2022 has been a great year for electric bikes, with a number of exciting updates/new models being released across our portfolio of incredible brands. Below you’ll find 5 of our favourites and ones we think you should definitely consider snapping up if you want to make the most of the remainder of the summer months (faster ups = more downs & more miles).
If you’re still an e-bike sceptic, we’d recommend having a read of our recent blog “Are E-MTB’s cheating?” for 5 reasons we think they’re definitely NOT, and why you’d definitely enjoy having one. You can read it here
Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy Electric Mountain Bike
Specialized have been true innovators in the world of electric bikes, and if you have any interest in them whatsoever you’ll have heard of their flagship model the Turbo Levo. Traditionally only available with a Carbon frame, this year Specialized announced they would be releasing an Alloy version out into the wild.
Swapping carbon for aluminium allows for a reduction in overall price, without a loss of any of the other features that make the Levo so great.
The Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy features a 500Wh battery and powerful motor that delivers a whopping 90Nm of torque and 565 watts of power for up to five hours of ride time!
The entry level (but no less awesome) model shown above features the following:
- SRAM NX 12-Speed Drivetrain
- Rockshox 35 Silver Forks
- Rockshox Deluxe Select R Shock
- Mullet/Mixed Wheel Size (29” front, 27.5” Rear) Specialized Wheels
- SRAM Guide RE Brakes
It’s great to see Specialized bring out a range of alloy e-bikes and we hope this will make their range more widely accessible!
Whyte E-160 RSX Electric Mountain Bike
On the 1st of July Whyte Bikes announced the newly updated E-160 platform. We loved the previous version and it went down a treat with our customers. It offered incredible performance at an extremely competitive price and the updated models are no different in that sense.
The E-160 comes available at 3 different spec levels, with the RSX being the crown jewel of the line-up. Bosch’s 750Wh battery is a welcome addition to the E-160 and Whyte have made battery access easier than ever. By unscrewing just one bolt a rider can easily access and swap out a battery for those big days in the saddle (though 750Wh is going to be more than enough for the majority of rides).
The battery and motor are positioned to give an ultra-low centre of gravity, delivering responsive and intuitive power with the most agile handling imaginable. On a recent dealer demo event the team made their way to Peaslake for a chance to get up close and personal with this new model and were blown away by just how responsive and light it felt given the fact that in reality it’s a fairly heavy bike (as is the nature of “full-fat” e-bikes!)
The RSX Model features:
- Bosch Performance Line CX drive unit offering 85Nm of torque and a 750Wh battery
- Fox 38 Performance Elite Forks
- Fox Float Performance Elite DPS Shock
- SRAM GX AXS
- MX/Mixed Wheel Size (29” Front, 27.5” Rear) or full 29er options
Batteries on e-bikes are getting bigger every year and we are absolutely here for it – nothing worse than running out of battery when you’re having a good day on the bike!
Giant Trance X E-Pro 29 3 Electric Mountain Bike
As far as value for money goes, you’d be hard pushed to find a better bike for the price of the Giant Trance X E-Pro 29 3.
Progressive geometry and 140mm of rear travel teamed with a 150mm fork up front provides a whole new way to tackle singletrack trails. A SyncDrive Pro motor offering 80Nm of torque and 625Wh battery will give you the ability to keep riding all day long!
Features:
- Adjustable frame geometry – Flip chip allows you to change the headtube and seattube angles along with the bottom bracket height to fine tune the handling.
- RockShox 35 Gold RL DebonAir fork
- Fox Float DPS Performance Shock
- Shimano Deore 12 Speed drivetrain
- Shimano Deore 4-pot brakes
Whyte E-160 S 29er Electric Mountain Bike
Released at the same time as the new RSX model, the Whyte E-160 S has all the right elements to take your rides to the next level too.
It’s great to see a tool-free battery removal system on the updated E-160, meaning if you’re lucky enough to have multiple batteries it’s easier than ever to swap them out.
The E-160 S also comes in an MX set-up, or for smaller riders on the S/XS sizes come with 27.5” wheels.
Spec-wise the E-160 S features:
- RockShox Zeb fork
- RockShox Deluxe Select R shock
- SRAM GX 12 speed drivetrain
- SRAM Guide RE brakes
- Whyte Drop It seatpost with up to 200mm of travel depending on size
Giant Reign E+ 2 MX Pro Electric Mountain Bike
This bike has been tested and developed by Giant’s E-bike Enduro pros and gives you the opportunity to enjoy the best parts of the ride again and again!
A mixed wheel setup (29” front, 27.5” rear) is slowly becoming the go-to for many bike brand manufacturers and with good reason – you’re getting the benefits of 29” speed with the manoeuvrability of 27.5” wheels!
The high performance SyncDrive pro motor on this model delivers 85Nm of torque, and proven Maestro rear suspension helps boost your capabilities on even the most rugged of trails.
Other spec includes:
- 625Wh battery
- RockShox Zeb Select fork
- Fox Float DPX2 Performance shock
- SRAM NX/GX 12 speed drivetrain
- SRAM Code R brakes
Specialized Kenevo Expert Electric Mountain Bike
The ultimate shuttle bike. Who needs uplifts anyway?
Shoot to the top of the nastiest climbs, bomb down the gnarliest tracks, then make your way back up to do it all again.
180mm of suspension travel front & rear make this an ultra-capable, confidence inspiring E-MTB. A 700Wh battery means battery anxiety is a thing of the past!
This latest version of the Kenevo also gains a stiffer lower-slung sidearm-style chassis and more aggressive geometry for that extra confidence boost.
The Kenevo Expert features:
- RockShox Boxxer Select RC dual-crown fork
- RockShox Super Deluxe Select Plus shock
- SRAM X01/GX 12-Speed drivetrain
- SRAM Code RS brakes
- Roval wheels
So there you have it – our current favourite E-MTB’s for the Summer 2022 season. Have we missed any you think should appear on this list? Let us know!
