If you’re in the market for a new mountain bike, there’s a burning question you should be asking yourself – what about an electric mountain bike?
The eMTB market is growing exponentially and it’s now common to find brands offering an e-powered equivalent of every pedal-powered MTB in their line-up.
With such a huge range of eMTBs available, you don’t have to compromise on factors such as wheel size, suspension travel or frame geometry. Chances are, once you’ve settled on a shortlist of criteria, you’ll find an equal number of MTBs and eMTBs that fit the bill.
But how do you go about choosing whether or not an eMTB is best for you? What are the fundamental differences, and how do the pros and cons stack up?
In this article, we answer these questions and more.
eMTBs vs MTBs: the fundamental differences
Pedal power vs motor power
The obvious difference between an electric mountain bike and a pedal-powered MTB is the eMTB has a motor and battery to power you up the climbs, while the latter relies solely on the power of your legs.
Now, it’s true that even a full-power eMTB won’t get you up the hill without any rider input. But with the best eMTB motors putting out 70-100 Nm of torque, it’s unrefutable that ebikes enable you to ride further and quicker (until they run out of battery).
The range and speed uphill of a non-assisted mountain bike are entirely dependent on your fitness as a rider.
Ride feel on the trail
Motors and batteries are often heavy, so the second fundamental difference between eMTBs and MTBs is their weight.
While lightweight eMTBs are closing the gap, there’s still a noticeable difference in heft between the two categories of mountain bikes.
The extra weight carried by electric mountain bikes makes itself known in different ways, depending on the terrain.
Uphill, a pedal-powered bike feels lighter, making it more nimble and manoeuvrable.
The ebike, despite weighing more, will fly up the climbs thanks to its motor. But on tight and technical climbs, all that power and weight can make for cumbersome handling.
On the descents, the lower weight of non-assisted mountain bikes means they feel more playful and agile, rewarding an active riding style. This makes MTBs less tiring on long descents.
The additional weight of an eMTB can be a blessing or a curse on the descents, depending on the rider, trail and conditions.
On some trails, the extra weight, which is concentrated around the bottom bracket, helps the bike to feel planted and stable. This isn’t always the case, though, and some riders struggle to manage the extra weight, especially on steep terrain.
MTB vs eMTB – pros and cons
Before diving into the specifics, it’s worth considering the overarching pros and cons of mountain bikes and eMTBs.
eMTB pros and cons
Pros
- Electric mountain bikes give you the power to ride further, faster
- They enable you to enjoy mountain biking, whatever your fitness level
- Despite their motor, eMTBs still provide a great workout
Cons
- eMTBs are heavier than their non-motorised counterparts
- The extra complexity and maintenance that comes with the motor, battery and electronics can be off-putting and expensive to repair
- Your range is limited by your battery capacity
Non-assisted MTB pros and cons
Pros
- MTBs are lighter, benefitting from optimal handling on the descents.
- The lack of a motor and battery means mountain bikes are easier to maintain and fix.
- You determine your range, so you don’t need to worry about running out of battery.
Cons
- Riding an MTB can be challenging and requires a good level of fitness, which can be a barrier for riders with medical conditions or injuries
- If you plan on riding multiple days in a row, there’s no motor to make up for tired legs
- Unless you train like a pro racer, you simply won’t be able to ride as many laps in your lunch break as you would on an eMTB
Are electric mountain bikes worth it?
If you are sold on the benefits of riding an electric mountain bike but worried about the added weight and maintenance, we would still say that with a bit of research, you’ll find an eMTB that’s certainly worth the potential drawbacks.
By spending some time researching which motor and ebike battery capacity best fit your needs, you’ll be able to find a balance between weight, power and range for your riding.
Some of the potential performance shortcomings can also be addressed by spec choices. Powerful brakes and grippy tyres are strongly recommended. These boost braking power and traction, helping to make the extra weight of the bike more manageable on the descents.
Can I convert my MTB to an eMTB?
Electric bike conversion kits enable you to convert your pedal-powered bike into an ebike by fitting an aftermarket motor and battery.
These kits often come in the shape of a wheel with a hub motor, which replaces the front wheel of your bike, that draws on a handlebar or frame-mounted battery. Other types include rear-mounted friction drive motors and mid-drive motors.
While these kits can work on bikes used for city or cycle-path riding, they aren’t recommended for off-road use.
Ebike conversion kits add a lot of weight to undesirable areas of the bike, such as the front or rear wheel, and affect the handling of a mountain bike on technical terrain. Additionally, the power and range provided by these types of aftermarket kits can’t compete with those of specialised eMTBs.
The forces exuded by such conversion kits can also be quite significant and beyond the limits to which pedal-powered mountain bikes are rated. Therefore, bolting a conversion kit to your mountain bike could void your manufacturer's warranty.
So, should I get an eMTB or MTB?
If you’re still unsure whether you should get an eMTB or MTB, there are a few other factors to consider.
The first thing to ask yourself is what are your friends riding? If all of your riding mates are already using ebikes, you’ll soon be frustrated trying to keep up on a non-assisted bike.
Likewise, if your friends pedal non-assisted bikes and you turn up to a weekend ride on an eMTB in Boost mode, you’ll leave them all behind on the climbs and likely won’t be very popular.
If you need extra assistance to keep up with your mates on the climbs, or are recovering from an injury or medical condition, eMTBs can help take the strain off your body while still enabling you to get out and enjoy the trails.
You may find a lightweight eMTB is the perfect option. The natural ride feel and unobtrusive motors of the best lightweight eMTBs make them a great choice for mingling with non-assisted bikes. Their lower overall weight means they handle very similar to MTBs on descents, too.
Another question to ask yourself is what do you ride for? If your draw to mountain biking comes from improving your fitness and technical abilities, a non-assisted mountain bike is the most versatile option and will give you the biggest workout.
However, if you’re a seasoned rider who simply wants to get the most descending out of a two-hour ride, you can’t beat the ability of an ebike to power up the hill for lap after lap.
