Is An Electric Bike ACTUALLY Faster? | eMTB Vs. Regular MTB

This video contains product placement for Canyon Bicycles.

Electric mountain bikes are faster uphill, right? Everyone knows that! But does saving time and energy uphill help you ride faster downhill?

We pitted Canyon’s new Strive:ON ebike against the brand’s non-motorised Strive. Both are enduro bikes, both have been raced at the highest level at the Enduro World Cups – but one has a motor and battery, and the other doesn’t.

If you’re planning a day at the bike park trying to break your PBs, should you choose a regular mountain bike or an electric one?

Which do you think comes out on top? Let us know in the comments 👇

#emtb #mtb #tech

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:35 Course Overview
02:31 The Bikes
03:22 Technical Trail
05:39 Jump Trail
07:52 Which Is The Winner?

2023’s Best Enduro Mountain Bikes Reviewed

THIS Is The Best Enduro Fork | 8 Tested Back-To-Back

Suspension Gravel Bike Vs. MTB | Which Is Faster?

Choose The Perfect Mountain Bike Tyre | Tyre Compounds EXPLAINED!

E-MTB Vs. Motorbike | We Swap Bikes With @BillyBolt57 ​

Listen to the BikeRadar Podcast

Follow BikeRadar on our social media channels:

BikeRadar is supported by Mountain Biking UK and Cycling Plus Magazine –For more information and to subscribe please visit

For more content like this see our latest subscription offer –

[dirtbikedave]

Ive ridden my eBike once and for sure on the flats and shallow grades(up and down) it suffers due to the 25kmh assist limit and the extra weight. What surprised me the most is as soon as the assist cuts out, it feels like you have a rope attached and dragging an anchor.

Everywhere else the ebike is better.

[dadventuretv]

This is the main reason I’m getting an emtb. The older you get, the more fatigue becomes the enemy. And fatigue doesn’t just mean slower on the ups or having to end a ride sooner- it means slower and, most importantly, more dangerous on the downs. Because this is a sport of inches, sometimes mms- and just a bit off can be the difference between a good day and a crash that takes you off your bike for a while.

[MrTeamriab]

One big difference is the fun factor. Analog bikes are poppier, more maneuverable, and easier to manual/wheelie/hop. I'm on a Shuttle SL, coming from a Switchblade and it's a huge and noticeable difference in the ride quality and fun factor. While I now get double the amount of riding in the same timeframe, it's not as fun on the downs as on the Switchblade. It's quantity over quality. Even as a superlight eBike, all of the weight is concentrated in the downtube, which makes the bike feel really unbalanced. This makes it harder to pop off side hits and bunnyhop, too. If I age and fitness level weren't a factor, I would go back to an analog bike!

[worldstallestmidget]

I have ridden with guys on non e bikes and they smoked me on the uphills on my e bike. The weight going downhill has it pros and cons. I have found it’s definitely more planted and doesn’t get knocked off line as much. And going into some turns and berms it’s easier to scrub off speed when entering and let it roll thru

[marklouieadame]

Basically Ebike saves you effort on climbing and both performs almost the same on jumps and trails etc. 2mins vs 7mins saves you time and effort. So lite ebike is the sweetspot then good enough to climb and performs like analogue.

[titusm]

since you are offroad...what about derestricted version?

[VEFGJ]

A Final comparison table of all elements would be very helpful, way much than talking.

[patsizer]

So you gain 5 minutes on the climb and lose maybe 1 second on the descent, really only one winner!

[nicolaspierre]

It would go even faster without the moustache!

[fud]

My pals got a Vitus E-Sommet and I totaly destroy him on the decents, and when the winds behind on the flats too, he gets to 15.5mph and then the weight kicks in..Ha !! Oh, I'm on a Hardtail ! Although this might be down myself being a much better rider..Ha !

[xRockee]

why does everyone focus on times, nobody rides like that unless they are competing.

[iffy_too]

The only difference is a motor and battery is more than a bit disingenuous

[meteormedia]

It's very simple: E-bikers don't shred.

[kristopergriffin]

Shouldn't regular pedal bikes be acoustic not analog.... analog makes no sense