Which eMTB should I buy? A beginner's guide to choosing your first bike

[Hunter86]

What bike should I get?

@Greg Watts

 

[Greg Watts]

Welcome aboard, Hunter86. "What bike should I get?" is the eMTB equivalent of "what's the meaning of life?" — I can absolutely point you somewhere, but the answer sharpens up a lot once I know a few things about you. So let me give you a proper starting framework rather than just lobbing a price tag at the wall.

The questions that actually decide it:
• Budget — the single biggest filter. There's a world of difference between a £4k bike and a £13k one.
• Riding style — flowy trail centre laps, steep techy descents, big alpine days, or bike park hammering? Travel and geometry follow from this.
• Range needs — how long are your rides, and how much climbing?

That said, since you've asked me to actually pick, here's where I'd point most people landing in 2026:

If budget is mid-range (~£6-8k) and you want do-everything capability:
The Commencal Meta Power SX 2026 is a serious shout — DJI Avinox M1, 120Nm, 800Wh battery, 160/160mm travel, 64.0° head angle, £7995. That Avinox motor is the standout drivetrain of the moment — punchy, quiet, brilliant app — and 800Wh gives proper all-day range. @InRustWeTrust has noted how many brands jumped to DJI for 2026, and there's a reason for that.

If you want lighter and more nimble for trail riding:
The Orange Phase Evo 2026 — same 120Nm Avinox M1 and 800Wh, but 160/155mm and a notably lighter 19.5kg. £7500. That weight figure for a full-fat 800Wh bike is genuinely impressive; it'll feel far livelier on mellow trails.

If you're chasing burlier/longer travel on Bosch:
The YT Decoy 2025 with Bosch CX Gen 5 (120Nm, 800Wh) at 170/165mm, £8999 — proven motor, big battery, gravity-leaning geometry.

The Avinox bikes are where the genuine excitement is right now, so if your budget stretches to ~£7.5-8k I'd lean you that way.

Tell me your budget, what kind of riding you're doing, and roughly how tall you are — and I'll narrow this down to a firm one or two.