Licks Cycles: 5 bike manufacturers going full throttle for e-mountain biking. However have they got something distinctive to supply?

Be careful, the petrolheads are racing to get in on the electrical mountain bike motion…

E-bike gross sales are at the moment dominated by conventional mountain bikes manufacturers like Specialised, Trek, Canyon and Large. However there are an growing variety of bike manufacturers eager to get in on the e-bike motion. With apparent tech crossovers with e-mobility, the good moto manufacturers know that their future is electrical. However do they provide something totally different from the greatest electrical mountain bikes offered by legacy biking manufacturers? Let’s take a better have a look at the motorised movers and shakers making main inroads into electrical mountain bike market.

The brand new GasGas ECC6 will get a SRAM Powertrain and (lengthy) proportional chainstays

1. GasGas

The bike model that’s synonymous with MX and Enduro is a part of the KTM group. And with the current launch of the GasGas ECC (160mm) and MXC (140mm) platforms, each of which characteristic the new SRAM Powertrain, GasGas’s e-bikes have gained immediate credibility.

The GasGas EC 250 2-stroke enduro moto and the ECC 6 e-bike. Which might you select?

GasGas clearly is aware of its buyer base. For the diehard mountain biker, the complete carbon frames have measurement particular chainstays for balanced dealing with. For the petrolheads, the highest two fashions in every platform characteristic WP suspension, with its legendary Cone Valve know-how (constructed by DVO). In actual fact, the 630Wh battery may very well be the one flip off for anybody that isn’t strictly centered on racing. Fortunately, there’s additionally a 250Wh vary extender out there aftermarket which provides you with a whopping 880Wh to burn by means of. And since the entry-level ECC 4 forgoes the wi-fi AXS transmission and Auto Shift characteristic for a conventional cable-operated drivetrtain, it’s at the moment the most cost effective approach to pay money for the brand new SRAM motor.

Yamaha makes use of a Twin Twin body to tune flex on the Moro 07 e-bike

2. Yamaha

Yamaha motors energy all of Large’s e-mountain bikes, however Yamaha can be creating its personal vary of e-mtbs. The Moro 07 full suspension bike is designed round Yamaha’s PW-X3 motor and a singular Twin Twin body design that has twin high and down tubes for tuned flex and dealing with. At £4,100 the Moro 07 is an entry-level e-bike with a 160mm RockShox fork and Tremendous Deluxe shock the place the body boasts 150mm journey.

Yamaha’s iconic YZ125F motocross bike alongside the newest Moro 07 e-mtb

It’s clearly early days for Yamaha, however with a number of MX championships underneath its belt and all the engineering know-how from manufacturing all the things from golf carts to boats, it’s solely a matter of time earlier than we’ll see the e-mtb equal of the YZ125. Additionally the YZ125 MX bike prices £7,400, so just about the identical as a most mid-range e-bikes.

The Ducati Powerstage RR with Ohlins suspension is designed for uphill levels

3. Ducati

This iconic Italian bike model wants no introduction. However somewhat than go it alone within the e-bike market, Ducati teamed up with Italian e-bike model Thok. We featured the flagship Ducati Powerstage RR a few months again, and it was clear from the primary pedal stroke of the Shimano EP801 motor that it was designed to showcase Ducati’s racing heritage, and to win timed uphill levels. Therefore the title and using the lighter 630Wh battery.

The Ducati MIG-S has a cool undercarriage battery mount

Ducati additionally has the MIG-S in its vary, with 150/140mm journey, an EP8 motor and extra all-mountain centered (learn steeper) geometry. Ducati’s e-bikes clearly aren’t distinctive to the model, however it’s attempting to carry a distinct service mannequin to the rider, as Ducati desires to deal with each side of the rider expertise, from the handover of the bike to full tech help. Hopefully it may succeed.

Husqvarna takes a really totally different method to its body design in comparison with conventional e-bike manufacturers. On the left is the Husky TE 150

4. Husqvarna

Additionally a part of the KTM group in Austria, Husky makes all the things from robotic lawnmowers to Paris Dakar prepared enduro motorbikes. In 2024 its e-mtb line underwent a serious redesign, its new Cross vary of e-bikes wanting fully dialled. It’s cool too, that somewhat than defining the bikes by journey and geometry, Husky has performed it by terrain. As such, Husky has the Arduous Cross (180/170mm journey) for Demanding terrain, Mountain Cross (150mm journey) for Rugged terrain and the Mild Cross (130/120mm) platform for Average terrain.

The Husqvarna Mountain Cross will get a clocked motor for simple battery removing

The bikes all use Shimano EP801 motors and the Mountain Cross and Mild Cross each use a neat body design that clocks the motor and permits for simple removing of the large 720Wh batteries. All fashions run an MX wheel format although among the bikes are listed as having 27.5in wheels on the Husqvarna web site.

Honda E-MTB Concept 2023 and the classic RN01 downhill bike from 2004

Honda’s e-mtb idea bike isn’t as cool because the 20 12 months outdated Honda RN01 DH bike

5. Honda

This isn’t Honda’s first foray into the world of mountain bikes. The prototype 2004 RN01 DH bike, with its derailleur-in-a-box transmission and Showa suspension, would nonetheless be progressive by in the present day’s requirements. That’s, if Honda had ever made a manufacturing model. Now, 20 years later, Honda is again, this time with an idea e-mountain bike. Its newest launch appears extra like a proof of idea, that clearly isn’t absolutely thought by means of as there are apparent compromises in seat tube insertion depth, body/wheel clearance at full journey, and primary kinematics, with the shock being pushed immediately off the swingarm. Hopefully this particular mannequin won’t ever see the sunshine of day, but when Honda could make one thing as leading edge because the outdated RN01, ideally an e-bike with a low-drag, gearbox transmission, we’d like to experience it.