10+ Best Entry-Level Electric Mountain Bikes for Beginners

There’s a kind of electric mountain biking that’s really cool.
In short, you may be opening up the door to a lifetime of adventure if you keep at the pedals and stay charged up.
With electrical assistance on your side, you’ll be able to cycle further and for longer while also accessing areas you may not otherwise have been able to reach.

However, we know that starting your e-MTB career can be quite overwhelming with all the motorcycles available.

There are so many duds that you have to sift through to find the gems.

In this guide, some of the best entry-level electric mountain bikes currently on the market have been highlighted. We have included bikes for different riding styles.

You can get an awesome e-MTB for less cash than would have been wasted at an ATM – so sit back, relax and enjoy our best entry-level electric mountain bikes review….

1. Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance 625Wh

★★★★★ 4.5/5

Price – $3,295
Good for – Both urban and low level trail

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Summary:

The Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance is an e-MTB with entry-level consideration that spans across the urban and countryside environments.

Suspension

It can be fit to take to work on, due to its hardtail that makes it fast running over hard-picked and concreted environments.

But the bike also comes with 120mm of travel in the forks, preparing the bikes for some lumps and bumps out on the trails.

You get forks supplied by RockShox, with Judy Silver TK Airs fitted as standard. These are decent enough for entry level trails, but the bike will quickly get caught out on the more aggressive trails.

Motor & Battery

You also get fantastic electrics, both battery and motor are supplied by Bosch. You get a 625Wh Bosch PowerTube battery, offering immense reliability and a range of over 100km.

At the same time, you get a Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 4 motor, an updated version of a very good standard model .

The latter delivers a serious amount of kick, with a max torque output of 85Nm, but does so in an intelligent way that sees a smooth slip in and out of assistance, according to how much work the rider puts through your pedal strokes.

Weight & Handling

It tips the scales at 23.4kg, so great handling – leaves it easy to push the bike through the woods. Traction and climbing is also enhanced on this hardtail machine, with the aluminium framed bike feeling very light upon some of the seriously steep inclines.

Drivetrain & brakes

We’re not particularly impressed by the drivetrain, a 12-speed Shimano Deroe CS-M6100 system, but it gets the job done to let the bike ride smoothly – without probably being set up as finely as on other models.

Your payoff is an acceptable pair of Shimano BR-MT420 brakes, which answer all the questions you ask of them.

It’s another versatile, fun e-MTB that absorbs the rigours of entry-level trails while still being an adept city spinner too.

2. Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy

★★★★★ 4/5

Good for – Trail riding, adventurous terrain
Price – $4,987

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Summary:

The Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy is one of the more advanced bikes on our list, but we’ve included it because it’s one of the lower priced bikes in Specialized’s e-MTB armoury.

They make fantastic bikes, which are a dream to ride, and the Turbo Levo Alloy is a gateway to the world of Specialized.

It can be ridden by a newcomer, but it also has the potential to do a lot much more.

Suspension

It is full suspension aluminum trail bike. Then the aluminum frame will withstand everything an entry level rider will throw at it, along with some advanced riding.

You get 160mm of travel at the front end and 150mm at the rear, making the bike very capable of tackling all sorts of technical terrain as you move forward in your riding.

Weight & Handling

You get a spectacular set of RockShox 35 Silver forks and RockShox Deluxe Select R shocks, which together make for a super plush set-up.
It weighs in at 23.68kg, and this is super nimble when it comes to handling: not a lot of pressure is needed to control the bike just the way you want, which creates a very genuine ease of use.

You get good battery quality-wise, but low range unfortunately, but that’s what helps keep the weight down.

Battery & Motor

It’s equipped with 500Wh Specialized M3-500 battery, so it’s conservative but only lets you push out around 75km on a single charge.

You get the company’s custom 2.2 motor, which is pretty powerfully indeed-capable of throwing out 90Nm of torque, which makes all sorts of climbs a breeze.

Drivetrain & brakes

You also get a top end 12-speed, SRAM SX Eagle drivetrain. This means you have 12 gears at your disposal, which helps make climbing easier and the high quality of drivetrain provides very smooth shifting – this improves the riding experience and allows you to feel comfortable in the saddle.

There is also a solid pair of SRAM Guide RE brakes that give you reliable and very responsive pull up capabilities.

Tires

Tricky got done nicely by the Butcher Grid Trail front tyre and the Butcher Eliminator rear one, and overall the bike was wonderfully balanced.

However, this bike offers a lot of exciting potential as you do your progressions as a rider, but it also offers reliability and an ease of use in the early stages of your e-MTB journey.

Going for this one will, in a way, futureproof so you never have to buy a better bike again to cope with the demands as you improve.

3. Norco Sight VLT A1

★★★★★ 3.5/5

Price – $3,899 (comes without battery – additional cost depending on size)

Good for – Downhill, enduro

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Summary:

This bike is full of great things, but we‘ll get one complain aired straight away to get started with this – the price doesn‘t include a battery as standard.

I have to pay extra, which annoys me, but don‘t let this put you off the Norco Sight VLT A1 since you’d be getting a top electric mountain bike for a very reasonable price.

Battery

You can have an option for a range of battery sizes: from a budget 450Wh model, all the way up to a bulky 900Wh custom model.

Suspension

The bike comes with a lovely suspension setup, with 160mm of travel in the fork and 150mm in the rear shocks.
The gears put the bike into war position on the trail, and it is definitely an adventure biker’s ultimate head-out–into–the–wild weapon if you want it.

You get a pair of FOX Rhythm Float 36 forks and a pair of FOX Float X2 Performance Elite shocks in this package.

They are such an intense combination that when you build up your experience you will be ready with this bike for the step up for more advanced terrain.

It has an ease of use, which makes it also an acceptable entry–level trail bike, not being over complicated or too fussy in its design.

Motor

You get a Shimano EP8 motor, which isn‘t our favourite motor model out there – largely due to the unnatural pull you can feel when the motor kicks into play.

Sometimes clunky, but you can‘t deny its sheer power that delivers 85Nm of torque.

Drivetrain & Brakes

The drivetrain is a beauty: 12-speed Shimano SLX drivetrain, which fortunately can cope well with unnatural pull in the motor. And you get a solid Shimano MT520 set of brakes.

Tyres

A very teethy pair of Maxxis Assegais come fitted on the bike and do sink into the dirt immensely- absolutely superbly reliable, too, on technical terrain.

Bike fun in buckets, but without scaring away the beginners-the wilder, harder-to-reach trails are within its ace, yet still completely rideable in the early stages of your e-MTBing career.

4. Ride 1UP Prodigy XC

★★★★★ 3/5

Price – $2,395

Good for – Trail riding

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Summary:

The Ride 1UP Prodigy is a light aluminum framed trail bike, tip of the scale: just 22kg

Handling

Avery low overall weight makes the bike extremelylight and rideplayfully when out on the trails.

Battery & Motor

But in overall battery range, it loses what the bike gains in manoeuvrability – to keep the weight down, Ride 1UP have gone for a small 504Wh Phylion battery, which only allows for days up to around 80km.

But it isn’t all bad news in the electrics – you get a very powerful Browse TF Sprinter in the motor department, which can throw out 90Nm of torque.

That can provide you with a lot of gas to spin up some very trying climbs, and is further complemented by an overall light weight.

Suspension

The bike has a hardtail that also builds traction on the climbs and adds to its general climbing prowess.

It’s got 120mm of forks travel. On the one hand, this enables you to attack some lumps and bumps without it feeling too nasty on you, but we’re only talking moderately sized trails.

Because of the hard tail and generally lower level of fork travel, the bike can’t be exposed to any particularly rough stuff or difficult descending.

The Ride 1UP offers a lot of fun, though, and for an entry level rider, it offers a solid combination of ease of use with a slice of adventure, so you can progress and take the bike to some more challenging terrain.

Drivetrain & Brakes

It has 11-speed Shimano Alivio drivetrain, Tektro brakes, and includes the handy facility of a removable luggage rack.

This e-MTB is versatile in serving both urban and trail terrain, and can carry loads along as well; we think this is a budget electric mountain bike.

5. Cannondale Adventure Neo Allroad EQ

★★★★★ 3.5/5

Price – $1,825

Good for – Hybrid commuting & a slice of off-road

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Summary:

The Cannondale Adventure Neo Allroad EQ is as entry level e-MTB as they come – that’s very much geared up for people fresh into the market but without any added extras for future advancement.

Handling

Comfort is at the forefront of the bike’s design; it features a reserved geometry, such that you can hop aboard and feel at ease.

Designed to be a hybrid commuter, it can also be ridden as a fun bike on weekends.

It moves nimbly on the flats and hardpacked terrain, and even country paths and forest roads can be tackled with it.

That is where the capabilities for the bike stop regarding terrain, so if you want something more adventurous, then it is best to look at some of the other bikes in our list.

Battery & Motor

There’s a big price advantage, at under $2,000, but a small, 418Wh HWT battery wasn’t good enough even by last year’s standards. On top of that, you get a low-level Bafang G020 motor here, which can emit 45Nm of torque.

This obviously draws limitations – the bike can’t shoot up the most challenging climbs, and it isn’t designed to – similarly if you want to do chunky all day rides, this bike won’t provide it for you.

Suspension

We mentioned this is entry level in design and it’s clear in the suspension – it comes with a hardtail and only 50mm of travel in the forks.

They’re powered by SmartForm, with the C3 model fitted as standard. Which basically means the bike is only really usable for flatter terrain and as soon as you hit any sort of real trails it comes unstuck.

Tires

But it does have off-road tyres, so you can go along country paths and forest roads and build speed pretty well thanks to that hardtail.

This is the most entry-level, of all our bikes that you can get-that’s made for simplistic use, nothing wild, offering comfort, reliability, and such.

If this is what you are looking for, this could be the one for you and at under $2,000 has a pretty good price point on it.

If you want to put yourself to the test a bit, then this bike is not going to satisfy you, but it’s still a really good entry level electric mountain bike.

6. Trek Powerfly 4 Gen 4

★★★★★ 3/5

Price – $3,649

Good for – Trail riding, speed

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Summary:

Trek are amongst the best in the trade, and the Powerfly 4 Gen 4 is the company’s entry-level e-MTB.

The company are known for producing pleasant bikes, which are steeped in reliability and style. The Powerfly 4 Gen 4 is no exception.

Suspension & Design

It looks great, clean cockpit and fine design – it is a hardtail so designed for speed and for climbing but not one for the wild drops or seriously rough terrain.

That said you still get 120mm of travel in the forks, that makes the bike an adept trail rider – with SR SunTour XCM 34s fitted as standard.

Weight & Handling

THE aluminium framed bike weighs in at 23.9kg, and even that has a fairly playful weight and the geometry adds to that allowing you to chuck the bike around in the twisty sections.

It’s not over advanced though so it still feels manageable if you are new to the sport.

Battery & Motor

This bike comes with a cracking battery in terms of model, but not in terms of size- you get a 504Wh Bosch PowerTube, which works wonders, though doesn’t have the largest range-probably only some 80km at best.

However, you do get a beautiful Bosch Performance Line CX motor that can punch out 85Nm of torque, and sets you up nicely to fly up the tricky climbs.

Drivetrain & Brakes

But it’s only a 10-speed, which is a bit of a shame, holding the bike back on the very tough climbs, and you only get a basic pair of Tektro brakes – nothing to write home about.

Tires

You’re well stocked in the tyre department though, with a pair of Bontrager XR3 tyres, which offer a very toothy bite and a lot of reliability.

The bike, therefore, is not too nimble: It does really well at climbing, is a speed demon, can handle some tricky trails, and is manageable enough for someone who is new to the game but also offers some advanced elements that allow you to grow into the bike.

And for that, under $4,000 – which is nothing to sneeze at for an entry-level electric mountain bike from a company whose name is so highly regarded.

7. Cannondale Moterra Neo 5

★★★★★ 3/5

Price – $3,639

Good for – Enduro, climbing and descending

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Suspension

The bike comes with a Shimano Deore 10–gear setup, which does start to feel a bit of a limitation on the stickiest climbs-as a 12-speed setup would give you much more range and take the pressure off the body.

The Cannondale Moterra Neo 5 climbs and descends well, with super plush suspension traveling 140mm at the front end and 150mm at threat.

That makes the bike truly versatile as it can take some pretty adventurous terrain and serious lumps and bumps without compromising on speed too much.

Tires

You get a good deal of grip, thanks to the WTB Breakout tyres, which give you a toothy bite into the dirt and allow you to chuck the bike about – this all adds to the playfulness of the bike.

Forks

The SR SunTour supplies the forks in the form of their XCR model – they aren’t overly slack, so you don’t lose as much speed on the flat sections.

They aren’t top end spec, which is what you’ll want for for the enormous hits, although as an entry level E-MTB rider it’s unlikely you’ll be sending yourself over the big jumps.

Battery

The Neo 5 comes with a 504Wh custom battery, which offer a very mediocre range, and sadly the weight doesn’t reflect that.

It weighs 24kg and, considering it’s a fairly big battery, it’s a bit on the heavy side, but you can still manage more or less 100km depending on how hilly it is.

Motor

You get a capped Shimano Steps DU-E7000 motor that comes out with a top end torque of 60Nm – it is actually not a lot, but still sufficient enough for climbing hills.

Handling & Gears

Handling is another big plus for the Neo 5; it’s so playful, so this bike opens up fairly easily to some pretty challenging terrain as you go along as a rider.

Brakes

But then you have a good pair of Shimano MT200 brakes giving fairly significant amounts of braking power on the trail.

In conclusion, it’s a fun bike to ride, fun to maneuver around, and throws in a reasonable amount of versatility to attack climbs, descents, and technical sections. It’s just let down in the electrics.

8. Aventon Level.2

★★★★★ 3/5

Price – $1,799

Good for – Commuting with a little trail

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Suspension

The Aventon Level.2 is a good all-rounder urban/country e-MTB.

Confidence across a range of terrain has been developed through the bike feeling comfortable in both city streets and country paths and forests roads for weekend leisure riding.

Handling

It is a very simplistic bike, which offers an ease of use and set-up handling combination well suited to that person just getting into the world of e-MTB riding.

Battery & Motor

The bike’s range is decent, thanks to a 672Wh custom battery, which offers just under 100km, depending on how hilly the terrain is.

But the bike’s motor is in need of improvement with the custom model only 50Nm of torque available – that prevents the bike from being the best climber.

If you need a lot of assistance, this bike won’t be able to provide it.

Suspension

The bike rides pretty well on flatter terrain due to its hardtail and grippy tyres and a good deal of traction which it provides.

Weight & Handling

However, it is not nimble on any kind of technical terrain due to the fact that the bike weighs 28kg and comes with very conservative geometry.

You get 8 gears in the custom drivetrain, which is just fine for the flat terrain again and once more points out that this bike is not made for seriously challenging climbs.

Extra Features

One major advantage is the ability to carry extra loads on the bike since luggage racks are fitted there, so it’s ideal for going out with fishing gear or camping gear on a weekend and to carry things around in an urban setting.

A reserved ride, which has its plus points but is very much made for the tamer styles of riding-easy-going leisure cycles, daily commutes, and a little extra.

If you take it anywhere else, this bike will struggle, particularly with only 65mm in the forks and that hardtail.

9. Juiced Rip Current S

★★★★★ 3/5

Price – $1,599

Good for – Speed

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Suspension

The electrics are one area where the Juiced Rip Current S finds its excellence, and this makes it an e-MTB for riders who wish that the lion’s share of the work be done by the machine and not the rider.

Battery & Motor

The battery is a whopping 998Wh custom battery which gives you a range around 150km on flat terrains.

And, you also get a vastly strong motor that has 1000Wh at your disposal – making it almost unrivaled in the E-MTB market.

That makes you menacingly at 45km/h – a bonus if you reside in the US, because many of its states allow that speed.

However, if you reside in the EU, UK, or Australia/New Zealand, that will be over the speed limit law and you could get into bother riding it.

Weight & Handling

All that power and juice does come at a cost though – the bike weighs 34kg, which means it’s about as nimble as a cruise ship.

The bike can’t be thrown around, which rules it out of any real technical terrain.

Instead it’s cut out for long old cruises out into the open countryside and it’s a trusty partner for touring on wide, flatter terrain.

Tyres

To carry all that weight, you get a set of fat tires, which provide much support for the weight, but also expose the bike to almost any weather condition – you get a toothy tread and much more grip.

Suspension

There is no real suspension set-up to have fun with again, it forces you onto the flatter stuff but the weight makes that clear too.

It’s a 9-speed drivetrain which does ok under the speed pressure and it comes in at an attractive price under $2,000.

A monster electricals-wise but definitely not one for technical terrain, downhill riding or any real fast corner style riding.

10. GT Eforce Current

★★★★★ 3/5

Price – $3,450

Good for – Playful riding, trails, descending capable

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Suspension

The GT Eforce would fittingly lend itself to a complete mix of rides, from entry-level trails right through to some downhill fashion programs.

Suspension

It is mainly because of the 150mm of travel in both the forks and the shocks that the bike has plush suspension set-up, able to venture into some wilder territory if desired.

It throws up SR Suntour Zeron 35 forks and X-Fusion O2 Pro RL shocks: far from the best range out there, but this is a trail bike at an entry-level- absolutely does the trick.

Weight & Handling

The bike weighs 25kg, which brings a lot of stability to the trail riding experience. However, this holds it back a bit if you want to get seriously playfulthough at entry level, this isn’t such a concern.

Battery & Motor

The battery is a disappointment, you just get a 504Wh Shimano Steps BT-E8035, which overall, performs pretty pitifully, only allowing rides in a region of approximately 60km to 80km.

Not ideal and certainly not one for a rider who needs a lot of assistance and wants to be out all day long.

There’s also an exceptionally middle of the road Shimano Steps DU-E7000 motor: it hacks out a max of 70Nm – that’s a not totally terrible top torque figure, though combined with the woefully inadequate battery, you soon run out of gas very, very quickly.

Brakes

The descending capabilities of this bike are tremendous, it comes alive when gravity takes hold and does play around with the twist and turns. However, just be careful with the brakes, the Trektro set-up can feel a little under gunned at times.

Tyres

The tyres do help out a lot to off-set the brake issue though, you get a pair of teethy WTB STX i30 tyres, which offer a lot of grip when you need them most.

Drivetrain

It’s only a 10-speed set-up in the drivetrain department, we would have liked to have seen a 12-speed.

Very nice fun ride. However, the electrics within the bike aren’t the best, if you want a bike where you do the lion’s share of the work over the electrics then this may be a good choice.

However, if you are going to need loads of assistance then look at one of the other options.

Final Thoughts

We hope you have enjoyed our tour of the best entry level electric mountain bikes.

Here we have accumulated e-MTBs that run all the way from some all-out trail thrashers, to longer distance tourers, hybrid commuters, and ones geared up for the step up to the really rough terrain in the future.

We tried to keep the price as low as possible, all e-MTBs available below $5,000. There is not much left out of the world’s best manufacturers and some amazing deals, however.

Now go out, take your new e-MTB home, and ride the trails while you read.