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Like life, riding a mountain bike can be hard work riding uphill one moment, then free-wheeling fun downhill the next. But what if the ups were just as fun as the downhills? Enter electric mountain bikes and their grin-inducing assistance.
Electric mountain bikes are for cyclists of all abilities and all ages looking to enjoy cross-country rides or get lary at specialist mountain bike parks. This is our guide to the best E-MTBs available right now.
Best Mountain E-Bikes
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With Bosch Smart System
Trek Rail 5 Gen 3
Powered by the best in the business, Bosch, take this e-bike anywhere and everywhere. Full suspension and 12-speed gearing help the bike adapt.
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Benchmark performance
Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Carbon
More suited to mountain bikers who are looking to go electric. Turbo bikes from Specialized are a popular sight in mountain bike parks and for good reason.
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Basic hub motor
Ancheer Electric Mountain Bike
An entry level mountain bike with a simple hub motor in the rear wheel. For new riders looking to get off road for the first time.
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Hardtail e-MTB
Giant Talon E+ 3
With 100mm of front suspension, the Talon is more suited to light trails. That said, it could happily adapt to rides on tarmac.
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Sub 20kg e-MTB
Orbea Rise H15
Although many e-bikes use a Shimano EP8 motor, Orbea have specially tuned it to match the Rise’s specification.
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Next generation electric
Trek Fuel EXe 9.5
With a carbon fibre frame and lightweight electric system, the Fuel EXe is part of the next generation of electric mountain bikes.
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At home on all rides
Cannondale Moterra Neo 4
Cannondale is another titan in the bike industry and the Moterra is for riders who enjoy every kind of mountain bike ride – trail, cross-country and the occasional downhill park.
What is a Mountain Electric Bike?
An electric mountain is like a regular mountain bike but with either pedal assistance or a throttle included as an extra feature. Like normal mountain bikes, they’re made for riding on rough, muddy and hilly terrain.
Wide, knobbly tyres and suspension – either at the front or the front and the rear – help the bike perform when the going gets tough. Wide handlebars help the rider maintain control and large disc brakes bring the bike to a stop, even when travelling at speed.
The electric part of an e-MTB consists of a motor, battery and display or control unit. The motor, which delivers the added drive, is placed either in the rear wheel (the cheapest electric bike use this type) or around the bike’s crankset. This type of motor is commonly known as mid-mount.
An onboard battery provides power to the motor and the display enables the rider to control the motor’s settings. Most electric mountain bikes have various assistance settings, that way, different riding situations can be accounted for.
Electric bike batteries obviously need charging, but the cost, in the grand scheme of things, is pretty negligible.
Who Are Mountain E-Bikes For?
When electric bikes started to draw mass appeal, arguably it was e-mountain bikes that saw the biggest take-up from cyclists. This was because they enabled all riders to take the sting out of the uphills and enjoy more of the downhills – whether that was gentle downhills in parks and public spaces, or something more adrenaline-fuelled at a local mountain bike park.
However, electric mountain bikes aren’t simply for breezing uphills and flying down the other side. Indeed, many a study has shown that riders on electric mountain bikes expend nearly enough the same amount of energy as those riding regular mountain bikes.
With the extra assistance, riders tend to ride further and faster, enjoying their bike more and getting fitter in the process. This realisation has led to a relatively new breed of electric mountain bikes. They have paired down electric assistance which still delivers power uphill but doesn’t inhibit the bike’s handling when railing down the other side of the hill.
Whilst some electric mountain bikes can adapt to riding on tarmac, they’re not the ideal bike type to ride to and from work. Knobbly tyres are a drag on hard surfaces and large amounts of suspension become unnecessary.
Mountain Electric Bikes Pros + Cons
Buying an electric mountain bike? Have a read of our table and toss up the pros and cons.
Pros
- More fun
- Rider further, faster
- Take on tougher rides
- Level up against riding friends
Cons
- Electrics add complexity
- Can be hard on components
- Drag to ride on the tarmac
Best Mountain Electric Bikes
1. Trek Rail 5 Gen 3
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ÂŁ5,350 -
$5,649 -
€5,299
Prices are approximate
Weight: 24.88kg (54.86lb)
Wattage: 250W
Max. Range: Not stated
Gears: 12-speed
Wheel Size: 29″
Max Load: 136kg (300lb)
Removable Battery: âś…
Throttle: ❌
Lights: ❌
Fenders: ❌
Pannier Rack: ❌
Rocking proper long travel suspension (160mm front, 150mm rear) Trek’s Rail is an e-MTB for off-road rides of every kind.
The electric system on board is Bosch’s newest. A Performance Line CX motor with Smart System provides the power. It’s controlled quickly and easily using the Bluetooth remote on the handlebars.
Pros
- Uses Bosch Smart System
- 625Wh battery for a good range
- Dropper post
Cons
- Nearing 25kg
2. Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Carbon
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$9,000 -
€7,700
Prices are approximate
Weight: 23kg (51lb)
Wattage: Not stated
Max. Range: Not stated
Gears: 12-speed
Wheel Size: 27.5″29″
Max Load: 120kg (264lb)
Removable Battery: âś…
Throttle: ❌
Lights: ❌
Fenders: ❌
Pannier Rack: ❌
Specialized has long been a go-to for discerning mountain bike riders. For electric mountain bike riders, Turbo Levo full-suspension mountain bikes are again the benchmark.
Because this e-bike runs Specialized’s own motor, battery and control unit you get the benefit of a bike designed as a whole. Buy it and enjoy rip-roaring fun on every ride.
Pros
- Top-end performance
- 700Wh battery for good range but doesn’t impact weight
- 10 levels of assistance
- 6 frame sizes
Cons
- Pricey
3. Ancheer Electric Mountain Bike
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$829
Prices are approximate
Weight: Not stated
Wattage: 500W
Max. Range: 38 miles (61km)
Gears: 21-speed
Wheel Size: 27.5″
Max Load: Not stated
Removable Battery: âś…
Throttle: ❌
Lights: âś…
Fenders: ❌
Pannier Rack: ❌
Sitting at a basic price point but packing a 500W motor, this e-bike is plenty powerful for riding on light off-road jaunts.
21 gears give the bike more chance to spin the legs for fitness. The onboard battery delivers enough power for around 30 miles of riding before it needs recharging.
Pros
- Entry level price
- Hub motor performs on a budget
Cons
- No throttle
- Basic componentry
4. Giant Talon E+ 3
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ÂŁ2,099 -
$2,899 -
€2,621
Prices are approximate
Weight: 20kg (51lb)
Wattage: 250W
Max. Range: 93 miles (150 km)
Gears: 9-speed
Wheel Size: 29″
Max Load: Not stated
Removable Battery: âś…
Throttle: ❌
Lights: ❌
Fenders: ❌
Pannier Rack: ❌
A jack-of-all-trades electric bike, the Talon would be equally comfortable at a mountain bike park, more basic off-roading and even riding pavement to the office and back.
The bike uses Giant’s own motor and battery system. In ideal conditions, the e-bike can be ridden nearly 100 miles before it needs recharging.
Pros
- Simple hardtail format
- Fairly lightweight
- Could adapt to other rides
Cons
- One frame colour
5. Orbea Rise H15
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ÂŁ5,499 -
$6,799 -
€6,099
Prices are approximate
Weight: Not stated
Wattage: 250W
Max. Range: Not stated
Gears: 12-speed
Wheel Size: 29″
Max Load: Not stated
Removable Battery: ❌
Throttle: ❌
Lights: ❌
Fenders: ❌
Pannier Rack: ❌
A trail-orientated electric mountain bike from Orbea. The lightweight aluminium frame and components have been chosen to help the rider feel closer to the trail on every ride.
Orbea has tuned the Shimano EP8 motor specifically to the Rise in order to give the best possible performance.
Pros
- Best-in-class lightweight e-MTB
- Range expander can be added
Cons
- Battery can’t be removed at home
6. Trek Fuel EXe 9.5
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ÂŁ6,400 -
$6,499 -
€6,999
Prices are approximate
Weight: 19.93 kg (43.94lb)
Wattage: 250W
Max. Range: Not stated
Gears: 12-speed
Wheel Size: 29″
Max Load: 136kg (300lb)
Removable Battery: âś…
Throttle: ❌
Lights: ❌
Fenders: ❌
Pannier Rack: ❌
Another lightweight e-MTB which aims to prove that this type of bike doesn’t have to be heavy and cumbersome.
The Fuel EXe aims to blur the lines between regular mountain bikes and electric ones. It will therefore appeal to regular riders making the jump to electric.
Pros
- Carbon frame
- TQ motor is lighter than equivalent Bosch or Shimano units
- The battery is very easy to remove
- App connectivity
Cons
- Expensive
7. Cannondale Moterra Neo 4
-
ÂŁ5,000 -
$5,900 -
€4,999
Prices are approximate
Weight: Not stated
Wattage: 250W
Max. Range: Not stated
Gears: 12-speed
Wheel Size: 29″
Max Load: Not stated
Removable Battery: âś…
Throttle: ❌
Lights: ❌
Fenders: ❌
Pannier Rack: ❌
Another full-suspension electric mountain bike with a Shimano EP8 motor, but this time from Cannondale. The 150mm travel front and rear make it suitable for riding on all mountain terrain.
Three modes on the motor, Eco, Trail and Boost, along with the 12-speed gearing help the Moterra Neo adapt to all off-road rides.
Pros
- Fun on steep ascents and rushing downhills
- 12-speed gearing
- Dropper post
Cons
- A small selection of frame sizes and colours
