The All-Around Best Electric Mountain Bike

Sometimes the “right” path isn’t the best path. Sometimes you want to ditch the path all together, or take one that’s covered in sand, gravel, dirt, snow and mud. An electric mountain bike is ready to take you on the rides of your life, no matter what the path you choose looks like. 

What is an Electric Mountain Bike?

An electric mountain bike is much like a traditional mountain bike. They’re built with bigger, fatter tires to provide more traction, more stability, better control and a smoother ride. The big difference is that electric mountain bikes have motors, which completely changes where you can go and your experience getting there.

Electric mountain bikes aren’t motor bikes or motorcycles. With an electric bike, you still get all the fun and benefits of a traditional bike with gears and pedals. The difference: You can put as much physical exertion into your ride as you want, but the help is there when you need it.   

Need a boost up a hill or mountain? No problem. You can kick in some power on the way up and not find yourself huffing and puffing at the top. Want to get in some exercise as you ride to the beach, then cruise while you ride on the sand and enjoy the ocean views? 

Perfect.

You can go further, faster and fuel more adventures… no matter how big you want those adventures to be. 

And let’s face it, the thought of pedaling up a mountain can be pretty intimidating for most of us. A motor removes worries about big hills or long rides because you know you have help available when you need it. It makes mountain biking a real possibility for those who never dreamed they’d do it and even better for those who already do it on a traditional bike. It puts off-roading on the agenda for more and more people.

That’s our mission at Charge—to make biking more accessible to more people, no matter what type of biking you want to do.

The Charge XC

Deciding you want to buy an electric mountain bike is one thing. Knowing which is the best electric mountain bike for you is a whole other matter. There are a lot of them on the market, and choosing the right one can be a bit overwhelming. 

At Charge, we keep it simple.  We build three e-bike models. The Comfort is an everyday e-bike that makes it easy to get around, and The City  is made for urban life and commuting. It’s The XC, that’s made for off-roading adventure.

The XC is our most rugged e-bike, ready to take on mountains and so much more. Because while it’s called a mountain bike, it’s built to take you so many more places. Think the beach, the local park, wide open fields - This bike is built for adventure, however you define it.

The XC features a mid-drive 250-watt motor. It’s powered by a Shimano E8035 504WH integrated battery, which is weather-resistant, removable and lockable. That battery can take you up to 50 miles on a single charge and will power your pedaling up to 20 mph. It has three pedal-assist modes, so you can determine just how much power at any given time. 

It’s built for comfort too. A front suspension fork helps even out the rough stuff, and the seat and grips are designed to make sure your ride is as enjoyable as possible. It comes in two sizes, so you can get just the right fit too—small, which is best for those 5’0”--5’9”, and large, which is best for those 5’9”-6’4”. 

Weighing just 55 pounds with the battery, the XC is lightweight when it comes to electric mountain bikes too. The lighter weight makes it easier to transport and maneuver than a lot of other heavier electric mountain bikes on the market.

The XC also comes equipped with big, grippy Goodyear Peak 29 x 2.25 tires that are puncture-resistant and ready to help you explore. They’re not as “fat” as some of those other electric mountain bikes come with though, because we wanted to make sure it was still lightweight and nimble. But they’re fat enough to help cover the ground you want to cover, no matter what it’s covered in. In other words, we’ve got you covered. 

Who our Bike isn’t for 

We’ll be honest. The XC isn’t the electric mountain bike for everyone. 

If you’re looking for an extreme mountain bike for racing down downhill at perilously fast speeds in a quest to cross finish lines, you probably want to look somewhere else for an e-bike. Our bikes are tough, and they’re ready for adventure, but scary, extreme sports biking… not our thing. 

The XC makes mountain biking an option for people who have never mountain biked before. It’s for mild rather than wild adventures—no white knuckles here. It’s for people who love being out in nature, who want to go off the beaten path from time to time with a bike they know can keep up with them. 

The XC is for those who want to ride to the beach, then ride on the beach. It’s for fisherman and hunters and those who just want to hop on a trail from time to time at their local park. It’s for anyone who wants to bike in a better way. 

As one mom who purchased the XC shared with us in a review, “I was able to go on a 19 mile training ride with my 18 year old XC High School State Champion son!”

Another happy customer told us, “Love my new Charge XC. A great bike. I am loving it. Originally bought it for assistance with pulling my 19 month old grandson in a Thule trailer. Now I find myself wanting to ride it all of the time, rather than my old, uncomfortable road bike.”

You’re probably not going to see a lot of MAMIL (middle-aged men in Lycra—you know the ones we’re talking about) on our bikes. They're going to be whizzing past you on the mountain on extreme machines. Good for them. The rest of us will be enjoying the ride, with nothing to prove and no finish line to cross.

Back to Reality

As ready as the XC is for adventure, you don’t have to park it when it’s time to get back to “real” life. Because here’s the thing—for most of us, life can’t always be about climbing mountains. Once the weekend’s over, it’s time to get groceries, go to work and take care of daily tasks. And the XC can handle those too.

One minute you can be maneuvering through mountains and the next commuting to work where the most treacherous terrain is a speedbump. It’s a bike built to take you wherever you want to go, and it adds a little extra adventure to the everyday.

All our bikes come with standard features that make them comfortable, convenient and easy to ride anywhere. These features don’t cost anything extra, and you don’t have to pick and choose between them. We’ve incorporated things you’ll use and appreciate without a lot of extra shiny bells and whistles most people never use. Feel free to add your own bell if you like though. 

What makes the XC and all our bikes stand out:

• Folding handlebars and pedals to save space, making it easier to move and store.

• Automated tire pressure sensors that turn red when you need air or green if you're good to go.

• Powerful battery with up to 50 miles in range and a display that shows range in miles to go, not just as a percentage.

• Integrated front and rear lights and reflective tires to provide better visibility in all light conditions.

• High-quality aluminum frame that is lightweight but durable, plus puncture-resistant Goodyear tires.

• Easily removable (yet lockable) batteries so you can recharge at home, work or wherever you have power.

• Integrated rear rack so you can haul your gear, groceries or whatever else you need to get through the day. 

The XC is  also incredibly easy to put together, so your adventures can start ASAP. Like all our bikes, it’s shipped nearly fully assembled. It takes just about 10 minutes for most people to unbox it and head out on the road.

XC: The Bottom Line

Of course cost is always a consideration. The XC is our most expensive e-bike at $2,499, but it’s one of the best-priced electric mountain bikes on the market for the value. Most start around $3,000 and go up, up and up from there. 

In a review, T3 called the Charge XC e-bike, “A versatile e-bike option for commuting during the week and getting dirty on the weekend. Great balance of value and quality.”

A reviewer for TNW wrote, “The Charge XC is a thoughtfully designed, good-looking, and reasonably-priced ebike. For riders looking for a comfortable, practical ride at a price that is easier to swallow than other ebikes with comparable mid-drive setups, there is nothing else quite like it. And did I mention it folds flat?” 

Value, adventure and more—the XC checks a lot of boxes if you’re in the market for an eclectic mountain bike. And honestly, while the price tag is nothing to sneeze at, the benefits you’ll get from riding an e-bike are invaluable. 

Time spent outdoors has been shown to increase mental and physical health, and riding an electric bike can be a great form of exercise. It can save money too when it comes to things like gas, parking and other transportation costs.  Not to mention, it’s just a whole heck of a lot of fun.

As we said, the XC isn’t the mountain bike for everyone, but it’s a great option for those looking for a little extra adventure in their lives. It’s for those who want a decent bike at a decent price for priceless experiences. 

Looking for the best electric mountain bike on the market? Let’s talk.

Better yet, take a test ride on any of our bikes. We have a growing network of dealers and test-ride locations across the United States ready to show you why Charge electric bikes are the best e-bikes for the money.