Lightest Electric Mountain Bikes: 7 Light Models under 20kg

Lightweight electric mountain bikes are a great investment and asset to riders who not only seek adventure but also want to be able to do so with ease.

If this sounds like a bit of you then keep reading as this guide will help you to find the lightest electric mountain bike to suit your style, budget and personality and all of which come in under a very impressive 20kg.

But let it be known, unfortunately a lightweight addition will be setting you back a rather large sum of money, but that’s not to say it won’t be worth it: a new bike is always worth it, but we are potentially a tad bias we must admit…

Lightest Electric Mountain Bikes: Top 7

Does Weight Matter in Mountain Bikes?

When it comes to mountain bikes, as with pretty much all bike, weight does arguably matter a lot. But the downside to this is that a lighter bike will pretty much always come at a premium in terms of pricing.

The main benefits of having a lighter mountain bike of course being able to climb up hill with greater ease. Not to mention, manoeuvring around obstacles and allowing the bike to move underneath you while scaling technical features is also much easier if the bike is lighter as there’s less weight to move.

Another great benefit of having a lighter mountain bike can be when needing to carry it: sometimes adventures can get very off grid and thus calls for the need to pick up and carry the MTB from time to time such as over gates or up impossibly steep climbs.

What is a Good Weight for a Mountain E-Bike?

Typically electric mountain bikes that weight around 20-30kg would be considered pretty good, with the latter ground being the most common. It will come with no surprise that the lighter end of the spectrum will cost a fair bit more in general, however there are some bargains that are an exception to this rule.

But given a mountain bike has a lot more componentry to it, with the technology and extra materials needed to create key features such as dropper posts and suspension, the latter of which is common both front and rear, it’s not surprising that e-MTB’s are heavier than other bikes such as small folding bikes or other off-road offerings such as gravel bikes.

Although it’s got to be said, it would be unfair to start to pit the weight of any type of mountain bike against the likes of gravel, or even hybrid bikes. But believe us when we say, these bikes featured on this piece are super impressive when it comes to their weight.

How Much Does the Average Mountain E-Bike Weigh?

Average weight for a standard electric mountain bike could be around 25kg to 40kg, which is a big range but when some mountain bikes have rear (as well as front suspension) it can be easy to understand why the weight ranges so much.

More so, the motor and battery that is used to create said electric mountain bike will also play a big part in how light, or heavy, the bike is. This is the same with other electric bikes (typically lighter bikes like road and gravel included) because some systems are much more streamline and thus lightweight than other options. But as always, the lighter option is often much more expensive.

The material of the e-MTB will also play a role in how heavy or light the bike is, the same can be said with regards to the size of the bike: a smaller size being lighter as a smaller frame means less materials.

Is a Carbon Electric Mountain Bike Worth It?

A carbon electric mountain bike is definitely worth it when it comes to weight saving. By nature, all e-bikes are generally heavier than a non motorised push bike as there is of course a motor and battery (along with a list of other smaller components) added to enable a bike to be electric.

Therefore a great way to ensure the weight is pushed down is of course looking at making the materials as lightweight as possible. Cue carbon fibre: the very popular, strong and stiff material chosen to create pretty much all light weight cycling machines.

Many other popular and super light weight electric bikes are also made of carbon fibre as it’s a very effective way to push down the weight and improve the ride quality: carbon is more responsive and stiff compared to aluminium.

Lightweight Electric Mountain Bikes (Top 7)

1. SCOTT LUMEN eRIDE 900 SL

• £14,699
• $15,999
• €15,999

Prices are approximate

Weight: 15.5kg (34lb)

Wattage: 300W (300W in UK & EU) 

Max. Range: 25-100miles (40-160km)

Gears: 12-speed

Wheel Size: 29″

Max Load: 128kg (282lb)

Removable Battery: ❌

Throttle: ❌

Lights: ❌

Fenders:❌

Developed with the help of World XCO Champion, Nino Schurter, the Scott Lumen is an eye-wateringly light full suspension bike that has been somewhat based around the incredibly popular Scott Spark. Favouring those who enjoy trail riding thanks to its brilliant handling abilities, this e-MTB has a very decent range of up to 160km which can be increased by up to 60km using their extender: this conveniently slots into one of the two bottle cages to keep to the neat and streamline aesthetic. Not only that, but the display on the top tube is integrated into the frame and displays battery information as well as watts. All of this for 15.5kg, absolutely mind blowing!

Pros

• Super lightweight
• Not bulky at all
• Super quiet

Cons

• Very expensive

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2. TREK E-CALIBER 9.9 XX1 AXS

• £10,320
• $13,500
• €12,011

Prices are approximate

Weight: 16kg (35lb)

Wattage: 250W (250W in UK & EU) 

Max. Range: 43 miles (70 km)

Gears: 12-speed 

Wheel Size: 29″

Max Load: 136kg (299lb)

Removable Battery: ✅

Throttle: ❌

Lights: ❌

Fenders:❌

This is undoubtedly the perfect option for you if you happen to be in the market for a full suspension electric cross country mountain bike. Trek have basically taken their Olympic gold medal winning (thanks to Jolanda Neff) cross country bike and thrown on an integrated motor. The bike was specifically designed and built to feel the exact same as a regular cross country bike. Therefore it’s a really great option for those also looking to maybe race some e-MTB races. Another cool aspect of this bike is that the battery is removable, therefore just pop it out (making it 2.9kg lighter) and you have a conventional, full carbon XC bike. Pretty cool huh.

Pros

• Cross country specific
• Removable battery
• Very neat looking

Cons

• Not a big range

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3. BMC Fourstroke AMP LT LTD

• £13,400
• $14,999
• €13,999

Prices are approximate

Weight: 15.9kg (35lb)

Wattage: 300W (300W in UK & EU) 

Max. Range: 25-100miles (40-160km)

Gears: 12-speed 

Wheel Size: 29″

Max Load: 110kg (242lb)

Removable Battery: ❌

Throttle: ❌

Lights: ❌

Fenders:❌

Pannier Rack:❌

Fitted with the same motor system as the Scott, this respectably lightweight carbon fibre trail bike looks every bit the part with it’s interesting frame design and gorgeous tan sidewalls on the Maxxis tyres. Also benefitting from the integrated display unit which is easy to read and conveniently placed on the top tube for battery information as well as watts. The Fourstroke really is a great looking full suspension e-bike, that if you have the cash to splash, is certainly worth the consideration.

Pros

• Very neat motor system
• Great display unit
• Very light

Cons

• Very expensive

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4. S-Works Turbo Levo

• £12,000
• $15,000
• €13,500

Prices are approximate

Weight: 17-18kg (37-39lb)

Wattage: 565W (565W in UK & EU) 

Max. Range: 40miles aprox (70km aprox)

Gears: 12-speed 

Wheel Size: 29” front and 27.5” rear

Max Load: 109kg (240lb)

Removable Battery: ✅

Throttle: ❌

Lights: ❌

Fenders:❌

Seeing the S-Works name is often associated with a huge price tag, the Turbo Levo is no different. But this full suspension e-MTB is certainly a work of beauty that’s for sure: it’s creative frame design is eye-catching and the motor system and integrated (removable) battery fit very neatly within the bike. Ride wise, this trail machine handles exceptionally well which is aided by the 29” front and 27.5” rear wheels: a feature becoming more and more common on mountain bikes. So, if you want a beautiful electric MTB that handles superbly, look no further. 

Pros

• Beautiful design
• Removable battery
• Light

Cons

• Expensive

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5. Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01

• £11,250
• $10,999
• €10,999

Prices are approximate

Weight: 18.7kg (41lb)

Wattage: 450W (450W in UK & EU) 

Max. Range: 50miles (80km)

Gears: 12-speed 

Wheel Size: 29″

Max Load: 149kg (328lb)

Removable Battery: ❌ 

Throttle: ❌

Lights: ❌

Fenders:❌

Winning award after award from numerous outlets for its performance during reviews, the Pivot Shuttle SL is another very lightweight full suspension e-MTB that would definitely be a great fit for those wanting to ride some serious trails with demanding descents yet want help on the ascents and flats. As with pretty much all of the bikes featured, this one is also made from carbon fibre to keep the weight down and maximise on ride quality.

Pros

• Light
• Quiet motor
• Neat looking

Cons

• Expensive

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6. Giant TRANCE X ADVANCED E+ ELITE 0

• £12,999
• $14,000
• €13,000

Prices are approximate

Weight: 19.05kg (42lb)

Wattage: 250W (250W in UK & EU) 

Max. Range: 80miles (130km)

Gears: 12-speed 

Wheel Size: 29” front and 27.5” rear

Max Load: N/A

Removable Battery:❌

Throttle:❌

Lights:❌

Fenders:❌

Pannier Rack:❌

A seriously beautiful paint job (possibly the coolest ever) makes this bike the perfect choice for those who want to make a bold statement and stand out while cruising along the local trails. Not only that but the Giant is also fitted with a 29″ front and a 27.5″ rear to improve upon handling. Couple this with the generous front and rear suspension (150mm front) and you have a brilliant mountain bike that can handle the most demanding of down hill trails.

Pros

• Light
• Great range
• Amazing paint job

Cons

• Expensive

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7. Orbea Urrun 40

• £3,099
• $3,399
• €3,299

Prices are approximate

Weight: 19kg aprox (42lb aprox)

Wattage: 250W (250W in UK & EU) 

Max. Range: 38miles (61km)

Gears: 7-speed 

Wheel Size: 29″

Max Load: N/A

Removable Battery: ❌

Throttle: ❌

Lights: ❌

Fenders:❌

If a super lightweight alloy hardtail electric mountain bike is more your thing then we have our budget option for you. Still pricey, but much cheaper than other light e-MTB’s, the Orbea makes the perfect all-round mountain bike that won’t be overkill on gravel bike paths but can also handle it’s own on purpose built mountain bike trails and natural trails. The lack of rear suspension helps to keep the weight (and price) down, making it a seriously impressive price for the weight and spec of components.

Pros

• Brilliant value
• Light weight alloy
• Streamline

Cons

• No rear suspension or dropper post

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