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The eBike industry has seen electrifying growth and popularity year on year, in part because electric bikes are just huge fun to ride, with electric mountain bikes or eMTBs making up a large bulk of the sales. As with regular mountain bikes, electric mountain bikes or eMTB’s, there is now a wide variety of types and styles.

How to: Buy your first eMTB

So, where to begin when shopping for your first eMTB? Shopping for an electric mountain bike is similar to shopping for a standard mountain bike, but with a couple of twists – and more wires.

What you need to know: Buying your first electric mountain bike

Motor

The biggest difference between an eMTB and a regular mountain bike is, of course, the motor. There are quite a number of different drive unit designs on the market, with well known brands such as Bosch, Yamaha and Shimano all bringing incredible motors to the market. They all have a variet of features, and suit different styles of riding. For example, the standard-sized motors from Bosch and Yamaha have higher torque and output. Whereas some of the latest, lighter options from Fazua have less of a boost, but have a smaller profile and more compact design not adding as much weight to your bike. Designed for riders who prioritise a natural ride sensation and the seamless integration of motor and machine instead of loads of power.

Your bike’s output (Watts) and torque (Nm) numbers can help you to work out how much or how little power assist you’ll receive from the motor.

Different electric motors also sound different. There are some eMTB motors that produce an electronic-sounding whirr while you ride and others have a more mechanical sound. Some, such as belt-driven motors, are quieter while other units can be a little noisy.

Battery

You’ll be able to ride further per charge with bigger batteries (more Watt hours – or Wh), but they also add more weight to your bike. It may be all you need a smaller battery if you plan on taking short 1-2 hour rides rather than embarking on epic adventures.

Another important consideration is whether the bike uses a removable or integrated battery. Removable batteries mean you can recharge the batteries without bringing the whole bike inside and also give you the option of using a back-up battery for increased range.

Bike style

The days when brands offered a single eMTB for all kinds of riding are over. There are now electric versions of all types of bikes, from cross-country to eEnduro and borderline downhill bikes, and everything in between. One major consideration is Hard Tail or Full Suspension? Hard tails only have a suspension at the front whereas full-sus have both front and rear suspension, and depending on your riding preferences both have advantages.

Full-sus rear shock

Please see our article Full suspension Vs hardtail electric mountain bikes.

Weight

Weight is an issue with eMTBs. If you can’t ride your bike to the trails from your house, eventually you’ll need to load it into a rack or into the back of a truck/van. Some brands are aiming for lower-powered and more svelte models as they strive for lighter-is-better. Others take the position that if you’re going to use e-assist, you might as well make the bike tougher and more durable (and, as a result, heavier).

This also impacts riding style. Lighter bikes will be easier to move around on the trail, whereas heavier bikes will feel more solid and have more grip as if the bike is trying to glue itself to the floor. As eMTBs improve, some brands are dialling in the geometry and balance so that they still feel like a normal mountain bike, if still heavier.

Wheel size

In the world of electric mountain bikes, the wheel size debate is alive and well. There are brands that go for the rollover speed of 29′′ while other brands try to make eMTB more fun with a 27.5′′ model and let the motor keep the bike moving. Some brands are taking a mixed Mullet approach, using a 29-inch wheel up front and a smaller, 27.5 inch rear wheel to keep the chainstays short for better cornering.

Customization and tuning

The majority of eMTBs now include some form of customization which can be settings, displays or power levels. Many eBike manufacturers allow the user to adjust all sorts of settings, from the motor output to what metrics show up on the bike display, this can be done using an app, although some manufacturers let you make adjustments directly through the bike. See our articles The New 2022 Bosch eBike System and The new 2022 Yamaha PW-X3 motor and Interface X.

Other manufacturers keep it simple, allowing only minimal changes from factory settings. Consider a brand that lets you customize all the settings to fit your specific needs if you’re particular about the gear or like the idea of being able to tweak and change them as needed. If all you want is to get on and ride with little fuss, you might want to look for a brand that requires minimal setup and even lets you leave your phone at home (however for safety its best to take it with you).

With four stores nationwide in York, Bristol, Cambridge and Oxford and a great online presence at www.electricbikesales.co.uk. getting your dream bike couldn’t be easier. Call us on 0203 743 3333, visit our site or any of our stores. Our experienced technicians are always ready to help.