2024 EMTB SHOOTOUT
THE BEST EMTBS OF 2024
Our sixth annual eMTB Shootout and Group Review was certainly one for the books! Once again, our crew had the lucky opportunity to travel to an amazing new trail network – Howler Bike Park in Branson, MO. We compared 14 electric mountain bikes on Howler’s trails to give you the low-down on the best eMTBs on the market. The trust placed in us by our viewers, readers and the bike industry are not taken lightly. Though it adds a fair bit of stress and pressure to an already stressful undertaking, we couldn’t be more thankful.
When we founded Loam Wolf in 2017, we made a pledge to be as honest and trustworthy as possible and that cornerstone remains. Knowing that readers work hard and save money to make large purchases based, in part, on our words weighs heavily on us and we strive to give you the best information possible. We hope that our 2024 eBike group test offers you insight, knowledge, and food for thought as you consider your next eMTB purchase. Whether it be one of the 14 bikes reviewed here, or something else.
Our crew would also like to take a moment to extend a huge thank you to Schwalbe Tires and Fox Racing for returning to sponsor our eMTB Shootout. Their support was greatly appreciated as we took on the heavy load of putting this project together. Thanks to Schwalbe we were able to outfit each and every test bike with a set of Soft compound Magic Mary 2.4 tires in the Super Gravity casing. Fox Racing stepped up and ensured that our riders didn’t just look good on the trail, but also had trustworthy protection from head to toe. We didn’t have a single issue with our shoes, knee pads, kit or helmets. Having gear and product that we can trust and not think about lets us focus just on the task at hand, reviewing bikes! So, thank you to Fox Racing and Schwalbe Tires for helping us with product and means to tow along a camera crew, and feed 8 hungry crew members and transport 14 eBikes across the country. Without their support – and of course the support of our fans and viewers – this would not be possible.
Thank you and let’s get on with the show!
–Drew and TLW Crew
LOCATION
For this year’s eMTB test session, we headed east to Howler Bike Park for ten days of bike and body abuse. This bike park in Branson, Missouri, was a great location for testing. We had unlimited access to the trails and stayed on-site, enjoying Howler’s ride-in, ride-out accommodations. Howler Bike Park has a nice new fully furnished apartment, which served as our base for our time at the park. The majority of the crew slept in their “Glamping” tents, just across the creek from the pump track and Base Camp quadrant. With the park only being open to the public Thursday to Sunday, we had the park to ourselves the rest of the week. This meant we were able to take advantage of the long, quiet days in the park to maximize laps on the short, 400 to 500-foot mountains. It was pretty awesome having a bike park all to ourselves!
Like you might be, we were initially skeptical about the location. After all, we’re talking about Missouri. Being life-long West Coasters (and our one Scot), the uncertainty of testing bikes at a place with such minimal elevation had us a bit worried. We quickly learned however, that any downsides in not having huge mountains were made up for. The ability to quickly lap, learn and repeat trails was a treat for us.
Howler Bike Park made for an incredibly efficient and fun testing location. Rider fatigue can set in during the course of repeated days on long DH runs. Just going out for mega-long, epic rides wasn’t an issue either. Instead, we were able to switch between bikes often, and get to repeat the same bits of half-a-dozen trails in quick succession. This let us focus on the nuances and subtleties of each bike’s performance over key aspects of terrain.
That said, most of the bikes saw test miles on our home turf before being transported to Branson, Missouri. During this time, we were able to put some bigger miles on the bikes, in preparation for our concentrated testing.
PRICE POINTS
We do our best to listen to our readers and viewers. After all, our job is to offer value to you all. We saw enough comments over the last year from people discussing how expensive eBikes are, we decided to separate our 2024 eMTB Shootout into two categories.
Our first category had a price cap of $6,000, for those looking to maximize smiles per dollar spent. We set out to see what the best, affordable e-mountain bike under $6,000 was in 2024.
Our second category had a maximum price of $10,000 MSRP (at time of testing). This category was designed to find the best electric mountain bikes in 2024. We believe that you should be able to get all of the performance you need in a $10k e-mountain bike.
BIKES AND RIDERS
No matter if you’re looking at a mountain bike or an electric mountain bike, our crew always advises that you have an honest chat with yourself. There are so many categories of bikes these days, that every rider should be able to find their “perfect” bike. We know it can be confusing, with travel segmentation down to 10mm. There are even bikes with similar travel having drastically different geometry and intentions. We’re beginning to see splits based on “Aggressive” or traditional riding styles.
We believe that shoppers will best benefit from a little self-survey. Asking yourself key questions about what matters most will be a great place to start. Do you value a bike that offers a light and lively feel on the trail? Do you want to add some confidence for those moments where you get in over your head? Are you trying to progress as a rider and push yourself harder, or into gnarlier terrain? Do you live for backcountry exploration and big miles or prefer mellow cruising around your local trails and paths? Maybe you want to self-shuttle up fire roads, just to ride the best downhill tracks you can find?
Think about where your strengths are, what you value or enjoy most from a bike on the trail. Then ask yourself what your goals are. If you can better understand what sort of rider you are, you can begin to choose your category of eBike. For that reason, we’ve chosen to break our winning bike categories into what we hope to be useful niches. For example, our crew of riders prioritize downhill performance above all else. Even though we all love downhill most, Robert lives for jumps and Sean loves flow trails with berms. Meanwhile, Drew loves raw, natural chunk. Even our own crew debates what bike is “Best” as we all have traits that we look for in bikes. It would be remiss for us to just slap a one-size-fits-all WINNER tag on a bike. So, hopefully these sub-categories will help you find your ideal bike, so you end up on the eMTB that serves you best!
WHAT’S THE BEST DRIVE UNIT?
Without a doubt the discussion surrounding drive units is a heated one. We check message boards and owner’s groups to stay on the pulse. We have also talked with drive unit and bike brands themselves to educate ourselves on what’s going on. Of course, we also take into account the 150 plus eMTBs we’ve ridden over the last few years.
It’s safe to say that Bosch seems to be the crowd favorite, coming into 2024. We’ve only ever had a handful of drive units fail on us – one Brose, one Shimano and two Dyname 4.0. However, we are aware that Brose units found on Specialized bikes seem to be pretty frequently replaced, however we also keep in mind that they’re likely one of the most popular bikes with massive numbers in circulation. Shimano claims to have a pretty low warranty rate in terms of all out failure. However, we have experienced some codes and errors from them that do require a bit of tampering to correct. And we’ve experienced battery issues on a handful of Bosch bikes along with some weirdness from Dyname drive units. All that to say, this is still relatively new tech in the mountain bike application and we expect there to be some hiccups. How brands support customers and shops is what will separate them in terms or loyalty.
Since we don’t often get the chance to put more than 1,000 miles on bikes, our perspective on long term ownership and durability is admittedly shallow. Still, we do our best to beat on these machines, pressure wash them, and ride through the worst conditions possible. In other words, we try to expedite any issues that may arise. Still, nothing tests products quite like time and miles.
When it comes to application of power, ride quality and user experience, we’ve got a bit more to say. We’ve answered countless emails and comments from people asking us which bike to purchase. One of the most common dilemmas people propose to us is asking if we’d take a ‘better’ bike with an ‘inferior’ motor, or prioritize the drive unit above all else. Without a doubt, we’d take the better riding eBike every time. You spend more time riding the bike than you do using the motor, so we’d suggest you focus your attention to what’s going to ride best, especially when you’re going downhill, fast.
Now with Shimano’s EP801 on the scene, power isn’t really part of the Bosch vs Shimano debate, as they’re certainly much closer. While we’re not paid or endorsed by Shimano, most of our riders believe that the assistance profile of the Shimano STEPS drive unit offers a more natural and predictable feel on the trail, especially in low traction, or technical climbing applications. Still, if we were looking to race eBikes, we’d likely pick the Bosch as it seems to just hold that 20mph speed a bit easier and can get you up to speed faster.
Moving on to the other drive units in the test. This year we had Yamaha’s SyncDrive Pro2; the SRAM Powertrain (essentially a Brose with different badging), and Rocky Mountain’s Dyname 4.0. They all have strengths and weaknesses, just like Shimano and Bosch do. Depending on your cadence, weight, and the typical steepness of the climbs you encounter, your ideal motor may differ. The technicality and grip of your climbs will also give these drive units the chance to shine, or lag.
Our crew have – and will continue to – debate the merits of each drive unit system, and which one we like best. However, one thing we all unanimously agree on is that we would never let a drive unit prevent us from buying the electric mountain bike that we like best. As mountain bikers, we’d pick the best performing mountain bike first and foremost. We know that whatever drive unit is underneath us will be faster and better than our own legs. We’ve tested several bikes that have what many consider the best drive unit out, only to find ourselves counting down until we could get off that bike due to inferior performance and hop on a “less desirable” drive unit equipped bike.
The take away sentiment here? Don’t get too hung up on the drive unit. They’re all pretty damn good these days. Instead, buy the better performing mountain bike for your preferences. Unless of course you derive fun or financial compensation from always being the first one up the hill…
EMTB HOT TOPICS
What’s Got Us Excited? – Category-blurring eMTBs. We don’t quite know what to call them yet, but we’re seeing more brands offering full-power electric mountain bikes with smaller integrated batteries. Most of these offer frame-mounted range extenders to boost battery capacity for longer days. As some brands and riders battle for bigger and more battery power, we struggle to find ourselves regularly draining 750Wh batteries. Let alone monstrous, heavyweight 900Wh batteries.
We love having full power eMTB’s weighing in around 45 to 48lbs with 500Wh to 600Wh batteries for our typical rides. And the option to add 200-250Wh extenders for the bigger missions makes a “Best of all worlds” situation in our eyes. All our crew agrees that this is the most exciting segment right now. We hope to see more bikes optimizing weight and range with full power assistance.
Frame Protection – This may not be top of your priorities list, but we’d love to see better mud and debris management around the rear tire. After spending weeks riding through sloppy conditions, we saw first-hand just how bad things can get. Brands need to start investing design energy into having an integrated mud guard, fender or other deflectors. The amount of crap that gets thrown down into pivoting areas that don’t have any protection not only ruins the paint on an expensive new purchase, but, it quickly degrades the performance of the rear suspension while grinding through all that debris.
For better or worse, eBikes will get ridden through nastier conditions than traditional mountain bikes. The assistance will have riders opting to get out when conditions aren’t ideal. This means mud, water and debris management is a must have.
Integration, Power Buttons and Charge Ports – Every year we see improvements to everything from displays to frame integration and connectivity. Still, we feel some areas need to improve a bit quicker! We’d like to hear what you think too.
First up is battery mounting and security. Several bikes developed rattles, had loose batteries, or required some sort of work to get the battery to stay tight and secure. Brands who do not have removable batteries typically fare better, but still can have some cable rattle, which is frustrating. Often these cables are harder to access to fix, too.
Another area we’d like to see improved are charge ports. We’d love to see all charge port doors and charger plugs have some sort of provision to quickly line up the charger and slide it in. Bosch is specifically the worst at this, and every one of our members has spent time hunched over a bike rotating the charger trying to spin it over and push until they find the right way.
We’d also like to see all power buttons moved to the remote or integrated into the display. Shimano’s new EN600 controller solves this issue, but their integration still lacks behind most systems due to the wiring and bar-mounted screen.
Power and Range – As we touched on earlier, every brand’s drive unit will offer a slightly different experience. Whether it be how maximum power feels to the rider, optimum cadence range, efficiency, or sound. With recent updates, most brands are pretty close in terms of maximum power assistance. However, Rocky Mountain’s Dyname 4.0 stood out as the most powerful, by far. It’s also one of the most unique and quirkiest, drawing some critical comments from our testers.
When it comes to range and efficiency, we can’t begin to explain how many hours we’ve debated this topic. We’ve brainstormed, interviewed engineers, dreamt up test rigs and tried to figure out the most ideal and scientific way to possibly test this. Ultimately, we just don’t have the ability or funding to do a proper test that we’d feel confident in as it stands. We’ve got the plan on how to do it, now we just need a fully adaptable test frame that has adjustable motor mounts, so we can put different drive units in the same frame. If you’d like to donate to our eMTB Battery Range Test Lab Fund, email info@theloamwolf.com.
Since we can’t properly test each drive unit in a consistent way due to a wide range of factors, we did the best we could. We opted to use each bike in Turbo or Boost mode. Using their corresponding apps, we increased the power, assistance, and speed to maximum. Our hope was that if we gave each drive unit the direction to give as much power as it possibly can, we could develop some comparable, albeit anecdotal, feedback. We’ll be working on a feature coming soon that will hopefully explain just why we think this topic is so tricky!
THE BIKES
First, we’ll be showcasing our five budget-minded eMTBs. Each of these Sub-$6,000 electric mountain bikes were put to task on the same demanding trails. For the most part, we were quite impressed. There was a noticeable detriment in just about every “budget” eBike’s performance when we focused on certain aspects of the ride compared with the more expensive offerings. However, riders who are on a budget should be very pleased to know they can get a proper, dual suspension eBike for under $6,000. And have a lot of fun riding it!
Here are the contenders.
Our Sub-$10,000 group contained a great variety and offered some stiff competition. Once again, we had some of the crowd favorites and award winners from years past. We also had a few newbies and bikes we’ve never ridden before. In an effort to keep in line with our more budget-minded Sub-$6,000 group, we set a maximum price of $10,000 for this part of the eMTB Group Review. We believed that even the best riders in the world should be able to find a competitive and capable bike for that much money. And following the testing, we feel as if we reinforced this opinion.
Here are the contenders.
CONCLUSION
With all the bikes seeing more than their fair share of abuse over the course of our eMTB Shootout, it’s time to share the opinions of our crew. As we mentioned earlier, the quest of these group reviews isn’t necessarily to find a winner or loser, as we believe most bikes on the market are capable enough to get you down the trail. Instead, our crew sets out with the goal of trying to put ourselves in the position of different types of riders and try to suggest the best bike for different groups.
We realize that everyone rides differently, has different goals on the trail and rides a wide variety of locations. We have readers from Florida and Vermont to the Colorado Rockies and any number of wildly different riding zones on the West Coast. And of course we love our International fans who may be in Europe, Australia and beyond. For that reason, naming one bike as the BEST bike would be a disservice.
We tried to break down these 14 bikes into categories we thought would cover a wide range of riders and terrain, so that you could find yourself in one of these bikes. And if you don’t see a category of bike that’s going to work for you, then leave a comment below and we’ll do our best to reply and suggest your best option.
THE AWARDS
BEST TRAIL EMTB | CANNONDALE MOTERRA SL 1
While the aggressive geometry and 150/160mm of travel may not be everyone’s idea of a “trail bike” the impressively low weight and efficient nature of the Cannondale Moterra SL make this the bike our crew would most likely grab for any number of rides. It’s a great tool for the weekly loop where you want a light and playful bike; a more aggressive rip on some challenging terrain, or just a casual cruise. The Moterra SL is a beautiful and impressive eBike, and we hope to see more brands embrace this full power with a mid-size battery package. It’d be even better with a range extender option for the biggest full-boost days out.
Thanks to its well-rounded character and impressively low weight, the Cannondale Moterra SL is our pick as the Best Trail eMTB on the market right now.
MOST LIKELY TO RECOMMEND EMTB | ARI TIMP PEAK PRO
Last year the Ari Timp Peak won an award as the “Best Bang for the Buck eMTB”. This year, we upped the spec level slightly, and wanted to see if the Timp Peak’s more expensive build option could hold its own with the top tier brands and builds. We’re happy to say the Timp Peak delivered once again, with a playful ride that still packs a ton of capability.
The crew regularly felt like the Timp Peak was one of most predictable and fun eBikes on test. While it may not be the fastest down super chunky descents, this bike is so capable and fun. And an O-Chain and Vivid Ultimate shock could improve its square-edge performance if desired. It was one of the crew’s most ridden bikes again this year, providing a solid machine regardless of the trail and conditions.
It can be ridden by a wide variety of riders, and comes in at a very impressive value with a lot of build options starting at a very respectable price point. Also of note, most riders think this is the best jumping eMTB on test and one that inspires you to rack up air miles. For these reasons, it’s the electric mountain bike that we’d be Most Likely To Recommend at the moment.
BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK EMTB | CANYON STRIVE:ON CFR
This bike wasn’t only a standout in our Sub-$6,000 eMTB Shootout category, it was a bike that thoroughly impressed the team even compared to the $10,000 bikes! Canyon has worked serious magic in making a bike at this price point ride with the composure and confidence of bikes that cost nearly twice as much.
There’s little in the build spec that we’d change aside from the brakes, and the same goes for its geometry and character. At under six thousand dollars, this makes it our recommendation as the Best Value eMTB on the market right now.
BEST EMTB FOR DOWNHILLERS | NORCO RANGE VLT
What a transformation from the previous generation Range VLT! Norco have done a great job improving this long travel, high pivot eMTB, and made it into one of the most confidence inspiring downhill-biased eBikes we’ve ridden. It blends the power of Bosch’s Performance Line CX with a stout and sturdy frame and buttery smooth suspension. The overall ride experience will have you wearing out brake pads, tires and cheek muscles from all the smiles and vert you’ll be crushing.
If you live for the descents, love the chunk and want to ditch the shuttle truck, the Norco Range VLT is worth a look. This makes it our pick as the Best Downhill eMTB on the market right now.
BEST RACE EMTB | ORBEA WILD M11
Back on the podium once again, the Orbea Wild defends its title. This bike is the tip of the spear – It is sharp, precise, stiff and FAST! While those attributes made it the perfect dream eMTB for some of the crew, other crew members noted that those looking for a more forgiving and comfortable ride may find themselves on the wrong side of the pokey spear during an off day.
There is no denying that if you ride with aggression, want a bike that is built for speed and all-out performance or to push yourself to the next level, the Orbea Wild is the bike for you. This makes it our Best Race eMTB pick on the market right now.
MOST VERSATILE EMTB | PIVOT SHUTTLE LT TEAM XTR
The Pivot Shuttle LT is another bike returning to the podium, and is easily one of the best eMTBs on the market right now. Our entire crew loves the Pivot Shuttle LT. No matter the job at hand, the Shuttle LT will deliver both in performance and smiles to its pilot. The plush, buttery suspension platform makes big days in the saddle comfortable, yet it still remains capable of plowing through some of the nastiest trails we can find. It’s also got a lively spirit that will jump, pop and manual in a way you don’t think a longer travel eMTB could.
As an eMTB for every ride scenario, the Pivot Shuttle LT is a safe bet. This makes it the Most Versatile eMTB on the market right now.
