MTB or e-MTB: which one should you choose?

Mountain biking can be hard work but it's fun. Mountain bikes are primarily designed for going downhill fast. But to go downhill, you need to go uphill.

Here's where electric mountain bikes come into their own.

Like other e-bikes, e-mtbs are fitted with a motor that assists with speed. You can save your energy for the fun stuff like whizzing downhill time and again. Make light work of the crushingly steep ascents. Squeeze in one more lap of the bike park before heading home. Steep sweaty slogs are a thing of the past with an electric mountain bike.

Why would you need to fork out for an e-bike that can take on the same sort of trails as a regular mountain bike? It’s a valid question. But there's a reason both bike types exist – and it's not just convenience.

We spoke to our Global MTB Category Director Sebastian Maag to understand why you should avoid converting traditional mountain bikes into electric mountain bikes.

"In theory, you can convert any single bike into an electric bike and there are many suppliers that offer retrofit kits. But e-bikes and MTBs are classified differently and are therefore subject to different guidelines," says Sebastian, before diving into the technical reasons. "There are other forces and loads that can lead to damage. Such an intervention also changes the intended use of the product and therefore voids your warranty."

Stand an electric MTB and traditional MTB side-by-side and you'll be hard-pressed to point out the differences beyond a couple of subtle physical features. The bigger differences manifest during the ride itself.

Pedal power vs battery power

Purists will say you can't beat regular mountain bikes for really challenging yourself on the tricky climbs. Physically overcoming obstacles, gradients and terrain with just your own power is hard to beat.

Electric mountain bikes take the sting out of the trail particularly when riding uphill. A small boost means you can conserve energy, enjoy the landscape and have more fun on the descent.

Ride quality

It's hard to compare e-mountain bike rides to regular mountain bike rides. They're two very different experiences. Pedalling an enduro bike uphill will get your muscles working but result fatigue much earlier than if you rode an e-MTB. On the latter, you’ll still get a good workout, but you’ll get to the top faster.

When it comes to the descent, the two bikes ride differently due to their weight and geometry. Each bike has its own ride characteristics – like all of us. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference.

The best way to compare the two types of mountain bikes is to take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Pros of electric mountain bikes

• More relaxing to ride
• Saves time riding uphill meaning you can get in an extra run before sunset
• They make bringing your kids in the trailer with you a breeze
• Everyone can ride together regardless of ability

Cons of electric mountain bikes

• Heavier than traditional mountain bikes
• Cleaning and maintenance can be tricky
• Batteries can drain quicker in colder weather
• Batteries cannot be taken on aeroplanes

Pros of regular mountain bikes

• An excellent form of physical exercise
• No restrictions on some events or competitions
• No range anxiety (apart from how far you are from a snack stop!)
• Lighter and therefore easier to load into a car or van
• Cheaper than a like-for-like electric version
• No electric motor or battery maintenance to worry about

Cons of regular mountain bikes

• Requires more energy particularly on climbs
• No option to add power if you're struggling
• More travel often means a heavier bike (less of an issue with e-bikes)

We're lucky to have some amazing riders living and breathing bikes here at Canyon. There are many reasons why members of our team have chosen a regular mountain bike over an electric mountain bike, and vice versa.

Kari Korhonen, 42 from Rauma, Finland

I used to ride bikes everywhere. They were my life. In January 2017, I suffered an injury to my left ankle which eventually led to me losing my leg from my shin down.

I got back riding again in the summer of 2017 having been fitted with a prosthetic leg. I rode the Grand Canyon and I loved it. I had difficulty distributing the pedalling force evenly. This was especially difficult on climbs!

Once I got myself a Spectral:ON, everything changed. It helped me to understand my cadence issues and power distribution. I learned to do technical climbs - it literally transformed my riding.

After riding my e-bike, I took my regular mountain bike for a spin. I was able to climb those technical demanding climbs which I could not climb earlier!

"I would recommend an e-bike to anyone who is coming back from an injury or just trying to learn to ride bikes again."

Riding an e-MTB is not lazy at all. E-MTBs are fun: more time outside, more time on the bike. I ride my electric MTB in nasty conditions that I wouldn't ride on my regular mountain bike.

I recently spent a few days in Italy discovering new areas and trails. The Torque:ON was just perfect for it. I set up a route on Komoot and just went for it. I got lost, I went to places that I could never have reached without the motor assistance. I even mastered some really challenging climbs.

The faster you go, the lighter they feel. And if you ride your Torque afterwards, it feels like the lightest freeride bike in the world.

"I would not go for an e-MTB only (yet) as I love my conventional bikes – but as an addition to my bike garage, I love it."

I've had several e-MTBs in the past and I always end up going back to a traditional mountain bike for one reason: I struggle to control them on fast descents. While they're good for simple trails, long rides and general recreation, I really began to dread fast, technical descents. I weigh just 48kg and a 25kg bike going downhill is more than I can handle. Nowadays, I love my Lux World Cup!

We want you to have fun whilst you're out in the fresh air whether that's on an electric mountain bike or traditional mountain bike. As you have read, there are pros and cons to both.

If you're looking for physical challenge, a light and playful bike to hone your skills on, a mountain bike is for you. If you're restricted with budget, you'll find a great MTB that allows you to go on big rides.

An e-MTB will take you further for the same amount of effort as a regular mountain bike. They're great for repeated laps, particularly tricky climbs and finding more adventurous trails in your riding vicinity. The more battery capacity, the more fun you can have on the trails without needing to recharge.

They can, as we saw with Kari, be an excellent way to get back on the bike after injury or illness.

Check out our mountain bike buyer's guide or e-MTB buyer's guide for the full review of our models.