Our Pick Of The e-MTBs:From Full Sus Monsters To Practical Commuters

The surge in the popularity of e-bikes shows no signs of letting up, with leaps in technology both improving the experience and bringing costs down to more affordable levels. We have more than 100 e-bikes in stock right now, with discounts of up to 20% in our winter sale, so we thought we’d pick out four of the best e-MTBs this week and tell you what’s great about them. Firstly, some basics…

What is an e-bike?

Essentially, e-bikes are bikes with a battery-powered “assist” that kicks in when you pedal. A small motor engages and adds power to your pedal strokes, and this can often be adjusted so you can choose to have a little assist on the flat, for example. and more if you’re going up a hill. In the UK, assist is limited to 15.5mph so if and when you reach this speed, the power will disengage.

Which e-bike is right for me?

E-bike versions of most bike types are available, running the full range from full sus red route-ready moutain bikes to road, hybrids, gravel and more. Your choice of bike will be determined by what you want to use it for, just like a traditional bike. There’s also a wide range of price points, with entry level models from good brands available for not much more than £1,000 and the top-of-the-range bikes over £10,000

Below are our picks of the e-mountain bikes. Watch out for a second instalment on hybrids coming soon.

Trek Fuel EXe

Described as Trek’s biggest bike release in a decade, Fuel EXe bridges the gap between traditional “acoustic” bikes and e-bikes. It offers assist in a way that’s much more subtle and a lot quieter than what we’ve come to expect from e-MTBs, with the transition from assisted to non-assisted feeling completely natural and almost imperceptible. Responsible for all this is the new, almost silent TQ motor which delivers up to 50Nm of torque and 250W of assistance for up to five hours. The motor itself is lightweight, as is the whole rig, which is one of the main reasons why it feels like a normal full suspension mountain bike. Having now had chance to try it out on the trails, we think Trek Fuel EXe really is the future of e-bikes.

Trek Rail

Rail has been hugely popular with our customers since its launch in 2020, when it earned Mountain Bike Rider’s E-bike of the Year award. Essentially styled and specced like a Slash with assist, riders love the aggressive geometry and how it soaks up everything you throw at it, whether you’re sending it on lumpy downhills or throwing it off big drops. Rail is a reassuring ride that gives you heaps of confidence on the gnarly stuff and plenty of power to get you back up for another descent. The range runs from the Rail 5 500W at £4,600 up to the new-for-2023 Rail 9.9 XX1 AXS at £12,775. We’re currently offering discounts on five in-stock Rails, including the 2022 model of the 7, whose specs are shown below.

Trek Powerfly

Powerfly is one of Trek’s most affordable and versatile electric mountain bikes, and is perfect for rugged daily commutes and all-day trail adventures. It’s highly capable and packed with user-friendly features, with the “equipped” models coming with mudguards, rear rack and front and rear lights. Powerfly features a powerful Bosch Performance CX motor which delivers 250W of assist and up to 85 Nm of torque. Trek’s user-friendly Removable Integrated Battery (RIB) system, encased within a durable aluminium frame, gives it a great look while Powerfly also includes a 1×10 Shimano drivetrain and an SR Suntour suspension fork with lockout. Again, we’re offering discounts of up to 15% on selected in-stock models across the range.

Haibike AllTrack

AllTrack is ideal for riders who like a hardtail e-MTB which delivers on the road and on light to moderate trails. This Haibike features a Bosch Performance Line Smart System motor, powered by a Bosch PowerTube battery. Offering mountain bike ruggedness and an aluminium hardtail frame, AllTrack has a mid-travel fork and wheels that are happy on roads, gravel and trails. Alltrack is built for long days in the saddle and is an excellent entry point into the world of e-MTBs.

To find out more about these fantastic bikes or for advice on which is right for you, visit us in store in Ashford and Folkestone. We’re making electric bikes affordable, offering 0% finance with Klarna and V12.