Fine, electric mountain bikes don’t suck

Cheater, I’d grumble between huffs as yet another e-bike rider casually skittered past me on a steep ascent. It’s this purist attitude that, for years, has left me blind to one simple fact: electric mountain bikes are fun!

My attitude adjustment came a few weeks ago, the very first time I rode an Amflow PX Carbon Pro fitted with the incredibly compact, lightweight, and powerful M2S motor from Avinox, a new DJI offshoot that has incumbents like Bosch and Specialized on edge. The motor doesn’t make me a speed demon, but it does let me suck better by compensating whenever my poor technique kills the momentum.

Mountain biking has a long history of gatekeeping new technology. Purists have complained about the introduction of full-suspension frames, disc brakes, dropper posts, and 29-inch wheels, claiming they’ve made the sport “too easy.” Today, that technology is widely accepted and comes standard on many mountain bikes, including the Amflow I’ve been testing. Powerful, torquey motors are just the next evolution.

Without a doubt, that motor does make things easier. It’s on long, steep, technical ascents where I appreciate the relief most, turning climbs into engaging, flowy challenges rather than a cardio tax that cuts my day short. But I decide how hard I want to work. Some days I need a turbo assist, and others I’m fine with eco when I really want to push my heart rate into the red zone.

I started mountain biking during covid like many of my friends, letting YouTube teach us correct body posture and technique to use in turns and jumps. Let’s just say I haven’t advanced much beyond novice in that time, and suffered a nasty crash that shoved my shoulder out the socket “in an unusual direction,” according to my doctor. I haven’t felt as confident on a mountain bike since. Adding a motor, however, has made me feel safer with a greater sense of control.

There’s a gross misconception that electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) make you faster. Maybe in the US, but I ride in Europe where eMTBs don’t have throttles and the pedal-assist tops out at a slow 25km/h (15.5mph) — many trail riders can easily exceed 30km/h on straightaways, leaving me struggling to keep up on a heavier e-bike. European e-bikes also have a maximum continuous output rating of just 250W, making them slower and less powerful than Class 1 e-bikes sold in the US, let alone those Class 3 monsters that are just motorcycles in disguise.

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

The motor lets me be overly cautious with my braking as I approach a turn, take it with confidence, and then accelerate quickly and with control out the other side. And when my momentum stalls in a technical section because of my shit technique, a bolt of torque is there to get me out of trouble, and again when a blind hairpin opens up to an unexpectedly steep incline.

The extra power delivered intuitively and predictably by the Avinox M2S motor has kept me from losing balance, or being forced to dismount in difficult terrain. It’s also been a great equalizer when heading out with more experienced riders who’d otherwise “drop” me at some point in the first 10 minutes.

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

I’m also careful with my newfound superpower, and frankly, a little embarrassed by it. Strong riders aren’t used to being passed with pace on steep uphill sections by someone twice their age. I therefore stay humble and announce my presence early if I really need to pass. I also don’t claim any King of the Mountain titles on Strava like some assholes.

It’s slightly unfair that my epiphany came on a $10,000 Amflow PX Carbon Pro. It features class-leading specs that certainly aided my enjoyment. That Avinox M2S motor is capable of delivering up to 150Nm of hill-flattening torque, and a temporary boost of 1,500W to overcome long, steep sections. (Watch Will Greenfield’s e-bike motor comparison to fully appreciate what Avinox has done.) The carbon fiber frame also helps bring the total weight down to just 20.6kg (45 pounds), below the average of about 22 to 27kg (50 to 60 pounds).

Avinox now boasts over 60 bike brand partners around the world. That means it pays to shop around. The cheapest M2S-equipped eMTB I’ve found is the roughly $4,000 CRUSSIS e-Hard 11.11 hardtail. Otherwise, you can find a variety of budget eMTBs from companies like Ride1Up and Aventon with less-capable motors that still offer lots of fun.

Ultimately, you don’t need a five-figure carbon rig to experience the shift. Whether you’re on a flagship Amflow or a budget workhorse, the result will be similar: less suffering, more laps, and a giant, goofy grin. The addition of a motor won’t suddenly make you a better mountain biker. But it might make you want to become one.