Want to take the key to the fields and electrify your outdoor outings? It’s very understandable. We explain how to choose your first VTTAE.
The VTTAE, for electrically assisted mountain bikes, has opened up new horizons for cyclists and mountain bikers, whether beginners or experienced. While some swear by the limitless power of their calves, others find it a rather practical alternative for venturing further and higher. And especially faster.
In a few years, the electric mountain bike has also become a category in many cycling events and races. The VTTAE therefore has nothing to be ashamed of, nor you either. Now, how to choose it? Frame, wheels, engine, range: what should you look out for when buying? We tell you everything.
Rule N°1: choose an eMTB according to your practice
This is THE question to ask yourself before sifting through the models and their components.
What are you going to do with your future electric mountain bike? Leisure, walks in the forest, committed outings with positive elevation (aka the famous D+), descents that make the brake pads tremble? Need a big battery for long rides or prefer weight?
Mountain biking, electric and muscular, is in fact available in multiple disciplines: hiking, cross-country (XC), All Mountain, enduro, downhill (DH)… and depending on practice, it is not the same bike. So much for knowing if you have to go on a full-suspension mountain bike or a hardtail, with 27.5-inch wheels or a 12-speed cassette.
For beginners and versatile use, bet on a semi-rigid or full-suspension electric mountain bike (comfortable!). Opt for an All Mountain mountain bike if you are new to more rugged terrain with positive and negative elevation.
How to choose a good electric mountain bike (VTTAE)?
The frame: all-terrain electric bike, hardtail or full suspension?
It depends on your practice. Prefer a semi-rigid eMTB if you ride on rolling sections, and the full suspension for more committed sections where it will shake. If you are looking for an ultra-comfortable bike, prefer an e-MTB with rear suspension.
A telescopic seat post what?
Some high-end e-MTBs are sold with a dropper post. Its principle? You operate the height via a lever located on the handlebars. This is not necessarily useful if you start mountain biking in touring mode.
Now what about fork travel? This refers to the level of flexibility of the suspension, or its ability to absorb obstacles and shocks. Travel influences your comfort on the bike. It is indicated in mm (millimeters).
A high travel is recommended on committed and very uneven terrain. Choose an electric mountain bike with a travel between 100 and 140 mm for a versatile practice on relatively non-technical terrain. For downhill and enduro, choose a larger travel of 150 to 180 mm. As we do not stop progress or the thirst for performance, it is no longer so rare to come across even higher travel.
How much power does an electric mountain bike need?
The motor of an electric mountain bike is either central (at the bottom bracket) or located on the rear wheel. A bottom-mounted motor provides more natural pedaling assistance, while a rear-wheel motor provides a feeling of propulsion. On the market, eMTBs tend to be almost exclusively equipped with a pedal motor, considered more reliable, more comfortable and more efficient. Finally, the position influences the user experience: the motor at the rear can disturb the center of gravity.
The VTTAE all have a nominal power of 250 Watts, unlike fast electric bikes called speedbikes or speed pedelecs. However, they are not the same couple. It is indeed the torque, expressed in newton meters (Nm), which provides information on the real mechanical power, ie what your mountain bike has under the hood: its level of performance and its reactivity in the face of “adversity”. An evocative term to designate the drop!
On an eMTB, the torque is between 50 and 108 Nm, a value found in the bikes of the Canadian brand Rocky Mountain. For example, on Specialized’s Turbo Tero e-MTB, the torque goes from 50 Nm for the Turbo 2.0E engine to 90 Nm for the Turbo 2.2. If you want to play ibex and ride on steep terrain, bet on a torque of 70/80 Nm minimum. The transmission must also be adapted to support the power.
The electric mountain bike battery
The blow of the breakdown in the middle of the pampas with a mountain bike that weighs 25 kilos, you want to avoid.
Also, here are the characteristics to look at to compare the batteries:
- The amount of energy a battery can store shown in watt hours (Wh). The higher the number, the longer the battery life. Be careful, autonomy is not an absolute value. It varies according to the conditions of use such as the gradient, the driving mode, the tire pressure, the number of cereal bars you have in your pockets, etc. The ampere-hour (Ah) and the voltage in volts are used to calculate the number of watt-hours. As a guideline, the Bosch PowerTube 500 2nd generation battery with its 500 Wh is recommended for touring and e-MTBs due to its range.
- The position of the battery (on the frame, semi or fully integrated in the down tube)
- battery technology
- Battery weight
- The possibility of adding an additional battery (also called Range Extender, PowerPack or DualBattery by Bosch)
The transmission and the number of gears
Good to know : the transmission wears out faster because of the engine. Don’t forget to maintain your electric mountain bike and give it an annual or biannual visit to its favorite bike dealer.
Electric mountain bikes have transmissions that range from 8 to 12 speeds. They have a mono chainring at the front and a cassette at the rear, which has more or less sprockets. The more gears there are, the more comfort and driving efficiency you gain, and the more comfortable you will be, regardless of the percentage of elevation gain.
There are also specific VTTAE transmissions ; these are not always original equipment.
The brakes
eMTBs are equipped disc brakes as they provide better stopping power. As with other peripherals, the choice of brakes depends on the discipline.
For downhill (DH), you need more powerful brakes than for hiking, on terrain that has little or no drop. The size of the discs and the number of pistons (from 2 to 4) therefore vary according to the type of electric mountain bike and its discipline of heart.
Reminder: don’t forget to break in your pads after purchasing your eMTB. Running-in improves braking performance. Choose flat ground, preferably out of traffic. Brake hard about twenty times while driving at low speed to slow down. Allow the brakes to cool between each braking and repeat the operation at medium speed.
The weight of the VTTAE
The weight of an electric mountain bike varies between 15 kilos and 28 kilos. Whose fault is it ? The battery, the motor, the electrical circuit and the material. A carbon eMTB will be lighter and so will your wallet after purchase. But do you need extreme lightness with a big engine? Not sure. Aluminum offers a good weight/strength compromise.
wheel size
The VTTAE are mounted in 27.5 inches or 29 inches. The 26 inch has almost disappeared, replaced by these two sizes.
- The 27.5 inch format is versatile and therefore well suited to mountain biking and All Mountain. It offers comfort, responsiveness and maneuverability uphill, downhill or when there are obstacles to overcome. The 27.5 inch is finally lighter than its first cousin.
- The 29er has other capabilities: it offers stability, comfort and grip, in particular thanks to its wider tread which promises good grip. The crossing of obstacles is done more smoothly and with greater ease; this form” love it when a plan goes off without a hitch “. Finally, the 29 inch offers better performance than the 27.5 inch. Like what sometimes size matters.
Choosing the right tires for an all-terrain electric bike
It certainly changes, but you might as well go with an electric mountain bike equipped with good quality tires. Check if the original tires are specific models for pedelecs, their brand and their profile (more or less pronounced studs). This is not the most important criterion when choosing your bike, but taking a look at it doesn’t eat bread!
Good to know : new or used bicycles sold in stores must be marked. Since 2021, the marking of muscle bikes and VAE is mandatory to avoid concealment and identify a stolen bike. The stores work with organizations approved by the State. The bike is registered in the National Single File of Identified Cycles (Fnuci). If you bought your mountain bike before this date, you can still have it marked.
Finally, the best if you have the possibility is to go try your future car in the store. You will benefit from personalized advice, and will leave with THE VTTAE adapted to your practice and your budget. And then, it’s also time to learn more about the other features and options (connection via a mobile app, special peripherals, dropper posts, mudguards, reversing radar, etc.).
What is the price of a good electric mountain bike?
We are not going to hide it from you, electric mountain bikes have a high price. Like the electric bike specialists, the historical manufacturers who have declined their electric models position them at the top of the price ranges.
Alltricks electric mountain bike
- At Alltricks, choosing brands known for good e-bikes, prices range from $2,299 for entry-level at Cube to nearly $6,000 for top-end Trek. Also at Alltricks, prices for e-MTBs with a full-suspension frame range from €4,099 to over €10,000.
Decathlon electric mountain bike
- At Decathlon, the famous Rockrider range goes from €1,099 to €2,099 and the Stilus range exceeds €4,000.
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