Hardtail electric mountain bikes are a great option for riders who like to feel their ride. I actually prefer a hardtail bike most of the time. I stand up a lot when I’m biking. Having that rigidity underneath me makes me feel more secure and like I’m exerting more power. I feel like I have more control over the ride. But, maybe you prefer the full suspension feel. The great thing about hardtail bikes is that they can easily be upgraded with a suspension seatpost, like a BodyFloat for instance, to get that full suspension feel. Why do that? Because you’ll save money! Full suspension bikes are great, but they can get pretty pricey. I always say go hardtail unless you have a very specific reason not to. All that said, here are my top 5 hardtail electric mountain bikes for 2017.
IZIP is finally hopping on the Bosch bandwagon, and I think that’s great! The 2017 Peak comes with a Bosch CX 250 watt motor. This high performance motor will help you conquer any trail or mountain ride.
This is a great bike for a reasonable price because of the hardtail. IZIP has helped the rider achieve a smoother ride with some hefty 2.8” wide Kenda tires. The Suntour fork offers you solid air suspension with 120mm of travel–pretty great for a hardtail bike. The battery will take you up to about 50 miles, a huge improvement on the 2016. There are also thru axles in the front and rear wheels for added rigidity and stability when riding.
Next on the list is the Haibike Sduro HardSeven 6.0. Haibike really is a top notch electric mountain bike manufacturer. The Sduro line really has improved in 2017. To start off, the Yamaha motors just keep getting better and better. The battery running the motor is now offering 500 watt hours, so in terms of range it’s up there with most Bosch motors.
Haibike doesn’t slack on components either. The Suntour fork offers air suspension with 120mm of travel, and also a remote suspension lockout switch, which I’m a sucker for. This way if you’re transitioning from trail to road, you can press a switch for a more rigid feel instead of having to get off your bike. Yamaha motors also have the ability to accommodate a dual chainring in the front. This gives you even more versatility and ease when climbing big hills. You also have the benefit of rear and front thru axles which makes this bike capable of taking on some tough trails.
The Xduro Haibikes are going to come with a Bosch CX performance motor. Generally, this is thought of as one of the best motors. Bosch did a really great job this year of integrating the battery into the downtube a little more cleanly. This will improve your center of gravity on tough routes. It also just looks better. Speaking of the battery, the watt hours have been upgraded to 500 for a better range.
The reasons this is such a great hardtail electric mountain bike are similar to that of its Sduro counterpart above. The air suspension in the fork offers that remote lockout option. The Nobby Nic Performance tires have the ability to really grab onto any trails you might ride. And, again, you really save a lot of money on a really great bike just by foregoing the rear suspension.
Bulls E-Stream Evo 3 27.5 Plus Carbon
Carbon frame bikes are a great option for any electric bike enthusiasts. Due to the battery, motor, and extra hardware, electric bikes are naturally heavier. Any chance you have to shed a few pounds means less use of the battery and thus a longer ride. The Bulls E-Stream Evo 3 27.5 Plus offers a really excellent price on a carbon frame.
This model uses a Brose motor which is great on a mountain for a few reasons. First, these motors offer 90nm of torque, which means quicker acceleration up big hills. Brose and Bulls have created the most integrated downtube battery. You truly cannot see it there. Again, this will increase your center of gravity on the bike and create a much safer and smoother ride. Add that to an 11-speed Shimano Deore gear set and the stopping power of Magura MT series brakes, and you’ve got a true mountain bike.
Finally, is the E-Stream Evo 3 29. The bigger 29” tires on these bikes offer some incredible handling on mountain trails. This bike also offers a lot of the same components as its counterpart above, meaning it is definitely set for mountain trails. One thing I forgot to mention about the Brose motor is that it comes with a 650 watt hour battery which means you should be able to ride nearly 100 miles depending on route conditions. The super-quiet Brose motor provides a peaceful and powerful ride.
I like the Bulls hardtail options because they look like traditional bikes. I think this is an underrated quality in electric bikes if for no other reason than to trick your friends into thinking you might be the next Tour de France winner!
So there you have it. Our top 5 hardtail electric mountain bikes for 2017. This lineup has a lot of updates. To get a full run down of everything that is improved check out shopsandiegoflyrides.com for the full specs and descriptions. Don’t forget to call us with any questions or to come in and try a 2017 bike out! Happy riding!