Consider your legal riding choices first before giving an eMTB significant thought. If you don't have anywhere to ride your eMTB, it is of little use. For this information, don't rely on your friends, bike stores, forums, or Facebook groups as these are all sources of false information. To be sure, visit the land manager's website or give them a call. And even if e-bikes are prohibited in a location but the law is not being followed, what would happen if it were? There are fewer areas to lawfully ride an eMTB than a standard one, let's face it. This may just mean taking fewer trails in some places, but in others it may mean not riding at all. The most crucial stage in determining whether or not you should buy an eMTB is this one.

The Additional Complexity

The simplicity of the bicycle is one of its virtues, and the e-bike takes us a little further from that. The battery system, wiring harness, display, and motor itself are all additional possible failure points despite their incredible reliability. Additionally, there are various ways to diagnose a problem, from switching it on and off to taking it to a shop. There is also pricing. You must plug it in after each ride. Even if everything is straightforward, there is still one more item to keep in mind. And when you get ready for the next ride, it's a huge letdown when you forget or don't fully connect the charging wire in.

You will ultimately run out of battery on the trail if you like to ride longer and/or use many of the higher-output assist settings. As your charge gets smaller and smaller, the thought of running out of juice could only add to the ride's already existing stress. Even while most electric mountain bikes cycle fairly well on their own, doing so late in a lengthy trip is usually the last thing you want to do.

Then there are the additional technological bells and whistles that come with going "e," such as applications, Bluetooth pairing, and others. There may be times when you're fumbling with your phone trying to get it to pair with your bike rather than simply riding away like you would with a mountain bike, despite the fact that the majority of the apps are reliable and so are their connections with the bike. Nothing of this sort is foolproof.

The Costs

There are many things about e-mountain bikes, but affordable is not one of them. The cost of the bike may increase by about $4000 due to the additional electronics, motor, and battery. For that, you can add another very expensive mountain bike to the quiver! There are good eMTBs in the $4000 to $5000 price bracket, but they are mostly consumer-direct brands and may not necessarily have the best parts. The cost of owning an eMTB has significantly increased due to inflation and demand. In addition, eMTBs tend to be more expensive to maintain in terms of their powertrain parts, wheels, brakes, and tires. Due to the increased power, weight, and mileage you'll experience on an e-bike, plan on using more of these supplies.

The Weight

eMTBs weigh a lot more than a typical one, and you'll notice it every time you pick one up, so if you have back problems, keep that in mind. Most Class 1 electric bikes weigh around 50 pounds on average, plus or minus 5 pounds. There are some outliers, such as the Specialized SL models and the Orbea Rise line, which are lighter but have lower assist levels and battery capacities. These lighter variations continue to weigh between 35 and 40 pounds. It only takes lifting an eMTB into a work stand to be reminded to bend at the knees rather than the back. Additionally, placing them onto a car or a rack will put your upper-body strength to the test. Speaking of racks, you should make sure that yours is because not all are rated for the weight of an eMTB. There are options because some racks have a built-in loading ramp.

The hike-a-bike is another option. It can be difficult to lift a hefty e-bike over a sizable dead tree. The Walk mode on almost all eMTBs, which enables them to self-propel up steep hike-a-bikes as you walk alongside them, is a welcome addition.

RIDE EVERY DAY

No matter how much our brains demand it, no one can ride hard every day. With an eMTB, you may enjoy a fairly simple ride that will give your legs the active rest they need while providing the action your brain needs. It could help a racer avoid the issue of pushing themselves too hard on a rest day, which is something we've all done as racers. Fewer things than inadequate rest undermine the benefits of training.

Many of us shuttle our favorite rides with cars, but the e-bike not only eliminates the need for that and improves the experience. An eMTB allows you to ride the entire distance without stopping to get off the bike, load up in a car, cool off while you become car sick, or expose yourself to the smell of your friends' stinky knee pads. Additionally, you don't need a crew of four or more in order to make car shuttling logistically efficient; you can do it by yourself or with one other rider. One of the wrecking crew's favorite activities is riding an eMTB around the local downhill terrain.