Merida eBIG.NINE 400

£2,750

VIEW OFFER

Read Review

The Merida eBIG.NINE 400 is one of the best Shimano eMTBs for riders who don’t need full suspension.

We’ve ridden it, and its strengths are straightforward. The aluminium hardtail chassis feels stable and predictable, the Shimano EP6 motor provides plenty of help on steep climbs and the 630Wh battery gives enough capacity for much longer rides than many entry-level electric mountain bikes.

The 100mm SR Suntour XCM34 fork and 29in wheels point towards its real strengths. This isn’t designed for smashing steep black trails. It works best on bridleways, woodland tracks, forest roads, smoother trail-centre routes and mixed rides where efficiency matters.

That versatility also makes it a useful first eMTB. There is no rear shock to set up or service and the riding position isn’t intimidating if you’re moving across from a hybrid, gravel bike or older hardtail.

The biggest weakness we found was the Maxxis Ikon tyre choice. They’re quick rolling when conditions are dry, but the shallow tread starts struggling once UK trails become properly wet and muddy. We’d put a more aggressive front tyre high on the upgrade list before spending money elsewhere.

Shimano MT200 two-piston brakes are another reminder of the bike’s intended use. They’re perfectly reasonable for easier trails but aren’t what we’d choose for repeated steep descents on a heavy eMTB.

For exploring rather than gravity riding, though, the eBIG.NINE remains a very easy Shimano electric mountain bike to recommend.

Orbea Rise SL H30

£3,149.25 (RRP £4,199)

VIEW OFFER

The Orbea Rise SL H30 is one of the best Shimano eMTBs for riders who still want the bike, rather than the motor, to dominate the experience.

It uses a Shimano EP600 RS Gen2 motor with Orbea’s Rider Synergy tuning. RS isn’t a completely separate Shimano motor; it’s Orbea’s approach to configuring the Shimano system around more natural-feeling assistance.

The motor can still provide substantial support when the trail pitches upwards, but the Rise philosophy is different from simply fitting the biggest battery and most powerful motor possible.

A 540Wh internal battery keeps capacity more modest, while 140mm of travel at each end puts the Rise firmly into modern trail-bike territory. The Fox 34 Float AWL Sport fork and Fox Float Performance shock make sense for flowing trail-centre reds, woodland singletrack and technical natural riding where handling matters more than having enduro amounts of suspension.

Both wheels are 29in, while Schwalbe Wicked Will tyres prioritise speed and versatility rather than maximum gravity grip.

There is one obvious weakness in the specification: Shimano MT201 brakes. For easier trail riding they’ll do the job, but they look underpowered beside the four-piston systems fitted to many other full-suspension eMTBs at this money. Faster or heavier riders should seriously consider upgrading them.

The current sale price changes the equation considerably. At just over £3,100, this is an attractive route into a modern Shimano-powered trail eMTB without committing to the weight and feel of an 800Wh full-power machine.

Canyon Spectral:ON CF 7

£3,279 (RRP £3,749)

VIEW OFFER

Read Review

The Canyon Spectral CF 7 isn’t merely one of the best Shimano eMTBs on value; it is one of the strongest-value full-suspension eMTBs we’ve seen in 2026.

That’s why it won our Electric MTB UK Best Value eMTB 2026 award.

For £3,279, Canyon gives you a full-carbon frame, Shimano EP600 motor and a huge removable 800Wh battery. Suspension travel is 160mm up front and 155mm at the rear, and mixed 29in/27.5in wheels reinforce its proper trail-bike intentions.

We’ve also ridden the CF 7 rather than judging it from the specification sheet.

The frame is the highlight. It feels composed when trails get rough but remains more willing to change direction than you’d expect from an eMTB carrying an 800Wh battery. Canyon’s battery placement keeps the mass low in the frame, which helps stop it feeling like a big battery strapped between two wheels.

The tyre specification is another plus for British conditions. A Maxxis Assegai leads the way with a Minion DHR II at the rear, giving far more meaningful grip than the fast-rolling tyres supplied on several cheaper Shimano eMTBs.

There are still compromises. The RockShox Lyrik and Deluxe Select suspension work well enough, but harder riders can expose the limitations of the dampers. Shimano Deore M6120 four-piston brakes are sensible but similarly sit below the potential of the carbon chassis.

Neither is a deal-breaker.

The bigger issue is availability. Individual frame sizes regularly move between available, coming soon and sold out, so the CF 7 is a bargain only when Canyon has one that actually fits you.

Rockrider E-Feel 900 S

£3,499.99 (RRP £3,999.99)

VIEW OFFER

The Rockrider E-Feel 900 S is one of the most interesting Shimano EP801 eMTBs at this price because it uses far more of Shimano’s wider e-bike technology than simply bolting an EP801 motor into the frame.

The 85Nm EP801 is paired with Shimano CUES LinkGlide Di2 electronic shifting. That combination supports both Auto Shift and Free Shift.

Auto Shift can automatically select gears based on riding conditions, while Free Shift lets the drivetrain change gear without you having to pedal conventionally. Neither feature is essential to enjoying an eMTB, and riders who prefer full manual control can largely ignore them, but they’re a genuine point of difference.

You can read more in our guide to Shimano Deore XT Di2, Auto Shift and Free Shift.

The rest of the E-Feel 900 S is similarly strong for £3,499.99.

Its aluminium frame has 150mm of rear travel, paired with a chunky 160mm RockShox Domain RC fork. Shimano’s removable 630Wh battery sits in the down tube, while TRP Trail Evo four-piston brakes use substantial 203mm rotors at both ends.

Those brakes are exactly the sort of component we want to see on a 24kg-plus full-suspension electric mountain bike.

The own-brand Rockrider Grip 500 tyres are less convincing for wet UK riding and would be our obvious first change if you’re regularly tackling slippery roots and deeper mud.

Current size availability is limited, too, so check carefully before getting attached to the deal.

Merida eOne-Sixty 8000

£4,799 (RRP £8,000)

VIEW OFFER

The Merida eONE-SIXTY 8000 is the Shimano eMTB here for riders whose idea of a good ride includes steeper descents, rough black trails and proper enduro terrain.

It may carry a 2025 model designation, but the important figure in 2026 is the price: £4,799 against an original £8,000 RRP.

That buys an unusually serious specification.

The full-carbon chassis has 174mm of rear travel, controlled by a Fox Float X2 shock, while a 170mm Fox 38 Performance Elite sits up front. Shimano’s 85Nm EP801 motor provides climbing support and is paired with a 600Wh internal battery.

Six hundred watt-hours looks modest beside the Canyon’s 800Wh pack, although riders wanting bigger days can use an optional 360Wh range extender.

The drivetrain is a particularly interesting part of the package. Shimano XT Di2 LinkGlide combines electronic shifting with a drivetrain designed around the extra loads created by electric bikes.

Shimano XT four-piston brakes are backed by a huge 220mm front rotor and 203mm rear. That’s a far more appropriate setup for a long-travel eMTB than shaving a few grams with smaller rotors.

The mixed wheels and Maxxis tyre combination follow the same thinking. There’s an Assegai up front and a Minion DHR II with tougher DoubleDown casing at the rear.

This is clearly more eMTB than somebody pottering around blue routes needs. But for aggressive riders, the level of frame, suspension and braking hardware currently available for less than £5,000 is difficult to ignore.

Cannondale Moterra SL 1

£6,599 (RRP £8,550)

VIEW OFFER

The Cannondale Moterra SL 1 takes a different approach to most full-power Shimano electric mountain bikes.

Its custom-tuned Shimano EP801 still produces 85Nm, but Cannondale pairs it with a 601Wh battery and carbon chassis rather than chasing 750Wh or 800Wh capacity.

The result is a bike designed to deliver strong climbing support without becoming unnecessarily heavy and cumbersome on the way back down.

There is 150mm of rear suspension travel, paired with a 160mm Fox 36 Factory fork and Fox Float X Factory shock. The wheel setup is mixed, with a 29in front wheel and 27.5in rear, while Maxxis DHF and Dissector tyres give it credible trail grip.

The rest of the build reflects its premium positioning.

SRAM X0 Eagle AXS Transmission provides wireless shifting, SRAM Code Silver Stealth brakes use 200mm HS2 rotors and DT Swiss XM 1700 wheels complete a specification that requires very little upgrading out of the box.

The 601Wh battery is obviously smaller than the Canyon’s 800Wh unit. That makes the Moterra less appealing if your priority is simply riding for as long as possible in high assistance modes.

But battery size doesn’t tell you how enjoyable an eMTB is.

Riders who want full Shimano EP801 assistance while keeping more of the agility associated with a normal trail bike should have the Cannondale high on their list.

At its current £5,999 price, it is still expensive, but the reduction from £8,550 makes the complete package much more competitive.