Stilus E-Big Mountain review

Trying to break into the electric bike market is no easy feat, especially with all of the major, and many of the smaller, brands offering ebikes. However, if you’ve got French retail giant Decathlon behind you, things might be a bit easier.

So, how does Decathlon’s £4,999 Stilus E-Big Mountain 170mm-travel enduro eMTB – with a complement of branded parts – compare to the best electric mountain bikes?

I put this mixed-wheeled heavyweight to the test and was impressed by most of its traits.

It’s powered by Bosch’s CX Performance Line motor, uses Marzocchi coil suspension, and gets SRAM gears and brakes, plus a Renthal cockpit.

This electric mountain bike is a bump-swallowing machine. Yet it surprised me with handling that defies its 27.4kg heft, thanks to modern geometry such as its 64-degree head tube angle and 450mm reach (size medium). It thrives on the downs, but it’s powerful and comfortable on any climb.

The worst thing about this bike is lifting it in and out of the van.

Stilus E-Big Mountain frame, suspension and motor

The industrial-looking frame is built using 6061 alloy, with straight and well-placed tubes giving the bike a clean, simple and smart aesthetic.

The 170mm of rear travel comes via a tried and tested 4-bar Horst-link suspension platform, where the seatstay drives the shock. It's a similar approach to proven eMTBs such as the YT Decoy and Canyon Strive:ON.

The frame features plenty of modern features, including internal cable routing threaded through the headset – as is becoming the industry norm. There’s a mount for a bottle cage inside the front triangle, Boost hub spacing and modest frame protection.

For the £5,000 price, it’s impressive to see Bosch’s Performance Line CX Gen 4 motor fitted. That pumps out 85Nm torque and a maximum of 600W power (250W continuous).

The 750Wh battery is integrated into the down tube and is removable with a key. Stilus provides Bosch’s chunkier Kiox 300 display and remote.

Stilus E-Big Mountain geometry

There are only three frame sizes available – medium, large and extra-large – but the geometry is modern and capable for the bike’s intended electric enduro use.

My medium-sized test bike features a sensible 450mm reach and stable 445mm chainstays, which is on a par with rivals at the pointy end of the price pyramid. The large and extra-large sizes feature a 475mm and 500mm reach, respectively.

The E-Big Mountain has a a 64-degree head tube angle. The effective seat tube angle is a touch slack at 75 degrees, but the seat tube is nice and short at 420mm.

Stilus E-Big Mountain spec

The complete bike is specced with mostly branded parts, which is great to see.

There’s a 170mm-travel Marzocchi Bomber Z1 coil fork and Marzocchi Bomber CR shock, which are capable units.

The bike features a SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain with a 10-50t cassette. It also gets SRAM Code R brakes with a burly 220mm front and 200mm rear rotor.

The cockpit features a Renthal Fatbar 35 handlebar and Apex 35 stem.

It rolls on 35mm-wide Sun Ringle Düroc SD 37 wheels with a 29in front and 27.5in rear.

These are wrapped in chunky two-ply 120 TPI Enduro-casing 2.6in Vittoria e-Mazza tyres.

The spec is let down by the short 125mm X YSP18QL seatpost that’s too short for the bike's descending priority.

All of this comes in at a hefty 27.4kg.

Stilus E-Big Mountain ride impressions

Its coil suspension was well suited to my 75kg weight on the medium test bike. The shock uses a 400lb spring, which gave me around 2 per cent sag. I ran the compression open from its three positions.

The rebound dial made it difficult to notice the indexing to count clicks. Therefore, I set the rebound to feel, which was about three full rotations out of five.

The Z1 Bomber Coil fork came with a medium spring, which balanced the suspension well. I unwound the preload and set the compression to open from its sweep dial. Rebound was set to 15 clicks from closed out of 23.

I ran the tyre pressures at 23psi in the rear and 21psi in the front, which helped balance comfort, support and grip.

I tested the bike around South Wales' off–piste trails and the Forest of Dean’s bike-park and hand-cut trails.

This provided a varied mix of slow, steep and technical trails, along with smooth and flowing lines.

Stilus E-Big Mountain climbing impressions

The Stilus E-Big Mountain is a lot of bike. It does a lot of things incredibly well, while it struggles in other places. Thereore, it’s not going to be everyone's cup of tea.

When it comes to climbing, the Stilus performs admirably well for an enduro eMTB. Even with its slacker 75-degree effective seat tube angle, I found myself sitting comfortably for extended climbs and forward enough over the bottom bracket for an efficient pedal stroke.

The riding posture enabled me to tackle steep inclines without straining forwards excessively or needing to shift my weight.

Loading the front wheel to maintain traction on steep climbs is intuitive and doesn't require significant effort, ensuring the front wheel tracks precisely where you want it to go.

The powerful Bosch motor grinds effortlessly up most hills. The motor's assistance, combined with the grippy rear tyre and well-proportioned chainstays, provides ample traction, even on loose or uneven surfaces.

With its 750Wh battery and Bosch motor, the Stilus offers a competitive range. I managed rides of more than 30km with 1,250 metres of climbing in eMTB mode, draining the battery to 20 per cent.

The bike's rear suspension, equipped with the Marzocchi Bomber CR shock, delivers a stable enough pedalling platform. The absence of a climb switch on the shock is a non-issue, because the rear end remains composed and supportive during climbs, especially with the motor's help.

The Stilus handles a variety of climbs with ease. On steep and rough climbs, the bike maintains impressive grip and stability, enabling you to navigate technical sections confidently.

Smooth climbs are handled effortlessly, with the bike's geometry and motor providing a comfortable and efficient ride.

Stilus E-Big Mountain descending performance

The Stilus is a tool designed for winch-and-plummet riders. It excels in gravity-fuelled rough terrain. All-round versatility isn’t the bike's strong suit, but considering it's a 170mm-travel enduro eMTB, it shouldn't be.

On flow trails, the bike's weight becomes a significant factor once you exceed the motor's speed limit. I needed to exert considerable effort to maintain speed without motor assistance.

That task was made more challenging by the bike's supple coil suspension and sticky tyres. While excellent for traction and comfort, these don't help in maintaining momentum on flatter terrain.

However, the Stilus shines on gravity-fuelled trails. Here, the bike transforms into a bump-swallowing beast.

The coil suspension is exceptionally smooth and composed, enbling the bike to plough through demanding trails effortlessly. The well-balanced fork and shock provide a stable platform, enhancing confidence as you tackle rough terrain.

Small bumps are virtually erased from your perception, while larger, square-edge hits are absorbed with minimal feedback. That enabled me to hold my line choices easily and concentrate on getting the best from the bike.

That said, thanks to the linear progression of the coil shock, there’s usable support through the bike’s mid–stroke.

That helps keep the E-Big Mountain from feeling wallowy and lethargic. It enabled me to pump when the trail dictated – as can often be the case with an air shock's more supple middle portion of travel.

Even with the coil suspension, the frame kinematics provided enough progression deeper in the travel to hit hard compressions without fear of blowing through to the bottom-out bumper.

It took a few runs to trust the Vittoria tyres were going to support the bike's weight. However, they provided a stable platform and delivered ample grip. Once I became familiar with the Stilus' handling, I was able to place a lot of trust in the bike on plenty of trails.

However, despite its impressive descending capabilities and speed potential, the E-Big Mountain's brakes could use some improvements. Even with large rotors, the Code R brakes don't inspire full confidence on steep, fast descents.

Upgrading to more powerful rotors or brakes, such as SRAM’s HS2 rotors or Shimano’s Deore XT M8120 brakes, would help keep this behemoth under maximum control on the steepest trails.

Additionally, the 125mm dropper post feels inadequate for climbing efficiency and creating ample space for technical downhills. A longer dropper post would be a beneficial upgrade.

Surprisingly, the E-Big Mountain hides its weight well and offers agile handling for its weight class. It finds plenty of grip and can be manoeuvred confidently through corners.

Its stable and predictable ride character helps you commit to leaning the bike into turns. Once you trust that the tyres will give enough support under the bike's weight, it can rail a turn – as long as you slow it down in time.

This makes it a pleasure to ride on suitable trails, where its strengths can be fully appreciated. In the right environment, the Stilus delivers an exceptional riding experience, blending stability, agility and comfort in a package that thrives when gravity is on its side.

I believe the Stilus’ muted feel and weight will be particularly appreciated by riders with a motocross background.

However, it won’t, and shouldn’t, appeal to those who prefer a snappier and more lively ride character.

How does the Stilus E-Big Mountain compare to the Canyon Strive:ON CFR?

If the Stilus is throwing its gloves into the e-enduro ring, it's going to have to go up against the champ – the Canyon Strive:ON CFR. The Canyon is more expensive at £6,699, but you could get the Strive:ON Underdog, which is a fairer price comparison, at £5,499.

The Stilus holds its own considering its newcomer status. It smooths out the bumps more efficiently thanks to its supple coil suspension and hefty weight. However, compared to the Canyon, it's a one-hit wonder and isn’t as versatile.

The Strive:ON is a more agile bike that thrives on ripping corners. Its thoroughbred race geometry means the bike hugs the ground and delivers buckets of traction. The XT brakes also help scrub speed quicker, boosting confidence.

It’s not as plush as the Stilus, but overall feels more serious with a racer's pedigree. Its handling is sharper and more direct, and its taut suspension carries speed well.

That isn’t to say the Stlius is a slouch, far from it. But it takes more physical effort, mental planning and trail reading to get the best from the bike.

Still, nothing except a motocross bike will compete with it along fast, rough straights.

Stilus E-Big Mountain bottom line

The Stilus is an impressive bike for the price. However, its suspension performance and weight pigeonhole it as an enduro bike. It’s not going to suit riders looking for an all-rounder.

The brakes and short dropper post prevent you from getting the best from it, too. But from an unknown brand, it's an impressive introduction to the category.

For riders who want a no-fuss, sturdy eMTB that prioritises suspension and control over agility, it's a good tool for the job.