For folks looking to get into electric mountain biking, it can be difficult to find options from reputable manufacturers that fit the budget. More often than not, brands like Giant, Trek, and Specialized offer e-bikes that start in the middle of the road in terms of pricing – around the $4,000 USD mark. Luckily, there are other reputable brands that offer more affordable options to folks on a tighter budget.and its in-house brand of mountain bikes called Rockrider.
Retailing for just 999 Euros, the Rockrider E-ST 100 is an excellent way to get in on the e-bike fun without breaking the bank. Priced even cheaper than some non-electric mountain bikes, the E-ST 100 continues to sport a hydroformed aluminum frame. It follows a barebones mountain bike formula with standard cross-country geometry and a hardtail frame. Up front, the bike is suspended by a barebones suspension fork in the form of an SR Suntour XCT 30.
The bike is complemented by a rudimentary albeit dependable set of components such as Tektro mechanical disc brakes, and an eight-speed Microshift drivetrain. For 2023, Rockrider has thrown in a set of burlier tires, too, boosting the e-bike's off-road capability just a little bit. Despite beefing up the bike a bit, it's slightly lighter – 600 grams lighter – than its predecessor.
Moving on to the performance side of the equation, the E-ST 100 is powered by the same rear hub motor with a 250-watt output and 42 Newton-meter torque rating. It's packing a rudimentary cadence sensor, but hey, at this price point, we can't really complain. Battery-wise, we're looking at a 380-watt-hour power pack that should provide range of about 45 miles on a single charge. Rockrider claims a charge time of about two hours.