For a newby just considering an ebike. I am 6'1" , 33 inch inseam and I ride a S4 LEVO works fine for me but my riding is not the most technical. Longer wheel base of the S5 made me get the S4, happy with my decision. I have about 350 miles on my gen 3 levo.
Agree with Toast on work out aspects but the new generation has the ability to pair a heart rate monitor to the motor and will adjust assist to match target heart rate. Pretty sweet training tool if that is your bag.
My local is being slowly taken over by ebikes, it has not caused the issues I thought it would (I was pretty anti-ebike). People seem to deal just fine with it and the authorities are not enforcing any of the ebike restrictions. Maybe numbers have not gotten to a critical point. Price seems to be a big factor and only motivated riders are shelling out the $$$. Most folks around here on ebikes are long time mtb riders already.
I have had to rethink how I ride in my area. a typical 20- 25 mile loop taking about 3-4 hours now takes 2 hours. My average speed (trail mode not turbo) on a 30 mile ride, 3800 feet of elevation gain and loss, is about 10 mph on the ebike. After an ebike ride like that, it feels more of an upper body work out then the legs. I ride like that drains about 70-80% percent of the battery. I have ridden it back to the trailhead after the battery has died, not bad as long you are not going uphill.
Still on the fence with mine and might sell it this summer. I agree with Ibis, it is different sport.
Give it a few more years and no one is going to care about poaching. It is just the facts like it or not.
Places with a lot tourist influx and rental shops are likely to see the worst of the impacts. Tahoe will be a free for all soon but the extent of the riding area may mitigate that somewhat.