What is an Electric Mountain Bike?
Electric mountain bikes— also known as e-MTBs— combine the thrill of mountain biking with the convenience and power of electric motors. With an e-MTB, you can climb higher, ride further, and easily tackle tougher terrain. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or just starting, electric mountain bikes are a game-changer, providing a new level of freedom and singletrack adventures.
E-MTBs run wide, heavily-treaded tires and suspension systems to maintain traction and absorb impacts out on the trail. The powerful motors provide pedal assistance up the climbs so you can enjoy the descents and complete more bike park laps on every outing. There are hardtail e-MTBs and full-suspension electric bikes with both front and rear suspension to tackle steeper, chunky terrain.
Benefits of an Electric Mountain Bike
The electric motor makes all the difference out there at your local trailhead. An electric mountain bike allows riders to combine their muscle power with the integrated motor for maximum performance, letting them climb up the trails and clear rough terrain more easily.
Some of the top benefits of a mountain e-Bike include:
More Power
Mountain biking is more demanding than other cycling styles, especially considering the short power bursts and steep, technical terrain. Because of this, mountain electric bikes feature larger, more powerful motors to meet the higher torque and wattage demands of off-road biking. Most e-MTBs have mid-drive motors to optimize peak performance and weight distribution, compared to a hub motor in the rear wheel. The Bosch Performance Line CX is one of the most popular premium drive units for e-MTBs.
Compared to typical city e-Bikes, which rarely exceed 60 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque, electric mountain bikes often deliver more than 70 Nm, with some models exceeding 90 Nm. The increased torque threshold allows you to reach higher speeds on ramps and clear steeper inclines with power modes and a torque sensor.
Longer-Lasting Batteries
Electric mountain bikes feature higher-capacity battery cells to ensure a longer and more comfortable riding experience, even when using your bike’s extra power. This increased battery capacity is necessary when climbing up hills, which drains e-Bike batteries much faster. Premium electric mountain bikes may have batteries that fall between the 625Wh and 750Wh range, so you’ll have plenty of juice for more bike park laps on every outing.
Built for Rugged Trails
Every component of an e-mountain bike is designed to be durable, impact-resistant, and more comfortable than standard city-going bikes. These elements include stronger frame material, full suspension models, hydraulic disc brakes, dropper posts, higher-quality chains and pedals, and even high-durability paint jobs.
The best electric mountain bikes imitate the trail performance of regular MTBs, while adding helpful pedal-assist. That means being as lightweight as possible for responsive maneuvering through technical terrain and shedding weight to reduce extra load on the suspension system. Especially lightweight models have carbon fiber frames and lightweight motors, such as the TQ HPR50 drive unit.
E-MTBs are compatible with various accessories to enhance your long-distance trail biking experience, such as range extender battery packs and tool bags for trail-side repairs.
Upway’s E-MTB Brands
Upway carries a wide selection of mountain electric bikes for riders of all heights, builds, and budgets. Some of the brands you’ll find when browsing our mountain e-Bikes include:
Niner e-MTBs
From its inception, Niner has been at the forefront of 29er innovation, pushing the boundaries of what these bikes can achieve across various disciplines, including cross-country, trail, and endurance mountain biking. Their commitment to this wheel size has helped to popularize 29-inch wheels throughout the mountain biking world, influencing the industry's shift towards larger wheel standards.
Cannondale e-MTBs
Cannondale’s journey began in 1971 with the quirky, first-ever bike-towed trailer called the “Bugger”. The brand’s founders initially focused on cycling gear before moving into full bike production. Cannondale has a strong racing pedigree across all disciplines and produces high-quality mountain bikes and e-MTBs, including some wild innovations like its one-sided Lefty suspension fork. Cannondale isn’t afraid to shake things up with unique features and tech-savvy details. The Cannondale Moterra is one of the most popular electric mountain bikes and is an Upway best-seller.
Bulls e-MTBs
This German manufacturer is well-known for its high-quality and competition-rated mountain bikes, combining ruggedness with high-capacity batteries for maximum performance. Some of the most popular and capable e-MTBs include the Bulls Copperhead EVO AM, Bulls Iconic EVO TR, and Bulls Copperhead EVO HD.
Cube e-MTBs
Cube is a German brand that has been making bicycles since 1993. It is known for excellent value and a solid range of performance electric mountain bikes, with popular choices including the Cube Stereo Hybrid, Cube Reaction Hybrid Pro, and Cube AMS Hybrid.
Giant e-MTBs
Giant Bicycles is the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer. They offer the widest selection of e-Bikes, including a comprehensive selection of electric mountain bikes.
Haibike e-MTBs
Haibike is a pioneering German e-Bike maker specializing in mountain bikes. Haibike is most well-known among cycling enthusiasts for making the world’s first fully off-road capable electric bike, the eQ XDURO. Today, Haibike continues to manufacture high-quality mountain e-Bikes for trail riders of all backgrounds.
Orbea e-MTBs
Headquartered in Spain, Orbea is one of the world’s oldest cycling manufacturers, offering multiple lines of standard and electric bikes for all budgets. Orbea’s electric bikes are renowned for their build quality and natural feel, similar to their traditional counterparts.
Santa Cruz e-MTBs
Santa Cruz has long been a powerhouse in the world of high-performance cycling, particularly in mountain biking. Known for pushing the limits in design and innovation, the brand consistently delivers top-tier bikes built for serious trail riders and everyday adventurers.
The brand’s race team— Santa Cruz Syndicate— dominates the downhill racing circuit while the race-proven technology trickles down into consumer models. Santa Cruz has always stuck out as a fiercely authentic brand with a design philosophy that’s as playful as it is progressive. The brand’s focused fleet of e-MTBs with a carbon frame comprises the Santa Cruz Heckler, Santa Cruz Bullit, and Santa Cruz Vala.
Specialized e-MTBs
Specialized is a California-based manufacturer with nearly 50 years of experience producing quality bikes. The company makes its own motors for its electric bike ranges, ensuring mountain bike riders benefit from its many years of research and development.
Find Your Perfect Mountain E-Bike at Upway
Whether you need an electric mountain bike for trail and off-road riding or simply enjoy the extra comfort and durability they offer over standard city bikes, Upway has got you covered. Our reconditioned mountain bikes are available for up to 60% less than the retail price of new models. Shop Upway today and find the perfect mountain e-Bike for your needs and budget!
Why You Can Trust Upway
Our thorough inspection process ensures that every electric mountain bike we carry is inspected, repaired, and certified by a professional mechanic, so you get the highest-quality bike for your budget. Additionally, we offer a one-year warranty on all certified e-Bikes, including our e-MTBs. Every critical component is covered by the warranty, including the electric motor, battery system, frame, and internal electronics.