The best electric mountain bikes are more popular than ever before; they take the effort out of big climbs, and allow you to ride further, faster, or just pack more into your lunch break. And while you can spend an absolute fortune on an electric mountain bike, there are some superb options out there at much more affordable prices. We’ve over ten years of experience testing e-bikes, and these are the best budget models we’ve tried tried.

If you’re pushed for time, the best deals for our recommended budget e-bikes are in the widget below – just click on the model name to reveal the deals. Otherwise, scroll down to find out more about the best budget e-bikes we’ve tested and why we’ve rated them.

---

1. Polygon Siskiu T7E

Best budget e-bike

Frame: ALX Enduro alloy, 144mm travel | Motor: Shimano EP801 600W, 85Nm | Battery: Shimano 630Wh | Weight: 24.62kg | Rating: 9/10

Reasons to buy:

• Great handling and geometry
• Shimano EP801 motor + 630Wh battery
• Fully adjustable suspension
• Shimano SLX gears + wide-range cassette
• Flip-chip for MX wheel option

Reasons to avoid:

• The battery fell out, three times
• Hard compound tyres limit grip
• Suntour rear shock blew after two rides
• Geometry slacker than claimed (actually that’s a positive!)

Polgon’s Siskiu T7E impressed us from the moment we pulled it out of the box. A genuine Shimano EP801 motor and full size 630Wh battery provide ample assistance, while the low-slung frame has the geometry to shrug off the fastest and most technical tracks we could find. All the components, from the four-piston brakes, to the wide-range drivetrain and fully adjustable suspension are on the money, leaving nothing wanting on the trail. Only the front tyre could do with a softer rubber compound to fully exploit just how hard we could ride the Siskiu. But our test was not without problems; the battery mounts hadn’t been positioned correctly, so the battery fell out, and the rear shock blew. A new shock and recalibrated mounts solved the issues, but both are worth keeping an eye on.

Read our full test review of the Polygon Siskiu T7E

---

2. Decathlon Rockrider E-Expl 520 S

Best budget e-bike under £3,000

Wheel size: 29in | Frame: Alloy, 140mm travel | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Motor: Brose T 70Nm/460W | Battery: Brose 500Wh | Weight: 25.86kg | Rating: 8/10

Reasons to buy:

• Smooth running, extremely quiet Brose motor
• 500Wh removable battery and impressive range
• Fast and capable handling
• Dropper post fitted as standard
• Space for a bottle cage

Reasons to avoid:

• Brakes could be more powerful
• Tyres are fast but lack grip when wet
• Not as powerful as other affordable e-bikes
• Takes forever to charge

Decathlon’s Rockrider E-Expl 520 S is an amazing deal at under £3k, coming with everything you need from a modern electric mountain bike. There’s a quality aluminium frame with up-to-date sizing and geometry, sorted suspension with air fork and shock, so you can easily set-up to your body weight. A dropper post lets you get the saddle out of the way for descending, and the Brose motor is smooth and silent, offering plenty of assistance to take the hurt out of steep climbs. And thanks to that smooth, silent motor, modern geometry, and decent suspension, it rides way beyond its price tag, and left us us grinning ear to ear on every ride. There’s also a cheaper version with a detuned motor, less travel, and no dropper post for under £2.5k.

Click here for our full review of the Decathlon Rockrider E-Expl 520 S

---

3. Giant Stance E+ 1

A great value full-suspension e-bike from a brand with a huge dealer network

Wheel size: 29in | Frame: Alloy, 125mm travel | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Motor: Giant SyncDrive Sport 75Nm  | Battery: EnergyPak Smart 625Wh | Rating: 8/10

Reasons to buy:

• Plush rear suspension response and seamless power delivery.
• Clear, compact, easy to use display/controller.
• Generous frame sizing and good standover.
• Smooth shifting with Shimano LinkGlide 10-speed drivetrain

Reasons to avoid:

• Thin casing Maxxis tyres
• Long chainstays give the bike a more forward weight bias.
• Cables routed through the headset are a pain to work with
• Thin-casing Maxxis EXO tyres
• Noisy motor engagement
• Limited gear range with 11-43t cassette

Giant has always been a brand that delivers great value along with the back-up of a physical store. So if you’re looking to get your first e-bike, and want a bit of hand-holding through the process, the Stance E+ 1 is a compelling place to start. It’s relatively short travel, so doesn’t feel overwhelming and inert on forest tracks and trails, but has enough cush to provide comfort, confidence, and traction in the rough.

The SyncDrive motor, built by Yamaha and tuned by Giant, is fairly quiet and delivers its power smoothly, so you can concentrate on hitting the right lines and reaching the summits of impossible climbs. And it will deliver its power without having to spin your legs at dizzying speeds. As we said when we tested it: “The frame, rear suspension and the rest of the components are all sorted, and combined with Giant’s extensive dealer support, the Stance E+1 makes a great foundation on which to upgrade”.

Read our full review of the Giant Stance E+ 1

---

4. Decathlon Stilus E-Big Mountain

Bosch-equipped bike park-slugger from the sports superstore chain

Wheel size: 29in f/27.5in r | Frame: Alloy, 170mm travel | Frame sizes: M, L, XL | Motor: Bosch Performance CX | Battery: Bosch PowerTube 750Wh | Rating: N/A

Reasons to buy:

• Aggressive geometry and burly build built for big hits
• Superb Bosch Performance CX motor packs a powerful punch and is backed up by a huge battery
• Coil-sprung suspension should offer supple ground-tracing capability and gobble up big jumps

Reasons to avoid:

• Only three sizes
• Kickstand mount and locking battery are not necessary on a high performance e-mtb
• Very heavy at a claimed 27.4kg

Decathlon’s previous Stilus e-bikes have always ticked the value box, but in terms of geometry, sizing, spec, and suspension they have lagged behind options from specialist brands. With this new Stilus E-Big Mountain, Decathlon looks to have substantially upped its game, with on-paper geometry that mirrors the excellent Vitus E-Mythique LT, the benchmark Bosch Performance CX motor and high-capacity battery, and a well considered spec that’s designed for extreme trails. At a price that undercuts the Vitus, we may have a clash of the budget e-bike titans on our hands.

---

5. Voodoo Zobop E-Shimano

Best electric mountain bike for £2,500

Wheel Size: 29in | Frame: Alloy, 140mm travel | Frame sizes: 18in, 20in, 22in | Motor: Shimano STEPS E7000 | Battery: Shimano STEPS BT-8010 504Wh | Rating: N/A

Reasons to buy:

• Good suspension fork and shock, works well with easy-to-setup suspension design
• Shimano STEPS E7000 motor is a nice little runner with discreet bar control and display
• Still a great handling fun bike with wide-range gearing to take you anywhere

Reason to avoid: 

• Looks a bit dated and the 2.8in Plus tyres don’t work so well on UK trails
• Slightly old school geometry, main issue being mediocre standover and dropper post insertion
• Underpowered brakes pretty much need upgrading straight away

Voodoo’s Zobop is getting a bit long in the tooth compared to the other bikes here, with a small capacity, externally mounted battery that looks pretty ungainly next to the latest e-bikes with internal batteries. The geometry and sizing hasn’t changed in about five years, so it’s not as stable as newer bikes, and the saddle and top tube can get in the way a bit when descending. But it’s very good value, available from your local Halfords store, and it’s got a decent mid-mounted Shimano motor and quality RockShox suspension. Despite ageing noticeably, it’s still a blast to ride, so if you can pick one up at the right price, it’s worth a look.

Read our full review of the Voodoo Zobop E-Shimano

---

6. Canyon Neuron:ON 6

Best for singletrack cruising

Wheel size: 29in | Frame: Alloy, 130mm travel | Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL | Motor: Shimano STEPS EP6 | Battery: Shimano STEPS 630Wh | Rating: N/A

Reasons to buy: 

• 29in wheels works well to overcome modest 130mm of travel
• Rolls fast and good range
• Shimano STEPS EP6 motor has a natural ride feel
• Looks as killer as all the much more expensive Canyon models!

Reasons to avoid: 

• You can’t easily try before you buy
• Doesn’t get the updated geometry of the latest Neuron:ON models
• Some overly XC finishing kit

Canyon’s Neuron:On is geared towards cruising along dirt tracks and forest singletrack with the sun streaming through the trees and the breeze ruffling your jersey. It’s fast-rolling and efficient, so you can cover ground with less effort, and yet it can also be taken around black-graded trail centre loops and even more technical trails without getting out of its depth.

The aluminium frame is sleek and good-looking, expertly integrating the Shimano motor and hiding the 630Wh battery within the down tube. You get quality Fox suspension, a wide-range Shimano drivetrain capable of conquering the steepest ascents, and light-action Shimano brakes for confidence and control. A great e-bike to get you started riding off-road.

Read our full review of the Canyon Neuron:ON 7.0

---

7. Cube Stereo Hybrid 140 HPC

Best budget e-bike with a carbon frame

Wheel size: 27.5in (XS, S)/29in (M, L, XL) | Frame: Carbon, 140mm travel | Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL | Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX | Battery: Bosch PowerTube 625Wh or 750Wh | Rating: N/A

Reasons to buy:

• Bosch Performance Line CX motor combined with 11-speed drivetrain opens up very trail
• 140mm suspension travel and 29in wheels make this pretty much a classic trail bike that happens to be electric
• Carbon frame is almost unheard of at this price

Reasons to avoid: 

• Relatively long chainstays may not suit you – especially if you’re not tall
• Well thought-out and sensible spec yes, but it does all add up to a hefty overall bike
• Own-brand finishing kit won’t appeal to brand snobs

A carbon frame is the big lure with Cube’s Stereo Hybrid 140 HPC, and this means a smooth, sculpted finish and less weight. Sure, the weight saving is less noticeable on a bike that weighs north of 24.5kg, but everything helps, right? And it means the frame is ripe for future upgrades. Bolted to the front triangle is the potent Bosch Performance CX motor. This unit is highly regarded for experts and beginners alike, with configurable power, enough grunt for the steepest climbs, even at slow pedal speeds, and wireless connection for your phone.

Smaller frames get compact 27.5in wheels, while larger sizes roll on 29in hoops for a smoother ride. You can also choose the larger 750Wh battery for extended range, or the 625Wh version for less weight and more agile handling. For a shop-bought, carbon-framed e-bike with a Bosch motor, the Cube Stereo Hybrid is a steal.

Read our full review of the Cube Stereo Hybrid 140 HPC TM 625

---

What’s the lowest price point you should consider on a budget e-bike?

Whilst you can probably buy something called an ‘electric mountain bike’ for under $1500 or £1,000, chances are it wouldn’t really be suitable or capable of doing any proper mountain biking. And it’s not worth the risk trying to go too cheap, as the extra weight, power and speed of an e-bike means that you can’t make compromises when it comes to strength of the frame and components, or the power and quality of the brakes. Not to mention the risk that it may catch fire – something particularly prone to cheap, unregulated e-bikes and conversion kits.

How much to spend on a budget e-bike for mountain biking?

You’ve got to draw the line somewhere. And for the purposes of this guide, we’re going to come out and state that any electric mountain bike worth getting must have a mid-drive motor. For proper mountain biking, we’d always recommend a full-suspension bike, but a hardtail will be fine if all you want to do is cruise around on some dirt tracks and forest paths. For a full-suspension e-bike, £3,000 / $3,500 is the real starting point for something worth spending your heard-earned on.

What to look for in the best budget electric bike

Which bike you should go for will depend on a number of factors. Yes, budget is one of them but you’ll also need to consider the type of terrain you’ll be riding on and what kind of riding you’re planning to do.

Should I buy a hardtail e-bike?

Electric hardtails are fine for general mixed riding at a casual level (gravel roads, towpaths etc), but there’s no getting over the fact that they are rather uncomfortable to ride on proper MTB trails. You get really battered by the back end through your feet and your back, and you will probably suffer quite a few rear punctures. Without any suspension to help spring the bike over obstacles, hardtail e-bikes also feel heavier and more cumbersome.

One of the whole points and joys of riding the best mountain bike models with pedal assist is covering loads of miles with minimum discomfort. Hardtails just don’t cut it.

What is a mid-drive electric mountain bike?

All the best electric mountain bikes come with a mid-drive motor. This refers to the motor being mounted in the middle of the bike and assisting the cranks, rather than being mounted in the rear hub and assisting the wheel. Hub-motors don’t work well for mountain biking because they add lots of weight to the wheel, which in turn leads to sluggish handling and a harsh, uncomfortable ride.

What should I expect from a budget electric mountain bike?

Staying within this full-suspension remit, you’ll currently do well to keep the price tag below £3,000/$3,500. Well, without ending up with a ropey old off-brand eMTB  – probably with a hub motor and assorted awful components – that doesn’t really bear thinking about.

The good news is that there are now a few good mid-drive full-suspension e-bikes available around the £3,000 -£4,000/$3,500- $4,500 mark. And although the direct sales mail order brands still dominate, there are more proper bike shop bike brands making more affordable eMTBs.

There are however still a two things to look out for with such entry-level electric mountain bikes: cost-cutting specs and poor geometry. Examples of corners being cut to hit the price point include: no dropper post, skinny leg suspension forks and budget-end brakes. To be frank, everything will be chosen to hit a tight price point, but these items listed above are the biggest problems to look out for because they have the most significant negative impact on your ride experience, and also cost the most money to upgrade. Having said that, e-bikes show how well most modern components performs on the trail. Entry-level kit generally works fine, it’s just heavier and doesn’t look as swish. Neither of which really matters here.

Geometry however, is not upgradeable. You’re stuck with it. No matter how tempting a deal is, don’t get an eMTB that is out of date in terms of its dimensions. Geometry numbers to look out for: head angle, chainstay length and standover. The latter two dimensions are especially important if you’re a shorter rider. E-bikes with mullet wheels (29in up front, and 27.5in at the rear) are also worth seeking out as they tend to be more agile in the turns, and give more bum clearance on steep descents. Find out what numbers to look for and why they’re important with our comprehensive guide to mountain bike geometry.

Similarly, you may find all sorts of deals on eMTBs with relatively modest amounts of travel. We’d be very wary of getting an eMTB with less than 140mm of travel. E-bikes take a lot of (ab)use and also pass a lot of punishment to the components. With bikes this heavy, that can cover ground at such speed (uphill, downhill and along-hill!), the componentry takes a hammering. A hammering that perhaps 120mm of travel isn’t quite cut out for. And given that pedal efficiency is not as important (thanks to having up to 600W on tap) you may as well go for an e-bike with at least 140mm travel.

Should I wait to buy an electric mountain bike?

No. You could be having the best time of your whole bike riding life right now. Don’t wait. Time is precious. On a less dramatic note, although still rapid, the rate of technological advancement isn’t as crazy quick as it was a couple of years ago.

We often hear people saying that they’re going to wait to buy an e-bike until the market has matured. The thing is, this isn’t like the early days of full-suspension bikes for example. E-bikes are never going to stop advancing fast with their tech. Not having an e-bike now because of what will be available in a few years is a bit like not having an iPhone until the iPhone 6 came out. Sure, the iPhone 6 was better than the iPhone 1, but you just missed out on years of… you know, actually having an iPhone. Equally prices are only going one way – up. So if you can get hold of one now, then don’t procrastinate or you’ll likely pay the penalty later.