Nice electric mountain bikes are not bad

CheaterI was grumbling between huffs as another e-bike rider casually passed me on a steep climb. It’s this pure attitude that kept me blind for years to one simple truth: electric mountain bikes are fun!

My behavioral adjustment came a few weeks ago, the first time I got into the car Amflow PX Carbon Pro Powered by the compact, lightweight and incredibly powerful M2S motor from Avinox, a new offshoot of DJI that includes companies like Bosch and Specialized on the edge. The motor doesn’t make me a speed demon, but it does make me absorb better by compensating when my poor technique kills momentum.

Mountain biking has a long history of gatekeeping new technology. Purists complained about the introduction of full-suspension tires, disc brakes, dropper posts, and 29-inch wheels, claiming they made the sport “too easy.” Today, this technology is widely accepted and comes standard on many mountain bikes, including the Amflow I tested. Powerful, high-torque motors are just the next development.

Undoubtedly, this engine makes things easier. It’s a long, steep, technical climb where I value comfort most, turning the climbs into engaging, flowing challenges rather than a heart toll that shortens my day. But I decide how hard I work. Some days I need the turbo help, other days I don’t agree with the environment when I really want to push my heart rate into the red zone.

Like many of my friends, I started mountain biking during the coronavirus outbreak, which allowed us on YouTube to teach us proper posture and technique to use in turns and jumps. Let’s just say I hadn’t progressed much beyond novice at the time, and I had a terrible accident that knocked my shoulder out of the socket “in an unusual direction,” according to my doctor. I haven’t felt so confident on a mountain bike since. However, adding a motor made me feel safer with a greater sense of control.

There’s a misconception that electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) make you faster. Maybe in the US, but I ride in Europe where eMTBs have no throttle and the pedal assist reaches a slow 25 km/h (15.5 mph) – many cyclists can easily exceed 30 km/h on straight roads, leaving me struggling to keep up with a heavier e-bike. European e-bikes also have a maximum continuous output rating of just 250 watts, making them slower and less powerful than Class 1 e-bikes sold in the US, not to mention Class 3 monsters that are just motorcycles in disguise.

I don’t want my eMTB to ride the road for me. Instead, I want the pedal-assisted motor to act as a force multiplier, integrating seamlessly with my pedal to provide as much or as little assistance as I want. That’s what I get with the Amflow PX Carbon Pro and eMTBs that cost much less.

The engine allows me to be very careful with my braking as I approach a turn, handle it with confidence, and then accelerate quickly with control on the other side. And when my momentum stalls in the technical section due to my sloppy technique, there’s plenty of torque to get me out of trouble, and again when a blind hairpin opens up on an unexpectedly steep incline.

The extra power provided by the Avinox M2S’s intuitive and predictable motor kept me from losing balance, or having to go down difficult terrain. It was also a great equalizer when going out with more experienced riders who “dropped me” at some point in the first 10 minutes.

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

I’m also keen on my newfound superpowers and, frankly, a little embarrassed by them. Strong riders are not used to being quickly overtaken on steep, uphill sections by someone twice their age. So I stay humble and announce my presence early if I really need to succeed. I also don’t claim any titles like King of the Mountain on Strava Some assholes.

It’s a little unfair that my epiphany came on a $10,000 Amflow PX Carbon Pro. It has class leading specifications which definitely helped me enjoy it. The Avinox M2S motor is capable of delivering up to 150Nm of torque for hill flattening, and a temporary boost of 1500W for conquering long, steep sections. (He watches Will Greenfield E-Bike Motor Comparison To fully appreciate what Avinox has done.) The carbon fiber frame also helps bring the overall weight down to just 20.6 kg (45 lbs), below the average of around 22 to 27 kg (50 to 60 lbs).

Avinox is proud now More than 60 bicycle brand partners All over the world. This means it pays to shop. The cheapest M2S-equipped eMTB I’ve found is around $4,000 CRUSSIS e-Hard 11.11 Hardtail. Otherwise, you can find a variety of budget eMTBs from companies like Ride1Up and Avinton With less powerful engines that still provide a lot of fun.

Ultimately, you don’t need a five-figure carbon platform to experience this transformation. Whether you’re using the flagship Amflow or a budget car, the result will be the same: less struggle, more laps, and a giant, goofy smile. Adding a motor won’t suddenly make you a better mountain biker. But it might make you want to become one.