Electric Mountain Bikes Are Actually Great!

Cheater, I’d mutter between breaths as yet another e-bike rider zipped past me on a steep climb. This purist mindset had kept me from realizing one simple truth: electric mountain bikes are a blast!

My perspective shifted a few weeks ago when I took my first ride on the Amflow PX Carbon Pro, equipped with the impressively compact, lightweight, and powerful M2S motor from Avinox, a new player that’s got established brands like Bosch and Specialized on their toes. While the motor doesn’t turn me into a speed demon, it does help me maintain momentum when my technique falters.

Mountain biking has a history of resisting new tech. Purists have grumbled about full-suspension frames, disc brakes, dropper posts, and 29-inch wheels, claiming they make the sport “too easy.” Yet today, these innovations are standard on many mountain bikes, including the Amflow I’ve been testing. Powerful motors are simply the next step in this evolution.

No doubt, that motor makes things easier. On long, steep, technical climbs, I truly appreciate the relief it provides, transforming grueling ascents into engaging challenges rather than exhausting cardio sessions that cut my rides short. I control how hard I want to push myself; some days I need turbo assist, while on others, I’m content with eco mode to really ramp up my heart rate.

I started mountain biking during the pandemic, like many of my friends, learning the ropes through YouTube videos on body posture and technique for turns and jumps. Let’s just say I haven’t progressed much beyond novice, and I even had a nasty crash that left my shoulder dislocated “in an unusual direction,” according to my doctor. Since then, I’ve struggled with confidence on a mountain bike. However, adding a motor has boosted my sense of safety and control.

There’s a common misconception that electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) make you faster. Maybe in the US, but in Europe, eMTBs lack throttles and the pedal-assist caps out at a modest 25km/h (15.5mph)—many trail riders can easily hit 30km/h on straightaways, leaving me trying to keep pace on a heavier e-bike. European e-bikes also have a maximum continuous output of just 250W, making them slower and less powerful than Class 1 e-bikes in the US, not to mention those Class 3 beasts that are practically motorcycles.

I don’t want my eMTB to do the riding for me. Instead, I want the pedal-assist motor to enhance my own pedaling, providing just the right amount of help. That’s exactly what I get with the Amflow PX Carbon Pro and other eMTBs at lower price points.

The motor allows me to be cautious with my braking as I approach turns, take them confidently, and then accelerate smoothly out the other side. When my momentum stalls in tricky sections due to my poor technique, a burst of torque helps me out, especially when I encounter a steep incline after a blind hairpin.

The intuitive power from the Avinox M2S motor has kept me balanced and prevented me from having to dismount in tough terrain. It’s also leveled the playing field when riding with more experienced friends who would otherwise leave me behind in the first ten minutes.

As a result, I find myself smiling more, eager to spend extra time on the trails, doing more laps and repetitions. I’m genuinely having a lot more fun these days, even though my middle-aged self is still riding the same old trails.

I’m also mindful of my newfound advantage and, to be honest, a bit embarrassed by it. Strong riders aren’t used to being overtaken on steep climbs by someone twice their age. So, I stay humble and announce my presence early if I need to pass. I also don’t chase after King of the Mountain titles on Strava like some do.

It feels a bit unfair that my revelation came on a $10,000 Amflow PX Carbon Pro, which boasts top-tier specs that certainly enhance my experience. The Avinox M2S motor can deliver up to 150Nm of torque and a temporary boost of 1,500W for those long, steep climbs. The carbon fiber frame also helps keep the total weight down to just 20.6kg (45 pounds), lighter than the average of 22 to 27kg (50 to 60 pounds).

Avinox now partners with over 60 bike brands globally, so it pays to shop around. The most affordable M2S-equipped eMTB I’ve found is the roughly $4,000 CRUSSIS e-Hard 11.11 hardtail. There are also budget eMTBs from brands like Ride1Up and Aventon with less powerful motors that still deliver plenty of fun.

Ultimately, you don’t need a high-end carbon bike to feel the difference. Whether you’re on a flagship Amflow or a budget-friendly model, the outcome is the same: less struggle, more laps, and a big, goofy grin. A motor won’t magically make you a better mountain biker, but it might just inspire you to become one.