trek emtb 2023

Review: Trek Fuel EXe eMTB smashes rough trails & climbs like (you’re) a beast

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The Trek Fuel EXe is a bit of an outlier in the current e-MTB market. Most e-mountain bikes fall into one of two categories: High-powered, long-travel beasts, or lightweight, short-travel models with lower-power systems.

The Fuel EXe sits in the middle, with 150/140mm travel and generous, adjustable trail geometry, and the new TQ HPR50 motor that’s ultra-quiet with moderate output. And it works, delivering a balanced, capable bike and an extremely fun ride experience.

If you’re looking for an eMTB that rides like a trail bike and helps you conquer bigger trails and longer days, here’s everything you need to know about the Trek Fuel EXe…

The Quick Overview

The Trek Fuel EXe translates their popular Fuel EX trail bike line into an electric-assist model that “empowers you to do more, without interrupting the way you experience nature.” That was the goal, and they nailed it.

It starts with a full OCLV carbon frame with fully internal routing and integrated TQ HPR50 drive system. The tiny motor sits where the BB is and still allows short 440mm chainstays. The 360Wh battery sits in the downtube and the power button/system monitor is flush in the top tube.

A simple two-button remote is barely visible on the bars. It cycles through the modes, initiates Walk Mode, and a long press of the lower button will turn off all assist. Meaning, default is Eco mode, you have to hold the lower button for about 3 seconds to turn assist off…I wish it was just a quick press as for the other modes.

The bike has 29er wheels front and rear, 140mm rear travel paired to 150mm forks, a 65º head angle, and 77º effective seat angle (in Low position; their Mino link flip-chip lets you tweak the geo by 0.5º steeper in High).

Size-specific dropper posts range from 120mm to 170mm in travel depending on frame size. All sizes get 165mm cranks.

Check our launch coverage for the full tech story on this bike.

How’s the TQ motor?

It’s brilliant. Until I thought to pay attention to it, I heard nothing.

And when I was paying attention, it sounds like a light, barely perceptible whistling of the wind.

The sound of my friend’s regular eMTB riding 20 feet behind me drowned out any noise from this bike.

Basically, noise is no issue here, not even at maximum power. You truly do hear nature, not the bike.

This is because the motor has no belts or gears. Trek has a great breakaway view of it , and we covered the tech in depth if you’d like to dig deeper.

The TL;DR is this: It’s ultra quiet, pumps out smooth power delivery, and 50Nm of torque is plenty to help you along the trail and up the hills. It’s also ultra-light, weighing 2.5+ pounds less than competitors’ larger 85-90Nm motors. As such, it uses a smaller, lighter battery without giving up range or ride time.

What about battery life?

Trek claims 2-5 hours of ride time per charge. With judicious use of Eco mode, I routinely got more than 3 hours of riding on a single charge. That means mixed use of mostly in Eco but using Trail mode on most climbs and Turbo on the steepest climbs.

Fortunately, Eco felt just right when pedaling along. Trail was fun, and a bit faster, but mostly not necessary for keeping up with others.

That said, when riding with others on eMTBs with more powerful systems, it was clear that they were faster. But on the trail, in the woods, things evened out enough that we all just rode together perfectly fine. I never felt under-gunned unless we were nailing it up a smooth fire road.

A 160Wh Range Extender is available for $599 and adds 44% more capacity. It’ll take up the single bottle cage on the bike, but it’s worth it for big days when range anxiety is a real thing. Personally, I’d add it to the cart.

One note: Fresh out of the box, TQ says the system needs a few full charge and discharge cycles to accurately estimate range and battery life.

My first ride’s assistance abruptly ended with 7% battery showing on the display. My second ride ended at 3%.

Subsequent rides are getting closer to 0%, but even at 0% showing, there’s a small reserve left to power the electronics. Which is crucial because the SRAM AXS rear derailleur is plugged into and powered by the bike…not its own battery.

Starting with 1%, I still managed to get 2.5+ hours of riding out of it before it finally, fully shut down and left me with a single speed.

Yes, you can borrow the battery from the Reverb AXS and use that, but then the wire and plug leading to the derailleur are left dangling about… and likely to get ripped off or sucked up into the chain.

Fortunately, the system also charges quickly, getting to about 80% in about 90 minutes, and fully charged in about 2.5 hours.

It’s worth noting that when TQ’s system drops below 10% charge, it limits output to Eco mode regardless of the setting you choose. This helps ensure you maximize your range.

Why not just get a high-powered eMTB?

I’ve been asked, “yeah, but if you’re paying for an eMTB, why not just get a high-powered e-MTB?”

That’s a good question. I have a couple of good answers.

First, this bike is a lot lighter, at least 10lbs lighter. It’s entirely pedal-able even without assist, something I unwittingly proved when I showed up at the trailhead and realized I hadn’t charged it.

Three hours later, I was spent, but had a great time riding. Granted, this was on flowing trails without any massive, long climbs, but I still had hundreds of little punchy climbs and sprints to get up and down the trail.

Second, full power feels about like half power compared to a top-level Bosch- or Shimano-equipped bike. But that’s OK. The Fuel EXe’s output feels more natural, so if you’re looking for an e-bike that rides like a regular bike, this is it. It just lets you get a little further a little faster. Big days can be bigger. Little days can be a little faster.

On loose, technical, or entirely too steep climbs, I actually preferred the lower output of the Fuel EX-e. It was more than enough to help me up (I still had to work), but it wasn’t spinning out or lurching out of control where more powerful bikes were. It makes really steep, sketchy climbs more manageable.

But if you want more power, check out the Trek Rail . If you want no power, we reviewed the non-electric version of this 2023 Trek Fuel EX with this same spec, too.

How much does the Trek Fuel EXe weigh?

I tested the top of the line Trek Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS in size XL. It weighed in at 41lb 11oz (18.76kg) without pedals…and that’s with an impressive (and expensive) mix of both lightweight and tech-laden parts.

Trek says the entire TQ HPR50 system adds just 3.9kg (8lb 10oz). The EXe is only about 10lbs more than the nearly identical-looking standard Fuel EX, so they didn’t add much beyond the TQ system to make it an e-bike.

The frame feels stiff and robust. The tires are big and meaty.

The bike looks tough, with square-ish tube profiles and wide cross sections. All of that adds up to an extremely laterally stiff frame.

The one-piece RSL handlebar stem and Line Pro 30 carbon wheels save weight, but as a percentage of total bike weight, they’re not making the same impact they would on an analog bike. And, at 820mm wide (on all frame sizes!) it’s really wide…if it were mine, I’d cut it down (they include marks measured to 740mm).

I’d also probably switch the grips to something with a bit more vibration damping. If you choose a model with a standard handlebar and stem, I’d recommend something like the OneUp or Race Face trail handlebars with added compliance.

Too much tech?

Other spec highlights on this particular trim level include a complete SRAM AirWiz and TireWiz system, offering remote tire pressure and fork & shock pressure monitoring.

The Trek App shows recommended tire, fork, and shock pressures based on your riding weight, along with starter rebound settings. With AirWiz/TireWiz installed, their app will also show current actual pressures, too.

Check it there, or just look for the blinking lights on the bike to be green, and you’re good to go. Red lights mean something’s out of the recommended range.

I found that the recommended tire pressure settings were a tad high. I ended up at 22psi front and rear with no issues (I’m about 192-195lbs fully kitted out, ready to ride).

The Bontrager SE5 Team Issue 29×2.5 tires are excellent, I run them on some of my other bikes, too. Like most aggressive trail tires, and particularly those spec’d on e-bikes, the casings are stiffer and can take a lot of abuse, so lower pressures help improve ride feel. I may still go a bit lower.

At 22psi, they’ll mold to the ground and take a hit, but I still haven’t felt a rim strike despite some obvious deformation over roots and rocks.

The rear shock’s air pressure recommendation was spot on, giving me full travel on the big days.

The fork, however, was too high. Trek recommended 102psi, but even at 87psi I was only getting ~85% travel. I’m still tinkering here, down to 84psi, but the takeaway is that you don’t have to stick to the recommended settings.

And, once you find what you like, you can use the Trek (or SRAM’s AXS) app to manually set your preferences. If the bike has the Air/TireWiz devices, those will be updated to blink red/green accordingly, too.

Personally, I think the Wiz devices are clever, but overkill, and they definitely add cost. I like that I can set my preferences and use the Trek app to save them (because I will definitely forget), but I could take or leave the extra electronics on the bike…and, if I were shopping, would probably opt not to pay for that tech here.

How does the Trek Fuel EX-e ride?

In short? It rides like an aggressive trail bike. A really good aggressive trail bike.

Trek’s ABP suspension is efficient and effective. There’s a lockout switch on the rear shock, but in most instances it’s not needed. I only used it on long fire road stretches or when riding the road to the trails. Once on the dirt, it stays open with no issues on sprints, standing climbing, or just powering along.

On the descents, I could smash through extended rock and root sections, prevalent on the trails at Carven’s Cove near Roanoke.

While I’m still fiddling with the fork’s air pressure to improve small bump and low speed comfort, the Lyrik Ultimate on this bike absolutely demolished high speed hits.

Combined with the stiff frame and capable tires, the Fuel EXe inspires a lot of confidence at speed over gnarly terrain.

The suspension stays active under power, which is good because I (like most eMTB riders, according to research) tend to stay seated more often on e-mountain bikes. The motorized assist helps a rider power through rough stuff in theory, and a good suspension platform like this makes it happen in reality.

The Fuel EXe hammers through the rough stuff when standing, too, maintaining traction.

Situations like these, where a little bounce and skip is inevitable is another argument in favor of moderate power output from the motor. Never once did I spin out, and never did I really wish for more power. It’s a good balance.

The bike’s geometry is perfectly balanced, too. I could easily maintain rear traction while keeping the front wheel firmly on the ground, even on some monstrous 18%+ loose, rutted fire road climbs.

Even the bike’s weight feels well-balanced, in terms of handling. Jumps feel natural…

…as do drop-ins…

…and drop offs.

But there’s a definite heft to getting the front wheel up and over logs or rocks.

The result was that I’d just smash into stuff that I would usually pop up and over on a regular bike. Up to a point, of course … there are some things you simply have to lift the wheel up and over, so just know that it takes more effort.

Which means riding this bike, despite its relative light weight, is more of a full-body workout, as is any eMTB. And I feel like I pedaled more consistently and turned more total revolutions, many times also riding a bit longer than I otherwise would have.

The point is, at the end of each ride, I was all grins and knew quite well that I’d earned them. Well done, Trek.

TrekBikes.com

Tyler Benedict is the Founder of Bikerumor.com . He has been writing about the latest bikes, components, and cycling technology for almost two decades. Prior to that, Tyler launched and built multiple sports nutrition brands and consumer goods companies, mostly as an excuse to travel to killer riding locations throughout North America.

Based in North Carolina, Tyler loves family adventure travel and is always on the lookout for the next shiny new part to make his bikes faster and lighter.

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Great review!!

Thank you for the thorough review! Did you happen to test it out on jumps? I’m hoping that the reduced weight makes it feel more natural off of jumps compared to the heavier e-bikes but haven’t seen that discussed yet.

Caution: If you are like me, and ride small frame bikes, right now they are very difficult to come by. I recently ordered the Trek Fuel EXe 9.8 and it has an early arrival date of January. Other companies are into spring.

Hoping to pick up my 9.7 in early November. Excellent review.

Great review. You rode an XL but never mentioned your height. Did it feel long? I’m 6’1 190 and debating L vs XL

What the long-term plan from TQ on motor footprint/mounting. If the motor goes in 5-10 years, is the bike basically trash?

It’s still just a Trek. I guess we thank Giant for the fine work?

Also, TQ was having a heckuva time keeping up with demand in Europe, so time will tell how successful this bike will be service-wise.

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2023 SL eMTB ROUNDUP

Trek fuel exe review.

Photos by Max Rhulen Video by Brian Niles / Treeline Cinematic

We’ve had the Trek Fuel EXe on long-term review status since it was first released a year ago. At the time when Trek hit the market with their SL, lightweight eMTB offering, complete with the brand new and nearly silent TQ HPR 50 drive unit, it had many mountain bikers excited to see this niche of eMTBs progressing. Since we first got this bike for an in-depth Dissected feature last year we installed a 160mm fork, passed it around and have been logging miles and smiles aboard it ever since. So, how does the long-term review of the Trek Fuel Exe stack up in comparison to our first ride impressions , and how does it stack up to an increasingly competitive category of eBikes? See below for all the pros and cons.

• 140mm Linkage Driven Single Pivot Suspension With ABP • 29” Wheels • TQ HPR50 Motor • 360Wh Battery • 2-position Flip Chip • HTA 64.8 (Low) • STA 76.8 (effective) • REACH 483 (Large, High)

Price: $6,499 – $13,999 Website: Trekbikes.com

2023 SL EMTB SHOOTOUT SERIES – The Trek Fuel EXe was one of the eight eMTBs we tested in our inaugural lightweight eBike group test. We’ve seen a rapid and impressive growth in this category and after fielding so many requests and comments in our well established, annual full-power EMTB SHOOTOUT series, it only seemed natural to give this category the attention it deserves.

This group review was made possible thanks to the amazing support of Schwalbe Tires and their brilliant new Tacky Chan tires, which we outfitted each and every bike with for a consistent test platform.

We’d also like to thank Ninja MTB and Glade Optics .

Our crew did plenty of testing around Central Oregon before heading down to one of our favorite places to ride, Klamath Falls, Oregon. Thanks for the hospitality Discover Klamath and the beautiful Running Y Resort .

The Fuel EXe is Trek’s answer to the ultimate lightweight all mountain eBike, with a 140mm rear end, capable trail geometry and the TQ HPR 50 drive system to provide natural assistance to the rider.

DRIVE UNIT AND ELECTRONICS | Trek’s Fuel EXe is one of two bikes in this Group Review which use the TQ HPR50 drive system. TQ’s motor is the lightest on test at 4.07lbs (1.85kg), which produces 50Nm Torque and up to 300W power. The motor is named after the Harmonic Pin Ring system which replaces the usual cogs in a motor to produce a very quiet operation. The frame hosts a removable 360Wh battery, and there’s an optional 160Wh Range Extender that can bring total battery capacity up to 520Wh. Something we highly recommend customers tack onto their purchase for added range.

TQ’s integrated 2-inch top tube display shows basic information like battery life and speed, and allows you to access the on-the-go adjustments. You can connect the TQ App on your phone via Bluetooth or a cycle computer via ANT+ to get more information and make more adjustments. The bar mounted remote lets you easily toggle between each power mode (ECO, MID or HIGH) or to activate walk mode.

FRAME AND FEATURES | Trek offers the EXe in both Alpha Platinum Aluminum or OCLV Carbon Fiber frame options, depending on the spec level selected. These share the same features throughout, but with a weight reduction on the carbon frame. There’s fully guided internal cable routing with clamped ports to minimize rattle, a SRAM Universal Derailleur Hanger, the Mino Link geometry adjusting flip chip, and a 34.9mm seat tube to increase dropper seatpost reliability. The front triangle has enough room to fit a large water bottle, and there’s a generous down tube protector which doubles as a quick release battery cover to facilitate easy removal. Inside the steerer tube Trek fits the Bontrager B.I.T.S system to offer easily accessible tools on the fly.

SUSPENSION | Trek continues to use their Linkage Driven Single Pivot suspension design, which features their Active Braking Pivot on the rear axle – a concentric pivot which allows for manipulation of the braking characteristics. Pedaling is tailored more on the side of traction than support with roughly 90% Anti Squat; there’s low braking influence with around 55% Anti Rise; and there’s a medium 16% progression to ensure riders will make use of all 140mm of travel.

GEOMETRY | The Trek Fuel EXe shares a lot of geometry with the analogue Fuel EX, which is a very well-rounded machine. Compared with other similar bikes on test, the Fuel EXe is slightly more aggressive, though the shorter rear end can let the front wheel wander on the steepest climb pitches.

BUILD SPECS | Trek offers a wide range of builds from the aforementioned Alloy-framed EXe 5 to the Exe 9.9 in both XTR or the XX1 spec tested, spanning a $6,499 to $13,999 price range. There are also T-Type builds on offer for those looking for the latest SRAM drivetrain. Our 9.9 XX1 build features an ultra-high spec build befitting such a price tag, with some tech accessories sprinkled in to add some extra flair. A RockShox Lyrik Ultimate and Super Deluxe Ultimate suspension package offers high levels of adjustability and are fitted with SRAM’s AirWiz tech to monitor pressures and ensure they’re always in the sweet spot before a ride. As the name suggests, SRAM provides an XX1 Eagle 12-speed drivetrain, though Trek opted to equip an e*thirteen e*spec Race Carbon crank; and there’s a SRAM Code RSC brakeset stopping on a pair of 200mm rotors. Rounding out the SRAM family spec is the RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post, with a 170mm drop unit fitted to our size large.

The cockpit is a slightly contentious integrated unit – the Bontrager RSL – with a 45mm effective stem length and 27.5mm rise. As standard the Fuel EXe’s Bontrager Line Pro 30 carbon wheels are wrapped in a Bontrager SE5 team issue tire set, but for this year’s SL eMTB Shootout we equipped all bikes with the super grippy Schwalbe Tacky Chan tires to provide a more balanced traction component to all our test bikes.

SETUP | Getting the Trek Fuel EXe feeling good proved to be a pretty easy task. Although we would have much preferred a traditional two-piece bar and stem as we swapped out the one-piece unit for our yearlong test, but alas, it seems the bike industry is forcing us to ride more and more of these one-piece units. I digress.

Trek’s suspension platform has a pretty wide range that will allow it to feel good enough but can really come alive if you spend that extra time experimenting with PSI and compression settings little by little.

ELECTRONICS & INTEGRATION | Trek Central is the brand’s app which is an impressively robust application and can be used alongside the TQ app to get all the info you want, modify power delivery and customize assist levels and support to your liking.

MOTOR POWER & RANGE | When the TQ HPR 50 came out it was an impressive drive unit in many ways, well it still is, however the Fazua Ride 60 and its 10Nm of extra power were appreciated on the hottest and longest days. The TQ unit sits nicely in the middle of the power range of our SL, lightweight eBikes, and is definitely on the quieter side, making only slightly more noise than the Fazua.

Our riders noticed the TQ was fast and peppy on the flatter trails and would result in tons of fun on lower gradient pedals, however in the factory configuration it would taper off a bit as the climbs got punchy and steeper. We slid the power assist up in the app and were willing to pay the price of increased battery consumption since we usually rode this bike with the range extender installed. If we didn’t have a range extender then we’d likely have a bit harder of a time finding the right spot for our particular riding style and assist preferences. From an efficiency perspective, the TQ is within a couple percent of other units, and means that variables like fitness, weight and terrain would have more to do with your mileage.

CLIMBING | We did not get along with the saddle on the Trek Fuel EXe, yet even still it was one of the most comfortable bikes to climb, so that’s saying something. The suspension platform is compliant and offers a lot of traction and suppleness for big days in the saddle. The geometry and climbing position was very neutral for our crew and it was just a good all-around climber.

DESCENDING | Our crew really liked the Trek Fuel EXe when it came time to descend. We liked it a lot more when we had the 160mm fork installed, but even with the OE-spec’d 150mm Lyrik, the bike was capable, fun and ready to shred. It was confident, poised enough at speed and able to be thrown and moved around with minimal effort. If you’re running the suspension on the softer side, it could ride a bit heavy – to be fair it was one of the heavier bikes in the test – but if you’re regularly riding smoother flow trails a few extra PSI in the fork and shock yields a much lighter and poppier feeling ride.

Much like the climbing performance of the Fuel EXe, the Trek is well-rounded, comfortable, predictable and a lot of fun to ride.

FINISH AND VALUE | This is where the Trek Fuel EXe starts to slip a bit. Trek hasn’t been known for having very durable or great paint, but they have been stepping it up and we’ll give ‘em that. Even so, when you look at premium priced bikes like Pivot, Forestal and Scott’s Lumen, you can see a certain pride of craftsmanship in the details from hardware to the little points on the frame. Heck, even the Giant Trance X has beautiful oil slick hardware to tie into the purple and bluish hues of the marbled paint theme.

We wouldn’t place the Trek very high on the value scale, and it doesn’t quite have the same allure as some of the flashier bikes in this shootout, but as riders who place value on performance over component spec, there is no denying the Trek Fuel EXe rides!

The Wolf’s Last Word

The Trek Fuel EXe is a very solid, crowd-pleasing SL category eBike. It’s incredibly versatile and for riders who want to shred a bit harder, a 160mm fork upgrade will make this bike even more fun. While we’d suggest spending a bit less on a bike that doesn’t come with the fancy (yet unnecessary) AirWiz technology, we think you can get into a pretty impressive and competitive Fuel EXe alloy for the mid $7,000s and a carbon XT model for the low $9,000s.

Overall, the Trek Fuel EXe is a bike that ranked consistently well across the board when it came to performance on the trail. It does everything pretty darn well and would be a great jack of all trades lightweight eBike for those looking to have a mid-power eMTB for trail shredding fun.

WHO’S IT FOR?

Price: $13,999 (9.9 XX1) Weight: 43.7lbs (large) Website: Trekbikes.com

SPECIFICATIONS

CHASSIS Frame: OCLV Carbon | 140mm Fork: RockShox Lyrik Ultimate | AirWiz | 150mm Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate | AirWiz | 205x60mm

DRIVE SYSTEM Motor: TQ HPR50 | 300W | 50Nm | 1.8kg Battery: TQ Internal | 360Wh | Integrated | 1.83kg Display: TQ HPR Remote: TQ System LED

COCKPIT Brakes: SRAM Code RSC | 200F/R rotors Handlebar/Stem: Bontrager RSL Integrated Carbon | 27.5mm Rise | 800 W Seatpost: Bontrager Line Elite Dropper | 200mm Saddle: Bontrager Arvada Pro, Carbon rails

WHEELS Wheels: Bontrager Line Pro 30 | OCLV Mountain Carbon Front Tire: Bontrager SE5 Team Issue | 29×2.50″ Rear Tire: Bontrager SE5 Team Issue | 29×2.50″

DRIVETRAIN Cassette: SRAM Eagle XG-1299 | 10-52T Crankset: E*thirteen E*spec Race Carbon | 34T | 165mm Shifter: SRAM Eagle AXS | 12spd Derailleur: SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS | 12spd

Well-rounded and versatile Does everything Fun Capable

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Review: Trek's 2023 Fuel EX-e Is Light & Nearly Completely Silent

Cool Features

Trek Rail Review | A plush, powerful & frustratingly near-perfect electric mountain bike

The not-so-minor details.

Trek Rail 9.8 XT

https://www.trekbikes.com

From $7,499 AUD ($12,499 AUD as tested)

- Incredible suspension performance - Hugely confidence-inspiring ride quality - Powerful & intuitive Bosch Smart System - Big battery offers big range potential - Powerful brakes - Solid wheels & tyres

- Battery mount failure - Longer wheelbase has reduced agility - Seat angle could be steeper - Limited size range

Justin & Dan review the Trek Rail

Since it was introduced back in 2019, the Trek Rail has joined the likes of the Specialized Levo, Merida eOne-Sixty and Norco Sight VLT as one of the stalwarts of the Aussie e-MTB scene. Available in alloy and carbon across a wide range of price points, and powered by the excellent Bosch Performance Line CX motor, the Rail has grown to become a very popular electric mountain bike.

We last reviewed a carbon Trek Rail 9.8 in 2019 and an alloy Trek Rail 9 in 2021 . Though they weren’t perfect, we were mighty impressed by the quality of the suspension and the balanced handling. Trek has since updated the Rail lineup, incorporating a suite of improvements that are designed to take its technical prowess to a whole new level. To see how all the changes play out on the trail, we got our hands on this shiny Trail Rail 9.8 XT to put through the wringer.

Watch our Trek Rail video review here:

For a full-powered e-MTB with dual 29in wheels, the Rail is arguably one of the best-handling bikes in its category.

An overview of the Trek Rail

Designed to cover everything from backcountry trail riding through to e-Enduro racing, the Trek Rail features a 160mm travel fork and 150mm of rear wheel travel. It comes fitted with 29in wheels, though by flipping the Mino Link into the High position, Trek says you can run the Rail as a mullet with a 27.5in rear wheel.

As with almost every Trek full suspension mountain bike, the Rail is built around the ABP four-bar suspension platform. The most rearward pivot is concentric to the thru-axle, which Trek says helps to decouple braking forces from the suspension.

The top models are equipped with a custom RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate RT3 shock. Codeveloped between RockShox and Trek, this fancy shock features the unique Thru Shaft damper design, and as we’ll discuss shortly, is a big contributor to the Rail’s overall ride quality.

Frame & geometry updates

While the alloy frame remains unchanged, the Trek Rail’s carbon frame has been beefed up significantly.

The seat tube has swollen to a 34.9mm diameter, increasing chassis strength and allowing you to fit a modern long-stroke dropper post. Trek has also adopted the new 1.8in head tube standard to bolster front-end stiffness, while improving the proportions with big travel forks like the RockShox Zeb and Fox 38.

Also new is the Knock Block 2.0 headset. The steering limiter still prevents the handlebar controls from smacking into the frame, but a larger turning radius means it’s entirely unnoticeable on the trail.

Along with the beefier frame, Trek has also updated the Rail’s geometry. The most significant change is the seat tube angle, which steepens by almost two degrees to 76.7°. The reach has increased, growing by 12-22mm depending on the frame size, and the head angle is also a hair slacker at 64.2° in the Low geometry setting.

One number that hasn’t changed is the 448mm rear centre length, which is about as short as you’ll find for a 29er fitted with a Bosch motor. In comparison, the Scott Patron gets a 454mm rear centre, while the Avanti Hammer-E LT comes in at 462mm.

Bosch smarts

The latest carbon Trek Rail also updates to the Bosch Smart System. The tidy Kiox 300 display is tucked out of the way behind the headset, while the LED controller sits next to the left-hand grip.

Powering the Rail is the Bosch Performance Line CX motor and a 750Wh PowerTube battery. You can charge the battery in situ, or it can be easily removed from the frame with a key for charging separately.

Compared to previous generation Bosch systems, the latest Smart System provides you with far greater functionality and the option to tune the motor. If you’re curious to learn more about its full potential, check out our Bosch Tuning Tips article for everything you need to know.

Trek Rail price & specs

There are five models in the current Trek Rail lineup; two with alloy frames and three with carbon frames.

Prices kick off at $7,499 AUD for the Trek Rail 5, which is pretty good for a Bosch-equipped bike. However, it’s worth noting that the alloy models do carry over the previous generation frame, which uses a smaller 500Wh or 625Wh battery along with an older display and controller.

On the other side of the price spectrum is the Trek Rail 9.9 XTR, which sells for $15,999 AUD. This model is also available to customise through the Project One bike builder, for those who want something a little different to the norm.

As blingy as the 9.9 model is, we’re not particularly interested in the additional electronic gizmos it comes with. Instead we requested the Trek Rail 9.8 XT to review, as we think this is the bike that more people are likely to purchase. Despite selling for $3,500 less, it still features the same carbon frame, rear shock and Bosch Smart System as the 9.9 model, albeit with a more practical parts spec.

What about the 2023 Trek Rail?

It’s worth acknowledging that since receiving our 2022 test bike, Trek has quietly introduced some updates for the 2023 iteration of the Rail.

These changes are predominantly based around the user interface, with the alloy Rails updating to the Bosch Smart System with the LED controller and Kiox 300 display. The carbon Rails will then come with the newer Mini Remote and System Controller. Otherwise the frames, motors, batteries, and the majority of the component spec will be identical between the 2022 and 2023 models.

For those eager to wait for a 2023 Trek Rail model, we’ve been informed that stock will begin arriving in Australia in April.

2022 Trek Rail 9.8 XT

• Frame | OCLV Mountain Carbon, ABP Suspension Design, 150mm Travel
• Fork | RockShox Zeb Select+, Charger 2.1 RC Damper, 44mm Offset, 160mm Travel
• Shock | RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate RT3, 230×57.5mm
• Drive Unit | Bosch Performance Line CX, 85Nm
• Battery | Bosch PowerTube 750Wh
• Wheels | Bontrager Line Comp, 30mm Inner Width
• Tyres | Bontrager SE6 Team Issue 2.5in Front & SE5 Team Issue 2.5in Rear
• Drivetrain | Shimano XT 1×12 w/e*13 Plus 34T Crankset & 10-51T Cassette
• Brakes | Shimano XT 4-Piston w/203mm Rotors
• Bar | Bontrager Line Pro OCLV Carbon, 27.5mm Rise, 780mm Width
• Stem | Bontrager Line Pro, Knock Block, 45mm Length
• Grips | Bontrager XR Trail Comp Lock-On
• Seatpost | Bontrager Line Elite, Travel: 150mm (M), 170mm (L), 200mm (XL)
• Saddle | Bontrager Arvada
• Confirmed Weight | 23.94kg
• RRP | $12,499 AUD

Testing the Trek Rail

In addition to testing the Trek Rail 9.8 XT on our home trails, this bike has accompanied us along some bigger alpine missions up at Mt Buller in Victoria’s High Country.

Buller has proven to be a terrific environment for a big and burly e-MTB like the Rail, with plenty of entertaining options for gaining elevation and some brilliant purpose-built descents to enjoy on the way back down. Tying it all together are epic views of the surrounding mountains, making this one of our favourite destinations to explore over the summer months.

To give it a proper workout, we took the Rail on a smorgasbord of backcountry singletrack around Buller including the recently refurbished Delatite River Trail, Clancy’s and the absolutely brilliant Stonefly. We also used the Rail to rack up plenty of self-shuttled laps of the gravity trails, including Outlaw and the classic ABOM.

Trek Rail sizing & fit

While models like the Slash and Fuel EX are known for being offered in a huge range of sizes, the carbon Trek Rail models are currently only available in Medium, Large and X-Large sizes in Australia. We’re told that a Small will be arriving later this year, which will come fitted with a 625Wh battery to fit inside its shorter downtube. In the meantime, those after a Small will need to look towards the alloy Rail.

To suit the height of Dan (183cm) and Justin (180cm), we’ve been testing a Large. Compared to the previous model the reach has grown from 465mm to 487mm, which is a significant jump. The steeper seat angle does help to position the rider more centrally within the cockpit, though we reckon it could be a lick steeper since the effective top tube length on this bike is very long.

This presented more of an issue for Dan, who has shorter arms and prefers a more upright climbing position. To suit his proportions and riding style, Dan slid the saddle all the way forwards on the rails to steepen the effective seat angle and shorten the distance to the grips. Justin on the other hand had no such issues with the saddle in the middle of its adjustment range, and found the cockpit to be perfectly comfortable out of the box.

The takeaway from our experience? We’d recommend that anyone on the border between two sizes take a closer look at the geometry chart, as you may want to size down rather than up.

Even with the saddle shunted forwards, the Rail doesn’t suffer from a front-heavy riding position. That’s because the stack height is quite generous, coming in slightly taller than the old model. Combined with the well-proportioned bars, amenable grips and saddle, we’ve found it to be a comfortable bike during long exploratory missions out in the hills.

Suspension setup

Setting up the Rail’s suspension is made easy thanks to Trek’s online calculator , which is a fantastic tool for getting you started with air pressures and rebound settings.

For Justin (85kg), the suggested settings proved to work well right off the bat. In comparison, Dan (83kg) made use of the recommended air pressures but trended towards a faster rebound setting to suit his more aggressive riding style.

There’s plenty of adjustment available with both the Zeb fork and Super Deluxe RT3 shock, which allows you to tweak the damping to suit different trail conditions. In particular, the 3-position compression dial on the rear shock makes a notable change to rear end grip and support, so we’d recommend experimenting with all three settings.

Once set up to preference, we didn’t need to touch the suspension at all throughout the test period. Bigger riders or those who are particularly heavy on their landings may want to fit an extra volume spacer in the rear shock to increase bottom-out support, but the stock setup will likely work well for most.

Trek Rail weight

Without pedals and with the tyres setup tubeless, our Trek Rail 9.8 XT test bike came in at 23.94kg.

That’s a little heavier than claimed, though it’s a reasonable figure for a big travel e-MTB with a 750Wh battery. If you’re particularly concerned about weight, you might want to look towards the mid-powered Trek Fuel EXe , which is over 5kg lighter.

Although the Bontrager SE6 and SE5 tyres use reinforced Core Strength casings, at just over a kilo each they’re significantly lighter than a full-blown DH tyre. Factoring in the abuse we’d likely be dishing out on the Rail, we fitted a CushCore Pro insert into the rear wheel to help ward off potential punctures and rim damage. Tyre pressures were set between 21-24psi up front, and 24-26psi out back.

What do we dig about the Trek Rail?

As with previous models, we’ve been consistently impressed by the outstanding suspension performance on the new Trek Rail. This bike is beautifully balanced, offering great small-bump sensitivity while still delivering heaps of support. Along with the powerful brakes, aggressive tyres and long wheelbase, you can ride this bike bloody hard on some very rowdy terrain.

It has to be said that the Zeb is a perfect match for a burly bike like the Rail. An e-MTB is inherently more difficult to correct if you push it slightly off-line, with the added weight compounding any mistakes. The Zeb’s stiff 38mm chassis helps to keep the front wheel tracking where you want it, while the sensitive action soaks up off-camber impacts, maximising ground contact for increased grip.

It’s a similar story out back with the custom Super Deluxe shock. Trek says the IFP-less design of the Thru Shaft damper reduces the ‘stick-slip’ effect when the shock is rapidly changing direction between compression and rebound, resulting in smoother and more responsive operation. Given how supple it is back there, it’s hard to argue with that claim.

Combined with the trunnion bearing mount and ABP linkage, the Rail delivers incredible sensitivity across a wide range of impacts and riding speeds. Traction and compliance are superb, with the shock recovering well on rapid-fire impacts. We never fully bottomed out the rear suspension, while the mid-stroke support means the Rail has surprisingly good pep on flowier jump trails. The fact that it ‘only’ has 150mm of rear travel means it doesn’t totally numb the trails like a longer travel e-MTB would.

Stout frame & responsive handling

Enhancing the Rail’s enthusiastic on-trail demeanour is its stiff carbon frame, which feels noticeably sturdier and more responsive than previous iterations. Paired to the Zeb up front, the handling is direct and surefooted.

Much like the Canyon Spectral:ON , that chassis stiffness never results in untoward harshness. Indeed the supple suspension, high volume tyres and alloy rims ensure the Rail contours the terrain rather than pin-balling you around.

The short rear end also contributes to the responsive handling, helping to make the Rail feel manageable despite its heft. While a longer rear centre can improve high-speed stability, it tends to make the bike more sluggish and harder to leave the ground. Trek has avoided that sensation with the Rail, with its short chainstays providing a welcome dose of agility. It rips corners confidently, and thanks to the supportive suspension, it’s also more than happy to take to the air.

Bosch power & control

Along with its supple suspension and sturdy chassis, the Bosch Performance CX Line motor is another key component to the Trek Rail’s all-round performance. In our experience, this is the best full-powered motor out there.

Set to the adaptive eMTB mode, power delivery is responsive and intuitive. There’s plenty of low-range torque on tap, and the overrun feature means power continues to be applied even if you need to briefly coast over roots and rock ledges on a technical climb.

It’s particularly advantageous for larger-sized riders, with the Bosch motor providing masses of support and powerful acceleration. For lighter riders, bumping the assistance mode down to Tour+ will still provide that intuitively adaptive power output, albeit with a less abrasive punch and a milder overrun.

If you’re willing to make use of the lower powered settings, it’s possible to eke out some serious mileage. Indeed with the big 750Wh battery, you’re unlikely to experience any range anxiety with the Rail. This bike offers proper long-range potential, making it a fantastic option for huge e-MTB adventures out in the mountains.

While it will happily cruise along, the Rail also enjoys climbing fast and aggressively. Despite not having enormous chainstays, it’s still very calm and composed on steeper gradients. There’s little wander from the front wheel, with the long wheelbase and active suspension keeping the whole bike glued to the ground.

We didn’t encounter an excessive number of pedal strikes, though switching the shock’s compression dial into the firmer position does lift the ride height noticeably. Furthermore, flipping the Mino Link into the High position will garner you an additional 5mm of pedal clearance, while sharpening the seat angle and shifting more weight onto the front wheel. This will be useful for more active riders, and those who are scaling chunky climbs and eroded gullies.

The only real limiting factor on the climbs is the rear tyre, which didn’t have as much bite as we wanted. The tread profile is a little too shallow, and it lacked grip when the conditions were wet. We’d consider fitting an SE6 on the rear, which would offer more predictable traction on loose and slippery terrain.

What don’t we like?

As with the previous Trek Rail 9 we tested, we encountered a few annoying issues with our Rail 9.8 XT.

Most disconcerting was the battery rattling around in the frame. After a dozen or so rides we noticed a heavy clunking sensation on the descents that felt a bit like a poorly-adjusted headset. This turned out to be from the upper battery mount, which had come loose from where it bolts into the downtube. While the battery was still able to provide power to the motor, it meant the whole assembly was rattling around inside the frame. Not ideal.

This is of course a disappointing experience to have on a bike costing over $12K.

Our local Trek dealer put in a warranty claim, and within a couple of days we received a solution. This comprised of a small metal bracket that sits on the outside of the downtube, with two bolts passing through it to secure the internal battery mount to the frame. The bracket did the job, and has eliminated the clunking sensation on the descents.

This is of course a disappointing experience to have on a bike costing over $12K. Having to spoken to other Trek dealers, it appears that we’re not the only ones to have encountered this issue, which leaves us wondering why bikes are being sold without the bracket in the first place.

Even after the fix, the Rail hasn’t been totally quiet. The Bosch motor exhibits the usual clacking noise on the descents, though we found it pretty easy to ignore after the first few rides. One of the Mino Link bolts and the main pivot came loose partway through testing, which required some fresh Loctite and a torque wrench to keep them snug. The rear thru-axle has also come loose on two occasions, so we’d recommend checking it regularly to make sure it remains nice and tight.

It can be a bit of a tank

While the Trek Rail is a mostly well-balanced bike, it has to be said that riding across flatter and more mellow terrain is not its raison d’etre. Its long wheelbase and overall heft can make it a handful on tight and flat turns, which require some muscling to negotiate.

The short chainstays mean it isn’t a total barge, but compared to the previous version it does require a more forward-biased riding position. This sees it rewarding a more active and assertive rider, especially when you’re threading the front wheel through twistier singletrack.

For smaller folks and those who are newer to the sport however, the Rail can feel like a bit of a tank. If you’re looking for a less brutish riding experience, you might want to consider the lighter and lower-powered Fuel EXe or perhaps even an alloy Rail that features less stretched-out geometry.

Now while it is a lot of bike to manage, we should point out that for a full-powered e-MTB with dual 29in wheels, the Rail is arguably one of the best-handling bikes in its category. It’s certainly far more fun and involving to ride than the Scott Patron , despite being more capable overall.

It is less agile than the Specialized Levo however, which shares the same amount of travel but packages it into a dedicated mullet platform with a 27.5in rear wheel. Of course it is possible to fit a 27.5in wheel to the back of the Rail, which would be a great option for riders looking for a more playful character and a little extra tyre-to-arse clearance. If you do decide to go down that route, you can take your Rail into a Trek dealer to have the Bosch system reconfigured for the smaller wheel circumference, which will maintain the proper speed reading and motor output.

It’s worth noting that even with the Mino Link in the High position, a mullet setup would result in a lower BB. With that in mind, it may be worth considering fitting a 170mm airshaft to the Zeb, since the Rail’s frame is rated for it. This would lift the ride height and slacken out the head angle further, turning the Rail into a more gravity-focussed machine.

Component highs & lows

When it comes to the price to performance ratio, there’s no doubt that the Trek Rail 9.8 XT hits the sweet spot in the range.

The suspension is top-notch and offers plenty of usable adjustability. The Zeb’s Charger 2.1 RC damper is excellent, and really doesn’t give up a whole lot compared to the pricier Ultimate version. The Thru Shaft shock is brilliant, and it’s a big reason why the Rail is so plush and controlled.

The Shimano XT groupset is solid, and we’re glad to see a genuine Shimano 12-speed chain when other brands have been skimping and fitting a KMC chain instead. Unfortunately a freak encounter with a rock that got jammed in the chainring caused the chain to break while Justin was partway through a Stonefly mission. A spare link rescued the day, though once back in the workshop we had to replace both the chain and chainring. It was a timely reminder that stuff gets absolutely hammered on an e-MTB, and having a fancy XTR or AXS drivetrain might not be the most practical approach.

We did bleed the brakes partway through testing, as the rear was feeling slightly spongey. Thankfully it’s a quick and easy process to do with Shimano brakes, and we didn’t need to touch them for the remainder of the test period. While heavier riders will benefit from fitting a 220mm rotor up front, we found the stock setup to be plenty powerful.

Given the bush-bashing you can do aboard the Rail, we’ve been happy to have alloy crank arms and rims. Bontrager’s Line Comp wheels have been absolutely solid throughout testing, with no loose spokes, rim dings or freehub pops to speak of.

We’ve also managed to come out the other side with zero punctures or sidewall tears, which is quite frankly, amazing. The stock tyres will perform well in most Australian conditions, though if this were our bike, we’d put the SE6 on the rear to increase climbing grip and cornering traction on loose surfaces. We’d then fit a stickier compound tyre up front, like a Maxxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip, a Specialized Butcher T9 or a Continental Argotal Super Soft DH tyre.

As far as touch points go, the LED controller is functional, but the way it sits up above the bar makes it somewhat vulnerable in the event of a crash. The Kiox 300 display is nicely tucked out of the way though, with a vibrant screen that provides you with access to loads of data without being too distracting for the rider. Still, we’re glad to see Trek update the Rail for 2023 with the newer System Controller and Mini Remote for a more discreet user interface.

What about the alloy Rail?

If you didn’t quite have the budget to stretch to the Rail 9.8 XT, the alloy Rail 9 is definitely worth consideration. It features the same suspension package, wheels and tyres, and it still gets a Bosch Performance Line CX motor. It’s equipped with a smaller 625Wh battery though, and it uses the slightly older generation frame with a shorter reach and slacker seat angle. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as we found it to be a slightly more agile bike due to the shorter wheelbase, which will potentially be preferable for less experienced riders.

Trek Rail vs Norco Sight VLT

Speaking of comparisons, a bike that we’ve spent a load of time on is the Norco Sight VLT , which is another thoroughly popular e-MTB in Australia.

Like the Rail, the Sight VLT features 160/150mm of travel and is built around 29in wheels. It’s also available with an alloy or carbon frame, though Norco has equipped it with a Shimano EP8 motor and a custom battery that’s available in 500, 720 and 900Wh sizes.

The spec you get for the money is notably better with the Sight VLT. With a 720Wh battery, the top-end Norco Sight VLT C1 sells for $12,899 AUD. That’s a similar price to the Rail 9.8 XT, but the Norco’s spec is significantly more desirable with Fox Factory Series suspension, SRAM Code RSC brakes, a OneUp dropper, DT Swiss wheelset and Maxxis DoubleDown tyres as standard with a 3C MaxxGrip Assegai on the front.

Spec aside, these two bikes do produce quite a different ride experience on the trail.

The Sight VLT feels like a bigger, heavier and less refined e-MTB. This sensation was accentuated on the bike we tested, which came fitted with a 900Wh battery that weighs half a kilo more than the Rail’s 750Wh battery. However, it’s really the Sight VLT’s longer rear centre (462mm vs 448mm) that makes the biggest difference in terms of handling.

The longer wheelbase does make the Sight VLT incredibly stable, and we found it would happily plough its way downhill with a plush and bottomless feel to its rear suspension. However, it’s not as responsive as the Rail. It’s noticeably harder to change direction, with a cumbersome feel through the corners and across tighter trails. It’s also much more difficult to lift up the front wheel when launching off a drop or manualling down the trail.

The long chainstays and steep seat tube angle makes the Sight VLT a very planted bike on the climbs. Unfortunately the Shimano EP8 motor doesn’t produce the same power or overrun as the Rail’s excellent Bosch motor, resulting in slower climbing speeds and less assistance on technical stop-start features. The Rail pulls further ahead on tight switchback climbs, with its shorter chainstays allowing it to pivot around with more precision.

While both bikes are great examples of a modern full-powered e-MTB, the Rail edges out the Sight VLT when it comes to suspension performance and all-round handling. Whether it’s worth the price premium depends on how much value you place on its ride quality, Bosch system and Trek’s warranty support.

Trek Rail vs Trek Fuel EXe

Of course the competition for the Trek Rail isn’t just coming from other brands. With the recent introduction of the Fuel EXe , Trek now has an alternative choice in its e-MTB lineup.

Compared to the Rail with its 85Nm motor and 750Wh battery, the Fuel EXe takes a sleeker and lighter-weight approach. It’s built around a tiny TQ motor that puts out 50Nm of peak torque, and it uses a much smaller 360Wh battery. Along with its slimmer frame construction, it weighs in at just 18kg for the complete bike.

The Fuel EXe does have less travel with a 150mm fork and 140mm at the rear. However, the frame will accommodate a 160mm travel fork, which is exactly how we set it up for our long-term Fuel EXe review . Along with stickier tyres and a few other changes, the Fuel EXe is an incredibly capable and fun e-MTB to ride.

Comparing the two bikes, it’s obvious that the Fuel EXe’s suspension isn’t as plush as it is on the Rail. The extra 10mm of travel and the custom Thru Shaft shock gives the Rail hypersensitive performance that delivers more grip and more comfort when things get choppy. Along with the slacker geometry and added weight, it’s a more planted bike at speed, especially when full-gassing it on hectic DH trails.

When things get tight and twisty however, the lighter Fuel EXe offers greater agility. It’s easier to ride, with more intuitive and involving handling that doesn’t make you feel like you’re an unwilling passenger. The lower weight is instantly noticeable on the trail, allowing you to change direction with less effort. It’s just also easier to deal with on a practical day-to-day basis, like when you need to flip it over to repair a puncture or load it onto a bike rack on the car. Combined with its softer and whisper-quiet motor output, it’s a less intimidating bike for newer riders.

The Fuel EXe is no doubt the better option if you’re riding in a group with regular mountain bikes. It’s quiet and stealthy, so it’s less out of place. And with the motor set to the lower assist modes, you’ll be riding at similar speeds to everyone else.

If everyone in your riding group has a full-powered e-MTB however, you’ll be putting in considerably more effort with the Fuel EXe. You’ll need to make use of the highest assist setting, which tends to drain the 360Wh battery quite quickly.

Speaking of, we actually had both the Fuel EXe and the Rail during a big backcountry ride around Mt Buller. On the final climb back to the village, the Fuel EXe’s battery ran flat, while the Rail finished with 50% left in the tank. Put simply, the Rail offers you more capacity for long rides with plenty of elevation gain. That makes it the better option if epic rides in the mountains are on the agenda, particularly if you’re going to be riding with other e-MTBs.

Flow’s Verdict

The latest generation Trek Rail continues to be one of the best handling full-powered e-MTBs we’ve tested.

The cornerstone is its terrific suspension performance, which offers excellent small-bump sensitivity and grip with a responsive feel all the way throughout the travel. Indeed the way it manages to balance big-hit compliance while still giving good pop is mighty impressive. Along with its stout chassis, long wheelbase and burly build kit, the Rail is capable of monster trucking its way down some pretty gnarly descents.

It isn’t a total barge on flowier singletrack however, which is largely down to its taut carbon frame, responsive suspension and short chainstays. Certainly for a 24kg e-MTB, it’s one of the more intuitive and fun bikes to ride.

It’s a mighty fine technical climber too. The powerful Bosch motor is responsive and intuitive, while the 750Wh battery offers loads of range for proper all-day rides in the mountains.

We reckon it would benefit a steeper seat angle, and given how many frame sizes Trek offers in its regular mountain bike range, it’d be great to see the Rail produced in a similar range of sizes. And while the majority of the build kit on the Rail 9.8 XT proven to be solid, we were disappointed to encounter a glaring problem with the battery on our test bike. This is an expensive bike after all, so we have high expectations.

Once that issue was sorted, the Rail has proven to be a solid performer that we’ve thoroughly enjoyed on some epic rides over the summer season.

We wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for smaller riders or those who are newer to mountain biking, as its overall heft and raked-out wheelbase can make it a handful on more mellow terrain. Those riders will likely be better served by the lighter Fuel EXe, or perhaps even an alloy Rail with its slightly more moderate geometry.

But if you’re after a powerful and highly capable e-MTB that thrives on enduro-type trails, the Rail delivers control and composure in spades, especially when things get steep, fast and chunky.

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Article   The new 2023 TREK FUEL EX-e reviewed

• Thread starter knut7
• Start date Jul 12, 2022

Administrator

• Jul 12, 2022

”The dawn of a new era” – says Trek when introducing the new electric Fuel EX-e. Why is that? The Fuel EX-e is a superlight emtb with a small motor and battery. Such bikes have been around for a few years. What makes the Trek Fuel EX-e so special? Watch the video reviews or keep reading below. Introduction The new Fuel EX-e is a full suspension 29er bike. It’s only available with a carbon frame. The fork has 150 mm of travel while the rear end offers 140 mm. We test Fuel EX-e XX1 AXS, the top-of-the-line model at about 19 kg without pedals. { "lightbox_close": "Close", "lightbox_next": "Next", "lightbox_previous": "Previous", "lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.", "lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow", "lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow", "lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen", "lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails", "lightbox_download": "Download", "lightbox_share": "Share", "lightbox_zoom": "Zoom", "lightbox_new_window": "New window", "lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar" } The most expensive models come with relatively burly Rockshox Lyric forks This isn’t the lightest of the superlight bikes. It’s equipped with solid components. Fork and tyres are relatively burly. There is even a minitool inside the steerer tube. These are things you don’t get on the lightest bikes. It seems function is top priority for the... Click to expand...

🦷 Tooth Fairy 🦷

I want this bike. A lot. Looks really nice @Rob Rides EMTB . I also feel like this was one of you best videos. Really well shot and great content!  

E*POWAH Elite World Champion

A real looker. I'd like to test fide one. Hopefully trek has a demo in town this summer. I wonder if it can be used with just the extender like the levo sl? It has a 230 x 60 stroke shock and a flipchip so that might leave the pissibility to run a 230 x 62.5 or 65 and give it 146 or 152 rear travel as a mullet  

Silent Drone

Looks great. It’s exciting to watch the technology improve.  

I could be wrong but I dont see these low power ebikes being around for long. I imagine the the rail will outsell this 5 to 1, I just dont see too many customers choosing this over the rail with all the power and range for a 10lb weight trade off. The trick is going to be getting the full fat ebikes lower weight, not offering these half measures that really arent all that desirable.  

Active member

Cost = as much as 13,000 pounds? My Trek Powerfly FS7 2019 cost me $5,700 Can (= 3680 pounds). If I was offered for free to trade my Powerfly for the Fuel EX-E - I would definitely say no to what seems to me an overpriced and underpowered e-bike.  

• Jul 13, 2022

mastakilla said: I could be wrong but I dont see these low power ebikes being around for long. I imagine the the rail will outsell this 5 to 1, I just dont see too many customers choosing this over the rail with all the power and range for a 10lb weight trade off. The trick is going to be getting the full fat ebikes lower weight, not offering these half measures that really arent all that desirable. Click to expand...

Looks like Shockwaves goal is to post the ugliest and least desired bikes/dirtbikes that most true mountain bikers have zero desire to own/ride.  

Why does Shockwave's Dad's bike appear randomly in every thread?  

That Trek looks fantastic, as does the Shuttle. This is what I think traditional mountain bikers want and that is why they are making more- light e-bikes that don't handle like piggish anchors on the trail. I sold my full power Pivot Shuttle to get a Levo SL. That 40 lbs area is great. I'd sell the Levo to get the Pivot for sure, if upgrading. Maybe the Trek though I prefer DW Link. My friend rode a few and bought his first e-bike- a Levo SL too. His father bought a regular Levo. His words basically were the same as my thoughts- the Levo just feels heavy and tractor-like. Not as much fun in the handling department, especially slow technical sections. Good job, Trek!  

E*POWAH Elite

Cracking bike for sure, but I don't think I could ever be happy paying 13 gees for a bike and getting a set of Lyriks. Or indeed a Deluxe.  

@Rob Rides EMTB how does the motor on this bike compare to the ep8rs in the rise in terms of how it feels going up steepish hills? is there much difference between them, given that the rise is 60nm and this is 50nm  

Planemo said: Cracking bike for sure, but I don't think I could ever be happy paying 13 gees for a bike and getting a set of Lyriks. Or indeed a Deluxe. Click to expand...

Chicane said: What would you rather have in equal terms? I prefer a Lyrik over a Fox 36 on a 140-150mm bike. Click to expand...

🛠️Wrecker🛠️

It's weird how one of the best forks ever made suddenly became unusable...  

Zimmerframe

Doomanic said: It's weird how one of the best forks ever made suddenly became unusable... Click to expand...

A closer look at the radical new TQ-HPR50 eBike Motor & Harmonic Pin Ring Transmission

"while the 360 Wh battery weighs a claimed 1.83 kg. TQ tell us that is the highest energy density of any eBike battery on the market." How can that be the case when the fazua ride 60 is 430wh and 2kg ? More importantly, why didn't anyone tell me to put beer in the fridge.  

Rob Rides EMTB

Zimmerframe said: "while the 360 Wh battery weighs a claimed 1.83 kg. TQ tell us that is the highest energy density of any eBike battery on the market." How can that be the case when the fazua ride 60 is 430wh and 2kg ? More importantly, why didn't anyone tell me to put beer in the fridge. Click to expand...

Rob Rides EMTB said: Fazua 430Wh is about 2.3kg I think ? Also, I think they mentioned volume not weight. But there can’t be much between them at all! Click to expand...

Fuel EXe - TREK's new lightweight trail ebike

FAZUA Ride 60 versus TQ HPR 50 – the two new light-assistance eBike motors in direct comparison

Doomanic said: ...unusable... Click to expand...

Zimmerframe said: TQ tell us that is the highest energy density of any eBike battery on the market." Click to expand...

E*POWAH Master

All the mid drives coming out before Specialized rumoured bike hmm -  

P.I.Engineer

• Jul 14, 2022

really need to know what the motor warranty is. but, this is the kind of bike i've been waiting for. 40'ish pounds and some assistance. I ride an ebike to save time. I have young kids. i refer to ebikes as dad-e-bikes.  

P.I.Engineer said: really need to know what the motor warranty is. but, this is the kind of bike i've been waiting for. 40'ish pounds and some assistance. I ride an ebike to save time. I have young kids. i refer to ebikes as dad-e-bikes. Click to expand...

P.I.Engineer said: really need to know what the motor warranty is. Click to expand...

Streddaz said: Shimano themselves have a 6 year warranty on their motors. Click to expand...

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Trek Fuel EXe 9.5 2023... Trek's latest endeavour into the lightweight eMTB market! - MTB Monster

Posted by Paul Hoyle on 29th Sep 2022

The Fuel EXe is Treks latest endeavour into the light-weight eMTB market... fitted with a TQ HPR motor producing 50 nM of torque, fitted to a super lightweight carbon frame featuring all of treks latest technologies!

Click here to view our full range of Trek Fuel EXe's

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• "Bought my new Trek from MTB Monster online. Went into the showroom previous to this and the staff were friendly and helpful. Real good quality service from point of order to picking my bike up… On collection the bike was ready and looking good and the guy ran me through all I needed to know and answered my questions." Daniel May 2023 (Google Review)
• "Ordered a Cube reaction electric mountain bike from MTB Monster, Excellent service from them. Great price for the bike, communication was brilliant and it came quickly and very well packaged. Would recommend to anyone. Thanks." Arty October 2023 (Trust Pilot)
• "Couldn't be happier with the sales service from MTB Monster when buying a new bike online recently. They were quick and helpful to in answering questions about the bike, and the sales, comms and shipping process were super smooth and reassuring. Would definitely buy again and recommend to others." Russ January 2024 (Google Review)

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2023 Trek Rail 5 Gen 2 Review

Are you looking for a reliable electric mountain bike to tackle trails in the woods? The new 2023 Trek Rail 5 Gen 2 eMTB could be your ideal pick as it comes with a powerful motor, well-balanced geometry and plush suspension set up.

E-bikes are slowly becoming more popular due to their helpful boost on technical trails and steep climbs. Fortunately there is immense variety available from various brands and models.

Among the many high quality options is the 2023 Trek Rail 5 Gen 2, an electric mountain bike that is ready to take you wherever you need to go with confidence.

This review of the 2023 Trek Rail 5 Gen 2 goes over everything this bike has to offer, providing you with an overall impression of what type of rider this might suit best.

If you are looking for a powerful and reliable ride that keeps up with your active lifestyle, then read on- this review will tell you all that you need to know about this versatile eMTB.

The Trek Rail 5 Gen 2 is the most recent enduro mountain bike from the famous bike manufacturer.

This redesigned full suspension all-mountain-ready bike has a lot of features that have been honed specifically for those looking to really get after it on the trail.

So what’s new and exciting about the Trek Rail 5 Gen 2? Read this review to find out!

The 2023 Trek Rail 5 Gen 2 is a top-of-the-line mountain bike that takes performance and versatility to the highest level.

It features an Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame with Boost 148 spacing, and componentry that includes Shimano Deore 1×12 drivetrain and 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes. It also comes with a TranzX dropper post, RockShox 35 Gold RL 160mm fork, and Bontrager XR4 Comp tires.

Whether you’re hitting the trails hard or muddying through rough terrains, the Trek Rail 5 Gen 2 will deliver an exhilarating ride thanks to its nimble handling and control.

With this amazing mountain bike you can go from all mountaineering to enduro racing with no hesitation.

– Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame w/ Boost 148 spacing for optimal strength & stiffness and Control Freak internal routing, magnesium rocker link, Motor Armor, Mino Link

– Bosch Performance CX motor with Bosch PowerTube 500Wh battery

– Shimano Deore 1×12 drivetrain for smooth shifting featuring a 10-51t cassette and 34t chainring

– TranzX dropper post to get the saddle out of your way for those fast descents

– RockShox 35 Gold RL, DebonAir spring 160mm fork for increased agility & control incorporates air spring damping

– RockShox Deluxe Select+ rear shock with 230mm x 57.5mm of travel to smooth out those technical trail rides

– 29″x2.60″ Bontrager XR4 Comp tires for superior grip & traction on varied surfaces

– Alex MD35 tubeless compatible wheels

– Shimano 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes provide powerful stopping force

Frame and Suspension

The Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame features a Removable Integrated Battery (RIB), tapered head tube, Control Freak internal routing, magnesium rocker link, Motor Armor, Mino Link, Boost 148 spacing, 12mm thru axle, and 150mm of travel.

The Boost 148 rear axle means stiff performance while being incredibly lightweight thanks to its flat top tube, hydroformed downtube, and tapered headtube.

With a total of 150mm of suspension travel, this ensures that you can handle all terrain without worry.

The RockShox Deluxe Select+ works with the RockShox 35 Gold RL, DebonAir spring 160mm fork up front for a smooth yet capable ride.

Shimano Deore components make up much of the drivetrain with an 12-speed long-cage derailleur controlling the shifts on the 10-51t tooth cassette for as much range as you need.

E*thirteen provides the crankset and 34t chainring that helps to spin the Bosch Performance CX motor. The pedal assist motor features 85nM of torque up to 20mph and is good for 250 watts. 

Powering this beast is a respectable Bosch PowerTube 500Wh battery that can be removed from the frame and ridden without it.

The 29” Alex MD35 wheels are standard fare and laced up to Bontrager hubs—an excellent combination that allows the tires to hug corners.

The tubeless ready wheelset is wrapped with the highly rated Bontrager XR4 Comp 29×2.60” tires.

Shimano 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes provide exceptional braking capability when paired with 203mm 6-bolt rotors; these give you amazing stopping power no matter what type of terrain you’re tackling.

Overall, the Trek Rail 5 Gen 2 lives up to expectations in almost every way.

It has excellent geometry that can handle most any situation you want to take it through, spec perfect for enduro riding, plus impressive weight savings compared with previous versions of this series making sure everyone can enjoy their time spent outside pedaling hard or ripping downhill descents equally well!

From novice riders just learning their way around a bike park or tech trail network to full blown racers who trust it underfoot completely—this model may be exactly what they’re looking for!

Order online and have it shipped to your local dealer for final assembly!!

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Best electric mountain bike: join the e-bike revolution!

• Danny Milner
• April 30, 2024

Electric mountain bikes (e-bikes) let you go further and faster in the same time as a regular mountain bike, which makes them perfect for the hectic pace of modern life.

This guide will arm you with all the knowledge you need when shopping for the best electric mountain bike. There’s insight on battery and motor technology, a breakdown of different power/weight categories, and all of our recommended models on sale now. Every single one of the bikes in this list has been thoroughly tested by our team of experts, and only the top-scoring bikes make the cut. So, don’t put it off any longer, because with one of the top eMTB models at your disposal, you could be having the best riding experience of your life right now!

On a limited budget? Check out our buyer’s guide to the best cheap electric mountain bikes . And if you want to keep it traditional, there’s our buyer’s guide to the best mountain bike , whatever your budget or discipline.

Specialized has been building e-bikes for longer than most, and its Turbo Levo is proof that experience counts.

1. Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Carbon

The best shop-bought electric mountain bike.

Frame: FACT 11m Carbon, 150mm travel | Motor: Specialized/Brose 2.2 90Nm, 565W peak power | Battery: Specialized 700Wh | Weight: 22.43kg | Rating: 9/10

Reasons to buy:

• Excellent chassis
• A blast to ride
• Great value at the discounted price

Reasons to avoid:

• Cost-cutting drivetrain and fork

In a hotly contested shoot-out, the Specialized Turbo Levo emerged as our best Shop-Bought E-Bike of 2023. There are loads of reasons why it won – a smooth silent motor, comprehensive size range, aggressive, adaptable frame geometry, fun handling, neat integration, and a battery that’s easy to remove – but the real clincher for the Turbo Levo is that it it’s just such a blast to ride.

Yes, Specialized has cut a few corners with the components, but most are consumables that can be upgraded when they wear out. And out-of-the-box it managed to be the easiest bike to throw around, which meant you could either bank that energy and ride for longer, or release it with maximum abandon on the descents. It’s a package that’s hard to fault.

Read the full review of the Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Carbon

The Canyon Spectral:ON impressed us with its dynamic handling.

2. Canyon Spectral:ON CF 9

The best direct sales electric mountain bike.

Frame: Carbon, 155mm travel | Motor: Shimano STEPS EP8 85Nm, 500W peak power | Battery: Canyon 720Wh | Weight: 23.34kg | Rating: 9/10

• Dynamic handling
• Choose either 720Wh or 900Wh battery
• Brakes lack bite
• Maxxis Assegai EXO casing tyres aren’t tough enough
• Tall head tube

In the direct-sales category of our E-Bike of the Year test 2023 it was the Canyon Spectral:ON CF 9 that walked away with the top prize. And considering it’s a bike that was unashamedly inspired by the Specialized Turbo Levo – from the battery access to the geometry – that should come as no surprise.

The handling is sublime. As agile as a motorised gazelle, with a front end that can be played with like putty in your hands, the mullet-wheel Spectral:ON dispels the opinion that e-bikes are inert. And even with the optional 900Wh battery fitted, Canyon seems to have defied the laws of physics with a dynamic ride that puts most other e-bikes to shame.

Read the full review of the Canyon Spectral:ON CF 9

When it comes to bang for buck, there’s no beating the Vitus E-Mythique LT VRX.

3. Vitus E-Mythique LT VRX

Best budget e-bike.

Frame:  6061 T6 alloy, 160mm travel  | Motor:  Bafang M510, 95Nm  | Battery:  Bafang 630Wh | Weight: 25.2kg | Rating:  N/A

• Sublime suspension and killer geometry make for a standout ride.
• Clear display.
• Decent power and range. Generous overrun
• Spoke mounted speed sensor.
• Key needed for battery removal.
• Motor rattle similar to Bosch and Shimano

With the E-Mythique LT range, Vitus set out to build the best performing e-bike at a realistic price. And by realistic, the entry-level model comes in at £3,299 while this range-topping VRX is £4,399 – the price at which most e-bike ranges struggle to even start at.

But while the headline here is the price, it’s not the whole story, because Vitus has not compromised on performance. The alloy frame gets contemporary geometry, mullet wheels (29in up front and 27.5in out back), and there’s enough travel to shred the rowdiest descents. The Bafang motor has oodles of power, fully customisable modes, and a decent size 630Wh battery.

Vitus is always pushing the boundaries when it comes to price versus performance. Normally it’s a balancing act, where one facet falls as the other rises, but the Mythique LT manages to lift both sides of the scales simultaneously.

Read our full test review of the Vitus E-Mythique VRX

The Pivot Shuttle SL blends the best of analogue bikes and e-bikes into an intoxicating experience.

4. Pivot Shuttle SL 29 Team XTR

The best lightweight electric mountain bike.

Frame:  Carbon Hollow Core, 132mm travel |  Motor:  Fazua Ride 60 60Nm/450W |  Battery: Fazua Energy 430Wh |  Weight:  18.47kg |  Rating:  9/10

• Very dynamic handling
• Low resistance, high power Fazua motor feels great on or off
• Integrated 430Wh battery boosts range
• Shimano XTR drivetrain and brakes reduces weight without compromising performance
• Sag indicator is really useful
• EXO casing tyres are too thin for a bike this capable
• Can’t remove the battery for charging
• Slight delay in the motor when reengaging after overrun is complete
• Handlebar mounted controller feels fragile

Pivot was one of the first brands to release a lightweight trail bike with the latest Fazua Ride 60 motor, and it set the bar very high. So high we awarded it our 2023 E-Bike of the Year award in the Lightweight category. Key to winning that accolade is the infectious ride quality, that encourages skilled riders to extract the maximum fun from every trail. There’s no slack in the system – with minimal travel you have to be on your best game – but the Shuttle SL amplifies every ride.

Fazua’s Ride 60 system feels punchy in the top Rocket mode, but still delivers the best range of all the lightweight motors we tested. Over 1,000m of climbing in Rocket. So the lack of a range extender isn’t really a problem, even though it’ll be tough turning down one more run when the red light starts blinking.

Read the full review for the Pivot Shuttle SL 29 Team XTR

The YT Decoy’s extra battery capacity creates a subtle belly, but keeps the weight low and centred.

5. YT Decoy

Most dynamic long-travel e-bike.

Frame: Carbon, 165mm travel | Motor: Shimano STEPS EP8 85Nm, 500W peak power  | Battery: SMP YT 720Wh | Weight: 23.32kg | Rating: 8/10

• Big travel and dynamic handling
• Top spec for the money
• Finally the staying power to match the thrills
• Very limited bottle capacity

The YT Decoy has been around for a while now, but it still rides as superbly as it did when we first tested it over three years ago. There’s a stack of travel, but it manages to fly in the face of that depth, with a dexterity and reactivity that turns every trail into a playground. And being direct-sales means the Decoy is exceptionally well-dressed for the money.

Our main complaint with the Decoy was the small battery, but YT has now fixed that with a larger capacity unit that comes as standard. So now you don’t have to limp home for an early bath while all your mates go for an extra lap.

Read our full test review of the YT Decoy

The Canyon Strive:ON was our e-enduro test winner.

6. Canyon Strive:ON

Best electric enduro race bike.

Frame: Carbon, 160mm travel | Motor: Bosch Performance CX, 85Nm, 600W peak power | Battery:  Bosch 625Wh or 750Wh | Weight: 23.6kg | Rating: 10/10

Reasons to buy: 

• A blistering race bike that’s just as capable outside the tape
• Great value
• Well considered spec
• Progressive sizing

Reasons to avoid: 

• Limited pedal/BB clearance
• Needs careful sag set-up
• Battery needs careful installation
• Boring paint job

Canyon’s Strive was built to win e-bike enduro races at the highest level. And it has done just that, taking the E-EDR championship title in 2023. Key to its success is the punchy and responsive Bosch CX motor, the ample 160mm of travel, the MX wheel design, and the easily removable battery. But while it excels against the clock, it also delights when fun is the only key performance indicator, with agile, dynamic handling and progressive sizing that lets you use every mm of your body’s range of motion.

Choose the lighter 630Wh battery, or the big 750Wh unit for maximum range. But whichever you choose, you’ll have a blast on the Canyon Strive:ON.

Read our full review of the Canyon Strive:ON CFR

7. Specialized  S-Works Turbo Levo SL

Lightest mid-power e-bike.

Frame: Fact 11m carbon, carbon shock extension, 150mm travel | Motor: Specialized SL 1.2, 50Nm, 320W peak power  | Battery: Specialized SL 320Wh | Weight: 17.65kg | Rating: N/A

• More sizes and more adjustability,
• More power and more torque than before
• Lightweight
• Rear suspension isn’t as plush as before
• It’s a ton of money

Specialized has brought the original lightweight Turbo Levo SL up to date and then some. This second generation version gets more power and torque, better sizing and geometry, and some of the most impressive built-in adjustability on the market. Which means you can play tinker with the handling by playing with the head angle, BB height and chainstay length, or sling in a bigger back wheel (it’s sold standard in an MX configuration) if you want better rollover.

Adding power and torque has helped on the climbs, but range has taken a hit. Thankfully there’s also a range extender available to ensure you don’t get left by the trailside with empty tanks. And while most ‘lightweight’ e-bikes seem to stretch that description on the scales, the Turbo Levo SL actually deserves its SL moniker with a weight that’s not far off some analogue bikes with similar travel.

Read our test review of the Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo SL

The Orbea Wild M-Team is a superb e-enduro bike.

8. Orbea Wild

Best customisable e-bike.

Frame: Carbon or alloy, 160mm travel | Motor: Bosch Performance CX, 85Nm, 600W peak power | Battery: Bosch 625Wh or 750Wh | Weight: 23.72kg | Rating: 9/10

• Rock solid on rough tracks
• Excellent balance on size large
• Ample power and range
• Suspension offers both grip and support with the option to increase progression
• Customisable spec
• Battery is not easily removable.
• Not as agile as Strive:ON
• Reduced rear wheel clearance for smaller riders
• Headset-routed cables

Orbea’s Wild is a seriously good looking e-bike, and with 160mm of travel, and a progressive frame, it’s an absolute weapon on hardcore enduro terrain. Open up the taps on a jagged rock garden and the Wild never flinches, yet the balanced geometry also lets you carve corners like an Olympic skier.

A customisable spec lets you build your perfect bike – right down to the chance to choose custom colours – which is not something many brands offer. A blistering e-bike that loves to hang it out on the roughest of tracks.

Read our test review of the Orbea Wild M-Team

The Whyte E-Lyte 150 Works has the best handling of any lightweight e-bike we’ve ridden.

9. Whyte E-Lyte 150 Works

Best handling mid-power e-bike.

Frame: Carbon, 140mm travel | Motor: Bosch Performance SX, 55Nm, 600W peak power | Battery: Bosch 400Wh | Weight: 19.7kg | Rating: N/A

• Great handling, combined with stacks of power and battery capacity
• Range extender is in the right place and comes with the bike
• Hope Tech4 V4 brakes and Pro 5 hubs are both first rate
• Not really that light
• Shredders and avid hill climbers will both want a better rear tyre
• Premium price

Whyte’s latest e-bike is also its lightest ever, and marks the return of carbon frames to the brand’s range. It’s also one of the first new e-bikes with the lightweight Bosch SX motor with it’s eye-catching 600w peak power figure. Yes, you have to pump your legs like a washing machine on spin cycle to get the power, but it’s almost double the power you get from the Turbo Levo SL and on par with Bosch’s claims for the Performance CX unit.

What makes the Whyte really special, though, is the ride. It’s first class. While the weight may seem high on paper, the mass dissolves as soon as you start riding, and the E-Lyte can turn on a micro-dot. The suspension is also superlative, with a fluttery sensitivity backed up by steely support.

Read our test review of the Whyte E-Lyte 150 Works

Dropping in on the YT Decoy!

Which electric mountain bike is right for you?

As e-bikes are making up an increasing market share of new bike sales, so they are starting to diversify in order to meet varying consumer demands. At one end of the scale are the bike park bombers, with massive travel, coil-sprung suspension and even dual-crown forks. Also emerging slowly are the lightweight, ‘diet’ e-bikes with less power and smaller batteries. While in the middle are the all-purpose ‘trail’ e-bikes with air suspension, versatile geometry and around 150mm of travel.

A new breed of eMTBs has started emerging as of 2023, and that’s ones with a similar motor output, but with a lighter weight by using a smaller or more efficient battery.

Want to know the different parts of an eMTB? Check out our guide to the anatomy of an e-bike. 

The Forestal Cyon Halo is a lightweight e-bike with packed with impressive tech.

What is a lightweight/diet e-bike?

With most e-bikes weighing between 22-25kg, small weight differences between different models are barely perceptible. Suspension performance, sizing, component choice and geometry play a far greater role in defining the handling of an e-bike.

That was until Lapierre brought out the eZesty weighing an impressive 17.9kg, and e-bikes took a huge leap closer to their non-assisted cousins. The Lapierre uses a Fazua motor, with reduced power, torque and battery capacity, so you have to do a larger share of the work, but it takes much less effort to turn, jump, accelerate and decelerate. Because you put more energy in, the range is similar to full-power e-bikes with double the battery capacity, and with no extra friction in the system, it still responds to pedal efforts above the motor’s legal cut-off of 25kph. You can even remove the whole battery and motor to make a 15.6kg enduro bike.

Since then, Specialized has released the Turbo Levo SL  and Kenevo SL, newcomer Forestal the innovative Siryon and Cyon, Trek has launched the Fuel EXe, Pivot came out with the Shuttle SL, and Orbea has the Rise. There are also options from Scott (the Lumen), Transition (the Relay) and BMC. If you like the thought of a boost on the climbs, but want to retain the lively handling and pure response of a regular bike, a diet e-bike could be the best of both worlds.

The Canyon Torque:ON is so moto it even comes with a gas tank (for water!)

Can you get downhill-specific e-bikes?

Haibike was probably the first mainstream brand to start designing long travel e-bikes and equipping them with dual crown forks, but the spotlight really swivelled onto this category of bike with the introduction of the Specialized Kenevo. With coil-sprung suspension, heavy-duty tyres, four-piston brakes and masses of travel, it was part shuttle vehicle, part downhill bike.

More recently, Cannondale has joined the party with the Moterra SE, while Specialized has pushed the boat out even further with the outlandish new Kenevo, and more recently we’ve seen the Canyon Torque:ON (above).

The Specialized Turbo Levo is a hoot to throw around.

Are trail-focussed e-bikes the most versatile?

Most full-suspension e-bikes fit the ‘trail’ category and typically they run around 150mm of travel, but fitted with burlier forks up front, compared to their analogue cousins, to cope with the extra weight and leverage of the frame.

Four-piston brakes are common, again to decelerate the additional mass, and they usually have slacker head angles and slightly smaller sizing – the extra weight adding stability that non-assisted bikes make up for in length.

Although there are models with 29in wheels and 27.5in wheels, you’ll see plenty of bikes mixing the two into what’s called a mullet configuration. The 29in wheel up front giving good rollover while the smaller 27.5in wheel at the back increasing agility. Usually this is paired with a large volume 2.6in or 2.8in rear tyre that stretches the footprint and increases traction on steep or loose climbs. The most popular motors are built by Bosch, Brose and Shimano, with most battery capacities ranging from 500Wh to 700Wh.

Power-assisted hardtails are simpler, but struggle on rough terrain.

Are e-hardtails a good choice for mountain biking?

If you’re riding consists solely of tow paths, fire roads and country tracks, then e-hardtails make a lot of sense, since they can be cheaper and there’s less to go wrong. But for hitting proper singletrack, bike parks and trail centres, we wouldn’t recommend one.

The reasons are simple. You remain seated far more on an e-bike than an analogue bike – mostly because the motor prefers a high cadence, and the up-down piston motion of your legs when standing up doesn’t mesh well with the smooth, consistent power delivery of the motor. So without any rear suspension you’re in for a punishing ride on anything but billiard-table smooth trails.

E-bikes let you ride up climbs you wouldn’t dream of on a regular bike, but if you can’t get traction – because the rear wheel is bouncing over bumps and roots – you’ll be off and pushing. Finally, on fast, rough or technical descents, it’s much harder to get an e-bike off the ground, so rear suspension not only helps reduce the impact at the wheel, it also helps you pop the bike over square-edge hits. Which is why most e-hardtails we’ve seen on technical trails are being pushed – with a flat back tyre.

Cleaning an electric mountain bike is fine, as long as you take care and leave the jetwash in the garage.

Everything you need to know about electric mountain bikes

Got a question about riding, setting up or caring for your e-bike? Check out the essential info below, and you’ll also want to take a look at our answers to the most popular eMTB questions.

Are e-bikes worth it?

Do you want to ride much further and climb much faster in the same amount of time as you can on a regular bike, then the answer is absolutely YES! E-bikes allow you to cram in two or three times as much climbing (and descending) into a typical two hour ride as you can on an analogue bike, and with everyone juggling busier lives than ever, that’s an attractive prospect.

Of course there’s no such thing as a free ride, and in the case of e-bikes you’ll have to consider the high initial price, the extra wear and tear on components and the additional weight of the bikes themselves before deciding whether they are right for you. If you’re an experienced rider, it will take some time to adapt your riding style to that extra weight, but after the initial adjustment period, you’ll be addicted to the extra runs you can get in.

And, while it’s possible to let the engine take the strain, you can still get a great workout by toning down the power or not stopping for a breather at the top of every climb. And if you’re just starting out, those intimidating climbs will no longer be such an obstacle to exploring the countryside.

Bosch PowerTube battery can be charged on or off the bike

How long do e-bike batteries last?

Although there are plenty of online range finder tools, there are so many variables in play that they can only ever be considered a rough guide.

The best way of finding out how far your new e-bike will go on a single charge is experience. Record your rides and make a note of the trail conditions, power levels used and the battery remaining, so you can cross reference it against the distance covered and elevation gained. Once you’ve built up a data bank of rides, you’ll have a much better idea of your range when you go somewhere new.

To give you an idea of what to expect in the real world, for a rider weighing 70-75kg with dry trail conditions, we get around 1,800m of climbing from a 600-700Wh battery in a middle power setting. Why metres climbed instead of distance traveled? Well, the motor puts a much higher drain on the battery when climbing, and theoretically the battery would last forever if you rode along the flat above the speed limiter.

Should I charge my e-bike outdoors?

In a perfect world, you should always charge your e-bike’s battery indoors at room temperature (between 10-20°C, out of direct sunlight). If your battery is not removable, try your best to charge the whole bike in the house. Always only use the recommended charger that came supplied with the bike and don’t leave it charging unattended or overnight.

Why does my motor still turn when I stop pedaling?

Some motors, most notably the Brose, continue to give assistance briefly when you stop pedalling. Usually this is most obvious in full-power mode, and can be useful to get up stepped climbs, rock gardens or over patches of roots where you need to coast in order to prevent pedal strikes. Officially under EU law this assistance cannot last for more than 2m, although we’ve experienced considerably more than that in the real world.

The new Bosch CX Race motor gives a noticebly powerfull overrun, which is designed to help racers up the technical ascents that are a feature of e-enduro racing.

Battery display built in the to top tube on the Turbo Levo.

What’s the lifespan of my battery?

This varies by manufacturer. Giant says you should have 80 per cent capacity left after 1,000 full charge cycles (equivalent to a big ride almost every day for three years). Shimano guarantees 60 per cent battery capacity after 1,000 full charge cycles. Specialized promises 60 per cent after 500 full cycles.

What frame size should I go for?

Because all that low-down weight means e-bikes are so much more stable than their naturally-aspirated counterparts, it’s less important to search for stability through frame length and slack geometry. That’s not to say you should get the smallest bike you can, but if you’re between sizes, it’s worth considering the smaller option. As always, the best course of action is to try before you buy, so find out about demo days and shop fleets before you commit.

Is it OK to wash my e-bike?

According to advice from Bosch, you should wash your e-bike as frequently as you’d wash an analogue bike (ideally after every ride), but you should never use a jet wash. This is because the high-pressure water can get past seals and into delicate electronics, as well as into non-serviceable areas such as the bottom bracket.

Equally, avoid degreasers and bike shampoos – use water from a garden hose, or bucket, and a range of brushes to get into those awkward areas around the chainset and the motor. Advice varies around what to do with the battery – Specialized recommends leaving it in-situ, but Bosch suggests removing it, then replacing the battery cover. Either way, we’d remove any displays (or cover with a plastic bag), dry the bike immediately after washing, particularly battery terminals, and then switch the bike on to check everything’s working.

E-bike climbing skills with the trials master: Chris Akrigg.

Where should I store my battery?

Keep your battery stored between 10-20°C and out of direct sunlight. If that’s not possible, consider getting a thermal blanket – basically an insulated sleeve – to store it in. If you drive to go riding, keep the battery in this sleeve en route, as it will maintain a more optimal temperature. If you’re not planning on riding for a while, remove the battery from the bike, and store in the house with around 60 per cent charge (the exact amount varies between brands). Charge fully before use.

Do I need e-bike specific components?

As e-bikes have become more popular, so brands have reacted quickly to develop specific products to fit them. In some cases they’re a waste of time, in others they’re well worth considering if not fitted as standard to your e-bike.

For example, Fox’s e-bike specific 36 forks use a thicker steerer tube and stanchion tubes to better resist the increased loads. SRAM’s Guide RE e-bike brakes use a simple lever with four-piston calipers for additional braking power.

Canyon’s SD:ON saddle has a flat nose and broad, kicked-up tail to give you something to push against on steep climbs. Also think about reinforced casing tyres, bigger brake rotors, stronger wheels, more robust freehub internals. Look for components that offer the best value and durability rather than weight saving or bling factor, as e-bikes tend to chew through consumables much faster than analogue bikes.

What happens if my motor stops working out of warranty?

Good news! Now you’re no longer left with a hefty bill for a new motor, because several businesses have popped up specialising in refurbishing, repairing, and servicing motors from all the top brands. Click here to read our story about where to get your e-bike motor fixed .

Looking for something a little less pricy? You can still get a brilliant budget electric mountain bike for less money that still offers amazing performance. 

The best e-mountainbike of 2023 – The biggest group test yet:⁠ 30 e-mountainbikes head-to-head

30 hot and trendy e-mountainbikes, 26 brands and 12 motor systems go head-to-head in our biggest e-mountainbike group test yet. Our search for the best e-mountainbike of 2023 held many surprises, providing exciting insights and an unprecedented market overview. We cover everything you need to know about buying an ebike and finding out which is the best e-mountainbike for you.

Table of content

What must the best e-mountainbike of 2023 be capable of, what type of e-mountainbiker are you, our expansive e-mountainbike test field: 30 of the most exciting e-mountainbikes on the market, the motor systems of the e-mountainbikes on test, their features, and functions at a glance.

• How and where did we test the e-mountainbikes?

Our e-mountainbike group test in numbers

What should you look for when buying an e-mountainbike.

• Tops and flops from our 2023 e-mountainbike group test

An overview of all e-mountainbikes in our huge 2023 group test

The best emtb of 2023: the orbea wild, our best buy tip: the radon deft, more exciting recommendations.

Have you ever thought about the countless dials and gauges in the cockpit of an aircraft when you last flew away on holiday? The current e-mountainbike market is similarly complex with its sheer mass of products, misleading promises and supposed innovations. Before you know it, you’ll have lost your bearings, and making the right purchase decision is almost impossible – if you make one at all. Finding the right e-mountainbike to suit your needs is more challenging than ever. And nothing is more frustrating than investing your hard-earned money in the wrong bike, which may look good or seem like a bargain but doesn’t meet your own demands and intended use, or simply doesn’t perform reliably.

Long story short: we literally worked our a**** off for months on end to conduct and compile the biggest and most diverse e-mountainbike group test ever. The result is a comprehensive and detailed market overview containing all the most important information, exciting insights and, above all, clear buyer’s advice. As you read these lines, we’re not just toasting on the completion of this huge project – spanning 202 A4 pages – but also celebrating our 10th anniversary as E-MOUNTAINBIKE magazine. And if we’ve learned one thing during these last 10 years, then it’s the fact that data from spec sheets and geometry tables can’t be taken at face value, revealing little about the overall performance and functionality of the bike. Ultimately, it is the cohesive performance of the bike as a whole that really counts out on the trail.

For this group test, we had a clear goal in mind: to create an all-encompassing market overview and comprehensive buyer’s guide, not just to make comparisons of similar models, but also to open the doors to a broad classification. To this end, we had 30 e-mountainbikes with 12 different motor systems compete against each other, once again demonstrating the variety and vast number of combination possibilities offered by today’s eMTB market. Different battery concepts, range extenders, custom software solutions and specially developed apps, accessory integration, myriad geometries and components… we could go on forever. But instead, we’ll focus on the essentials and tell you what to look for when buying an e-mountainbike, what really counts, and how to find the right bike for you.

There are many misconceptions, false assumptions, and misunderstandings about what makes a good e-mountainbike. Those who aren’t properly equipped with the right information will shop according to criteria like the best motor, the largest battery, and fall for seductive marketing hype without asking themselves what it is they actually need. In our annual reader survey – which is considered the largest and most representative survey in the e-mountainbike industry – over 12,000 loyal readers answer up to 90 questions, providing us with hard facts and figures about what it is that you really want. Thanks to this data, we don’t just know how, what, and how long you ride, but also what your experiences have been, what you’re interested in, and what makes you tick. This allows us to tailor our test field as well as our test criteria perfectly to your needs. By the way, it just so happens to be time for our 2023 reader survey and we would appreciate your feedback very much! It allows us to continue driving the industry forward and not just know exactly what you want to read, but also ride in the future.

The best e-mountainbike is made up of a combination of good components, geometry, and kinematics, with a suitable motor and software ecosystem. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link – and this also applies to e-mountainbikes. It’s not isolated parameters but the harmonious interaction of all components that matters. Of course, the design, practical accessories, available service network, and detailed solutions also play a key role. Many reviewers will judge a bike based on a short test ride or on spec sheets and geometry tables. But not us, which is why the future of our jobs is secure: AI can’t test bikes and fit them into the overall context – or have you seen ChatGPT ride the trails?

The best e-mountainbike of 2023 can cater to supposedly contradicting use cases and needs, making it the ultimate all-rounder for every type of trail and riding style. It must excel on the trails with intuitive handling, providing a balanced combination of agility and composure, while being a blast to ride. It must perform equally well on epic rides and long climbs, providing sufficient long-distance comfort, efficient yet comfortable suspension, as well as easy-to-modulate yet powerful electronic assistance. The best all-rounder also provides a pleasant user experience with high-quality details. This includes a wide range of software and connectivity solutions, and guided help with the setup or service. Variable battery concepts and the option of configuring the motor output to your needs also provides obvious advantages. Does it sound utopian to combine all this into one bike? It does. Fortunately, however, there are a few e-mountainbikes that can do all this, making them great investments that we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to our best friends. It also goes without saying that while the best overall e-mountainbike of 2023 is the best choice for the majority of our readers, some of you have very specific requirements, which is why you might be better off with one of the specialists in our test field. Not to worry, though, thanks to our holistic approach and personalised buyer’s guide everyone will find a bike that suits them and their requirements in this group test.

Before we dive into this group test in Turbo mode, it’s important to know what you need and demand. If you need help with that, you should check out our interactive buyer’s guide . By answering a few simple questions, it will help you make the right decision, providing you with specific bike recommendations along with a selection of other articles that you might find interesting and helpful.

As part of our mega group test, we had 30 current e-mountainbikes from 26 different brands compete head-to-head in a direct comparison. The test field includes as many as 12 different motor systems, some of which provide double the torque compared to other candidates – at least on paper ;). We’ve got everything from 40 to 95 Nm, packaged in vastly different concepts. But don’t fall for the trap of being blinded by the figures. There are enormous differences between how the power is delivered, in which situations, and whether all the power can be transferred to the trail! The differences in battery capacity are just as big, ranging from just 250 Wh to a whopping 800 Wh. However, more capacity doesn’t automatically mean more range. As with EVs, different motors consume electricity at different rates and their respective efficiency must also be considered, which in turn depends on the rider, their riding style, and cadence. Among the 30 e-mountainbikes, we also included 9 of the latest generation Light-eMTBs to shake up the field. This also explains the massive weight difference of over 11 kg between the heaviest and lightest bike on test. The lightest ones tip the scales at just 16 kg, but whether they perform well on the trail is a different matter.

The brands aren’t shy about charging for the rapid pace of e-mountainbike development with the most expensive bike on the test costing a staggering € 15,999. That’s easily the same as a new compact car. Therefore, it’s all the more important to know whether you’re investing your money in the right place. But don’t worry, the test field includes a wide price range, starting at € 6,699. The best part is that certain bikes are on par with more expensive models in terms of riding fun and performance, though some cost twice as much. However, if you find the prices are still too high, don’t stop reading, because most findings and tips are universally applicable and we’re already back on the trails, conducting our budget eMTB group test, which will be coming soon.

Isolated specs and figures say little about the character and stand-out traits of an e-mountainbike. As such, we’ll give you a brief introduction to every bike in this group test along with the table above, providing a rough overview of our test field. Let’s start with a classic among e-mountainbikes: The Specialized Turbo Levo Expert is undoubtedly one of the most popular e-mountainbikes on the market, pioneering integration and holistic development since the first generation was introduced in 2015. This hasn’t changed with the latest generation, which was launched in 2021. Specialized consider the bike as whole, not just developing a frame, but also their own motor and software to go with it, which offers clear advantages in their interaction. That said, the competition doesn’t sleep. The young and still relatively unknown boutique brand Forestal have a similarly holistic approach to development. If you haven’t heard of the Andorran brand, you’ll know what’s up the moment you catch a glimpse of the futuristic looking Forestal Siryon Diōde at the latest. The Light-eMTB relies on a custom BAFANG EonDrive motor and in-house software. On top of that, they’ve integrated a touch display – yes, you read that right – into the top tube. Is this what the future of e-mountainbikes looks like?

The test field includes numerous e-mountainbikes featuring exclusive or unique motor systems. GIANT also rely on their own GIANT SyncDrive Pro 2 motor for the Trance X Advanced E+ LTD , which is based on the Yamaha PW-X3 and combined with an 800 Wh battery – the largest in the test field. Moreover, GIANT resort to the electronic FOX Live Valve suspension, but does it offer any advantages on an e-mountainbike? Without a doubt, the Berria Mako Hybrid GT LTD is one of the underdogs on test. The golden e-mountainbike of the Spanish brand is the only contestant to rely on the exotic Polini E-P3+ MX motor, producing a hefty 90 Nm of torque and paired with a large display in the top tube. But does the overall concept work and can it transfer all that power to the trail? Only the Panasonic GX Ultimate motor in the FLYER Uproc X 9.50 can put out even more torque with a peak of 95 Nm. In addition, it relies on the so-called FIT system, which offers countless connectivity features. Off to a good start for a good test result?

Most of the e-mountainbikes on test hedge their bets on the proven Bosch Smart System. Bosch don’t just offer one of the world’s best service networks, but they’ve recently also started offering bike companies different combinations of displays, remotes, and batteries. The Orbea WILD M-LTD takes full advantage of this, not just allowing you to customise the componentry spec in Orbea’s MyO configurator, but also letting you choose between two battery sizes. We opted for the smaller 625 Wh version. In addition, the WILD relies on the limited edition CX Race motor, which predominantly offers advantages on technical climbs due to the way it’s tuned. The KTM Macina Prowler Exonic – which is KTMs big hitting e-mountainbike – and the Mondraker Crafty Carbon XR LTD also rely on the more powerful Race motor. Check out the individual reviews to find what advantages this offers, if any, and whether it allows them to pull away from the competition.

While the Moustache Samedi 29 Game 11 relies on the proven Bosch system, the company developed their own shock, promising magical levels of grip and a ride like a flying carpet. The RADON DEFT 10.0 doesn’t claim to be a flying carpet, but it can come right to your front door, nonetheless. At just € 6,799, the direct-to-consumer brand offer a well-specced package that surprised us all in the group test. The UNNO Mith Race will let you stand out from the crowd with its extravagant look. However, it doesn’t just look like a designer piece, the integration of the Bosch system is equally refined. Thanks to the large swingarm and asymmetrical design, the Ibis Oso features an equally striking and unique look. It also comes with practical features such as an integrated light. The Cannondale Moterra Neo Carbon LT1 combines the best of both worlds, specced with a coil shock as well as practical accessories such as lights. The two newly introduced FOCUS siblings, the FOCUS SAM² 6.9 and the FOCUS JAM² 6.9 , also took part in the group test. Besides many similarities such as the removable batteries and integration, they’re targeted at very different use cases due to their geometries and spec. However, being overweight seems to run in the family as they’re both on the heavier end of the spectrum, weighing in at 27.1 and 26 kg respectively. Does that matter?

The two FOCUS representatives have brought light reinforcement, because the German bike brand can fall back on a new Light-eMTB in their portfolio. The slender FOCUS JAM² SL 9.9 weighs 19.3 kg and produces 60 Nm of torque via its FAZUA Ride 60 motor. FOCUS entered the Light-eMTB segment many years ago and are considered pioneers in this field. We found out whether this has resulted in a mature product. The ebike pioneers Haibike also rely on the FAZUA drive system for their new Haibike LYKE CF SE . The popular brand aim to take on the competition with the bike’s sporty look and innovative approach to the integration of the motor. Will they succeed? American brand Pivot have also chosen to integrate the FAZUA system into their Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01 . In doing so, they weren’t just early to the party, theirs was the first Light-eMTB available on the market with this motor. For our group test, we chose the model configured for trail performance instead of the top-end version. As usual, it relies on the firm DW-Link rear suspension and high-end components.

The Thömus Lightrider E Ultimate isn’t just specced with the weakest motor on test at 40 Nm, but also the smallest battery with a capacity of 250 Wh. But it lives up to its name with a weight of just 16.1 kg, and there’s no denying its cross-country genes. For obvious reasons, the prize for integration goes to the SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL . It doesn’t break the scales with its featherweight 16 kg, but its € 15,999 price point might just break the bank. This makes it both the lightest and most expensive bike on test, relying on the inconspicuous TQ HPR 50 motor. As the name suggests, the SIMPLON Rapcon Pmax TQ features the same system, but it’s packed into a long travel frame with a focus on the descents. Its analogue sibling has already shown what the platform is capable of, having been crowned the best enduro bike of 2022 by our sister magazine ENDURO. The Trek Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS also relies on the 50 Nm TQ system, but the EXe is less gravity-oriented than the SIMPLON. The US mega-brand were the exclusive launch partner of the TQ HPR 50 motor, and they were significantly involved in its development. In doing so, Trek have garnered some advantages that the competition has no access to. Does that make it better? As you can see, very different concepts rely on the same motor system. This raises an interesting question: does the motor suit all concepts equally well?

The Orbea Rise M-Team is considered a bridge between the Light- and full-power e-mountainbikes because it has a conventional Shimano EP801 motor that’s been throttled from 85 Nm to 60 Nm, as indicated by the RS suffix. In addition, the Rise has a large 540 Wh internal battery, which you can increase to a whopping 792 Wh with the optional range extender. This is the second largest battery capacity in the entire test field, and that’s in combination with a more economical motor compared to the standard EP8!

All other Shimano powered bikes in the group test come with the standard EP8 model, but Shimano leave it up to the respective brands to decide which battery they want to use, which allows them to take very different approaches. The Pivot Shuttle LT Team XTR subscribes to the “more travel, more battery and more fun” school of thought. With a generous 756 Wh, it has the largest internal battery of the Shimano driven bikes, promising a long range. The ROTWILD R.X735 ULTRA has a slightly smaller yet still big 720 Wh battery, and thanks to their convenient removal system, you can swap it out in the blink of an eye. Does that make it the trail king?

The Santa Cruz Heckler MX X01 AXS RSV features the usual high-quality workmanship, look, and VPP rear end. It promises to be more agile on the trail thanks to the smaller 27.5″ rear wheel. But does it have what it takes to be an all-rounder? The Transition Repeater AXS Carbon and the Yeti 160E T1 are the first e-mountainbikes of the two American brands. Both bikes are designed to perform on the trail and are specced accordingly. Nevertheless, the Yeti was crowned the best all-rounder in last year’s group test. Can it build on that success and defend its title, or will it be toppled from the throne this year? The MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 975 comes factory fitted with a headlight and other practical accessories. Its build spec is very promising and it’s fairly priced, too, so it’s no wonder that it’s already secured several titles in previous group tests. The final opponent to roll into our group test is the BULLS SONIC EVO EN-SL 1 . At € 6,699, it’s the most affordable bike on test, pairing the new EP801 motor with an automatic Shimano XT Di2 drivetrain. We put the setup to the test to find out whether it provides any advantages over conventional shifting.

When buying an e-mountainbike, you don’t just decide on a bike, i.e. the frame, but also on a motor ecosystem and software, which has a significant influence on the performance and handling of your bike. Nevertheless, the drive unit can only be as good as the bike it’s in, and how well it suits your specific requirements. Do you want the battery to be permanently integrated or removable, should it be as big as possible, or would you rather a smaller capacity with the option of an external range extender? Besides that, there are numerous aspects that go far beyond the hardware of the motor, with many systems now providing a vast array of options. These include customisable or progressive support modes, additional features such as digital immobilisers with an alarm, GPS tracking, range-based navigation, assistance that’s linked to your heart rate, or gamified ride data that tracks things like airtime. There are countless options available, and they will continue to grow, so it’s good to have an overview and be aware of what you want from your bike. While newly introduced technologies are state-of-the-art, they often suffer from teething issues. Large established brands usually have a reliable and well-established service network, so you can easily get help when you’ve got trouble with your motor, but they often take fewer risks during development than smaller or more agile players might do. Fortunately, software updates can be used to expand the range of functions or remedy bugs in retrospect, even when the bike’s been in your possession for a long time.

The products offered by large, established brands are usually aimed at the masses, so they don’t necessarily meet your individual requirements. The same applies to custom solutions such as the touch display in the Forestal or the charging port integrations on the Specialized. Practical and individual solutions such as these are usually reserved for bike companies that are involved in the development of the motor instead of sourcing closed systems with technical limitations. However, custom solutions can cause durability issues or lead to difficulty in procuring spare parts. Manufacturers of bikes, components and motors must work hand in hand to offer a complete package. Due to the wide range of systems that are now available on the market, this aspect has improved greatly, increasingly allowing brands to tailor bikes to your individual needs. Nevertheless, the development of an ebike is vastly more complex than that of its analogue counterpart. The large selection of components and rapidly developing industry only serve to complicate matters even more.

That’s why it’s vital to not just consider an e-mountainbikes performance and functionality on the trail, but also its secondary aspects.

Note: with such rapid development, the market is constantly being flooded with new software updates and accessories such as range extenders. Much of it solves problems or extends the field of application. However, as we’ve seen in the past, this can also create new problems. So, we wrote this article for you based on current information as it stands in March 2023.

Below, you will find an overview of all the motor systems featured in this group test.

Smart System and CX Race – The 2023 Bosch Performance Line CX motor system

The Bosch Performance Line CX system is the top dog among the motors in our group test, featured in 10 of the 30 bikes on test. All of them rely on the Smart System, introduced in 2021, which lends the proven Performance Line CX motor a smarter infrastructure and provides a basis for upcoming features and developments. While the motor has remained largely the same, apart from a few minor hardware adjustments, the ecosystem consisting of the remotes and displays has been completely revised and the old wiring harness also gave way to a new, optimised version. Unfortunately, the Smart System upgrade isn’t backwards compatible with your old Bosch motor, though it’s become standard on new bikes.

The motor still produces 85 Nm of torque with a maximum assistance of 340% in TURBO mode. But beware: some of the bikes on test rely on the CX Race motor. It’s the twin brother of the Performance Line CX motor, just with a gym membership. Thanks to adapted software, the CX Race motor provides assistance of up to 400% with the same 85 Nm of torque. But nothing on the hardware has changed, except for slightly optimised internals.

Bosch give manufacturers the option to combine their motor with the new Bosch PowerTube battery with capacities of 750 Wh, 625 Wh or 500 Wh. All the Bosch powered bikes in our group test come with the largest battery – except the Orbea, which you’re free to configure as you please. We opted to go with a 625 Wh battery on our Orbea Wild test bike. Depending on the bike, some of the batteries are more or less easy to remove while others are permanently integrated. At 4.38 Kg, the 750 Wh PowerTube battery is one of the heaviest on test, and pushes up the system’s overall weight despite the rather light 2.79 kg motor.

The Smart System gives bike companies access to new accessories and combination options. Starting with the Bosch LED remote on the left-hand side of the handlebar. It’s quite large and exposed, and it indicates the battery level in comparatively fine 10% increments by means of classy looking illuminated bars. The colour around the Bosch logo indicates the selected support level. The buttons all offer pleasant haptics, but they could be a little bigger or further apart, because it’s easy to push the wrong button while riding.

For brands who opt against the feature-rich LED remote, Bosch offer the System Controller and Mini Remote combination. The Bosch System Controller is an LED display that integrates into the top tube, indicating the battery and support level via illuminated bars and a colourful, illuminated ring, similar to the LED remote. The Mini Remote provides a cleaner cockpit, with functionality limited to the minimum. Thanks to the few large buttons, you can reliably hit the right button, even as you’re ploughing through a rock garden shortly before a punchy climb.

Bosch also have a fitting solution for riders who don’t want to limit communication with their bike to a few LEDs. The high-quality Kiox 300 display can be mounted in different positions next to the stem, and is controlled via one of the two remotes. The new menu navigation is user friendly, and the display is easy to read while riding. There are some additional functions, too, such as navigation or location tracking by means of the Bosch ConnectModule in the motor. However, the only bike on test with the ConnectModule is the KTM Macina Prowler Exonic. Moreover, using it requires a paid subscription. On the other hand, all Bosch Smart System bikes have the eBike Lock function as standard, which allows you to lock all motor functions temporarily via the eBike Flow app as an anti-theft measure.

The Bosch eBike Flow app also provides a good overview of all functions and is intuitive to operate. In addition to a wealth of information about the system, it lets you tune the support modes according to your own preferences. If you want to use the app, you must first create an account, after which connecting it with the bike is easy to do. It gets a little trickier if several users want to access the same bike via the app. Once the bike has been registered with one account, it can no longer be accessed by another account.

Depending on the bike, you’ve got access to different support modes on the trail. With the TOUR and eMTB modes, Bosch have two dynamic modes that adapt the support to match the riding situation on the trail. The TOUR+ mode is the more efficient variant and is great for maximising your range, or as a less aggressive alternative to the eMTB mode for light riders. As you might have guessed, the CX Race variant also has a RACE mode. In general, the Bosch motor is one of the best, most efficient, and most powerful on test despite putting out “just” 85 Nm on paper. Thanks to its smooth characteristics and wide cadence range, it provides a shuttle-like feeling on the climbs and leaves the Shimano EP-8 behind despite also being rated at 85 Nm. The Panasonic, Specialized, and Polini motors can all keep up with the CX motor, but they can’t compete with its big, even more powerful CX Race sibling. On the other hand, Bosch are yet to address the annoying metallic knocking noise that the motor produces. This only occurs when the motor isn’t providing any assistance and the chain isn’t pulling on the chainring – during big compressions or when the chain is bouncing around through a rock garden, for example. While this doesn’t detract from its performance, it can get on your nerves in the long run, especially on rough trails.

The Polini E-P3+ MX motor system

The Polini E-P3+ MX system is an exotic powerhouse. In our test field, the Italian motor features in the no less exotic Berria Mako Hybrid GT, and the list of bikes that Polini supply with their system reads like a guide on the exotic plants of Borneo. With a torque output of 90 Nm, the Italian motor is one of the most powerful in the test field, capable of matching your own input by up to 400%. And all that from a motor that weighs just 2.9 kg. For those who don’t need that much power, Polini offer the 75 Nm E-P3+ motor.

For the Mako Hybrid GT on test, Berria combine the Polini motor with a custom 720 Wh Portapower battery. Polini also have two batteries of their own, one with a capacity of 550 Wh and the other with 880 Wh. Nevertheless, the Italian brand leave it to the bike companies to choose where they want to source their batteries. The integrated Portapower battery in the Berria is secured with a lock and can be easily removed. If you don’t find the battery capacity to be sufficient, you can combine it with Polini’s 252 Wh range extender, which mounts onto the bottle cage bosses. Together with the integrated 720 Wh battery, this gives you a total of 972 Wh! Unfortunately, the range extender wasn’t available for our review.

Despite its impressive power output, the Polini E-P3+ MX doesn’t make a big show of it on the Berria Mako Hybrid GT. The motor is relatively compact and the down tube housing the battery is rather slender for a full-power ebike. Berria decided to do their own thing with the large Polini colour display, integrating it into the top tube instead of attaching it to the handlebar. Although this looks nice at first glance, it’s a little rough around the edges with the two exposed screws and uneven gaps. The display isn’t quite as large as the touch display on the Forestal, though it’s much larger than the mastermind display in the Specialized Levo. Polini tried to take full advantage of the display size and squeezed in as much information as possible. However, displaying the support level, battery level, distance covered, speed, and motor map each with dynamic bars on one screen is slightly too much of a good thing.

Besides this information overload, the menu navigation isn’t the most intuitive. It doesn’t help that Polini offer 3 predefined support modes as well as two customisable modes, each of which are divided into 5 sub-modes – it will leave you scratching your head! In total, that’s 25 support modes to choose from. The custom modes can be tuned in Polini’s E-Bike app, via which you can also access the display information on your smartphone or retrieve all kinds of data about your rides and the motor. To scroll through the different support modes on the bike, you will have to get accustomed to the very peculiar remote, which makes do with just two buttons. On our Berria test bike, it’s mounted between the grip and the dropper remote, pointing downwards. To reach the button on the back, you’ve got to take your index finger from the front brake (rear brake in the UK). This results in unwanted thrills on the trail and even on forest service roads when shifting modes. Even if the remote is mounted pointing upwards, you’ve got the same problem. In general, the operation of the system isn’t exactly user-friendly with its two buttons. To switch between certain menu items, you must push both buttons simultaneously, which requires accurate timing. It’s a good thing that Polini also offer a remote with four buttons.

Riding the bike, the Polini E-P3+ MX motor is a little unpredictable, changing character depending on the support mode. In Touring mode, the motor is very restrained, unleashing its power very predictably and gently. In race mode, the motor flexes its muscles and turns from sensitive to schoolyard bully. It’s very harsh and direct as it kicks in, giving it an unnatural ride feel. The power output is relatively independent of your cadence, always providing plenty of assistance. We were also struck by how loud it is in the higher support modes.

The Panasonic GX Ultimate motor system

The Panasonic GX Ultimate is the bodybuilder amongst the motors in the test field – it’s the undisputed powerhouse of the bunch, with a peak torque output of 95 nm. It only comes specced on the FLYER Uproc X in our test field. Despite its power, the Panasonic motor doesn’t stand out from the crowd of full-power motors in terms of weight, tipping the scales at a mere 2.95 kg. In the FLYER Uproc X, it’s paired with a 750 Wh battery. Panasonic deliberately allow bike companies to use batteries from third-party suppliers.

On our test bike, the Panasonic GX Ultimate motor is controlled via components from the ebike systems suppliers FIT. Compared to most other remotes in the test field, the FIT Basic Remote on the handlebar is rather chunky and the small joystick requires some getting used to. The first time you use it, you could get a little fright from the unusual vibration feedback it provides. You can switch it off, though it certainly doesn’t leave you guessing whether you’ve pushed the button. Alternatively, Panasonic also offer in-house remotes. The Panasonic Side Colour Display Remote has a small display integrated into the remote, as the name suggests. However, this makes it slightly bigger than the not-exactly-dainty FIT Basic Remote. The display on the FLYER is also supplied by FIT and mounted in front of the stem where it’s very exposed. It has a ton of functions and display options, including some more unique features like an inclinometer and an ice warning. In combination with the FIT E-Bike Control app, the display can be adjusted according to your preferences, and even has a navigation function.

When riding the bike, the Panasonic GX Ultimate motor offers four levels of support. In addition to three classic modes, it also has a dynamic Auto mode, which claims to adjust the assistance according to the riding situation. In the highest support mode, the motor provides a good deal of support. Its power output doesn’t decrease significantly at a low cadence, giving you that shuttle feeling on forest road climbs. Due to the sustained assistance, you can easily let it push you over ledges or other obstacles in technical terrain, but it also means you’ve got to brake hard when stopping in a hurry. The Auto mode feels somewhat abrupt and unnatural on level terrain, but it comes into its own on uphill trails. Here, it offers even more precise and sensitive assistance than the highest mode, making it easier to harness its power.

The GIANT SyncDrive Pro 2 motor system

As the name suggests, the Giant SyncDrive Pro 2 motor is exclusive to GIANT and represented by a single bike in the test field, the Giant Trance X Advanced E+ Ltd. Based on the Yamaha PW-X3 motor, the GIANT drive unit delivers 85 Nm of torque with up to 400% support. The 2.75 kg motor is combined with a massive 800 Wh battery – the biggest in our test. If that still isn’t enough for you, there’s the option of a 250 Wh range extender. It mounts to the bottle cage bosses and pushes the total battery capacity to an incredible 1,050 Wh! With an internal battery capacity of 800 Wh, however, we could skip the range extender for the purposes of our review.

The interface between man and machine is taken care of by the Giant RideControl GO control unit in the top tube, paired with the minimalist RideControl Ergo 3 remote on the handlebar. The control unit isn’t a display as such, indicating the support mode as well as the battery level via 5 illuminated bars. GIANT refrain from installing an additional display on the handlebar. The inconspicuous remote sits flush against the left grip, where it’s within easy reach of your thumb. In general, the operation of the Giant SyncDrivePro2 system is quite straightforward. You’ve got three buttons to shift through the 5 support modes from Eco to Power or activate the progressive Smart Assist mode. Due to the minimalist display in the top tube, you don’t get much information, but it also saves you from having to navigate a maze of menus – the pared down functions of the remote are entirely sufficient. Those who want a little more information can access it via GIANT’s Ride Control app. The app also lets you assign the functions of the remote buttons.

On the bike, you immediately get a sense of the Giant SyncDrive Pro 2 motor’s power. While it feels significantly more powerful than the Shimano EP8, it can’t quite match the punch of the Bosch CX. It kicks in very directly in Power mode. This allows you to get back going after coming to a stop on a steep incline, but you’ve got to brace yourself in anticipation of the motor pushing you forward. In general, the drive unit doesn’t hold back and could be described as more of a ruffian amongst motors. The dynamic Smart Assist mode is significantly more hesitant, holding back longer than the comparable eMTB mode from Bosch. As a result, the Giant motor is clearly slower than Bosch powered bikes when using their dynamic modes to pull away at traffic lights, easily leaving you behind. The automatic mode also lacked the necessary grunt for technical climbs, in which case we preferred using Power mode.

The Specialized 2.2 motor system

The Specialized 2.2 system was developed in collaboration with mechatronics specialists Brose, based on the Brose Drive Mag S motor. Compared to most other brands, Specialized have acquired in-depth motor expertise over the years and want full control over the drive system. They pursue a holistic approach, developing as much as possible in house to ensure the best possible interaction of components, a better user experience, and minimal dependence on the motor manufacturers and their development pace or cycles. The Californian company go to great lengths to achieve this, employing a team of around 70 people in Cham, Switzerland, dedicated to their ebike department! Numerous reviews have shown that their efforts pay off, and the Specialized Levo is amongst the lead pack with its 2.2 motor system this year once again, but more on that later. After two years on the market, the system is now considered one of the old-timers of the test, which is particularly noticeable when looking at the proportions of the hardware – especially the area around the bottom bracket, which is relatively bulky. With a torque output of 90 Nm, the motor of the Californian brand is amongst the more powerful on test, trumped only by the 95 Nm Panasonic GX Ultimate. All that power is produced by a unit weighing 2.98 kg. With a capacity of 700 Wh, the removable battery is neither particularly large nor small. To remove it, you must loosen just one screw with the SWAT tool, which is conveniently integrated into the head tube, and you can pull the battery out of the down tube.

Specialized offer an entire ecosystem around the 2.2 motor, providing harmonious integration. The bike’s brain is integrated into the top tube and goes by the name of Mastermind. Specialized were one of the first manufacturers to integrate a display into the top tube, pioneering a whole range of bikes that have now followed suit. The small and slender colour display gives you all the relevant information you need on a ride, as well as a few fun gimmicks like your current elevation, GPS data, or the number of jumps and airtime generated – rather than big stories about your latest heroics, you get the bare facts! The Specialized Mission Control app also lets you customise the layout and data fields of the Mastermind display to suit your own preferences. Furthermore, you’re able to configure the support, maximum power and acceleration of Eco, Trail, and Turbo mode via the app. You can link the Mastermind up to a heart rate monitor or an additional bicycle computer, too. Doing so would allow you to use the Smart Control function, for example, which adjusts the support level based on your heart rate. The app is very clearly structured and using it doesn’t require a degree in computer science. The remote with which you control the system while riding is quite minimalistic, but it has all the functions you need on the trail. It is easy to use with the left thumb and provides good haptic feedback.

As already mentioned, you’ve got three support modes to choose from on the trail: Eco, Trail, and Turbo – all of which you can customise in the app. The Micro Adjust function is super practical, frequently used, and easy to activate, allowing you to fine tune the support in 10% increments. It’s great for saving battery, or keeping your effort at the perfect, sustainable level. On the way to the trailhead, the Specialized 2.2 system feels like an integrated shuttle service with its 90 Nm torque output. The motor is just as powerful as the Bosch CX Race, though a little less punchy. The support doesn’t kick in too brusquely and the power is easy to modulate. It isn’t bothered by fluctuating pedalling cadences and the generous sustained assistance, i.e. the assistance offered after you stop pedalling, is a fantastic help in getting cleanly over ledges and obstacles. This makes easy work of technical climbs. It’s positively inconspicuous on the descents, too, remaining absolutely quiet!

The maxon BIKEDRIVE AIR motor system

The BIKEDRIVE AIR motor system is maxon’s debut to the ebike market. Before the Swiss brand started supplying bike brands with motors, they helped Mars rovers cruise along on the red planet. In our group test back on planet earth, the maxon system can only be found in the Thömus Lightrider E Ultimate Light-eMTB. The relatively light 1.9 kg motor is generally still a rarity, featuring on just a handful of bikes. With a torque output of merely 40 Nm, it’s the weakest motor in the test field. The battery is permanently integrated into the down tube. Depending on your personal preference or requirements, you have the choice between a battery capacity of 250, 360 or 426 Wh. The Thömus Lightrider E Ultimate on test had a 250 Wh battery installed, for which maxon indicate 3.5 hours for a full charge. It can be paired with a 250 Wh range extender, which weighs 1.4 kg and can be mounted in the supplied maxon bottle cage. Unfortunately, it wasn’t available for our test.

The slender battery and compact, lightweight motor allow the system to be integrated relatively inconspicuously. The only thing giving the Lightrider E Ultimate away as an e-mountainbike is the hockey stick silhouette of its downtube. The motor is controlled via a minimalistic aluminium remote that matches the system’s overall look and feel well. It’s beautifully finished and one of the most inconspicuous remotes in the test field. Like the FAZUA Ring Control remote, it’s a ring-shaped control that can be pushed up and down. It’s intuitive to use and fulfils its purpose. The control unit integrated into the top tube, on the other hand, is slightly more striking than the remote. It indicates both the battery level and support mode via illuminated bars, using 8 increments for the battery. It’s not quite as refined as the TQ display, though not as rudimentary as the FAZUA LED HUB either. The control unit also provides an interface for most common bicycle computers and the maxon Connect app via Bluetooth and ANT+ LEV connectivity. This allows you to have information such as the battery level displayed on your bike computer while riding, or customise the three support modes to suit your preferences in the app.

On the bike, you’ve got three support modes to choose from: Cruise, Push, and Blast. They all offer a very natural ride feel and you can quickly forget that you’re even riding an ebike. The motor engages instantaneously as you apply pressure to the pedals, avoiding any unnatural feeling delays. Moreover, the maxon BIKEDRIVE AIR system is virtually silent – all you can hear are cowbells ringing in the distance and the crunch of your tires. Compared to the Eco mode on a full-power e-mountainbike, Blast (maxon’s highest mode) is more like a sparkler than a full-blown firework. Nevertheless, you’ll be surprised at how much assistance the motor provides on steep climbs, especially if you’ve briefly forgotten about it, which is apt to happen. That said, it’s noticeably weaker than the competition from TQ or FAZUA. Don’t think you’ll make the summit without breaking a sweat with the maxon motor – it’s more of a tailwind on steep climbs. As such, it’s really aimed at fit and active riders, not at leisurely weekend warriors with a phobia of sweat.

The TQ HPR 50 system

The TQ HPR 50 is the Bavarian tech company’s first minimal assist motor, though not their first ebike motor, and it relies on their patented harmonic pin-ring technology. It was developed in collaboration with Trek, which gave the bike brand the exclusive right to the motor for 3 months before other manufacturers such as SCOTT and SIMPLON were given the green light. At first glance, it seems like Trek use the same display as the competition, but they developed their own software and app. All HPR 50 motors are capable of putting out 50 Nm of torque with a 300-watt peak, and they’re exclusively compatible with the 360 Wh TQ battery. In the case of Trek, the battery can be removed, whereas all other brands have chosen to keep the 1800 g battery firmly integrated in the frame. Due to the compact design of the battery, bike designers can keep the downtube slender too. As a result, bikes such as the SIMPLON and Trek are difficult to distinguish from their analogue siblings, easily boasting the most discreetly integrated mid-mounted systems on test with the motor equally well hidden in the bottom bracket. If you want more range, you can stick the optional 160 Wh range extender in the bottle cage, upping the total battery capacity to 520 Wh.

The 2″ TQ display is designed to be integrated into the top tube where it is inconspicuous but clearly visible. It uses monochrome dots and rings to indicate the chosen support mode, which isn’t the most intuitive at first. The battery status is displayed via 10 small bars, each representing 10% charge. By double clicking on the button below the display, you can scroll through various data points, or switch the system on/off. You have the following data points to choose from:

• current speed in km/h
• battery level in percen
• remaining range in the current support mode
• current power output of the rider and motor in watts

The system can be controlled via a small remote, which is always attached to the left side of the handlebar. It is very unobtrusive and intuitive to use, with just two buttons. It will let you choose the support mode, activate walk mode, or turn off the assistance altogether. The remote has a pleasant feel and ergonomics due to its rubberised coating, and it provides clear feedback thanks to a distinct click. You can also adjust the motor settings and access more data via the TQ app.

Trek, on the other hand, have integrated these functions into their own app, which, above the regular scope of TQ functions, gives suggestions for the suspension setup, lets you connect to third-party sensors like the TyreWiz via Bluetooth, and has a map-based range calculator. All in one – cool! The display of the Trek is a bit more intuitive, too, showing you the support levels with 3 large bars and the battery level in %. Alternatively, you can switch the view to see your average speed and remaining range, with the range displayed in minutes or kilometres.

You have three support levels to choose from on the trail: ECO, MID and HIGH, and there’s a Walk mode too. The HPR 50 motor is by far the quietest and most natural feeling in the test field. Due to its slightly lower power output and the inconspicuous way it engages and disengages, it feels more like you’re extremely fit rather than being assisted by an electric motor. It’s only when the support is switched off that you become aware of how much help the motor has been. To unleash its full power, the motor requires a relatively high cadence, making it more likely that you’ll break into a sweat, but it suits the motor’s character. This makes it better suited to gravel road climbs than technical singletrack ascents, taking the burden out of the uphills when you ride while still keeping you fit. Compared to the rest of the test field, technical climbs require much more physical effort and conscious gear selection to maintain the required cadence for optimal power delivery. If you’re looking for something that will push you up the mountain without putting in any effort yourself, you won’t like the TQ. However, if you like sweating at least a little on the uphills and want a quiet and natural feeling bike, this might just be the perfect companion. Unfortunately, the display became defective during the test, though it’s super easy for anyone to replace once you can track down a spare.

The FAZUA Ride 60 system

The FAZUA ride 60 motor system is the second minimal assist option to come from the Munich-based company, which was recently acquired by Porsche. While the first generation from 2017 consisted of a single unit made up of the battery and motor, which you could remove from the bike, FAZUA parted ways with that design for the latest iteration, increasing the power output while they were at it. As the name suggests, the new Ride 60 delivers 60 Nm of torque, with a peak output of up to 450 watts. FAZUA also supply their own battery, which can either be permanently integrated or removable. It weighs in at 1960 grams and has a capacity of 430 Wh. While FAZUA have announced a range extender, it wasn’t yet available at the time of the test. Due to the elongated shape of the motor and the fairly wide battery, the down tubes of many of the FAZUA powered bikes on test are shaped like a hockey stick, quickly betraying them as ebikes. Haibike are the only brand that tilt the motor horizontally into the seat tube, allowing for neater integration, though this method also comes with certain compromises.

Like most brands, FAZUA integrate their LED HUB display into the top tube where it’s clearly visible. It indicates the support mode and the battery level via 5 small LEDs. As such, the battery level is divided into 5 large 20% increments, and the different colours of the support modes are difficult to read in direct sunlight. By pulling up the LED HUB you get access to a USB-C charging port.

On the left side of the handlebar, you’ll find FAZUA’s Ring Control remote. Unfortunately, it’s unlabelled, and due to the cheap feel and looks, it isn’t on par with the competition. The different functions can be controlled by pressing up, down, or inwards, towards the stem. This lets you control the support modes and activate the Walk or Boost mode.

To no-one’s surprise, FAZUA also have an app with which you can configure the support modes. They’ve tried to optimise the user experience: after an extensive questionnaire, the app will recommend the ideal support mode settings, tailored specifically to the rider. This is great for ebike beginners and all those who don’t want to waste their time by playing with the settings! If you don’t trust computers or don’t always ride in the same kind of terrain, you can also configure the support modes yourself and save them as pre-sets. You could save them as “the early bird gets the dirt”, “fetch beer” or “power hour”, for example, and call them up as needed.

For trail riding, FAZUA have already taken the creative liberty of naming the three pre-configured support modes: Breeze, River, and Rocket. They’ve also got an afterburner, officially called Boost mode, providing a brief power surge when needed. However, it takes a moment to kick in, and the duration depends on the battery status and the temperature of the motor. In ideal conditions, you’ll get up to 12 seconds of additional thrust to pass your buddies. The motor assists noticeably in Rocket mode, pushing you forward even at low cadence. The FAZUA motor is powerful enough to let you conquer technical climbs, but the Ride 60 system has a software-related issue that needs sorting out, restarting after every time you stop pedalling. So, if you stop pedalling on a climb, you’ll have a brief moment of sustained assistance before coming to a stop, or you’ll be pedalling on your own for about 1-2 seconds thereafter as it restarts. This can quickly throw you off balance in tricky terrain and is very annoying to say the least! If you find this to be a problem, you can use the app to make the motor more dynamic, which makes it kick in rather abruptly but seems to shorten the dip in power. FAZUA are already working on a solution and promise to release a software update that fixes this as soon as possible. The motor is perfectly quiet on the descents, but it is audible when pedalling, similar to the noise level of Shimano EP8 motor. Only the BAFANG motor in the Forestal is louder. The character of the FAZUA Ride 60 is much closer to a full-power system and can make easy work of the climbs. Active riders also get their money’s worth, as long as they don’t spend too much time on technical climbs, in which case the above-mentioned software bug can get frustrating. Besides that issue, we encountered several instances during our tests where the FAZUA bikes didn’t switch on. If that happens, it helps to shake the bike, recharge the battery, unplug it, or wait… Unfortunately, one of the bikes remained defective. We hope that FAZUA will get to grips with these problems soon and issue a software update to fix things. As it stands (March 2023), purchasing a FAZUA powered ebike is a gamble.

The Shimano EP8 system

The Shimano EP8 system from the Japanese component giant has been on the market since 2020 and it features on a whole range of bikes in our group test. With a torque output of 85 Nm, it isn’t the most powerful unit, though it is amongst the lightest with a motor weight of just 2.6 kg. Shimano offer two batteries for the EP8 system: one with a capacity of 504 Wh and one with 630 Wh. However, bike brands are free to work with third-party suppliers. It’s thanks to this that some of the EP8 bikes in the test field come equipped with battery capacities beyond 700 Wh.

In our test field, the EP8 motor is universally combined with Shimano’s compact SC-EM800 display. Clamped to the handlebar next to the stem, the colour display shows the battery level in 20% increments and is easy to read even in direct sunlight. It also visualises the motor’s dynamics via a moving bar, along with the speed and the current support mode. The layout in the display is very tidy with the data fields reduced to the minimum, which is very pleasant. Alternatively, you could also get a small black and white display for the EP8 motor, which is integrated into the somewhat bulky SC-E5003 remote. The solution on our test bikes with the minimalist SW-EM800-L remote is a lot more elegant. This makes for a tidy looking cockpit while offering pleasant ergonomics and haptics. In general, the EP8 motor is also compatible with other display and remote options from the old Shimano steps E8000 ecosystem. However, you might require certain adapters.

The Shimano E-TUBE PROJECT app serves as the interface to the motor. It lets you set up two distinct rider profiles, each allowing you to configure the three Eco, Trail, and Boost support modes individually. For each mode, you can adjust the power, support level and response behaviour. You can then choose your preferred rider profile via the display on the bike. The app is clearly structured and intuitive to use, which makes the adjustments and configurations easy to do. Connecting it to the bike is just as quick and easy.

In practice, the Shimano EP8 motor performs convincingly thanks to its good-natured characteristics. It remains easy to modulate even in Boost mode, whether you’re pulling away or on a steep incline. As a result, it doesn’t feel like you get a kick in the backside as you start pedalling, like with other less sensitive motors. Although it’s technically on par with the Bosch Performance Line CX motor, which also produces 85 Nm, it feels noticeably less powerful in practice. You must provide more input and power of your own to get the peak output and support from the EP8 system. Therefore, it feels less like a shuttle, offering a more sporty and natural riding experience. While it emits a restrained hum on the climbs and isn’t conspicuously loud, that isn’t the case on the descents. Instead, it rattles loudly, especially in rough terrain, making it the loudest motor in the test field when riding downhill. Even though the Shimano EP8 motors we’ve tested have proven to be very reliable for the most part, it’s reassuring to know that you can fall back on an extensive dealer and service network in case you do run into any issues.

The Shimano EP801 and EP801 RS systems

The Shimano EP801 is an EP8 motor with slightly modified hard- and software. With the 01 suffix, the motor is capable of offering support at a wider cadence range and has a FINE TUNE mode to further adapt it to your needs. Apart from that, you get a wider range of remotes, and the possibility of linking the system up with the new XT Di2 groupset, which allows for automatic shifting when touring, as on the BULLS SONIC EVO EN-SL 1. In addition to the EP801, we also got to test the EP801 RS on the Orbea Rise. Contrary to what you might think, however, the RS added by Orbea means that the motor’s power output is limited at 60 Nm instead of producing the usual 85 Nm. As with the EP8, bike companies aren’t limited to Shimano’s two in-house batteries, able to combine the 801 with options from third party suppliers. Orbea take full advantage of this, offering the Rise either with a 360 Wh or a 540 Wh internal battery. Bike brands can also pair the system with range extenders, which wouldn’t be possible with a Bosch system, for example.

Along with the standard options available to the EP8, the Shimano EP 801 can be combined with a wider range of displays and remotes. For the EVO EN-SL 1, BULLS rely on the same combination of the minimalist SW-EM800-L remote and SC-EM800 display as all bikes on test featuring the EP8 motor. Orbea deviate slightly, fitting the Shimano EN-600L remote and no display. It uses an LED to indicate the 3 support modes, Walk mode, or an error code via 5 different colours. A second LED flashes red, green, or lights up permanently to show you the battery status. However, it’s somewhat confusing and thus serves more as an emergency signal. If it flashes red, you know that it’s time to head back. Of course, the remote can also shift the support modes up or down, activate walk mode, and switch the system on or off.

With the E-TUBE PROJECT app from Shimano, you can create different profiles for the Eco, Trail, and Boost modes, just like the EP8. What’s new on the EP801 is FINE TUNE mode. This lets you activate and configure up to 15 different support modes. The app also shows you the battery status in percentage points, in case you need more accurate information than the LED on the remote or the 20% bars in the display.

On the trail, the EP801 lets you select from Eco, Trail, Boost or any of the additionally created support modes, same as the EP801 RS. The basic characteristics of both motors are the same, which doesn’t come as a surprise since the EP 801 RS is the same motor but with a throttled maximum output. They’re both easy to modulate in the highest mode, letting you pull away safely even in difficult conditions. They continue delivering noticeable power at low cadences, proving to have a wider power band compared to the EP8 motor. As such, they will both let you reach the summit in a relaxed manner, even if you must pedal a bit harder with the EP801 RS, especially when things get steep. Technical climbs are a cinch with the power and characteristics of the Shimano EP801, but you will reach your limits noticeably sooner with the throttled RS version. Under partial load, the EP801 emits little noise, but it drowns out the FAZUA under full load. The metallic rattling on the descents is a big shortcoming that still affects the EP801.

The BAFANG EonDrive system

The BAFANG EonDrive motor in the Forestal represents a rather unique solution. It’s manufactured and supplied by BAFANG, but a significant part of its development was carried out by Forestal, who combine it with in-house accessories and software. It’s a daring and impressive achievement when you consider that it’s the debut product of the fledgling Andorran bike brand. The EonDrive motor delivers 60 Nm of torque and is powered by a 360 Wh BAFANG battery. Forestal have announced that they’ll be releasing a 250 Wh range extender, though it was yet to be released at the time of our group test. The Forestal is the only bike on test with a 3.2″ touch display, which is beautifully integrated into the top tube. The display sensitivity can’t keep up with the level of modern smartphones, but it works surprisingly well and is intuitive to use. Just don’t get mud or water on the display, as that seems to confuse it, going back and forth until you wipe it clean. It’s best to lock the display before you ride to prevent that from happening. The display provides an immense wealth of beautifully displayed metrics, such as the battery level percentage, distance travelled, altitude difference and current time. It also has a large navigation map. You can track your rides, too, because the Forestal comes equipped with a GPS antenna disguised as a stem spacer, which doubles as theft protection and works with an integrated eSIM card – cool!

Many of these features require you to connect the bike to the Forestal app, however. This provides additional information about the motor, battery, and your activities. In addition to that, it lets you track your bike and get in touch with Forestal. No other bike on test can match the wealth functions of the Forestal system.

As with most systems, the BAFANG remote can be found on the left-hand side of the handlebar, which has an additional battery indicator in 25% increments. The remote has two buttons to shift between support modes, and a third button to switch the bike on/off or activate walk mode. Unfortunately, the rubber buttons provide zero haptic feedback, and they seem misplaced on the otherwise premium looking Forestal.

On the trail, the BAFANG system has three support modes to choose from, as well as a Walk mode. Unfortunately, the BAFANG proved to be the loudest motor on test, almost whistling like a turbo when put under strain. That said, it’s also the most powerful amongst the Light-eMTB motors, kicking in with quite a lot of force as you pull away. However, the assistance provided is heavily dependent on the cadence. The motor isn’t capable of unleashing much power at cadences below 60 rpm or above 100 rpm. Fortunately, the display shows you your cadence, which takes out the guesswork and helps you stay in the optimal range. In that case, the motor keeps chugging along even on technical climbs, though it feels like the power gradually reduces the longer the climb – you have to increase your own effort as you approach the summit, making the final bit the hardest. The sustained assistance after you stop pedalling is dynamic. This means that the harder you pedal, the longer the sustained assistance. Although this results in a natural ride feel, it can be a hindrance on technical climbs, as you often need the motor to keep pushing even if you’ve only put in a light pedal stroke. The motor is silent on the descents and there’s enough free movement in the cranks to avoid any unwanted thrust. We didn’t run into any issues with the BAFANG system, but the after sales service could be an issue considering the very small production run and the wealth of custom solutions. Also, the BAFANG system has a very high battery consumption, draining the battery noticeably just from being switched on.

How and where did we test the e-mountainbikes

We admit it: this group test didn’t just consist of superlatives (30 hot bikes!), but also of lived dreams, not to mention blood, tired legs, late-night debates, intensive repairs, and charging until the solar grid collapsed and the generator gave up. And what for? For all-day epics, for putting the bikes through the wringer, and simply because it’s fun! For the core of the test session, we spent a full two weeks with ten riders on a secluded finca with a stunning view of the trails, sun, and sea on the horizon. The fact that we didn’t want to kill each other during those 14 days with such a high concentration of testosterone is a miracle on its own, and it’s a testament to the crew – certainly, the daily test rides until sunset and cooking and dining together every evening also helped. If we didn’t test bikes full-time, we could probably open a restaurant – yum!

If you’re wondering where we were: about an hour’s drive northeast of Barcelona, in Santa Coloma de Farners, where we found the perfect conditions to conduct a group test as big as this. The town has a huge and still rather unknown trail centre – at least in the international scene – with countless trails. Dry, sandy, and peppered with rock slabs and roots, it was the perfect place to push the bikes to their limits. Our chosen test track – a combination of “Dragon Khan” and “La Llosa” – features rock slabs with a sandpaper like surface, roots, flowing berms, and loose, sandy corners. The climb to the trailhead almost had a bit of everything you can possibly expect: wide gravel paths with potholes that would almost catapult you over the bars if you weren’t alert because your caffeine level had dropped. Flowing sections alternating with rough and sandy routes, to technical climbs that our bikes only just got up. So, if you feel like going somewhere other than Italy for a change and are looking for fine trails without shuttles, you will find everything your heart desires at Santa Coloma de Farners.

Our e-mountainbike test crew

Although numbers don’t have feelings, they can give you a good feeling for tendencies and trends. Here are some exciting, interesting, and fun facts, figures, and statistics.

Things that broke during our tests:

• 1 derailleur hanger torn off
• 1 display broke
• 3 chains snapped
• 3 tires punctured
• 1 Shimano brake lever broke
• 3 FAZUA bikes had difficulties starting up
• 1 FAZUA bike was defective
• 1 Shimano bike was defective
• 1 TQ display gave up
• 3 skid plates broke
• 1 aluminium crank bent
• 1 brake lever broke
• 5 charging ports torn off
• 2 grips broke

The e-mountainbikes on test:

• 30 bikes in the test field
• € 15,999: the most expensive bike on test, the SCOTT Lumen eRide 900 SL
• € 6,699: the most affordable bike on test, the BULLS SONIC EVO EN-SL1
• 23 of the bikes roll on 29″ wheels
• 7 of the bikes roll on 29″/27.5″ mullet wheels
• the bikes weigh 22.1 kg on average
• the lightest bike weighs 16.0 kg, and it’s also the most expensive bike
• the heaviest bike weighs 27.1 kg
• the smallest battery is 250 Wh
• the biggest battery is 800 Wh
• the weakest motor produces 40 Nm of torque
• the most powerful motor puts out 95 Nm

Before you splash out your hard-earned cash on a new e-mountainbike only to realise that you made the wrong choice, you should ask yourself a few basic questions. Most bikes can only live up to their full potential if they’re used as intended and, by default, you’ll only be happy if you find a bike that suits your needs and riding style.

It all comes down to the overall concept

Many prospective buyers want to know which is the right e-mountainbike or the best motor, but this is just like the 29” vs 27.5” wheel size debate (just slightly more complex): the best motor is only as good as the e-mountainbike it is part of. Conversely, an e-mountainbike is only as good as the way the motor supports and complements the bike’s character. Compared to analogue mountain bikes, this makes matters much more complex, because manufacturers have to take into account more factors, like the integration of the battery and motor, and the weight distribution of heavy components, which must harmonise with one another in order to offer a coherent package with supposedly contradictory characteristics.

New possibilities on the horizon

Spending all day in nature? Exploring new areas and trails? Tired after a long day at the office? Or simply want to take your kids for a spin in the trailer without spitting out your lungs on the first climb? An e-mountainbike might be exactly what you’re looking for, and at the same time ensures top riding fun on the trail.

A massive battery doesn’t necessarily mean more range!

Just because an e-mountainbike has a big battery, it doesn’t mean that it will take you further than one with a smaller battery. Battery capacity must always be considered in relation to the motor’s power, and as such its power consumption. You may get just as far or even further from a less powerful bike with a smaller battery, though with less support, so it’ll take longer or require more effort on your part.

More torque ≠ more power on the trail!

While many of the e-mountainbikes in this test field share similar torque values, they’re totally different on the trail in terms of power delivery. Simply put, an e-mountainbike is far more than sheer numbers and torque values, which, unfortunately, say very little about a bike’s performance when considered in isolation. The Bosch Performance Line CX-Race is the perfect example, showing how much difference a simple software tweak can make on the trail. While technically it’s almost identical to the conventional Performance Line CX motor, churning out 85 Nm torque, the tweaked software ensures a stronger, more abrupt power delivery, transferring more power to the ground at lower and lighter rider inputs. The Shimano EP8 motor also has 85 Nm torque, but can’t keep up with either version of the Bosch CX motor despite sharing the same values on paper. The same goes for the limited Shimano EP801 RS, FAZUA Ride 60 and Bafang EonDrive, all of which deliver 60 Nm of torque, but behave completely differently on the trail. The optimal cadence range – i.e. the range at which the motor delivers its power most efficiently – varies enormously from drive to drive, and on top of that many of the motors in this test don’t cope well with pedalling cadences below 60 rpm, at which they deliver very little power while at the same time consuming huge amounts of energy. As you can see, there’s much more to e-mountainbikes than sheer numbers, and the overall performance can only be determined on the trail.

What questions should you ask yourself before buying an emountainbike?

How much battery capacity do you really need?

If you tend to go for short rides with minimal support, big batteries only mean extra weight, which usually comes at the cost of trail performance. Furthermore, lightweight riders consume significantly less battery, and the topography of the trail also has a major influence on range. On the other hand, if you love to pile up the miles and vertical metres, you’ll probably do well with a big battery capacity. Tackling technical climbs, pedalling with high support modes and at low cadences drains the battery quicker too. Fortunately, some manufacturers offer their bikes with different battery options: with the Orbea Wild, for example, you can choose between a 625 Wh and 750 Wh battery to suit your needs and preferences. Moreover, most manufacturers offer range extenders, allowing you to adjust the capacity depending on the planned route. Removable batteries, such as those found on the FOCUS and Rotwild are an option, too. You’ll just have to budget for the cost of a spare battery, and go back to the car to switch out batteries.

How hard do you have to work?

This depends entirely on the support level you choose and the goals you set yourself. With modern full-fat e-mountainbikes, it takes a massive ride to drain the battery in the lowest support mode, and you’ll still have a fairly relaxed time, because many full-power e-mountainbikes cope well with low pedalling cadences, pushing you up the mountain willingly without requiring too much effort from your side. However, it’s a whole different story with Light-eMTBs, which require a relatively high cadence, calling for considerably more input from the rider, even in the lowest support modes – which can be exhausting in the long run. That said, many manufactures allow you to customise the motor settings and adjust the support level to your needs and preferences, basically allowing you to decide for yourself how hard you want to work.

What additional features should an e-mountainbike have?

In a nutshell, the possibilities are endless! Most manufacturers offer countless options for displays and remotes as well as accessories at the time of purchase. But what do you really need? What is helpful and what is simply superfluous? The good thing is that you can retrofit most accessories at a later stage and there’s a constant stream of software updates and extensions entering the market. Before buying, however, you should still have an idea of what you want from your display, whether you need a navigation function or you’re happy with a flashing LED. An integrated light or GPS tracker doesn’t hurt and doesn’t limit the bike’s performance on the trail, but keeps you and your bike a whole lot safer, regardless of whether that’s on your daily commute to and from work or after a post-ride pint in Finale. So, when buying, be aware of what you need or might want to retrofit in the future and find out about compatible options.

Are you planning to use your e-mountainbike for everyday riding?

If you already know that you’ll be using your new e-mountainbike for everyday riding, for example to commute to work, there are a few things to consider. First and foremost, you should look for a high level of touring comfort if you don’t want to end up pedalling to work in an aggressive pedalling position, looking like Lance Armstrong crossing the finish line at the Tour de France. Moreover, it’s a great idea to look for a bike that comes standard with a navigation function and integrated light set that draws its power directly from the bike’s main battery. Both bring huge advantages in everyday riding scenarios without getting in your way on leisurely weekend rides. Another key criterion is the charging infrastructures you have at your disposal. Is there a plug in the garage or bike storage room at work, or do you have to constantly remove the battery – or possibly even have to lock the battery inside the bike frame? Needless to say, the battery capacity also plays a crucial role, because if you can’t charge it at work you might run out of juice half way when pedalling home after a strenuous day at the office. However, if your commute doesn’t exceed 20-30 km, you should be fine with most bikes in this test, which should achieve that sort of range even when riding in the highest support level.

What should you consider when handling an e-mountainbike?

When developing e-mountainbikes, manufacturers often have to make compromises in order to create a bike that is as light, clean and slender as possible. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it can make things tricky for you depending on the situation. For example, if you don’t have a power outlet where you park your bike, you’ll want to be able to remove the battery for external charging. Or imagine you take your e-mountainbike on a cycling holiday only to find out that there’s no plug in the garage – and what now? Conversely, it can be annoying if you have to remove the battery after each ride to charge it, even though you’ve got a plug right there. The trend of routing the cables through the headset ensures a clean look but also makes servicing a whole lot more frustrating. Inexperienced or impatient mechanics should get a bike with classic internal cable routing with cable ports in the top or down tube or, better yet, good old external cable routing.

What should you consider regarding the components of a Light-eMTB?

While it’s true that there’s no such thing as the perfect, one-size-fits-all build, some components have a much greater influence on a bike’s trail performance and, above all, on your safety. Big brake rotors, for example, are only marginally heavier but ensure a more reliable, powerful braking performance. In this regard, the following applies: big brake rotors are far better than lightweight top-of-the-range brakes. The suspension has a huge influence on your bike’s trail performance as well as on its long-distance comfort and climbing efficiency. You don’t need the fancy Kashima coating on your fork, and should rather pay attention to the damping technology it uses. We recommend the GRIP2 damper for FOX forks, or the Charger 2.1 and Charger 3.0 dampers for RockShox models. With the shock, a piggy-back reservoir is a useful feature to get the best performance from the rear end. At the risk of repeating ourselves, we must emphasise that any component can only work as well as it does in combination with the bike as a whole.

Do most of your riding buddies ride full-fat eMTB all-rounders?

If that’s the case, a powerful motor with plenty of torque is a decisive factor. You don’t want to be that guy holding everyone up! As a rule of thumb, the highest support mode of a Light-eMTB corresponds to roughly the intermediate support mode of a full-power ebike. If your mates with full-power e-mountainbikes ride primarily in the weakest support mode, you can still keep up with a Light-eMTB in one of the higher support levels. But remember: more power also consumes more battery. However, if you want to play it safe, you should opt for a full-fat eMTB all-rounder.

Do you ride lots in groups with analogue mountain bikes

Then pretty much every Light-eMTB or motor system is suitable for you because you can always go slower. In most cases, you can fine-tune the weakest eco mode and adjust the amount of support according to your needs – or turn off assistance altogether. The range shouldn’t be a limiting factor either when using minimal support and if you have extremely fit colleagues, most Light-eMTBs have the option of a range extender. From our experience, you should easily keep up in the lowest and medium support modes and still have enough reserves for the occasional overtaking manoeuvre. With full-fat e-mountainbikes, on the other hand, you’ll have an easy life, because even the weakest ECO mode gives you a huge advantage over your analogue mates – sometimes you might even get bored!

Tops and flops from our 2023 e-mountainbike group test.

Berria Mako Hybrid GT LTD

The Berria Mako GT LTD is guaranteed to turn heads outside the pub when you stop for a well deserved post-ride pint. The eye-catching look and countless fancy components are topped off by an exotic Polini E-P3+ MX motor, which employs a big display integrated into the top tube. On the trail, however, the Berria doesn’t do justice to its tremendous looks, revealing several weaknesses. On steep, technical climbs, it struggles to transfer the motor’s massive power onto the trail, while downhill, it’s slowed down by its inconsistent spec. That said, the Berria is a comfortable and powerful tourer that doesn’t shy away from the occasional trail stint.

BULLS SONIC EVO EN-SL 1

Despite being the cheapest bike in the entire test field, the BULLS SONIC EVO EN-SL 1 is the only contestant to feature Shimano’s automatic Di2 drivetrain. While the feature in itself is extremely exciting, it doesn’t bring any advantages on technical climbs. However, the clever mix of everyday features and good touring comfort makes the BULLS a great option for the price conscious rider who rarely turns off the beaten track. Offroad, it’s strongly limited by its nervous character.

FLYER Uproc X 9.50

The FLYER Uproc X 9.50 is a great companion for extended peak expeditions with tricky climbing sections. The Uproc plays out its strengths on long tours with plenty of elevation gain, where it takes the edge off technical climbs with the strongest motor in the entire test field, the Panasonic GX Ultimate. In addition, it offers FIT system integration and shines with strong connectivity features. Downhill, however, it shows some weaknesses and quickly reaches its limits, especially in the hands of experienced riders.

FOCUS SAM² 6.9

With its imposing frame silhouette and aggressive-looking coil shock, the FOCUS SAM² 6.9 looks as if it eats rock gardens for breakfast, which makes it the undisputed daredevil in FOCUS’ e-mountainbike lineup. While tours and moderate climbs are only a means to an end, the SAM² still manages them fairly easily. Downhill, it shines with stoic composure and potent suspension. Tipping the scales at a very proud 27 kg, it’s the heaviest bike in the entire test field. Overall, the FOCUS SAM² 6.9 comes with a great spec at a reasonable price.

FOCUS JAM² 6.9

By contrast, its slimmer sibling, the FOCUS JAM² 6.9 , is far more relaxed. In FOCUS’ portfolio, it stands right between the JAM² SL Light-eMTB and the corpulent SAM². It impresses with beginner-friendly handling both on tours and as a do-it-all bike, without standing out for anything in particular – neither in a good nor a bad way. Only on rough trails, we wish it could feel a bit more like the SAM². That said, the two bikes are similar in terms of weight: The FOCUS JAM² 6.9 tips the scales at a considerable 26 kilograms, which becomes evident on the trail.

FOCUS Jam² SL 9.9

Not only is the FOCUS JAM² SL 9.9 extremely understated with its black paint finish, but also rather unspectacular on the trail. However, this is by no means a bad thing, because the JAM² SL is just a discreet all-rounder for sporty riders which combines strong trail performance with comfortable touring characteristics. The rock-solid spec, potent suspension and predictable handling make it a workhorse for beginners and experts alike.

Forestal Siryon Diōde

The Forestal Siryon Diōde is without a doubt one of the most futuristic looking e-mountainbikes in the entire test field. The young Andorran manufacturer has knocked it out of the park with their very first bike, showing a level of development competence that even some of the most established bike brands struggle to achieve – chapeau! In other words, Forestal are showing in which direction the future of ebikes could be heading. The motor system is the result of a close collaboration between BAFANG and the Andorran bike manufacturer, and is complemented by a well-functioning in-house touch display neatly integrated into the top tube and a comprehensive app, which includes a hidden GPS antenna for theft protection. In addition, the Siryon shows how it’s done on the trail, proving one of the most potent bikes in this test. Unfortunately, the battery drains quickly, the motor is annoyingly loud and the service resources are still a big question mark.

GIANT Trance X Advance E+ LTD

If you’re fond of simplicity, the GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ LTD might not be the bike for you. The high-tech Taiwanese steed features plenty of electronic gimmicks, including FOX Live Valve, which controls the suspension fully automatically. However, to fully exploit the wide range of functions you’ll have to manage three separate apps on your smartphone. In our 2023 group test, the Giant is the only bike that employs the powerful GIANT SyncDrivePro2 motor, which is paired with a huge 800 Wh battery – the biggest one in this test! While the peculiar geometry with a very low front-end doesn’t really work downhill, the Giant convinces as a true climbing monster, combining tons of traction, good directional stability and a massive battery.

Haibike LYKE CF SE

German ebike pioneers Haibike have taken their time to release a Light-eMTB and weren’t all that present in the more aggressive mountain bike sector until now. However, with the LYKE CF SE , they’ve made a great Light-eMTB debut featuring some clever solutions. They’re the only manufacturer to integrate the FAZUA Ride 60 motor vertically into the frame, cleverly hiding it in the seat tube. Unfortunately, the innovative concept comes at the expense of the seat post’s insertion depth. Despite its aggressive look, the LYKE struggles to deliver on the trail. Unlike the better competitors in this test, it’s difficult to control on technical trails and quickly feels overwhelmed.

Californian cult brand IBIS has finally overcome its e-scepticism and joined the electric party with their green shredding machine, the Ibis Oso . With its striking, self-assured design language, it appears to love every minute of its eMTB debut, heading straight to the dance floor. Except for the extravagant look, however, Ibis played it safe, employing a proven Bosch CX Performance Line motor and their classic DW-Link suspension design, which has been tweaked and fine-tuned over many years. At fancy dress parties, the Oso would always turn up in the same costume, because it’s only available in one spec variant. On the dance floor, however, it’s incredibly versatile, boogying away in great style. Only when the John Travoltas among e-mountainbikes hit the dance floor, such as…, the Oso starts sweating a little.

KTM Macina Prowler Exonic

Issued in a limited edition with a savage Bosch CX-Race motor and 180 mm travel at the front, the KTM Macina Prowler Exonic is the Austrian manufacturer’s e-mountainbike for the rough stuff. On the trail however, it doesn’t do justice to its beefy, confident appearance, quickly reaching its limits with its nervous, vague handling – partly due to some major inconsistencies in the spec. Uphill, it’s significantly more difficult to control than the other competitors with Bosch’s CX Race motor. On the other hand, the KTM cuts a fine figure as a monster truck for touring and everyday use. Cool feature: The Bosch Connect tracking module.

MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 975

As the proud winner of our 2022 budget e-mountainbike group test under € 6,500, the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 975 takes on a test field that includes bikes more than twice as expensive. While the current model retails at € 7,249, the eONE-SIXTY 975 hasn’t changed in its essence. At first glance, the plain alloy silhouette is rather unexciting but upon closer inspection you’ll come across several clever features at a very fair price. On the trail, the MERIDA keeps up with most of its pricey competitors and impressed several of our test riders, delivering a solid riding performance with predictable, intuitive handling. Clever features such as the standard headlight broaden its range of applications enormously and make it a strong all-rounder in all situations, from cheeky trail sessions to everyday use. If you’re looking for a bike with a consistent spec and a fair price, the MERIDA might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Mondraker Crafty Carbon XR LTD

Straight, elongated lines, sharp edges and confident branding: it’s got to be a Spaniard! The Mondraker Crafty Carbon XR LTD is well aware of its roots, proudly rocking Mondraker’s distinctive frame silhouette and a Bosch CX Race motor. Add the fancy spec including bling Öhlins suspension, and you’re guaranteed a very coherent overall package. On the trail, the Spanish stallion rides as if on rails – provided you shred your way back into the valley in a straight line. If you like to stuff yourself with tapas, we’ve got good news: the Crafty Carbon XR LTD has the highest permissible total weight in the entire test field – go on then, knock yourself out!

Moustache Samedi 29 Game 11

The Moustache Samedi 29 Game 11 enters the race with an old-school look and high-quality spec. The French manufacturer has fully committed itself to the electric cause. The undisputed highlight of their top spec model is the in-house Magic Grip Control shock, which didn’t quite manage to deliver the performance we hoped for in this test. In a nutshell, the rear suspension lacks support and feels rather spongy downhill, struggling to negotiate fast consecutive hits. In return, the Moustache cuts a fine figure as a touring companion, where the powerful Bosch motor and comfortable rear suspension work a treat.

Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01

The Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01 was the first Light-eMTB with FAZUA Ride 60 motor available on the market. In typical Pivot fashion, the firm DW-Link rear suspension ensures an excellent riding performance, both up and downhill, while the poppy rear end provides shed-loads of fun, especially on flowing trails. The precise steering behaviour and fast-looking paint finish ensure a nerve-tickling BMX sensation. Technical trails, however, call for decent riding skills to keep the Shuttle SL under control.

Pivot Shuttle LT Team XTR

The third iteration of the Pivot Shuttle LT Team XTR drifts into our group test with the “more travel, more battery, more fun” mantra. With a whopping 756 Wh capacity, it has the biggest Shimano battery in the entire test field, while the comfortable pedalling position and efficient suspension ensure excellent touring qualities. Downhill, it’s reassuringly intuitive to ride and only falls slightly behind the best bikes in this test field, proving one of the best all-rounders on review.

ROTWILD R.X735 ULTRA

As one of the models in the German manufacturer’s “Aggressive Series”, the ROTWILD R.X735 ULTRA is aimed primarily at sporty riders. Its orientation is underlined by the sleek frame silhouette and clever detail solutions, like the battery’s quick-release function. The latter makes the Rotwild the bike with the fastest and most intuitive battery removal system! The agile, nimble handling slaps a massive grin on the face of experienced riders, but the somewhat inconsistent spec holds the Rotwild back on technical trails. As soon as you leave the trail to embark on longer rides, the pedalling position is a tad too aggressive, making the Rotwild less suitable for touring.

Santa Cruz Heckler MX X01 AXS RSV

The Santa Cruz Heckler MX X01 AXS RSV came all the way from sunny California to no less sunny Cataluña to take part in our huge group test, promising to be lots of fun with its small rear wheel. And indeed, the Heckler keeps its promise on the trail, providing balanced handling and excellent support. At the same time, it inspires huge amounts of confidence, even when riding at high speeds, while the sensitive rear suspension makes you feel as if you were constantly gliding through a freshly-built trail. Not only is the Santa Cruz an excellent all-rounder, but also a comfortable tourer, albeit with some weaknesses on technical climbs.

SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL

The SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL features a TQ HPR 50 motor and is the undisputed master of integration in our 2023 e-mountainbike group test. Not only did the Swiss development team conceal the motor and shock inside the frame, but also integrated countless features and tools in places you wouldn’t think of. In harmony with its XC genes and streamlined appearance, the Lumen grinds its way up the mountain without batting an eyelid and yet delivers an impressive performance downhill. That said, the eye-watering € 15,999 price tag only makes it an option for a handful of people and on top of that, the field of application is extremely narrow considering the price.

Specialized Turbo Levo Expert

Already in its third iteration, the Specialized Turbo Levo Expert remains one of the most popular e-mountainbikes on the market. Thanks to Specialized’s unique do-it-all approach, developing both the motor and software around the bike, the Levo caused a stir right from its first generation and still goes strong after several years, holding up rather well against a test field of modern and rather shrewd competitors. Both the display integration and battery removal system are cleverly implemented into the overall concept and have effectively served as a benchmark for many competitors. On the trail, the Levo impresses with great versatility and intuitive handling, which ensure excellent all rounder qualities and make it suitable for both beginners and seasoned shredders.

Transition Repeater AXS Carbon

With the Transition Repeater AXS Carbon , the Bellingham-based manufacturer has finally jumped on the electric wagon. For their eMTB debut, Transition rely on proven (albeit slightly unexciting) Shimano motor integration and a sleek paint finish, delivering an excellent overall concept with a spec that perfectly suits its intended use. As a result, the Repeater encourages you to take your finger off the brakes and take full advantage of its extraordinary downhill potential. When descending, it inspires huge amounts of confidence and impresses with supportive suspension, which makes it one of the best and most discreet trail rippers in the entire test field.

Thömus Lightrider E Ultimate

While the Thömus Lightrider E Ultimate is the epitome of Helvetic pride, it’s far from being the Swiss army knife among e-mountainbikes. In our 2023 e-mountainbike test field, it combines the smallest battery (250 Wh) and weakest motor, which churns out a rather conservative 40 Nm torque. That said, the mellow character of the motor fits in well with the bike’s XC genes. As a result, the Thömus Lightrider requires more physical effort to get to the trailhead, but at the same time ensures a very natural riding experience. In keeping with its strong XC DNA, the Lightrider places you in a sporty, stretched pedalling position that isn’t overly comfortable on climbs. Downhill, the Thömus is held back by its own spec, though this can be customised using Thömus’ online configurator. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to personalise our test bike.

Trek Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS

The Trek Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS has a clear edge over the other TQ competitors in this test. The motor was developed in close collaboration with the American bike manufacturer and relies on Trek’s proprietary software and app, which brings several practical advantages. These include more intuitive display operation and a wider range of functions in Trek’s in-house app – although the latter only offers added value off the trails. On the trail, the Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS is capable of pretty much everything but doesn’t excel at anything in particular, discreetly cruising along the rest of the test field with beginner-friendly handling.

UNNO Mith Race

Radical and extravagant are perhaps the best words to describe the UNNO Mith Race . With its striking seat dome and metallic paint finish with golden accents, the Catalan steed is a real head turner, both on the trail and outside the pub. Upon closer inspection, you’ll come across countless captivating details, including the seamless Bosch system integration and elegant design features – the elaborate chain and seat stay protector being just one of them. Unfortunately, the peculiar frame design with enclosed shock makes it hard to set up the suspension. On the trail, the UNNO provides tons of support and impresses with direct, precise handling, but also requires an experienced rider who knows how to handle the direct feedback. Overall, the UNNO cuts a fine figure both in your living room and on the trail, where it proves a mean downhill machine for trail veterans.

Yeti 160E T1

Not only is the Yeti 160E T1 the Colorado-based cult brand’s eMTB debut, but also the defending champion in this group test. It employs Yeti’s proprietary and rather fascinating six-bar suspension system, which knocks it out of the park on the trail and is rounded off by a top-notch spec. Needless to say, all of this comes at a rather eye-watering price. Although the electric snow monster can’t secure victory for the second year in a row, it still delivers a mind boggling trail performance for all types of riders and in a huge range of applications.

The Orbea WILD M-LTD 2023 is the Basque manufacturer’s e-mountainbike for the rough stuff. It comes equipped with a new Bosch Performance Line CX Race motor, which can be configured with either a 625 Wh or 750 Wh battery and customised down to the smallest detail using Orbea’s MyO online configurator. Orbea’s € 11,299 eMTB turns the volume to eleven on the trail and at the same time convinces with excellent all-round qualities.

Hit the link for the full review

With the RADON DEFT 10.0 750 2023, the German direct-to-consumer brand entered the competition with a thoroughbred eMTB bruiser, which generates a whopping 170 mm of travel and retails at € 6,799. The Bosch Performance CX Smart System and 750 Wh battery are neatly packed into a carbon frame with alloy swingarm. Together with the high-quality spec, this makes the DEFT an very interesting option, not only for its reasonable price.

Both our test winner and Best Buy tip, the Orbea WILD M-LTD and Radon Deft 10.0 750, have secured their titles for a reason and should be the ideal companion for most eMTBers. That said, every rider has their own needs and requirements, so depending on your situation, you might be better off buying a touring or Light-eMTB. Here are some recommendations from our editorial team, which should include a suitable bike for everyone.

The best touring and everyday e-mountainbike in our group test: Cannondale Moterra Neo Carbon LT1

The Cannondale Moterra Neo Carbon LT1 wants to strike the optimal balance between trail artist and everyday hero, but fails to achieve its goal. However, this isn’t all that bad, because if you shift your focus slightly, the Moterra convinces as a strong tourer and an awesome everyday companion. The excellent riding comfort and countless everyday features, like the battery lock and lighting system, make it the best tourer in the entire test field – and at a fair price! Unfortunately, sporty riders who are looking for trail performance won’t cope well with its passive, sluggish character.

The best Light-eMTB in our huge 2023 group test: SIMPLON Rapcon Pmax TQ

Winning genes? Indeed! The SIMPLON Rapcon PMAX TQ is based on its analogue counterpart, which already secured the “Best enduro bike” title two years ago. Now the Austrian brand has seamlessly integrated the TQ motor into the frame, putting together a tremendous overall package. The bike’s character suits the motor to a tee and despite its low power output, the Rapcon pulls away from most of its competitors thanks to its efficient rear suspension. The SIMPLON begs you to get rowdy downhill and encourages you to push your limits with its predictable handling, stoic composure, and unmatched suspension while inspiring tons of confidence in the process. The SIMPLON Rapcon PMAX TQ is without a doubt the best Light-eMTB of 2023!

Full-fat or Light-eMTB? Or both? Orbea Rise M-Team

With the new Orbea Rise M-LTD , you can customise both the spec and look of your new bike using Orbea’s extensive MyO online configurator. Furthermore, the Basque manufacturer lets you choose between a 360 Wh and 540 Wh battery, which is permanently integrated into the downtube regardless of the size. If you add the optional range extender, the Rise has more capacity than most full-power eMTB all rounders. Speaking of power: the Shimano EP801 is tuned to reduce the maximum torque provided from 85 to 60 Nm and therefore uses less power than other Shimano motors – which translates into even more range! However, the Rise is a strong climber despite the limited motor and cuts a fine figure downhill, where it convinces with intuitive, predictable handling. The perfect compromise between Light-eMTBs and full-fat all rounders.

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of E-MOUNTAINBIKE, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more .

Words: Peter Walker, Felix Rauch Photos: Peter Walker, Mike Hunger

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Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. How we test gear.

The 7 Best Electric Mountain Bikes of 2024

A little boost can make mountain biking even better.

No, I assured him, I wanted to pedal myself. I ended up on a cobweb covered bike with bald tires that was pulled from the depths of a basement. Big mistake. I spent the next several days sweating up long alpine climbs while four-generation families gleefully floated past on powered bikes.

Now, Americans are increasingly realizing what Europeans have known for years: e-mountain bikes make it fun to ride longer or can help us go faster. E-mountain bikes combine off- road functionality with pedal-assist power that makes it easier to get to the top of the climb. Modern geometry and components make these bikes just as fun to ride downhill as their non-powered counterparts. These bikes keep improving as motors and batteries become more reliable, more powerful, lighter, and more efficient.

More importantly, bicycle designers have gone well beyond simply bolting a motor onto a bike and calling it an eMTB. The best models feature motors with enough power and range to let you get the most out of your ride, and are also built to be stable and capable of tackling any trail.

When you’re choosing an electric mountain, look for one that offers a high-power motor, a battery with long life (and/or the capability to add a backup battery), sufficient suspension travel, and a price that fits your budget.

The Best Electric Mountain Bikes

• Best Overall: Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy
• Best Hardtail: Aventon Ramblas
• Best Lightweight: Santa Cruz Heckler SL
• Best Enduro: Yeti 160E
• Best Women's Specific: Liv Intrigue X Advanced E+ EL 3

What to Consider in an Electric Mountain Bike

Why you should trust us, how we selected these e-mtbs, our full electric mountain bike reviews, q&a with expert andrew bernstein.

When you’re shopping for an electronic mountain bike, you’ll want to factor in not only the motor’s power and features, but also the bike’s basic capabilities.

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Since electronic mountain bikes are heavier than non-motorized bikes, you’ll want to consider a bike with more suspension travel than you have on your non-motorized bike. The longer your travel, the more cushion you’ll get when you encounter obstacles. 

Most full suspension e-MTB fall in the 150- to 160mm range, which offers a nice balance of increased comfort and improved control for first-time buyers.

Motor Options

In addition to choosing the right kind of bike, you’ll also need to decide which pedal-assist motor option is right for you. There are three electric-assist classes in the United States. Class 1 motors kick in only when you pedal and stop helping you at 20 mph. Class 2 also offers pedal assist up to 20 mph, but these bikes can also have a throttle-powered mode that allows users to engage the motor without pedaling. Class 3 is pedal-assist like Class 1, but will help you until you hit 28 mph.

• Class 1: 20 MPH max assist speed; throttle is not standard equipment
• Class 2: 20 MPH max assist speed; throttle comes standard equipment
• Class 3: 28 MPH max assist speed; throttle is not standard equipment

Other countries classify e-bikes differently, and many countries do not allow e-bikes to assist riders beyond 20 miles per hour.

Most performance-oriented electric mountain bikes are Class 1. Electric mountain bikes generally feature one of two types of motors: mid-drive motors, which are contained in the frame at the bottom of the bike between the pedals; and rear hub motors, which are built into the rear wheel.

Bikes with rear hub motors are generally less expensive but are also less powerful. A mid-drive motor will almost always offer more power. Because the extra weight on a mid-mount bike is centered in the bike and lower to the ground, these bikes are generally easier to handle than bikes with hub motors. Mid-mount bikes do tend to be more expensive, but all of our favorite bikes feature this type of motor.

Battery Life, Range, Maintenance, and Safety

On top of the motor, you’ll want to consider the battery size and range. More is always better for performance, but a battery with longer range will also weigh more and cost more. 

As a bike's weight increases, it requires more effort from the rider to handle. This is an especially important consideration for smaller riders, and extra weight can also become a bigger challenge at faster speeds, when you need to handle the bike more aggressively.

A lighter bike will offer better handling, but if you sacrifice too much battery capacity to cut weight, you may find yourself pedaling home with no assist if you take a wrong turn.

Like all e-bikes, eMTBs can be pedaled as a normal bike if the battery dies, so you’ll still be able to get home, but it will require extra effort and possibly more time.

While we can confidently say a larger battery provides more range, it is difficult to accurately estimate any e-bike's exact range. Many factors impact an e-bike's range: How much boost you’re using (most power systems offer three or four settings), how much you weigh, the terrain you’re riding, how much climbing you’re doing, the air temperature, rolling resistance from the tires, and even how clean and lubricated the drivetrain is.

Do not take any brand's word on its range claims. Start conservatively as you test your bike’s range. The more you ride, the better you’ll understand how far your batteries can carry you in different conditions. If your bike’s main battery isn’t cutting it, some models let you add an external range booster, or swap the internal battery for a fresh one. Be warned: These accessories can be expensive!

Like all batteries, e-bike batteries do lose capacity every time they’re charged and discharged. Unfortunately, that means that the more you ride, the sooner you’ll need to replace your battery. Even so, an e-bike battery should give you years of reliable riding.

Follow your bike's manufacturer’s recommendations for storage, but most batteries will last longer if stored with about a 40-percent charge (but don’t forget to plug your bike in about six hours before riding, to make sure you start your ride with a full charge).

Batteries should also be stored at room temperature whenever possible and not left outside or in an unheated garage in freezing temperatures. Some bike brands, including Specialized, have a setting that will prevent the battery from charging fully. This feature is designed to extend the battery’s life, but you may want to disable the feature if your rides regularly use your battery’s full capacity.

If, after a few years, your battery loses enough capacity that you want to replace it, be sure to contact your bike’s manufacturer or local dealer and purchase a certified replacement battery through the brand or its dealer.

Don’t be tempted by cheaper options available online from third-party brands. These third-party batteries are generally not certified by bike brands and may void your bike’s warranty. More importantly, third-party replacement batteries often do not have important safety features, and, as a result, these batteries have been identified as the cause of several serious fires. 

There is currently legislation pending at the state and federal level that will bar the sale of non-certified batteries in the U.S., but they are still available as of this writing.

Drivetrains

While a handful of bicycle drivetrain manufacturers exist, almost every e-mountain bike will have either a Shimano or SRAM drivetrain. Both are reputable manufacturers that offer reliable shifting and a wide-ranging gear set. Some drivetrains feature electronic shifting. Such drivetrains offer quick and precise shifting, but they will add cost.

The added power of an e-bike puts more strain on a bike’s drivetrain. You can expect to replace your chain more frequently, but you can get more life out of your components if you back off the pedals when shifting, and ease the chain between gears instead of mashing the shifter and the pedal at the same time.

Given the increased weight of an electronic mountain bike, you’ll want to make sure yours is equipped with hydraulic disc brakes, as most are. These brakes offer lots of stopping power and modulation, which ensures you’ll remain in control regardless of your bike's weight, or how fast you go. 

Several brands offer hydraulic disc brakes, though again, Shimano and SRAM usually lead the way. For additional power, look for bikes featuring four-piston brakes.

Bicycling has been vetting and reviewing bikes, gear, and accessories for more than 50 years. The bike recommendations here are based on the extensive work of the test team, which includes Deputy Editor Tara Seplavy, Senior Test Editor Matt Phillips, Test Editor Dan Chabonov, and Maintenance Editor Gabe Ortiz. Together, they have more than 60 years of ride-testing experience and insight that they bring to every recommendation they make.

For electric mountain bikes, Matt Phillips and Tara Seplavy oversaw these selections based on the team’s collective testing experience, as well as their own extensive knowledge of the category.

Andrew Bernstein has been a cyclist nearly his whole life and a passionate road rider and racer since he was a teenager. These days, he rides road and gravel bikes around his home in Boulder, Colo. As a former bike salesperson and Bicycling Gear Editor, Andrew has had the chance to ride many bikes and meet many Bicycling readers, helping him to know what to look for in making these recommendations.

Dan Cavallari is a born tinkerer with a garage full of tools to prove it. He spent 14 years as a bicycle mechanic in various shops across the United States and is the editor/publisher of both Slowguyonthefastride.com and DawnpatrolMTB.com. He is the former technical editor of VeloNews Magazine. Find him on Instagram: @DawnPatrolMTB @slowguyonthefastride .

The recommendations here are the combined efforts of Dan Cavallari who has been riding mountain bikes for nearly 30 years, and testing them professionally for more than a decade, in addition to the testing efforts and combined experience of the Bicycling test team, and, finally, the research and industry expertise of Andrew Bernstein.

Each bike recommended here offers an excellent ride quality balanced with assist capabilities most useful to mountain bikers. Based on the cumulative experiences and input of the experts and test team, these are the best electric mountain bikes you can buy right now.

Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy

Specialized has always been known for technical innovation, and when it entered the e-bike market 10 years ago, its first Turbo bikes were highly polished and well-designed. Things have only gotten better since then, and the current generation of Specialized Turbo e-bikes is built around Specialized’s own fast-engaging motor.

The Levo’s 500Wh battery holds enough electrons to carry most riders through all-day rides, and the geometry is designed to make for a stable bike that you can still whip through the technical sections.

Aventon Ramblas

Aventon’s do-it-all hardtail is built around the brand's proprietary motor and power system, which includes a 708Wh battery. The battery gives this bike a longer range than many others, even without a range extender, making the Ramblas perfect for riders who prioritize full days in the saddle. The bike is on the heavier side, which may make it harder to handle, especially in tight terrain, but the responsive Rockshox fork will help riders fly across square-edge bumps.

Santa Cruz Heckler SL

The Heckler’s slick styling means your riding buddies may not believe that you’re riding an e-bike, at least not until you power away on the first climb. The motor and battery—made by Fazua, a German manufacturer—are so svelte that they almost entirely disappear into the standard Heckler’s frame.

The power comes on smoothly and will work dependably for years. Few brands have as much experience building mountain bikes as Santa Cruz does, and you can feel its experience in the trail-proven handling when you take this bike out for a shred.

Read Full Santa Cruz Heckler SL Review

Yeti’s first e-mountain bike uses Shimano’s EP8 drive system and will help you cruise any trail. Yeti may be new to e-bikes, but the Colorado-based brand has a long track record of building bikes that are as playful as they are competent on rough, steep terrain.

In that tradition, the 160E is ready to tackle any trail, and especially thrives on rough and steep trails. The bike comes in a variety of component configurations, allowing riders to choose their parts, and, to an extent, their price point. The model linked here is built with a dependable Shimano XT drivetrain and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes.

Read Full Yeti 160E Review

Liv Intrigue X Advanced E+ EL 3

The Intrigue X Advanced E+ Elite, which is Liv’s first performance carbon trail eMTB, demonstrates the promising future of ultra-lightweight electric mountain bikes. The SyncDrive Pro2 motor engages smoothly but is slightly less powerful than other motors. The drive system was co-developed with Yamaha and should prove durable enough for many happy miles.

Smaller and lighter riders will find that the motor has plenty of power, and its light weight makes it easy to drive this bike across and through technical sections. We also like the bike’s sleek design, and Liv’s focus on female rides mean that the total package is well thought out with touch points optimized for female riders.

Read Full Liv Intrigue X Advanced E+ EL 3

Specialized Turbo Levo SL Kids

E-bikes can help kids imagine the long rides they’ll be able to enjoy as they get older and stronger. At the same time, the boost can make it practical to take your child out on longer rides that they wouldn’t have enough energy for on their own.

Like all ebikes, this Levo is heavier than comparable non-powered models. That means that it takes more work for the rider to push it around corners, but the geometry is well-designed and the mid-mount motor helps to keep the bike well-balanced for even the smallest riders.

Co-op Cycles DRT e3.1

REI’s Co-Op brand focused on giving riders a great value in a bike that’s fun to ride. The DRT e3.1 has a durable aluminum frame and a solid mix of components that will be dependable without increasing the price of the bike too much. The German brand Bosch is one of the leaders in e-bike motors, and its proven power system should last for thousands of happy miles.

While REI is not generally known as a bike shop, its national network of stores and friendly staff are known for being helpful and professional, ensuring that Co-Op riders will have a dependable place to go for maintenance, advice, and any warranty issues that should arise (although that’s unlikely to be needed).

Expert Andrew Bernstein Shares What Extras To Take On Your Ride, When to Update Firmware, and Where to Ride

What accessories will i need.

Definitely get yourself some comfortable riding apparel. Mountain bike apparel comes in lots of choices, so choose the one that speaks to the way you want to ride and suits your personal style. 

If you want to ride long, it’s a good idea to invest in a hydration pack, and you’ll definitely want to carry supplies to fix a trail-side flat, and tools to address minor trail-side breakdowns.

How often should I update my bike’s firmware?

Most e-bike makers will update their bike’s firmware periodically and you can either update the firmware via an app on your phone, or take your bike to an authorized dealer who will be able to install the update for you. 

In nearly all cases, firmware updates are not essential to bike’s operation, but as with all electronically-controlled pieces of hardware, your bike will work best if the firmware is updated at least every six months or so.

Where can I ride my e-bike?

Unfortunately, there are many different rules about e-bike access on public (and private) land. While many land managers are making an effort to better-accommodate e-bikes, there is no uniform rule at this point. 

We suggest that you check the regulations for any trails you plan to ride before heading to the trailhead, and always be sure to follow posted rules and regulations – riding where you’re not supposed to could result in a ticket.

Andrew “Bernie” Bernstein is a former Bicycling Magazine Gear Editor, and Bicycling marketing manager. While at Bicycling, he promoted the Bicycling Fall Classic, and the famed Fifth Street Cross Thursday Night Training Series. Bernie was an elite track and road racer from 2010-2019. In 2019, he was hit by a driver near his home in Boulder, CO. The crash nearly killed him and left him with paraplegia. He considers himself very lucky to still now be able to hike, and ride with the help of an e-gravel bike. He’s written about his experience as a paracyclist disabled athletes for Men’s Health, Bicycling, and Outside Magazine. You can follow his adventures on Instagram .

Dan is a writer and editor who runs Brown Tie Media (publisher of Slowguyonthefastride.com and DawnpatrolMTB.com ) and a born tinkerer with the garage full of tools to prove it. His life on two wheels started with an overwhelmingly heavy Huffy and progressed into top of the line mountain, road, and gravel bikes over the course of many miles and pedal strokes. He is the former longtime technical editor for VeloNews Magazine and spent 14 years as a bicycle mechanic in various shops across the US. Dan's writing and photography has appeared in VeloNews Magazine, Triathlete Magazine, Podium Runner Magazine, Women's Running Magazine, Cycling Weekly, Rouleur Magazine, Road Bike Action Magazine, Mountain Bike Action Magazine, CycleVolta.com , Tomsguide.com , Cycle Sports Japan, CyclingTips.com , Bikerumor.com , Bicycle Retailer, and more.

A gear editor for his entire career, Matt’s journey to becoming a leading cycling tech journalist started in 1995, and he’s been at it ever since; likely riding more cycling equipment than anyone on the planet along the way. Previous to his time with Bicycling , Matt worked in bike shops as a service manager, mechanic, and sales person. Based in Durango, Colorado, he enjoys riding and testing any and all kinds of bikes, so you’re just as likely to see him on a road bike dressed in Lycra at a Tuesday night worlds ride as you are to find him dressed in a full face helmet and pads riding a bike park on an enduro bike. He doesn’t race often, but he’s game for anything; having entered road races, criteriums, trials competitions, dual slalom, downhill races, enduros, stage races, short track, time trials, and gran fondos. Next up on his to-do list: a multi day bikepacking trip, and an e-bike race. 

As Deputy Editor, Tara Seplavy leads Bicycling’s product test team; after having previously led product development and sourcing for multiple bike brands, run World Championship winning mountain bike teams, wrenched at renowned bicycle shops in Brooklyn, raced everything from criteriums to downhill, and ridden bikes on six different continents (landing herself in hospital emergency rooms in four countries and counting). Based in Easton, Pennsylvania, Tara spends tons of time on the road and trail testing products. A familiar face at cyclocross races, crits, and bike parks in the Mid Atlantic and New England, on weekends she can often be found racing for the New York City-based CRCA/KruisCX team. When not riding a bike, or talking about them, Tara listens to a lot of ska, punk, and emo music, and consumes too much social media.  

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What’s the best Light-eMTB 2023? – We put 8 hot models to the test

The latest generation of Light-eMTBs doesn’t just make trail riding more fun, but also outshine many analogue MTBs! That said, not all Light-eMTBs are equal: the differences in motor systems, performance and handling are considerable and you should know exactly what to look for. We measured up 8 of the most exciting models ranging from € 8,499 to € 15,999, giving you both our high- and low-lights of the group, as well as numerous exciting insights that we discovered during the test!

Table of content: What is in this test

What is a light-emtb and who says so.

• Our Light-eMTB test field

The motor systems of the Light-eMTBs on test, their integration options, and the software at a glance

How and where did we test the light-emtbs, our test crew, our light-emtb group test in numbers, the tops and flops of our light-emtb group test, an overview of the light-emtb test field and the winners.

We always love hearing from our readers at ENDURO and we often get questions filling our inboxes. One of the questions we hear most frequently, and will probably keep hearing for quite a while, is whether you should buy an analogue bike or rather get an eMTB instead. Considering last year’s Light-eMTB boom and the emergence of a new Light-eMTB generation with very promising motors, we’re not surprised. As technology advances, the bikes’ performance on the trail, the possibilities, and above all, the fun you can have grows, too. More fun is what we all want, right?

The FOCUS Raven was the first Light-eMTB to pop up on the scene in 2016, followed by the first full-suspension Light-eMTB the Lapierre eZesty a while later, and then many more like the Specialized Levo SL . However, these bikes couldn’t prevail against the bigger and more rapidly rising eMTB tidal wave, drowning in it instead of surfing it themselves. But all that’s set to change with the latest generation. Until now, the masses have been screaming for more power and bigger batteries, while the ebike haters and doubters have been growing quiet. After more than 10 years of eMTB development, we seem to have reached a peak for the first time last year as manufacturers ease off on the battery capacity arms race and realise the advantage of using smaller and more compact batteries and offering greater flexibility. It’s the perfect storm for Light-eMTBs to shake up the market!

This is also due to the almost simultaneous introduction of two new light motors, the TQ HPR 50 and the FAZUA Ride 60, bringing with them a whole armada of new Light-eMTB models. The past has also shown that it usually takes large brands to get new technology to stick in the market and generate sufficient traction. So, it’s great to see manufacturers like SCOTT and Haibike jump onto the bandwagon and launch their own Light-eMTBs featuring the latest in lightweight drive unit technology. You can expect to see these bikes flooding the market over the coming months, and we predict that there will be no major bike brand without a Light-eMTB in their portfolio by the end of 2024.

With an eMTB, the overall concept and motor system dictates the intended use. The amount of travel that the suspension offers is largely irrelevant. Long travel ebikes can be just as good for touring and everyday commuting as they are for big hits and rough trails.

The definition of a Light-eMTB isn’t as straightforward as it seems at first glance either. What does the term “light” refer to? Is a Light-eMTB necessarily a bike with a less powerful motor or a smaller battery? Or is it the complete bike weight that counts? Or are Light-eMTBs simply bikes that resemble analogue MTBs in their handling despite having large batteries, powerful motors, and a hefty weight?

True to our test philosophy, it all boils down to the overall concept – considering the individual parameters of a Light-eMTB in isolation makes as little sense as assessing the performance of an analogue mountain bike based on its geometry sheet. No, it makes even less sense! Because even the best electric motor is only as good as the bike it’s in! And a good Light-eMTB mustn’t just have the right geometry and components, but also the right combination of power, battery capacity and weight. Unfortunately, it’s often only the flagship models that take the latter into account, many of which cost well over € 10,000. If you look at the more affordable models, an 18 kg bike can quickly tip the scales at 22 kg. Nevertheless, this creates a concept that bridges the gap between analogue bikes and full-power eMTBs on the trail and in terms of handling.

Our Light-eMTB test field – The 8 hottest bikes on the market

For our Light-eMTB group test, we included 8 of the hottest bikes, all of which have been launched within the last 12 months. They don’t just take very different approaches, but also feature four different motor systems. In the right-hand corner, you’ve got the new Trek Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS , the SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL and the SIMPLON Rapcon PMAX TQ , all of which rely on the 50 Nm TQ HPR 50 drive unit. They are powered by a 360 Wh internal battery, which you can pair with a 160 Wh range extender. In the opposite corner are the Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01 , the Haibike LYKE CF SE and the FOCUS JAM² SL 9.9 . These rely on the FAZUA Ride 60 motor, which delivers 60 Nm of torque and is powered by a 430 Wh battery. The Orbea Rise M-LTD rolls into the ring as an old dog with a new lick of paint. It’s the only bike on test to rely on the Shimano EP801 motor, though with a reduced output of 60 Nm and bearing the RS suffix. In combination with a large 540 Wh internal battery, the competition has their work cut out. The optional range extender provides an additional 252 Wh, giving it more capacity than any other bike on test. Lastly, we’ve got the Forestal Siryon Diode from Andorra making its debut appearance in our group tests. The small premium brand rely on the 60 Nm EonDrive motor, which was developed in-house and is supplied by Chinese motor specialists BAFANG. It features its own software interface with a touch display and is powered by a 360 Wh battery.

When you buy an eMTB – or in our case Light-eMTB – you don’t just decide on a bike, but also on a motor system, which has a significant impact on the performance and handling of your bike. While there are many options available and they will continue to grow, it’s good to have an overview and be aware of what you want from your bike. While newly introduced technologies are state-of-the-art, they often still suffer from teething issues. Large established brands usually have a reliable service network in case you have any trouble with your motor, but they often take fewer risks during development than smaller and more agile players, catering to the masses but not necessarily to your individual requirements. The same applies to custom solutions such as display and charging port integration, or even the choice of battery. You can find practical and tailored solutions, though you might have issues with durability or finding spare parts. Manufacturers of bikes, components and motors must work closely together to create a complete package. Thanks to the wide range of products that are now available to bike manufacturers, meeting this requirement is becoming easier and the bikes can be tailored to your needs more and more specifically. Nevertheless, the development of an ebike is vastly more complex than that of its analogue counterpart. The large selection of components and rapidly developing market only serve to complicate matters even more.

That’s why , with eMTBs, you shouldn’t just consider the performance and functionality on the trail, but also trailside repairs and everyday serviceability.

Note: with such rapid development, the market is constantly being flooded with new software updates and accessories such as range extenders. Many of them solve problems or make bikes more versatile, but as the past has shown, they can also create new problems. So, we wrote this article for you based on current information as it stands in March 2023.

Below, you will find an overview of all the motor systems featured in this group test:

The TQ HPR 50 system

The TQ HPR 50 is the Bavarian tech company’s first minimal assist motor, though not their first ebike motor, and it relies on their patented harmonic pin-ring technology. It was developed in collaboration with Trek, which gave the bike brand the exclusive right to the motor for 3 months before other manufacturers such as SCOTT and SIMPLON were given the green light. At first glance, it seems like Trek use the same display as the competition, but they developed their own software and app. All HPR 50 motors are capable of putting out 50 Nm of torque with a 300-watt peak, and they’re exclusively compatible with the 360 Wh TQ battery. In the case of Trek, the battery can be removed, whereas all other brands have chosen to keep the 1800 g battery firmly integrated in the frame. Due to the compact design of the battery, the down tubes can also be kept nice and slender, making bikes such as the SIMPLON or Trek difficult to distinguish from their analogue siblings and resulting in the most inconspicuous motor system integration to date – the small motor is equally well hidden in the bottom bracket. If you want more range, you can stick the optional 160 Wh range extender in the bottle cage, upping the total battery capacity to 520 Wh.

The 2″ TQ display is designed to be integrated into the top tube where it’s inconspicuous but clearly visible. It uses monochrome dots and rings to indicate the chosen support level, which isn’t very intuitive at first. The battery status is displayed via 10 small bars, each representing 10% charge. By double clicking on the button below the display, you can scroll through various views, or switch the system on or off. You have the following views to choose from:

• current speed in km/h
• battery level in percent
• remaining range in the current support level
• current power output of the rider and motor in watts

The system can be controlled via a small remote, which is always attached to the left side of the handlebar. It is very unobtrusive and intuitive to use with just two buttons. It will let you choose the support mode, activate the walk mode, or turn off the assistance altogether. The remote has a pleasant feel and ergonomics due to its rubberised coating, and it provides good feedback thanks to a distinct click. You can also adjust the motor settings and access more data via the TQ app.

Trek, on the other hand, have integrated these functions into their own app, which also gives you suggestions for the suspension setup, lets you connect to third-party sensors like the TyreWiz via Bluetooth, and displays the range on a map. All in one – cool! The display of the Trek is a bit more intuitive, too, showing you the support levels with 3 large bars and the battery level in %. You can also switch the view to see your average speed and remaining range, with the range displayed in minutes or kilometres.

You have three support levels to choose from on the trail, ECO, MID and HIGH, and there’s a walk assist mode too. The HPR 50 motor is by far the quietest and most natural feeling in the test field. Due to its slightly lower power output and the inconspicuous way it engages and disengages, it feels more like you’re extremely fit rather than being assisted by an electric motor. It’s only when the support is switched off that you become aware of how much the motor has been helping. To unleash its full power, the motor requires a relatively high cadence, making it more likely that you’ll break into a sweat, but it suits the motor’s character. This makes it better suited to gravel road climbs than technical singletrack ascents, taking the burden out of the uphills when you ride, while still keeping you fit. Compared to the rest of the test field, technical climbs require much more physical effort and conscious gear selection to maintain the required cadence for optimal power delivery. If you’re looking for something that will push you up the mountain without putting in any effort yourself, you won’t like the TQ. However, if you like sweating at least a little on the uphills and want a quiet and natural feeling bike, this might just be the perfect companion. Unfortunately, one display became defective during the test, though it’s super easy to replace once you can track down a spare.

The FAZUA Ride 60 system

The FAZUA Ride 60 is the second minimal assist motor to come from the brand. The first generation was introduced in 2017 and it could be removed from the bike as a complete unit containing the battery and motor. FAZUA chose a different approach with their latest system, and they increased the power output. As the name suggests, the new Ride 60 delivers 60 Nm of torque, with a peak power of up to 450 watts. FAZUA also rely on their own battery, which can be permanently integrated or removable. It weighs in at 1,960 grams and delivers 430 Wh of capacity. While FAZUA have announced a range extender, it wasn’t yet available at the time of the test. Due to the elongated shape of the motor and the fairly wide battery, many of the bikes on test have a down tube shaped like a hockey stick, easily betraying them as ebikes. Haibike are the only brand that tilt the motor horizontally into the seat tube, allowing for a cleaner integration, though this comes with some compromises of its own.

FAZUA also position their so-called LED Hub in the top tube where it’s clearly visible. It indicates the support level and the battery status with the help of 5 small LEDs. As such, the battery level is divided into 5 large 20% increments, and the different colours of the support modes are difficult to read in direct sunlight. By flipping up the LED hub, you get access to a USB-C charging port, though it only delivers about 1 ampere of power. This isn’t enough to charge your smartphone while riding, but it does keep the battery running longer when using your phone to navigate.

On the left side of the handlebar, you’ll find FAZUA’s Ring Control remote. Unfortunately, it isn’t labelled, and due to the cheap feel and looks, it isn’t on par with the competition. The control is multi-directional: it can be pressed up, down and inwards, towards the stem. This lets you control the support levels and activate the walk or boost mode.

As you’d expect, FAZUA also have an app with which you can configure the support modes. They’ve tried to optimise the user experience here: after an extensive questionnaire, the app will recommend the optimal support mode settings, tailored specifically to the rider. This is great for ebike beginners and all those who couldn’t be bothered wasting their time by playing with the settings! If you don’t trust computers or don’t always ride in the same kind of terrain, you can also configure the support modes yourself and save them as pre-sets. You could save them as “the early bird gets the dirt”, “fetch beer” or “power hour”, for example, and call them up as needed.

For the trail, FAZUA has already taken the creative liberty in naming the three pre-configured support modes: Breeze, River, and Rocket. You can also activate the afterburner, officially called Boost mode, for a quick push when needed. However, it takes a moment to kick in and the duration depends on the battery level and the temperature of the motor. In ideal conditions, you’ll get up to 12 seconds of additional thrust to pass your buddies.

While Breeze and Rocket mode are constant, offering the least and most support respectively, River mode is adaptive, coupled to the pedalling input and adapting the output accordingly. The support kicks in noticeably in Rocket mode, pushing you forward even at low cadence. The FAZUA is powerful enough to let you conquer technical climbs, but the Ride 60 still struggles with a software-related issue, doing a restart after you stop pedalling. So, if you stop pedalling on a climb, the motor keeps assisting briefly and then forces you to pedal on your own for about 1-2 seconds thereafter as it restarts. This can quickly throw you off balance and is very annoying! If you find this to be a problem, you can use the app to make the motor more dynamic, which makes it kick in rather abruptly, but seems to shorten the dip in power. FAZUA are already working on a solution and promise to release a software update that fixes this soon. On the descents, the motor is perfectly quiet, but it is audible when pedalling and resembles the Shimano EP8 motor in terms of sound characteristics. Only the BAFANG motor in the Forestal is louder. The character of the FAZUA Ride 60 is much closer to a full-power system and can make easy work of the climbs. Active riders also get their money’s worth, as long they don’t spend too much time on technical climbs, because the above-mentioned software issue can get frustrating. Besides that, we encountered several instances during our tests where the bikes didn’t switch on. In this case, it helps to shake the bike, recharge the battery, unplug it, or wait… Unfortunately, one of the bikes remained defective.

The Shimano EP801 RS system

The Shimano EP801 is an EP8 motor with slightly modified hard- and software. The 01 suffix provides for a wider cadence range in which the motor offers support and a FINE TUNE mode to adapt it to your needs. You also get a wider selection of remotes and it’s compatible with Di2 groupsets. However, the RS addition is Orbea’s and – contrary to what most riders think – means that the motor’s power output has been throttled from 85 to 60 Nm. Since Shimano allow third-party batteries, Orbea can offer the Rise with a 360 or 540 Wh internal battery. As with TQ, you can also store a range extender with a generous 252 Wh in the bottle cage. Since the EP801 is also used on full-power eMTBs and is only restricted by the software, it’s the largest motor on test and thus also limits the bike’s discreet looks.

In our case, there was no display on the bike, with battery and support mode information instead displayed via the small remote, which is located on the left side of the handlebar. There’s an LED that uses 5 different colours to indicate the 3 support modes, walk mode, or an error code. A second LED flashes red or green, or lights up permanently, thereby showing you the battery status. However, it’s somewhat confusing and thus serves more as an emergency signal. A flashing red light means that it’s time to head home. Of course, the remote can also shift the support modes up and down, activate walk mode, and switch the system on or off. If this is too minimalistic for you or you want a different remote, Shimano give you many options to choose from to equip your bike with displays and the like.

With the E-TUBE PROJECT app from Shimano, you can create different profiles for the basic eco, trail and boost modes. With the FINE TUNE function of the EP801, you can activate up to 15 additional support modes. The app also gives you the battery status in percentage points, in case you need more detailed information than that offered by the LED on the remote.

On the trail, you can switch between eco, trail and boost, or the additional support modes. Even in the highest setting, the EP801 remains easy to modulate and allows you to pull away safely even in tricky conditions. The Shimano still delivers a decent amount of power at a low cadence, showing what a wide range it has. This makes easy work of the climbs even after a long day in the saddle. Technical ascents are no problem either, thanks to the power and characteristics of the reliable Shimano motor. The EP801 is relatively quiet when it isn’t under strain, but it trumps the FAZUA motor when it’s working hard – only the BAFANG is louder. A big drawback is the metallic rattling noise that it makes on the descents, which the Shimano EP8 motors are known to do. If you’re looking for a reliable motor that’s easy to modulate, provides a lot of customisation options, and has a large service network, the EP801 is a faithful companion. It provides enough power for technical climbs and relaxed ascents, though it can’t be integrated into the bike as inconspicuously as the competition in this test field.

The BAFANG EonDrive system

The BAFANG EonDrive motor in the Forestal is rather unique. It’s manufactured by BAFANG, but a significant part of the development was carried out by Forestal, combining it with in-house accessories and software. It’s a daring and impressive achievement when you consider that it’s the debut product of the fledgling Andorran bike brand. The EonDrive motor delivers 60 Nm of torque and is powered by a 360 Wh BAFANG battery. Forestal have announced that they’ll be releasing a 250 Wh range extender, though it had yet to be released at the time of testing. The Forestal is the only bike on test with a 3.2″ touch display, which is beautifully integrated into the top tube. The display sensitivity can’t keep up with the level of modern smartphones, but it works surprisingly well and is intuitive to use. Just don’t get mud or water on the display, as that seems to confuse it, going back and forth until you wipe it clean. It’s best to lock the display before you ride to prevent that from happening. The display provides an immense wealth of beautifully displayed metrics such as the battery level percentage, distance travelled, altitude difference and the current time. There is a large GPS map too, and you can record your rides thanks to the GPS antenna that Forestal have disguised as a stem spacer, which doubles as anti-theft protection – cool!

To use many of these features, you’ll need to connect your bike to the Forestal app. It provides additional information about the motor, battery, and your activities. You can also see the location of your bike and get in touch with Forestal. No other bike on test can match the extensive functions of the Forestal system.

Like the others, the remote can be found on the left-hand side of the handlebar, where you’ll also find an additional battery indicator in 25 % increments. The remote has two buttons to shift between support modes, and a third button to switch the bike on or off, or activate walk mode. Unfortunately, the rubber buttons provide zero haptic feedback, and the cheap-looking remote seems misplaced on the otherwise premium looking Forestal.

On the trail, the BAFANG system offers four different levels of support and a walk mode. However, the BAFANG turns out to be the loudest motor on test, almost whistling like a turbo when put under strain. But it also offers the most assistance, engaging quite aggressively when pulling away. However, the assistance provided is heavily dependent on the cadence. The motor can’t unleash its full power at cadences below 60 rpm or above 100 rpm. Fortunately, the display shows you your cadence, which takes out the guesswork and helps you stay in the optimal range. Within that range, the motor pushes you along even when the climbs get technical, though you get the feeling that the motor’s output gradually lessens the longer the climb and you have to keep adding more input of your own to make it to the summit. The duration that the motor keeps assisting after you stop pedalling is dynamic. This means that the harder you pedal, the longer the delay. Although this results in natural feeling assistance, it can be a hindrance on technical climbs, as you often need the motor to keep pushing even if you’ve only put in a light pedal stroke. The motor is silent on the descents and there’s enough free movement in the cranks to avoid any unwanted thrust. We didn’t run into any problems with the BAFANG system, but the after sales service could be an issue considering the very small production run and the wealth of custom solutions. It also has a very high battery consumption, draining the battery noticeably simply from being switched on.

It comes as no surprise that we weren’t crazy about the idea of testing 8 Light-eMTBs in January, sliding around in the freezing mud of the German winter. To make matters worse, we did it while conducting the biggest E-MOUNTAINBIKE group test of all time, putting 30 eMTBs head to head. This allowed us to make direct comparisons between all the relevant systems, gaining a lot of insights we wouldn’t have otherwise. Due to the different target group and requirements of ENDURO’s readers, we then took the 8 Light-eMTBs out of the test field and reviewed them separately.

Fortunately, it all took place in the sunny south. The still relatively unknown Spanish town of Santa Coloma de Farners – which is about an hour’s drive east of Barcelona – offered the perfect location to put the bikes through their paces with its huge trail centre, and sandy and rocky trails. We successfully dodged the two rainy days – the average January rainfall – and had dry trails throughout. Our test track, a combination of “Dragon Khan” and “La Llosa”, was peppered with sandpaper-like rock slabs, roots, flowing berms, and loose, sandy corners. The climb to the trailhead had a bit of everything from wide gravel roads with huge potholes which, if you accidentally hit one of them, would almost catapult you off the bike, to technical sections that the bikes only just got up. So, if you feel like going somewhere other than Italy for a change and are looking for fine trails without shuttles, you will find everything your heart desires at Santa Coloma de Farners. If that’s not enough, there are two bike parks just a stone’s throw away, and the ticket is cheaper than a shuttle day in Finale ;).

Things that went wrong during our tests:

• 1 derailleur hanger got torn off
• 1 chain broke
• 3 tires got punctured
• 1 Shimano brake lever broke
• 3 FAZUA bikes had difficulties starting up
• 1 FAZUA bike was defective
• 1 TQ display failed
• 1 skid plate broke

Our test crew had:

• 7 near death experiences
• 6 kg Clif Bars

The Light-eMTBs on test:

• 8 bikes in the test field
• € 12.394 average price
• that would be 688 crates of our favourite regional beer (Wulle)
• € 15.999: the most expensive bike on test, the SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL
• € 8.499: the most affordable bike on test, the FOCUS JAM² SL 9.9
• all bikes roll on 29″ wheels
• the bikes weigh 18,6 kg on average
• the lightest bike weighs 16,0 kg and is the most expensive bike
• the heaviest bike weighs 19,4 kg and is the most affordable bike
• the smallest battery is 360 Wh
• the biggest battery is 540 Wh

What should you look for when buying a Light-eMTB?

Before you pillage your bank account to call yourself the proud owner of a Light-eMTB only to realise that you made the wrong choice, you should ask yourself a few essential questions. Most bikes can only live up to their full potential if they’re used as intended and, by extension, you will only be happy if you find a bike that suits you and your riding style.

It all boils down to overall concept

Many ebike buyers want to know which is the right or best motor, but it’s like the 29” vs 27.5” wheel size debate (just slightly more complex): the best motor is only as good as the eMTB it’s installed in. Conversely, the eMTB is only as good as the way the motor supports and complements the character of the bike. Compared to analogue mountain bikes, this makes matters much more complex, because there are more factors – like the integration of the battery and motor, and the weight distribution of heavy components – that must work in harmony to offer a coherent package with characteristics that seem contradictory.

New possibilities – even enduro riders eventually get old

Exhausted after a long day at work? Pressed for time? Riding with your buddies on the weekend, but they’re all on eMTBs? Or want to take your kids for a ride in the trailer without giving up on the first climb? The latest generation of Light-eMTBs can be the answer while still offering full-on trail fun without sacrificing performance.

Note: Light-eMTBs don’t necessarily have less range!

Just because Light-eMTBs typically have a smaller battery doesn’t mean that they have less range than full power eMTBs. You must always consider the battery capacity in relation to the power of the motor, i.e. its consumption. You may get just as far or even further, though with less support, so it’ll take longer or more effort on your part.

What to ask before buying a Light-eMTB

Do I tend to ride in a group with analogue mountain bikes? Then pretty much every Light-eMTB or motor system is suitable for you because you can always go slower. In most cases, the eco mode can also be individually configured and you can adjust the amount of support according to your needs, or you can turn off the support entirely. The range shouldn’t be a limiting factor either when using minimal support and if you have extremely fit colleagues, most Light-eMTBs have the option of a range extender. From our experience, you should easily keep up in the lowest and medium support modes and still have enough reserves for the occasional overtaking manoeuvre.

Do I tend to ride in a group with full-power eMTBs? If you regularly go riding in the company of full-power eMTBs, then the power, i.e. torque output of your motor power will be a decisive factor for you. You don’t want to be the one holding everyone up! Roughly speaking, the highest support mode of a Light-eMTB corresponds to about the middle support mode of a full-power ebike, and so there isn’t much you can do if your buddies decide to shift up a gear. However, if they stay in the lowest mode, you shouldn’t have any problems keeping up, even with bikes that rely on a TQ system. But remember: more power also consumes more battery. That said, the Orbea Rise has a battery capacity of 792 Wh with the range extender, which is more than most full-power eMTBs. In this case, your buddies are more likely to get range anxiety, even if you might have to put in a little more physical effort.

How much effort do you want to put in? If you want the feeling of simply being pushed up the mountain that you get with an eMTB, a Light-eMTB is not what you’re looking for. Nevertheless, there are Light-eMTB motor systems that will get you to the summit in a more relaxed manner than others, though it’s not something that everyone wants. The TQ HPR 50 can generate just 50 Nm of torque and it requires a fairly high cadence to do so. It is more strenuous, but it also helps you stay fit without having to torment yourself up the steep sections. If you’re looking for a Light-eMTB yet want to exert yourself as little as possible, the systems from Shimano, FAZUA or BAFANG are the better option.

How much battery capacity do you really need? If you usually only ride short laps with minimal support, large batteries only mean extra weight, which usually comes at the cost of trail performance. Furthermore, lightweight riders consume significantly less battery, and the topography of the trail also has a major influence on range. On the other hand, if you love nothing more than gaining altitude or riding long distances, you’ll probably do well with a big battery capacity. Tackling technical climbs or using a high support mode naturally drains the battery quite a lot quicker. Fortunately, most manufacturers already offer range extenders, or at least have one in the development pipeline. That allows you to adjust your capacity depending on the planned route. Removable batteries, such as those found on the FOCUS or Trek are an option, too. You’ll just have to budget for the cost of a spare battery, and go back to the car to switch out batteries.

What additional features should your Light-eMTB have? The possibilities are endless as most manufacturers offer countless options for displays, remotes, or additional accessories at the time of purchase. But what do you really need? What is helpful and what is simply unnecessary? The good thing is that you can retrofit most accessories at a later stage and there is a constant stream of software updates and extensions entering the market. Before buying, however, you should still have an idea of what you want from your display, whether you need a navigation function, or if a flashing LED is sufficient. An integrated light or GPS tracker doesn’t hurt and doesn’t limit the bike’s performance on the trail, it just keeps you and your bike a whole lot safer, regardless of whether that’s on your daily commute to and from work or during a post-ride beer on the Ligurian coast. So, when buying, be aware of what you need or might want to retrofit in the future and find out about compatible options.

What should you consider when handling a Light-eMTB? The development of Light-eMTBs often goes hand in hand with certain compromises to make the bike as light, clean and slender as possible. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it can make things tricky for you depending on the situation. For example, if you don’t have a power outlet where you park your bike, you’ll want to be able to remove the battery for charging. Otherwise, you’ll need to park your bike in your living room or next to your desk at work to keep it charged. Conversely, it’s annoying if you must remove the battery after each ride to charge it even though you’ve got a power outlet right there. The trend of routing the cables through the headset creates a clean look, but also makes servicing the bike a whole lot more frustrating. If you’re an inexperienced or impatient mechanic, you should get a bike with classic internal cable routing with ports in the top or down tube, or good old external cables.

What should you consider regarding the components of a Light-eMTB? There’s no such thing as the perfect, one-size-fits-all build, but some components have a much greater influence on your bike’s performance on the trail and above all on your safety. The added weight of large brake rotors is negligible, and they improve the reliability and power of your brakes enormously. In this instance, the following applies: better to go for big brake rotors than top-of-the-range brakes intended to save weight. The suspension has a huge influence on your bike’s performance on the trail, on long-distance comfort, and climbing efficiency. You don’t need the golden Kashima coating, but you should pay attention to the damping technology used. We recommend the GRIP2 damper for FOX forks, or the Charger 2.1 or Charger 3.0 damper for RockShox models. With the shock, a piggy-back reservoir is a useful feature to get the best performance from the rear end. At the risk of repeating ourselves, we must emphasise that any component can only work as well as it does in combination with the bike as a whole.

The latest generation of Light-eMTBs ticks many of the right boxes, benefiting from the expertise gained by bike and motor manufacturers through the development of full-power ebikes. Our group test also shows that the same motor systems can be integrated into a bike in very different ways. And while the motor system is an important component, it’s ultimately up to the bike manufacturers to define the intended use and character of the bike, despite having almost identical key metrics – the differences are huge! Considering the status quo, it’s clear that the new systems from TQ and especially FAZUA still have bugs to iron out, especially on the software side, with over half of the test field struggling with motor related problems at some point during the test. For the end user, that means paying a fortune for a bike that might not work as it should. It’s a common early adopter problem! Fortunately, we live in a time when you can easily solve problems via software updates. For a better overview, we’ve made a list of all the bikes on test and their characteristics below.

The Forestal Siryon Diode could be considered the most futuristic Light-eMTB on test. The Andorran start-up have tackled a mammoth project for their first bike, demonstrating a level of development that you don’t even see from the world’s biggest bike brands. Chapeau! They’ve shown what the future of ebikes can hold. A touch display, which was developed entirely in-house and is beautifully integrated into the top tube; an app with an extensive range of functions including theft protection via a hidden GPS antenna in the stem spacer; and a motor that Forestal played a large role in developing. Moreover, the Siryon is a force to be reckoned with on the trail – it’s one of the most capable bikes on test. Unfortunately, it also had an extremely high battery consumption, the loudest motor on test, and we’ve got a lot of unanswered questions when it comes to the after sales service.

German ebike pioneers Haibike have kept us waiting for a Light-eMTB and they weren’t all that present in the more aggressive mountain bike sector, yet they have made a great Light-eMTB debut with their Haibike LYKE CF SE , featuring some clever solutions. They’re the only brand to tilt the FAZUA Ride 60 motor upright in the bike and thus hide it in the seat tube. However, this also comes at the cost of insertion depth for the seat post. While the LYKE looks very aggressive at first glance, its trail performance doesn’t match. Compared to the competition, it’s difficult to control on technical trails and quickly feels overwhelmed.

With its black finish, the FOCUS JAM ² SL 9.9 doesn’t just look inconspicuous, but also offers unspectacular handling. But this is by no means a bad thing as the JAM² SL is a predictable all-rounder that combines comfortable touring characteristics with strong trail capabilities. The solid spec, good suspension, and super easy handling make it an excellent weapon of choice for beginners and experts alike – and that at the most affordable price point. However, always having to remove the battery for charging is annoying.

The Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01 was the first Light-eMTB available to consumers featuring the FAZUA Ride 60 motor. It features Pivot’s signature DW-Link rear suspension, making it super efficient up the climbs and poppy on the descents, putting a big grin on your face in flowy terrain. Together with the responsive steering and fast colour, it takes us back to our BMX racing days.

The master of integration, the SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL is powered by the TQ HPR 50 motor. It’s not just the shock that’s hidden in the frame, but you’ll also find countless features and tools in every conceivable nook and cranny. As its looks suggest, the Lumen climbs mountains like nothing else with its cross-country genes, but it turns out to be capable on the descents, too. Nevertheless, priced at € 15,999, the SCOTT will break most bank accounts while catering to a very limited use case.

The € 14,499 Trek Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS is also damn expensive, but it’s much more versatile. The drive unit in the Trek was developed in an exclusive cooperation with TQ and though other manufacturers now rely on the same motor, Trek still have some cool advantages thanks to their own software and app. For one, the display is more intuitive to use, and you’ve got a wider range of functions via the in-house app. The Trek is capable of handling pretty much everything on the trail, but it’s not a master at anything, rolling along inconspicuously and with beginner-friendly handling.

The best Light-eMTB 2023: The SIMPLON Rapcon PMAX TQ

Winner genes? Indeed! Its analogue counterpart – on which the SIMPLON Rapcon PMAX TQ is based – already won the title of the best enduro bike two years ago. Now the Austrian brand have neatly integrated the TQ motor into the frame, piecing together a damn good overall package. The bike’s character suits the motor to a tee and despite its low power output, the Rapcon can pull away from most of the competition thanks to its efficient rear suspension. The SIMPLON lets you blast down the descents and instils you with the confidence to keep pushing with its super easy handling, incredible composure, and unmatched suspension. Without question, the best Light-eMTB of 2023!

Our Best Buy: The Orbea Rise M-LTD

Thanks to the extensive online configurator, the new Orbea Rise M-LTD can be tailored to your needs both in terms of looks and components. You can even choose between a 360 Wh and 540 Wh internal battery. In combination with the optional range extender, the Rise has a bigger battery capacity than many full-power eMTBs. Speaking of full-power: Orbea throttle the integrated Shimano EP801 at 60 Nm, thus increasing your range further still. Despite that, it turns out to be the best climber on the trail and doesn’t have to hide on the descents either, thanks to its intuitive and good-natured handling. Our Best Buy!

Some bikes and accessories are true designer pieces and too beautiful to be left in the cellar. That’s why you should take a look at the article on bikes in the home in our sister magazine DOWNTOWN. We show you how you can beautifully display your favorite bike/accessory in your home.

All bikes in test: Focus Jam² SL 9.9 2023 (Click for review) | Forestal Siryon Diode (Click for review) | Haibike LYKE CF SE (Click for review) | Orbea Rise M-LTD (Click for review) | Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01(Click for review) | SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL (Click for review) | SIMPLON Rapcon Pmax TQ (Click for review) | Trek Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS (Click for review)

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Words: Peter Walker Photos: Peter Walker, Mike Hunger

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About the author.

Peter Walker

As editor-in-chief, Peter is as much a man of action as he is of words. This expert, screw-driver-flexing two wheeled-whizz has many envy-inducing characteristics, including a background in motocross, several EWS race plates to his name, and more than 150 recorded days at Whistler Bike Park. However complex the bike and however steep the trail, he’s probably already nailed it, twice. Oh, and he can do it all on skinny tyres too. When it comes to guiding consumers, Peter cut his teeth at Vancouver’s oldest bike shop and now puts pen to paper on the daily translating this know-how into our editorial plan. When not tearing up Stuttgart’s local trails while testing bikes, he loves nothing more than loading up his self-renovated VW T5 and hitting the road. The fact that he’s a trained paramedic gives his colleagues reassurance out on the trails. So far we haven’t had to call him by his alias ‘Sani Peter’, so here’s hoping he keeps it right side up for the rest of his time here!

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