Well, electric motorcycles don’t suck

A deceiverI hummed between huffs as yet another e-bike rider sped past me up the hill. It is this purist opinion that, over the years, has left me blind to one simple fact: electric bikes are fun!

My breakthrough came a few weeks ago, the first time I rode Amflow PX Carbon Pro with a sleek, light, and powerful M2S engine from Avinox, a new offshoot of DJI that has the likes of Bosch and Specialized on the cutting edge. The car doesn’t make me a speed demon, but it allows me to absorb and compensate whenever my poor skills kill the power.

Mountain biking has a long history of keeping new skills at bay. Fans have raved about the introduction of full-suspension frames, disc brakes, dropper posts, and 29-inch wheels, saying they will make the sport “a lot easier.” Today, this technology is widely accepted and comes on many mountain bikes, including the Amflow I’ve been testing. Powerful motors, torques are the next evolution.

Undoubtedly, the engine makes things easier. It’s on the long, steep, technical hills that I appreciate the rest the most, turning the climb into a challenging, challenging ride instead of the mental tax that cuts my day short. But I choose how hard I work. Some days I need the help of the turbo, and others I’m fine with eco when I want to push my heart rate into the red zone.

I started mountain biking during covid like many of my friends, letting YouTube teach us the correct posture and techniques to use in exchange for jumping. Let’s just say I wasn’t making much progress at the time, and I had a bad accident that dislocated my shoulder “in a weird way,” according to my doctor. I have never felt so confident on a mountain bike since. Adding an engine, however, has made me feel safer and more in control.

There is a misconception that electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) make you faster. Maybe in the US, but I ride in Europe where eMTBs do not have throttles and pedal-assist above 25km/h slowly (15.5mph) – most riders on the road easily exceed 30km/h straight, leaving me struggling to keep up with heavy e-bikes. European e-bikes also have a maximum output of more than 250W, which makes them slower and less powerful than the e-Class 1 bikes sold in the US, let alone the giant Class 3 bikes that are just disguised motorcycles.

I don’t want my eMTB to go my way. Instead, I want the pedal-assisted motor to act as a power multiplier, seamlessly interacting with my pedals to provide as much or as little support as I need. This is what I find with the Amflow PX Carbon Pro and the more expensive eMTBs.

The car allows me to be very careful and apply the brakes when I approach a corner, take it with confidence, then accelerate quickly and control the other side. And when my ride stalls in a technical section due to my bad approach, the torque bolt is there to get me out of trouble, and when the hairpin opens on an unexpected slope.

The extra power provided intuitively and intuitively by the Avinox M2S motor has kept me from going out of control, or being forced to get off in difficult situations. It also proved to be a good match when I went out with more experienced riders who would sometimes “drop me” in the first 10 minutes.

As a result, I find myself smiling a lot, ready to spend more time on the road, more trips, and more repetition. I’m just having a lot of fun these days even though my old, middle-aged self is walking in the same old ways.

I’m also wary of my newfound powers, and to be honest, a little ashamed of them. Strong riders are not used to being outpaced on steep hills by someone twice their age. So I stay humble and announce my presence early if I really need to drop by. I don’t even want King of the Mountain titles on Strava like some donkeys.

It’s unfair that my epiphany came on the $10,000 Amflow PX Carbon Pro. It has class leading features that really helped my enjoyment. The Avinox M2S motor can produce up to 150Nm of torque, and 1,500W of peak power to conquer long, steep sections. (Look Will Greenfield’s e-bike motor comparison fully appreciating what Avinox has done.) The carbon fiber design also helps bring the weight down to 20.6kg (45 pounds), below the average of 22 to 27kg (50 to 60 pounds).

Avinox now boasts over 60 associated bike brands all around the world. This means it pays to shop around. The cheapest M2S-equipped eMTB I’ve found is around $4,000 CRUSSIS e-Hard 11.11 hardtail. Otherwise, you can find a variety of budget eMTBs companies like Up1Up and Aventon with timeless motors that still provide plenty of fun.

At the end of the day, you don’t need a five-speed carbon fiber machine to switch. Whether you’re on the popular Amflow or the budget, the results will be the same: less stress, more lift, and a giant, wet ride. The addition of an engine does not make you a mountain biker. But it might make you want to be one.