RAPID FIRE

1 While many shifters can move you up or down a few gears at a time, a shifter for an ebike usually only moves the chain one cog per click. Since the motor pulls on the chain with quite a bit of force, single jumps in cogs ensure the drivetrain stays healthy. (SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed shifter)

2 To address the heavier load associated with an e-mountain bike, the fork forgoes any weight-saving features. In this case, the fork has a solid crown instead of a hollow one. (Ebike specific Fox Performance 36 for with 160 mm of travel)

3 The watt-hour rating of a battery affects how far you can ride or how high you can climb with one charge. The larger the number, the farther you can go. But, there are many factors that affect how quickly a battery runs out of juice and, therefore, the distance you can ride. “You can drain a battery in 20 km if you ride at full boost mode on super steep, gnarly trails,” Tisch says. “If you ride more efficiently on flat trails, then you can go maybe 60 km, for example.” (Simplo, a Shimano-certified manufacturer, in-tube battery with a 630 Wh capacity)

4 Boost gets a boost. A hub on an e-mountain bike gets more reinforcement and uses more heavy-duty components than a standard hub to ensure it can withstand the increased weight that comes with the drive unit and battery. (DT Swiss H1700 Spline 30, 350 Type front hub with Boost 15 x 110 spacing)

5 The short maximum torque that a motor can put out is measured in newton metres. The higher the number, the more powerful the motor. It is, however, hard to put too much significance on this figure. Most manufacturers don’t say how long the motor can maintain the maximum output. If the torque figures are similar, you’ll likely have a difficult time telling the difference. “You can feel the difference if you have a motor with significantly less torque,” Tisch says. “I’m riding a trekking bike for commuting with an entry-level motor that has much less torque. You can feel it on steep climbs.” (Shimano Steps E8000 system with 70 Nm of torque)

6 You don’t need a long lever on an e-mountain bike. Some riders prefer long crankarms, arguing that they act as better levers to transfer leg power. But, of course, the ebike has a motor to assist your limbs. Tisch says the short cranks help you to get the most out of the ebike. “They give you the feeling that you can control the motor better,” he says. “When you ride an ebike, you have to learn how to feel your motor and where it gives you the best power output and performance. You change the way you shift. We found that the shorter cranks give you better feedback between motor and pedals.” Also, they minimize pedal strikes as you pedal uphill on a rocky corner. (Shimano FC-E8000 165-mm-long crank)

7 The chain on an e-mountain bike is the same as on a standard bike. It turns out, this component is really strong, although, a drive unit can accelerate the wear of a chain. (SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed chain)