Mountain Biking into the backwoods.

[SHTF]

So back last year me and my hunting partner gave this a go. I will tell you that it wasn't easy carrying a 45-50 pound pack while riding especially trying to get up hills. So Ive been researching it a bit and I think I found the solution I plan to go with. Some of you may laugh some maybe inspired but I think its the next best thing to getting you and your gear into the back country if your going to be hiking in on backwood trails or you know the place your going has an old logging road. The Felt Outfitter. Its steep price tag at 5500$ but its probably the best looking and best components Ive seen on a bike. Its powered by a Bosch 400W battery with a mid drive pedal assist. Meaning you still have to pedal but it makes it a heck of a lot easier when your trying to get up some monster hills. Im not getting any younger and this thing from what Ive seen can get you where you want to go. You still have to work for it but it is much easier. They are also designing a trailer for the bike to pull behind you. Im still researching that. You can check out the Felt Outfitter. I know we are not the only ones who want to take enjoyable mountain bike scouting trips or have a place they know has an easy to navigate trail to get back into the woods. I dig riding a lot and wanted something where I can keep riding instead of jumping off the bike to walk up because the pack plus riding up steep terrain is next to impossible for our ability. Think this will do the trick.

Outfitter - Felt Bicycles

IB14: Felt Shows Concept Hunting Fat Bike & Beer Hauling e-Cargo Bike - Bikerumor

Its even painted in the Kuiu Camo Pattern =) Max speed is 20 mph on flat terrain. From my research the bosch system is the most reliable E Bike components out there. Enjoy post your thoughts or call me a girl but figured Id share.

 

[coachjdub]

I watched a live Facebook Q and A with Jason Matzinger two weeks ago and he had the same bike at camp and was raving about it. Very cool concept. I probably don't want to know what the price tag is though, I tried to find and couldn't. Maybe that's a sign!

 

[SHTF]

Yep I watched the Episode last week with Jason on it and thats what got me on this kick. Love his show. Well done thought out and done with a lot of love. You can tell he loves making his show. The price on the Outfitter is around 5300$. But I bet it will last you 20 years. You may have to replace the battery in that time but the rest of the bike should hold up to a long life of abuse. Jim Felt is a bowhunter in California and thats why he made this bike for bowhunters that wanted an easier more comfortable way to get back into the high country. I will take this thing over an ATV any day. Cant wait to go test ride one.

 

[elkyinzer]

Why would you not just get a gas powered dirt bike at that price point?

I have like three spots out of dozens for which a bike would help me get in easier, and I just can't justify buying and hauling a bike trailer around for that marginal benefit. I do scout with my mountain bike a lot, and ride all summer long for fun, but I can't haul my treestand and bow with my current setup.

 

[SHTF]

Why would you not just get a gas powered dirt bike at that price point?

I have like three spots out of dozens for which a bike would help me get in easier, and I just can't justify buying and hauling a bike trailer around for that marginal benefit. I do scout with my mountain bike a lot, and ride all summer long for fun, but I can't haul my treestand and bow with my current setup.

Well lets put that into perspective. The place I go you can't get a gas powered vehicle back too. I have to hop a fence to get on the road as its gated by the DOW. So I don't think lifting a 300-400 pound bike over the fence is feasible. Also there are a lot of spots that taking a gas powered machine is breaking the law. With this you can get away with it and it only weighs 50-60 lbs to get it over a fenced gate is a lot easier. Next the quiet factor comes into play. Your not going to running off the wildlife with this thing where as a gas motorized bike will scare or at the very least let the wildlife know your coming out to play. This thing from the videos Ive watched is very quiet no louder then a standard bike. I could probably think of a few more reasons but that should cover what this thing has going for it over its gas powered cousin.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

This is technically motorized thought so wouldn't anywhere a gas powered is banned also ban this? Or do the regs strictly speak to gas engines?

Stuff like this has crossed my mind but I've shuffled areas too much to ever commit to a bike/atv/etc. boots/pack are the only universal so far until I've settled on an area that allows otherwise.

 

[BroodBuster]

I could certainly see the advantage on gated logging roads but I don't see any advantage over simply hiking trails. Just seems to add too much complexity to the endeavor.

That and I don't really like imitating a deer or elk in mt. lion country. There's a reason about 90% (or more) of lion attacks are on joggers and mt bikers. By their nature they are behaving like prey.

 

[les welch]

Very intriguing. I hauled my Fatbike to WY this year, but never had the chance to look at the area I had planned to use it in. I think in certain applications (sounds like your's would be one of them) this would be a great option. I like the looks of it!

 

[toddb]

I would love this. Biggest concern would be theft. Some unsavory person see it and go to town and get bolt cutters and run with it while you were chasing stuff on back side of mountain. I have 300 acres here in wisconsin that this would be the cats ass to enjoy on.

 

[jb79]

I just got done hunting off my mountain bike for 7 days and I would have pay $10k for a memory foam seat after day 3
They are very affective for the area we were hunting as its all gated logging roads with no camping allowed so it was 6-8 miles in and out everyday, which sucked but totally worth it

An E bike would have been great but we only get this tag every 6ish years so $5k is a lot. If you end up with one give us a review and maybe recop some money with a for rent add in the classifieds

 

[Hunter6]

I hunted from a bike this year much like the post above. But the ebike would still be against the law. Every close rd I hunt and know of in my area, motorized equipment is illegal. This make the ebike idea useless for me.


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[jb79]

I hunted from a bike this year much like the post above. But the ebike would still be against the law. Every close rd I hunt and know of in my area, motorized equipment is illegal. This make the ebike idea useless for me.


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That's true, the signs do say closed to motorized vehicles. Thanks you saved me $5k! Lol

 

[SHTF]

Take a close look at the bike most won't even know and your still pedaling it's just a lot easier getting up steep hills these things are gaining in popularity and the technical applications have really come along ways I doubt anyone would know the difference.


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[orionsbrother]

I just got done hunting off my mountain bike for 7 days and I would have pay $10k for a memory foam seat after day 3
They are very affective for the area we were hunting as its all gated logging roads with no camping allowed so it was 6-8 miles in and out everyday, which sucked but totally worth it

An E bike would have been great but we only get this tag every 6ish years so $5k is a lot. If you end up with one give us a review and maybe recop some money with a for rent add in the classifieds

Beautiful bull! Congrats!

 

[durangobrad]

Take a close look at the bike most won't even know and your still pedaling it's just a lot easier getting up steep hills these things are gaining in popularity and the technical applications have really come along ways I doubt anyone would know the difference.


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I dont think this is true, forest service and local enforcement here in Durango has taken a strong stance against these. Even the river trail running through Durango has banned e-bikes. Just suck it up and obey the rules.

 

[jb79]

Beautiful bull! Congrats!

Thanks it's my hunting partners, called to 20 yards and he smoked it!


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[Chad E]

Take a close look at the bike most won't even know and your still pedaling it's just a lot easier getting up steep hills these things are gaining in popularity and the technical applications have really come along ways I doubt anyone would know the difference.


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So because people can't tell or wouldn't know that makes it ok? I don't think areas are closed to motorized traffic to be easy. The concept looks awesome and I'm all for it in areas where it's legal.

 

[dirtytough]

$5k is a lot for a bike unless you hunt an area all the time that it could be used in.

For a trailer I have seen those one tire bike carriers used before. Never used one myself.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Most of CA is off limits to bikes (and e-bikes and motorcycles and ATVs too). Then there are the people who have been attacked by lions while riding because the MFers are fully protected here and lost their fear of humans...especially in the last 12 yrs. List of Mountain Lion Attacks On People in California

 

[Bubblehide]

Each National Forest, or Forestry management area maintains a "Travel Management Plan" this management plan spells out what type of vehicles can be utilized where. Many of the National Forests are updating their travel management plans to classify E-bikes as a motor vehicle, and excluding them as they do cars and ATVs. However, in most cases to date, from my knowledge, an unaltered pedal only bike is still classified as a bike, and therefore can be utilized on most of the closed and locked roads. However, the entire forest is still subject to emergency regulations for a variety of reasons.

What confuses most people here is that local governments consider E-bikes of 750 watts and below, with pedal assist, as being street legal. However, here in Ca, further regulation and classification is already coming down the pike, so to speak. To further complicate the situation, the state also has it's classifications and regulations. As such, the state does not consider anything above 750 watts a bike. My guess is that the bikes above 750 watts will be required to be registered as a moped or some other designation before long.

So in short, in many of the National Forests here in Ca (each state may have their own regulations that apply to E-bikes) it would be legal to take an E-bike on any road or trail open to vehicles, unless it is regulated to certain types of vehicles. I can clearly see the advantages to using an E-bike, as long as it has the power to climb the roads/trails... that you plan on using it on. And if your hunting during the warmer months, it sure would speed up getting the meat on ice.

My suggestions to the OP is to get a minimum of a 750 watt mid-drive motor, and keep in mind that you will likely need to stop on the long climbs to allow the motor and controller to cool, otherwise you WILL burn one, the other, or both out, and be left with a heavier pedal bike. If your serious about this, you may want to check out endless-sphere.com, electricbike.com, and if you want to buy a kit and install it yourself, you may want to check out lunacycle.com, as they are the cheapest supplier that is in the U.S. If you do decide to buy a kit and do it yourself, those sites are invaluable resources. OP, if you decide you want to pick my brain, send me a PM with your contact info.