Magicycle Deer Softail EMTB versus Giant Talon E+ 3
Unless you’ve been camping in the outback for several months. you probably already know that full suspension electric mountain bikes are the hottest new trend in the world of e-biking. E-bikes in general, all types, are setting sales records in amazing numbers, and mountain bikes in particular are selling like hotcakes. EMTBs (electric mountain bikes) are a very fast-growing segment of the booming e-bike market. There’s no question that mountain biking is an extremely popular activity. Since March of last year, mountain bike sales have grown by 60%. Total sales in the US last year reached $1,464,000,000 — and more than 47,000 mountain bikes are being sold every day. Electric mountain bikes are claiming their share of the bike industry growth.
The extremely fast growth of the electric mountain bike industry has also produced a large number of brands available to consumers. Road bikes, commuter bikes, electric mountain bikes (EMTBs)…people everywhere are learning about the many pluses that come with healthy and fun outdoor exercise. That health benefit can easily be combined with real savings in the cost of commuting. This is true for those who commute to their workplace daily, and also for anyone who makes regular trips to the grocery store, post office, gym, etc.
In selecting an EMTB, it is very important to choose a brand that owns the factory that builds its e-bikes. After all, if the brand does not own a factory, how can it possibly maintain full quality control? Let’s take a look at two EMTBs, both manufactured by brands that do own the factory that builds its e-bikes…the Magicycle Deer and the Giant Talon E+ 3. Congratulations to both these brands for manufacturing their own bikes!
The Measure of a Comfortable EMTB
If you’re willing to invest in purchasing an electric mountain bike, it’s almost certain that you plan to spend a lot of time riding. It could be that you are an avid explorer — you love the backwoods trails and offroad adventures. You’re at your best when you’re leaving behind the noise of heavy traffic and the smell of exhaust fumes. Sometimes you just need to “get away from it all” and enjoy a little quietness and scenic beauty. A good electric mountain bike can be just what you need.
There are endless possibilities, maybe just you alone, or maybe you and a friend or your entire family. And a good EMTB can also double as a daily commuter, and of course, it’s a great machine for running errands to the grocery store or post office. Whatever type of riding you do, when spending a lot of time in the saddle you want a comfortable ride.
- EMTB Suspension
The major factor on any electric mountain bike is suspension when you’re thinking about comfort. EMTBs can make you dream of forest pathways, bubbling streams, and gorgeous mountain vistas. Getting to all these wonderful places will also involve unexpected protruding tree roots, chunks of rock, dropoffs, washboarded gravel roads, and potholes that will jar your teeth. Even if most of your EMTB riding is on pavement, every rider manages to find more than his share of bumps. That’s why suspension is so important for comfort.
There’s no question about it…full suspension is the choice of most electric mountain bike riders. Also known as softail, full suspension mountain bikes are much less susceptible to those jarring bumps and dips. A full suspension EMTB has the usual front fork suspension for the front wheel, but it also has special suspension to help absorb the unpleasant energy that can be transferred through the rear wheel to your back and neck. It’s not only much more comfortable, it’s also safer riding, providing you with better control.
The Magicycle Deer EMTB is a full suspension ride, providing the comfort factor that only a softail can offer. The Giant Talon E+ 3 is what is commonly known as a hardtail EMTB. It has only the front fork suspension, with no suspension for the rear wheel.
- Fat Tires
You don’t need to be a genius to understand that a 4″ wide tire contributes to the stability of how an EMTB rides. A fat tire has a lot of surface area contacting the road, so naturally traction is dramatically increased. That 4″ wide fat tire also provides a more stable and secure ride. And then the fat tire opens up a truly diverse option for terrain choices…sand, gravel, mud, snow, forest pathways, rocky trails…all are much more rideable with fat tires. And then the fat tire opens up a truly diverse option for terrain choices…sand, gravel, mud, snow, forest pathways, rocky trails…all are much more rideable with fat tires.
Fat tire bikes have been around much longer than most people would guess. There are historical indications of fat tire bikes in the early 1900s, and we know that serious experimentation happened no later than about 1988. Simultaneously, in two widely separated US states, genuine interest in fat tires was developing at about the same time.
The Magicycle Deer full suspension EMTB is nicely adorned with 26″ X 4″ brand name fat tires…comfortable and stable. The Talon E+ 3 has tires that are 2.4″ wide — nowhere near the surface area of the Magicycle Deer tires.
The Measure of a Powerful EMTB
Sure, every EMTB rider wants a comfortable bike and the most stable tires, but none of that is enjoyable unless you also have power, and plenty of it! When you think about quick starts, cruising speed, and hill-climbing ability — all these are dependent on power. You want a softail EMTB equipped with a strong motor, providing plenty of power. Those steep climbs where you catch the best views are no fun at all without a powerful high-torque motor. The Magicycle Deer comes equipped with a 750 watt (1100 peak watts) motor that will satisfy the demands of hill climbing, regardless of whether you ride in downtown San Francisco or the Rocky Mountain National Park.
For easy, comfortable, relaxed riding, this mighty hub motor is an obvious choice. That choice is confirmed when you realize that hub motors are far more economical than mid-drive motors. With 1100 watts of peak power, the Magicycle Deer’s hub motor is the perfect size. If you settle for a 500 watt motor, your EMTB will feel underpowered on the steep hills.
What about the Giant Talon E+ 3? This hardtail EMTB is equipped with a 250 watt mid-drive motor. That’s right…only 250 watts.
The design of mid-drive motors requires a much larger number of moving parts. This naturally means more wear and tear, along with greater possibility of motor failure. Mid-drive motors are also more complex to install or replace, which adds to the expense. Even if you are new to e-biking, with a hub motor you can be very quickly riding with confidence. For example, shifting is often unnecessary if your bike is powered by a hub motor, and you can even shift when the bike is stopped. But with a mid-drive motor, the bike must be moving before the rider can shift, and while riding it must be shifted frequently.
The Magicycle Deer’s motor delivers a huge 96 neuton meters of torque. It’s no necessary to understand how torque is measured. Just be aware that the Deer’s torque is about the same as many 800 cc motorcycles. With a Magicycle Deer full suspension EMTB, there’s a great combination of comfort and power.
The Measure of EMTB Electrical Energy
t’s great to have a strong high-torque motor, but that doesn’t help much unless you also have a powerful battery. You might think the MAGiCYCLE Design Team would simply carry over the fabulous 52 volt battery from the original cruisers. No–instead of taking the cheap and easy route, they have opted to give the softail Magicycle Deer a freshly designed battery. This remarkable battery is designed to give riders even more range. Even though the amp hour rating has been increased from15 to 20, this bigger and more powerful new battery is still beautifully integrated into the frame…even more so than previous Magicycle models.
This battery provides Magicycle Deer owners a 25% boost in amps, meaning you can look forward to long rides without worrying about battery life. Of course, if you tip the scales at 290 pounds and ride mostly in hilly terrain, that will reduce your range. Range will also vary according to wind speed, tire pressure, and your pedaling habits.
The Giant Talon E+ 3 is equipped with a 36 volt 11 amp hour battery. Shoppers will want to note that this Talon’s battery is capable of only 396 watt hours as compared to a whopping 1040 watt hours from the Magicycle Deer’s impressive battery.
The Magicycle Deer is Worth the Wait
Magicycle Inc. is now in the final stages of releasing this spectacular new full suspension electric mountain bike to eager EMTB shoppers. Instead of rushing this bike to market, Magicycle is maintaining its reputation for impeccable quality control, ensuring that consumers get a reliable and long-lasting EMTB. If you are interested in a quality softail EMTB with the Deer’s level of comfort, power, and energy and a very economical price point…stay tuned. It’s definitely worth the wait!