1ST IMPRESSION
to Specialized for the solution though, as the Turbo Levo bikes have the easiest in-tube battery removal.
HOW IT RIDES
The payback for potential battery charging carnage is an immediate sense of how well-balanced the E-180 rides. With the weight of the battery lower and further back towards the motor the bikes have a low centre of gravity while retaining ample ground clearance. Obviously, with a huge chunk of travel and super-fluid Fox suspension, it isn’t 100% optimised for spinning along flatter singletrack or mellow trail centre blues and reds, but when you do lean it into a turn, the bike tips in effortlessly and switches from side to side at an impressive rate. In other words it is responsive and easy to steer and turn.
And, despite having all of that travel on tap, the ultra-plush E-180 is surprisingly adept at climbing. A fairly upright seat angle keeps your weight forward and the front wheel down, and the powerful motor pairs well with the sunken BB (that hovers just above the potential crank strike limit), to keep your weight low without undue tipping on mega-steep ascents.
Conquering near impossible steeps is a really fun aspect of e-biking, but let’s not mince words: you’re hauling the extra mass and travel around on the E-180 for one purpose and that’s to crush the descents. In terms of suspension, Whyte has made that easy by nailing the balance of the E-180. You can absolutely haul down proper Dhlevel terrain with both wheels tracking superbly, while retaining enough support and progression to push and pump the terrain. The accurate tracking and a stuck-to-the-ground feel provides crazy levels of grip and smash-factor, generating such momentum you’ll be glad of that 220mm front rotor.
And while the rear end on the E-180 felt great from the off, after a few wet rides, winding a fraction more lowspeed rebound off the X2 shock upped performance further by opening up the shock to move more freely, adding extra pop and liveliness and even more dynamism to the way the smaller 27.5in wheels really slice through turns.
There are few negatives here, other than being so hefty and capable it demands strength to hold onto and manhandle; especially once those heavy wheels really get trucking. Another consideration is while 27.5in tyres seem to offer better braking tracking and bite compared to how some heavy
29er e-bikes surf and skip over the top of beaten-out terrain, I’d still prefer a bigger wheel up front as 27.5in just feels a bit more nervous and more ready to tuck under compared to the 29in hoops I ride normally. So if this was my own bike, I’d like to try a mullet set-up, assuming money was no object as a new 29in Fox 38 Factory fork sure ain’t cheap.
Ultimately the E-180 may seem marginally less agile and versatile than some lighter enduro e-bikes, but with a near perfect spec, superb suspension and all the power for smashing through the rough stuff, few long-travel e-bikes can hold a candle to Whyte’s top-tier E-180 for sheer hammer-ability.
HIGHS
One of the best long travel e-bikes on the market. Sublime suspension matched with ultimate control
LOWS
In some situations, this much suspension, strength and capability requires some serious manhandling. Could be even better with a 29in front wheel