlled by a Shimano under bar shifter with an easy-read dial. The chainring is a 46T on this Discover 1+ model. The previous model just had a 42T. This should help to keep you from feel like you’re spun out on the pedals.

Battery and Motor

The Discover 1+ has a 690 Wh battery on a 48 volt system. In pedal assist one, on relatively flat ground, Velotric says you should get around 65 miles of range. That battery is powering a proprietary Velotric rear hub motor providing 500 watts of sustained power with a 900 watt peak. Velotric recommends that this bike be used in areas with no more than about 8% grade hills, so if you live in a hillier area, you might check out the 750 watt motor on the Discover 2. See how the Discover 1+ did on the 19% hill in my video (6:54).

Thoughts

The 2.5″ wide tires on the Discover 1+ feel confidence inspiring at speed, and the brakes felt just as good when stopping. The cadence sensor kicked in very quickly, and the larger 46T chainring kept me from ghost pedaling even at 28+ mph. The riding position is very comfortable and the bike is really quiet for a chain-driven bike, bordering on belt-drive territory.

Pros
  1. The bigger tires on this bike vs. some others (2.5″ wide on 26″ hoops).
  2. Swept-back handlebars. I love a hybrid that is very up-right and comfortable.
  3. Step-thru design with only a 15″ step-over height.
  4. The larger chainring and lack of ghost-pedaling.
  5. IPX7 battery – UL certified
Cons
  1. I wish it had a rear rack, but I kind of get it at this price point. Very entry level.
  2. I wish it had the upgraded display available on the Discover 2, but again… I understand for the price.
Conclusion

If you want to pick up the Discover 1+ (or even upgrade to the Discover 2), I’d really appreciate it if you used my links. It won’t cost you any extra, but it really helps out the channel. Until next time – Get out there, and ride your bike.

Discover 1+ https://alnk.to/aeYDKYp

Discover 2 https://alnk.to/6TAf7uY

*One lux (1 lux) of light is a measure of the light density, equivalent to 1 lumen per square metre (lm / m^2). So, two lights with a similar lumen output rating might have drastically different lux ratings depending on how dense or how focused the light beam is.

Chasing After My Dream MTB – Bike #3

Posted on by msumacc

Is This The One?

Superior Team XF 29 Issue R – Ultralight XC Race Bike
Intro 0:00

A few years back, I made it my goal to find my dream XC race bike. I started with the Polygon Syncline C3, and I upgraded that bike into a legit beast. The next year I moved over to the Marin Team 2. I added carbon wheels from Hunt and a SRAM AXS drivetrain to get to one of the most fun, fastest hardtail XC bikes I’ve been on.

The Idea 0:42

In the midst of training for my annual 50 mile XC style MTB race (The BT Epic), I started getting the urge to upgrade to a short travel, full-suspension XC bike. This year I’ve become familiar with a brand that is new to the USA, but has a solid international reputation – Superior Bikes – which are now being distributed through BikesOnline.com. I’ve ridden the budget friendly hardtail XP919 and the EXF9039B all mountain style eMTB, and I was really surprised by both. Then, I found the Superior Team XF 29 Issue R and my goodness, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Buying the Bike 1:43

Eventually, I decided to stop dreaming and stop looking, and actually buy this thing. I reached out to my friends at BikesOnline.com and told them I wanted to buy this for my personal use. They asked me if I would make some content, and I said, “Absolutely.” So, over the next 3 months you’re going to see more videos about this bike of me training, potentially doing upgrades, and of course, my race day at BT Epic. During training I’ll also be using my Polygon T9 and the EXF9039B eMTB to gain the skills and strength I’ll need to take on the BT Epic.

Price 2:31

If you’ve seen very much of my content, you know I’ve had a lot of budget friendly bikes, and let’s just get this out of the way… this bike is not cheap. However, if you factor in the quality parts that are coming on this bike, it’s a really good value compared to the bigger brand’s prices for an equivalent bike. Not to mention, right now it’s $1,200 off at BikesOnline.

Specs 3:13

The Issue R is equipped with a load of goodies. Let’s start with the basics. The front suspension is 110 mm DT Swiss F232 and the rear is 100 mm DT Swiss R232. Both are controlled simultaneously with the DT Swiss Two In One remote lockout. The frame is a high modular carbon that offers a stiff but forgiving ride, and there’s room in the main triangle for 2 bottle cages.

Drivetrain 4:31

This is an all mechanical setup a Shimano XTR shifter, cassette, and rear derailleur while the chain is a Shimano XT. The crankset is a Race Face Next SL with carbon crank arms and a 34T chainring. They also went with XTR for the brakes using 160mm rotors on the front and rear with 2-piston XTR calipers. The wheel set is the tubeless ready DT Swiss XRC 1501 29″ carbon, and they are incredibly light – coming in at just over 1200g. These wheels are wrapped with Schwalbe 2.25 Racing Ray in the front and a Schwalbe 2.25 Racing Ralph in the rear.

Cockpit 5:32

The cockpit is helmed by a One Race 760mm carbon handle bar connected to an allow One Race stem. On either end of the bar you’ll find One lock-on grips.

The dropper post is kind of special. It’s a carbon Crank Brothers Highline 11 with 150mm of travel. A carbon dropper has never been on my radar, but it looks amazing and we’ll just have to see about its longevity. Connecting me to that dropper will be Fizik Terra Argo X3 saddle.

Weight 6:33

Right out of the box: I went tubeless, added Shimano’s most basic SPD pedals, added a computer mount, shortened one of the cables, and added some Ride Wrap frame protection. After that, this bike weighed in at just under 24 lbs (10.89 kg).

First Ride 7:26 (loads of POV riding)

After all the time spent dreaming before buying and then the time spent with set-up, I had to wonder, “Did I hype this bike up too much?” I didn’t even throw a leg over this bike until the Ride Wrap was installed. Could it possibly perform the way I’ve built it up in my mind?

I have a local MTB trail system that is perfect for testing XC bikes, and I’ve used it in a bunch of my videos. Fellows Lake, located in Springfield, MO, has smooth, flowy single track, some climbs, some switchbacks, and a few (very little) technical sections. Fellows is built for speed and so is the Superior Issue R. My first ride on this bike was only about 14.5 miles, but I could tell that in the first few feet of trail this bike just wants to accelerate like it’s being shot out of a cannon. It’s snappy but not twitchy. In summary, it rides like a dream.

Final Thoughts

My first ride was so so good, but I want to discuss one last thing. This bike frame is not UDH compatible. It has a regular derailleur hanger, so if you are wanting to go wireless, SRAM Transmission will not be compatible. Not a game changer, just something to be aware of.

If you’re interested in this bike, or anything else on BikesOnline, I’d really appreciate it if you used my links. It won’t cost you anything extra, but it really helps out my channel.

https://bikesonline-usa.sjv.io/rQvrrG