Enduro E-MTB Buyer’s Guide

Enduro e-bikes take it all on. Technical uphills, gnarly downhills, and huge jumps: These e-MTBs push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Hit the brakes and shred some serious dirt, that’s what E-Enduro bikes are built for – assuming, of course, you’re on a trail where ripping it up on an EMTB is permitted. As we all know: Safety first, for both riders and the environment. But let’s switch back to full throttle. In E-Enduro biking, it doesn’t really matter whether the track is uphill or downhill: Enduro E-Bikes are engineered to tackle the trails, both defying and harnessing gravity.
Durable components, generous suspension travel, and stable geometries provide confidence so you can playfully push your limits. This adrenaline rush is also available in race mode. E-Enduro racing has long since become a race format of its own, complete with a World Cup circuit.
At the E-EWS, it gets seriously tough in the most demanding terrains, uphill and downhill alike. We’ll discuss which E-MTB’s are best suited for this extreme level of riding in this article. But first, you should ask yourself the following question:

The question is an easy one to answer: If you’re an adrenaline junkie and your primary goal in electric mountain biking is sheer downhill fun, then an Enduro E-Bike is right on the money. These E-MTBs are built for extreme terrain and come with extensive suspension travel, offering plenty of reserve to really fly downhill.

But you can have a blast going uphill on an E-Enduro as well. Many bikes in this category fall into the full-power E-Bike realm and pack a punch with 85 Nm of torque or more. With that much pedal assistance, you’ll zip up the mountain quickly and, compared to non-motorized Enduro bikes, you’ll be able to fit in more downhill runs in the same amount of time.

If you want to showcase your climbing skills as well, an E-Enduro bike is your perfect ally. Many models feature steep seat angles that center you over the bike while pedaling, ensuring that the front wheel maintains ground contact on steep trail ascents. The ultra-tacky tires guarantee that your rear wheel keeps optimal traction, empowering you to powerfully wind your way up the mountain.

With a little practice, you’ll quickly enjoy the sensation that E-bikers refer to as the Uphill-Flow. You’ll notice: Enduro E-Bikes have an incredibly wide range of uses. The resilience of some models is so remarkable that manufacturers even approve them for bike park use. Among these rugged E-Enduros are the Cube Stereo Hybrid ONE55 and the Canyon Torque:ON.

Bikes in this category typically offer between 170 and 180 mm of travel. They are primarily designed for durability, as they need to withstand extreme terrain and aggressive riding styles safely and over a long period. This is reflected in the weight.
Solid wheels with wide rims, puncture-resistant tires with thick sidewalls, and suspension forks with stanchion diameters of up to 38 mm are essential for an e-enduro, but they do drive the weight up.
Aside from the luxury models, which often start at over €10,000, e-enduro bikes usually weigh between 23 and 26 kg. Nevertheless, weight is an important factor, as the lighter the bike, the more playful the handling.
Heavy e-enduros may feel like they’re glued to the trail, providing a sense of security, but they require a lot of physical effort and strength, which can significantly dampen the fun of the ride. Those who want to indulge their playful instincts on the descents will greatly appreciate the agility of a lighter e-MTB.

Furthermore, the spec sheet for an E-Enduro should list powerful and robust brakes as a priority. With four-piston calipers and brake rotors starting at diameters of 200 mm and larger, you’re guaranteed to come to a safe stop even at high speeds and on steep terrain.
Less critical, however, are extremely large batteries and range extenders. They push the weight up and are generally not necessary. Since E-Enduro biking is quite intense and demands a lot of concentration from the rider on descents, most E-Enduro bikers are typically out for several hours, not enduring full-day tours. Of course, ultimately it’s not about the time spent but the vertical meters climbed.
Yet, with batteries up to 750 Wh, you have ample capacity on an E-Enduro to cover many elevation gains and losses.

Modern All Mountain E-Bikes are pushing the envelope with suspension travel up to 160 mm and, thanks to cutting-edge geometry designs, boast impressive stability even in rugged terrain. They tend to be a bit lighter and more nimble than E-Enduro bikes since they don’t have to withstand quite the same level of extreme forces, allowing for less burly components.
However, the weight savings on frames and components can be smartly invested into a high-capacity battery, making All Mountain E-Bikes the ideal companions for epic all-day adventures in the mountains.
So, if bombing down trails at top speed isn’t your jam, but instead you’re into cruising in search of flow on extended rides, an E-All Mountain is likely going to be your best bet.

The quintessential elements for uninhibited downhill thrills are traction and braking power. Only when both are optimal, can one comfortably probe their comfort zone. Because good traction and reliable stopping ability boost the sense of security and are therefore absolutely essential to let it rip on the trails without any reservations.
The tires and suspension have a significant impact on traction. Wide tires with robust casings and soft rubber compounds offer top-notch grip. We recommend tires that are at least 2.4” wide with a puncture-resistant casing. From tire manufacturer Maxxis, such a tire would be the Assegai model featuring a DoubleDown casing and MaxxGrip compound. Sturdy wheels with 32 spokes and wide rims, at least 30 mm internal width, are also a must.
For tires to maintain the best possible contact with the ground, a sensitive suspension system, adjustable for both the rider and the terrain, is vital. Adjustments like rebound and compression damping are a must-have. However, high-quality forks and shocks are expensive aftermarket purchases. Hence, you do yourself a favor by choosing a bike that comes equipped with premium suspension components straight out of the box.
As mentioned earlier, an enduro e-bike must be equipped with a really powerful braking system. MTB four-piston brakes from Magura and Shimano are particularly popular and proven to be powerful – especially when paired with large brake rotors.

For enduro fun, the drivetrain isn’t as critical. Whether it’s Shimano XT or just Deore, it hardly matters on an e-enduro. In fact, when it comes to the rear derailleur, splurging on the most expensive option isn’t necessary, as rock strikes or even crashes can lead to inevitable damage. Replacements can add up quickly. Opting for more affordable models saves money over the long haul and has minimal impact on weight and performance.

The same goes for pricey carbon components such as carbon rims and carbon handlebars. Unless you’ve got money to burn, you’re better off trusting in aluminum parts.
Carbon parts are indeed at least as sturdy as their aluminum counterparts, but with rigorous use, everything breaks eventually. The disappointment is immense when an expensive carbon rim gives up the ghost after a rocky encounter. Thus, it’s wiser to opt for a model that utilizes the significantly more affordable aluminum components and, instead, comes equipped with a high-end suspension system from the premium range.

Since the E-Enduro is primarily designed to perform on the descents, you should pay close attention to your standing position on the bike. How you stand is significantly defined by the values of reach, stack, and bottom bracket height.
The reach value describes how long the bike feels while standing – meaning the horizontal distance from the bottom bracket axis to the steering center. Modern E-Enduros, in a size L frame, typically have an average reach of around 480 mm – give or take 20 mm.

Longer Reach = more stretched riding position, but also more freedom of movement. The bike is longer, making it more stable but also a bit more sluggish. Great for high-speed ripping.
Shorter Reach = more upright riding position, less freedom of movement. The bike is shorter, making it less sluggish but also less stable at speed. Ideal when you’re riding slower but want to play around on the trails.
The Stack measurement indicates how high the cockpit feels when standing—essentially the length of the vertical distance from the bottom bracket axis to the center of the handlebars. The bottom bracket height informs you if and how much the bottom bracket is below the axle line. In other words: how low you stand in the bike. As a rule of thumb: the lower you stand in the bike, the more stable you feel at high speeds on extreme terrain.
Another important gauge in terms of geometry is the wheelbase. It’s clear that length matters. Thus, the axle distance on an enduro e-bike can afford to be wide apart. This becomes especially important when you want to let it rip on the descents.
Modern e-enduros in size L have wheelbases around 1,270 mm – give or take 20 mm. While not set in stone, these figures serve as a solid reference point. The head angle also contributes to the bike’s stability, as it defines the steering and tipping behavior of the bike.
The slacker the head angle, the greater the self-centering effect as speed increases. In other words: the slacker the head angle, the more stable the bike. Modern enduro e-bikes feature head angles of 65° and slacker.

If you’re in the market for an E-MTB, you’re now faced with an embarrassment of riches. Many manufacturers offer “Light Assist” bikes that are able to get by with less powerful motors and smaller batteries. This reduces weight, but it also demands more rider input.

Light E-MTBs provide a maximum torque of 60 Nm. For many riders, this is sufficient, even if the acceleration is significantly less than that of a full-power e-bike. Climbing up hills is also slower on a Light E-MTB.

For those who prefer strong assistance, there are the classic full-power e-bikes. Depending on the motor model, they offer 85 Nm of torque and upwards. This massive amount of support can quickly get you up a mountain, but it also leads to much higher energy consumption and requires larger and thus heavier batteries.

Light E-MTBs are, on average, 4 kg lighter than full-power E-MTBs, a difference in weight that is noticeably significant. So if you want to zip along the trail and are fit enough to push hard on the pedals, a Light E-MTB will offer a much more lively riding experience than a full-power E-MTB.

E-Bike enduros start at €3,800. However, what constitutes a GOOD e-enduro greatly depends on your personal interpretation of “good.” In this article, we provide an assessment of what you can expect for your money when purchasing a bike.

It’s safe to say: The real fun begins at €5,000! Because we don’t want to dictate your enduro MTB choice, we’ve rated all available models on the market and neatly organized them for you. Depending on how you set the price filter in our market overview, we’ll show you which bike on the market is the best for you.