Santa Cruz, Giant and YT e-bikes put to the test: Who makes the best e-enduro?

​E-MTBs achieve on an enduro ride what AI is supposed to do in everyday working life: they allow you to focus fully on what matters. Instead of having to spend time and effort on gruelling climbs, you can let the e-enduro shuttle you comfortably to the next trailhead. To ensure proper riding enjoyment, the e-bike mustn’t be too heavy; at the same time, it should be able to absorb hard impacts and impress with intuitive handling. The latest e-enduro bikes from Giant, Santa Cruz and YT Industries are designed precisely for this. Everyday practicality and comfort have deliberately been taken a back seat. These aren’t clunky SUVs, but genuine sports bikes built for fun.

Less weight, more fun

To keep the weight down, all three models focus on the battery. The Bosch bikes from Santa Cruz and YT have the battery permanently fitted inside the down tube; Santa Cruz, moreover, uses only the 600-series Bosch battery – an effective weight saving. Giant makes do with a small, lightweight battery that can be removed quickly. The result: Santa Cruz's Bullit emerges from the weigh-in as the clear winner. 22.2 kilos – despite its robust components and still plenty of scope for optimisation, for example with the wheels. However, the battery capacity of 600 watt-hours is modest, and the Bullit comes with a hefty price tag. At 9,799 euros, it’s the most expensive contender, even though its spec still lacks Kashima coating and carbon parts. The YT Decoy, with its hefty Powertube 800, offers more glamour and greater range. It weighs a good kilo more. In terms of spec, however, the Decoy Core 4 really goes all out, coming with high-end components including super-light carbon wheels. For 9,000 euros, you get nothing but top-of-the-range parts here – typical of a mail-order retailer. Giant, on the other hand, sticks with the Reign Advanced E+ 1 for 7,999 euros Priced lower than its two competitors. The spec is all about practicality: top functionality, but no frills. At 23.3 kilos, it’s on a par with YT in terms of weight.

Weights put through their paces in the laboratory

​With its small, permanently fitted battery, the Santa Cruz Bullit is by far the lightest e-enduro bike in this comparison. Weighing just over 22 kilos is an impressive figure, given its solid spec. When it comes to the wheels, the Californian brand still has room for improvement – there’s potential for tuning! The high weight rating offered by Giant and Santa Cruz is also commendable. What’s more, both bike brands offer a lifetime warranty. The Giant Reign is the only bike with a removable battery, which adds to the weight.

Motors and batteries for electric enduro bikes

Santa Cruz and YT Industries have fitted the Bosch Performance CX. This classic model is, quite rightly, very popular. With the latest update, the Performance CX is better than ever. Whilst it may not achieve the absolute best figures in terms of either weight or power, its modulation and smart assistance are second to none. When it comes to range, too, the motor is in a league of its own. The Kiox 400 C display is stylishly integrated, easy to read and provides a wealth of information. Enduro riders will also appreciate the fact that the CX is one of the very few e-bike motors that remains completely rattle-free on the trail.

Giant has traditionally relied on its own e-motors, which are based on Yamaha hardware and enhanced with the company’s own software, batteries and controls. The Syncdrive Pro 3 is slightly lighter than the Bosch Performance CX and can still hold its own in terms of power in a direct comparison. However, it has slightly less torque. The power delivery is smooth and the ride feels dynamic. On tough climbs, the limited follow-through can be a hindrance. Unfortunately, the Syncdrive motor rattles quite noticeably when coasting along the trail.

How much battery capacity do I need?

​Giant is the only manufacturer to have designed its e-enduro bike with an easily removable battery. At 560 Wh, the battery is small and lightweight. This means it has the shortest range in this comparison. Optionally, the range can be extended using a range extender fitted within the frame triangle. All in all, it’s a flexible system.

Santa Cruz has opted for a lightweight design for the battery. You’ll have to make do with the Bosch 600 Powertube, which offers significantly more range than the Giant system. However, the battery is permanently fitted inside the down tube. Changing it whilst out on a ride or charging it separately from the bike is out of the question. The optional 250 Range Extender from Bosch gives you greater flexibility.

With its large 800 battery, the YT Decoy is also well-equipped for long rides and is clearly the range champion of this trio. However, the battery is permanently fitted to the bike. The Bosch range extender won’t fit into the bike due to the low-slung shock absorber. This means that on a ride, the only option for recharging is the charger – which lacks a fast-charging function. Enduring, but not very flexible.

Can e-bikes even handle enduro?

Off-road, all three contenders can handle even the nastiest descents. Plenty of suspension travel, well-developed geometry and good suspension tuning – they’ve got it right. In terms of character, however, the differences are huge. In keeping with its weight, the Bullit remains the most manoeuvrable and fun-to-ride of the lot. On flat trails, it still feels lively and agile, making it a real joy to ride even far away from bike park tracks or technical trails. A top-class all-round enduro bike.

The Decoy, too, places explicit emphasis on riding enjoyment. With its robust suspension and high front end, however, it’s clearly better suited to steep descents and challenging rides. Here, it impresses in true freeride style with a good mix of durability and lively handling. You do have to make some compromises on flat trails, where it lacks a bit of zing. And on tricky climbs, the Decoy is the first to lose control. As with the Bullit, the climb is more a means to an end than a real playground.

With the Giant Reign, it’s a different story. With exceptional control and traction, this e-enduro tackles even steep climbs and key uphill sections with ease. Alongside the central riding position, the suspension plays a key role in this. On steep sections, it keeps the rider actively engaged and positioned well forward on the bike. Downhill, too, the Reign is more of a determined model pupil than a party animal. It prefers to keep both wheels on the ground and take the ideal line, rather than casually jibbing over root sections – in the three-way comparison, it feels the most sluggish. The well-defined suspension generates plenty of traction, but requires more effort from the rider on very rough sections and descents. So, even though the key specifications may sound similar at first glance, the areas of use, strengths and weaknesses of these three high-end machines differ significantly.

​Conclusion from the BIKE editorial team

None of the three test bikes is entirely without compromises. YT offers a truly powerful freerider, whilst Giant provides a high-performance all-rounder. The Bullit from Santa Cruz is the most consistently geared towards riding enjoyment and strikes the best balance between durability and agility. Test winner for this enduro all-rounder! The downside is the small, fixed battery. - Florentin Vesenbeckh, Deputy Editor-in-Chief

​​You can find the in-depth reviews of the three e-enduro bikes right here:

>> Review of the YT Decoy MX Core 4

>> Review of the Giant Reign Advanced E+1

>> Review of the Santa Cruz Bullit GX AXS