Electric Mountain Bikes: Not Cheating, Just More Fun
A journalist changes his view on eMTBs after testing one, finding they enhance enjoyment and safety rather than making the sport too easy.
Electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) have long been dismissed by purists as cheating, but a firsthand experience by journalist Thomas Riker suggests otherwise. Testing the Amflow PX Carbon Pro equipped with the Avinox M2S motor—a compact, powerful unit from a DJI offshoot—Riker discovered that the motor doesn't make him faster on straightaways (in Europe, assist cuts off at 25 km/h and continuous output is limited to 250W). Instead, it helps maintain momentum on steep climbs and technical sections, compensates for poor technique, and provides a sense of control that boosts confidence, especially after a previous injury.
The Avinox M2S delivers up to 150 Nm of torque and a temporary 1500W boost, yet the bike weighs only 20.6 kg thanks to its carbon fiber frame. Riker notes that the motor makes climbs engaging rather than exhausting, allowing him to do more laps and enjoy longer rides. He acknowledges an initial embarrassment when passing stronger riders but emphasizes that eMTBs don't automatically make one a better rider—they make one want to become one.
While the tested Amflow costs $10,000, cheaper alternatives exist, such as the CRUSSIS e-Hard 11.11 hardtail around $4,000 or budget models from Ride1Up and Aventon. Ultimately, Riker argues that the motor's benefit is not speed but increased fun and safety: "Less suffering, more laps, and a giant, goofy grin."
