True to our test philosophy, it all boils down to the overall concept – considering the individual parameters of a Light-eMTB in isolation makes as little sense as assessing the performance of an analogue mountain bike based on its geometry sheet. What does the term “light” refer to? Is a Light-eMTB necessarily a bike with a less powerful motor or a smaller battery? Or is it the complete bike weight that counts? Or are Light-eMTBs simply bikes that resemble analogue MTBs in their handling despite having large batteries, powerful motors, and a hefty weight? The definition of a Light-eMTB isn’t as straightforward as it seems at first glance either. Long travel ebikes can be just as good for touring and everyday commuting as they are for big hits and rough trails. The amount of travel that the suspension offers is largely irrelevant. With an eMTB, the overall concept and motor system dictates the intended use. You can expect to see these bikes flooding the market over the coming months, and we predict that there will be no major bike brand without a Light-eMTB in their portfolio by the end of 2024. So, it’s great to see manufacturers like SCOTT and Haibike jump onto the bandwagon and launch their own Light-eMTBs featuring the latest in lightweight drive unit technology. The past has also shown that it usually takes large brands to get new technology to stick in the market and generate sufficient traction. This is also due to the almost simultaneous introduction of two new light motors, the TQ HPR 50 and the FAZUA Ride 60, bringing with them a whole armada of new Light-eMTB models. It’s the perfect storm for Light-eMTBs to shake up the market! After more than 10 years of eMTB development, we seem to have reached a peak for the first time last year as manufacturers ease off on the battery capacity arms race and realise the advantage of using smaller and more compact batteries and offering greater flexibility. Until now, the masses have been screaming for more power and bigger batteries, while the ebike haters and doubters have been growing quiet. But all that’s set to change with the latest generation. However, these bikes couldn’t prevail against the bigger and more rapidly rising eMTB tidal wave, drowning in it instead of surfing it themselves. The FOCUS Raven was the first Light-eMTB to pop up on the scene in 2016, followed by the first full-suspension Light-eMTB the Lapierre eZesty a while later, and then many more like the Specialized Levo SL.
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