Best e-enduro bikes: 5 favourites of the EMTB editorial team

Not a day in Finale Ligure without a shuttle, not a day in the bike park without a lift. If you are focussing on gravity-assisted mountain biking, you can hardly avoid an enduro bike - but neither can you avoid lifts. Because just like the latest test shows: Climbing is not exactly the favourite discipline of classic enduro bikes. Thanks to heavy, grippy tyres and massive suspension travel, downhill fun is guaranteed, but the uphill is a sweat-inducing slog.

This limits the range of action of many enduro bikes on trails with lift and shuttle connections. The alternative: a motor in the bike. This saves energy on the ascent for the subsequent descent, allows you to reach trails beyond parks and shuttle areas and even has fun on the ascent.

E-Enduros: Now also light and handy

But for a long time, e-MTBs could not hold a candle to their non-motorised relatives in terms of handling. The geometries were too bulky, and the chainstays in particular were too long. And the high overall weights were not to everyone's taste either. It has long since become clear that the weight in combination with the low centre of gravity also has its advantages. But at the latest since the light e-MTB class came into existence, e-mountain bikers have also had the opportunity to ride a lightweight bike.

By comparison, a Kenevo SL, Specialized's enduro bike with a lightweight motor, weighs barely four kilos more than its non-motorised counterpart. Uphill, the Mahle motor in the SL delivers up to 240 watts in addition to the rider's power. This is only half as much as a classic e-mountainbike, but is still enough for twice the speed uphill compared to bikes without a motor. Incidentally, the Specialized Enduro and the Kenevo SL are confusingly similar in terms of downhill handling and geometry.

The Scor 4060 Z ST is a good example of what classic e-mountainbikes with power motors from Bosch and co. are now capable of. The trail bike from Switzerland is a typical representative of modern, sporty e-MTB geometries. 437 millimetre short chainstays keep the handling lively, the weight is under 23 kilos despite the large battery, and even on the EWS tracks in Finale Ligure, the lively 140 millimetre bike could hardly be rattled. The fact is: whether it's a consistent light eMTB or a classic e-mountainbike with fun geometry - the market is now generously stocked for enduro fans.

Powerhouses: classic E-MTBs

Classic E-MTB drives manage an impressive balancing act between performance and weight. Although they are noticeably heavier than special lightweight drives such as Specialized's SL1.1 (below), they also deliver enormous peak performance. If you want to shoot up steep ramps with little effort and find the flow on the climbs, this is the right choice. Disadvantages: the higher overall weight; in addition, the power consumption in turbo mode quickly drains even large batteries.

Conclusion: For many bikers, the best compromise between performance and weight. Lots of power when you need it, lots of range when you reduce the power.

Compact and lightweight: the Light class

From lightweight drives such as Fazua's new Ride 60 to throttled classics such as Shimano's EP8 RS: there is already a wide range of motors with different outputs for the light e-MTB class. The aim is not only to achieve a low motor weight, but also low power consumption. Only then can small - and therefore lightweight - batteries be used. The disadvantage: reduced uphill speed. Uphill flow is more common in the power class.

Conclusion: Lightweight drives impress with their low weight. Thanks to lower peak power, the batteries can be smaller and lighter. However, the rider has to pedal harder.

Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay C70

Conclusion from Josh Welz | Editor-in-Chief EMTB: With the power play you can get down to business a little more robustly. Ultra-slack head angle, long reach, plus solid tyres with Cushcore puncture protection - pure freeride feeling.

However, the thoroughbred enduro demands a spirited riding style from the rider: The high front end means you have to actively put pressure on the front wheel. The Powerplay rewards this commitment with maximum control on fast tracks. However, thanks to the short chainstays and first-class handling, it is also fun on twisty trails. The unconventional Dyname drive contributes significantly to the Canadian's USP. Compared to its predecessor, the power pack is lighter and can be adjusted individually, the display sits elegantly in the top tube and the 720 Wh battery can be removed. Prices start at 6900 euros for the aluminium A50 model.

Red Deer R.G 375

Conclusion by Christian Schleker | EMTB-Tester: Rotwild's R.G 375 is the downhiller among the light e-MTBs. 29 inches, 180 millimetres of suspension travel, long geometry, ultra-slack head angle: this bike doesn't shy away from any descent, no matter how brutal. Quite the opposite. Only when things get fast and rough does the Rotwild blossom and then it feels light-footed despite its weight and geometry - just like a light eMTB. The suspension is first class and, in my opinion, can even outshine the Kenevo SL with its combination of pop and plush handling.

The Rotwild also has a fantastic finish and is very quiet downhill, apart from the slight rattling of the motor. Anything but a matter of course for an e-MTB. Apart from the high price, there is criticism for the tyres, which are far too puncture-prone, the long seat tube in combination with the high Crankbrothers seat post, too little space for the water bottle on small frames and the sluggish handling at low speeds. The bike is simply not made for flat trails. Nevertheless, the R.G 375 with full motor power is a rocket for home laps with downhill ambitions. Or, with a second battery, the ideal partner for bike park days without a lift.

Scor 4060 Z ST

Conclusion from Max Fuchs, EMTB tester: The 4060 Z ST totally surprised me. Despite the large battery and robust equipment, the bike weighs less than 23 kilograms. Thanks to a geometry and short chainstays like the Bio-Bike, the handling is outstanding. And the suspension with nominally only 140 millimetres puts some 160 millimetre bikes in their place, even on official enduro tracks. Although there is still potential in details such as workmanship and cable routing: Riding fun fans who like full engine power can hardly find a better bike.

Radon Deft

Conclusion by Adrian Kaether | EMTB-Tester: Even though 5200 euros is by no means little money - for an E-Enduro, the new Radon Deft is a real price-performance hit. With 170 millimetres of suspension travel and 29-inch wheels, it should hardly know any limits, even in extreme terrain. The carbon main frame, Fox Performance suspension and Bosch Smart System are top notch at this price. The only drawback: the geometry with its moderate steering angle is not ultra-flat, but the long rear triangle (459 mm) and the slightly higher weight of around 25 kilograms may not appeal to handling fans.

Specialised Kenevo SL

Conclusion from Florentin Vesenbeckh, Test Manager EMTB: Are you looking for a bike for tough enduro trails and demanding descents? Then the Kenevo SL is one of the most competent partners you can find. A forgiving chassis, plenty of traction and extremely smooth running make the bike a safe bet. The SL drive unit is only moderately powerful, even for light conditions. Significant tailwind, yes. Relaxed shuttle feeling, no. However, with dedicated rider input, you'll still be able to ride up forest road climbs at twice the speed. More trails in a short time! However, extreme uphill trails are not part of the repertoire. At around 19 kilos, the Kenevo SL remains much more manageable than a classic E-MTB. However, it is not a lively trail speedster for flat terrain. It cries out for rough sections and really wild descents.