The world of eMTBs is constantly evolving with new technology often arriving in this sector first. This can make identifying the best electric mountain bikes difficult. From hardtails to full-suspension, electric mountain bikes are great for all kinds of terrain and riding, from the towpath to the wild trails atop moors and mountains. If you’re not sure an electric mountain bike is the right bike for you, read our guide to the best electric bikes for a look at some alternatives.
Mid-drive motors are prominent in electric mountain bikes these days, as they provide superior balance and power transfer compared to hub driven bikes. They’re also great for inspiring confidence on tricky ascents as you can ramp up the power to get over your obstacles more easily.
Although top-end of eMTBs can be eye-wateringly expensive, you can still find a great bike for a couple of thousand pounds. Just decide what you want to use the bike for. It’s the same as an unassisted mountain bike. Do you want something to thrash around on jumps and bike parks, or perhaps something more heavy duty like a downhill rig?
Best electric mountain bikes 2022
- Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance 500 - best electric hybrid mountain bike | £2,499 from Take Charge Bikes
- Riese & Muller Superdelite Mountain Rohloff - best eMTB tourer | £7,999 from Electric Bike Sales
- Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp - best lightweight electric mountain bike | £6,000 from Sigma Sports
- Vitus E-Sommet VRX - best enduro electric mountain bike | £4,949 from Chain Reaction
- Canyon Grand Canyon:ON - best electric hardtail | Buy now for £3,499 from Canyon
- Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 HPC - best value full-suspension electric mountain bike | £5,299 from Wheelbase
- Specialized Kenevo Expert - best electric all-mountain bike | £8,750 from Tredz
- Whyte E-160 - best Bosch smart system equipped eMTB | £7,999 from Leisure Lakes Bikes
1. Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance 500 - £2,499 (best electric hybrid mountain bike)
Described by our reviewer Richard as a “great value all round trail bike with commuting potential,” the Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance 500 is a versatile hardtail aimed at leisure and commuter riders.
We’ve classed it as a more leisure eMTB because of the nine-speed gearing and modest coil-sprung fork travel (100mm). That’s not to say it’s not capable off-road, but you’re unlikely to find it ideal for long excursions in the wilderness.
It handled our test rides along the Pennines and the Cinder Track rail path well, with the Bosch Performance Line mid-drive motor impressing Richard with its performance and range, with 40-50 miles happily within the battery’s budget.
For more detail, read our review of the Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance 500 (2021).
2. Riese & Muller Superdelite Mountain Rohloff - £9,339 (best e-MTB tourer)
While it may be rather costly, the Riese & Muller Superdelite Mountain Rohloff is among the best electric mountain bikes for several reasons. The reason it’s a ‘Superdelite’ is the inclusion of twin batteries with a combined capacity of 1,125Wh which make it ideal for longer rides and touring.
While this, the Bosch Performance Line CX motor and full-suspension means it tips the scale at over 28kg, it still promises to be capable when the trails get technical, as reviewer Richard found out when he tested it across some challenging terrain.
“During my test rides around the South Pennines – the area of that hill range with the steepest gradients of all – the Superdelite Mountain ate up every incline put in front of it, no matter how steep or difficult. The climbs were mainly of the broad but very bouldery variety, with rock steps and certainly plenty of serious gradients.”
For more detail, read our review of the Riese & Muller Superdelite Mountain Rohloff.
3. Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp - £7,100 (best lightweight electric mountain bike)
The Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp is part of a new breed of electric mountain bikes. Lightweight, but uncompromising on performance and design, it uses the Specialized SL 1.1 motor, and comes with a fully integrated 320Wh battery. While it might not provide as much torque as a Bosch Performance Line motor, (35Nm versus 80Nm), the purpose of this bike isn’t just to power you along the trail.
Instead, as reviewer Rachael describes, it’s “a total ride extender”. Ideal for those who want a more natural feeling of assist rather than a blunt kick up the backside, the Levo SL Comp is a perfect transition into the world of eMTBs for those who aren’t completely sold on the idea of motorised assistance on the trails.
For more detail, read our Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp Carbon review.
4. 2022 Vitus E-Sommet VRX - £5,500 (best enduro electric mountain bike)
Described by Liam from our sister site, off-road.cc, as, “a heavy hitting enduro e-bike,” its spec and overall performance is hard to beat – particularly for the price. It’s confident even on the most technical terrain, and the geometry favours the descents, making it a highly capable enduro bike.
The VRX is the range topper from Vitus, and uses a Shimano EP8 motor and 630Wh battery hidden in the downtube. That’s plenty of miles in the bag for long days in the saddle and laps of the bike park. The full spec is impressive, with a Shimano XT 12-speed drivetrain and 4-pot hydraulic brakes with 203mm rotors, meaning you can be confident even on muddy days.
For more detail, read our 2022 Vitus E-Sommet VRX review.
5. Canyon Grand Canyon:ON AL 9.0 - £3,500 (best electric hardtail)
Hardtails should be agile, playful and fun to ride, and electric versions are no different. The Grand Canyon:ON from Canyon ticks all the boxes, with a great spec and price to boot. The spec has changed slightly since we reviewed the 2020 version. You now get the updated Shimano Steps EP8 motor and a Shimano Deore 12-speed drivetrain to boot.
Reviewer Jon summed up his feelings on the bike nicely. “If you're after a versatile e-bike that's more than capable of hitting dirt trails as well as being used for all manner of other activities, then Grand Canyon:ON AL 9.0 is a very polished package. There's an awful lot to like, with refined handling and an excellent drive unit with very clean integration and well-thought-out kit, along with the usual excellent value for money.”
For more detail, read our Canyon Grand Canyon:ON AL 9.0 2020 review.
6. Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 HPC - £5,299 (best value full-suspension electric mountain bike)
Featuring a top of the line Bosch Performance Line CX motor and a 625Wh battery, the Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 HPC is a high value full-suspension machine. We reviewed it back in 2020, so it’s been subject to a few changes. Namely, the suspension which instead of Fox is now RockShox front and rear (Domain R forks and a Deluxe Select shock).
Nevertheless, it’s still a great value offering from Cube, as reviewer Jon explained. “If you're in the market for a full-size, long travel e-MTB, there's a lot to like about the Cube. It offers very good value considering the kit and quality of the frame and if you can get on with the fairly conservative frame sizing then it delivers a good match of rough trail smashing ability with handling that's still easy to be on top of if you want to thread it through flatter, twistier stuff.”
For more detail, read our Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 HPC Actionteam 625 27.5 2020 review.
7. Specialized Kenevo Expert 6Fattie – £8,750 (best electric all-mountain bike)
With 180mm of travel, the Kenevo Expert was never going to be a bike for flatter terrain. So, if you’re after something that wants to be pointed downwards, and can handle what you throw at it, then this beast is the electric mountain bike for you.
It’s worth noting that our review is of the Expert 6Fattie e-bike, but this particular model is not available anymore. The Kenevo Expert is still around, and still with 180mm of travel, but with an upgrade to a 12-speed SRAM groupset rather than 11-speed, and a Specialized Turbo Full Power System 2.2 Motor compared to the Brose one on our test bike.
For more detail, read our Specialized Kenevo Expert 6Fattie e-bike review.
8. Whyte E-160 RSX - £8,000 (best Bosch smart system equipped eMTB)
The previous iteration of Whyte’s best-selling E-160 has been widely recognised as one of the best electric mountain bikes on the market, and the newer RSX version looks set to attain the same status.
While we haven’t reviewed it fully just yet, you can read our first ride review in the link below. The RSX version comes with the brand new Bosch CX Smart System motor, which comes with a whole host of new updates including a remote. It does, however, come at a hefty price of £8,000, but the spec and performance is hard to beat.
For more detail, read our first ride: Whyte E-160 RSX 29.
How to choose the best electric mountain bike
What is the best electric mountain bike brand?
As the popularity of electric mountain bikes has grown, there’s no one brand that’s ‘the best’ outright. Instead, the technology available now means that plenty of brands have designed and engineered their own styles of electric mountain bikes and which one you prefer will to a great extent be a personal thing. As you can see from our list above, there’s an array of brands delivering high quality eMTBs geared towards various different styles of riding.
What styles of electric mountain bikes are there?
Just like unassisted bikes, there are both electric hardtails and electric full-suspension bikes available. Hardtails have only front suspension (in the forks), and typically have less travel than a full-suspension bike.
Electric full-suspension bikes have suspension forks and also a rear shock that provides suspension to the rear part of the bike’s frame. Hardtails are typically cheaper and easier to maintain, but full-suspension bikes are more capable and can tackle more technical terrain.
What wheel sizes are available on electric mountain bikes?
Similarly to unassisted mountain bikes, electric mountain bikes are usually available with either 27.5” or 29” wheels. On rare occasions there may be 650b wheels, but these are typically reserved for smaller frames.
What motors are used on electric mountain bikes?
The vast majority of electric mountain bikes now use mid-drive motors. These are motors positioned at the cranks and which are far more effective for balance, off-road handling and traction compared to hub-mounted motors.
You can expect a 250W motor but with higher levels of torque than other types of electric bike. The top Bosch motors can produce up to 85Nm of torque, for example. The levels of assist will vary depending on the motor and manufacturer, but for the best experience, look for a motor that provides a natural feeling assist rather than something that surges as this should ensure you feel in control of the bike.
Explore the complete archive of reviews of electric mountain bikes on off.road.cc and ebiketips.
