MTB or e-MTB: which one is right for you?

An e-MTB is a mountain bike with a little assistance. There are many thousands of words online about the difference between MTBs and e-MTBs. It can be a very emotional subject for some people, but when you boil it all down, that is the simplest description we can think of. Unlike a motorbike, you have no throttle; the assistance only kicks in when you pedal. 

Of course, e-MTBs are not for everyone. One of the fun things about mountain biking is that there is no right or wrong way of doing it. This is why we offer a full range of both mountain bikes and e-MTBs, so you can decide which one is right for you. If you are having trouble deciding which one is better for you, this short guide will take you through some of the key points to help you choose. 

Electric mountain bikes, or e-MTBs as we call them, have only been around for 15 years or so. This was when people started pairing small motors with bicycle frames. In the beginning, it was a new “Wild West” era of bicycle design. There was much debate about where and how to place the battery and motor. Maybe the kindest thing to say about some of the earliest designs is that they would have been challenging to ride on technical trails.  

Over time, the design mayhem settled down. Today most e-MTBs are designed along similar lines, with the motor mounted where the bottom bracket would be on a regular mountain bike. Advances in battery and frame building technology mean that most batteries are now mounted discretely inside the frame too, lending the bike a much more pleasing silhouette. The placement of the motor and battery was recognised as key to unlocking the handling potential of these bikes, and our engineers work hard to optimise this to give you the best riding experience possible.  

 There is a surprising amount of legislation around electric mountain bikes. All of Canyon’s e-MTBs are built to class one standards. This means that in the EU, they have a top speed of 25km/h, and 20mph in the US. By choosing this standard, these bikes are considered in the same category as regular bicycles in most of the world, allowing them access to things like cycle lanes and trail infrastructure. Although it is worth saying that you should always check the local rules about e-MTB access, because not all trail builders are happy with them on their trails. We also think that this gives our e-MTBs the closest riding experience to a regular mountain bike, which is an important consideration for us as a bicycle manufacturer.

Canyon makes two types of e-MTB: full and mid-power bikes. Full-power bikes were the original type of electric mountain bike. They use a powerful motor and the largest battery the frame can accommodate. The downside to these full-power models is that they are significantly heavier than a regular mountain bike, which makes them harder to handle and changes the riding experience. As motor and battery technology progressed, it became possible to build e-MTBs with smaller and lighter motors and batteries. These mid-power versions do not offer quite as much power or range as a full-power e-MTB, but they are significantly lighter, which means they offer a ride experience that’s closer to a regular mountain bike. For example, we offer the Spectral in the full-power Spectral:ON version with a powerful Shimano EP801 motor and massive battery. We also make the mid-power Spectral:ONFly model, which features a lighter TQ motor and smaller battery.

There are a huge number of factors to consider when choosing between an electric and a “regular” (non-powered) mountain bike. We think these are some key factors to consider:

One thing that the sport of mountain biking does not always address well is riders without high levels of fitness, and those with health restrictions for sport. There is an assumption that everyone should muscle on, but this does not work for everyone. If you find yourself with health or mobility issues that make the idea of regular mountain biking intimidating, then an e-MTB can be a great solution for this. The assistance of an e-MTB can open up new possibilities and enable people to keep riding much later into life. On the other hand, if you are looking to maximise your cardiovascular fitness, a regular mountain bike might be a better option for you.  

All that matters with mountain biking is fun. For some people, the lighter weight and simplicity of a regular mountain bike cannot be beaten. We work hard to make the riding experience of our electric mountain bikes as close to our regular bikes as possible. But, once you have added a motor, a battery and reinforced the frame for the extra weight, it will always feel different on the trail. Different is not always a bad thing, of course. The extra weight in the frame means e-MTBs tend to carry speed through rough terrain better than a regular mountain bike.  

There is no escaping the fact that an e-MTB is always going to cost more than a regular mountain bike–you are paying more, after all, for the addition of a motor and battery. If you are considering an e-MTB, you should also think about the long-term maintenance and service costs. We work with reliable motor partners that should give you a long life from your chosen system, but, as with any mechanical product, they can experience issues. All modern e-MTBs use lithium-ion batteries that can pack a lot of power into a small space. The problem is that they have a limited lifespan and eventually will need to be replaced.  

If you are looking to cover a lot of ground in less time, an electric mountain bike is going to be a better solution for you. For people who are short on time but still want to get a full ride in, this can be a great option. They would also suit people with limited fitness who are looking to do longer rides. The flipside of this is that you are always going to be limited by the battery - at some point you will run out of power and be left with a heavy bike to pedal home - this is what e-MTB riders refer to as “range anxiety”. A regular mountain bike may not get there as quickly, but you can ride as far as your legs can take you.  

One of the often-overlooked benefits of an eMTB is that it can allow you to tackle steeper, more challenging climbs than you would on a regular mountain bike. With geometry designed for this and the assistance of the motor, you can master pitches that would have an Olympic cross-country champion sweating.  

There are so many arguments for and against each style of bike, we find that sometimes it helps to break it all down into the pros and cons.

We don’t think there is a right or wrong answer here - all that matters is that you find the style of bike that best suits you.  

We offer a wide range of MTBs and e-MTBs. Each family is designed with a particular rider in mind, so whether you choose an e-MTB or a non-powered MTB, both will give you a similar experience on the trail. We offer five families of bikes with e-MTB and MTB options. 

The Grand Canyon is the most affordable bike we make. These hardtails offer a lot of fun on the trail, but without the expense and complication of rear suspension. With modern geometry and sturdy builds, they are designed to put a smile on your face every day. If you would like a hardtail with some boost on your rides, the Grand Canyon:ON might be perfect for you. 

Our all-rounder, the Neuron, is designed to help you get in touch with your inner adventurer. With a focus on fun and calm, these bikes boast confidence-inspiring handling and comfortable suspension. If you fancy the full power e-MTB experience, we have the Neuron:ON, and for riders looking for that sweet spot in between, we have the Neuron:ONFly. 

For riders who care about how they get there as much as where they go, the Spectral is built for fun. With progressive geometry, lively suspension and burly builds, if you want to carve, send and slash your way up and down the mountain, this is the bike for you. Fancy a Spectral with a little extra power? We offer both the Spectral:ONFly mid-power version and the Spectral:ON full-power e-MTB. 

Born from racing, the Strive family is all about speed. With world-level wins for both in World Cup enduro for the Strive and World Cup e-enduro with the Strive:ON, they will charge as hard as you can. With aggressive geometry and race-ready components, these bikes are ready for the hardest trails you can find.  

From Red Bull Rampage to your local bikepark, the Torque family is ready to go big. Whether you want to send the big jumps or carve your way down the gnarliest trails, the Torque will remain composed no matter what you throw at it. If you want to ditch the shuttle truck and the chairlift, the no compromise Torque:ON means you can be your own uplift too.  

World Cup-winner, Marine Cabirou, can’t get enough of her e-MTB, “I like e-MTB for everyday riding because I love to discover new places. With the ebike I can explore new trails, I have so many around my home, so it’s just so fun to discover new ones.” Her teammate, Troy Brosnan, prefers to keep it unassisted. “I prefer MTB as it is what I grew up riding and racing, yes, an e-bike is fun and easy, but nothing beats the speed and playfulness of a normal MTB for me.” 

Enduro world cup winner Jesse Melamed, is a mountain bike guy through and through, “I prefer MTB. It's what I have grown up riding and I see no reason to change yet. I like the effort required to get up the hill and the ability to go all day long if I want to.” 

Our trail-riding Swiss army knife of a rider, Braydon Bringhurst, prefers not to decide: 

There are some questions where it is more relevant to ask whether you should do something, not whether you could–this is one of them. There are aftermarket kits available that will let you convert your mountain bike to an e-MTB, but we would advise against them every time. These kits tend to replace the rear wheel with a motor-driven wheel that you can pop straight onto your bike. Aside from the fact that our mountain bikes are not designed to have this much weight on the rear axle and this will invalidate your warranty, we also don’t think they are much fun to ride on technical trails with all this weight at the back.  

Then there is the bigger, more pressing issue of battery safety. Getting a battery from a reputable supplier is very important and with no major manufacturer offering these kits, you will need to do your own checks to verify if the battery is high quality. There is also the question of where the battery will be mounted, because none of our mountain bike frames are designed to have a battery strapped to them like this.  

We cannot say this enough times – there is no right or wrong answer here. The perfect bike is one that suits your preferences, the trails where you live, and your budget. Deciding if you want one with a motor or not is just one more factor to consider in finding your next bike. 

If you would like to dive deeper into the topic, we have both MTB and e-MTB buyers’ guides to dive into. If you are still unsure which type of bike you would like, then our model finder will take you through the decision step-by-step to arrive at the right bike for you. Torn between different models? Our bike comparison tool can help you see them head-to-head. 

When you are climbing your favourite hill then railing a nice descent, the internet is a long way away. That is how it should be, let the comments sections have their opinions, all that matters is finding a bike that puts a huge smile on your face every time - whether is has a motor, or not.