THE BEST LIGHTWEIGHT EMTBS REVIEWED
EMTB LITE SHOOTOUT
Photos by Dusten Ryen
Welcome to our 2nd Annual Lightweight eMTB Group Review. We hope you’ve enjoyed the daily reviews on each of the 11 eBikes reviewed below. Over the course of this summer, we had a well-rounded crew put time on the bikes before our final test session in Klamath Falls, Oregon. We’ve got everything from the revolutionary new DJI Avinox-equipped Amflow; to full power eBikes with weights in the mid-40lbs, and the lower-powered eMTBs with big travel and enduro-ready geometry. If you are in the market for a lightweight eMTB, we hope this group test provides you some useful insight.
CATEGORIZATION STRUGGLES AND UNCERTAINTY
With such a wide range of bikes and drive units, the industry is struggling to find an official name for this category. We’ve internally been calling it the eBike Lite category, which seems like a decent option to Full Fat eBikes.
Originally it seemed like SL was the accepted nomenclature, but we don’t believe that’s the best name for them anymore. With bikes like the Trek Slash + and Devinci e-Troy Lite weighing more than full power bikes like the Cannondale Moterra SL and Orbea Rise LT it seems limiting as full fat ebikes keep getting lighter too. Some have called them mid-power bikes, which we’re not on board with as, there’s not really any drive units with less power, since technically there’s only full power or variable amounts of less power.
That said, we don’t really know how much names or categories really matter so long as you pick the bike that is best suited for you and your riding ambitions. For that reason, we’ve taken a slightly different approach with this particular group review as the bikes included suit such a wide variety of riders.
We’d like to offer a huge thank you to our sponsors: Outdoor Research, Schwalbe Tires, Ride Concepts and the Running Y Resort. Without their gracious support, these types of content series would not be possible.
Before we get any further into our eBike Lite Shootout and sharing the reviews of the best lightweight eMTBs on the market, we’d like to extend a massive thank you to our sponsors: Outdoor Research, Schwalbe Tires, Ride Concepts and the Running Y Resort. Without their support to sponsor this series, our crew would not be able to put these types of tests together. We are very grateful for their support and if you value these types of tests, please consider leaving them a thank you comment down below, or trying out some of their awesome products.
THE TEST TIRE
In order to give each bike a similar feel on the dirt, we outfit all of the test bikes with Schwalbe’s brand new Radial tires, in the Albert tread pattern with the lighter weight Trail casing.
KITTED OUT
We’ve been absolutely loving Outdoor Research’s new MTB product line all year, so it only made sense to have them step in and kit all our testers in their range of Freewheel pants, shorts and jerseys.
RCs ON THE FEET
Whether our guys were running flat pedals or clipping in, Ride Concepts shoes kept all our feet protected and comfortable during the long days of testing, hiking and filming this group test. Different riders had different shoes on to best fit the shapes of their feet, but we all found something that worked well.
BATTERY CONSUMPTION AND TIMED COURSE TEST
Just as each individual driver’s mileage may vary in regards to fuel economy of their vehicle, there is a long list of factors that affect what you get out of your eMTB. Battery range, average speed and battery consumption are nearly impossible to accurately test unless you pull motors out and put them on a rig in a lab. Even the suspension platforms of different bikes that weigh the same, have the time tires, pressure, tire compound and are ridden by the same tester will show variations due to suspension actuation. Not mention rider energy varies, ambient temperature, soil conditions and the list goes on.
All that to say, we had one tester, Travis, set out on a test loop of his choice aboard every single drive unit. It’s a loop he knows well and could replicate with similar dirt conditions, temperatures and a focus on maintaining a consistent effort while pedaling. Travis weighs 200lbs and rode all the bikes in their Turbo or Boost mode. The test loop is 13 miles and has 1,975 feet of climbing that was a mix of gradients with some steep switchbacks and technical sections combined with mellower bits of flatter terrain.
THE BIKES
AMFLOW PL CARBON | PRO 800
Weight: 45.8lbs (Size Large)
Travel: 150/160mm
Drive Unit | Torque: DJI Avinox | 105nm / 120nm (Boost)
Battery Size: 800wh
SUMMARY | With revolutionary power, incredible app and integration features, the Amflow PL Carbon Pro certainly captures a lot of attention. It is a very fun bike that rides trails well, however it has a flexy frame that heavier and more aggressive riders will likely want to consider before diving in to a purchase.
ARI NEBO PEAK PRO
Weight: 41lbs (Size Large)
Travel: 140/150mm
Drive Unit | Torque: Fazua Ride60 | 60nm
Battery Size: 430wh
SUMMARY | Rated by all of our testers as one of the most fun, liveliest and playful bikes on test, the Ari Nebo Peak is an absolute blast for trail riders and XC-types who want to go fast and push into moderately chunky terrain. It was even Sean’s top pick for jump, flow and blue trails. It does have a Fazua drive unit, which seems to be a concern for many riders in terms of reliability, but we’ve not had any issues on this particular bike with Fazua. It is not the bike we’d choose if we’re looking to wear a full face helmet more often than not, but for trail rides, this bike is high on our list.
CANNONDALE MOTERRA SL | 1
Weight: 46.1lbs (Size Large)
Travel: 150/160mm
Drive Unit | Torque: Shimano EP801 | 85nm
Battery Size: 601wh
SUMMARY | This bike gave our riders a bit of a hot and cold feeling. Overall it is a very good bike, we really like it, however, the geometry is rather polarizing. On some days/trails this bike can have you feeling like a super hero, however, turn onto a very rugged, overgrown or backcountry trail with tall, embedded obstacles and lower speeds and the geometry will have you struggling to stay on line and keep momentum up. Cannondale’s Moterra SL is a blast, and if you have the right terrain for it, you will love what this bike urges you to do, but we’d like to see either a bit more travel, or more neutral geometry for it’s 150/160mm chassis.
DEVINCI E-TROY LITE | GX
Weight: 46.2lbs (Size Large)
Travel: 150/160mm
Drive Unit | Torque: Bosch Perf. SX | 55nm
Battery Size: 400wh
SUMMARY | A solid contender and the only make manufactured in North America. The aluminum e-Troy Lite has a supple and predictable suspension platform that never turned out testers off. The bike is a bit heavy and some may find the value proposition to be a bit lacking, however we really enjoyed riding this bike. We would recommend this bike to riders who prefer a comfortable ride, like being in the saddle and don’t mind weighting the front end for aggressive cornering performance.
NORCO FLUID VLT | C1 140
Weight: 41.7lbs (Size 3)
Travel: 140/150mm
Drive Unit | Torque: Bosch Perf. SX | 55nm
Battery Size: 400wh
SUMMARY | The entire crew really enjoyed the Fluid VLT 140 much more than the 130 version as we prioritize downhill performance and smoother suspension. If you’re a rider looking for a well-rounded do-it-all lightweight eMTB, we’d certainly put the Norco Fluid VLT 140 on our recommendation list.
ORBEA RISE LT | M10 CUSTOM
Weight: 43.8lbs (Size Large)
Travel: 150/160mm
Drive Unit | Torque: Shimano EP801 RS | Up to 85nm
Battery Size: 630wh
SUMMARY | This bike ranked highest on Drew’s list and is the bike he’d likely purchase for his own style of riding. Other testers agreed, the Orbea Rise was consistently a top-ranking bike in each category of judging. With 150/160mm of travel, we’d put this bike in the all mountain category, yet it’s light enough to be fun on mellower trails and can handle some more aggressive chunk if needed. It’s probably not the bike for full-time enduro riders, but it can certainly handle some rowdy terrain and trails with some suspension adjustments made to the shock settings. We love that it weighs less than some low powered eBikes yet has a 630WH battery and full power Shimano EP801 drive unit.
PIVOT SHUTTLE SL | RIDE SLX/XT
Weight: 43.5lbs (Size Large)
Travel: 132/150mm
Drive Unit | Torque: Fazua Ride60 | 60nm
Battery Size: 430wh
SUMMARY | Back for a second year, the Pivot Shuttle SL remains one of the most fun eMTBs for lighter duty trail and XC riding. It also has the Fazua drive unit, which we really love, however it seems to have some reliability concerns from commenters online. A couple of our testers said this was the “Least feeling eBike I’ve ever ridden.” The 43.5lb weight, capable and fun suspension platform combined with the snappy geometry make this bike a real precision instrument in the right application. While we’d love to see a 142mm or even a 150mm version of a Pivot lightweight eMTB, there’s no denying that riders who aren’t regularly charging hard into gnarly downhills or sending it deep into chunky terrain will find one of the best lightweight eBikes on the market in the Shuttle SL.
SANTA CRUZ HECKLER SL | STOUT
Weight: 46.1lbs (Size Large)
Travel: 150/160mm
Drive Unit | Torque: Fazua Ride60 | 60nm
Battery Size: 430wh
SUMMARY | Taking the popular editor’s vote from three of our testers, the Santa Cruz Heckler SL is an incredibly fun, and well-rounded eMTB that even impressed Drew, our resident anti-VPP guy. This is another bike with the Fazua drive unit, which commenters have expressed issues with. It worked flawlessly during our test period, but we feel it worth mentioning based on comments online. The Heckler SL benefits from a rider who’s willing to put time in to tune that rear shock. Stand outs of the bike include the handling and confidence, which lead the pack in all-around fun-having on the trail to all-mountain applications.
SPECIALIZED KENEVO SL 2 | EXPERT
Weight: 45.3lbs (S4)
Travel: 170/170mm
Drive Unit | Torque: Specialized SL 1.2 | 50nm
Battery Size: 320wh
SUMMARY | While all of our testers agreed that we’d love to see a larger internal battery and more power from the drive unit, the Specialized Kenevo SL is undeniably capable when it comes to descending. The suspension platform is incredibly plush and comfortable while in the saddle but also handles bigger hits at speed incredibly well. For riders who aren’t climbing the steepest or most technical trails but want to prioritize enduro-level downhill performance, this bike is near the top of our list. Just make sure to look closely at all dimensions in the sizing as lots more numbers besides reach affected how this bike handled our test trails.
TREK SLASH+ | 9.9 X0 AXS
Weight: 46.2lbs (Size Large)
Travel: 170/170mm
Drive Unit | Torque: TQ HPR50 | 50nm
Battery Size: 582wh
SUMMARY | Like the Kenevo SL, the Trek Slash + is underpowered compared to the rest of the pack. The TQ drive unit is dead silent, has great engagement and feel, however it drops off in assistance as the trail steepens. If you’re looking for a very natural pedal feel that gives just enough assistance to take the sting out, the TQ HPR 50 will do that. We like that the Slash + has a larger battery, which means more Boost time and laps, which is exactly what you’ll want aboard this bike. It was unanimously chosen as our crew’s favorite and most capable descender. It will handle, corner, and eat the hits unlike any other pedalable bike we’ve ridden. It’s impressive to say the least. But the value perspective and underpowered drive unit are certainly worth considering.
YT DECOY SN | CORE 2
Weight: 45.6lbs (Size Large)
Travel: 160/170mm
Drive Unit | Torque: Fazua Ride60 | 60nm
Battery Size: 430wh
SUMMARY | The Decoy SN were at the top of the list for Robert and Travis, though they both agreed that the higher spec’d model would be what they would choose as this spec left some things to be desired. It was still a fun bike, but required some steeper and faster trails to really come alive. Another bike with the Fazua drive unit, this one actually having some major issues, leaving us without power on multiple days, YT is sending the unit back to Fazua for evaluation and will update us shortly. If you want an enduro-ready eMTB at a value and have steeper or chunkier terrain to wake this bike up, it’s a very capable and fun machine, however it can feel a bit heavy and lethargic on flatter, slower trails, at least in this spec.
FINAL THOUGHTS
We hope you’ve enjoyed our eBike Lite group review for 2024. Once again, our goal with these group tests is to provide our readers and viewers all over the world at every level of riding the knowledge to make the best decision they can for their terrain and riding goals. With all of these bikes having such a wide array of application, we consider it a disservice to outright proclaim a winner, or “best” bike, because those titles wouldn’t really do much besides help generate clicks or interest that may not truly help you most. A prime example is our guest tester, Jared Chelf. He absolutely loves the Trek Slash+ and owns a Specialized Kenevo. He believes they are the “best” bike for him now, due to the descents we have here in Oregon. However, he would not feel the same way if he moved back home to Wisconsin, in which case he’d likely chose the Pivot Shuttle SL or Ari Nebo Peak as they’d be much better tools for the terrain he rides there.
Hopefully our summaries and rider input have given all riders of all levels and terrain enough information to find a bike or tester to align with and make the best decision possible. We’re lucky enough to have so many good bikes available on the market, the challenge now becomes selecting the one that’s best for you. We’d suggest evaluating what aspects of your ride matter most and buy the bike that compliments you best, because ultimately, that will be the best bike, for you.
Thanks again to our amazing sponsors who made this group test possible.
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