Why No Vital eMTB?

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Pedal4life
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Edited Date/Time 10/13/2022 9:35pm
There’s Vital BMX, there’s Vital MX of course this site but seems to me there might be more advertising money available from the eBike market right now why not?
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finanegans
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10/11/2022 6:34pm
Because that would imply that motorized mountain bikes are a separate activity from human-powered mountain bikes, while the MTB brands are doing everything in their power to persuade consumers of the opposite. In most US states, the bike lobby convinced legislatures to regulate e-bikes as "non-motorized" transportation. The mountain bike industry has effectively won the battle with the motorsports industry to control e-bikes, which has lumped e-bikes into the mtb community regardless of individual users desire to be part of a motorized group. MTB brands, at least in the US, would be reluctant to advertise to an e-bike only space because they depend on years of mountain bike advocacy and trail construction in order for e-bikes to make a foothold in the marketplace.
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Eoin
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10/12/2022 1:20am Edited Date/Time 10/12/2022 1:23am
I guess this is an extrapolation of the "should there be another tech rumours thread for ebikes". I understand that many MTBers don't like ebikes and have no interest in reading about them. The issue (in my opinion) with splitting the discussion is that the majority of parts on bikes and ebikes are the same: suspension, transmission, wheels, tyres, peripherals, and they are mostly ridden at the same locations.

Personally, as a user I don't really see a benefit to visiting 2 different websites/threads to see the 3 comments underneath a seatpost lever article, probably from mostly the same users. I doubt advertisers would be particularly excited either (I have no idea how that business works to be honest).

We see some websites have made the split: https://enduro-mtb.com/en/ (they even discuss DH and trail bikes, what a disgrace!!!) and their sister site https://ebike-mtb.com/en/ which end up with a lot of duplicated or cross linked posts, they even incorporate a bunch of articles from their commuter focused site. No major problem, but they have absolutely no community. The Vital contributor community is small enough as it is, splitting it further would not add much value.
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Pedal4life
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10/12/2022 2:16am
No it is a legitimate business question thinking they could make more money from advertising eBike than they do Acoustic Bikes
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10/12/2022 8:04am
Pedal4life wrote:
No it is a legitimate business question thinking they could make more money from advertising eBike than they do Acoustic Bikes
With a lot of big players in the bike business already spending advertising dollars with vital, would spilting the site mean that the companies find money to advertise on a second site? Probably not.

Would some of these smaller companies jump on? Maybe... Would the companies that use Amazon as their main selling platform jump on? Probably not.

Vital could take on more overhead without much return.. Unless they go beyond just emtbs...
Pedal4life
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10/12/2022 8:36am
Like it or not eBikes are the future there’s a massive amount more lazy people than are fit ones, and there’s already a lot more companies out there that only do eBikes and are being backed by big money
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jeff.brines
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10/12/2022 9:13am Edited Date/Time 10/12/2022 9:24am
Not sure it'd make sense from a business perspective considering how similar the demographic is. The reality is, if you are into mountain biking, there is a much (much) larger chance you are also at least curious about e-bikes and a guarantee you know how to ride one.

I finally took the plunge and bought one. Its fun. It feels like...mountain biking. It doesn't feel like some brand new sport, at least to me. There are a few things E-Bikes do that normal bikes don't. There are a few annoying parts about e-bikes. But overall...its bike riding.

Vital doesn't have "VitalMTB - Chairlift Edition" or "VitalMTB - DH Bike with Shuttle Rig Edition", so why make a site just for those with a little motor that makes getting to the top a bit faster/easier? We clearly don't object to other forms of free-rides to the top...

I'll hold my thoughts to e-biking relative to other 2 wheeled fun having for a review...but yeah, I'd say Vital already has a content scarcity problem. Why add to it by splitting up the site?
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sspomer
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10/12/2022 6:37pm
maybe it's time to make the move.

i literally get 1 or more "want a free e-bike for your youtube vlog?" emails from off-shore brands every day. 20" fat e-folding-commuter kind of things. explosions aside, way less hazardous to test than riding through a rock garden down a mountain.




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10/12/2022 7:40pm
sspomer wrote:
maybe it's time to make the move. i literally get 1 or more "want a free e-bike for your youtube vlog?" emails from off-shore brands every...
maybe it's time to make the move.

i literally get 1 or more "want a free e-bike for your youtube vlog?" emails from off-shore brands every day. 20" fat e-folding-commuter kind of things. explosions aside, way less hazardous to test than riding through a rock garden down a mountain.




You can test the same bike under 20 different names...
boozed
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10/12/2022 8:23pm Edited Date/Time 10/12/2022 8:23pm
sspomer wrote:
maybe it's time to make the move. i literally get 1 or more "want a free e-bike for your youtube vlog?" emails from off-shore brands every...
maybe it's time to make the move.

i literally get 1 or more "want a free e-bike for your youtube vlog?" emails from off-shore brands every day. 20" fat e-folding-commuter kind of things. explosions aside, way less hazardous to test than riding through a rock garden down a mountain.




...unless you test that 20" fat e-folding-commuter kind of thing by riding it through a rock garden down a mountain....
sspomer
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10/13/2022 8:47am
today's gem


and this headline from BRAIN Dry


(i can see this thread becoming quite fun).
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10/13/2022 8:59am
I see too many of those Anchors.. Oops, I mean Ancheer bikes in the shop...
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kcy4130
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10/13/2022 9:48am
I see too many of those Anchors.. Oops, I mean Ancheer bikes in the shop...
Pre or post battery fire?
10/13/2022 10:33am
kcy4130 wrote:
Pre or post battery fire?
So far, I've only seen one battery fire.. That was on a bike that did some sort of add on kit.. It was post fire... Not pretty..
10/13/2022 5:26pm
sspomer wrote:
maybe it's time to make the move. i literally get 1 or more "want a free e-bike for your youtube vlog?" emails from off-shore brands every...
maybe it's time to make the move.

i literally get 1 or more "want a free e-bike for your youtube vlog?" emails from off-shore brands every day. 20" fat e-folding-commuter kind of things. explosions aside, way less hazardous to test than riding through a rock garden down a mountain.




Why am I not being forwarded these emails?! I can picture it now: we rack up a handful of these sketchy e-bikes and then film a demolition derby-style race. Almost like an amped-up (electrified?) game of foot down. The last rider standing, or with their bike not on fire, wins.
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finanegans
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10/13/2022 5:48pm


This is great for the yougoobers - they can sell the free review ebikes as additional income to supplement ad revenue, sticker sales, and day jobs.
boozed
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10/13/2022 8:23pm Edited Date/Time 10/23/2022 1:36am
I wonder how the review was?

As for Jason's idea, sign me up!

I could not find a single review on youtube with those wheels or graphics

Edit: Ahh cheers finanegans!

sspomer
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10/21/2022 7:14am

today's email "test our ebike" gems - the first one is because they were impressed by a the jordi cortes inside line clips video about "best suspension platform" whic makes sense since they have a kashima-coated dual crown on the front. the 2nd bike is b/c they were impressed by a one lap w/ strobel from port angeles on our "youtube vlog".

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bizutch
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10/21/2022 11:15am
finanegans wrote:
Because that would imply that motorized mountain bikes are a separate activity from human-powered mountain bikes, while the MTB brands are doing everything in their power...
Because that would imply that motorized mountain bikes are a separate activity from human-powered mountain bikes, while the MTB brands are doing everything in their power to persuade consumers of the opposite. In most US states, the bike lobby convinced legislatures to regulate e-bikes as "non-motorized" transportation. The mountain bike industry has effectively won the battle with the motorsports industry to control e-bikes, which has lumped e-bikes into the mtb community regardless of individual users desire to be part of a motorized group. MTB brands, at least in the US, would be reluctant to advertise to an e-bike only space because they depend on years of mountain bike advocacy and trail construction in order for e-bikes to make a foothold in the marketplace.

Easily the most eloquent statement about the shitty way to rape trails with battery powered mopeds.
They're toys.  Maybe they're fun toys.  But they aren't bicycles.
And all the bitches with eebs are too ashamed to ride their eebs on the moto trails so they overpower cyclists on the bicycle trails.

E-bikes have also brought an insanely huge number of douche bags into the woods that were never there before.
It's gotten so full of azz hats.

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jonkranked
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10/27/2022 10:02am Edited Date/Time 10/27/2022 10:07am
Pedal4life wrote:
There’s Vital BMX, there’s Vital MX of course this site but seems to me there might be more advertising money available from the eBike market right...
There’s Vital BMX, there’s Vital MX of course this site but seems to me there might be more advertising money available from the eBike market right now why not?

vital bmx was sold off by vital media network a little over a year ago

 

edit: found the thread on it:

 

https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/The-Hub,2/VitalBMX-sold-vitalMTB-sold-w…

hey spomer, just checked it out of curiosity. still appears they are using the vital bmx branding. popcorn.gif

jonkranked
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10/27/2022 1:01pm
finanegans wrote:
Because that would imply that motorized mountain bikes are a separate activity from human-powered mountain bikes, while the MTB brands are doing everything in their power...
Because that would imply that motorized mountain bikes are a separate activity from human-powered mountain bikes, while the MTB brands are doing everything in their power to persuade consumers of the opposite. In most US states, the bike lobby convinced legislatures to regulate e-bikes as "non-motorized" transportation. The mountain bike industry has effectively won the battle with the motorsports industry to control e-bikes, which has lumped e-bikes into the mtb community regardless of individual users desire to be part of a motorized group. MTB brands, at least in the US, would be reluctant to advertise to an e-bike only space because they depend on years of mountain bike advocacy and trail construction in order for e-bikes to make a foothold in the marketplace.

agree with all this, but i do want to add something - there are DEFINITELY companies selling "ebikes" which are in fact mopeds (eg more than pedal assist). look like an ebike, but i have seen on at least 3 or 4 occasions people accelerating uphill without any pedaling input. 

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worcsracer
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10/28/2022 1:58pm
bizutch wrote:
Easily the most eloquent statement about the shitty way to rape trails with battery powered mopeds. They're toys.  Maybe they're fun toys.  But they aren't bicycles...

Easily the most eloquent statement about the shitty way to rape trails with battery powered mopeds.
They're toys.  Maybe they're fun toys.  But they aren't bicycles.
And all the bitches with eebs are too ashamed to ride their eebs on the moto trails so they overpower cyclists on the bicycle trails.

E-bikes have also brought an insanely huge number of douche bags into the woods that were never there before.
It's gotten so full of azz hats.

The sheer ignorance, arrogance and jealousy in this post is amazing. The eGenie is out of the bottle. Maybe you should consider that public trails aren’t your private trails. FYI, Class 1 ebikes are not moped but you know that. I’m sure you also know that a eBike has no more impact on trails than a non eBike inflicts on the trail. So you really just come off as being dumb when you suggest otherwise. Finally, the real reason you don’t like eBikes is you don’t like opening up the sport to people who enjoy it on a bike that can provide more fun to ride and more access for fear that it diminishes your solitude. Maybe you should just stay home and flog yourself in private and leave the trails to people who are having fun?
 

eBikes are here to stay. Period. 

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bizutch
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10/28/2022 4:23pm
bizutch wrote:
Easily the most eloquent statement about the shitty way to rape trails with battery powered mopeds. They're toys.  Maybe they're fun toys.  But they aren't bicycles...

Easily the most eloquent statement about the shitty way to rape trails with battery powered mopeds.
They're toys.  Maybe they're fun toys.  But they aren't bicycles.
And all the bitches with eebs are too ashamed to ride their eebs on the moto trails so they overpower cyclists on the bicycle trails.

E-bikes have also brought an insanely huge number of douche bags into the woods that were never there before.
It's gotten so full of azz hats.

worcsracer wrote:
The sheer ignorance, arrogance and jealousy in this post is amazing. The eGenie is out of the bottle. Maybe you should consider that public trails aren’t...

The sheer ignorance, arrogance and jealousy in this post is amazing. The eGenie is out of the bottle. Maybe you should consider that public trails aren’t your private trails. FYI, Class 1 ebikes are not moped but you know that. I’m sure you also know that a eBike has no more impact on trails than a non eBike inflicts on the trail. So you really just come off as being dumb when you suggest otherwise. Finally, the real reason you don’t like eBikes is you don’t like opening up the sport to people who enjoy it on a bike that can provide more fun to ride and more access for fear that it diminishes your solitude. Maybe you should just stay home and flog yourself in private and leave the trails to people who are having fun?
 

eBikes are here to stay. Period. 

Sorry guy, but you are just dumb.  I go to Ride Kanuga where e-bikes are legal and rentable 1-2 times a week.  They pass fit people 2-3 times a ride and me 4 times per ride. 

So explain the hover magic theory you can use to explain away 3-4 times as much riding in a single afternoon of riding.
Oh..and the really obese folks on eebs, they can get in 2-3 times as many laps as me and pass fit riders.  Quit making up garbage.

They're tugging buddies up every lap, and I've seen them pull the same person 10 laps.  So now that's 4 tires, 2 people and a total of 20 laps from 2 riders.  You want what you want...and you just want to try to justify it.   I watch them lap after lap being able to spin roost when they go across uphill water bars that fit cyclists are not able to.  

Just because you pop a viagra, it doesn't mean you get to stick your erection in whatever hole you feel like.  You have to do it legally.  Same with eebs.  They're illegal in Pisgah and Dupont where I live.  That's all that matters.  If you're the kind of dude that straps on some electric viagra to a set of mountain bike wheels and forks...it doesn't give you permission to stick your eeb-rection in the forest without permission.   

Bye fallacy.

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worcsracer
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10/29/2022 7:23am

So basically you have no facts to back you up just your clearly unbiased opinion…

 

dude GFY. You’re exactly the type clown that makes mtb activism such a joke. 

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Pedal4life
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10/30/2022 3:49pm
I’m way too fragile to ride on the dirt anymore even a simple ride on a asphalt bike path is questionable, but if I could ride more on dirt I’d be all over the ability to make 2 runs not to mention 3 on a eBike I’m too weak to push a bike or pedal on much of any incline, I did momentarily think I could’ve used a eBike to get me to all the doctors appointments because gas prices are now controlling my treatment needs but this option seemed too risky for my family so thats gone now. eBikes are here to stay & eventually they will outsell analog bikes. Racing will start being more centered around them to push advancements in technology for the segment.
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11/3/2022 9:31am
bizutch wrote:
Sorry guy, but you are just dumb.  I go to Ride Kanuga where e-bikes are legal and rentable 1-2 times a week.  They pass fit people...

Sorry guy, but you are just dumb.  I go to Ride Kanuga where e-bikes are legal and rentable 1-2 times a week.  They pass fit people 2-3 times a ride and me 4 times per ride. 

So explain the hover magic theory you can use to explain away 3-4 times as much riding in a single afternoon of riding.
Oh..and the really obese folks on eebs, they can get in 2-3 times as many laps as me and pass fit riders.  Quit making up garbage.

They're tugging buddies up every lap, and I've seen them pull the same person 10 laps.  So now that's 4 tires, 2 people and a total of 20 laps from 2 riders.  You want what you want...and you just want to try to justify it.   I watch them lap after lap being able to spin roost when they go across uphill water bars that fit cyclists are not able to.  

Just because you pop a viagra, it doesn't mean you get to stick your erection in whatever hole you feel like.  You have to do it legally.  Same with eebs.  They're illegal in Pisgah and Dupont where I live.  That's all that matters.  If you're the kind of dude that straps on some electric viagra to a set of mountain bike wheels and forks...it doesn't give you permission to stick your eeb-rection in the forest without permission.   

Bye fallacy.

So, you’re whining about use & erosion in a bike park which allows e-bikes & actively hires them out too, as a revenue stream? 🤦‍♂️

Thankfully I live somewhere where guns arn’t legal & ebikes are. That way I can ride my electric ‘toy’ (as you put it) as well as my non electric toy, depending on whichever way my mood takes me.

I’ll make much more of an effort to be butthurt when an ebike overtakes me on a climb & get more laps in than me too. I’ll make sure to do the same about anyone catching lifts in resorts. Those lazy, good for nothing park rats. Unless they ride to a trailhead, they don’t even know they were born. 

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