Stepping into the world of electric mountain biking is an exciting time.
You’re opening up the door to a lifetime of adventure, if you keep at the pedals and stay charged up.
Having electrical assistance at your disposal will help you cycle further and for longer, while also helping you reach areas you may not have been able to before.
However, we know when you begin your e-MTB career it can be quite over facing with the sheer number of bikes on the market.
Sifting through the duds and finding the gems can be a challenge.
In this guide, we’ve highlighted the best entry level electric mountain bikes out right now and we’ve included bikes for varying different riding styles.
You can pick up a tremendous e-MTB, without spending an absolute fortune, so sit back, relax and enjoy our best entry level electric mountain bikes review….
Our Top entry level electric mountain bike picks:
Best entry level electric mountain bikes
Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance 625Wh
Price – $3,295
Good for – Both urban and low level trail
Peaks:
- Price
- Versatility
- Good range
- Motor
- Reliability
Troughs:
- Hardtail
- Can’t take rougher trails.
Summary:
The Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance is a versatile entry level e-MTB, which can span both the urban and countryside environments.
Suspension
It’s fit to commute to work on, thanks to its hardtail, which makes it fast running over hard packed and concrete environments.
But it also comes with 120mm of travel in the forks, which prepares the bikes for some lumps and bumps out on the trails.
The forks are supplied by RockShox, with their Judy Silver TK Airs fited as standard. They’re decent enough for entry level trails, but the bike will soon get caught out on the harsher trails.
Motor & Battery
You also ge fantastic electrics, with Bosch supplying both the battery and motor.
You get a 625Wh Bosch PowerTube battery, which offers immense reliability, and a range of more than 100km.
Meanwhile, you also get a Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 4 motor, which is freshened up version of the excellent standard model.
That delivers a serious amount of kick, with a max torque output of 85Nm, but it works intelligently with your pedal strokes, so it slips in and out of assistance with a natural feel.
Weight & Handling
The bike weighs in at 23.4kg, so has good handling – allowing the bike to be manipulated with ease through the trees.
The hardtail also improves traction and climbs spectacularly, with the aluminium framed bike making light-weight of some seriously challenging inclines.
Drivetrain & brakes
We aren’t blown away by the drivetrain, a 12-speed Shimano Deroe CS-M6100 system, but it does enough to allow the bike to operate smoothly – without maybe being quite as finely tuned as some other models.
You also get an acceptable pair of Shimano BR-MT420 brakes, which answer all the questions you ask of them.
It’s another versatile and fun e-MTB, which handles the rigours of entry level trails well, while also being an adept city spinner too.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Up to 14 working days.
- Costs varies state by state, but can cost upwards of around $350
Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy
Good for – Trail riding, adventurous terrain
Price – $4,987
Peaks:
- Versatile
- Motor power
- Playful
- Suspension
- Drivetrain
Troughs:
- Battery range
Summary:
The Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy is one of the more advanced bikes on our list, but we’ve included it because it’s one of the lower priced bikes in Specialized’s e-MTB armoury.
They make fantastic bikes, which are a dream to ride, and the Turbo Levo Alloy is a gateway to the world of Specialized.
It can be ridden by a new comer, but it also has the potential to do much much more.
Suspension
It’s a full suspension aluminium trail bike, which will be able to handle everything an entry level rider can throw at it, plus some advanced riding.
You get 160mm of travel at the front end and 150mm at the rear, which makes the bike capable of taking on all sorts technical terrain as you progress as a rider.
You get a tremendous set of RockShox 35 Silver forks and RockShox Deluxe Select R shocks, collectively they create a super plush suspension set-up.
Weight & Handling
It weighs in at 23.68kg and is super nimble in the handling department, with only a light touch needed to control the bike the way you want – this creates a real ease of use.
You get a good battery, in terms of quality, but a low range sadly – however, that helps to keep the weight down.
Battery & Motor
It’s fitted with 500Wh Specialized M3-500 battery, it operates conservatively, but still only allows you to push out around 75km on a single charge.
You get the company’s custom 2.2 motor, which is very powerfully indeed – capable of throwing out 90Nm of torque, which makes all sorts of climbs a breeze.
Drivetrain & brakes
You also get a top end 12-speed, SRAM SX Eagle drivetrain. This means you have 12 gears at your disposal, which helps make climbing easier and the high quality of drivetrain provides very smooth shifting – this improves the riding experience and allows you to feel comfortable in the saddle.
It’s complemented by a solid pair of SRAM Guide RE brakes, offering up reliable and responsive pull up capabilities.
Tires
The Butcher Grid Trail front tyre and Butcher Eliminator rear one both do the tricky nicely and overall the bike is wonderfully balanced.
This bike offers up a lot of exciting potential as you progress as a rider, but also offers reliability and an ease of use in the early stages of your e-MTB journey.
Going for this one will be a sort of futureproofing, preventing the need for buying a better bike in the future, to cope with the demands as you improve.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Price varies depending on state (Specialized ships using local partner stores).
- 30 days unused return guarantee.
Norco Sight VLT A1
Price – $3,899 (comes without battery – additional cost depending on size)
Good for – Downhill, enduro
Peaks:
- Geared up for wilder terrain
- Plush suspension
- Handling
- Tyre performance
- Motor power
Troughs:
- Battery additional cost
- Quite jerky power delivery
Summary:
There are many elements to love about this bike, but we’ll get one complaint out the way to start – the price doesn’t include a battery as standard.
You have to pay extra, which is a frustration, but don’t let that put you off the Norco Sight VLT A1, because you'd be getting a top electric mountain bike for a very reasonable price.
Battery
On the battery front you can choose between a number of different sizes, from a cheaper 450Wh model, up to a chunky 900Wh custom model.
Suspension
You get a beautiful suspension set-up, with 160mm of travel in the forks and 150mm in the shocks.
This gears the bike up for war on the trail and it’s capable of heading straight out into the wild terrain if you want to.
You get a pair of FOX Rhythm Float 36 forks and a pair of FOX Float X2 Performance Elite shocks.
A serious combo, which means if you build up your experience, you’ll have a bike ready for the step up for more advanced terrain.
It has an ease of use, which means it’s also an acceptable entry level trail bike – it isn’t over complicated or too fussy in its design.
Motor
You get a Shimano EP8 motor, which isn’t our favourite motor model out there – largely due to the unnatural pull you can feel when the motor kicks into play.
It can feel clunky at times, but you can’t deny its sheer power – providing 85Nm of torque.
Drivetrain & Brakes
The drivetrain is a beauty, with a 12-speed Shimano SLX drivetrain, which fortunately can cope ok with unatural pull in the motor. And you get a solid Shimano MT520 set of brakes.
We’re also very impressed with the tyres – the bike comes with a very teethy pair of Maxxis Assegais, which bite immensely into the dirt and are super reliable on technical terrain.
A bike with bags of fun, geared up for the wilder terrain, but also rideable in the early stages of your e-MTBing career.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free US shipping.
- International shipping available – cost and delivery time varies depending on location.
- US delivery time – 1 day to California, 2 day to Nevada/Arizona/Utah, 3-5 days to the rest of mainland US.
Ride 1UP Prodigy XC
Price – $2,395
Good for – Trail riding
Peaks:
- Weight
- Nimble
- Versatile
- Motor performance
Troughs:
- Battery range
Summary:
The Ride 1UP Prodigy is an aluminium framed trail bike, which weighs in at only 22kg.
Handling
That low overall weight makes the bike very nimble and it rides playfully when you’re out on the trails.
Battery & Motor
What the bike gains in manoeuvrability, it loses in overall battery range – to keep the weight down, Ride 1UP have gone for a small 504Wh Phylion battery, which only allows for days up to around 80km.
However, it isn’t all bad news in the electrics – you get a very powerful Browse TF Sprinter in the motor department, which can throw out 90Nm of torque.
That gives you a lot of gas to spin up some very tricky climbs, which is complemented by the overall light weight
Suspension
The bike has a hardtail, which also builds traction on the climbs and adds to its overall climbing prowess.
The forks come with 120mm of travel, which allow you to take on some lumps and bumps, without feeling too uncomfortable, but we’re only talking moderate trails.
Due to the hard tail and lower level of fork travel, the bike can’t cope with any really rough stuff or hard descending.
The Ride 1UP offers a lot of fun though and for an entry level rider, it offers a solid combination of ease of use and a slice of adventure, so you can progress and take the bike to some more challenging terrain.
Drivetrain & Brakes
The bike comes with an 11-speed Shimano Alivio drivetrain, Tektro brakes and also has the handy option of a removable luggage rack.
A versatile e-MTB, which is capable in an urban environment and on the trails, with the ability to carry loads too – we think this is budget electric mountain bike.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free delivery US mainland, $400 extra to Canada
- Delivery time – between 5 and 10 working days
Cannondale Adventure Neo Allroad EQ
Price – $1,825
Good for – Hybrid commuting & a slice of off-road
Peaks:
- Price
- Comfort
- Weight
- Reliability
Troughs:
- Limited due to suspension
- Poor gear range
- Handling
Summary:
The Cannondale Adventure Neo Allroad EQ is as entry level e-MTB as they come – it’s very much geared up for people fresh into the market, but without any added extras for future advancement.
Handling
Comfort is at the forefront of the bike’s design, it has a reserved geometry, so that you can hop aboard and feel at ease.
The bike is designed to be a hybrid commuter, which can also be ridden as a leisure bike on weekends.
It’s fast moving on the flats and hardpacked terrain and is capable of taking on country paths and forests roads.
That’s where the bike’s capabilities stop in terms of terrain, so if you want something more adventurous, then it’s best to look at some of the other bikes in our list.
Battery & Motor
The price, at under $2,000, is a major advantage, but you only get a small, 418Wh HWT battery, which isn’t one of the better ones on the market and you get a low level Bafang G020 motor, which can emit 45Nm of torque.
This clearly brings limitations – the bike can’t shoot up the most challenging climbs, and it isn’t designed to – similarly if you want to do chunky all day rides, this bike won’t provide it for you.
Suspension
We mentioned this is entry level in design and it’s clear in the suspension – it comes with a hardtail and only 50mm of travel in the forks.
They’re supplied by SmartForm, with the C3 model fitted as standard. This means the bike really is only capable of the flatter terrain and the minute you hit any sort of proper trails it comes unstuck.
Tires
However, it has a set of off-road tyres, which allow you to head along country paths and forest roads, and you build speed well thanks to that hardtail.
Out of all our bikes, this is the most entry level you can get – made for simplistic use, nothing wild and offering comfort and reliability.
If that’s what you’re after, this could be the one for you, and at under $2,000, it has a very attractive price point.
If you want to test yourself a bit more, then this bike won’t tick the boxes you want, but it’s still a good entry level electric mountain bike.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free shipping and delivery in the US.
- Delivery times different depending on which shipping option you go for – standard, fast or fastest. Ranging from 1-7 working days.
- Prices vary.
Trek Powerfly 4 Gen 4
Price – $3,649
Good for – Trail riding, speed
Peaks:
- Price for a Trek
- Motor power
- Versatile
- Playful
- Tyres
Troughs:
- Range
- Only 10 gears
- Brakes
Summary:
Trek are among the best in the business and the Powerfly 4 Gen 4 is the company’s entry level e-MTB.
The company are famous for creating fun bikes, which ooze reliability and style – the Powerfly 4 Gen 4 is no different.
Suspension & Design
It looks magnificent, with a tidy cockpit and sleek design – it’s a hardtail, so it’s made for speed and for climbing, but isn’t one for the wild drops or seriously rough terrain.
That said, you still get 120mm of travel in the forks, which means the bike is an adept trail rider – with SR SunTour XCM 34s fitted as standard.
Weight & Handling
The aluminium framed bike weighs in at 23.9kg, which is a fairly playful weight and the geometry adds to that, allowing you to throw the bike around in the twisty sections.
It isn’t over advanced though, so it still feels manageable if you’re new to the sport.
Battery & Motor
You get a cracking battery in terms of model, but not in terms of size – you get a 504Wh Bosch PowerTube, which works wonderfully, but doesn’t have the largest range – around 80km at most.
However, you get a beautiful Bosch Performance Line CX motor, which can punch out 85Nm of torque, and sets you up nicely to fly up the tricky climbs.
Drivetrain & Brakes
It’s only a 10-speed, which is a bit a of a shame, holding the bike back on the very tough climbs, and you only get a basic pair of Tektro brakes – nothing to write home about.
Tires
You’re well stocked in the tyre department though, with a pair of Bontrager XR3 tyres, which offer a very toothy bite and a lot of reliability.
The bike is very versatile – good at climbing, a speed demon, capable of some tricky trails and manageable enough for someone new to the game, but also offering some advanced elements, which mean you can grow into the bike too.
It’s a Trek and for under $4,000 – that isn’t to be sniffed at for an entry level electric mountain bike, by a manufacturer with such a highly regarded name.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free
- Trek uses local partner stores – 3-5 working days to ship bike to your nearest partner store. Up to 5 more days to be shipped from partner store to home.
- Pick up from partner store available.
Cannondale Moterra Neo 5
Price – $3,639
Good for – Enduro, climbing and descending
Peaks:
- Great versatility
- Playful handling
- Pacey
- Strong frame
- Comfortable ride
Troughs:
- Not the lightest
- Battery charge time
- Battery range
Summary:
Suspension
The Cannondale Moterra Neo 5 can climb and descend adeptly, with a plush suspension, which offers 140mm of travel at the front end and 150mm at threat.
It makes the bike incredibly versatile, capable of taking on some adventurous terrain and serious lumps and bumps, without compensating too much on speed.
Tires
You have a good amount of traction, thanks to the WTB Breakout tyres, which offer a toothy bite into the dirt and allow the bike to be thrown about – this adds to the bike’s playfulness.
Forks
The forks are supplied by SR SunTour, with their XCR model installed – they don’t offer too much give, so you don’t end up losing much speed on the flats.
They aren’t top end spec, which is what you’ll want for for the enormous hits, although as an entry level E-MTB rider it’s unlikely you’ll be sending yourself over the big jumps.
Battery
The Neo 5 comes with a 504Wh custom battery, which offer a very mediocre range, and sadly the weight doesn’t reflect that.
The bike comes in at 24kg, which is above average for a battery of that size – however, you can still push out around 100km, depending on the terrain.
Motor
You get a capped Shimano Steps DU-E7000 motor, which emits a top end torque of 60Nm – it isn’t the most impressive, but still offers a degree of punch on the hills.
Handling & Gears
The handling is a major plus for the Neo 5, it’s very playful, which opens the bike up to some reasonably challenging terrain as you progress as a rider.
The bike comes with a 10-gear Shimano Deore set-up, which does offer a slight limitation on the trickiest climbs – as 12-speed set-up would offer you greater range and take the pressure off the body.
Brakes
However, you have a solid pair of Shimano MT200 brakes, which offer a great amount of stopping power on the trail.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable bike to ride, which is fun to handle and has a decent amount of versatility to take on climbs, descents and technical sections. It’s just let down in the electrics.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free to the US mainland states.
- 3 different options – standard (5-7 business days), faster (extra fee - 2-3 business days), fastest (most expensive – 1-2 business days).
Aventon Level.2
Price – $1,799
Good for – Commuting with a little trail
Peaks:
- Versatile
- Luggage capable
- Smooth ride
Troughs:
- Poor suspension
- Weight
- Motor
Summary:
The Aventon Level.2 is a well-rounded urban/country e-MTB.
The bike performs well across a variety of terrain, feeling comfortable on the city streets, along with country paths and forests roads for leisure riding at the weekend.
Handling
It’s a simplistic bike, which offers an ease of use and comfortable handling set-up, which is well suited to someone just getting into the world of e-MTB riding.
Battery & Motor
The bike’s range is decent, thanks to a 672Wh custom battery, which offers just under 100km, depending on how hilly the terrain is.
But the bike is let down in the motor department, with only 50Nm of torque available in the custom model – that prevents the bike from being the best climber.
If you need a lot of assistance, this bike won’t be able to provide it.
Suspension
The bike is fairly pacey on flatter terrain due to its hardtail and grippy tyres, which provide a good deal of traction.
Weight & Handling
However, it isn’t nimble to handle any sort of technical terrain, with the bike weighing in at 28kg and having a conservative geometry.
You get 8 gears in the custom drivetrain, which is fine for the flatter terrain, but again highlights this bike isn’t made for seriously challenging climbs.
Extra Features
One major plus is that you have the ability to carry extra loads on the bike, with luggage racks fitted, which is perfect if you want to head out with fishing gear or camping gear on a weekend and for carting things around in an urban setting.
A reserved ride, which has its plus points, but is very much made for the tamer styles of riding – easygoing leisure cycles, daily commutes and a little extra.
If you take it anywhere else, this bike will struggle, particularly with only 65mm in the forks and that hardtail.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free
- Varying depending on region – 5-10 working days.
Juiced Rip Current S
Price – $1,599
Good for – Speed
Peaks:
- Speed
- Battery range
- Versatile condition wise
- Comfy
Troughs:
- Weight
- Not suited to technical riding
- Over powerful for light riders
- Too fast for EU, UK & Australia/New Zealand e-MTB law
Summary:
The electrics are where the Juiced Rip Current S excels, which makes it an e-MTB for riders who want the machine to do the lion’s share of the work and not the rider.
Battery & Motor
It comes with a whopping 998Wh custom battery, which gives you a range of around 150km on flatter terrain.
You also get a phenomenally powerful motor, which has 1000Wh at its disposal – making almost unrivalled on the E-MTB market.
That gives you ferocious top speed of 45km/h – a plus if you live in the US, because many states allow that pace.
However, if you’re in the EU, UK or Australia/New Zealand, that’s over the maximum speed law and you could get in bother riding it.
Weight & Handling
All that power and juice does come at a cost though – the bike weighs 34kg, which means it’s about as nimble as a cruise ship.
The bike can’t be thrown around, which rules it out of any real technical terrain.
Instead, it’s cut out for long old cruises out into the open countryside and it’s a trusty partner for touring on wide, flatter terrain.
Tyres
To cope with all that weight you get a set of fat tyres, which offer a lot of support for the weight, but also open the bike up to riding in all sorts of weather conditions – you get a toothy tread and a lot of traction.
Suspension
There is no real suspension set-up to have fun with, which again forces you onto the flatter stuff, but the weight makes that clear too.
Drivetrain
It’s a 9-speed drivetrain, which does ok under the speed pressure and it comes in at an attractive price under $2,000.
A monster electricals-wise, but definitely not one for technical terrain, downhill riding or any real fast corner style riding.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free
- Only ship to US mainland, doesn’t ship to Hawaii, Alaska or Canada.
- 3-8 working days.
GT Eforce Current
Price – $3,450
Good for – Playful riding, trails, descending capable
Peaks:
- Suspension
- Playfulness
- Geometry
- Tyres
Troughs:
- Weight
- Range
- Motor
- Brakes
Summary:
The GT Eforce is a seriously adept trail bike, which is geared up for a wide variety of riding, from entry level trails, all the way up to some downhill style courses.
Suspension
It’s thanks to the 150mm of travel in both the forks and the shocks, which means the bike has a plush suspension set-up, which is capable of venturing into some wilder terrain if necessary.
It comes with SR Suntour Zeron 35 forks and X-Fusion O2 Pro RL shocks, they aren’t the most advanced products out there, but for an entry level trail bike they absolutely do the trick.
Weight & Handling
The bike weighs in at 25kg, which helps bring stability to the riding experience on the trail, but holds it back a little if you want to get seriously playful – however, at entry level it isn’t as much of a concern.
Battery & Motor
The battery is a letdown, you only get a 504Wh Shimano Steps BT-E8035, which has a poor performance overall, only allowing for rides in a region of around 60km to 80km.
Not ideal and certainly not one for a rider who needs a lot of assistance and wants to be out all day long.
Similarly, you get a very middle of the road Shimano Steps DU-E7000 motor, which kicks out a maximum of 70Nm – that’s an ok top torque figure, but combined with the poor battery, you soon run out of gas quickly.
Brakes
The bike’s descending capabilities are tremendous, it comes alive when gravity takes hold and it feels playful on the twist and turns. However, just be careful with the brakes, the Trektro set-up can feel a little under gunned at times.
Tyres
The tyres help out a lot to off-set the brake issue though, you get a pair of teethy WTB STX i30 tyres, which offer a lot of grip when you need them most.
Drivetrain
It’s only a 10-speed set-up in the drivetrain department, we would have liked to have seen a 12-speed.
A very fun bike to ride, but the electrics aren’t the best – if you’re looking for a bike where you are happy to do the lion’s share of the work, over the electrics, then this could be a good option.
However, if you are going to need a lot of assistance, it’s best to look at one of the other options.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free US shipping.
- International shipping available – cost and delivery time varies markedly depending on location.
- US delivery time – 1 day to California, 2 day to Nevada/Arizona/Utah, 3-5 days to the rest of mainland US.
- Shipping times, delivery costs and collection arrangements differ depending on store.
- You can buy from various stores across the US, recommended by Trek on their website.
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed our guide to the best entry level electric mountain bikes.
We’ve highlighted e-MTBs, which offer a range of features, from some all-out trail thrashers, to longer distance tourers, hybrid commuters and ones which are geared up for the step up to the really rough terrain in the future.
We’ve also tried to keep the price down, with all these e-MTBs tucking under the $5,000 mark. Whilst including some world leading manufacturers, and fantastic bargains.
We hope you enjoyed the read – now get out there, pull the trigger on your new e-MTB and hit the trails.
