Vital's Favorite e-Mountain Bikes for 2022 2

With each passing year, electric mountain bikes get more and more legit. What’s up Vital MTBers, we’re going to walk you through our Shreddy-award-winning favorite e-mountain bikes as we head into 2022. While e-bike land is still a bit of the wild west in terms of technology and bike styles, we’ve chosen a heavy, full-sized ebike and a light-weight offering.

Prices on these ever-evolving tech-heavy two-wheelers are generally not for the faint-of-heart, so if you’re hoping to get a trail-ready e-mountain bike for less than the price of a used Yaris, you may want to brace yourself. Links to the full reviews are below, so you can do more research to decide which e-bike might be best for you. Also, keep in mind that pricing and availability on these bikes could change in the blink of an eye.

Marin Alpine Trail E2

At $6,299, Marin’s Alpine Trail E2 was our favorite full-sized e-MTB this past year. When we received bike early this year, the price was $5,999, but even with the price bump, the value-to-performance ratio is still hard to beat. We’re fans of simplicity at Vital and the Alpine Trail E2 hits a homerun with its no-frills alloy frame, mixed-wheel size and ever-present Shimano EP8 motor and drive system. The FOX Performance Elite 38 fork and DHX2 coil shock have that factory-level performance on the trail, and the Shimano SLX/XT drivetrain combo paired with Shimano SLX 4-piston brakes are durable, work-horse components and the big Maxxis tires held their own. Eventually we did swap out the front EXO+ Assegai for a DoubleDown version of the same tire for a bit more support.

All we want in a big, bruisery full-sized ebike is to turn it on and go mob the accessible bike parks, moto trails and mountain bike trails. We don’t want to waste time tinkering with gadgets and phones and charts and algorithms. The Shimano app makes it easy to set drive system preferences and forget about the electronics as we smash and blast in the dirt. The mixed wheel geometry of Alpine Trail E2 paired with 150/160mm of travel on the, poppy, linkage-driven single-pivot suspension platform felt right home with big-hitting squishy bits, making this the perfect full-sized e-mountain bike in our eyes. Way to go Marin, we’re still bummed we had to send this one back.

Long-Term Marin Alpine Trail E2 Review

Orbea Rise

Not everyone wants an ebike that surpasses the 50-pound mark, and there aren’t many players that cater to those looking for a 40-pound eMTB. Orbea, however, has been focusing their efforts on the ultra-light electric mountain bike, and the carbon Rise that Vital tested this past year met or surpassed our performance expectations. Our $10,000 Rise M-Team, while PLENTY of coin, was a hit. We rolled on the M-Team because of its beefier FOX 36 fork at 150mm travel and DPX2 shock for 140mm, compared to lighter Rise models that use a FOX 34 fork and DPS shock for 140mm front and rear. Component and even paint customization can be taken further through Orbea’s MyO program, too.

Even with our burlier suspension and a Maxxis Minion DHR II front tire and Dissector rear, our Rise was still just under 40 pounds. And while light on the scale, what stood out most to our testers was how much lighter the Rise felt on the trail, with nary a difference in maneuverability compared to a regular mountain bike on the descents and in corners. When climbing, while not having the same punch as a full-sized ebike, the Orbea did more than its fair share of the work without a compromise in distance range. The custom-tuned Shimano EP8 RS motor that Orbea uses, caps the power to 60nm instead of 85, and even though it only has a 360wh battery, our testers never went without juice. And, when compared to fellow riders on full-sized ebikes, the battery usage difference was negligible post-ride.

Remember how we love simplicity at Vital? The Rise handily checks that box, too, without the need for extra gizmos or blinking lights or buttons. It’s a simple, extremely high-performing electric mountain bike for those wanting a regular mountain bike feel.

In-depth Orbea Rise Review

Orbea Rise Hydro - the Disrupter

Wanna know the kicker going into 2022? Literally 3 days ago, the alloy version of the Rise called the Rise Hydro showed up.  Frame geometry and travel is identical, overall weight is bareley a pound heavier across models at 41 to 44 pounds, BUT the Rise Hydro features a 540wh battery which means more mileage. Orbea’s 252wh range extender can be added, so you can ride to the moon back if you want. Oh, did we mention, prices start at $5,299 and cap out at $7,299 for the Orbea Rise Hydro? We’ve only had one ride on this bike so far, but all indications are that the performance is nearly identical to its higher-priced carbon sibling. If Orbea calls asking for the Rise Hydro back anytime soon, they may just get a “new phone, who dis” response for the next year or so. Nice work Orbea, you’re on a tear lately!

Thanks for tuning in. We know that e-bikes or regular mountain bikes aren’t cheap and it’s easy to want the latest and greatest, but from everyone at Vital, we hope that the ride, not the bike, is why you’re out having fun on two wheels. We’ll see you on the trails!

See Vital's Favorite Mountain Bikes Going into 2022