If you want a ride matched to an analogue bike, lighter e-bikes are the way to go

when needed. Specialized probably needs a more powerful motor so you can increase the power when needed. Like when you only have an hour to ride and want to smash out as many runs as possible. The problem is, that’s going to limit the range, because when you have more power, you’ll want to use it.

So for riders already moving in the fast lane of full-power e-bikes, we can’t see many, if any, throttling back, indicating, and pulling over into the slow lane of low and mid powered e-bikes. The limited battery capacity is a big hindrance, especially for heavier riders, and lower power bikes won’t be anything like as much fun in the mud.

If, however, you are currently cruising along in the cycle lane on your analogue bike, the slow lane of low to mid power e-mtbs will look very appealing.

And power and range aren’t the only factors you need to consider. If you’re a lighter rider and want the ride to feel more closely matched to an analogue bike, the lighter e-bike is the way to go.

If you can’t wait for the next generation of lightweight mid-power enduro bikes to arrive, we’d go with the Forestal Siryon. It felt more balanced and the suspension worked better than on the Specialized. Also, at some point soon, you’ll be able to tone down the power to extend the range. Just don’t buy the top-end model, even if you can afford it.

And while we were critical of both bikes, Forestal and Specialized should be commended for pushing boundaries and thinking outside of the box. They are currently the only brands occupying the lightweight e-bike enduro space and we suspect it won’t stay that way for long.