E-MTBs around 5000 euros: 7 all-mountain bikes in a comparison test

Fox forks, Shimano XT drivetrains and even the odd carbon frame. When I look over our test group, I can hardly believe it: this is the entry-level class? Our experience tells us that you have to spend at least around €5,000 after list price for a good e-MTB. Nevertheless, thanks to the price war and the hangover mood after the bike boom, you can now get your money's worth again. The seven candidates whizz effortlessly up our test climb in the Oberammergau bike park. With mature geometries and long suspension travel, you can also let the bikes off the leash downhill. Apart from the occasional faux pas with the tyres. After all, that's what modern e-MTBs are made for.

We have tested these E-MTBs

• Bulls Copperhead EVO AM2
• Canyon Spectral:On CF9
• Conway Xyron ST 5.0
• Cube Stereo Hybrid One44 HPC SLX
• Santa Cruz Vala AL Deore
• Scott Patron 930
• Steppenwolf Tundra 9.0

Everyday buddy or off-road pro?

What is particularly important here also depends on the application. Our seven candidates set different accents here. Bulls and, to a lesser extent, Scott and Cube want to score points for touring and everyday suitability. Some come with a rear light as standard. A front headlight or a kickstand could also be easily retrofitted. Before the trail fans turn up their noses: The kickstand mounts are hidden in the seat stay and are no longer a rarity on e-MTBs.

Santa Cruz and Canyon represent the other extreme and are fully focussed on off-road riding fun. We were surprised by the Santa Cruz. The high-end brand is not exactly known for its good price-performance ratio, but skilfully sets the right accents in terms of equipment. Although the Vala is the most expensive bike in the comparison and the only one with a small, permanently installed 600 battery, the Californian bike lacks nothing on the trail. The Scott struggles much more with the price limit, but offers a larger battery - another argument in its favour. And where does DJI stand? The Steppenwolf is the only bike in the Bosch-dominated test group to be powered by the super motor from Avinox. However, its weight of just 22 kilos is even more impressive than its incredible performance. With the M2S, DJI's motor brand Avinox is going one better for the future. Many bikes will be successively updated to the new hardware. This also applies to Steppenwolf.

DJI Avinox: A trump card on the trail?

On the trail, however, the motor alone counts for little. With its low weight, the Steppenwolf is the lightest-footed bike in the test group, but the rear suspension and geometry give away too much potential off-road. This is the chance for the aforementioned Santa Cruz, which sets the benchmark for suspension. Plenty of traction on the climbs, a comfortable ride on the descents and still blessed with reserves for more. The Vala AL demonstrates what good geometry combined with well-tuned suspension can achieve. Almost everything depends on this if you are primarily focussing on the riding characteristics. So it's no wonder that even the significant deduction of points in terms of range is hardly a threat to the Vala. Second place goes to the well-balanced and easy-to-ride Xyron ST from Conway. Cube and Steppenwolf share third place in the test field with versatility on the one hand and lightweight construction on the other.

The motors

The majority in the 5000 euro class still rely on the tried and tested Bosch CX, but there are also options with Avinox. Shimano is losing ground.

Avinox M1 (DJI)

With 120 Newton metres and 1000 watts of peak power, the M1 already offers unprecedented power with excellent modulation and low weight. There are also features such as the good app, optional GPS tracking and much more. The characteristics are lively and dynamic. The power is never sudden. Just one and a half years after the M1, the M2S is already in the starting blocks. Many manufacturers are switching to the new engine on the fly.

Shimano EP801

Once on a par with Bosch, the Shimano has become much less popular. This is probably also due to the fact that the design is basically six years old - worlds apart in the e-bike cosmos. With 85 Nm and a peak output of 600 watts, the performance is still good enough, but the competition has clearly surpassed the Shimano in terms of modulation, volume and features. More of a discontinued model, but often with an attractive price-performance ratio.

Bosch Performance CX

Just in time for the publication of this magazine, Bosch is releasing the next software update: the CX now delivers up to 120 Newton metres and up to 600 percent support, while the peak power remains at 750 watts and therefore well behind the Avinox. For the test, we still rode without this update. Top modulation and rattle-free operation characterise the CX. The controls and app are tried and tested, and the range is beyond reproach.

What the BIKE test editors say

With many bikes, you can get a lot more out of them with slight modifications. Better tyres make all the difference off-road. Long seat tubes and short dropper posts (Bulls, Steppenwolf) restrict freedom of movement. A no-go for me. - Max Fuchs

Many candidates in this test group are not designed for trails, but rather for moderate tours. This is not unusual in this price range. The Santa Cruz stands out as a mini enduro bike and can also take on tough terrain. Canyon also has a clear trail focus. - Florentin Vesenbeckh

As much as I am technically impressed by the DJI power in the Steppenwolf, I would prioritise other things if I were to buy it. The power is often too much uphill anyway. A quiet downhill bike with the best possible handling characteristics is much more important to me. - Adrian Kaether

The most important information about the E-All-Mountains

Reach

For many, this is still the be-all and end-all when buying an e-mountainbike. But we can reassure you: even in relatively affordable price categories, modern e-MTBs offer plenty of range. 800 batteries are now almost standard. In our standardised field test, we used the Bosch system to crank up a good 2000 metres of altitude in turbo mode. In reality, long tours up to around this altitude metre mark are also possible with medium support. If you want even more, you have to be light or pedal a lot yourself in Eco mode. One thing is clear: if you call up a lot of power, with the Bosch update or with DJI, you will drain the battery faster. The Steppenwolf with Avinox therefore only manages a good 1600 metres in altitude at full throttle, albeit at an average of almost 21 km/h compared to 14 km/h with the Bosch. If you reduce the power to comparable values, both rivals are almost on a par. The 600 cc battery in the Santa Cruz is also sufficient for long rides up to around 1600 metres in altitude, while the Canyon battery in the Spectral:On is between the extremes at around 1800 metres in altitude, but is by far the heaviest in the test.

Weights (BIKE measured values)

Carbon equals light? Yes and no. Because the low weight of the Steppenwolf is only partly due to the full carbon frame, which a Canyon also has, for example. The fixed battery also has a positive effect. And the slim Avinox drive system also brings slight weight advantages, even if the bikes are still a long way from competing with real light bikes. And speaking of carbon fibre: Bulls' second heaviest bike also has a carbon fibre main frame. So carbon fibre alone is probably not enough. The Canyon with the second lightest full carbon frame suffers from the heavy battery. Although the Santa Cruz is not super light for the small, permanently installed battery, the generous weight allowance and lifetime frame warranty for the aluminium chassis are impressive.

At 22 kilos, the Steppenwolf with Avinox sets a clear weight record. All others are at least two kilos heavier. - Hans Ettenberger, BIKE Lab

The test results in points

How BIKE tests

At BIKE, we go to unprecedented lengths to objectively assess E-MTBs. These criteria are decisive for the evaluation:

Driving behaviour

The most important point in the evaluation system accounts for the most percentage points of the final score. We differentiate between how well a bike can be ridden uphill and downhill and how the suspension works. Uphill, we assess the geometry, among other things: Is the comfort right? Is the power transfer right and can you survive long days in the saddle? On technical climbs, there are penalty points for a front wheel that climbs early and a lack of control in key sections. We pay particular attention to this with E-MTBs.

When it comes to downhill handling, we differentiate between two disciplines. The playfulness category is dedicated to riding fun. Handy and lively bikes score points here. Models with high (wheel) weight, sluggish chassis and bulky geometries are at a disadvantage. In the downhill classification, we differentiate between the riding characteristics and the suspension qualities. In the first category, we place particular emphasis on the riding position: are you well integrated in the bike, can it be controlled intuitively and how much confidence does the geometry convey on steep terrain or at high speeds? In terms of the suspension, the absorption capacity and response behaviour of the suspension elements are important: Do the front and rear harmonise, do the fork and shock absorb fast impacts, what about traction?

BIKE measured values

We take the total weight into account when grading. We also determine wheel weight and geometry according to uniform standards in our in-house test laboratory. We determine the range in a standardised field test on one and the same test climb with a rider weight of 90 kilos, 150 watts of pedalling power and full motor support.

Equipment

There are a total of five assessment criteria here. In addition to the quality of the components and add-on parts, we evaluate things that create added value for the rider. For example, this could be an integrated tool or useful accessories ex works. We also honour the size of the water bottle that can be transported on the frame, the retractability of the saddle and the quality and workmanship of the frame.

Service friendliness

Our mechanic rating provides information on how easy it is to carry out service and maintenance work on the bike. A high score promises good service friendliness, low scores warn of stress when working on the bike. We rate the cable routing, how easy it is to replace and service the headset, whether the frame is sufficiently protected in problem areas and whether a universal derailleur hanger has been specified.

The spider diagram

We show the character of a bike at a glance with the spider diagram. Basically, the larger the coloured area, the better the bike. But the rating in the individual criteria is also visible here. We adjust the weighting depending on the bike category. In this way, we fulfil the different requirements for e-enduro or light bikes, for example.