Hardtail electric mountain bikes certainly have their appeal. The fixed rear end often makes them fast, providing a lot of traction on the trail, and they can be cheaper too, because you aren’t paying for a full suspension set-up.
They’re often found on entry-level e-MTBs and intermediate rides because you don’t need the burly set-up of a rear suspension.
They’re also good for cycle touring, long-distance adventures, commuting, and cross-country styles of riding – where pace and pedaling efficiency are key.
Here’s our pick of the bunch, join us as we find out which is the best hardtail electric mountain bike at the moment…
At a Glance...
Cube Reaction Hybrid SLT 750
Best hardtail electric mountain bike
Good for – Trail riding, XC
Price – $5,699
Peaks:
- Battery range
- Motor power and performance
- Comfort
- Stylish ride
- Versatility
- Sporty
- Playful
- Suspension
Troughs:
- Brakes
Summary:
The Cube Reaction Hybrid SLT 750 is a stylish trail spinner, with an electric set-up jammed to the rafters with power and range.
It looks the part and performs well on varied styles of trails.
Weight/Frame
The Cube Reaction Hybrid SLT 750 weighs in at 23.5kg and is an aluminum-framed cross-country/trail bike.
It has a playful geometry, which copes well on tight and twisty trails, yet doesn’t feel too aggressive, so it’s also comfortable when you need to get your head down and simply churn out the miles.
It has a sleek design, with a polished finish and internally routed cables, which make the bike clean to look at and handle.
This e-MTB is fun to ride and easy to manipulate.
Battery
This Cube packs a real punch in the electrics – it’s fitted with a 750Wh Bosch PowerTube battery, which has a large range of up to around 160km.
We never found ourselves churning through all the battery’s reserves, despite heading out on long old adventures on a variety of terrain.
It’s a beautiful battery, which is perfectly suited to longer distance riding – the battery takes around 6 hours to get back up to 100% from empty and around 2 and a half hours to 50%.
It’s our best hardtail e-bike in terms of range.
Motor
The bike is fitted with the Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 4 motor, which is one of the latest incarnations of the brilliant Performance Line CX model.
It has the ability to throw out up to 85Nm of torque, which helps make the bike a confident climber.
Coupled with the chunky battery, you have not only long-range, but excellent climbing capabilities too.
A top-end electrical pairing.
Suspension
The bike has a hardtail, which contributes to the bike’s climbing prowess, along with that powerful motor.
You get 120mm of travel in the FOX Float 34 forks, which offer a decent level of protection when things get bumpy, without reducing your pedaling efficiency too much and becoming spongey.
It’s well suited to moderate trails but suffers when you head into gnarlier terrain. The bike excels in a cross-country, undulating environment, though, and you still have enough playfulness in the suspension to take some light hits.
Wheels/Tyres
The e-MTB runs on 29-inch wheels, supplied by Newmen, with their Performance 30 wheelset fitted as standard.
They’re covered in Schwalbe Smart Sam tires, which offer enough bite on the climbs, without too much drag – good shedding ability means you move quickly on the flats and shake off dirt quickly too.
Brakes/Drivetrain
The Shimano Deore XT M8120 brakes are okay, without being life-changing, but they cope well enough for the styles of riding the bike is designed for – they get caught out if things become more intense downhill.
There’s a 12-speed Shimano Deore XT M8120 drivetrain, which performs better than the brakes, with smooth and responsive shifting – helping to keep up with the pace of that powerful motor.
Final Thoughts
A tremendous XC and trail e-MTB, which looks a stunner and rides just as well.
There is very little to fault across the whole bike, apart from potentially the brakes needing a bit of an upgrade.
Other than that, it’s a true beauty, which makes it our best hardtail electric mountain bike.
Shipping and delivery info:
- US mainland only
- Price varies depending on state
Trek Powerfly 5 Gen 3
Good for – Mixed terrain, hybrid commuting/trail
Price – $4,546
Peaks:
- Battery range
- Motor performance
- Versatility
- Price
Troughs:
- Limiting suspension
Summary:
The Trek Powerfly 5 Gen 3 is a versatile e-MTB, which performs well as a commuter and can also take on some trail riding.
It can’t handle serious tough terrain, but it’s nimble enough to cope with some playful riding.
A good option for daily use and on a variety of terrain.
Weight/Frame
The bike has a durable aluminum frame, which offers great impact dissipation.
That provides a smooth riding experience out on the trails, but without giving away too much in weight – the bike comes in at 22.94kg overall.
That means the bike can remain relatively playful, and it allows you to take on some trails, along with hybrid commuting.
It’s by no means the most aggressive e-MTB out there, but it certainly isn’t reserved either.
It’s a well-balanced ride, which can be used in multiple different settings.
Battery
The bike comes with a 625Wh Bosch PowerTube battery, which provides a lengthy range of well over 100km.
It’s a well-designed battery, which takes away any range anxiety, and it offers a 50% charge time of around 2 hours.
It takes up to 5 hours to get back to 100% charge, but it works intelligently with the motor, and it releases the power conservatively.
It’s a top performer, and on flatter terrain, you can pedal for hours without needing extra juice.
Motor
The Bosch Performance Line CX motor also doesn’t disappoint, with 85Nm of torque at its disposal.
It’s a punchy set-up, which makes light work of challenging inclines, especially when factoring in the reasonable overall weight too.
We’re particular fans of the smooth power delivery, which allows you to always feel in control, with no stressful pulling sensation or overshoot in the corners.
It’s a beauty to ride.
Suspension
The hardtail allows the e-MTB to move at a pace, with a good amount of traction to climb well and get up to speed on the flats.
The RockShox Recon Silver RL shocks aren’t groundbreaking, but they offer 120mm of travel to take on a degree of uncomfortable terrain.
It isn’t a bike for the big drops or seriously bouncy terrain.
Wheels/Tyres
The smaller framed bikes come with a 27.5-inch wheel set-up, and the medium, large, and extra large come with 29 inches.
They’re all provided by Bontrager with their Kovee Comp rims and XR3 Comp tires.
The tires offer a decent level of bite into the dirt, without holding on to too much grime, so the rolling resistance is good.
Brakes/Drivetrain
The Shimano MT4100 brakes offer enough stopping power to cope with the rigorous of the bike, and the 12-speed Shimano Deore M6100 drivetrain offers smooth shifting, without excelling.
You get what you pay for at $4,546, but they perform ok.
Final Thoughts
The Trek Powerfly 5 Gen 3 can be ridden on multiple different types of terrain, and it’s a good daily-use bike, which can also be ridden on some trails at the weekend.
It certainly isn’t a full send style of e-MTB, but it copes well crossing from urban to trail, and offers some excellent electrical components.
It’s these features which make it our best hardtail electric mountain bike under $5,000.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free shipping
- 3-5 working days delivery time for standard delivery to your local Trek dealership, on the US mainland – expect longer times for Alaska and Hawaii
- 2-day delivery to local Trek dealership available for $19.99, overnight delivery available for $34.99
Orbea Urrun 10
Good for – Cross-country, long rides
Price – $5,533
Peaks:
- Long range battery
- Motor power
- Price
- Pacy
Troughs:
- Struggles on seriously lumpy terrain
- Can feel a bit uncomfortable at times
- Poor display
Summary:
The Urrun 10 is one of Orbea’s top electric cross-country bikes, with some impressive qualities, without breaking the bank
You also get some hefty electric components, which make it a versatile beast, and it nails the XC requirements.
Weight/Frame
The Urrun 10 has a highly durable aluminum frame, which is made to last.
It feels firm on the trail and comes with a reserved geometry, which makes it easy to ride, opening it up to many different levels of rider.
Despite being aluminum framed, they’ve managed to keep the weight down, with the bike only totaling 19.6kg in the large frame size.
That sturdiness has its plus points for sure, but it can feel uncomfortable when things get particularly rowdy on the trail, and it certainly gets found out when things get bumpy.
Battery
The Urrun 10 comes with a standard 540Wh battery, made by Orbea – that isn’t the most mind-blowing initial figure, but it contributes to that low weight figure.
However, you can also get a 252Wh range extender, which collectively gives you a chunky range of around 150km.
The standard battery also charges up at a pace, taking you up to around 4 and a half hours to fill from empty.
Impressive figures for a 19.6kg bike.
Motor
The Urrun 10 is fitted with a special version of the Shimano Steps EP8 motor. The EP7 RS is a reduced-power version of the standard model, which emits up to 60Nm of torque.
It’s less power-hungry than the normal EP8, and that protects your battery life for longer.
You still get a hearty punch from the motor on the trail, and you never feel sluggish, thanks to the low weight overall.
The bike climbs thanks to the overall lightweight, the motor efficiency, and the hardtail adeptly – and the 60Nm top torque figure, although not staggering on paper, actually offers more than enough punch.
The power delivery feels nice and smooth too, which can’t always be said for the standard EP8.
Suspension
Naturally to qualify for this blog, the bike has a fixed rear end and only comes with a front suspension set-up.
It’s fitted with a FOX 34 Performance Grip fork, which has 120mm of travel – that gives you enough to take on some slight lumps and bumps, while also remaining pacy.
However, it means the bike can’t take on the rough and ready terrain. It quickly feels out of place when things become complex downhill, and it isn’t a bike to be launching off a drop.
You have to remember this is for cross-country riding, though, and it offers enough give in the front end to cope with some lumps and bumps on a cross-country style route.
Speed is key here, and the set-up allows you to remain fast.
Wheels/Tyres
The Urrun 10 is fitted with Race Face AR 30c wheels at either end, in a size 29.
These offer a firm footing on the trail, and the Maxxis Rekon tires have a narrow tread, reducing the amount of resistance.
They help you remain pacy and keep up speed efficiently.
Brakes/Drivetrain
The bike comes with a decent pair of Magura MT5 brakes, which cope well with the demands you throw at them.
Meanwhile, the 12-speed Shimano M7100 drivetrain does the trick too, offering smooth and speedy shifting.
Final Thoughts
The Orbea Urrun 10 is an excellent cross-country e-MTB, which offers some chunky electrical components, without compensating on weight.
You have a long-range, efficient motor, smooth shifting, and ease of use, which opens it up to large portions of the market.
It can’t take on the really rough stuff, but it isn’t meant to, it’s a cross-country bike, and it ticks all the boxes for XC riding.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free US mainland shipping – 3-5 days delivery on a click-and-collect basis to your nearest Orbea affiliate store
- Hawaii – $250 - 5-7 days delivery on a click-and-collect basis to your nearest Orbea affiliate store
- Alaska & Puerto Rico – Free – 10-14 days delivery on a click-and-collect basis to your nearest Orbea affiliate store
Trek Powerfly 7 Equipped
Good for – Touring, urban/trail
Price – $6,266
Peaks:
- Battery range
- Motor power
- Versatility
- Luggage & touring capable
- Comfy ride
- Sturdy
Troughs:
- Limiting suspension
- Price
Summary:
The Trek Powerfly 7 Equipped is a highly versatile e-MTB, which offers outstanding touring capabilities.
With luggage-carrying potential and elements of playfulness, it straddles three styles of riding – from urban, to trail and long-distance adventures.
Weight/Frame
The e-MTB comes with an ultra-robust aluminum frame, which is made to feel comfortable over long distances and soak up pressure well.
It’s a weighty bike, coming in at 25.12kg, however, with that, you get a sturdy ride, which comes with luggage-carrying capabilities over the back wheel.
The geometry oozes comfort too, so you can saddle up and push out kilometre after kilometre without a great deal of discomfort.
That weight does limit the bike on technical terrain, but it’s not an e-MTB made for rowdy trails.
Battery
The e-MTB is fitted with the excellent 625Wh Bosch PowerTube, which is incredibly reliable.
You get a range of more than 120km, with plenty of juice still left in the tank, and it has a clever relationship with the motor, to ensure it operates conservatively.
It’s perfect for long days in the saddle and takes around 5 hours to get back up to 100% of charge from empty – 2 hours from 50%.
We’re impressed with its performance.
Motor
You also get a tremendous Bosch Performance Line CX motor – it’s one of the best in the business and kicks out up to 85Nm of torque.
That gives you enough punch to get up steep old inclines, and it offers a smooth power delivery, which allows you to always feel in control.
The motor releases the battery’s power conservatively, and there isn’t any unnatural pull to the output.
The electrical components help compensate for that weighty top bike figure.
Suspension
The hardtail maintains pedaling efficiency and reduces any sponginess, which might be energy-sapping over long distances.
It’s accompanied by 120mm of travel in the front end, with the bike fitted with SR Suntour Zeron 35 forks.
They aren’t jaw-dropping in their performance, but they provide enough cushioning to take a degree of the lumps and bumps you might find on a touring style cycle and certainly enough in an urban environment.
If you want to throw yourself along wild downhill lines, this isn’t the bike for you.
Wheels/Tyres
The small frame options of the Trek Powerfly 7 Equipped come with a 27.5-inch wheel set-up at the front and rear. Meanwhile, the medium to extra-large frame sizes come with 29ers.
They’re supplied by Bontrager with the Line Comp 30s, encased by their LT4 Expert tires.
They offer minimal rolling resistance and move speedily over the ground, allowing you to be ultra-pedaling efficient.
Very useful over longer distances, helping to conserve energy.
Brakes/Drivetrain
The bike is fitted with Shimano M6100 brakes, which are uninspiring, but they do the tasks when called upon.
The same applies to the drivetrain, which is a 12-speed Shimano SLX M7100 set-up.
Smooth-shifting, but not illuminating in their performance.
Final Thoughts
The Trek Powerfly 7 Equipped is a brilliant e-MTB, which performs well in a variety of settings – from the city streets, to the entry-level trails, and on long-distance adventures.
The luggage-carrying capabilities open it up to touring, as does the comfortable ride experience, chunky electrical components and high level of pedalling efficiency.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free shipping
- 3-5 working days delivery time for standard delivery to your local Trek dealership, on the US mainland – expect longer times for Alaska and Hawaii
- 2-day delivery to local Trek dealership available for $19.99, overnight delivery available for $34.99
Canyon Pathlite: ON 8 SUV
Good for – Touring, commuting, long-distance
Price – $5,461
Peaks:
- Big range
- Powerful motor
- Fast moving
- Big weight baring capabilities
- Great for touring and commuting
- Highly pedal-efficient
Troughs:
- Weight
- Very limited suspension
Summary:
The Canyon Pathlite:ON 8 Suv is an ultra-versatile long distance e-MTB, which is geared up for touring adventures, weekend camping trips, daily commutes and lots more in between.
With luggage carrying capabilities, it’s a real packhorse of an e-MTB, which is made to feel comfy for hours on end.
Weight/Frame
The Canyon Pathlite:ON 8 Suv is a bit of a beast in terms of weight, but it’s robust and has a strong aluminum frame, which soaks up bumps on the trail well.
It is fitted with a luggage rack over the rear wheel and has excellent weight-baring capabilities, perfect for long-distance adventures with tents, fishing gear, etc.
It’s also perfect for commuting, capable of loading up with panniers and other areas, which can take on extra weight.
That does come at a cost, though. It isn’t the most nimble, coming in at 29kg overall, which means it isn’t a good mover in the tight and twisty sections.
Battery
The Canyon Pathlite: ON 8 Suv is fitted with a 750Wh Bosch PowerTube battery, which offers a big range of around 160km.
It operates very intelligently and works in perfect harmony with the motor, releasing its power conservatively.
It’s ideal for big days out, and the comfortable geometry allows you to settle in and push out big numbers on one tank.
Motor
The e-MTB comes with a Bosch Performance Line CX motor, which can kick out a powerful 85Nm of torque.
It’s a serious set-up, which helps propel that heavy bike up some challenging ascents.
It also operates smoothly, without any uncomfortable jerk and without any rattle or noise – it’s one of the best motors around, and it operates outstandingly.
Suspension
The bike comes with a limited suspension set-up because it’s made for pedaling efficiency over long distances and sponginess in the suspension takes away from that.
You have a hardtail and only 100mm of travel in the forks, which means the bike is ruled out of properly rough terrain.
However, the pedaling efficiency is top-notch.
Wheels/Tyres
The bike is fitted with Alexrims MD25 wheels and Maxxis Crossmark II EXO TR tires – the set-up is designed to provide comfort on long rides, while also not offering unnecessary traction.
They glide smoothly over the trails and shed off mud and gunk well.
Brakes/Drivetrain
The Canyon Pathlite: ON 8 SUV comes with Magura MT 30 brakes, which offer a strong bite, and you get a 12-speed Gates CDX 22T drivetrain, which is enormously durable.
The drivetrain set-up is designed to cope with hour after hour of pressure going through it, so it needs to last and not give in on those long touring adventures.
Final Thoughts
A long-distance off-road beauty, which can cart around heavy loads and offers big electrical stats for multi-day, cycle touring adventures.
It’s also good in the city, but isn’t an adept trail bike due to its limited suspension and weight.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Germany – 3-5 working days
- Rest of Europe – 3-7 working days
- Rest of world (US included) – 1-2 weeks
- Bike shipping fee - $60
Specialized Turbo Tero 5.0
Good for – Touring capable, mixed terrain, cross-country
Price – $6,153
Peaks:
- Range
- Display
- Versatility
- Luggage carrying capabilities
- Weight
Troughs:
- Only 11 speed
- Sometimes jerky power delivery
Summary:
The Specialized Turbo Tero 5.0 is a touring capable e-MTB, which performs capably in an urban environment, but also feels comfortable off-road on some intermediate trails.
It’s a durable and comfortable ride, which struggles on wilder terrain but still has enough ability to bridge between city and country.
Weight/Frame
The Turbo Tero 5.0 weighs in at 22.7kg, with a firm aluminum frame, which has decent impact dissipation and feels stable to ride.
It’s well-balanced offering enough playfulness in the handling to take on some fun trails, while also performing well as a commuter or tourer thanks to its level of comfort.
It comes with a luggage rack over the back wheel, which contributes to the overall weight, but that opens it up to longer distance touring style adventures or regular commuting with extra baggage.
Battery
The bike comes with a large 710Wh custom battery, which considering the bike’s total weight, is very impressive.
That gives you a long range of up to around 160km, and it opens it up to the touring styles of e-MTB riding.
You also don’t suffer from a long charge time, it only takes 5 hours to be juiced back up to full from empty.
Motor
Specialized’s custom 2.2 motor also delivers with bags of potential – it provides a maximum torque output of 90Nm.
It allows that reasonably light-framed bike to scamper up challenging inclines, and you never have any doubt in its ascending performance.
If anything, the power can be a little over-facing at times, which is worth considering if you aren’t a very experienced rider – something to be careful of.
Suspension
The suspension is tailored to pedaling efficiency, with a hardtail and only 110mm of travel in the forks.
They are supplied by RockShox with Recon Silver RLs – the set-up limits the bike on rough and ready terrain, but it means the bike is a really pacy ride and energy efficient too.
It moves at a pace, and climbs really well, but when it comes to descending it struggles.
Worth remembering and one to avoid if you like to hit the wild stuff.
Wheels/Tyres
The 29 inch Stout XC wheels offer a stable footing on the trail and the Ground Control Bliss Ready tires also add to the level of comfort.
The tires have a good level of shedding ability, so you don’t pick up unnecessary traction, and it adds to the pacy feel of the bike.
Brakes/Drivetrain
The SRAM G2 RS brakes perform well, fighting hard against the immense power of that motor.
Meanwhile, the SRAM GX drivetrain offers quick shifting, but it only comes with 11-gears, which holds you back sometimes when things get particularly tough.
A 12-speed setup would have been preferred, but it’s a minor blip in an otherwise decent set-up.
Final Thoughts
The Turbo Tero 5.0 is a brilliant option for cycle touring and also an adept XC bike or versatile commuter, which you can also ride in the countryside.
It’s pedaling efficient, comfortable, and has immense electrics.
It isn’t made for the wilder trails, but if you understand its limitations and ride within them, you’re on to a great bike here.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free delivery
- You can also buy the bike from your local Specialized affiliate store – times and costs vary depending on state. Check the Specialized website for full details
Canyon Grand Canyon:ON 8
Good for – Hybrid urban/trail, long rides
Price – $3,634
Peaks:
- Price
- Versatility
- Well balanced
- Motor power
Troughs:
- Tire performance
- Display
Summary:
The Canyon Grand Canyon:ON 8 is a versatile spinner, which can cross over from an urban to a trail environment impressively, while also offering longer distance capabilities.
It also comes in at a bargain price, but has its drawbacks in certain areas, such as the suspension.
Weight/Frame
The bike weighs in at 22.5kg, with a thick aluminum frame, which is designed to offer a composed feel on the trail.
The bike is targeted at entry and intermediate-level riders, so having an ease of use in the design and geometry, is key to the bike’s success.
You feel comfortable aboard it, and the low weight, combined with that fixed tail, allows you to pick up pace easily.
There’s still an element of playfulness in there, though, and it handles easily – overall, it feels very balanced, offering just enough fun for the trails, without taking away from the pacy qualities needed for an urban environment.
Battery
The Grand Canyon: ON 8 has a Shimano BT-E8036 battery, which offers 504Wh of power.
We managed to push out rides of just under 100km on one charge (on flatter terrain), which is decent for a battery of its size, and it worked intelligently with the motor, ensuring that the power was released conservatively.
However, when things get a bit hillier, you soon see that top-range figure drop quite a bit.
One headache is that the battery isn’t easily removable – it’s fixed by bolts to the downtube, rather than being an easy clip-in, clip-out job.
You can charge the battery on the bike, however, that isn’t ideal if you don’t have a garage, and it means you can’t easily throw on a larger battery or range extender while out on a ride.
Motor
The motor is also provided by Shimano, with their EP8 model fitted as standard.
It certainly packs a punch, with 85Nm of torque at its disposal, and that power, combined with the light-weight, helps you scamper up some quite intense climbs.
It allows the bike to feel assured on chunky terrain, but it can feel a little unnatural in its delivery at times.
When you’re in more technical styles of climbs you can feel a few unnatural jerks and pulls – be cautious in those sorts of environments with the assistance use.
The motor display is a big downside, though, it only offers you 5 LED lights to show how much battery you have life, rather than a percentage figure – it created a lot of range anxiety while out riding for us.
Suspension
It’s a hard-tailed e-MTB and comes with 120mm of travel in the front end.
It’s fitted with RockShox Judy Silver forks, which aren’t the highest-performing forks we’ve ever ridden on, but they do offer enough cushioning to be able to take a degree of uncomfortable terrain.
However, it isn’t a set-up to take on the big hits and the uncomfortable downhill-style routes.
The bike has enough in the suspension to take you out of an urban environment and enjoy some trail riding, but it’s not geared up for anything more than intermediate-level rolling trails.
The rear fixed end helps you maintain pace on the flats and climb adeptly.
Wheels/Tyres
The e-MTB has a 29-inch wheel set-up at the front and rear, with Iridium SH rims and Schwalbe Nobby Nic Performance tires.
They have a wide 2.6-inch tread, which provides stability on the trail and they contribute to the overall ease of use of the bike.
We found a few issues, though, with the tires picking up a few punctures more quickly than we would like – particularly when pushing hard into a corner, they seemed to pinch a bit.
Brakes/Drivetrain
The e-MTB comes with a pair of Shimano MT2000 brakes, which are a no-thrills option, but do just about enough.
And you get a 12-speed Shimano Deore XT drivetrain, which offers speedy shifting and copes well with the pressure from the motor power.
Final Thoughts
The Grand Canyon: ON 8 is a good bike to turn to in the early stages of your e-MTB career – it offers some decent stats in the electrics department and has an ease of us.
It straddles the urban and trail environment well, making it a versatile beast, but it is limited on rougher terrain.
Despite being appealing to an entry-level rider, it also offers enough playfulness to carry you through into the intermediate stage of your riding career, and it comes at an affordable price.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Germany – 3-5 working days
- Rest of Europe – 3-7 working days
- Rest of world (US included) – 1-2 weeks
- Bike shipping fee - $60
Ride Up 1 Prodgy XC
Good for – Trails, low budget
Price – $2,195
Peaks:
- Price
- Versatility
- Motor performance
Troughs:
- Weight
- Brake performance
- Suspension set-up
Summary:
A solid option if you’re running on a tight budget, but want to have a playful hardtail.
There are a few issues in certain areas, but overall it performs admirably for the price.
Weight/Frame
At only 22 kg, the aluminum-framed bike offers a playful handling experience, that can take on an unexpected amount of fun on the trails.
The handling set-up isn’t too much to cope with for a newcomer to the sport, but it also offers a little extra, so the bike can venture into more adventurous terrain as the rider gains confidence.
It’s well-balanced but does have its drawbacks on seriously wild terrain.
Battery
The 504Wh Phylion battery isn’t anything to write home about, but it offers a reasonable range of around 80km.
We found it also charged at a decent pace, bouncing back from empty to full in around 4 hours.
If you need a lot of assistance, this bike won’t offer it, but if you’re cautious on your assistance use, it can offer you a good few hours of fun.
Motor
You also get a burly 90Nm of torque in the Browse TF Sprinter motor.
That’s a serious kick, which makes climbing a doddle with that overall low weight.
It doesn’t offer the smoothest delivery, but you can’t doubt its raw power – that allows the bike to cope with challenging climbs without any issue.
Just be careful when using the assistance through tight sections, the bike can overshoot at times.
Suspension
The hardtail allows the bike to remain nimble on the climbs and also helps it hit top speed quickly on the flats.
The 120mm of travel in the custom forks gives you enough cushioning on a decent level of trails, which is also helped by the playful geometry.
The bike struggles when things get particularly complex, and it isn’t made for gnarly terrain.
Wheels/Tyres
The wheels aren’t particularly great – the bike comes with a 27.5-inch custom rim set-up, with basic Maxxis Forekaster tires.
They ride ok, but without excelling – it can feel a bit bumpy and uncomfortable at times.
Brakes/Drivetrain
You only get 11-gears in the Shimano Alivio drive-train, which limits the bike when things are really tough – a 12-speed would be better, but fortunately you have that punchy motor.
The brakes are also a bit dismal, with a low-spec Tektro set-up.
Final Thoughts
If you’re on a low budget and need a capable hardtail, this is an e-MTB worth looking at it.
It’s a notably lower standard compared to the rest of the bikes in this review, however, compared to many bikes at this price, it’s particularly good – it makes it our best electric hardtail mountain bike under £3,000 in the UK & under $3,600 in the US.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free delivery US mainland, $400 extra to Canada
- Delivery time – between 5 and 10 working days
Overall Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed our guide to the best hardtail electric mountain bikes.
We’ve included bikes which straddle a number of riding styles from touring and trail riding, to hybrid commuters and pacy cross-country numbers.
The hardtail ebike market offers lots of versatility and many different potential riding adventures – they may not offer wild downhill trails or jump park capabilities, but they are often fast moving and robust.
Have a think about what sort of hardtail riding escapades you want to get up to and then get out there and hit the trails on one of these excellent e-MTBs.
