Salsa MorainevsNotch

Salsa’s Moraine and Notch families offer e-assist for riders who crave more uphill speed to unlock downhill fun, yet their core designs diverge significantly. The Moraine is an aluminum-framed all-mountain e-MTB with 160mm of front travel and 145mm in the rear, paired with a Fazua Ride 60 motor. This setup means a lighter, more integrated feel, aiming to enhance the traditional mountain biking experience without overwhelming it. Reviewers consistently praise its sleek appearance, noting it doesn't immediately scream 'e-bike' and even rides well with the assist turned off, albeit with a noticeable weight penalty. In contrast, the Notch is a burly, long-travel enduro e-bike, available in both aluminum and carbon frames, boasting 170-180mm of rear travel and up to 180mm (or even 200mm dual crown) upfront. It gets its grunt from the more powerful Bosch Performance Line CX motor, which delivers a substantial 90Nm of torque. The Notch is built for aggressive, gravity-fed riding where stability and raw power take precedence. While the Moraine makes challenging rides more accessible, the Notch pushes the boundaries of what an e-bike can conquer, embracing its heavier, longer nature to become a dedicated descender that simply flies back up the hill.

Riding the Moraine often feels like a natural extension of an analog bike, just with an added tailwind. Reviewers report the bike rides surprisingly "light" for an e-MTB, feeling "comfortable and familiar" once dialed in. Its 160mm/145mm Split Pivot suspension, with a RockShox Psylo fork and Fox Float X shock on our selected build, provides a supple ride over small chatter and capably handles bigger impacts. While one reviewer noted some pedal bob when climbing, this was quickly shrugged off given the seamless electric assist from the Fazua Ride 60 motor, which is lauded for its quiet operation and smooth power delivery. The Notch, on the other hand, is a different beast entirely. It's a big, uncompromising machine that reviewers describe as feeling "planted" and capable of "chunking right through" obstacles. With 180mm of fork travel and an adjustable 170-180mm in the rear on our selected carbon build, the Notch is built to absorb everything. The powerful Bosch Performance Line CX motor provides more than enough oomph, with one rider admitting they rarely use its highest 'turbo' mode, finding even 'blue' mode sufficient. This sheer power, however, can make it prone to unintended wheelies, demanding a bit more rider control. While the Moraine finds its stride on flowy lines and technical descents alike, the Notch truly comes alive when pointed straight down the steepest, roughest trails, where its stability allows riders to "send it" with immense confidence. When it comes to agility, the Moraine's longer wheelbase translates to stability at speed, allowing riders to "charge downhill sections" they might normally hesitate on. However, this length means it requires "a bit of discretion in Greensfelder’s tighter turns," making it less flickable than some lighter mountain bikes. The Notch doubles down on this characteristic: its geometry, especially its long reach and chainstays, makes it exceptionally stable, but reviewers found it "not the most easy to maneuver because of the length and the weight." Tight switchbacks, particularly when climbing, can be a challenge, demanding more input from the rider to navigate. This is a trade-off: the Notch sacrifices nimble handling for unparalleled composure when gravity takes over.