Electrifying Choices

The Best EMTBs 2024

There are more EMTBs than ever. On our sister portal emtb-test.com/en/, we took a close look at the 160 mm class. The 6 most exciting all-mountain EMTBs range from affordable to super lightweight, setting thrilling trends.

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With all our platforms, we pursue one goal: We want to help you find your dream MTB. Our motto “ride better bikes” applies regardless of whether you prefer to ride with or without a motor. For the e-bikers among us, we have prepared all available EMTBs uniformly on emtb-test.com and included the most exciting models for testing. And we’ve featured the 6 best EMTBs of 2024 in our highlight article.

Read the full article on the best EMTBs 2024 at emtb-test.com

EMTB in the Bike Park — Modern EMTBs with 160 mm are also fun on the descents and don't shy away from bike park use.

ride better bikes editors' choice — One of the newly introduced EMTBs for 2024 has even earned our Editors Choice Award. With this accolade, we recognize models that stand out significantly from the market.

An encouraging general message: EMTBs will be significantly lighter in 2024. This table of EMTBs with 160 mm of travel, which we recently tested on emtb-test.com, clearly shows that weight is mainly influenced by battery size and only secondarily by price.

BIKE	MOTOR		WEIGHT	PRICE
Specialized S-Works Epic	Specialized Turbo 1.2 SL	320 Wh	38.8 lbs	€14,000
Mondraker Neat	TQ HPR50	360 Wh	17.9 kg	11.999 €
Orbea Rise	Shimano EP801 RS	630 Wh	19.7 kg	11,199 €
Santa Cruz Heckler	Shimano EP801	720 Wh	22.4 kg	€10,999
Santa Cruz Heckler SL	Fazua Ride 60	430 Wh	19.3 kg	€9,999
Cannondale Moterra SL	Shimano EP801	604 Wh	19.9 kg	€ 9,999
Mondraker Crusher	Shimano EP801 RS	720 Wh	23.55 kg	9,499 €
Norco Sight VLT	Shimano EP801 RS	900 Wh	27.1 kg	6,999 €
Cube Stereo Hybrid One55	Bosch CX	725 Wh	23 kg	6,999 €
Focus Jam² SL	Fazua Ride 60	430 Wh	19.7 kg	6,899 €

The full article on the best EMTBs 2024 is available on emtb-test.com

lightest Enduro E-MTB — We have already had several test eMTBs with 160 mm travel on our scale. The trend towards less weight is clearly noticeable. Full-power eMTBs are breaking the 20-kilogram mark for the first time in 2023.

What still annoys about e-MTBs in 2024

Even though EMTBs in 2024 are riding better than ever and the progress is undeniable, we need to put the finger on the industry’s sore spots here. We’ve ridden over 20 different EMTBs to make the selection for this article. And it quickly becomes clear that there are mainly three points that are screaming for improvement.

Sound: The rattling noise from most motors on the trail is annoying.
Battery concept: Permanently installed batteries are fine for some riders, but certainly not the optimal solution.
Prices: High-end is awesome, but we need more good and especially affordable bikes.

Thema Motorenklappern auf dem Trail: It is our opinion that it is unacceptable for Shimano and Bosch, the biggest motor manufacturers, to more or less accept a loud rattling noise from their units during descents. TQ and Specialized demonstrate with their motors that modern E-MTB motors can not only be very quiet under load, but also completely silent while surfing down the trail. This must be the benchmark. Shimano and Bosch urgently need to catch up here.

Shimano EP801 — The hardware of the Shimano EP801 motor is a bit outdated and still clatters loudly on the downhill trail.

Bosch CX — Even Bosch's CX motor, the classic among EMTB motors, still rattles annoyingly on the trail when going downhill.

More and more E-MTB manufacturers are also relying on a non-removable battery. This significantly reduces the complexity of the frame construction. Thus, bikes with a non-removable battery not only become lighter and stiffer but also cheaper in manufacturing and design. However, bikes like the Mondraker Neva or the Canyon Spectral:ON CF show that there is another, practical solution. In both models, the battery can be removed through a small opening in the bottom bracket area. This combines the best of both worlds. By doing so, the bikes remain light and stiff, and you are not completely dictated by a fixed battery strategy. Having to loosen one or two screws is not a problem for the option of changing the battery. The “take it or leave it” battery solution, on the other hand, is.

Battery Concept E-MTB — For us, the ultimate solution to the battery question: Some models like the Mondraker Neat or the Canyon Spectral:ON CF make it possible to remove the battery through a small opening in the bottom bracket area.

Battery Removal EMTB — Other manufacturers, like Conway, use a large opening in the down tube. While this allows for very quick battery changes, the stiffness of the frame suffers, and the complexity of the construction increases significantly.

Lastly, one cannot avoid discussing the current prices in such a comprehensive test. We like the technical advancements set by the top models. However, we also notice that many manufacturers completely neglect the “bread and butter” class among EMTBs. There is a need for more attractive EMTBs in a price range of 5000 € and below. Canyon has recently proven that with its new Neuron:ON. Additionally, two bikes from this selection show that a good EMTB does not necessarily have to cost 10,000 € or more.

The Best EMTBs 2024

Reason is Key
Focus Jam² SL 8.8

Focus Jam² SL — The Focus Jam² SL 8.8 - 19.7 kg - Fazua motor - 6,899 €

Best All Mountain E-MTB 2024 — During testing, it becomes clear: The Focus Jam² SL is not an unforgiving shred machine, but a lightweight and sensible touring bike for use in challenging terrain.

Battery Removal Focus Jam² SL — The battery of the Focus Jam² SL can be removed from the down tube with one hand motion. Prerequisite: The cover must first be opened with a quarter turn of a 6mm Allen screw.

The full article on the best EMTBs of 2024 can be found on emtb-test.com

The main thing is to shred downhill
Cube Stereo Hybrid 155 SLX

Cube Stereo Hybrid 155 SLX — The Cube Stereo Hybrid 155 SLX - 23 kilos - Bosch CX motor - 6,999 €

Best Enduro E-MTB 2024 — Cube's Stereo loves descents but can also handle uphill flow. Thanks to the ultra-grippy rear tire and powerful motor, the Stereo Hybrid One55 can also conquer nasty ramps.

Bosch CX motor — The Bosch CX motor packs a punch: It takes the fear out of any climb. It pushes reliably, no matter how fast you spin the cranks.

Read the full article about the best EMTBs of 2024 on emtb-test.com

expensive jewel
Specialized Turbo Levo SL

Lightest E-MTB 2024 — The Specialized Turbo Levo SL S-Works – 17.6 kg – Specialized motor – 14,000 €

Specialized Turbo Levo SL — For a lot of money, there are many promises. Specialized offers original owners a lifetime warranty on the frame and offers it in 5 different frame sizes.

Specialized SL 1.2 Motor — The Specialized SL 1.2 motor is an in-house development by Specialized, with hardware provided by Mahle, and Specialized primarily responsible for the software.

Read the full article on the best EMTBs 2024 at emtb-test.com

Mondraker Neat

Lightest E-Mountainbike — The Mondraker Neat - 17.99 kg - TQ HPR50 motor - 11,999 €

TQ HPR 50 Motor — Nothing clatters, nothing buzzes, nothing jerks. On the trail, the TQ motor behaves as inconspicuously as no other motor.

TQ HPR 50 motor — The TQ HPR 50 currently stands as the quietest and most natural-feeling E-MTB motor on the market, though it delivers less peak power at 300 watts compared to its competitors.

Read the full article on the best EMTBs 2024 on emtb-test.com

Trendsetter
Cannondale Moterra SL

best e-mountain bike 2024 — The Cannondale Moterra SL - 19.9 kg - Shimano EP8 Motor - 9,999 €

Magura MT 7 Brake — Full commitment to brake mounting: At the rear, only a thick 200mm rotor can be installed. Nothing less.

Cannondale rear triangle — Cannondale's ultra-flat chainstays save them a pivot point in the chainstay.

Read the full article on the best EMTBs 2024 at emtb-test.com

Next Generation EMTB
Orbea Rise LT

The best Enduro E-MTB 2024 — Our Editor's Choice bike, the Orbea Rise LT - 19.85 kg - Shimano EP801 RS motor - €11,199

Orbea Rise LT Test — The suspension stays high in its travel even when riding through berms. This allows for an active riding style.

Shimano EP8 RS motor — Shimano provides the hardware with its EP8 motor. The software for the motor and battery management comes from Orbea. There is no other combination like this on the market.

Read the full article on the best EMTBs 2024 on emtb-test.com

About the author

Ludwig

... has spent more than 100,000 kilometers in the saddle of over 1000 different mountain bikes. The essence of many hours on the trail: Mountain bikes are awesome when they match your personal preferences! With this realization, he founded bike-test.com to assist cyclists in finding their very own dream bike.