THE Mid-Power, SL eMTB Group Review - Lightweight eBike Shootout

We’re back again for another group test of the best electric mountain bikes. However, unlike our full-power eMTB Shootout, which takes place each Spring, this is focused on the lightweight eMTB category. It’s a category so ambiguous, it doesn’t even really have a name everyone agrees on…Mid-Power, Low Power, SL eMTB, what’s the correct term? To many, it’s the “low fat” version of the full-power category that so many call “Full Fat,” which is why we’ve been calling it eBike Lite (EBL). No matter what you call it, this is a category that has sparked a renewed interest with our crew.

We were asked many times about this category by quite a few high-level people in the bike industry last year, and we predicted that it’d be dead within 2-3 years...That was before the new crop of full-power eMTBs was released in early 2025, with weights trending UP instead of down! The power and Newton Meter race is on, which means many electric mountain bikes are getting heavier instead of lighter, like we had hoped! With the increased power comes the need for increased battery capacity, so it’s no surprise that full-power ebikes are moving back over the 50lb mark, which we’re not huge fans of. On top of that, many “SL” or mid-power bikes received torque increases to 60Nm and battery sizes up to 580Wh, while holding mid-40lb weights that make for a fun, playful e-ride experience. So, maybe we were wrong? Maybe the lightweight eMTB is here to stay!

Written Feature: https://theloamwolf.com/emtb/the-2025...

We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsoring partners for The Loam Wolf 2025 Lightweight eMTB Shootout. Without their support, this series wouldn’t have been possible. We’d love it if you could show your appreciation by checking them out:

@SchwalbeBikeTires Provided reliable and comparable traction across all test bikes with the Magic Mary and Albert tires in the Gravity Radial casing.

@EnduraOfficial Equipped us with excellent helmets and stylish apparel.

Giro: Ensured our knees were safe with the Loam Knee Pads and feet secure on the pedals courtesy of the Chamber III and Latch shoes.

Discover Klamath and Running Y Resort: Offered the perfect host destination with fun testing terrain and comfortable accommodation.
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0:00 - Intro
0:56 - Sponsors
1:45 - The Testers
3:25 - Drive Unit & Battery Test
4:54 - Ari Nebo Peak
9:00 - Fantic Rampage
13:26 - Marin Rift Zone XR EL
19:50 - Mondraker Dune R
28:43 - Orbea Rise LT M10
35:16 - Pivot Shuttle SL/AM
41:17 - Polygon Colossus TLE 8
46:18 - Propane Sresh SL
53:10 - Revel ReRun
59:10 - Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL
1:05:21 - Specialized Levo SL
1:10:58 - Trek Fuel+ LX
1:17:09 - Yeti MTE
1:22:33 - Awards!