E-MTBs under 4000 euros on test: Can these affordable e-bikes convince us off-road?
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The higher the flight, the deeper the fall. What some had warned of during the frenzied bike boom in coronavirus times is now hitting the bike industry with full force: the abrupt fall in prices from an all-time high to an all-time low in the face of the pandemic. full warehouse and timid demand. Consumers can rub their hands in glee in 2024, because e-MTBs have never been as affordable as they are at the moment.
Good for us. Because until recently, it seemed almost impossible to find candidates for a fully test group up to 4000 euros. Now you can draw on the full range. Mail order companies adjust their offers to the current market situation on an almost daily basis. And many specialist brands also reduced their bike prices again at the beginning of the year. Web shops and bricks-and-mortar specialist retailers are also offering additional discounts.
The cheapest e-bike in this test costs just 3199 euros: the Radon Render AL 7.0 750, with Bosch CX and 750 Wh battery. No less eye-watering: The YT Decoy Core 1 used to be available for 4999 euros on the mail order company's website, now for 3749 euros. As a reminder: The YT comes in an elegant carbon fibre outfit.
In the test: 4 E-Fullys up to 4000 euros
Click here to go directly to the detailed test report.
All Mountain category:
Enduro category:
Fluctuating prices on the market
It is also worth keeping an eye on the market when looking for models from specialist brands. For example, the Conway eWME was still priced at 4999 euros last year. In view of subdued demand, the company from Lower Saxony reduced the RRP by a whopping 1000 euros. And if you do some research on the internet, you can get hold of the Conway All-Mountain for even less. We have already spotted it for 3200 euros at an online retailer.
However, you won't base your purchase decision on the lowest price alone, especially not since the YT is a candidate that is virtually out of the competition. With 170 mm of travel, the Enduro is superior to the All-Mountains in this test in the downhill disciplines. All the other bikes are in the same travel class and are aimed at touring and trail riders, with the Radon offering slightly less travel than the Conway (155 mm) and Rockrider (150 mm) with only 140 mm at the rear.
The engines of the test bikes
Shimano EP6, Shimano EP8 or Bosch Performance CX? We have summarised the character of the motors in the picture gallery.
The equipment of the test bikes
Of course, you have to make some compromises in terms of features in this price range. However, there are very few real missteps. Only the steel suspension fork on the Radon falls well short of the competition. On the other hand, the Bonn-based mail order company offers a full drive package with Bosch CX and a 750 Powertube battery, which guarantees top-level performance, range and a dynamic riding experience. All other candidates rely on Shimano drives. The Conway is a long-range combination. The EP8 manages over 1600 metres of altitude in boost mode with the 720-cell Darfon battery, but lags behind the Bosch in terms of performance. The EP6 offers comparable performance in YT and Rockrider. The inner workings correspond to Shimano's premium EP801 unit, but it is a good 300 grams heavier and also 100 watts weaker. In the Rockrider, the EP6 is fed by a 630 Wh Shimano battery, while in the YT it has to make do with a small 540 Wh battery.
Tops & Flops
Useful equipment, clever details and a good range bring real added value to everyday cycling. But there are also some really annoying bugs. We show the tops and flops of our test bikes in the picture gallery.
Golden times for bargain hunters
The prices for e-mountainbikes seem to be plummeting. It's worth keeping an eye on the market and buying at the right time - because prices vary greatly. For example, the Conway used to have an RRP of 4999 euros. Now the manufacturer quotes an RRP of 3999 euros, but we found offers of up to 3200 euros online. The cheapest bike in this test is the Radon Render AL 7.0 750 at just € 3199. And with a 625 Wh battery, the bike currently costs just € 2999! Third example of the volatile prices: YT. For the carbon enduro Decoy Core 1 MX, you used to have to transfer 4999 euros to the shipper's account. In the meantime, the Forchheim-based company was only asking €3299 - that's a 34 per cent discount. At the time of going to press, the price on the manufacturer's website was back up to 3749 euros.
The results at a glance
Ranking Uphill
- 1st Rockrider E-Feel 700 S
- 2nd Conway eWME 3.9
- 3. Radon Render AL
- 4. YT Decoy Core 1 MX
Ranking Downhill
- 1st YT Decoy Core 1 MX
- 2nd Rockrider E-Feel 700 S
- 3rd Conway eWME 3.9
- 4th Radon Render AL
Ranking Trail
- 1st YT Decoy Core 1 MX
- 2nd Rockrider E-Feel 700 S
- 3rd Conway eWME
- 4th Radon Render AL
Ranking range
- 1st Radon Render AL
- 2nd Conway eWME
- 3rd Rockrider E-Feel 700 S
- 4. YT Decoy Core 1 MX
The test winner
EMTB summary of the E-MTBs under 4000 euros in the test
A turning point: Since the advent of full-suspension e-MTBs, there has never been so much riding fun for so little money. All four bikes in the test impress with a sensational price-performance ratio. If range is not as important as downhill quality, the fun enduro YT Decoy is the bike for you. The surprise candidate Rockrider E-Feel 700S from the French discounter Decathlon delivers the most well-rounded touring package: bikers for whom brand image is unimportant will be delighted with its balanced riding characteristics. - Josh Welz, Editor-in-Chief EMTB Magazine
Josh Welz
Editor-in-Chief
