Tailoring Your Ride and Customization Options for Electric Mountain Bikes

Tailoring Your Ride and Customization Options for Electric Mountain Bikes

Key Takeaways:

Introduction

One of the great advantages of electric mountain bikes is the ability to customize the ride experience to your local terrain, personal preferences, and style. With endless component and accessory options, you can truly dial in a purpose-built eMTB.

This guide explores key areas of eMTB customization and shows how to tailor your electric mountain bike. We’ll provide an overview of fit modifications, suspension tuning, contact point upgrades, drivetrain changes, digital display settings, protection add-ons, and aesthetic choices. Let’s unlock eMTB personalization!

Dialing In Your Fit

Finding the right eMTB frame size and component positioning optimized for your body is crucial.

Frame Size – Standover height, reach, wheel size. Get professionally fit to find ideal size.

Stem Length – Shorter/longer stems adjust reach. Typically 30-50mm.

Handlebar Shape – Rise, backsweep, width. Determine proper hand positioning.

Saddle – Right shape, cushion, and angle to suit your sit bones.

Seatpost – Adjustable dropper improves descending. Fixed posts optimize pedaling fit.

Grips – Match size and shape to your hands. Bar ends provide multiple hand positions.

Achieve full power transfer and control with frame, cockpit, and contact points dialed for your physique and flexibility.

Suspension Tuning

Adjust air pressures and rebound settings to match your weight, riding style, and conditions.

Fork Pressure – Set sag to 25-30%. Higher pressure for harder impacts and aggressive riding.

Shock Pressure – 30% sag is common. Consider heavier rider weight to prevent bottoming.

Rebound Speed – Control return rate for fork and shock. Faster rebound provides stability attacking technical terrain.

Low-Speed Compression – Fine tune fork and shock firmness under low-force impacts.

Lockouts – Harden suspension temporarily to maximize pedaling efficiency on smoother sections.

Optimally tuned suspension improves handling, control, and reduces fatigue over long days.

Contact Points

These frame interfaces directly impact performance and comfort.

Saddle – Match to your sit bone width. Additional padding aids comfort but avoid overly bulky saddles.

Pedals – Flat vs clipless depends on preference. Larger platforms support feet better when pedaling hard.

Tires – Larger, grippy tires provide more traction, control and capability for aggressive riding.

Grips – Find proper thickness and shape for your hand size. Bar ends provide multiple hand positions.

Shoes – Stiffer soles maximize power transfer. Grippier rubber improves footing on the pedals.

Dialing in contact points directly enhances power delivery, control and comfort mile after mile.

Drivetrain Tuning

Change gearing range, crank length, and chainring size to optimize power output.

Cassette Range – Wider range cassettes maintain better cadence on steep grades.

Crank Arm Length – Size based on leg length and pedaling style. Longer cranks suit more powerful riders.

Chainring Size – Larger rings excel on fast courses. Smaller rings improve traction on technical climbs.

Chain Guide – Prevents chain derailment and dropping on rough terrain. Crucial for downhill and enduro.

Chainguide – Helps maintain chain line to prevent derailment and dropping on rough terrain. Often seen on downhill and enduro bikes.

Gearing selection has huge impact on power delivery for given terrain. Find your optimal ratio.

Controls and Electronics

Digital displays and assist controls allow customizing the power delivery.

Assist Modes – Set amount of power amplification relative to rider input for conditions.

Top Speed Limits – Lowering max speed conserves battery and avoids scary velocities.

Assist Response – How quickly motor engages based on pedal force. Faster has more immediately responsive acceleration.

Display Info – Customize to show data like range, power, cadence, speed, etc.

Remote Buttons – Position shifter buttons for handy accessing assist controls. Mount within easy thumbs reach.

Settings changes let you program the perfect power band for everything from fitness rides to bombing downhill.

Protection and Armor

Guard against rock strikes, debris, and crashes:

Fenders – Keep feet, drivetrain and suspension components clear of mud and trail debris. Helpful in wet conditions.

Frame Protection – Guards along downtube and chainstays prevent paint and frame damage from rock chips and strikes.

Bash Guard – Circular guard around chainring teeth prevents bending rings or snapping the chain on rock strikes.

Body Armor – Knee, elbow and even full upper body pads protect joints and limbs from injury and abrasion in crashes. Makes pushing limits safer.

Extra guards and pads allow riding more confidently in gnarlier terrain by preventing damage and injury.

Appearance Customization

Personalize your eMTB aesthetics:

Paint – Custom color and graphics options from frame manufacturers. Also available as wraps.

Component Colors – Mix and match component colors from rings, hubs, fork stanchions, pedals, etc. Add some bling!

Tires – Go super grippy or smoke with tire tread and sidewall colors.

Bar Tape – Available in endless colors and patterns from plain black to wild neon.

Valve Caps – It’s the little details that count! Match your valve caps.

Number Plates – Add factory team inspired number plates and graphics.

Aesthetic changes let you show off your style and stand out on the trails.

Conclusion

One of the best aspects of electric mountain bikes is making them yours through customization. With some thought into your goals, you can personalize fit, handling, power delivery, protection, and style for the ultimate dialed ride.

Don’t settle for a one-size-fits-all experience. Seek bikes and components that allow modifications to match local terrain and personal preferences. Tailor your eMTB carefully and enjoy the fruits!