Before we talk about motors, newton metres, watt-hours or weight records, we need to talk about something that appears in no spec sheet: our collective self-deception. We all carry these images in our minds of high-alpine trails, epic climbs, and rides to complete exhaustion. And every time we buy a new bike, it’s exactly these images that influence our decisions. However, they just have surprisingly little to do with reality. When buying an eMTB, we are visionary, ambitious, sometimes even a touch grandiose. In everyday life, however, we’re pragmatic, routine-driven, and predictable.
This realisation didn’t hit us in the lab. It hit us on two bikes that couldn’t be more different: the ultra-light full-power concept Thömus Lightrider E_MAX and the modular FOCUS Jam² NEXT. Two worlds, one common question: who are these bikes actually built for?
We Dream – Welcome to the Waiting Room
“Next please! Take a seat. Name? Age? Good. Do you know why you’re here? Correct – it’s about your eMTB. No, no, you’re not in trouble. This is just a routine check of your support-mode behaviour. So, which mode do you use most often? Eco, perhaps? Be honest. We’ll find out anyway…”
If you’re smiling and nodding now: welcome to the club. You’re not alone. Because our big reader survey of 15,498 participants shows a clear pattern: most people ride almost exclusively in Eco and Tour modes. Turbo sounds good on paper, but is almost irrelevant in real life. At the same time, many want the most powerful motors, biggest batteries and maximum reserves. At first glance this seems contradictory, but the deeper we looked, the clearer it became: this isn’t a paradox – it’s normal human behaviour. Our purchasing incentives and actual riding behaviour are worlds apart.
What the Head Plans – And What Everyday Riding Delivers
In our heads we plan epic adventures: tough climbs, long-distance rides, high-alpine dream tours. The reality is often different: moderate gradients, forest roads, post-work rides, steady tempos. Performance-oriented hardware rarely unfolds its full potential where most eMTBs are actually ridden. Eco isn’t economy mode, but simply the default mode of the majority of eMTB riders.
And here’s the mechanism that reinforces that phenomenon: those who typically ride in Eco mode want maximum range, and choose the biggest battery out of range anxiety, which leads to heavier systems. Yet these extra kilos restrict the natural ride feel that our survey identifies as the most important trait for all rider groups.
This leads to a simple but crucial question: are most eMTBs built for scenarios that hardly ever occur?
The Four Faces of the Eco Rider
“Eco rider” doesn’t describe a single person but four familiar user groups with surprisingly different reasons for choosing Eco mode, yet they share a common denominator:
- Tour riders seek calm, consistency and nature.
- Fitness riders use Eco mode for training effects.
- Range optimisers maximise distance and efficiency.
- Safety-oriented riders want reserves but rarely use them.
Their shared technical core: they benefit far more from efficiency, controlled power delivery and minimal weight than from maximum peak power.
Reality Check: What Your Bike Should Have – And What It Doesn’t Need
The results suggest that a bike for everyday Eco use doesn’t need extreme top-end performance, but a nuanced overall balance. This includes:
- Motor and battery sized appropriately rather than reflexive maximum values
- Efficiency in the lower support modes instead of focusing on seconds of peak output
- Battery capacity aligned with realistic distances instead of hypothetical extreme scenarios
- Noticeable weight reduction, making the bike livelier, easier to handle and more efficient
- Components and accessories aimed at tours, moderate trails and everyday use
- An Eco mode that doesn’t feel like “energy saving mode” but like natural support
In short: it’s about bikes that are intelligently tuned for everyday riding, not simply more powerful, lighter, or more efficient for their own sake.
Between Wishful Thinking and Reality – Why We’ve Been Missing the Point
The market often responds to extreme scenarios rather than everyday rides: “What if I do tackle that 1,800-metre climb one day?” Light eMTBs long suffered from limited range, full-power bikes from excess weight. What was missing was a middle ground for riders who want range and reserves, but aren’t willing to push a 26-kg bike on their daily Eco mode loops.
New Answers Instead of Old Categories
Instead of “Light or Full Power?”, the key question today is: how much performance do rides actually need, and what’s the minimum weight you can achieve without sacrificing safety reserves?
1. Efficient Full-Power Concepts Through Smart Packaging
The Thömus Lightrider E_MAX is just one example of a possible solution:
- 17 kg total weight
- 2.0 kg motor
- 90 Nm, 620 W peak power
- 400 Wh battery but just +/- 10% less range than a 600 Wh Bosch system
The concept proves that full power is possible without excessive weight and without inducing range anxiety.
2. Modular Battery Systems for Scalable Range
The second option: modular battery systems for modern eMTBs that make range and weight adjustable. Earlier light eMTBs didn’t fail because of the idea but because of limitations in real world use: short range, long charging times and the issue of falling behind in group rides with full-power bikes. Modern takes with swappable batteries, range extenders and faster charging offer a new approach. Riders can now choose whether they want to ride light and agile, long-range or fully loaded. Weight, power and capacity become a daily choice, not a long-term decision.
The Perspective Shift – The Real Pattern
We overestimate the things we almost never do, and we underestimate the things we do every day. That’s human. But it leads to bikes optimised for largely unrealistic needs.
The key takeaway: the problem isn’t the technology, but our focus on exceptions instead of everyday reality. Efficient full-power systems and modular concepts can open up a new, more meaningful middle ground.
Why lug a 26 kg, 900 Wh bike around on your everyday rides when a lighter, more efficient system can do the job while being a lot more fun? The technology is here: the old dichotomy weight vs. power is outdated. Many Eco riders would be happier with a bike that doesn’t overdo maximum power and battery reserves, but offers well-balanced and -packaged performance architecture instead. It’s not a question of technology. The question is: can we be honest with ourselves and adjust our perspective?
Words: Jonny Grapentin Photos: Lars Engmann
About the Author
Jonny Grapentin
Jonny Grapentin is an editor at 41 Publishing for E-MOUNTAINBIKE and DOWNTOWN. His background as a publisher in digital education explains his didactically grounded approach. He is responsible for "The MIRROR" column, focusing on development logic and the long-term relevance of products beyond launch cycles. His expertise lies in evaluating technological innovation and everyday utility, which he demonstrates in his numerous product tests. Whether it’s kids' bikes, pizza ovens, or espresso machines, he consistently tests innovations for real-world value, and critically questions market trends.
