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EMTB for longer rides - realistically how much range do you get?

olddog · 2025-02-11T17:19:34Z

I've been looking at getting an EMTB - but I'm not really sure they provide the solution I'm looking for. Basically I want to be able to ride further/more comfortably for a given level of fitness - not lapping trail centres but longer rides over natural terrain. It really needs to be a full suss because my back is screwed so hardtail/gravel bike is out. I've only started recently looking at ebikes so I may be not understanding all sorts here - so all views pls Looking at reviews the range (where tested) is usually based on riding in "turbo" mode - I assume this is max assist and basically none of it looks that impressive. I realise that dropping the power mode down would extend the range but I can't find anything that gives that kind of detail. - some stuff on forums but not a lot. I know there are way to many variables for any sort of definitive answer (distance, terrain, how much climbing, rider weight/fitness etc) but interested in you experiences - especially if you use your emtb for longer rides. An example of what I'd want to do is a repeat of the Mary Townley loop (the other way) which is 47 miles, 6500ft of climbing in and out of the Calder valley (so some of it is pretty steep)- not massively technical but some bits rough enough for my dodgy back to need to be on a full suss (see above comments). I've ridden it on a regular mtb but I know I'm not fit enough now and not sure I have the energy to put the grind into to training up for it again. So is this a sensible ask for a full suss emtb - or would I have to run the bike with so little assist I'd be better just sucking it up, getting fit and using a normal bike? I have a feeling that my use case isn't really what emtb are designed for, or even regular mtbs anymore - that people tend to use gravel bikes for this type of riding?

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benw

Posts: 227

Free Member

We rode the Mary Towneley last year,my buddy was on a longer travel aluminium eMTB.We extended the route slightly as we all live local so arranged to meet up in a point that suited us all.He is probably 80kg max and route it all in Eco mode and just got home on the battery.He said he had 0.5km of range left.I dont have an eMTB so dont know the specific bike or details of the motor etc.Hope this helps.Its a great loop and the Emtb meant we could do it after not riding together for probably 20 plus years

Posted : 10/03/2025 6:06 am

olddog reacted

olddog

Posts: 2683

Full Member

Topic starter

Thanks. All useful stuff. Mary Townley was my example of the upper limit of what I'd hoped to do on one charge.

Me and Mrs OD are going are going to hire a couple of full suss emtbs for the day in a week or so - hopefully we can get a feel for it before we commit

Posted : 11/03/2025 7:56 pm

johnhe reacted

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