The Study
A pilot study conducted at Brigham Young University instrumented riders on both analog mountain bikes and eMTBs over the same trail system. The finding that surprised many: eMTB riding retained approximately 94% of the average heart rate achieved on analog bikes.
The perception that eMTBs do the work for you is not supported by the data. Riders still pedal. They still climb. They still elevate their heart rate into training zones. The motor adjusts the ceiling, not the floor.
The Basel RCT
A randomized controlled trial at the University of Basel went further. Over a controlled training period, eMTB riders achieved comparable VO2peak gains to analog riders in a structured program. The eMTB is not a shortcut around fitness. It is a different tool for reaching it.
The Rehabilitation Angle
This is where the eMTB becomes genuinely transformative. For physical therapists and clinicians working with return-from-injury protocols, the eMTB is an adjustable load dial. You can set the assist to match a patient's current capacity, then dial it down as they recover. The bike meets the rider where they are.
For riders coming back from knee surgery, cardiac events, or extended layoffs, the eMTB provides a way to rebuild cardiovascular fitness and on-bike confidence without the spike in intensity that an analog bike demands on the first climb.
The Takeaway
The fitness argument against eMTBs is built on a misconception. The data shows that eMTB riders work hard, train effectively, and can use the motor as a precision tool for rehabilitation and progressive loading. If you have been avoiding an eMTB because you think it is cheating, the science says otherwise.
Beyond heart rate and rehabilitation, the eMTB offers a unique structural advantage for skill acquisition. Because analog mountain biking demands a taxing climb before every descent, a rider's muscles are often already fatigued by the time they reach technical sections. An eMTB significantly shortens the climb and allows a rider to arrive at the trailhead feeling fresh and energized. This enables more quality reps of cornering and line choice, which accelerates learning and improves safety through repetition. For any rider looking to master technical terrain, the motor serves as a powerful accelerant for technique rather than just a boost for distance.