How to ride an electric mountain bike: tips for new riders

Before your first ride

Ride a few laps of a quiet car park or field first. Try starting in each mode, braking hard on gravel and turning tight circles so the weight and power are familiar before you hit a trail.

• Set saddle height and check the bike fits; see our e-bike size guide.
• Set tyre pressures and suspension sag using the maker's charts for your weight.
• Charge the battery fully and learn how the display and assist buttons work.
• Check both brakes work and you know which lever controls which wheel.
• Wear a helmet, gloves and glasses. Knee pads are worth considering on rougher trails.

Note:Mountain biking carries a risk of falls. Ride within your ability, choose trails graded for your skills and tell someone where you are going on remote rides.

Using assist modes

Lower modes give finer control on slippery roots and rocks, where a sudden surge can spin the rear tyre. Higher modes help on long steady climbs. Our assist levels explainer covers what each setting does. Remember that UK-legal assist stops at 15.5 mph, so on fast flowing trails you will often be riding on your own power.

Climbing and gear changes

Shift into an easier gear before the climb steepens. Changing gear under full motor load is hard on the chain and cassette and can cause a missed shift. Ease pressure on the pedals for half a turn as you shift, especially on mid-drive bikes.

On steep, loose climbs, stay seated with your weight forward over the bars to keep the front wheel down, and keep a smooth, steady cadence. Stamping on the pedals in a high mode can make the rear tyre break traction. If you stall, use the walk-assist button, if fitted, to push the bike up.

Descending and braking

The extra weight makes an e-MTB stable on descents but harder to slow. Brake earlier and more smoothly than you would on a normal bike, use both brakes, and do most of your braking in a straight line before corners. Keep your pedals level, elbows and knees bent and your weight low.

On steep descents, drop the saddle if you have a dropper post, and look ahead to where you want to go. Hydraulic disc brakes with large rotors cope better with e-MTB weight; our best electric mountain bikes guide lists brake specifications.

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Battery planning and trail manners

Watch the battery display as you ride and turn back with a margin, especially in cold weather when range drops. Saving the highest mode for the hardest climbs can stretch a battery a long way. Our range explainer shows what affects how far you go.

On bridleways and shared paths, slow down for walkers and horse riders, give clear warning and pass wide and slowly. Close gates, stay on the trail and avoid riding wet, fragile trails that cut up easily. A UK-legal e-MTB with a 250 W motor and 15.5 mph assist limit can generally go where bicycles can, subject to landowner and trail centre rules; see gov.uk.

Frequently asked questions

Is an e-MTB good for beginners? Yes. The motor lets you ride longer and recover on climbs, so you get more time practising skills on the way down.

What assist mode should I use on trails? A low or middle mode for control on technical ground, higher modes for steep sustained climbs.

Is it harder to ride an e-MTB downhill? It is more stable but heavier, so braking earlier and smoother is the main change.

Can I ride an e-MTB with the motor off? Yes, though the weight makes climbs harder than on a normal mountain bike.