One of the biggest drawbacks of e-mountain bike shopping is the staggering price tags. You end up finding your dream bike only to discover that the cost is way beyond your budget. Don’t worry, you’re not alone, and we have some really good news for you. Since e-bikes are growing in popularity quite rapidly – especially in today’s world – a lot of good budget brands are popping up, and we’ve been keeping track of them. In this guide, we share our five best budget electric mountain bike picks along with some helpful tips.
At the time of this writing, all of the bikes in this guide are affordable, and a couple of them are even surprising. Let’s start with an overview of the five bikes with the most important specs to consider before jumping to the reviews of each bike. The chart below gives you a good idea of what’s available and several of the budget e-bike brands we like the most.
Top 5 Budget E-Mountain Bikes
E-Bike | Description |
#1) Cyrusher XF770 Folding Electric Mountain Bike |
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#2) Eahora AM100 Mountain Electric Bicycle |
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#3) AddMotor HITHOT H1 Platinum Electric Mountain Bike |
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#4) NAKTO Ranger Mountain Electric Bicycle |
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#5) Eahora XC100 Mountain Electric Bike |
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Budget Electric Mountain Bike Reviews
These four companies know how to make an affordable electric mountain bike that’s actually reliable. Yes, these bikes aren’t made for the pros or mountain bike purists, but for people on a budget or first-time e-mountain bike owners, they’re all excellent choices. We even tossed in one of the fastest folding electric bikes currently on the market as our top pick.
Now, let’s get rolling with the reviews of each bike to give you a closer look at what each bike offers. By the end of the reviews, you’ll know for sure which bike(s) suits you the best.
#1) Cyrusher XF770 Folding Electric Mountain Bike
Cyrusher is one of our favorite budget e-bike brands, and the XF770 model is the most versatile option in our guide. For people who want the best electric mountain bike under 2000 bucks, that’s both fast and folding, this is the bike to check out first. Folding bikes are good for people who want to be able to easily store their bikes in the back of an SUV, truck, and larger car trunks.
Outside of the folding frame, this bike has a ton to offer in the feature department. Several premium features that we really like to see on a bike in this price range are the full suspension system, 500W brushless motor, a twist-grip throttle, and the Shimano 21-speed drivetrain.
Additional highlights are the five PAS speed settings, large LCD display with easy-to-read numbers, LED headlight, and a double mechanical disc brake system. All in all, this bike and AddMotor’s H1-P are the most powerful e-mountain bikes in this guide with an excellent range of up to 50 miles in pedal-assist mode.
Pros
- Arrives 95% assembled
- Easily adjust handlebar and seat height to accommodate most rider heights
- Powerful uphill assistance
- Excellent acceleration on flat ground
- Ride up to 25 miles in full-electric mode on a single charge
- Front & rear suspension for a smoother ride on rugged paths
- One of the highest top speeds you’ll find in this price range
Cons
- Not the most comfortable of the bikes in our guide
- You might prefer metal spokes
- It’d be nice if Cyrusher upgraded the brakes to hydraulic
#2) Eahora AM100 Mountain Electric Bicycle
A second great budget e-mountain bike brand is Eahora. Currently, we like the AM100 and XC100 models the most, with the XC100 being the cheapest option in our guide. Also, Eahora offers both of these models in upgraded “Plus” versions for about the same price as the standard versions. The Plus models feature upgraded front suspension forks, intelligent motors rather than eco, color displays, and a more user-friendly button arrangement.
One thing we really like about Eahora bikes is the efficiency of the 350W motor. Additionally, the range the AM100 offers is impressive with top speeds up to 28 mph. The key to the AM100’s efficiency is the E-PAS system that charges the battery while you ride. This works by sending energy back to the battery when speeds reach 13 mph or higher while pedal-assist is off or set to the lowest setting of 1.
Several more cool features are cruise control mode, hydraulic disc brakes, and the IP65-rated waterproof color LCD display that’s one of the nicest we’ve seen in this price range. It accurately tracks battery life, speed, and motor power. Plus, it shows your PAS setting and features a USB outlet for charging your phone or other devices while on the move.
Pros
- The E-PAS system extends the overall life of the battery and the range per charge
- Hydraulic brakes rather than mechanical
- Impressive top speed for a Class 3 MTB e-bike of 28 mph
- A good choice for tall people over 6′ and 250 lbs
- Recommended for senior mountain bike riders who need some help getting up hills
- Undoubtedly awesome value for the money
- Features a 120 mm lockable pneumatic front fork and 30 mm pneumatic rear saddle suspension
Cons
- Shimano 7-speed drivetrain rather than 21-speed
- Not the best choice for short or average-height riders with its 5’7″ recommended minimal height
- The owner’s manual could be more thorough
#3) AddMotor HITHOT H1 Platinum Electric Mountain Bike
Now for perhaps the most premium option in our guide that still manages to carry a budget price, AddMotor’s H1-P. This is a seriously attractive bike with a slick streamlined design. The best part about this bike is the 500W Bafang motor that sports a peak power rating of 750W. Of the five bikes, this one is the most powerful.
After the motor, another feature we really like is the integrated LCD display w/ compass functionality. Instead of a mounted LCD display, the computer is built right into the handlebar and sits flush with the handlebars. Track your battery life, current speed, distance traveled, pedal assist level, and even put the compass to work to track your position.
Similar to the Eahora AM100, the HITHOT H1 Platinum features hydraulic disc brakes for enhanced maneuverability and stopping power on mountain bike routes. Finally, the full-electric mode is beastly on this bike. Whenever you feel the need to let the bike do all the work, you’ll have no problem scooting up and over hills.
Pros
- You’ll most likely love the anti-theft integrated LCD display design
- Reliable hydraulic disc brakes and full suspension system
- Peak 750W power to climb uphill like a champ
- Class 2 motor
- Max speed of 28 mph in electric mode
- 50-60 miles per charge with pedal assistance
- One of our top picks for tall folks over 6’2″
Cons
- 7-speed cassette
- Riders under 5’6″ will want to opt for Nakto, Eahora XC100 or Cyrusher
- The priciest option in our guide at the time of this writing
#4) NAKTO Ranger Mountain Electric Bicycle
Let’s take a big jump down the price ladder with the Nakto Ranger. Of the five models in this guide, the Ranger is the best electric mountain bike for the money. Nakto manufactures a wide range of budget e-bikes, and like Eahora, Nakto bikes produce some serious power with 350W motors.
The Ranger reaches speeds up to 24 mph with pedal assistance, which is higher than a lot of e-mountain bikes with larger motors offer. Additional features you’ll like are the LCD display that tracks all your stats & battery percentage, the quick 4 to 6 hour charging time, Shimano 6-speed rear derailleur, and front & rear disc brakes.
All things considered, you’ll be impressed by all that this bike offers, especially when compared to bikes that cost double or even triple with mostly the same features.
Pros
- One of the top choices in our guide for shorter riders and teenagers
- Arrives almost completely assembled at 95%
- Handles well on wooded paths and other offroad terrains
- Its stealth appearance can pass as a normal bike
- Front & rear disc brakes rather than V-brakes for a budget price
- Excellent customer service marks
Cons
- Shorter range than the other four bikes in our guide
- You might prefer higher handlebars and an upgrade to a seat with more cushion
- The full-electric mode doesn’t deliver the same oomph as Cyrusher or Addmotor mountain bikes
#5) Eahora XC100 Mountain Electric Bike
Last up is another one of the best budget electric mountain bikes. At the time of this writing, Eahora’s XC100 Plus model is the same price as Nakto’s Ranger, so it’s a wise idea to compare these two bikes if they match your target price. Essentially, the XC100 is a smaller budget version of Eahora’s AM100 model.
Several of the key differences between the AM100 and XC100 models are:
- The XC100 features front fork suspension only rather than the full suspension system with rear support on the AM100
- The XC100 is a better choice for younger and shorter riders below 5’7″ while the AM100 is better for taller folks and adults
- Hydraulic disc brakes on the AM100 and mechanical disc brakes on the XC100
- 26″ tires on the XC100 and 27.5″ on the AM100
- Shimano 9-speed on the AM100 and 7-speed on the XC100
Despite those differences, the XC100 manages to maintain most of the best features offered by the AM100 for a good chunk of dough less. Several of the features the XC100 keeps are the E-PAS system for greater range & battery life, LCD color display, 350W motor, and the same top speed of 30 mph with pedal assistance. For first-time e-mountain bike owners and people on a tighter budget, the XC100 is easily one of our top picks.
Pros
- The longest range of an e-mountain bike in this price range thanks to the E-PAS system
- A lot of the same core features offered by the AM100 for a significantly lower price
- People who are shorter than the recommended height range for the AM100 should consider this bike
- Excellent power and top speeds from a 350W motor
- The full-electric mode makes cruising without pedaling quite easy
- Stands the test of time
- A great choice for commuters who want to save gas money by biking to work
Cons
- Front fork suspension only
- Mechanical disc brakes rather than hydraulic
- Fewer speeds than the AM100
Bottom Line
When shopping for the best budget electric mountain bike, Eahora, Addmotor, Cyrusher, and Nakto are the first places to look. These companies consistently put out great budget alternatives to expensive brands that cost double, triple, or even more than the five bikes in this guide. For people who want to get their feet wet and see if an e-mountain bike is good for them, Nakto’s Ranger and Eahora’s XC100 are our two favorite affordable models.
For taller riders, people who are looking to upgrade an entry-level e-bike, or folks who want to get the most bang for their buck, AddMotor’s HITHOT H1 Platinum is our top pick followed closely by Cyrusher’s XF770. Of the five bikes in this guide, AddMotor’s bike offers the quickest acceleration and enough juice to power larger bodies uphill. The clear advantage of the XF770 is that it’s folding, making it the best option in our guide for people who want a budget folding mountain e-bike.
We’re confident that these five models are all great options, and once you’ve considered the final points above, you’ll undoubtedly land on the right bike.
Cyrusher is terrible. Bad battery and poor customer service trying to get it replaced. Apparently there are many instances of bad batteries. They use cheap Chinease knock-offs instead of the good cells
Hey Jeff, thank you for your input! I’m sure it will help others.