Lee Hill
You may be a beginner to mountain biking or have already ridden an older bike. When you come around to your next purchase, you are bound to ask yourself, “Should I buy a full-suspension bike this time around?”
While the answer ultimately depends on you, more riders every day are saying “Yes” and are very happy that they did! Full-suspension mountain bikes have come a long way in the past few years regarding their technology, design, and weight.
Today, a full-suspension bike can compare easily with a rigid, hardtail mountain bike. Their front and the rear suspension handles rocky mountains and other harsh terrains much better than rigid or hardtail bikes.
Apart from this, a full-suspension bike will give you excellent traction and a comfortable ride.
What Is Full Suspension In An Electric Mountain Bike?
If you are not a bicycle nut, you might be wondering what a “suspension” is? A suspension is a system that insulates your body and the bike frame from rough terrain[1].
Bikes come in three varieties based on the level of suspension – rigid, hardtail, and full suspension.
Rigid
A rigid bike has no suspension. It is not meant for mountain biking at all. You can use a rigid bike on well-paved roads, but that’s about it.
Hardtail
A hardtail bike has a single front suspension, which insulates the bike as it falls “front down.” Hardtail bikes have long been used in mountain biking because they are relatively inexpensive and still offer good cushioning.
Full-Suspension
A full-suspension bike has a rear shock suspension, suspension fork, and grippy tires. It also has a low center of gravity, which makes the bike more stable.
Why Is A Full-Suspension Bike Better Than A Hardtail Bike?
Ideal for uneven terrain
If pedaling through rock gardens, up and over roots, and off of drops is your idea of a fun ride, then a full-suspension mountain bike is for you. If you relatively spend most of your time on fairly smooth trails, then a hardtail bike will suit you best.
Reduces fatigue
Full-suspension bikes will make you feel like there are no bumps on the road. They help reduce fatigue, which in turn can allow you to ride faster, for longer, with greater comfort, unlike hardtail bikes.
Better speed
Last but not least, front and rear suspension do such an excellent job of absorbing bumps that you can typically carry more speed through technical sections of trail than you would be able to with a hardtail.
Health Benefits Of Mountain Biking
Mountain biking remains a very popular outdoor recreation activity in America. According to the outdoor industry foundation, nearly 40 million people participate in mountain biking annually in America[2]. It is an enjoyable and exciting outdoor activity, but it also has many health benefits. Some of these health benefits are such as:
Improved heart health
Regular exercising massively improves your cardiovascular health. Mountain biking uses all the large muscle groups, which require a lot of oxygen. This makes your heart work steadily and improves its fitness by 3 to 7 %.
Less stress on joints
It is a low-impact sport, meaning it puts less stress and strain on your joints, such as intense aerobic sports like running. Joints like the knee, ankle, and heel all have sensitive muscles damaged due to high impact. Sitting and riding a bike reduces your chances of injuring these parts.
Best Electric Full Suspension Mountain Bikes
Some of the best e-mountain bikes available currently in the market are:
- Shijing Electric Bike.
- Schwinn Electric Bike.
- Vitus E-Escarpe.
- Whyte E-160.
- Merida eOne-sixty 8000.
- Specialized Turbo Kenevo Expert.
Buyers Guide: Electric Full Suspension Mountain Bikes
Suspension
A full suspension electric mountain bike needs to have the best suspension fork and rear shock suspension. The fork and rear shock should work in tandem to make all the bigger bumps disappear. It is also necessary for your balance that the fork and rear shock remain neutral while riding.
Wheel Size
There are two sizes of wheels available for you to choose from to attach to your electric mountain bike. These two sizes are 29 inches and 27.5 inches. Although you may feel there is not much size difference between these choices, these sizes do have their specialties. You can also fit wide tires around the smaller wheels to get the same effect.
The 29-inch tires have a better rollover and stability than the 27.5-inch tires, whereas the 27.5-inch tires have better traction and agility. You can choose the tires which suit your style. Some people also combine these tires with a 29-inch front tire and 27.5 inch rear tires. These bikes are called drifters. Drifters have the benefit of both these wheels.
Battery Type
The motor and the battery in an electric mountain bike add weight to its body. The bike must have a powerful drive o move at higher speeds and climb steep terrain efficiently. Due to this reason, mid-drive motors are best suited for an e-mountain bike. Mid-drive motors are not just all about power. This motor is also capable of traversing technical trails with ease.
When you are riding on technically difficult trails, you require a motor that can quickly adapt to the power you need and deliver this power sensibly. When going on faster rides, a battery that does not provide motor resistance is ideal. A mid-drive battery carries out these functions perfectly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we ride an electric mountain bike on the road?
Yes, electric mountain bikes have special grippy tires. These tires can smoothly operate on cement and pavement. The traditional road bike tires are thin, smooth, and offer low rolling resistance. Due to these features, you cannot use a normal road bike on mountain trails. The tires of a mountain bike are more thick, grippy, and have higher traction, due to which you can use them on all types of surfaces, including roads.
How long do electric mountain bikes last?
Electric mountain bikes last up to 20 years with proper care and maintenance. This question also largely depends on how often you use the bike, its total travel distance, what type of trails you drive on, etc. Although some items will wear out with time, such as the tires, brake pads, gears, if you give them proper maintenance, then a mountain bike has a long lifetime.
Can you use a mountain bike without suspension?
So basically, there are three types of electric mountain bikes that you can choose from. The first is the fully rigid model, which has no suspension, then there is the hardtail model, which has a suspension fork. Lastly, the full-suspension model consists of a suspension fork and a rear shock suspension. Yes, it is possible to mountain bike without suspension, but it is not recommended as it is safe. Mountain biking on difficult and technical trails can have a lot of wear and tear on your body. If your bike has no suspension, there is also a very high risk of injury.
Final Thoughts
Before I leave, I want to summarize the key Pros and Cons of a Full Suspension Mountain Bike.
Pros:
- Higher reserve for difficult terrain.
- Dual suspension for better shock absorption
- More stability due to low center of gravity
- Higher speeds.
- Better traction.
Cons:
- More expensive.
- Heavier.
Full-suspension bikes offer great comfort and control compared to their hardtail counterparts. There are an array of designs suited for whatever riding you like. But ultimately, the choice belongs to you. Happy Trails!
References:
[1] Bicycle suspension – Wikipedia
[2] 2017-Outdoor-Recreation-Participation-Report_FINAL.pdf (outdoorindustry.org)
