Vital MTB Test Sessions: Four Exciting Electric Mountain Bikes Reviewed Head-to-Head 50

If you're ready to MAX out your fun meter at every point on the trail, E-bikes do a great job. As we discussed in a recent Inside Line podcast, we've shied away from testing many of them in the past. It was high time to see just how far they've come. Aiming for a proper sampling of the goods, our lineup includes four 150mm-travel rides from well-known brands. The bikes sport a variety of motors, features, and suspension designs, and all sizes were chosen with comparable reach values.

In this video, we break down their strengths, their weaknesses, what we think of this type of bike, and pick our personal favorites. Welcome to Vital MTB Test Sessions for electric mountain bikes. Click play, DIG IN!

It's pretty cool to feel what the infusion of a motor and battery can do to something with two wheels. For now, these bikes are expensive, limited on terrain, and an absolute riot.

Relative Performance Ratings

With a wide variety of trail features and pitches under our tires, the areas where the bikes excelled or struggled came to light. Considering how things felt on the trail, we also rated them on various performance metrics relevant to the category.

Side-by-Side Spec Comparison

About The Testers

Brandon Turman - Age: 34 // Years Riding: 19 // Height: 5'10" (1.78m) // Weight: 165-pounds (74.8kg)

"I like to have fun, pop off the bonus lines on the sides of the trail, get aggressive when I feel in tune with a bike, and really mash on the pedals and open it up when pointed downhill." Formerly a mechanical engineer and Pro downhill racer, Brandon brings a unique perspective to the testing game as Vital MTB's resident product guy. He has on-trail familiarity with nearly every innovation in mountain biking from the past several years and a really good feel for what’s what. Dirt bikes are also a big passion of his, and you'll find him lining up at hare scramble and enduro races.

Brad Howell - Age: 40 // Years Riding: 25 // Height: 5'9" (1.75m) // Weight: 165-pounds (74.8kg)

Brad started mountain biking when a 2.25-inch tire was large, and despite having threads, bottom brackets sucked. Riding in the woods with friends eventually lead way to racing, trying to send it at the local gravel pits, and working in bike shops as a wrench to fix those bikes. Fortunate enough to have dug at six Rampages and become friends with some of the sport’s biggest talents, Brad has a broad perspective of what bikes can do and what it means to be a good rider. The past few years Brad worked in the bike industry and got to see the man behind the curtain. These days, though, he just likes riding his bike in the woods with friends.

Sean McClendon - Age: 35 // Years Riding: 21 // Height: 5'10" (1.78m) // Weight: 190-pounds (86.2kg)

"Griz" is a battered veteran of MTB gravity racing. Following a major crash during the 2010 USA National Championship Pro downhill race, he put in the hours and fought his way back to health and the fun that is two wheels. Griz has ridden for a number of the USA's top teams throughout his racing career, testing prototype frames and components along the way. Currently managing US Dealer sales and the Fresh Blood amateur development team at DEITY Components, he remains motivated by the mantra "whips don't lie." You'll often find him perfecting his high-flying sideways aerial maneuvers while living the #pinelife in Idaho.

Which type of bike should we test next? Are there any models that really interest you? What test location would be best? Leave your suggestions in the comments. We look forward to your feedback!

Video by Shawn Spomer and John Reynolds