Electric Mountain Bikes: Worth The Investment?

Electric mountain bikes are becoming increasingly popular, but are they worth the money? There are pros and cons to going electric, and it's important to consider your individual needs before making a purchase. E-mountain bikes can be expensive, with the added electronics, motor and battery adding around $4000 to the cost of the bike. They also have more potential failure points than a regular mountain bike, and there are fewer places to legally ride them. On the other hand, e-mountain bikes can help riders with different fitness levels to ride together, and some people find that riding an e-bike helps them to ride faster when they switch back to a regular mountain bike.

Cost: eMTBs are expensive, with electronics, motors and batteries adding $4000 to the cost of the bike

Electric mountain bikes are not cheap. The electronics, motor and battery can add around $4000 to the cost of the bike. You could buy another high-end mountain bike for that price!

While it is possible to find eMTBs in the $4000 to $5000 range, these are often consumer-direct brands, which don't always come with the highest quality components. With inflation and demand driving prices up, there is simply nothing cheap about owning an eMTB.

EMTBs also tend to be harder on drivetrain components, wheels, brakes and tires, which means you'll likely be spending more on maintenance and repairs.

Before you buy an eMTB, it's important to research your legal riding options. There are fewer places to legally ride an eMTB than a regular mountain bike. In some areas, this means riding fewer trails, while in others it means not being able to ride at all. This is a crucial step in deciding whether or not to purchase an eMTB.

Legality: there are fewer places to legally ride an eMTB than a regular mountain bike

There are fewer places to legally ride an eMTB than a regular mountain bike. In some areas, this means riding fewer trails, but in others, it means not riding at all. This is the most important step in deciding whether or not to purchase an eMTB. Before you give an eMTB too much thought, start by researching your legal riding options. An eMTB does you little good if you have nowhere to ride it.

EMTBs are a lot of things, but inexpensive is not one of them. The added electronics, motor and battery can add roughly $4000 to the cost of the bike. Quality eMTBs do exist in the $4000 to $5000 range, but those are typically consumer-direct brands, and they do not always come with the highest quality components. With inflation and demand driving prices up, there is simply nothing cheap about owning an eMTB.

EMTBs are the great equalizer, allowing riders with different fitness levels to ride together. One of the beauties of the bicycle is its simplicity and the e-bike gets us a little further away from that. Although incredibly reliable, the battery system, wire harness, display and motor itself are all one more potential failure point.

Some riders swear that they ride their mountain bike faster after spending time on an eMTB. This may seem counterintuitive, but the theory is that the e-bike recalibrates your brain’s idea of what a normal pace should be. If you’re familiar with road bike motorpacing behind a moped, the concept is similar—training your brain and muscles to operate at a higher pace. This benefit will likely apply to fitter riders who do not need the assistance of an e-bike as opposed to those who rely on it to ride a regular pace.

Reliability: the battery system, wire harness, display and motor are all potential failure points

Electric mountain bikes are a great way to get riders of different fitness levels riding together. However, there are some potential failure points to consider. The battery system, wire harness, display and motor are all one more potential failure point. Although these systems are incredibly reliable, they are more complex than a traditional bike and so there is more that can go wrong. This is something to consider when deciding whether to buy an electric mountain bike.

The battery system is a key component of an electric mountain bike. It provides the power to assist the rider in pedalling. However, batteries can degrade over time and lose their capacity to hold a charge. This can result in reduced range and performance. It is important to properly maintain the battery system to ensure its longevity.

The wire harness is another potential failure point. It connects the various electrical components of the bike, such as the battery, motor, and display. If the wires become damaged or frayed, it can cause the bike to malfunction or not work at all.

The display on an electric mountain bike provides important information such as speed, distance, and battery level. However, displays can be fragile and prone to damage from impacts or water ingress. A damaged display can make it difficult to access important information about the bike's performance and battery life.

The motor is the heart of an electric mountain bike and is what provides the assistance to the rider. Motors can fail due to a variety of reasons, such as overheating, water damage, or manufacturing defects. A failed motor can leave the rider stranded and in need of a costly repair or replacement.

Overall, while the battery system, wire harness, display, and motor are potential failure points, they are also incredibly reliable systems. Proper maintenance and care can help to mitigate the risk of failure and ensure the longevity of these components.

Performance: some riders claim that eMTBs help them to ride faster, even when they return to a regular mountain bike

Electric mountain bikes are a significant investment, with the added electronics, motor and battery adding around $4000 to the cost of the bike. They also tend to be harder on drivetrain components, wheels, brakes and tyres. However, some riders claim that eMTBs help them to ride faster, even when they return to a regular mountain bike.

This may seem counterintuitive, but the theory is that the e-bike recalibrates your brain’s idea of what a normal pace should be. If you’re familiar with road bike motorpacing behind a moped, the concept is similar—training your brain and muscles to operate at a higher pace. This benefit will likely apply to fitter riders who do not need the assistance of an e-bike as opposed to those who rely on it to ride at a regular pace.

E-mountain bikes are the great equaliser, allowing riders with different fitness levels to ride together. However, there are fewer places to legally ride an eMTB than a regular one. In some areas, this just means riding fewer trails, but in others, it means not riding at all. This is the most important step in deciding whether or not you should purchase an eMTB.

Before you give an eMTB too much thought, start by researching your legal riding options. An eMTB does you little good if you have nowhere to ride it.

Simplicity: eMTBs are more complex than regular bikes, moving further away from the simplicity of a bicycle

Electric mountain bikes are more complex than regular bikes, moving further away from the simplicity of a bicycle. The battery system, wire harness, display and motor are all one more potential failure point. This means that there are fewer places to legally ride an eMTB than a regular one. In some areas, this means riding fewer trails, and in others, it means not riding at all.

EMTBs are also a lot more expensive than regular bikes. The added electronics, motor and battery can add roughly $4000 to the cost of the bike. Quality eMTBs do exist in the $4000 to $5000 range, but those are typically consumer-direct brands, and they do not always come with the highest quality components. With inflation and demand driving prices up, there is simply nothing cheap about owning an eMTB.

However, some riders swear that they ride their mountain bike faster after spending time on an eMTB. The theory is that the e-bike recalibrates your brain’s idea of what a normal pace should be. If you’re familiar with road bike motorpacing behind a moped, the concept is similar—training your brain and muscles to operate at a higher pace. This benefit will likely apply to fitter riders who do not need the assistance of an e-bike as opposed to those who rely on it to ride a regular pace.

Before you give an eMTB too much thought, start with researching your legal riding options. An eMTB does you little good if you have nowhere to ride it.

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