Over the past three years, light eMTBs have been in the spotlight like no other bike category. Every major manufacturer has developed a light eMTB, with new motor systems and technologies popping up like mushrooms after a rainy day. But just as quickly as they arrived, they might be on their way out. Goodbye light eMTBs– it’s been a pleasure!
Tons of power, big batteries, and robust components have always meant one thing: e-mountain bikes with system weight well over the 20 kg mark, with some models weighing in at 24 kg and over. Bikes like the Norco Sight VLT and ROTWILD R.X1000, which rely on batteries exceeding 900 Wh, have led the battery arms race and put some serious weight on the scales. On the other side were light eMTBs: less powerful motors, smaller batteries, and lower system weight. Milestones in this category include bikes like the Lapierre eZesty and the first generation of the Specialized Levo SL, which early on demonstrated what this category could offer: they ride almost like analog MTBs, are barely recognizable as ebikes, and rely on advanced e-mountain bike development in key areas. However, in doing so, light eMTBs might have dug their own grave…
Together with our sister magazine E-MOUNTAINBIKE, we recently put the 9 most exciting light eMTBs through the wringer – and the debate started long before we even hit the trails. The question of how to define light eMTBs was never fully resolved, and manufacturers have developed different light concepts. The emerging field? Never clearly defined: smaller batteries combined with full-power motors or special light motors with various battery configurations lead to similar results in terms of overall weight. The choice of components can also affect the final outcome significantly. That’s why deciding which bikes would ultimately compete in our comparison test was no easy task, and we deliberately chose different concepts. Only in this way can we gain exciting and groundbreaking insights.
Our comparison test revealed that concepts like the Cannondale Moterra SL or the new Orbea Rise LT– one of the most exciting light eMTBs of recent years – are paving the way for the future. Both models harness the full power of their motors, offer sufficient battery capacity, and still manage to keep the overall weight down. The MERIDA eONE-SIXTY follows this approach, combining these traits with extra suspension travel and robust components. A real game-changer came from DJI, the popular drone manufacturer, which caused a stir at EUROBIKE with its Amflow bike. DJI’s engineers stuck a powerful 120 Nm motor and 600 Wh battery into a trail bike, and yet managed to keep the weight under 20 kg despite the solid spec. Similarly, manufacturers like ZF have introduced forward-thinking systems to the market.
Just as the new and promising players like DJI and ZF are shaking up the market, established manufacturers like Shimano, Bosch, and TQ are continuously pushing development forward. The result is that new motor systems are becoming smaller, lighter, and more powerful. Soon, the question of whether to choose a light or full-power motor will no longer be relevant. Instead, the focus will increasingly shift to finding the right battery capacity. Here, too, new cell technologies are constantly emerging, allowing for smaller, lighter, and more efficient batteries. When you combine all this with the ongoing development of frames and components, it becomes clear what the future holds for us.
Already today, there are several bikes – like those from Orbea, Cannondale, Amflow, and MERIDA – that are ushering in a new generation of eMTBs. As a result we will see more and more of these bikes appearing on the market. Powerful motors with a long range, flexible battery concepts, smart features, and robust components don’t necessarily mean more weight.
Light eMTBs are also finding themselves in an increasingly tricky pricing dilemma. Given the higher production volumes and purchasing quantities for motors and batteries in the full-power segment, these models are often much more affordable than light eMTBs with comparable features. Another drawback of light eMTBs is that you’ll usually have to buy the most expensive spec variant to fully get a superlight bike. If you opt for a more affordable model, which usually comes with heavier components, you quickly find yourself well over the 21 kg mark. This raises the question: why buy a light eMTB at all and sacrifice motor power and battery capacity?
However, Light systems won’t be disappearing from the bike industry overnight, and some manufacturers will continue to rely on lower-power motors and small batteries. This is especially true for XC-oriented concepts like the Thömus Lightrider and SCOTT Lumen eRIDE, as well as in the gravel and road bike sectors, where smaller and “weaker” systems still make sense. But when it comes to eMTBs, “Light” models with less torque and small batteries are a thing of the past.
Light eMTBs were a necessary counter-trend to the battery and power arms race, and drove the development of lighter motor systems in many ways. Now, as has often happened in the bike industry, the balance is shifting once again, and a new generation of e-mountain bikes is on the horizon. These bikes are lighter, more powerful, more efficient, and above all: even more fun!
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Words & Photos: Peter Walker
