Choosing an electric mountain bike involves many of the same considerations as choosing a regular mountain bike, so please read this article first.

An electric mountain bike allows you to ride more often and in more interesting and challenging terrain. And since motor-assist only works when you are pedaling, you’ll still get a workout. But you’ll be able to choose your workout and riding speed based on your fitness level and available time.

There are many similarities with the mountain bike but the biggest difference is the motor system used, the power, and battery capacity. Power allowed is capped at 250 watts but they vary in torque output measured in NM.  Battery capacity is measured in WH, ranging from 500 to 900wh.

Best Electric Mountain Bikes

	2022 Santa Cruz Heckler	Orbea Rise M20	Norco Sight VLT C2 eMTB
Frame:	Carbon	Carbon Fiber	Carbon Fiber
Fork:	RockShox Lyric Select, 160mm	Fox 34 Float Performance	RockShox Lyric Select 160mm
Rear Suspension:	Rockshox Super Delux	Fox Float DPS Performance, 160mm	RockShox Deluxe Select+ Debonair 150mm
Gears:	SRAM NX	Shimano SLX/XT 1x12	SRAM SX GX Eagle 1x12
	View at Competitive Cyclist	View at JensonUSA	View at JensonUSA

For more of my MTB biking recommendations, have a look through these popular Outside Pursuits guide links: MTB Shoes, MTB Helmets, MTB Pedals.

Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated eMTBs For 2021

1. 2022 Santa Cruz Heckler
2. Orbea Wild FS H30 E-Mountain Bike
3. Norco Sight VLT C2 Electric Bike
4. Specialized Levo Comp Alloy 2022
5. Devinci AC NX 11s E-MTB

Our reviews of the top-rated eMTBs along with a comparison table and buyers guide will help you choose the right one for you.

eMTB Reviews

#1 2022 Santa Cruz Heckler

The new Heckler is the second iteration of the Heckler emtb offering and it is much improved over the outgoing model

The key attributes are a powerful but smooth and quiet Shimano EP8 motor with 85 nm of torque ready to be configured for a rider’s style and preference. The battery is now a 720wh, a significant upgrade over the previous model’s 504wh and a leader among most of the emtbs in the category.

Drivetrain duties are handled by SRAM NX which is not the lightest but ideally suited for the demands of a high-torque motor coupled with strong rider power. Brakes are 4-piston Sram Guides, ready to decelerate this capable steed with power and control.

The bike is available in a variety of component specs and an option for 29er wheels or  29er front w/ 27.5 rear otherwise known as MX or Mullet.

See the Santa Cruz Heckler at Competitive Cyclist

#2 Orbea Rise M20

Orbea is a Spanish brand that is well known for its excellent XC, trail, and enduro bikes. The Rise is a revolutionary bike designed to be light and agile.

Instead of the typical 52+ lb weights, the Orbea Rise family weighs in between 37 and 42 lbs.  This weight is achieved by using less power from the motor and employing smaller and lighter batteries for the task.

This results in a very natural feeling bike that is nimble in corners and in the air.  On climbs, the 60nm of power is enough to assist the rider on even the steepest hills.

Want to go on a really big ride? You can mount an additional battery in the place of the bottle cage to get extra range.

The display is also Bluetooth and ANT+ compatible, so you can connect accessories like a heart rate monitor.

A 1×12 Shimano drivetrain with a wide-range cassette gives you all the gears that you might possibly need in the mountains.

Travel is a trail-ready 150mm front and rear so it is ready for most adventures without feeling sluggish and overdamped.

When it is time to stop, the 4-piston Shimano brakes have got you covered, as do the 2.4” tires for excellent traction.

See the Orbea Rise M20 at JensonUSA

#3 Norco Sight VLT C2 eMTB

Norco makes bikes that have great suspension design and handling on the trail. The Sight VLT is no different. Norco has clearly designed this e-bike to be lots of fun to ride.

The chainstays have been kept short to make it as easy as possible to maneuver and jump. Backing up the excellent suspension design is a RockShox Deluxe with the fantastic Debonair damper.

At the front is the top-performing Lyric fork. These work together to smooth out rough trails and give you excellent traction.

SRAM provides the gears and brakes. The wide range SX/GX Eagle 1×12 drivetrain will get you to the top of the biggest mountains with its 50-tooth sprocket. When it is time to descend, Guide RE 4-piston brakes give you tons of stopping power.

The Sight VLT has a clean look, with the battery integrated inside the frame. An incredible feature is the buyer can choose a 450wh, 700wh or 900wh battery at the time of purchase. This allows the buyer to customize the application and the weight of the bike for their preference.

Being fun to ride and offering a massive range combined with excellent components, the Norco Sight VLT is the perfect e-bike for big adventures in the mountains.

See the Norco Sight VLT C2 at JensonUSA

#4 2022 Specialized Levo Comp Alloy

The 2022 Levo is the third generation of the line and it has the engineering and improvements that come with years of experience in the category. It enters the realm with mullet-style wheels for agility and a modern geometry supported by the capable suspension. 90nm of torque and 700wh of battery usually seal the deal with most buyers.

The Levo comes with a fully integrated Turbo Full Power 2.2 motor, 700Wh battery, and Turbo Connect Unit that delivers 90Nm of torque and 565W of power for up to five hours of ride time.

The Comp model of the Specialized Levo Alloy comes with a SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain. This includes a cassette that has a hill-crushing 10-52T gear range that makes climbing and pedaling through rough terrain a breeze. SRAM Code R 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power so you can descend under control.

Specialized 29 hookless alloy tubeless-ready rims are paired with Butcher and Eliminator tires that can be set up tubeless for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats. With the X-Fusion Dropper Post, you’ll be able to quickly lift and lower your saddle with the press of a lever.

See the 2022 Specialized Levo Comp Alloy at JensonUSA

#5 Devinci AC NX 11s E-MTB

If your riding involves steep, technical descents with features like drops and jumps, then the Devinci is the e-bike you want to take with you.

It is related to the top-performing Spartan enduro bike from Devinci and it shares the same modern geometry. The slack headtube angle and low bottom bracket height both give you confidence on steep terrain.

Connecting you to the trail are extra-wide 2.8” Maxxis Minion tires and traction is further enhanced by the excellent Fox fork and shock.

Both are highly tunable and will serve you well, ironing out both small bumps and soaking up big impacts as well as heavy landings. It is the medium and big impacts where you will especially notice the long travel of the rear suspension and fork.

You get a wide range SRAM 11-speed drivetrain made up of reliable NX and GX components. SRAM also takes care of stopping duties with their 4-piston Guide RE brakes.

All of this combines to make an e-bike that will get you to the top of any climb before helping you confidently negotiate any feature on the way down again.

See the Devinci AC NX 11s at JensonUSA

eMTB Comparison Table

Electric Mountain Bikes		Frame	Fork	Rear Suspension	Gears
2022 Santa Cruz Heckler		Carbon	RockShox Lyric Select, 160mm	Rockshox Super Delux	SRAM NX
Orbea Rise M20		Carbon Fiber	Fox 34 Float Performance	Fox Float DPS Performance, 160mm	Shimano SLX/XT 1×12
Norco Sight VLT C2 eMTB		Carbon fiber	RockShox Lyric Select 160mm	RockShox Deluxe Select+ Debonair 150mm	SRAM SX GX Eagle 1×12
2022 Specialized Levo Comp Alloy		Alloy	Fox Rhythm 36, 160mm	Fox DPS Performance	Sram GX 1×12
Devinci AC NX 11s E-MTB		Aluminum	Fox Float 36 Performance Elite 180mm	Fox Float DHX2 Performance 170mm	SRAM NX/GX 1×11

How to choose the Best eMTB – Buyers Guide

Components

All the parts of a bike that are not the frame, motor, or battery are referred to as the components. Many of the components found on e-bikes are stronger and durable than those found on comparable non-e-bikes. The reason for this is that the motor and total weight of an e-bike subject the components to stronger forces than can be generated with leg power alone.

It is important to look at the quality of the components that come on an e-bike. Not only will they influence things like comfort, ease of use, and stopping power, but also the amount of money you will need to spend maintaining or replacing parts down the road.

Cheap components wear out fast or may not work to an acceptable standard in the first place. It pays off to spend more money and get reliable parts that are capable of dealing with the demands of an e-bike.

However, many premium mountain bike components do not offer any performance advantage apart from being light. This is great for XC racers but weight savings on an e-bike are not so important because the large and strong frame combined with a heavy motor and battery adds up to a large total weight anyway.

Spending more to save a few ounces from a derailleur is not worth it when the total weight of the e-bike is around 50 pounds anyway.

Brakes

E-bike brakes should be very powerful. Often, e-bikes will use the same four-piston brakes as downhill bikes. With all the torque generated by the motor, e-bikes need strong e-bike-specific chains that will not wear out fast or snap.

Handlebars & Stem

Other components like the handlebar and stem are also the same used on downhill or enduro bikes to provide the required strength and stiffness.

When it comes to wheel size, you will find e-bikes with either 27.5” or 29” wheels. Some even have one of each, with the larger wheel on the front.

Wheel Size

There is a lot of debate about which wheel size is best. Put simply, a 29” wheel rolls easier over rocks, roots, and any other objects on the trail but is not as strong as a 27.5” wheel, which also feels a bit more connected to the trail.

Tire choice has a massive influence on the handling of an e-bike. Tires need to match the terrain and season. Generally, e-bikes have tires with deep treads. Many e-bikes use plus-size tires that are 2.6” or 2.8” wide for extra traction.

Seatpost & Saddle

The saddle is what you sit on and it is connected to the frame with a seatpost. To really enjoy descents without the seatpost getting in the way, we recommend you find a bike with a dropper post.

With the push of a button, you can lower the seat out of the way for a downhill section and raise it again when it is time to pedal. You can find out more about dropper posts here.

Fork

The primary function of a fork is to hold the front wheel in place. A suspension fork is attached through the head tube of the frame and the handlebar is clamped on at the top of the fork via a stem. In order to allow steering, the fork must be able to turn in the frame. Bearings at the top and bottom of the head tube allow this.

Forks can be rigid but most mountain bikes have a suspension fork. Suspension on a bike smoothes out the trail, allowing you to ride faster and enjoy better traction. Rigid forks do not absorb any pedaling energy and can be found on some XC bikes.

Motor

With more motor power, you can get to the top of climbs faster but the tradeoff is that the battery is used faster. Do not assume that more motor power equals more speed. Most e-bikes for mountain biking offer pedal assistance up to 20mph, after which you will need to rely on your leg strength.

While it is possible to tune motors to get assistance up to higher speeds, this often means that your e-bike has technically become a motorbike and is not allowed on trails. Even if you intend to leave your e-bike as it is, check the access rights of your local trails before making a purchase, and do not break the rules.

Another thing to look out for is how much noise the motor makes. Does it bother you if it is not quiet? Consider also how the bike is to ride once you reach the pedal-assistance limit. Some e-bikes are easy to pedal whereas others have quite a lot of drag in the system.

Where the motor is integrated is also important. All e-bikes generally have a hub-drive on the rear wheel or a mid-drive motor that is integrated into the frame. The latter is better for mountain biking as it keeps the weight central. As a result, all serious e-bikes for mountain biking have a mid-drive motor.

Battery

As mentioned above, more motor power will deplete a battery faster. Exactly how long a battery lasts depends on a couple of factors. The first is the capacity of the battery. Measured in watt-hours (Wh), this number is an indication of how many hours the battery can put out 1 watt of power before it is empty.

This does not translate exactly to the amount of time that an e-bike battery will last, as this is also influenced by things like rider weight, the terrain being ridden, and the riding mode being used.

The combination of all of these factors equals the riding range. Some e-bikes have displays on the cockpit to show you how much time or distance you can get out of the battery before it dies. If you want to carry another battery with you, most e-bikes have interchangeable batteries so you can install a fresh one.

E-bike batteries can either be mounted externally or internally within the frame. Neither has a performance advantage but an internal battery leaves space on the frame for bags, water bottles, or even a spare battery.

One last thing to consider regarding the battery is how long it takes to recharge. Larger capacity batteries require longer but you can expect an e-bike battery to need 3-5 hours to fully recharge.

Frame Type

E-bikes are available as hardtails and full-suspension bikes. Both will climb well but if you want to ride high-alpine or technical trails, it is advised to get one with full suspension. How much suspension travel you need depends on what kind of trails you ride.

You can find e-bikes with between 100mm and 200mm of suspension travel. Shorter travel e-bikes accelerate faster whereas longer travel is better for rough descents. 150mm of travel is a good mid-point that will get you a very capable e-bike.

Regarding the frame material, do not assume that carbon is better. The weight savings of carbon are irrelevant on an e-bike so it comes down to stiffness and how the bike feels.

Price

In general, e-bikes are not cheap. They cost more than a regular mountain bike mainly due to the motor and battery, but also because of the stronger components. If you are looking to spend as little money as possible, you should probably reconsider whether an e-bike is the right kind of bike for you.

How We Researched

To come up with the top electric mountain bikes, we researched a variety of sources for reviews such as Competitivecyclist, JensonUSA, REI, EVO along with our own personal experiences.

We also consulted online magazines for product research and reviews to get as much unbiased information as we could. To help weed out fake reviews we used Fakespot.com to make sure we only looked at genuine reviews.

With so much quality gear available, we had to narrow it down based on what we felt were the best options for the price. The author, Richard Bailey has a wide background in mountain biking in a variety of countries, terrain types, and bike packing for weeks on end.