Pinkbike Poll: How Often Would You Ride An eMTB vs a 'Regular' Mountain Bike?
The number of riders who actually own an eMTB has grown dramatically over the last couple of seasons due in part to the increased number of brands that have added a motorized option into their lineup. The evolution of the bikes has been fairly quick, and as battery capacity and motor performance improves the number of riders who at least dabble in the sport is likely to grow.
These days, debating about whether or not eMTBs should exist at all is about as exciting to me as watching paint dry – it reminds me of the arguments that arose when 29” wheels first showed up. Admittedly, I was dismissive of both 29ers and eMTBs at first, although in my defense those first 29ers and eMTBs weren't exactly anything to write home about...
As eMTBs have moved away from the clunky monstrosities that they one were (well, most of them), I've let my guard down and added a regular dose of electrified fun into my routine. Looking back at my stats from the last year shows that I'm spending 20% of my time riding an eMTB, and 80% of my time on a regular bike. That balance works well for me - I typically ride 5 days a week, and one of those days is usually on the eMTB. I use it as a way to get in more miles on what would typically be a rest day, or to knock out a bunch of rowdy DH laps when I'm short on time.
Recently, a friend told me that they sold their 'regular' mountain bike after purchasing an eMTB, a move that came as a surprise. Personally, I can't imagine only e-biking – I like being able choose which activity I do on a given day depending on my mood. It's obviously a huge privilege to be able to have more than one bike to pick from in the first place, but if I was forced to choose between owning a regular mountain bike or an eMTB I'd choose the non-motorized option without any hesitation at all.
That brings us to this week's poll – if you own an eMTB, what percentage of your rides are spent on it? Has the novelty worn off, or are you considering getting rid of your non-motorized bike?
If you were to add an eMTB into your bike lineup, what percentage of the time do you think you'd ride it vs a regular bike?
This question is for riders who don't currently own an eMTB.
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Member since Feb 1, 2009
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So.
I couldn't stomach buying a $6k+ eBike, since I have zero confidence that the motor and/or battery is going to be long-term reliable. And I also can't stomach having a semi-expensive regular MTB *and* an even more expensive e-MTB. I also am prideful about my fitness (being honest here) and don't like what riding an eBike would say about me. There ya have it. If someone gifted me an e-MTB I'd sell it invest the proceeds.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’m not as value oriented in the manner that you discussed, but I do care about the perception that might come with an e-bike.
I’m pretty fit and pride myself on being a strong climber and a capable descender. I especially like when people think I’m on an e-bike if I’m feeling strong that day! My reply is, “It’s not a e-bike; it’s a Yeti.” Guess I can’t use that anymore.
On the other end of it. I see lots of people on e-bikes, probably new riders, skipping the learning curve that comes with working your way up the hill. A lot comes with that and you learn important local trail etiquette in the process. I also see a lot of not so fit people on them as well.
I know this is a gross over generalization. Heck, I know a lot of really really good riders that have switched so they can do bigger rides or get more downs. Makes perfect sense. And these guys are fit!
Nevertheless, I’m still bothered by the perception (which is totally self conscious) that I would fall into the camp of lazy, newb, or rude because I’m riding one.
My gf says I can get one when I’m sixty…when I need it! In the meantime I’m going to pedal my ass off on my non e-bikes or until my crew makes the switch. I’ll also enjoy the fact that more people are out there having fun because the e-bike lowered the barrier to entry. Fortunately e-bikes are not the MTB equivalent of scooters taking over the skatepark! Not here anyway!
Cheers!
joking aside, my main riding buddy uses an ebike cause he is older than me and doesn't have the gas to do big or fast rides anymore without the assist. it is great for both of us. i do not have to wait and he doesn't have to die to keep up on the climbs (in fact, I'm now trying to keep up) and gets to have more energy for the descents
I didn't buy an e-bike because I hate mountain biking, I bought one because I love it. I love it so much I want to do more of it.
Sure there are compromises - and I accept those. But when my mates are giving me grief I just tell them that I'm not a fun hater. If you have the means, why wouldn't you want to have more mountain biking. More fun?
And who cares what strangers on the trails think...
Separately/personally, where I live, ebikes are explicitly illegal on almost all trails (especially the fun ones). So, there isn't any point in them.
I'd hope though that over time the legality here will be "sorted out". And if they're legal, by then, I'd assume/hope that their prices and weight would have gone down, and the reliability gone up, and then re-evaluate.
Wrong on all accounts, 35,000 km in 5 years, not one issue, no problems with access and advocacy(love the shit people dream up) and more fitness in cardio, less strength workout(if u don’t understand this then you know nothing about fitness, think of how intervals work) if your fit you can ride these easy and go slower but you won’t cause like a regular bike u will ride to your potential and can ride above your threshold for the entire ride.
I don't even own an e bike but they aren't hurting me and people need to lay off
I get what you are saying and I was always more concerned about access for the first few years I saw e-mtbs on the trails. But now I love my e-mtb and it is just another tool in the toolbox.
I've ridden and raced DH, Enduro, and a bit of XC for many years and consider myself fit and an expert rider as well.
But there are many advantages to an e-mtb that I cannot deny after owning one for a bit.
Mainly the amount of descending is nearly doubled which for most of us is the whole point.
I still pass riders on the descents so I don't worry about that perception there but I still have a difficult time not feeling like a douchebag when I pass uphill on a trail(on a gravel or paved road I have no qualms) so there is that for sure.
At the same time I've been riding for 25 years so I have paid my dues and will always remember that suffering is still a part of mtbing.
I mainly ride it solo as I always ride my real bike if one of my riding buds wants to get out.
I would always rather ride with friends than alone so that saves me from favoring it too much.
It really opened up a lot more riding for me! And yes I still own and ride my acoustic bike.
Just ride your (E) bike
So it is very long-term reliable. If you ride a regular mtb you have money for ebike. Just buy and ebike frame and add your mtb parts on it. Fitness statement is also incorrect. I ride more dh runs then my regular bike and spiking 200 bpm for 4-10min DH x6 runs is 1hr of high intensity workout. Not too mention i rode for 2-3 hours and still have to pedal up hill. I am not trying to convince. Just proving you wrong. I also sold my regular bike 4 years ago
(I pray everyone can see this pole)
That’s all it is for me, 100% replacement for shuttling & chair lifts. I’m still gonna choose a normal bike at least half the rides.
However, most of the time I just see bikes replacing xc bikes on xc rides around here. They still only do 2-3 laps at our enduro area, whereas I do 9-10 on my Spur or 5-7 on my enduro. Whenever I do ride a rented bike it is to explore new areas in Rotorua or Squamish and I ride for 4-5 hours until the battery is dead and then usually get back on a bike and ride more.
In this poll, I got rid of my regular bike and I would ride a new one 90% of the time . I've owned an ebike for 5 years but am thinking about selling it.
What is wrong with me?
So that’s my two bikes and I’m happier with the pair of them than I’ve ever been - a 2018 alloy Levo with a 160mm Lyrik RC2 and other similarly nice parts and a 2022 Pipedream Moxie singlespeed 29” steel hardtail also with a 160mm Lyrik. They may seem an odd pair they make sense to me!
(If you live/work near trails an eMTB is THE BEST WAY TO COMMUTE! Keeps you fit, saves you money, allows fun whilst everyone else is looking bored/annoyed in their car or on the bus).
there, I said it. I don't know what to do with these feelings
I don't have an eMTB but 10+yrs down the road would like to get one.
With the gravel event training this year, I really didn't want to compromise my training, so I got a mullet Levo and sold the moto. First couple rides were interesting and little awkward. It is extremely hard on the drivetrain if you're not carefuI. I was immediately thrilled with the way it goes down hill. The thing freakin rips. Is it a motorcycle? Pretty much, yeah. I don't take it on the regular mtb trails. Just moto trails. I have my Garmin connected to the on board power meter, and use it on "recovery" days for chill rides. On my normal "e" rides, I usually push about the same watts as I would on a real bike.
That hour of "fun" that I used to get on the moto is right around the same. Maybe 1.5 hours to get that same feeling of "f*ck yeah", but its not far off. Plowing through the woods at 18mph is damn fun. More or less the Levo has replaced my moto. It definitely wont replace my real bikes.
If you love riding singletrack that isn't choked by 2 stroke fumes and torn up from riders giving 'er the onion, this is a REALLY important issue. If trails see heavy motorized traffic, it undermines decades of advocacy and trailbuilding work that's allowed the explosion in trailbuilding/access across the US (and other places).
It took IMBA decades to earn credibility as a responsible steward of public lands-it could go away pretty quickly.
I'm not opposed to eBikes, but they aren't bicycles. Bicycles do not have motorized augmentation. So-for commuting to work-hell yeah use your eBike. If you want to play on dirt-there are countless trails that already allow motorized users. You can ride Poison Spider. You can ride the jeep trails on Hymasa. You can ride gnarly roads like Schnebly Hill Road, or moto trails like Butterknife.
But stay the f**k off non-motorized trails. If those trails close to wheeled traffic or open to all motorized vehicles-you ruined it for all of us.
In Europe an ebike is legally treated as a bicycle (if 250W nominal power, motor assist limited to 15.5mph and the motor only assists when you pedal). And as we in Europe commonly use bikes as transport devices rather than toys, I’d argue that our definition is more enlightened.
Pinkbike has a huge Bias and if you are inside you don't even notice, but it's a big problem. Even when you travel outside of BC you still make the same mistakes and pick the same type of places, so you still don't get it.
I agree with iridedj, if you ride ebike solo it's more fun, but with a group of people without ebikes it sucks.
The price of emtb isn't too bad. The ones I'm looking at are about $2000 over a comparable mtb (Marin Alpine Trail E2 and Polygon Mt Bromo N7). There's opportunity to justify the cost by cutting out car trips, including shuttles to the trailhead, and cutting out fast racy upgrades, as the motor is more than enough performance-enhancement. I can cut out bikes from my quiver, like road bikes, as an emtb can fill in (as long as you're not trying to average over 20 MPH). There's less concern about the weight and drag of heavier parts like tires and wheels, so there's potential save money and peace-of-mind.
Ebike to work(11km x2 mostly trails in the forest) Genius mostly with light wheels on weekend riding, BMX in the park/street with the kids
I'm glad i can afford both, am awesome enough to not sigmatise a style of riding that someone enjoys
A bikes a bike, who cares really?
And if you don't like motorbikes, then you should learn to afford a motorbike too.
I totally see the potential of what can be done on these things and I honestly feel that they would make less fun/ poorly designed trails a lot more fun. Not to mention doing more laps of the fun stuff and attempting ridiculous climbs, all seems like a win to me. I do worry that it would take away from time on my regular bikes but doubt I’d ever ride it more than half the time, mostly out of guilt and missing the simplicity of regular bikes.
Where I live it’s a novelty to see someone on a regular bike now, which honestly sucks to see. Are the e-bikes an extension of our societies instant gratification who can’t wait/work for the results and will take any short cut possible (like all the chipped e-bikes that are around here too)?
In regards to cheating, Ebikes are a mechanical advantage over normal bikes, but in saying that, a bike with gears is an advantage over a single speed. A bike with disk brakes is an advantage over one with rim brakes. A bike with a suspension is an advantage over one without. Finally a BIKE is an advantage over running, so to all those “I’m not cheating, I’m doing it for the pure fitness” erm, yes you are cheating, sell you cheating mechanical advantage machine and take up running.
I'm moderately fit, but I get mild asthma and regardless of my efforts I do have limited lung capacity, I run out of air before my muscles fatigue. I'm 37 and been doing modern mtb for about 4 years now (used to make it up on old school rigid steel bikes back in highschool on unofficial trails).
I'd like to have more travel and ride more interesting trails, but I've ret friends use my emtb and I use their lighter xc bikes, and I can go pretty far and fast, but I don't yet own something light and zippy, so on longer peddly rides I use the emtb, I treat the modes like gears. I run mine a bit detuned as I tend to ride longer, rather than faster. I still put in max effort and tend to get more full body exercise on the heavier emtb. Also peddling over the npeed limiter is good training! I'd prefer US 32km/h standard (20m/h) over the Au/Eu standard 26km/h (15m/h). I tend to keep a more average pace and heart rate, though still do at times go hard on climbs, and dh runs over the limiter, but on th regular bike I get gassed and need a break more often, and thus get a less continuous session.
Unless you have the right terrain they just don't make sense. Down in Berks there's nothing I can't climb, so you do the same rides, but faster uphill. Errrm nah, not for me
Virtually all the riding in my area can be done on a NORMAL mountain bike , no need for an electric pile of poo unless you have genuine health issues and can’t ride a NORMAL bike.
If you want to get a motorised fix then buy a dirt bike , because it has a motor !
It’s the biggest sales scam around - just the same a the electric car scam currently gripping the world!
What a load of crap that is !
The idea of self-shuttling from home is very appealing but the battery life/burn time versus power output isn't there yet. Maybe in a few more generations but not now.
In most other countries they are legal pretty much anywhere a normal MTB is legal to ride.
Small but vocal minority (I suspect).
Take that trash somewhere else.