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You’re in luck if you’re looking for an electric mountain bike that won’t break the bank! We’ve compiled a list of the best electric mountain bikes currently available for under £1000. While these bikes may not be designed for technical downhill riding, they are versatile hybrid bikes that can handle both on and off-road.
With recent price increases, some of the e-bikes featured below have surpassed the £1000 barrier. But we think they’re still worth including on this list.
Things to Consider When Buying a Cheap Electric Mountain Bike
1. Intended Use
If you want to tackle challenging downhill terrain strewn with tree roots, rocks, jumps, etc.. Then, none of the bikes in our selection below will be suitable. You’ll need to spend a lot of money on a capable e-MTB, and preferably go for a well-known brand like Cannondale, Specialized, Giant, Scott or Cube.
If you need a versatile ‘leisure bike’ or an e-bike for commuting with some light forest trails and unpaved roads, the bikes below will suit that purpose. Most e-bikes on our list are at the budget end of the scale, so the components will generally be ‘entry-level’. This doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t any good, but they won’t stand up to the rigours of hard off-road riding. You won’t go wrong if you understand this before making a purchase.
2. Electric Motor
The electric mountain bikes featured in this article use geared hub motors. Power output will generally be 250w to comply with UK and EU e-bike laws, although some exceptions exist. If you purchase an electric bike that produces more than 250w and use it on the road or in public spaces, you risk having your bike confiscated and several points on your driving licence.
Geared hub motors are generally very reliable, but the internal nylon planetary gears can wear over time, especially if you regularly ride steep climbs or carry lots of extra cargo. Thankfully, these motors are cheap and relatively easy to repair if this happens.
3. Battery
Several factors determine battery range: The total energy capacity of the battery is in watt hours (Wh) – a 36v 13ah battery has a total energy capacity of 468Wh, meaning that at a constant 468 watts, the battery will be depleted in one hour of riding.
You can work out roughly how much mileage you will get based on how many watt hours per mile you consume; this figure will differ greatly depending on the power of your motor, what power level you are in, rider weight, wind direction and terrain (hills). Example: If you consume an average of 20Wh per mile, a 36v 13ah battery would be depleted in 23 miles. The higher the Ah rating, the greater the energy capacity and, hence, a greater range.
4. Sizing
With a couple of exceptions, most electric mountain bikes in this price range are only available in one size. Manufacturers sizing claims can sometimes be inaccurate. Generally, budget e-MTBs seem to be an 18-inch frame size – a medium frame. If you’re under 5ft 5″ or much above 6ft 2″, you may need to consider an e-bike available in more specific sizing options.
What are the best electric mountain bikes for under £1000?
The electric mountain bikes featured below are popular and generally have excellent feedback from buyers. They offer an affordable entry into e-bike riding, which is a good thing – the more people out riding, the better!
1. Eleglide M1 Plus🥇
I’ve just been sent an Eleglide M1 Plus to review, and I’m impressed with what this bike offers for the price. I’ve ridden many budget e-bikes, some good, some not so good. But I can say that the Eleglide M1 Plus has impressed me!
To summarise, I like the riding position; it feels very comfortable. The build quality and finish are excellent. It’s road-legal in the UK and EU. It uses nice Shimano trigger shifters (unlike most cheap e-bikes that use thumb shifters). Gear shifting is precise, the mechanical disc brakes work well, and the motor is smooth and responsive. Plus, there are 5 power levels to choose from. The M1 Plus has a 36v 12.5Ah battery – I haven’t tested the range in full yet, but I’m expecting 30-40 miles from a charge.
The bike was sent from a UK warehouse and arrived within 2 days of dispatch. It was well-packaged and included a full toolkit with comprehensive and easy-to-understand assembly instructions. Read the full Eleglide M1 Plus review.
If you are considering the slightly cheaper M1 model, check out my Eleglide M1 review here.
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Buy direct from Eleglide (EU and UK)
2. Eskute Voyager Electric Mountain Bike
Second on my list is the Eskute Voyager electric mountain bike. I was first introduced to the Eskute brand last year when the company sent me a Voyager to test and review.
The Eskute uses a good quality Bafang hub motor with a 36v 12.5Ah battery – this integrates neatly into the frame and can be charged in situ or removed.
Performance-wise, the Eskute goes very well indeed. I have done a few 25-mile rides with 2000ft of climbing and some off-road riding, and it performs just as good as other brands, costing a few hundred pounds more. As with all the e-MTBs in this article, I wouldn’t recommend it for hard off-road riding, although it does cope well enough with light to moderate off-roading.
I usually still have 1-2 bars of battery left after these rides, so I reckon the average range for commuting or city riding would be 35-40 miles, which isn’t too bad for the price.
Gearing is Shimano Tourney 7-speed with a 14-28 freewheel and 42t front chainring. The Zoom mechanical disc brakes work just fine for the casual rider. You can read my full review of the Eskute Voyager here.
The Voyager is long longer available and has been replaced by the Netuno – it looks the same but benefits from a more powerful battery (36v 15Ah) with Samsung cells. It costs £1199, but I think the extra is worth it considering the improved battery spec. Read the Eskute Netuno review.
Buy the Eskute Netuno here – Discounted price: £999
3. Decathlon Rockrider E-ST100
Another great-value electric mountain bike is the Decathlon Rockrider E-ST100. This French brand’s entry-level e-MTB has some neat features for a sub-£1000 e-bike.
The electric components are fairly standard at this price point – there’s a 250w rear hub motor with a 380Wh battery and cadence-based pedal assist.
The components are very good quality considering the price. There are Suntour XCT suspension forks with 100mm of travel; the gearing is perfect for off-roading and features a wide-range 8-speed 11-34 cassette with a trail-busting 32t front chainring. The 27.5″ MTB wheels are shod in 2.2″ tyres. Stopping power is provided by Tektro TDK28 mechanical disc brakes.
Out of all the bikes featured on this list, the Rockrider has the best off-road riding credentials and a very good specification for the price. For more information, read my Rockrider E-ST100 review.
4. Swifty AT656 Electric Mountain Bike
The Swifty AT656 is another great value electric mountain bike with a 250w rear hub motor with a 36v 9.6Ah battery. This battery uses high-quality Panasonic cells, so should have better longevity than other batteries that use generic cells.
Like the Eskute, the Swifty uses entry-level Shimano Tourney TY-21 7-speed gearing and mechanical disc brakes. The wheels are 27.5″ with CST all-terrain tyres. Front forks are coil-sprung and will be okay for light off-road riding or negotiating rough country lanes.
With a claimed range of 35 miles per charge, the Swifty AT656 would also make a good daily commuter bike.
5. Himo C26 e-MTB
The Himo C26 is one of this list’s best electric mountain bikes, especially considering the price. I’ve tested a few Himo e-bikes in the past, and I have always been impressed with their bikes’ overall quality and feel.
This model is as well-made as it looks, with a sturdy aluminium frame, neatly integrated battery pack and 26″ wheels with Kenda all-terrain tyres.
A 250w hub motor activated by a pedal assist sensor provides strong electric assist, and the excellent 48v 10Ah battery should give a real-world range of around 35-40 miles.
There’s very tidy internal cable routing and a multi-function display. A headlight and kickstand finish the package off nicely.
Like all the other e-MTBs here, the Himo C26 will be suitable for urban riding, commuting and leisure rides in the country, with some moderate off-road and gravel riding.
I’m impressed with what the C26 offers for the price, and it’s worth considering.
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6. DDFGG Electric Mountain Bike
The DDFGG electric mountain bike is available from Amazon and is a decent enough budget option – it’s a bit cheaper than some other bikes here. If you’re after a basic, no-frills electric bike with basic components, then it’s not a bad choice.
It has a triple front chainring with a 7-speed freewheel, giving 21 gears. There’s also coil-sprung front suspension, mechanical disc brakes, a kickstand and a headlight – there’s also a provision to fit a pannier rack and mudguards if required.
The DDFGG e-MTB uses a 250w rear hub motor and 36v 8Ah battery, giving the rider a realistic range of around 20-25 miles out of a charge.
For an electric bike at the cheaper end of the scale, it’s not bad and is worth considering if you’re on a tight budget. This e-bike will be fine for canal towpaths, light woodland trails, or general daily commuting.
7. Ancheer electric MTB 27.5″
Ancheer e-bikes have been manufacturing best-selling, budget electric mountain bikes for a few years now, and the reason for their success is they provide affordable, no-nonsense e-bikes that do the job.
There’s nothing particularly special about these e-bikes; they provide a cheap and cheerful entry to the world of electric bike riding. The Ancheer 27.5″ electric mountain bike has 21-speed gearing, a 250w motor and a 36v 10Ah battery.
It’s a bit cheaper than some other bikes here, and all the components are very basic – I’ve tested a few Ancheer e-bikes over the last few years, and they’re always okay. If you’re after affordable transport from A to B, you won’t get much better value than this.
8. Ado A26 Electric Mountain Bike
The Ado A26 electric mountain bike produces double the power of the other e-bikes featured here – for that reason, I can’t recommend it for road-legal use as it would fall outside of UK and EU EAPC laws.
With a power output of 500w and a 36v 12.5Ah battery, the Ado A26 offers the ‘best bang for your buck’, and if you’re looking for a cheap, higher-performance e-MTB to use on private land, then this is the bike for you.
It has a top speed of 35km/h (21mph) and should give a battery range of approximately 30-40 miles, depending on how much power is used. Ado e-bikes are quite a new brand, and their range of electric bikes has received good customer feedback.
All the components are of a similar quality to other bikes featured here, and the Ado A26 will be just fine to use on mild to moderate off-road terrain. It’s worth considering if you have access to private land and you’re after something with a bit more of a grin factor.
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Conclusion
The electric bikes featured in this article offer very good value for money. However, it’s important to remember none of these e-bikes are ‘proper’ electric mountain bikes, and if you treat them as such, they won’t last very long. You’ll need to spend much more on an e-MTB that will handle tough off-road riding.
Treat them more like hybrid bikes, and only ride them on light off-road trails, and you shouldn’t have any problems. They’ll all make excellent commuter e-bikes, as even though they have cheap front suspension, this will be great for dealing with potholes and other road imperfections.
Is there a clear winner, and do I have a favourite? My first impressions of the Eleglide M1 Plus are very good. Its current discounted price of £689.99 is an absolute bargain. Even at its regular price of £749, it offers unbeatable value. The Eskute Voyager is a great bike, but its replacement, the Netuno, now costs just over £1000. The styling and build quality of the Himo C26 are excellent. The Decathlon E-ST100 offers excellent specs for the price and has very positive customer reviews.
The DDFGG is by far the cheapest on this list and has favourable customer reviews, making it an excellent choice. I also really like the look of the Swifty; it uses a high-quality Panasonic battery, which is unusual to see on electric bikes at this price.
If you’re after something with a bit more oomph, then the Ado A26 with its 500w motor would be a great choice, but remember it’s not road legal and riding one of these on the road could land you in hot water, with penalty points on your driving licence.
Thanks for reading, and if you have any questions regarding buying a cheap electric bike, please feel free to leave a comment below – I usually reply within 24hrs.
👉 If you’re on a tight budget, Check out the best electric bikes for under £500.
Hi Tony, thanks for the great reviews. I’m 6’1″ and live in a place with steep hills. Which of these ebikes do you think would be best for me?
Hi Jasper,
I’ve been using the Eskute Voyager for the last couple of months and it copes really well with the steep hills in Cornwall. I’m 6’1″ / 16st and I find it great for hills up to 15% (in full power with moderate pedalling effort). There’s a couple of 25% climbs near me and it starts to struggle a bit unless you start putting in a fair bit of added effort. The Ado e-bike has more power (close to 1000w peak power), but isn’t road legal in the UK.
Let me know if you need any more info.
All the best,
Tony
Great thanks Tony. I was also wondering about the overall life of the batteries. I read a couple of reviews of the under £1000 Ancheer ebike which said the battery was dead within a year.
Do you think the Askute and Ado batteries are better quality?
Yes it does seem to be a common problem with cheaper e-bikes. Generally the generic Chinese cells don’t have the same longevity of Samsung, Panasonic or LG cells. It’s hard to say how the Eskute battery will perform in the long-term. My contact at Eskute has said their batteries use unbranded 18650 cells, but they source them from a reputable supplier and provide a 2-year warranty which is very good for a cheaper electric bike. Ado warranty their batteries for 1-year.
I did test the voltage on my Eskute battery and it was reading 54.4v (fresh off the charger) which is bang on for a 48v battery. The latest Eskute Voyager uses a 36v 12.5Ah battery.