E-Mountainbike comparison test: From Bosch to DJI - who will build the best E-MTB in 2026?

Is the Transition Regulator CX still an all-mountain bike? This question was more hotly debated during the test phase than vegan substitutes in the meat counter. The pure facts clearly speak in favour: full suspension, 150 to 160 millimetres of travel, mullet tyres - so it fits perfectly into the all-mountain category.

This makes our test group look very homogeneous, as the other six high-end e-mountainbikes also fulfil this requirement profile - in addition, all candidates remain under the 10,000 euro limit we set. With such an experienced test crew, there should be clarity under these circumstances. So why the discussion?

>> Also good and significantly cheaper: Our recommendations for value-for-money E-MTBs from 3000 euros

The test articles of all candidates at a glance

• >> Cannondale Moterra 1: Test winner - the best E-MTB 2026!
• >> Canyon Spectral:On CFR on test: Price tip for E-MTB with dream equipment
• >>Crussis e-Full 12.11 Pro test: fun ride with DJI Avinox
• >> Rotwild R.EX Pro: The best bike with DJI Avinox?
• >> Santa Cruz Vala 90: Downhill specialist with all-round qualities?
• >> Stevens E-Inception AM 8.8.1 GTF: Test winner e-bike relaunched
• >> Transition Regulator CX in the test: short range, lots of riding fun

All Mountain - a question of definition

It's not the key data that gets our tempers flaring, but a fundamental question: What should a real all-mountain bike be capable of? This is precisely where fact-based pigeonholing reaches its limits. Because by definition, this type of bike goes over all mountains - the name says it all. Long days in the saddle, many metres in altitude, technical trails: True to the motto "the journey is the destination", all-mountain bikes should take the work out of both uphill and downhill terrain and offer safety without pushing the rider out of their comfort zone. Ideally, the bike itself is the comfort zone.

If you take a closer look at the Regulator CX through this lens, the all-mountain façade begins to crumble. Taking work off uphill? Not a chance. Even if the climbing characteristics are impressive, maximum range is not in the specification with the small, fully integrated 600 Wh battery. The Santa Cruz Vala also relies on this drive concept - and requires disciplined energy management on long tours. With 800 watt hours and more in the down tube, the competition simply has more staying power on long mountain tours and is better suited to the requirements of an all-mountain bike.

Does weight (not) play a role?

"But the small batteries reduce the weight", you might think. And our laboratory scales confirm it: the Transition weighs just 21.62 kilos - a whole 2730 grams less than the heaviest candidate, the Cannondale Moterra 1 with removable 800 Wh battery. Those who accept the shorter range will be rewarded with a natural, lively downhill ride. Whether you prefer the light handling of the Transition or glide comfortably down the valley on the heavy Cannondale like on a maglev train is a matter of taste - both convey riding confidence in their own way. All-mountain feeling with the Transition? Of course!

Rotwild and Crussis clearly miss the 20-kilo mark. In other words, even bikes with a DJI motor can't do magic when it comes to weight. - Hans-Peter Ettenberger, BIKE test laboratory

The motors in the test

With the coveted DJI Avinox on one side and the old Shimano EP801 on the other, the test offers an exciting mix. Bosch provides the reference.

The reach height

How far does a battery charge go? This question can hardly be answered in general terms because many different factors - above all the rider's weight - influence the actual range. At BIKE, we therefore calculate comparable values in an extensive practical test with a rider weight of 90 kilos and a constant 150 watts of pedalling power with full support on a steep asphalt road. This gives us an ideal basis for comparison.

Striking: Bosch is still hard to beat in terms of range. Both the 800 and the small 600 batteries deliver many metres in altitude per nominal watt hour. The value of the 800 Bosch is only surpassed by real specialists with 900 watt hours and more. As the DJI is driven with full support, it climbs extremely quickly and clearly outperforms the Bosch in terms of average speed. At equalised speed, the 800 DJI is just behind the Bosch in the Crussis. Rotwild's 864 battery is strong and should reach the level of the large Bosch batteries at equalised speed. The Shimano in the Canyon rides comfortably, smoothly and is also quick on the climbs. However, the new 800cc battery falls noticeably short of the best values of the 900cc battery of its predecessor (2200 m / 14 km/h).

Even in the pre-series, the lightweight exchangeable battery in the Rotwild delivers strong range values on a par with Bosch's 800 battery. - Adrian Kaether, BIKE Editor

DJI - the game changer?

But what if one does not exclude the other? When long range and low weight go hand in hand? This is where the competitors from Rotwild and Crussis come into play. Both rely on the coveted DJI Avinox drive. The first models with the supposedly miraculous power unit impressed with weights of around 20 kilos despite their berserk power (1000 watts) and large 800 Wh batteries. Unfortunately, our test bikes do not reach these spheres. At 21.94 kilos, the Crussis is only just behind the Transition in second place in terms of weight. In this weight class, both bikes shine with their natural, light-footed handling.

But one crucial difference remains: With the Crussis, the low weight is not at the expense of range. While the Transition has to make compromises here due to the 600 watt battery, the Crussis, with 800 watt hours in the battery, lasts a long time even on extended tours.

We can now finally put a tick behind our discussion: No, the Transition is not an all-mountain bike, at least not a thoroughbred one. Our detailed test explains why the bike still scores top marks and why the Bosch bikes ultimately beat the DJI models.

The test results

Conclusion from Max Fuchs

The high-priced all-mountain segment is a highly competitive field - especially this year, when DJI bikes took part in the comparison test of high-end e-mountainbikes for the first time. However, the initial hype surrounding the exciting power unit from China died down during the test. Although the Crussis with DJI is a front runner, the motor alone does not guarantee a test victory. That was secured by the Cannondale with its Bosch system and outstanding all-round qualities. - Max Fuchs, test editor and photographer at BIKE