The best electric mountain bikes: MBR E-Bike of the Year 2023! | Mountain Bike Rider
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 มิ.ย. 2024
- This year we’ve got quite a line up.
There are 10 contenders vying for the title, with bikes from Specialized, Trek, Canyon, YT, Cannondale, Mondraker, Nukeproof, Vitus, Giant and Whyte. In terms of motors, all the main brands are represented, including Bosch, Shimano, Brose, and Yamaha. And there are mullet bikes, 29ers, coil shocks, wireless gears and even electronic suspension.
All told we’re talking £73k worth of bikes, so it's fair to say that Christmas has definitely come early!
As usual we ran www.maxxis.com/ control tyres to create a more level playing field for all the bikes, choosing to run the Assegai 2.5 up front in Exo casing, and the Minion DHR II at the rear in reinforced EXO+.
We chose the mid MaxTerra compound both front and rear to balance grip and rolling resistance, which is important for battery range.
Also supporting us is www.feedbacksports.com/ with its range of workstands and tools - perfect for all the weighing, measuring, tyre swapping and battery charging.
Along with foxracing.com/, which supplied helmets, kit and its new Union shoes.
Read more here: www.mbr.co.uk/buyers_guide/be..., including all the actual weights and measurements on all the bikes as we upload the full written reviews.
It's a long video, but if you don't want to sit through the whole thing, you can skip to a specific bike below:
0:00:00 - Intro
0:01:27 - Giant Trance X Advanced E+ 1
0:06:50 - Cannondale Monterra Neo Carbon LT 2
0:12:59 - Mondraker Crafty Carbon R
0:18:36 - Vitus E-Sommet VRX
0:24:22 - Whyte E-160 RSX
0:31:38 - Trek Rail 9.7
0:40:09 - Nukeproof Megawatt 297 Factory
0:46:00 - YT Decoy Core MX
0:49:25 - Specialized Turbo Levo Comp
1:00:27 - Canyon Spectral:ON CF 9
1:08:18 - Outro
This video was produced in partnership with Feedback Sports and Fox Clothing
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very cool to see people pointing out the stuff that is bad on all the bikes.
super informative video.
Thanks!
Best Test ever! Thank you!
Great review as always Guys.... There are some great deals on new bikes at the moment! I won't disclose what I've just paid for an S-WORKS Levo brand new! Unbelievable piece of kit for the money!
Interesting points(expert advice great information, amazing information must watch before you buy!) Funny thing about the length of the rear end. Having rode a 2019 Levo 29'er XL vs 2022 Levo S5 Mullet set up - The comparison to the Giant Trance e-Bike makes perfect sense. The way the bike handles and control in DH technical or climbs. The balance and control. One other point is RockShock vs Fox. I think the Fox has the edge IMHO. Getting the right size along with the other expert points you made!
Great vid. Just what i was looking for...
I recently got a Specialized Levo Comp alloy, here in the United States 5400.00 U.S. dollars. Love the bike.
That's the one I want. So hard to find now. Must be really good. 🙂
Wow! These are the nicest bikes I've seen lately!
So many bikes to test, hard to pick a list! Rocky Mountain, Norco, Scott got some very nice e-mtb!
Definitely no shortage of options. We have to balance enough bikes to make it a comprehensive test while also keeping it small enough that we can review them thoroughly.
Good test! 👍
Thanks for the thorough reviews of the bikes you had in for testing. They just get better and better. Must get my Orbea Rise out instead of the roadie
You're welcome! Thanks for the positive feedback.
Nice reviews all round
Just got a turbo levo and it’s frikken rad so far.
Pemberton B.C. 🤘🏻⚡️
Like all things in life bike prices seem to be over the fence and into the land of the silly . I paid £5,500 for my Scott ebike - had Scott bikes for the past 15 yrs - I love the brand personally. My first car cost £3000 and even today 5-6k buys a very nice car . Good video as always from the team
Thanks Mark!
I've had a blast on my 2023 Trance. Saying that I ride super tech rocky trails mostly and it nails it.
Great reviews on all bikes and with that I’ve just got the specialised bike and it’s a dream , gone for the s4 I’m 5,10 smooth and quite .
Enjoy! Nice choice
I bought the Specialized Levo Comp Alloy but I upgraded the drivetrain to AXS and wow 👌
Good review, always interesting to hear different peoples response to brands.
Interesting your pick had the lowest spec and happened to be on special.
I do like the adjustability of the specialized and the weight but without the discount (nz) and low spec , I'm over 100kg would probably upgrade fork at even more cost.
Thanks for making a good review
Cheers Shane
Thanks Shane! Yep, the market is pretty crazy right now, so it definitely made picking a winner more difficult.
I 100% think the MBR channel is the most honest MTB review channel out there run by real riders.
🙏
Great video chaps
Very nice test guys, I have my eye on the Strive:on - hopefully bag it in the next few months, after our home renovations completed. Once tested at Windhill bike park 11-12 Aug (cannot wait!).
Thanks! Guess you saw the test on the Strive:ON?
YT Decoy Core 4 changed in '23 from using the lighter Synthesis alloy Enduro wheel to the heavier more reliable Synthesis alloy EMTB wheel
Purchased the same Turbo Levo Comp. Great discounted price. I eventually upgraded the suspension; Fox 38 / X2, SRAM T-type transmission, Magura MT7 brakes. It’s a totally different animal now.
Nice one - sounds like a great build.
How are you liking the Transmission? I'm thinking of doing the same on my Turbo Levo.
@@Astroscape this my 2nd upgrade from stock. The previous Eagle AXS was just as good as the new T-Type Transmission. IMHO, I couldn’t feel a big jump in improvement for the money spent. But from the stock GX to the current setup; night and day difference. I still feel I need to “soft pedal” when shifting though.
Love it... Thank you ❣❣
Left out one of the best! Rocky Mountain
@MBRmagazine how’s the sizing of the yt decoy compared to the megawatt? Are both frames very similar in size or does one feel smaller than the other?
I got a specialized turbo levo , it’s just a beast period.
very well made video
I got a 23 Levo Pro with AXS Eagle Transmission, Factory suspension, Bikeyoke dropper. Got S6. Only thing I am going to swap is brakes. I was getting the Expert, but I add up cost of upgrading everything to the pro spec I wanted, and It would have cost me more than the difference I paid for the pro. Updating pricing is good to go.
Excellent reviews as ever. Just wondering on the absence of Cube?
Hi Dale, thanks for the kind words. We couldn't get hold of a Cube in time for the test unfortunately.
With regards to the Mondraker Crafty R rear end being unbalanced. The compression on my Cafty R came wound right up from the factory, if you pop the cap off where the adjuster would be you can with long nose pliers adjust the compression damping the full range.
When reduced the front and rear are nicely balanced and the bike rips.
Interesting - will definitely investigate. Thanks.
Turn clock wise or reverse?
@@crocodiluspekinensis reversed I think.
Ive got mine fully open as per the setup guide and same with the fork, works great.
superb review, the most honest in youtube!!
you mentioned reing E+ when you talk abount Giant, do you rate it?
ty so much!
We had one as a long termer last year. Overall pretty good IIRC
@@MBRmagazine After your video i decided to buy a reing E+1, so cute and best in value. U rate turbo levo 9/10 but Need 2k€ more to get same equipe that reing.
See u, have a nice ride!
Enjoy the Reign!
Shud of included a Pole Voima ID w/ Bosch Race 😉
Haven't found a Canyon Spectral with a Bosch motor. While Canyon say they have Bosch the website only option offered is the EP8, I wouldn't touch a Shimano motor with a bage pole.
I still have a 2017/18 Trek Powerfly FS7 23.3kgs gen3 Bosch and not a single problem, now just over 10,000km. While all the guys I ride with have Specialized, Merida, Giant, Rocky Mountain and all have multiple problems with motors and replacement motors, and some with problems with speed sensor and batteries.
So I guess the Trek Rail will be the safest choice.
There isn't a Spectral:ON with Bosch. But the new Strive:ON does come with the Bosch system, removable battery, mullet wheels and just 10mm more travel.
@@MBRmagazine hurry up your test.
Im a Giant Trance X E+2 rider, size XL bike. I’m also a 6”2 left leg amputee. The front end comes up just fine, relatively easy to lift the wheel over roots, ditches, ridges, rocks etc. Don’t let this review put you off, watch others for a more balanced perspective. This bike is a rock rabbit on the climbs, and a sled downhill.
Not sure what this rider was on about, just to say I have had a different experience, so I guess try before you buy. Nice selection of bikes though!
It's a brilliant climber for uphill flow too. And the Yamaha motor is perfect whereas Shimano and Brose/Specialised break.
Je suis totalement d'accord avec vous. C'est vraiment un bon grimpeur. J'ai essayé le Reign durant 1 semaine, j'ai fait 400km avec. Je n'ai pas aimé par rapport au Trance. Le Reign est super en descente, très facile mais le Trance est beaucoup plus polyvalent.
Same here. I feel like I lift the front just fine and it's very well balanced with the long chain stay. Even though it's a 29ers it's feels nimble, I turn really good on the Giant
Same experience. In the lower setting and 145mm cranks this bike is a screamer. Not sure what the reviewer is on about to be honest.
You mentioned changing tyres for better battery range on the nukeproof, do you have any recommendations ? I ride my ebike on pretty flat trails, so I’m looking to get as many miles as possible on a ride.
Hi Daniel, yes, the Nukeproof comes with Maxxis tyres in the softest MaxxGrip compound and heaviest/toughest Double Down casings. Switching to the mid compound MaxxTerra and maybe a lighter EXO+ casing up front would reduce rolling resistance and increase range at the expense of some grip. Everything is a compromise, and Nukeproof has gone for a tyre set-up designed to work on rough, steep, gnarly enduro trails.
Amazing information
Good reviews
Love from Pakistan
💙
I JUST PURCHASED COLA BEAR eMTB FOR
Absolutely brilliant review, thank you. Really appreciate that you didn’t condense it down either.
Thanks, appreciate the comment 🤘
I like that whyte
YT does now ship that battery as standard on the higher models
How do you think the rail gen 4 large bike would handle with a 35 mm stem ?
Really great reviews and now I am in my 40's a decent e-bike makes all kind of sense. BUT, these bikes are serious money, and I'm also after upgrading to a street triple R... May be li ing with the pain a bit longer.
I think you should have gone for Orbea instead Vitus as in terms of sales is for sure a more popular brand (same for Whyte and Nukeproof) and have one of the most awarded Ebikes as it is the new Orbea Wild 2023
We would have loved to have tested the new Orbea Wild. In fact we asked Orbea for a bike. They provided one but sadly never delivered. 🤷♂️
Agree! Have ridden many eMTBs and the Orbea Wild is a step above everyone else. It's the benchmark to beat in 2023.
Still, good video review!
Just bought an Orbea eBike. Best deal out there, and they will give you an actual weight. ( many will not!).
Orbea Wild is overpriced. For the same price as Nukeproof/canyon/Vitus you get an extremally budget equipped bike with something like .e.g.
RockShox 35 Silver shock. Maybe instead of paying you to make those comments they should have send the bike for a test to proof its worth that high price.
@@piotr2951 Orbea, as I told in my previous comment, is one of the most awarded E-mtbs of the last year and winner of the E-ews (Electric Enduro World Series)...they don't need to pay to a guy like me to be some steps above from other brands....anyway, if they read this comment and want to pay me I will accept the money with full hands 😉
So from experience and for the Specialized Turbo Levo just change the front fork to DVO Onyx SC with a custom tune and the rear to a DVO Topaz with a custom tune and this bike is like 10X better and yes I am like 120 kilos and still ride a 36mm DVO with zero problems, 100% reliability, but man does this increase the fun, speed, handling and confidence all at once. Those are absolutely amazing upgrades. Yes I blew the stock wheels and the components are meh. If I could do it again I would buy the frame and just build out with Shimano and DVO and change the stock dropper post to something that is smoother. But man the top of this bike swings side to side like a feather due to its light weight.
I have the 2023 Whyte E160 S mx, mullet version, and yes pedal strike is real, the Bosch over run helps get you over in the rooty stuff though
Cant w8 for the new Integrated Pinion E1.12 12 speed EMTB Gearbox & Motor on a Bulls Bike test.. That motor looks amazing
Yeah it looks good. Very interested to see if it lives up to the hype.
@@MBRmagazine Me to, the one i saw, was prob the same you have seen, when they described how the internals worked, and hearing you two discussing shifting and stuff in weird positions really amazed me how they have manage that
VVery good reviews on theae.
Thanks!
First bike is 7k. My golf gti only cost me 6.5k 😂 what the absolute hell is going on
Yep, it’s a different world now. Lots of people now buy on finance, so the headline price is less of an issue. Kinda like why you see so many brand new Golf GTIs being driven around - no one is handing over £40k in one go.
You bought a 2023 Golf GTI for 6.5k…..?
@@MBRmagazine people are renting the golf gti's then giving them back after 3 years it's called leasing ....nobody is actually buying them. Nobody thinks 40k is worth is for a car that cost 20k 10 years ago. You are all being ripped off big time. The bike manufacturers are F'ing you all in the ass and you are thanking them for it 😂😂 I don't think iv met a more ridiculous type of person than a MTB'er
Great comment
You can get a second hand bike with 4 year old tech for £1200 if you look around
Hi. Marin alpine trail e2?
very nice test. what do you think of the autonomy between the spectral in shimano and 900w, versus the levo in brose and 700w!? THANKS
What do you mean by autonomy? Is it Range?
@@MBRmagazine Good morning. no sorry I wanted to say which bike between the spectral in 720w and the spec in 700w has the greatest autonomy, which is the less greedy motor. THANKS.
One thing you forgot is comparing total system weight or max rider weight. Some of the bike have max rider weight of less than 95kg . And that is not much if one is 190cm + and like to have a backpack for the longer days .
Very good point. We will definitely flag up any outliers next time 👍
It’s a shame propain haven’t sent an ekano, their uk hq is so close to you. I’ve been meaning to get a test of one myself.
We've been talking to them, but haven't managed to secure a test bike yet.
I miss my Cube stereo Hybrid in this test. (E 5000,-)
Odd you didn't call out the Canyon for cable routing through stem or headset?
True, but it’s one of the least worst designs in the test as you can still adjust the stem relatively easily, and the AXS drivetrain meant no issues with tight cables and shifting. But yeah, we’d prefer it with regular routing.
This video should be in December 2023?
Considering the vitus vrx anyone have any feedback on them?
Is there a reason you guys never test Scott bikes? Do they not allow it?
Where is the Orbea Wild and the Canyon Strive On ?
Strive:On came out too late for the test unfortunately, and the Orbea, well we keep getting promised a bike but nothing ever materialises. Which is a bummer as we’d love to test one.
@@MBRmagazine So .... The Best EMTB's of 2023 .... that we were able to try and test?
@@Daffy0208 obviously
@@scottbagley7513 they do have a demo Center in Surrey.
@@andymoss4285 thanks bud good to know I’m in Manchester but I’m keen to try them out for sure 👍🏻
Hi guys are you doing a 2024 bike review any time soon? I’m putting off getting a new bike until I see this year’s recommendations 😊
We have a budget e-bike test coming out in the next couple of weeks, then we’ve got a lightweight e-bike test in the pipeline, and we will do a full power e-bike of year test but it will be a bit later in the year. 👍
You completely missed the Orbea Wild and Rocky Mountain Altitude. When I saw those two were missing, I knew that this wasn't a complete test. Moving on.
We asked for both of these bikes but Orbea didn't deliver the Rise and we couldn't get the Rocky for long enough to do the test thoroughly.
@@MBRmagazine It's weird how the internet makes me (and others) an intolerant jackass. Sorry. Everyone has to work within their particular set of constraints. I was interested in those two particular bikes. I have a 21 RM Instinct-e and my buddy just bought a Wild. I'm considering upgrading. Once you have ridden the Rocky Dyname motor for a couple seasons - especially in Seattle where everything is slippery - it's hard to not stick with it. But the Orbea's reviews, and my time on it, have blown me away. I need to do a demo on the Rocky I guess.
Thanks for the reply! We loved the original Rocky, and have briefly ridden the latest one, so would have been exciting to get it in the mix. Same with the Orbea. We’ll keep trying to get them 👍
Did you have a chance to ride the Orbea Wild FS yet? Some sources say it's even better than the Specialized Turbo Levo. The team at The Loam Wolf picked the Orbea Wild FS as the 2023 E-MTB of the year.
We're riding the M-LTD now. It's a very nice spec, but also £11k, so much more expensive than the Levo we tested. So far definitely enjoying the ride - suspension is good and it's very stable. The Bosch motor and big battery gives it a huge range, even with DH-casing, MaxxGrip tyres, but the non-removable battery is a pain. Will maybe try and do a comparison with the Canyon Strive:ON seeing as they are both marketed as enduro race bikes.
@@MBRmagazine I'm sure the Wild M-LTD is a super nice e-mtb, but I have the Turbo Levo S-Works ($15K) and I'd put it up against the Wild FS M-LTD any day of the week!
Do you think they are equally good bikes with the only real difference being rider preference? Would you agree that it's like comparing a Ferrari vs a Lamborghini?
Can’t really compare them directly as they are different travel and intended uses. One is a versatile Trail bike and one is designed specifically for e-enduro racing.
Were is Rocky Mountain, Norco, Fantic, Scott, etc…
@alanMuldoon Did you every work for CITI,
No orbea?
Please can you tell me what bike stand you are using.
It’s the new Feedback Sports Pro Mechanic HD 👍
Shame you didn't have a bike on test with Öhlins suspension
How do you not have the Yeti 160e in this comparison?
Can you get one for the same price point as these ?
Merida & Rocky Mountain are not here ???
Do you guys ever review any Bafang motor ebikes?
We've tested the Forestal bikes with Bafang motors and the latest Vitus E-Mythique LT with a Bafang. All the reviews can be found at www.mbr.co.uk/. No videos as yet but we're working on a video about the Vitus.
@@MBRmagazine sweet thanks ill check them out
There all nice bikes
Got an etrance and an ereign, loving the reign in the techi steep tracks but most of the time i ride the trance, so stable, rolling fast with the 29 in the back, it's a lot of pleasure daily, flowy... not like the reign, a bike that make you happy on any trail, i don't think you ride it properly..
Spoke with Cedric Gracia who ride the same bikes and he was totally agree, the trance is a fantastic happy trail bike...
It deserves a 9🫶
If you like it then what does it matter what we think? He may genuinely like it, but Cedric has also been around long enough to know you don't bite the hand that feeds you.
What size YT decoy Mx did you ride, and how tall are you? I keep reading that people size up on the decoy Mx. I currently ride an S4 stumpy EVO and I’m 5’11”.
We rode the size large, and although on the small side, it did make for a very agile bike. In the review we said “The frame is available in five sizes XS to XXL and while the sizing on the Decoy isn’t the most generous, the size L sporting a rather demure 451mm reach, the Decoy feels all the more manageable and manoeuvrable for it. Also the 50mm stem ensures that the fit never feels cramped, and even slows the steering response down a hair to make it easier to correct course mid turn.”
@@MBRmagazine thanks for the info. I’m very torn as to which size to get. My stumpy sizing seems very close to the XL of the decoy MX with the reach being 7mm longer on my stumpy. Did you feel like it felt very small compared to the levo?
Remember that the extra stability and climbing ability of e-bikes means you can down size without much issue. Looking at the geo chart, the reach looks spot on with the XXL, but the seat tube gets really long, so that might end up being the biggest negative. A 470mm seat tube is pretty tall. Our test rider was 5ft 11in btw.
Your boy has crazy uptalk, otherwise amazing video!
Good review but the best ebike test has to have the Orbea wild which I believe is better then most of the bikes you have on test.
we have the Orbea on test now (it wasn't available at the time) and while I would agree it's a great riding e-bike and the suspension is superb, the non-removable battery means it's not as user-friendly as it could be.
anyone get on the commencal? love their value and descending ability
No Scott brand ebikes included ? , in any of these test ,why is this ?
I'm interested in that YT and because of your comment about the bike i already made my decision, thanks.
Worth noting the new Decoy comes standard with the big battery 👍
I love how all the video footage is of people riding down hill on their $10,000 ebikes. You buy an ebike to help you go up hills. How about some focus on that?
Yeti 160E??
Giant Reign E+ would have been a better bike in this mix than the Trance, more comparable to the likes of the LT bikes such as Cannondale, YT, etc and it’s a far better bike than the Trance also
The giant kicks the rest of these bike's ass. You get a lot of top-tech bike for your money with Giant.
@@nickacelvnyeah but not trendy enough for these neck beards.
@@gunn1ng lol all about brand image innit
Whyte looks great, wish they exported to US
Fantastic video, really informative for myself who is just starting to look at ebikes. What's your experience with shimano motors? I've read a lot of horror stories regarding reliability.
Thanks for the kind words. While we couldn't put any exact figures on it, from talking to industry folk , bike shop employees and regular riders, the Bosch system seems to be the most reliable. While there may be more stories about Shimano issues, it's worth remembering that there are probably more bikes with Shimano systems out there in the wild than any other. So, if for example, both Bosch and Shimano see 1 in 100 motors with issues, there will be more Shimano motors out there with problems than Bosch, simply because more bikes use them. Not saying this is what's happening, but it's something worth bearing in mind.
@@MBRmagazine thank u for taking the time to reply. A uk based bike company that I currently ride had to abandon their ebike project due to 70% failure rate of the shimano motors during testing. Has put the fear in my head about it but them I see santa cruz & other high end bikes using them 🤷♂️ It's such a big investment for ebike just now
When are you going to review the Strive:on?
Just working on it now! Should be live on the site in the next few weeks with the video following shortly.
@@MBRmagazine Awsome, looking forward to it.
No Lapierre?
I don't have an ebike, so upgrading the brakes is a no-brainer.
You can’t beat haibike on price and there spec is great too .
Gen 2 trek rail 9s are selling for just over 4k just now. Prob best bang per buck possible. As long as u dont mind the terrible kiosk 300 display
It’s definitely a good time to be shopping for a new e-bike right now!
Turbo levo comp alloy or orbea wild h10? Judt cant decide
Two quite different bikes. The Orbea is very capable on fast, rough terrain, but the Levo is more fun and agile. Levo has removable battery, Orbea doesn’t. One has Bosch, the other Brose. Spesh is adjustable, Orbea isn’t. Ultimately depends on where you live and the type of trails you ride.
@@MBRmagazine appreciate the response guys, thanks. I ride in Scotland,.lots of natural trails etc but I do love some flow (tarlands is amazing) think im Leaning towards levo as no orbea dealers close enough to me anymore
The prices are just silly. I paid £4000 for my cube Stereo 160. 27.5 wheels and Zeb fork swung it for me.
Howcome the 2023 Orbea Wild isnt a contender on here?
Look out for a test on the Orbea WIld Vs Canyon Strive:ON this Sunday.
Some HUGE brands are missing, like Commencal, Orbea, and GT.
what about orbea wild?? how did this list came here without one of top enduro ebikes in this year?
Check out our latest video for a review of the Orbea Wild. 👍
no Santa Cruz???
Why no Santa Cruz??
Dechatlon should be in the list
Why no Orbea Wild ?
We tried to get one but there wasn't one available at the time. Orbea has sent one now though, and we're testing it at the moment.
Hiabike nduro 8 ???
I don't want to see a MK 2, I want to see Blake Builds Wireless Brakes Series 😀
What about Santa Cruz?
Missing the Orbea Wild and Rise/ Yeti / Merida / Thok / Ducati.... And more
No Orbea Wild ???
Sorry no, we tried but couldn’t get one. However, we have one now, so will be doing a first ride review shortly.