It shouldn’t cost the world to get a good e-MTB, but sometimes when you have a quick glance online or in store, the price tags can look daunting.
With some bikes peaking well above $10,000, you might be thinking – can I afford an e-MTB?
We believe there are both affordable and quality options out there, so we’ve made it our mission to pick out the best of the bunch for those on a lower budget.
We’ve done the leg work for you, so you don’t have to spend hours trawling through web pages, looking for a bargain, whilst worrying about falling for a snake oil bike that will have you wanting a refund in weeks.
Let’s find out which rides have made the cut in our best electric mountain bikes under $3,000 review…
Our Top 3 Picks under $3,000:
Best Electric Mountain Bikes Under $3,000
Radon Jealous Hybrid 9.0 625WH
Best overall
Good for – Trail riding
Price – $2,959
Peaks:
- Excellent components
- Forks
- Battery
- Motor
- Drivetrain
- Playful
Troughs:
- No rear suspension
Summary:
The Radon Jealous Hybrid 9.0 is one of the sportiest and best-looking electric mountain bikes under $3,000.
It’s an aluminium framed trail bike, with a total weight of 22kg, and has a progressive geometry, which is geared up for off-road action – it has an easily adjustable dropper post, so you can tweak the set-up from your handlebars, depending on the terrain you’re approaching.
Unlike some of the other bikes on this list, the Rado Jealous Hybrid 9.0 is absolutely ready for some trail shredding.
You get a fantastic 625Wh Bosch PowerTube battery, which gives you a healthy range of around 100km or more, depending on how liberally you use the assistance.
And it’s accompanied by the brilliant Bosch Performance Line CX motor, which is a top end product – kicking out 85Nm of torque.
When you combine that with the bike’s relatively low weight, it makes a very adept climber and due to that sporty geometry, you can manipulate the bike through the trees very easily
It’s a very fun bike to ride and it’s elevated further by a quality Bosch Kiox display.
You also get a top end 12-speed Shimano NX Eagle drivetrain, which helps you further on those challenging climbs and it offers incredibly smooth shifting.
It’s a hard tailed trail bike, so you have limitations on the seriously bumpy trails, but you have good RockShox 35 forks at the front end, which offer you a very smooth riding experience.
Overall, we’re seriously impressed with this bike and it’s our best e-MTB under 3000.
You can find out more about the bike and buy it here:
Shipping and delivery info:
- $140-$180 depending on carrier – various options available depending on state.
- Up to 14 working days.
Ride 1UP Prodigy XC
Best for versatility
Good for – Entry level trail riding, city appropriate too
Price – $2,395
Peaks:
- Light
- Price
- Decent design
- Powerful moto
Troughs:
- Battery size
Summary:
The Ride 1UP Prodigy is a very good entry level trail bike.
At under $2,000 it’s a steal, with a sleek design and a fun overall feel.
You get a moderately sized 504Wh Phylion battery, which gives you a market average range of around 80km – depending on terrain and rider ability.
It’s also fairly light, at 22kg, and has an ease of handling, thanks to the bike’s sporty geometry.
You also get a whopping motor – a Brose TF Sprinter – which can throw out up to 90Nm of torque.
When combined with the bike’s reasonable weight, it means you have quite an adept climber in the 1UP Prodigy.
It also has a very natural feel of power delivery, which makes controlling the bike a doddle.
The bike’s geared up for some decent off-road action, with 120mm of travel in the forks and a hard tail.
The hard tail provides decent traction for speed on the flats and the climbs, while the 120mm at the front end gives you enough cushioning to take a little bit of punishment on some moderate trails.
It isn’t made for the seriously rough stuff, but it’s certainly got enough at its disposal to have a bit of fun.
The bike isn’t just made for the dirt though, it’s decent in the city too, thanks to its hard tail – the bike is slick in an urban environment and it you can add a luggage rack onto the back to take a bit of extra weight.
Overall, it makes the 1UP Prodigy one of the best electric mountain bikes under $3,000 for versatility.
You can find out more info about the bike and buy it here:
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free shipping
- Between 5 – 10 working days.
FLX F5 Trail
Good for – Trail riding, technical riding
Price – $2,599
Peaks:
- Motor power
- Handling
- Playfulness
Troughs:
- Battery charge time
- Could be 12 speed
Summary:
The FLX F5 Trail is without a doubt one of the sportier numbers in this list.
It’s made for playful riding and to be thrown about on the trails. It has an aggressive geometry, which lends itself to being manipulated with ease and it comes with 130mm of travel in the forks, to be able to take some decent sized impacts.
It also has a hardtail, so feels composed both uphill and downhill, very much what you want from a good trail bike.
It has a moderate overall weight of 27kg and we would have preferred for it to be lighter, but it packs a punch in its Bafang M600 motor, which can emit 120Nm of torque.
That’s a huge amount and certainly outweighs the concerns about the weight – the bike flies up the trickiest of climbs and the playful handling, along with the decent front suspension, means you can take on some pretty technical climbing sections too.
You also get a 650Wh Panasonic battery, which has a range of up to 80km – considering this is made for more technical, trail-based riding, that’s a decent range for weaving in and out of the trees.
The battery takes around 6 hours to charge and you get a 10 speed Shimano Deore drivetrain and a decent pair of Magura MT5 brakes.
Overall, we really think this is a very accomplished trail bike.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free shipping to 48 contiguous US states
- Within 5 working days to US mainland
- 5-7 working days to Canada, with extra fees.
- Rest of the world available, but cost, availability and time for delivery varies between nations.
Cannondale Adventure Neo Allroad EQ
Good for – Commuter, moderate trails
Price – $1,825
Peaks:
- Comfortable ride
- Quality brand for low price
Troughs:
- Poor suspension
- Only 7 gears
- Low range
- Lack of versatility
Summary:
The Cannondale Adventure Neo Allround EQ is a daily commuter, which can also handle a small slice of off-road action.
It’s very much designed as an entry level bike, for people just stepping into the world of cycling, and comfort is key throughout its design.
That means it isn’t an all-out trail shredder and it can’t handle much more than a slight bobble, but it can still be a fun bike to ride on a country path or on a forest road.
It has a very safe geometry, which is designed to build confidence for a newbie rider, and stability is an important factor.
The geometry lends itself to a complete newbie, as it has a very comfortable layout, so riders feel at ease.
The bike has a 418Wh HWT battery, which gives you a modest range of around 80km, but the motor produced by Bafang, is quite under gunned, with only 45Nm of torque as standard.
You also have very little in the suspension department, only 50mm of travel in the forks, produced by SmartFrom, and you have a fixed rear end.
We would have liked to have seen more gears too – it’s only a 7-speed, which means it can feel quite tough to push around on the steep inclines.
It’s a simplistic bike, at a low price, which is perfectly reasonable for some gentle rides out in the country and plenty of city spinning – you also have a luggage rack fitted at the rear to carry extra bits and bobs.
It’s crafted by the excellent team at Cannondale, who know their way around a bike, so it’s a pretty good deal all in all and one of the best electric mountain bikes under $3,000 for those just starting out.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free to the US 48 contiguous states.
- 3 different options – standard (5-7 business days), faster (extra fee - 2-3 business days), fastest (most expensive – 1-2 business days).
Himiway Cobra
Good for – Long rides, carrying weight
Price – $2,399
Peaks:
- Range
- All weather tire
- Comfort
Troughs:
- Very heavy
- Front suspension under gunned for weight
Summary:
The Himiway Cobra is a dual suspension, fat tire, e-MTB.
You don’t often come across dual suspension e-MTBs in this price bracket, so Himiway have done well to keep the price down.
You get 190mm of travel in the rear end and 95mm in the forks, which means you can take on some pretty bumpy terrain and feel comfortable.
You have a chunky 960Wh battery, which gives you a range of around 120km – a seriously respectable amount.
But there is a big downside – the bike weighs in at 39kg, which is absolutely enormous.
That immediately writes it out of playful windy trails and technical sections, plus the limited travel in the forks also means you aren’t capable of proper downhill riding either.
To be honest, with that much weight, regardless of fork travel, you wouldn’t want to be heading with the nose down a steep hill.
To combat that weight you have a custom 750Wh motor, which can punch out 86Nm of torque and that certain helps a bit, but it’s along way off being nimble.
The fat tires offer you a lot of traction and a very stable footing on the trail and it’s capable of long days out riding.
This is an e-MTB for comfortable riding on long flat country paths or forest roads – it isn’t made for technical sections amongst the trees.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free to 48 contiguous US states only. Doesn’t serve other nations and regions.
- Up to 14 days.
Rambo Pursuit
Good for – Carrying loads (camping/fishing gear etc), climbing, less fit riders
Price – $2,299
Peaks:
- Immense motor power
- Comfort
- High weight baring capacity
Troughs:
- Weight
- Battery life
- Charge time
Summary:
The Rambo Pursuit is a burly powerhouse of an e-MTB, which is made to offer sheer brute force.
The main headline is the 750Wh custom motor, which can emit 120Nm of torque – that’s right up there among the most powerful motors we’ve ever reviewed.
What that means on the trail is a serious level of assistance, which makes light work of the steepest of inclines.
The bike is designed for long leisure rides out into nature and is geared up to cope with carrying loads.
It’s fitted with a luggage rack at the rear and the full bike can bare 136kg of weight – that’s enough to load up the bike with camping gear, fishing gear or whatever you want to take on a countryside adventure.
The bike isn’t made for the wild technical riding, through narrow trails or on downhill chutes – it’s a chunky beast at 28kg and has a reserved geometry, designed for comfort.
You also only get 100mm of travel in GT MRK forks and a hard tail, which collectively mean it isn’t made for the rough stuff.
However, it moves smoothly over flat ground and climbs very well, particularly when you factor in the raw power in the motor.
The 672Wh custom battery only offers up around 55km and it takes a long old time to charge back up.
Although the bike is targeted at big adventures in the wilderness, its battery doesn’t back that up.
A shame really, because otherwise it could be a very good nature roamer.
Shipping and delivery info:
- 3 – 7 working days as standard, 2 day option available for an extra cost (varies between region).
- Delivers to the 48 contiguous US states, an extra fee to Canada.
- US delivery fee varies depending on state and carrier.
FLX Gladiator 2.0
Good for – All weather conditions, carrying loads
Price – $2,499
Peaks:
- All weather capable
- Fat tires
- Heavy weight baring capabilities
- Comfort
- Motor power
Troughs:
- Weight
- Battery range
- Versatility
- Playfullness
Summary:
The FLX Gladiator 2.0 is an all-weather, fat-tire e-MTB, made for taking on the seriously mucky stuff.
It’s a chunky beast of a bike, weighing in at 34kg, which feels cumbersome on any sort of technical terrain.
However, this bike isn’t made for the twisty sections, it’s made to be churning through big muddy stretches of open flat train or carrying loads on a long touring adventure.
You get a large, 840Wh battery, which provides a range of around 65km – given the size of the battery, you would expect more, but the weight takes its toll on the range figure.
You also get a monstrous Bafang M600 motor, which can punch out 120Nm of torque – it’s needed to cart the heavy weight about, but even with this heavy bike, it still feels super powerful.
You get 100mm of travel in the forks and a hard tail, with a luggage rack for carrying extra bits and bobs around.
It’s made for touring style riding and those fat tires, with a seriously toothy grip, are prepared for the nastiest conditions you can find – from boggy sections, all the way up to snow.
It’s versatile in a weather condition sense, but limited in terms of riding disciplines.
A bit of a cumbersome beast and you don’t get a huge range for that, but if you live in a soggy part of the world, this will help make life a lot easier on those rainy riding days.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free shipping to 48 contiguous US states
- Within 5 working days to US mainland.
- 5-7 working days to Canada, with extra fees.
- Rest of the world available, but cost, availability and time for delivery varies between nations.
Ecotric Tornado
Best electric dual suspension mountain bike under 3000
Good for – Full suspension trail riding
Price – $1,499
Peaks:
- Price
- Full suspension
- Strong brakes
- Playful
Troughs:
- Long charge time
- Small range
- Weight
Summary:
The Ecotric Tornado is one of few full suspension e-MTB on our list.
Getting a top full suspension e-MTB under $3,000 isn’t easy, in fact – it’s very hard.
So when you see the Tornado coming in at $1,499, it’s a head turner for sure – however, it isn’t light.
The aluminium e-MTB has a total bike weight of 28kg, which makes it clunky on the trails and it isn’t the easiest to navigate through tricky terrain.
You get 576Wh custom battery, which isn’t ideal either for the weight and you end up ploughing through the battery pretty quickly.
It’s only got a range of around 60km, which pales in comparison to some of the other bikes on this list and it can take between 6 and 8 hours to charge.
You get 75Nm of torque in the custom motor, which does help with the climbs, but you’ve got that weight to contend with.
One real plus side is that the bike is geared up with 100mm of travel at both the front and the rear, which means the bike can venture into some bobbly terrain.
Another downside, you only get a 7-speed Shimano drivetrain, which limits it further on the climbs, but you do get a strong set of brakes.
It’s a full suspension trail bike at an absolute bargain price and for that you have to expect some limitations, which this bike certainly has.
However, it’s still a good option on a low budget.
The Tornado is a playful entry level trail bike and the best dual suspension e-mountain bike under 3000.
You can find out more info about the bike and buy it here:
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free
- US mainland only
- 6-8 working days
Quiet Kat Villager
Good for – Mixed use riding, entry level
Price – $2,799
Peaks:
- Versatility
- Weight
Troughs:
- Suspension
- Range
- Motor power
Summary:
The Quiet Kat Villager is an urban/off-road crossover e-MTB, targeting the entry level market.
It’s another bike where comfort is at the focal point of the design – it’s made to be easy to ride, with an upright positioning and an ease of handling.
It’s also pretty light, at only 22kg, which means it moves spritely on both the city streets and the trails.
You get a 696Wh battery, which can push out a range of between 30km and 70km, depending on the terrain, and although it isn’t the biggest, it also means you keep the weight down.
You get 70Nm of torque in the custom motor, which does a decent enough job, but it’s much less than some of the other bikes on our list.
The custom forks provide 100mm of travel and you have a fixed rear end – it’s enough to allow you to take some lumps and bumps in the countryside, but without being anything to shout about.
It’s another bike made for easy going country paths and forest roads and it moves quickly over flat ground, both in an urban environment and out in the wilderness.
The Shimano drivetrain only offers up 7 gears though, which is a bit of a pain – it could be a seriously slick mover if you had 11 or 12 at your disposal. The limited number is an oversight in our opinion.
It can also take a fair bit of weight and is fitted with a luggage rack to transport things about.
It’s a versatile e-MTB, which is a very good starting point if you want to try out lots of different types of riding, but it’s limited when it comes to the rougher terrain and wilder styles of riding.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free
- US mainland only
- 3-5 working days
If your budget doesn’t quite stretch to $1,999, then also consider the Aventon Aventure – this is a lower spec version of the same bike and only costs $1,499.
Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance 625Wh
Price – $3,295
Good for – Best entry hybrid trail/commuter
Peaks:
- Battery range
- Motor power
- Versatile
- Brakes
- Handling
Troughs:
- No rear suspension means it can’t take on the seriously rough stuff
Summary:
The Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance range comes in varying battery sizes, but the 625Wh is a fantastic option just over $3,000.
The battery is supplied by Bosch, with the excellent PowerTube model installed and it’s accompanied by one of the most reliable motors in the business – the Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 4, which can kick out a very punchy 85Nm of torque.
Despite those large electrical components, the bike only weighs in at 23.4kg, which means you still feel fairly light footed on the climbs and you certainly have enough punch to get up some of the trickiest sections.
That weight is partly down to the company’s aluminium Superlite compound in the frame and the geometry is fairly agile too. It’s by no means the most aggressive bike out there, but you have an ease of handling, which is useful in the trickier sections.
The Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance is a hardtail, so only has front end suspension, which is supplied by RockShox – who have provided their Judy Silver TK Air forks, with 120mm of travel.
That gives you with enough room to manoeuvre to take some lumps and bumps, without too much trouble, but it can’t take on the really gnarly terrain.
It’s a well geared up trail bike, but can also perform well as a versatile commuter thanks to its hardtail, which makes getting up to speed no issue.
It comes with a 12-speed Shimano Deore CS-M6100 brake system and a decent set of Shimano BR-MT420 brakes.
We’re impressed with this one.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Up to 14 working days.
- Up to $349 depending on state.
Final Thoughts
We’ve aimed to showcase a range of decent bikes, which don’t cost a fortune.
These might not be the best of the best, but there are a number of true beauties in the list and a selection of bikes for a broad spectrum of riding styles.
E-MTB riding shouldn’t just be a pursuit of the uber wealthy and hopefully you now feel at ease to know there is something within the $3,000 budget.
There are some great bikes in our list, so get out there and hit the pedals.
