The enduro e-bike sector is one of the most competitive areas of the e-MTB market. Many manufacturers pour enormous amounts of money in to try and capture the custom of the huge number of enduro e-MTB riders.
Creating the perfect all-rounder isn’t easy though – there are a lot of elements to balance, so the bike can climb as well as it can descend, while also being easy to handle, nimble and robust enough to take some punishment.
Unfortunately, many manufacturers often fall short somewhere while trying to hit that fine balance, but there are some real gems in the mix, too. Here are the rides we think are the best enduro e-MTBs available right now….
Cannondale Moterra Neo Carbon 1
Price: $10,051
Key Facts and Figures:
- Weight: 24.06kg
- Frame: Carbon
- Battery: Bosch PowerTube 625Wh
- Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX (85Nm torque)
- Suspension: RockShox Zeb Ultimate, Charge 2.1 RCS, Debon Air forks, RockShox Deluxe Select+ DebonAir rear (160mm front and rear)
- Wheels: 27.5 or 29 inch WTB Kom Trail i30 TCS wheels
- Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF tyres at front, Maxxis Rekon at rear
- Brakes: Shimano XT 8120 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes
- Drivetrain: 12-speed Shimano XTR
Peaks:
- Handling
- Versatility
- Motor
- Agility
Troughs:
- Weight
Summary:
Cannondale has come out punching with the Moterra Neo Carbon 1. This is the top spec bike in the company’s enduro, Moterra Neo Carbon range. It has our favourite motor and battery pairing, thanks to Bosch, with effortless climbing power in the motor, and a battery that will keep churning out the miles, all day long.
You also have a highly-tuned RockShox suspension, which cushions the blows with ease out on the trails and the Shimano XTR drivetrain and Shimano XT brakes can take on everything you throw at them.
It’s a silky smooth riding experience, with seriously agile handling and responsive braking and shifting. The absolute epitome of an all-rounder, which is adequately prepared for most terrain you put in its way and remains a joy to ride throughout.
Cannondale has also mastered all of these fine features at the lowest price in our best enduro e-MTB list – a real achievement. There’s very little to fault at all, although it can come a little unstuck on the very largest drops, but if you had any more travel you would suffer on the climbs and flats.
You can read our full Moterra Neo Carbon 1 review, here!
Specialized Turbo Levo Pro
Price: $11,999
Key Facts and Figures:
- Weight: 22.06kg
- Frame: Carbon
- Battery: Specialized M3-700Wh
- Motor: Specialized Turbo Full Power 2.2 (90Nm of torque)
- Suspension: Fox 38 Factory forks, Fox Float X2 Factory shocks (160mm front, 150mm rear)
- Wheels: Traverse carbon (29inch front, 27.5inch rear)
- Tyres: Butcher Grid Trail front, Eliminator Grid Trail rear
- Brakes: 200mm SRAM Code RSC, 4 piston caliper, hydraulic disc brakes
- Drivetrain: SRAM XG-1295 Eagle 12 speed cassette & SRAM X01 Eagle rear derailleur and shift levers
Peaks:
- Battery range
- Adjustable geometry
- Handling
- Suspension
- Brakes
- Power
Troughs:
- Tyres
- Price
Summary:
The Turbo Levo Pro is an incredibly well balanced electric enduro bike, offering endless amounts of fun thanks to its responsive handling and lightweight carbon frame. Despite its lightweight nature, you aren’t losing out in the power department – it comes with a seriously punchy custom motor, which has enough juice to throw you up the steepest climbs.
It scampers up hills and feels solid downhill too, with the Fox suspension set-up offering enough give to soak up some big impacts and drops, while also not feeling too bouncy, so you don’t lose ground going back up the other side.
The Turbo Levo Pro has a decent amount of range, with the battery offering up rides of over 50km during our review spins, with a chunky amount of climbing and still plenty left in the tank.
It also has high-spec components throughout, with top tier SRAM brakes and a drivetrain to match. It excels at being ridden hard and fast, with superb handling and an adjustable geometry, which makes twisting, turning and weaving through the trees a doddle.
ℹ️ It’s a nearly perfect enduro e-bike, but we have qualms with the tyre set-up – we don’t think they’re robust enough to soak up the aggressive riding the rest of the bike is prepared to take.
They’re prone to puncture issues, which is a let down in our opinion, but easily rectifiable for future incarnations of this beautiful bike.
You can check out our full Turbo Levo Pro review, here (the bike is also available in a higher spec, but more expensive, S-Works version & 3 other lower spec models).
Trek Rail 9.9 XX1 AXS Gen 3
Price: $13,499
Key Facts and Figures:
- Weight: 22.54kg
- Frame: OCLV Carbon
- Battery: Bosch PowerTube 750Wh
- Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX (85Nm of torque)
- Suspension: RockShox ZEB Ultimate, AirWiz, DebonAir spring forks, RockShox Super Deluxe Thru Shaft, Air Wiz, shocks (160mm front, 150mm rear)
- Wheels: Bontrager Line Pro 30 OCLV Mountain Carbon (29 inch front a rear)
- Tyres: Bontrager SE6 Team Issue
- Brakes: SRAM Code RSC hydraulic disc brakes
- Drivetrain: 12-speed SRAM Eagle XG-1299 cassette, SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS rear derailleur
Peaks:
- Battery range
- Motor power
- Display
- Suspension
- Adjustable geometry
- Brakes
Troughs:
- Price
- Battery rattle
Summary:
The Rail 9.9 XX1 AXS Gen 3 is without a doubt one of the best enduro e-MTBs out there, absolutely draped in high-spec components from top to bottom.
It’s kitted out with one of the best motors available, with the Bosch Performance Line CX offering an unrivalled riding experience – providing both immense power and a dreamy natural riding feel.
The Bosch PowerTube battery offers all day long riding range, without adding a tonne of weight on to the bike and it handles majestically, with a plush suspension to take endless lumps, bumps and drops.
The Rail 9.9 XX1 AXS Gen 3’s customisable geometry means you can tailor your ride to the needs of your body and the day’s riding, cementing its position up there among the best enduro e-MTBs.
ℹ️ Trek is at the very top of its game with this one, but we do find the price pretty excruciating (although there aren’t many areas you can pull the bike up for). The battery rattles a bit in the downtube, but that’s an easy fix for Trek if the manufacturer can sort out a more secure casing.
This one certainly deserves a place on our electric enduro top 5 list.
You can read our full Rail 9.9 XX1 AXS Gen 3 review, here (it also comes in multiple other lower spec versions).
Pivot Shuttle Team XTR
Price: $11,899
Key Facts and Figures:
- Weight: 22kg
- Frame: Carbon
- Battery: Custom Shuttle 726Wh battery
- Motor: Shimano EP8
- Suspension: Fox Factory forks, Fox Float X rear shocks (160mm front, 140mm rear)
- Wheels: 29in DT Swiss EB 1535
- Tyres: Maxxis Assegai DHF front, Maxxis Minion DHRII rear
- Brakes: Shimano XTR M9120 4-piston brakes
- Drivetrain: 12 speed Shimano XTR
Peaks:
- Light
- Brakes
- Drive train
- Handling
Troughs:
- Motor display
Summary:
Pivot has created a serious contender for the best enduro e-MTB title with the Shuttle Team XTR. Not only has Pivot undercut some of the other leaders in the field, but the manufacturer has done so by creating a wonderfully versatile, fun and powerful e-MTB, one which rivals the best out there.
It’s light at 22kg and has an aggressive geometry that’s made for full-gas riding, with super responsive handling, which makes light-work of the most challenging terrain. The custom shuttle battery takes away any range anxiety, offering long days out on the trails and it has a punchy Shimano EP8 motor, which offers enough gas to propel you up the most daunting climbs.
The suspension offers a pillow soft riding experience, capable of taking on big impacts and obstacles, and it’s dripping in high spec components in the brake and drivetrain department – with Shimano’s elite XTR range fitted in. It’s a beauty of an e-enduro bike and absolutely deserves its place on our list.
ℹ️ One criticism – the motor display. We feel consistently let down with the Shimano EP8 display. It’s nowhere near as customisable and versatile as other displays out there, and we think the Shuttle Team XTR deserves better.
Santa Cruz Bullit X0 AXS RSV
Price: $12,666
Key Facts and Figures:
- Weight: 22.27kg
- Frame: Carbon
- Battery: Shimano 630Wh
- Motor: Shimano DU-EP801 (85 Nm of torque)
- Suspension: RockShox Zeb Ultimate forks, RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate Rear shocks (170mm front and rear)
- Wheels: Reserve 31 DH 29 inch at front, Reserve 31 DH 27.5 rear
- Tyres: Maxxis Assegai at front, Maxxis Minion DHRII rear
- Brakes: SRAM Code Silver Stealth
- Drivetrain: 12-speed SRAM X0 Eagle T-Type cassette & SRAM XO Eagle AXS T-Type rear derailleur.
Peaks:
- Drivetrain
- Brakes
- Handling
- Climbing
- Motor
- Battery
Troughs:
- Price
- Geometry
Summary:
Santa Cruz has created a real showstopper here and the Bullit X0 AXS RSV is another real challenger for the best enduro e-MTB title.
It has a seriously punchy Shimano DU-EP801 motor, which breezes up the mountains, no matter how steep and it has enough juice in its battery to last all day long.
It also offers more travel than some of the other names in our electric enduro list, which allows the bike to take on some big old drops and gnarly terrain.
The balance Santa Cruz has struck by creating a beautiful climber and a robust descender is very impressive, offering a comfortable riding experience both up and downhill – it’s an incredibly versatile enduro electric bike.
The company has also paired the bike with some of the best brake and drivetrain components available, with the SRAM codes offering immense stopping power and the X0 Eagle offering silky smooth shifting.
Overall, we think this is a real showstopper, although if we had to pull out anything for criticism, it would be the geometry – the bike would definitely benefit from further adjustable options.
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed our guide to the 5 best enduro e-MTBs out on the market right now. We’ve picked out some household names – bikes that are renowned for their quality – and also gone for a slight outsider in Pivot.
One thing you will notice is the price of the bikes. The very best ones out there don’t come cheap, but you are getting absolutely tremendous rides, which are reliable, versatile and truly nail enduro riding.
But if your budget doesn’t stretch that far, it’s important to note that most of these bikes have slightly lower spec versions too, including the Specialized, Cannondale and Trek – so you can get a well-crafted bike, at a slightly lower price.
It was an utter pleasure taking these 5 to the trails and we’ve spent days on end tearing up our local forest and mountain loops. Don’t just look at these 5 beauties, though, get out there and give them a pedal yourselves.
