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 out, electric mountain bikes are a game-changer, providing a new level of freedom and adventure.
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 bike models with both front and rear suspension to tackle steeper, chunkier terrain.
Benefits of an Electric Mountain Bike
The electric motor makes all the difference out there on the trails. 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 typical city e-Bikes, which rarely exceed 60 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque, electric mountain bikes frequently push out more than 70 Nm, with specific models exceeding 90 Nm. The increased torque threshold allows you to reach higher speeds on ramps and clear steeper inclines safely.
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 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 to 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 electric mountain bike is designed to be durable, impact-resistant, and more comfortable than standard city-going bikes. These elements include stronger frames, full-suspension systems, quality saddles for enhanced comfort, higher-quality chains and pedals, and even high-durability paint jobs.
E-MTBs are compatible with various accessories to enhance your long-distance trail biking experience, such as range extender battery packs, 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-Bikes
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-Bikes
Cannondale’s journey began in 1971 with the quirky, first-ever bike-towed trailer, the Bugger. Founders Joe Montgomery and Murdock MacGregor initially focused on cycling gear before moving into full bike production, with the brand making its mark with reliable aluminum frames and pushing bold frame innovations.
Cannondale has a strong racing pedigree, including Tour de France sponsorships, models across all categories, and high-quality electric bikes. The brand’s e-Bike fleet spans all categories, from road e-Bikes to gravel and mountain bikes. Cannondale isn’t afraid to shake things up with unique features and tech-savvy details.
Bulls e-Bikes
This German manufacturer is most well-known for their enthusiast and competition-rated mountain bikes, combining ruggedness with high-capacity batteries for maximum performance.
Giant e-Bikes
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-Bikes
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 manufacturing high-quality mountain e-Bikes for enthusiasts of all backgrounds.
Orbea e-Bikes
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-Bikes
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.
Specialized e-Bikes
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.
Yamaha e-Bikes
Yamaha is among the oldest and most trusted e-Bike manufacturers. The Japanese company released its first electric bike model in 1993. Today, Yamaha currently manufactures more than 300,000 units per year.
Why You Can Trust Upway
Our thorough inspection process ensures a professional mechanic inspects, repairs, and certifies every electric mountain bike we carry, ensuring 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.
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!