New eMTB concepts and a more differentiated approach in battery and motor concepts don’t just determine the fundamental character of current bikes but also numerous trends for 2021. We’ve summarised the most exciting developments for you and tell you why E-trekking bikes might soon become extinct. This is eMTBing in 2021!
In the context of the Design & Innovation Award 2021, the award jury, international experts and journalists took a thorough look at the trends and overarching technological developments of the new season. In this article, we take a closer look at eMTB trends of 2021. You can read more about other trends at the end of this article.
The eMTB market is booming like never before and at this point, offers the perfect bike for everyone whether they’re beginners, experts, kids, veterans, enduro pilots or leisure riders. In 2021, eMTBing will become more versatile, better and more fun – for everyone! The time of simple truths and exaggerated qualities is over. “The lowest weight”, “The biggest range”, “The strongest motor”, “The most travel”… all of these are nice marketing phrases but in practice, they seldom move us forward. It’s no longer about the fastest, biggest or most expensive – instead, it’s about being right for you and your requirements. That’s because almost every extreme in one area inevitably results in compromises and disadvantages in another. From eMTBs for everyday use which also shine on moderate terrain, to dedicated descending machines that replace the shuttle or lift in the bike park, all the way to super light eMTBs with limited assistance, prestige E-SUVs and off-road step-through bikes, everything is represented on the market. At this point, there’s almost nothing that doesn’t exist. When making a buying decision, your individual needs and a more nuanced view of each person’s personal requirements are more important than individual numbers like battery size, motor power or travel.
Are eMTBs the better E-trekking bikes?
Many eMTBs that are optimised for tours already score with a comfortable riding position, plush suspension, confidence-instilling balanced and good-natured handling and generous battery capacities – perfect for extended tours and leisure rides. Thanks to increases in the maximum permissible weight, mounting points for equipment, a stand mount and approval for trailers, some models are true all-rounders that don’t shy away from anything – not even long tours with lots of luggage.
The variety of eMTBs available that shine on tours and in everyday use is now extremely large and covering everything from extremely comfortable to sporty. The fact is, that with treaded tires, stronger brakes and more stable geometries they’re usually significantly more secure than trekking bikes. Thanks to better suspension, larger tires and a more upright position, they’re more comfortable too! From the full-suspension off-road step-through Riese & Müller Homage with a dual battery system offering up to 1,250 Wh and smart connectivity features including theft protection, all the way to sporty eMTBs like the Trek Powerfly FS and the Merida eONE Forty EQ that score on trail adventures in easy terrain just as much as they do on long tours on gravel and forest tracks, there’s something there for everyone.
The understanding of trekking ebikes has transformed over the years and between eMTBs oriented towards tours, E-SUVs, fully-equipped off-road commuters, off-road step-through bike and E-gravel bikes, they are increasingly losing their relevance. Are eMTBs the better trekking bikes? Yes for many! Therefore, it’s safe to assume that classic E-trekking bikes will lose significance in the next few years and may even die out. Because really, nothing speaks against eMTBs!
As individual as you – The right battery and motor concept for nearly everyone
Worries about being left stranded because of running out of juice are largely a thing of the past. Now, 625 to 720 Wh batteries are standard for most name-brand manufacturers. Ironically and interestingly, when it comes to battery capacity, more isn’t automatically better. More battery capacity automatically means more weight and due to the dimensions of the battery often a worse position in terms of the centre of gravity – there are only a few exceptions where weight distribution gets better with a bigger battery. In general, overall weight, the height of the centre of gravity and the weight distribution have a huge influence on the handling of a complete bike. As a result, numerous manufacturers offer customers the choice of different battery sizes when buying. Especially for smaller frame sizes and lower rider weights, a smaller battery is almost always the better choice.
With the Overvolt GLP2, Lapierre stay away from the battery arms race, fitting an external 500 Wh Bosch battery that is positioned almost horizontally over the bottom bracket. The positioning of the motor and battery pursues one goal: to keep the centre of gravity as central and low as possible – form follows function in its purest form. And the concept works: the low weight together with the super-central centre of gravity have allowed Lapierre to create an uncompromisingly fast and capable eMTB for the descents that rewards you with an incomparable level of speed and riding fun.
The right question isn’t “Which eMTB has the largest range?” but “Which eMTB battery concept suits me?”
Alongside all-round eMTBs with a large battery capacity, Light eMTBs with limited motor assistance are also on the rise. The Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo SL paved the way for Light eMTBs and delivers an as of yet unmatched, natural ride feel and handling similar to that of a mountain bike.
The concept combines the best of two worlds: light-footed and agile handling similar to an analog trail bike on the downhills and the advantages of an eMTB on the uphills. The choice of motor, battery capacity, construction and integration all play a decisive role. Here the specially developed motor and modular battery concept (320 Wh integrated + 160 Wh Range Extender) together with the Specialized Mission Control digital ecosystem with numerous tuning options and clever features, demonstrate Specialized’s visionary prowess and the immense amount of effort required to put together a groundbreaking product with exceptional performance and a large range. For many technically minded and ambitious mountain bikes, there’s no longer any reason, price aside, to ride an analog mountain bike.
Manufacturers like NOX, Lapierre, Orbea and Rotwild have also managed to close the gap between bikes in the Bosch-league and Light eMTBs. For the Orbea Rise, the thought-through battery concept with a lightweight, fully-integrated main battery and powerful motor lend it some of its unique ride characteristics. The clever concept lifts eMTBing to the next level, combining the handling advantages of Light eMTBs with the motor power of all-round eMTBs. But not just adrenaline junkies will get their money’s worth. Touring riders that put little stock in off-road capabilities and value low weight and usually ride in low assistance modes will find an exciting bike here. Thanks to its modular battery concept, long tours aren’t a problem on the Orbea Rise either.
Control centre – Looks, display, connectivity and individualisation options
With displays, the trend is going in a clear direction… nowhere at all. As it’s been over the last few years, you’ll find all sorts of concepts on the market. From minimal solutions that eschew a display completely, all the way to high-resolution options, everything is available. While on the one side, the preference for no display is growing and makes a lot of sense for some concepts like the Orbea Rise, the other extreme is developing too. With the Bosch Nyon touch display, which offers comprehensive navigation functions and further features, a start has been made in the direction of a control centre like you find in your car – at least from one manufacturer. However, there are still some teething issues that restrict usability and performance.
However, only one manufacturer has done this so far.
Clever smartphone integration into the ebike is also limited to one manufacturer thus far: Bosch. The Bosch SmarphoneHub uses a small, somewhat rudimentary LCD that can be used without a smartphone to display speed, battery charge and the assistance mode on short rides. Attach your smartphone and with the COBI Bike app, it becomes an intelligent control centre for navigation, music and fitness data. Your phone can then be controlled via remote on your bars and with the touch display. Navigation with the COBI.Bike app isn’t yet mature and has its weaknesses, but it is nonetheless the best solution for everyone who wants to navigate with their phone on their ebike and the only one where the smartphone becomes part of the system.
Integration and ergonomics – Technical details that make the difference
The times of external spoke magnets are over. Finally! Slim and thought-through solutions have been available for all motor systems for some time, but in 2021 they will have been adopted by almost all manufacturers. In addition, bikes are being cleaned up and looking tidier. Shifter chaos and cable spaghetti are a thing of the past thanks to integrated cables in the bars and headsets. Wireless components also contribute but are no longer a necessity for a clean cockpit. Futuristic one-piece bars and stem are also no longer a rarity. Some of them are visual highlights but provide limited adjustability, while fitting can be awkward and inconvenient. As a result, these represent specialised solutions for those who like the looks and are happy to accept the compromises. By contrast, headsets with integrated cables, like those from Acros, create a tidy cockpit on almost every bike and don’t limit the choice of stem or bars at all. The system has further advantages: mounting is quick and cable ports on the frame become superfluous. That makes extremely clean silhouettes possible – sexy 2.0.
EMTB boom during a crisis?
EMTBing became the new on-trend sport in 2020. The consequences: the market is booming and bikes are becoming more popular. In 2020, extreme numbers of people discovered the sport in a year that was already full of extremes. And that has consequences. Industry, trade and we ourselves are happy that bikes are getting ever popular and that more people are discovering the sport and finding their way to the best hobby in the world. But the flipside of the coin is that there are also new challenges to master. Huge growth also means huge challenges. Long delivery times, bankruptcies, servicing issues and higher prices all threaten. One reason, alongside the direct consequences of the coronavirus crisis, is the unexpected and sudden growth of the whole sector. The availability of bikes, components, servicing appointments and the quality of individual products will be influenced in 2021 as a result of the coronavirus crisis and its consequences. The connections are complex and the consequence far-reaching. But everything has its reasons and is a question of balance. At E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine, you can find out all the details about the bike boom during the crisis (read the article here).
Find more 2021 trends in other fields of the bike-world here:
Mountainbike trends 2021 | Road bike trends 2021 | Urban trends 2021
Technology trends 2021 | Gravel trends 2021 | E-MTB trends 2021
Words: Photos: Diverse