The best electric mountain bikes make ascents a lot easier, while providing all the performance and handling you want on the way back down. They add some extra power on the flat too.
You can turn your focus to climbing the steepest, most technical slopes you can find – or just go longer and faster with a grin from ear to ear. The ability to cover ground quickly means you can go out and explore places you wouldn’t otherwise consider.
Another reason why eMTBs are taking over is they enable you to ride in ways you otherwise couldn’t. As the anatomy of electric mountain bikes becomes more refined, their handling increasingly rivals – and in some cases exceeds – that of non-assisted mountain bikes.
For more on what to look for when buying an eMTB, read our buyer’s guide at the bottom of this article. Otherwise, check out our guide to the best electric bikes for advice on choosing the right ebike for you.
If your riding will not be exclusively off-road, the best electric gravel bikes are worth considering instead. Elsewhere, motor-assisted miles on tarmac call for the best electric road bikes.
To read more about electric mountain bikes, jump to our eMTB buyer's guide.
This best list was written by our staff writer, Nick Clark, who has brought together expertise from across the team while adding his personal experience in the saddle.
The reviews in this buyer's guide were written by Alex Evans, Luke Marshall, Tom Marvin and Robin Weaver.
Editor's note: we updated our best electric mountain bikes list on 17 September 2026 with our latest high-scoring review, including the Atherton S.170E.2, Merida Lithos 8000, Amflow PX Carbon Pro, Marin Alpine Trail E2 Bosch, Whyte Kado RSX and Yeti LTe T4. We have also removed bikes no longer available for purchase. We have updated information in our buyer's guide to reflect the current electric bike motor landscape.
Best electric mountain bikes in 2026
Santa Cruz Vala CC X0 AXS RSV
- £9,999 / $11,499 as tested by Alex Evans
- Pros: Comfortable, grippy, supple, supportive suspension; Goldilocks geometry; lightweight; battery range; motor power and feel; spec choices; confidence-inspiring ride feel; lifetime bearing and frame warranty
- Cons: None
Our senior technical editor Alex Evans claimed the Santa Cruz Vala is the best bike he's ever tested (and he's ridden a fair few).
The new Vala has adopted the Horst-link suspension design rather than the brand's long-standing Virtual Pivot Point (VPP), resulting in the mid-weight eMTB topping out the leaderboard among 150mm-travel mountain bikes.
The smooth suspension has an appetite for big hits, while the balanced geometry works a treat with the Bosch Performance Line CX motor, making the bike easy to power up the climbs. Given the 600Wh battery, the bike is also remarkably light at 21.51kg (size large), which helps justify the rather juicy asking price.
- Read more: Santa Cruz Vala CC X0 AXS RSV review
Atherton S.170E.2
- £7,999 / €7,599 as tested by Luke Marshall
- Pros: Incredibly composed; impressive grip and suspension control; Avinox motor combines power with precise delivery; excellent specification; competitive price
- Cons: Smaller battery than rivals; not the best technical climber; rear tyre may wear quickly; rear rim damage in testing
The Atherton S.170E.2 is a full-power eMTB with huge power, exceptional suspension and confidence-inspiring handling.
Its Avinox M2S motor delivers up to 150Nm of torque and 1,500W in Boost, but its precise power delivery makes the bike easy to control on technical climbs.
The 170mm DW4 rear suspension and 180mm RockShox ZEB Ultimate fork provide excellent grip and composure, while the mixed-wheel setup helps the bike feel surprisingly nimble.
The 700Wh battery limits the range compared to some rivals. The soft DH tyres also wear quickly and the rear rim was damaged during testing.
- Read more: Atherton S.170E.2 review
Merida Lithos 8000
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- £8,500 / €8,899 as tested by Luke Marshall
- Pros: Suspension delivers exceptional grip, support and control; natural handling that inspires confidence immediately; feels composed yet agile for its weight
- Cons: Bosch motor can surge unpredictably from a standstill; weight becomes apparent when lifting or correcting the bike uphill; brake bite-point consistency is dependent on a good bleed
The Merida Lithos 8000 is a full-power enduro eMTB that combines superb suspension with natural, confidence-inspiring handling.
Its 174mm of rear travel and RockShox Ultimate suspension deliver excellent grip and control, while the mixed-wheel setup makes it surprisingly agile for a 24.5kg bike.
The Bosch Performance Line CX-R motor provides strong assistance once moving, and the removable 800Wh battery gives plenty of range with the option of a lighter 600Wh pack.
It also comes with well-judged SRAM GX Transmission and DT Swiss HX 1700 wheels.
The Bosch motor can surge from a standstill, and the brakes need a good bleed to feel their best, though.
- Read more: Merida Lithos 8000 review
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Orbea Rise LT M-Team
- £8,943 as tested by Alex Evans
- Pros: Well-balanced geometry; supportive suspension; responds well to hard riding
- Cons: Quite harsh; mid-size hits could be absorbed better
The Rise LT M-Team is Orbea's range-topping lightweight electric bike, featuring a drool-worthy spec and flashing plenty of Fox Kashima. This LT (Long Travel) model has 150mm of rear-wheel travel matched to a 160mm Fox 36 Factory fork.
Shimano’s latest EP-801 motor moves the bike well, offering 85Nm of torque and is mated to a 420Wh battery, although you can spec a 630Wh unit.
We found the suspension to offer plenty of support, although the bike didn't seem as forgiving as others we've tested, with mid-size hits not being absorbed very well. However, we like the bike's handling, with its fast and agile character making for playful descending whatever the gradient.
- Read more: Orbea Rise LT M-Team review
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Santa Cruz Bullit X0 AXS RSV
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- £9,999 as tested by Alex Evans
- Pros: Confident geometry; excellent suspension; great spec
- Cons: 800Wh battery capacity would tick more boxes; pedal strikes
The Bullit gives up Santa Cruz's famous VPP, but we found its suspension to be smooth and controlled, eating up the rough stuff and supporting through compressions.
The bike's climbing and descending characteristics are class-leading, and we found the motor and battery combined to give the Bullit excellent range.
This X0 AXS RSV displays some of the industry's best tech, and while it's not cheap, it is on a par with its rivals.
We found the low bottom bracket resulted in a fair few pedal strikes, and a larger battery capacity would make it a top-dog big-travel bike.
- Read more: Santa Cruz Bullit X0 AXS RSV review
Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo 4
- £12,499 / $13,499 / €14,499 as tested by Robin Weaver
- Pros: Well-balanced suspension; worthwhile geometry adjustment; smooth power delivery
- Cons: Pricey
Specialized's S-Works Turbo Levo 4 is the flagship model in the Turbo Levo range and features the brand's most powerful motor yet, with 111Nm of torque and 720W of peak power.
We found the bike offered plenty of grunt for technical climbing, with power delivery smooth throughout various cadences.
On descents, the bike feels incredibly balanced, giving the bike the calmness of a much burlier beast.
It comes at a cost though, and the impressive motor details are only available on the S-Works model.
- Read more: Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo 4 review
Whyte E-Lyte 150 Works
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- £9,999 as tested by Alex Evans
- Pros: Fantastic downhill and good uphill; decent weight; long-lasting battery
- Cons: Motor prefers high cadence; oversized chainring; fragile rear tyre
Winner of our Lightweight eMTB of the Year award, the Whyte E-Lyte 150 Works' perfectly poised ride enables it to master challenging trails.
When pushed to its limits downhill, few lightweight electric mountain bikes can challenge the E-Lyte 150 Works. Its geometry isn't excessively slack and the weight isn't too much for the Bosch Performance Line SX Motor, so you can get back uphill in relative comfort.
A smaller chainring than the 36t specced would further improve the ride, as would an alternative to the fragile rear tyre.
- Read more: Whyte E-Lyte 150 Works review
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YT Decoy SN 29 Core 4
- £8,999 / $8,999 / €8,999 as tested by Tom Marvin
- Pros: Natural-feeling motor; feels good to jump; good value
- Cons: Controller ring feels flimsy; front end harsh
YT's Decoy SN 29 uses a Fazua Ride 60 motor, giving it up to 60Nm of torque and 450W of peak power, which it delivers in a natural-feeling way.
We found the Decoy SN 29 to have easy handling on the descents, without being a handful in the air over jumps.
In a world of £12,000 eMTBs, the Decoy SN 29 also provides good value, especially considering the spec supplied by YT.
We found the Fazua controller a little flimsy on the bar, and the front end felt harsh when plowing through jank.
- Read more: YT Decoy SN 29 Core 4 review
Amflow PX Carbon Pro
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- £8,999 / $10,199 / €9,999 as tested by Luke Marshall
- Pros: Exceptionally powerful, yet controlled Avinox motor; impressive technical-climbing ability; balanced handling; good geometry adjustment
- Cons: More feedback and less composure than rivals on rough descents; 700Wh battery trails larger-capacity bikes in range test; pricey
The Amflow PX Carbon Pro is a full-power eMTB with exceptional climbing ability, agile handling and a huge amount of geometry adjustment.
Its Avinox M2S motor delivers enormous power, but the precise assistance makes it easy to control on technical climbs.
The PX also feels light and easy to manoeuvre downhill, while its 150mm rear travel and 160mm fork give it plenty of capability.
The carbon frame offers 40 theoretical geometry combinations, with adjustable headset, bottom bracket and chainstay settings, plus the option of a mixed or full-29in wheel setup.
Our tester found the 700Wh battery limits the range compared to some, and found the suspension to be less composed than others on this list.
- Read more: Amflow PX Carbon Pro review
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Canyon Neuron:ON AL 9
- £5,199 / €5,499 as tested by Luke Marshall
- Pros: Composed at speed; considered spec; SRAM S1000 Eagle AXS Transmission; good battery range
- Cons: Needs to be ridden hard in the corners, no head tube controller
The Neuron:ON AL has excellent geometry and suspension kinematics that make the bike stable at speed, although this takes away from the playfulness the previous generation had.
Canyon delivers an impressive spec, with Bosch's latest Performance Line CX motor sitting in the frame and SRAM's S1000 Eagle AXS Transmission making shifting a painless exercise.
For more experienced riders, there is good upgrade potential if you want to push the capability of the bike.
The bike needs to be ridden confidently through the corners, with the long, low and slack frame not as nimble as other bikes in the segment.
- Read more: Canyon Neuron:ON AL 9
Marin Alpine Trail E2 Bosch
- £6,899 / $8,999 / €7,999 as tested by Luke Marshall
- Pros: Calm and confidence-inspiring; controlled suspension; good spec and powerful Bosch system
- Cons: Heavier than rivals; requires early, forceful inputs to change direction; Bosch motor can surge unpredictably from standstill
The Marin Alpine Trail E XR is a tough, stable full-power enduro eMTB that excels on fast and rough terrain.
Its 160mm rear travel and 170mm RockShox ZEB Ultimate fork provide plenty of control, while the Bosch Performance Line CX motor and 800Wh battery offer strong assistance and useful range.
The suspension stays composed through big impacts and under braking, giving the bike a reassuring feel at speed.
The specification is strong, with SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission, Maven Silver brakes and DT Swiss wheels.
At 25.18kg, though, it is heavy and needs early, forceful inputs to change direction. The Bosch motor can also surge from a standstill.
- Read more: Marin Alpine Trail E XR review
Whyte Kado RSX
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- £7,499 as tested by Alex Evans
- Pros: Quality frame; impressive warranty; sorted geometry; supportive suspension; immovable handling; Bosch motor and battery
- Cons: Not the most playful; heavy; suspension isn’t the smoothest; chainring too large
The Whyte Kado RSX is a fast, composed full-power eMTB that feels planted on rough terrain.
Its low centre of gravity and 24.31kg weight give it an exceptionally stable feel, while the 160mm Fox 38 fork and 150mm rear travel provide plenty of support and control.
Bosch’s latest Performance Line CX motor delivers up to 100Nm of torque and 750W of power, backed by an 800Wh battery.
The Kado also has a high-quality frame, sensible geometry and an excellent warranty.
Its suspension isn’t the smoothest, and the bike lacks some playfulness when changing lines. The low bottom bracket also means pedal strikes are common.
- Read more: Whyte Kado RSX review
Yeti LTe T4
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- £12,999 / $14,900 / €14,500 as tested by Luke Marshall
- Pros: Impressive suspension grip and braking control; light and agile; mullet setup transforms the descending character
- Cons: Front end is lower than ideal for an enduro bike; full-29in setup is less exciting to ride; extremely pricey; under-specced front tyre casing
The Yeti LTe T4 is a full-power enduro eMTB with excellent suspension, impressive range and surprisingly light handling.
Its Sixfinity rear suspension delivers huge grip and control on rough terrain, while the Bosch CX-R motor provides strong assistance on steep climbs.
At 22.33kg, it’s also one of the lighter bikes in its class, and the 800Wh battery delivered the strongest range result in testing.
The full-29in setup is highly versatile, but the low front end and restrained rear end limit its descending character.
Fitting a 27.5in rear wheel with the flip chip left in its 29in position transforms the bike, making it lower, more playful and more capable, but at £12,999 it’s extremely expensive.
- Read more: Yeti LTe T4 review
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How we test electric mountain bikes
We test electric mountain bikes where they belong, out on the trails and taking in plenty of elevation.
Not all eMTBs are designed for the same type of riding, so we consider this when testing but still push the capability of each model on extreme trails.
Our team has tested hundreds of electric mountain bikes over the years, so we understand what separates the good from the bad.
We go out in varying conditions and on a mix of trails to see how the bikes perform in a general sense as well as on the trails they're designed for.
Ultimately, our electric mountain bike reviews are based on the following criteria:
- Handling characteristics – how does the bike handle down the trail and does it hide its weight well in tight corners?
- Specification – does the bike come with good components that can stand up to the added wear and tear of eMTBing?
- Value vs the competition – how does the bike stack up compared to others in the market? Are you getting a good deal?
- Subjective reflections – our testing always aims to be objective, but we also recognise that some features and characteristics will suit individuals differently. We aim to reflect these in our reviews, giving you the information you need to make the best buying decision.
Why you can trust BikeRadar
BikeRadar has been an authority on bikes and cycling tech since its inception in 2007, delivering the world’s best riding advice.
We have experts testing all types of bikes, parts, clothing and accessories, from road, mountain and gravel bikes to commuting, bikepacking and electric bikes.
Our reviews are always editorially independent – with no exceptions. Our reviewers comprehensively test all products in the real world, always reflecting on performance, value and the wider market when delivering their verdicts and review ratings.
We have more than 15,000 product reviews available at your fingertips, as well as expert buying, maintenance, training, skills, health and fitness advice.
Our annual Bike of the Year test is an industry benchmark and the BikeRadar team consists of some of the most experienced riders and testers in the business.
Buyer’s guide to electric mountain bikes
Electric mountain bike types
Whereas first-generation eMTBs tended to be trail-oriented with around 150mm of travel, there’s now an increasing range of mountain bike disciplines covered.
That includes overbuilt models designed for downhill use at one end of the spectrum, including the Specialized Turbo Kenevo and the Cannondale Moterra Neo.
At the other end, there are lightweight electric mountain bikes, such as the Specialized Turbo Levo SL and the Lapierre eZesty. These use lighter, less powerful motors and smaller batteries similar to electric road bikes. That drops the bike’s weight and ups agility over more heavily built machines.
You’ll find eMTBs with either 29in or 27.5in wheels, but ‘mullet builds’ with a 29in wheel up front and a 27.5in rear are becoming increasingly common. This setup gives good stability at the front and better agility from the smaller rear wheel. Examples include the Atherton S.170E.2.
Most eMTBs are full-suspension bikes, but you can also find trail-oriented electric hardtails, such as the Canyon Grand Canyon:ON and Kinesis Rise.
Electric mountain bike motors
Popular choices for electric mountain bike motors are Avinox, Bosch and Shimano, while some lightweight motors still make an appearance on weight-focused bikes.
Avinox's entry into the market has caused some disruption, with the brand's latest M2S motor offering up to 150 Nm of torque and 1,500 W of power.
The brand also appears to have created good connections with bike manufacturers, claiming to have partnered with 60 brands at the launch of the new motor.
It feels like many are now playing catch-up to the Chinese brand.
Bosch's CX Performance Line is in its fifth generation now and remains a powerful and well-regarded motor with a large service network.
Shimano remains in the market with its EP801 and EP6 motors, though these are somewhat long in the tooth now.
Meanwhile, Giant uses the Yamaha Syncdrive Pro motor on its e-MTBs. Its Smart Assist mode uses an array of six sensors, including a gradient sensor, to work out how much power to deliver in any given situation.
A popular choice on road-going ebikes, TQ motor systems are found on some lighter-weight e-MTBs, such as the Lapierre eZesty. It’s lighter, less powerful and has a smaller battery. That means you typically need to put in more of your own pedalling effort, but it drops the bike’s weight down closer to non-assisted models. Plus, you can remove the battery completely and ride the bike without it.
Specialized has its own motor units, which it specs on the majority of its electric bikes.
The future of electric bike motors appears to be in e-CVT models, which combine motor and gearbox into a central drive unit.
Avinox and Gobao appear to be at the centre of this revolution, and we'd expect to see the first models coming through in the next year.
Electric mountain bike battery capacity
To get you up hills, produce enough power and provide adequate range, most electric mountain bikes will have battery capacities of around 500Wh to 800Wh.
An internal battery in the down tube makes for clean lines, but there are also e-MTBs with external batteries.
But, as mentioned above, eMTBs with smaller-capacity ebike batteries down to 250Wh are appearing. These trade a more limited range for lighter weight and the potential for improved handling.
