MTB Vs EMTB | What’s The Ultimate Trail Bike?

The trail bike: the workhorse of every mountain biker's stable - dependable, versatile and more than happy to take on everything from all-day epics to bike park laps but what’s the ultimate trail bike money can buy? Is it a high-tech, lightweight MTB, or the latest generation of genre-defining EMTB?

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[alexdoner]

I can appreciate the e-bikes making their way into mountain biking but at the same time there isn't a better feeling then looking down at your speedometer and knowing that your legs are what's generating that power it seems like in certain complicated trails that you'd like would work really nicely but I myself still truly feel and believe that there's no better feeling than generating thatpower on your own

[stujm]

I love watching you guys ride together, it’s not work, it’s just fun. Never growing up is part of my plan too, and I’m 50

[jmo]

If anything, this video is actually a pretty good illustration of the differences between a regular MTB and an eMTB, and that difference really is not all that much other than it makes climbing easier/faster - which is kind of the whole point. 

These are ‘pedal assist’ bikes, not [independent throttle control] ’motorbikes’ - you only get assistance when you are actually pedalling. You can also decide exactly how much assistance you do get at a given point - so if you want more of a work-out, you can simply turn that assistance down, or even off!

At the end of the day, this video was presumably trying to promote inclusion - but judging by a number of comments here, people who apparently have yet to actually ride an eMTB appear adamant to remain in their respective camp?

[DZig]

Turned 67 this year, and my Levo is perfect for me. My 32 pound Hardtail is still in the stable and I still love it as well. Just don’t get as much time on it these days.

[iwanprayogi]

Love when you both ride together, so fun 😊

[byejason]

Realistically, if what you like is going downhill, and the only reason to go uphill is so you can go down again, then an e-bike makes a lot of sense if you can afford it. Where I ride locally there are now loads of e-bikes for that very reason. Personally I prefer cross country and enjoy riding uphill more than down. I'll stick to my analog bike. That is, until I can't keep up to my son, then I might ask Santa to bring me one.

[irishkitty]

Review the price of each bike. Maintenance cost of each bike.

[adrianherrell]

Who knew, a motorised bike is quicker. Shocker

[peterlundgren]

@irish kitty. I have an ebike. I ride with both ebikes and acoustic bikes. I change the support level depending on situation. I never run ahead acoustic bikes either. It is not written in any laws that everyone has to ride full power. Common courtesy is advised so that biking can be fun to everyone. I also agree that price is different. However, you know that hobbies are costly. Whatever makes you smile more, and for me it is ebikes for sure! :-)

[chrisw]

This channel is getting a bit too heavy on the advertising/product promotion. The non-commercial content feels like it's becoming an afterthought. Hope that changes back to how it used to be.

[Jesse_James_]

In 2021, the Rotwild was blowing an analogue bicycle, rotwild rx375. 18 kg with a shimano ep8 85hm motor. it also has a small 360 battery, but it's easy to remove as well.

[Alan-]

I love my alloy bird but wouldn't mind a ebike as well. Pushing 50 and feeling old injuries more.

[MegaSpurv]

Best trail bike is a hardtail! Fight me! 😎

[kbeightyseven]

There’s a place for e-bike’s such as for older dudes and lady’s that want to stay riding, or commuter bikes, but young athletic guys on e-bikes is a bit ridiculous.

[jerseyboy]

I freaking love these kind of videos! It's awesome to see you guys ride together while pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of both types of bikes! I love both my ebike and my "acoustic" bike for different types of rides. I'm 52 and I can ride my ebike up and down my local trail system all day, and still come home with battery life and enough energy to spend with the family. But my acoustic Stumpy rips my local jump line like it has wings, and because my trail riding didn't tax me to death at my age, I have the energy to send it over and over again!

What I don't like is all the venom towards ebikes from some riders in the comments. They're all just bikes, people. Whether you ride a hardtail, DH, trail, Enduro, XC or an eMTB, they're all just bikes that shine at their designed type of riding. Knowledge is power, and GMBN, as well as EMBN, do a great job at showing us how to get the most out of whatever riding we choose to do. Like these guys in the video, JUST SEND IT AND HAVE FUN! 👍😎🚵🏻

[LivingWithTheCoopers]

I did downhill in my teens, but didn't really ride properly until lockdown, bought a Giant Trance E 2, allowed me to see so much more of the trails I never saw when pushing up.

Started using turbo quite often, then got down to using eco almost all the time, as I never get a massive amount of time to get out it's still nice to have the assistance so I can climb faster to get back in time.

Either way, it has reignited my love for bikes, buying an acoustic Trance soon, so I can get to BPW and use the uplift to get more runs in

[wheels.]

Great vid guys, really stoked to see Giant on the channel.

[bikevoltrides]

EMTB ❤ you can do epic rides everyday.😁 I got my first one 2020 right before lcovidbockdowns started and I ride it everyday. I did like 3600km in lea than a year. I love EMTB🥳🤙🏽

[scottdeluca]

Love when the two of you battle it out. I have an Orbea Occam now and an I9 hard tail, just love to ride and now that I’m 50and have been riding for almost ten years now I wish I got into it sooner.

[Dubnside]

Great video, and for the style of riding that's in fashion right now the electric bike is perfect! Plenty of downhill runs at your local forest and the motor to haul you back up the fireroads to hit the downs again.. a couple of hours of fun with your mates....and plenty of energy to go out to the pub later that day too!