{"id":4020,"date":"2026-07-18T07:04:47","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T07:04:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/silvybrand.com\/?p=4020"},"modified":"2026-07-18T07:04:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T07:04:47","slug":"emtb-riders-are-not-cheaters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/silvybrand.com\/?p=4020","title":{"rendered":"Fine, electric mountain bikes don\u2019t suck"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Cheater<\/em>, I\u2019d grumble between huffs as yet another e-bike rider casually skittered past me on a steep ascent. It\u2019s this purist attitude that, for years, has left me blind to one simple fact: electric mountain bikes are fun!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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My attitude adjustment came a few weeks ago, the very first time I rode an Amflow PX Carbon Pro<\/a> fitted with the incredibly compact, lightweight, and powerful M2S motor from Avinox, a new DJI offshoot that has incumbents like Bosch and Specialized on edge. The motor doesn\u2019t make me a speed demon, but it does let me suck better by compensating whenever my poor technique kills the momentum.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Mountain biking has a long history of gatekeeping new technology. Purists have complained about the introduction of full-suspension frames, disc brakes, dropper posts, and 29-inch wheels, claiming they\u2019ve made the sport \u201ctoo easy.\u201d Today, that technology is widely accepted and comes standard on many mountain bikes, including the Amflow I\u2019ve been testing. Powerful, torquey motors are just the next evolution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Without a doubt, that motor does make things easier. It\u2019s on long, steep, technical ascents where I appreciate the relief most, turning climbs into engaging, flowy challenges rather than a cardio tax that cuts my day short. But I decide how hard I want to work. Some days I need a turbo assist, and others I\u2019m fine with eco when I really want to push my heart rate into the red zone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I started mountain biking during covid like many of my friends, letting YouTube teach us correct body posture and technique to use in turns and jumps. Let\u2019s just say I haven\u2019t advanced much beyond novice in that time, and suffered a nasty crash that shoved my shoulder out the socket \u201cin an unusual direction,\u201d according to my doctor. I haven\u2019t felt as confident on a mountain bike since. Adding a motor, however, has made me feel safer with a greater sense of control.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Amflow PX Carbon Pro isn\u2019t obviously an electric mountain bike because the motor is so small.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The mighty yet ridiculously small and lightweight Avinox M2S mid-drive motor.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The motor on European eMTBs cuts off at 25km\/h (15.5 mph) so it stops assisting on long straightaways.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Less suffering, more laps.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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There\u2019s a gross misconception that electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) make you faster. Maybe in the US, but I ride in Europe where eMTBs don\u2019t have throttles and the pedal-assist tops out at a slow 25km\/h (15.5mph) \u2014 many trail riders can easily exceed 30km\/h on straightaways, leaving me struggling to keep up on a heavier e-bike. European e-bikes also have a maximum continuous output rating of just 250W, making them slower and less powerful than Class 1 e-bikes sold in the US, let alone those Class 3 monsters that are just motorcycles in disguise.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I don\u2019t want my eMTB to ride the trail for me. Instead, I want the pedal-assisted motor to act as a force multiplier, seamlessly integrating with my own pedaling to provide as much or as little assistance as I desire. That\u2019s what I get with the Amflow PX Carbon Pro and eMTBs that cost much less.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The motor lets me be overly cautious with my braking as I approach a turn, take it with confidence, and then accelerate quickly and with control out the other side. And when my momentum stalls in a technical section because of my shit technique, a bolt of torque is there to get me out of trouble, and again when a blind hairpin opens up to an unexpectedly steep incline.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The extra power delivered intuitively and predictably by the Avinox M2S motor has kept me from losing balance, or being forced to dismount in difficult terrain. It\u2019s also been a great equalizer when heading out with more experienced riders who\u2019d otherwise \u201cdrop\u201d me at some point in the first 10 minutes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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As a result, I find myself smiling a lot more, ready to spend more time on the trails, doing more laps, and more repetitions. I\u2019m just having so much more fun these days even though my old, middle-aged self is riding the same old trails.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I\u2019m also careful with my newfound superpower, and frankly, a little embarrassed by it. Strong riders aren\u2019t used to being passed with pace on steep uphill sections by someone twice their age. I therefore stay humble and announce my presence early if I really need to pass. I also don\u2019t claim any King of the Mountain titles on Strava like some assholes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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It\u2019s slightly unfair that my epiphany came on a $10,000 Amflow PX Carbon Pro. It features class-leading specs that certainly aided my enjoyment. That Avinox M2S motor is capable of delivering up to 150Nm of hill-flattening torque, and a temporary boost of 1,500W to overcome long, steep sections. (Watch Will Greenfield\u2019s e-bike motor comparison<\/a> to fully appreciate what Avinox has done.) The carbon fiber frame also helps bring the total weight down to just 20.6kg (45 pounds), below the average of about 22 to 27kg (50 to 60 pounds).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Avinox now boasts over 60 bike brand partners<\/a> around the world. That means it pays to shop around. The cheapest M2S-equipped eMTB I\u2019ve found is the roughly $4,000 CRUSSIS e-Hard 11.11 hardtail<\/a>. Otherwise, you can find a variety of budget eMTBs from companies like Ride1Up<\/a> and Aventon<\/a> with less-capable motors that still offer lots of fun.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Ultimately, you don\u2019t need a five-figure carbon rig to experience the shift. Whether you\u2019re on a flagship Amflow or a budget workhorse, the result will be similar: less suffering, more laps, and a giant, goofy grin. The addition of a motor won\u2019t suddenly make you a better mountain biker. But it might make you want to become one.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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