Choosing the best electric mountain bike for trail riding is trickier than ever, but there are certainly candidates who rise up above the rest and are making groundbreaking developments. In our best e-MTB guide, we’ll pick out the ones we think are the market leaders. So, pour a cuppa’, sit back and enjoy this journey through our favourite e-MTBs for trail riding…
Top 3 Electric Mountain Bikes For Trail Riding
What Style of Bike is Best for Trail Riding?
A good trail bike is an all-rounder; it has to be able to descend and climb adeptly, while also offering a playful handling experience and not giving away too much in the weight department. It needs to be fast, nimble and fun to ride, while also being robust enough to take some big hits, and still offering a comfortable ride. Versatility is one the most important aspects among the best e-MTBs, as is reliability; you need to trust it, because you’re likely to be riding hard and fast.
Cannondale Moterra Neo Carbon 1
Price: $10,051
Weight: 24.06kg
Battery: 625WH Bosch Power Tube
Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX – 85Nm torque
Suspension: RockShox Zeb Ultimate front forks, RockShox Deluxe Select+ rear shocks (160mm front & rear)
Wheels: WTB KOM Trail i30 TCS
Tyres: Maxxis Assegai 27.5in
Brakes: Magura MT7
Drivetrain: SRAM X01 Eagle
Peaks:
- Rapid charge
- Agility
- Versatility
- Maneuverability
Troughs:
- Price
- Not ideal for downhill
Summary
The Cannondale Moterra Neo Carbon 1 is right up there among the heavy hitters in the world of e-MTB trail riding.
Not only is it absolutely dripping in high-spec components, including the best Bosch motor readily available, and one of the best brake setups you can find in the form of the Magura MT7s, but it’s also got incredible handling, which makes it a joy to ride out on the trails.
You have excellent range with the Bosch battery, yet it doesn’t come with a tonne of extra weight and it’s seriously robust; it can take on some real punishment out on the tails, yet still manages to offer a light touch feel when riding.
It’s without a doubt one of the best electric mountain bikes you can find right now and it comes in far cheaper than some of the other top models out there. A big round of applause for Cannondale for creating this gem of an all-rounder. You can read our full review of the bike, here!
Trek Rail 9.9 XX1 AXS Gen 3
Price: $13,499
Weight: 22.54kg
Battery: Bosch PowerTube 750Wh
Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX – 85Nm torque
Suspension RockShox ZEB Ultimate, RockShox Super Deluxe (160mm front, 150mm rear)
Wheels: 29in Bontrager Pro
Tyres: Bontrager SE6 Team Issue
Brakes: SRAM Code RSC
Drivetrain: SRAM Eagle XG-1299
Peaks:
- Range
- Motor power
- Motor display
- Suspension
- Strong brakes
- Adjustable geometry
Troughs:
- Price
- Battery rattle
Summary
Trek hasn't held back in any area with this beauty. The Bosch PowerTube battery has an all-day range, which will keep you out on the trails for hours of fun, yet the overall weight isn’t affected.
It comes with (what we think is) the best e-MTB motor on the market; the Performance Line CX packs a serious punch to get up the trickiest of climbs, yet it doesn’t feel weighty or hard to manoeuvre.
Despite the heavy hitting electrical components, the bike still feels very playful out on the trails and the geometry is ultra customisable, to provide a bespoke riding experience. It’s also paired with top-end SRAM components in the brake and drivetrain departments and has a plush suspension to take all the hits you throw at it.
ℹ️ This choice isn’t cheap and, although it’s an utter beast, you have to have a sizeable budget to be able to afford it. You won’t be disappointed, but there are certainly more affordable options out there.
Check out our review of this beauty, here.
Specialized Turbo Levo SL Expert
Price: $7,900
Weight: 19.2kg
Battery: 320Wh Specialized SL1
Motor: Specialized SL1.1 – 35Nm torque
Suspension Fox 36 Performance Elite forks, Fox DPX2 rear shocks (150mm travel front & rear)
Wheels: 29in Traverse
Tyres: Butcher Grid Trail
Brakes: SRAM Code RS
Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle
Peaks:
- Weight
- Price
- Natural ride feel
- Maneuverability & agility
- Brakes
Troughs:
- Forks limited
- Small battery
- Small motor
Summary
The Turbo Levo SL Expert is an ultra-light trail bike, which feels very similar to a conventional, non-battery powered, mountain bike. It’s incredibly nimble and one of the most playful e-MTBs available right now, descending like a pro and climbing just as well.
The power-to-weight ratio isn’t insignificant and you’re certainly offered a helping hand by the battery and motor, however, there is more emphasis on the rider. The bike has a serious suspension setup, which is made to be put through some punishment out on the trails and it has some of the best brakes available in the SRAM Code RS.
Specialized has achieved all this at the hugely respectable price of $7,900 – which is a real achievement for a ride in our list of best electric mountain bikes for trail riding.
ℹ️ If you’re looking for a fully juiced e-MTB this simply isn’t for you, but if you’re looking for an unparalleled riding experience, which is similar to a normal MTB, this will have you dancing in the streets. Be clear about what you want before taking the plunge.
Orbea Wild M-LTD
Price: $11,999
Weight: 19.2kg
Battery: 625Wh Bosch PowerTub
Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX-R – 85Nm torque
Suspension Fox 38 Float Factory forks, Fox Float X2 Factory Trunnion rear shocks (170mm front, 160mm rear)
Wheels: 29in OQUO Mountain Control
Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF
Brakes: SRAM Code RS
Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle
Peaks:
- Motor power
- Agility
- Forks
- Brakes
- Handling
- Weight
Troughs:
- Price
- Battery could be larger
Summary
Orbea has created something fantastic with the Wild M-LTD.
It’s one of the most balanced e-MTBs we’ve ever ridden, offering a huge amount of range, a seriously powerful Bosch motor, but keeping the overall ride feather-light.
It’s incredibly nimble and dances up the hills, yet also can take an absolute hammering on the descents thanks to its long travel suspension, robust frame and top end SRAM brakes.
It’s a lightweight e-MTB but that doesn’t mean flimsy – it’s made for aggressive riding and isn’t phased by gnarly terrain.
Although it’s a true beauty, it’s worth noting that it isn’t the cheapest out there. You can find out more about the bike, here.
Pivot Shuttle LT Team XTR
Price: $13,000
Weight: 22.5kg
Battery: 756Wh Darfon
Motor: Shimano EP8 – 85Nm torque
Suspension Fox 38 Factory Float forks, Fox Float X Factory shocks (170mm front, 160 mm rear)
Wheels: 29in Newmen Evolution
Tyres: Maxxis Assegai 3C
Brakes: Shimano XTR
Drivetrain: Shimano XTR
Peaks:
- Handling
- Motor power
- Battery
- Brakes
Troughs:
- Motor display
- Not the lightest
Summary
The Pivot Shuttle LT Team XTR is among the most playful e-MTBs out on the market. It has an incredibly progressive geometry, and an ease of handling which just screams to be thrown around the trails.
It also packs a whopping 756Wh battery, which means you can keep spinning pretty much all day without any range anxiety. That big battery doesn’t bring a lot of weight, and you have a punchy Shimano EP8 motor to get you up the climbs.
The LT stands for long travel and you have plenty of give in the suspension to take some big hits and drops, yet come out the other side shining.
It also has Shimano’s top end XTR brake and gear setup, which is reliable, responsive and comes out shining when you need it. Another one of the best electric mountain bikes available right now.
Find out more about the bike, here.
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed our best electric mountain bike list for trail riding. We aimed to provide options for different budgets and different riding styles – from the fully juiced big battery bikes, to the ultra-lightweight new wave rides.
It’s an exciting time to be in the e-MTB world – the technology is advancing at a pace and manufacturers are continually pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible. The healthy competition is leading to improved riding experiences and exciting new developments, which also help to drive down price (in some cases).
We’ve picked out our favourite five trail monsters at the moment – now get out there and give these beauties a test ride for yourself.
