Essential tips for enhancing your eMTB skills

AMFLOW

18/07/2025

Want to take on tougher lines? Feel like your tech skills are letting you down? Getting left behind on climbs? Whether you’re an experienced electric mountain biker or you’re just getting started, there are a few things you can sharpen up on to get the most from every ride.

We’ll walk you through a few basic mountain biking skills, teach you how to use your e-bike to your advantage, and how to start training with a bit more focus for eMTB riding.

In This Article

Understanding the basics of eMTB trail skills

There are several differences between eMTB and traditional mountain bike riding, the biggest being the e-system itself. Here’s how you can use your e-bike motor and battery system to improve your riding, as well as some basic MTB skills to get you started.

Using the e-system to your advantage

Learning how to use the e-system on your bike to your advantage is key to your success.

It’s always a good idea to get a sense for the system and its modes before you take your bike on any technical trails by going for a test ride in a relatively flat area.

Know the range of your bike before heading out, so that your battery won’t run out half-way through your ride. If you’re going for a longer ride, be sure to keep an eye on your battery usage.

Also, we hate to sound like your long-suffering parent, but don’t forget to charge your eMTB battery.

Basic MTB skills

There are two main positions for any kind of mountain biking: the neutral position, to be used on non-technical sections and the ready or attack position, to be used on technical or uphill sections. In the neutral position, you should be seated with a slight bend in your knees and elbows. In the ready position, you should be off of your saddle with your hips shifted backwards, your back flat and a deep bend in your knees and elbows. In both positions, your pedals should be level and evenly weighted when you aren’t pedaling, your index fingers should always be on your brake levers, and you should be looking 15 to 20 feet down the trail.

Trail etiquette

When sharing a trail with other mountain bikers, hikers or equestrians, always be respectful and know the rules of the trail. On an eMTB, check that eMTBs are allowed on the trails you’ll be riding.

Slow down when nearing hikers or equestrians and let others know when you’re approaching them. Uphill riders will always have the right of way, so be sure to give them space.

Core skills for eMTB riders

Before hitting the trails with your new eMTB knowledge, there are a few more basic skills that are important to know as a new eMTB rider. They apply to both conventional and electric mountain bikes.

Cornering

To corner on an eMTB, put yourself into the ready position on your bike. Before reaching the corner, determine the line you wish to take and keep your eyes on where you want to go.

Reduce your speed and your level of assist before you start cornering to let your momentum carry you through. If you need to brake to slow down when approaching a corner, be sure you’re finished braking before you enter the corner.

This can be tricky to get right at first. But braking actually changes the way your bike handles in a corner, so for the sake of predictability and handling it’s far better to remove that speed before the turn than during it.

Climbing

Climbing is often one of the main reasons that people cite for getting an eMTB. With the boost of the motor, the added weight of the bike won’t make too much of a difference though you should be aware of your bike’s lower center of gravity.

To tackle a tough climb, put yourself into the ready position we talked about above and remember to look where you want to go.

For more technical climbs, while it may be tempting to put the bike in the highest level of assist, start at a lower level first. Attacking a technical feature with too much power can lead to you stalling halfway up. Your position is ultimately more important.

Descending

Descending on an eMTB is more difficult than on a regular MTB, as the increased weight means you’ll need more strength to control the bike.

Doing some off-the-bike training in the gym will help with this – especially if you feel like you are really fighting the bike with all your strength to get it around turns.

When you are out on the trail descending, putting yourself in the ready position with your weight farther back and keeping your feet heavy on the pedals will also give you extra control.

Advanced techniques for experienced riders

If you’re an experienced rider ready to take on some more technical trails, here are a few more advanced techniques that you can work on to make sure that you’re ready to tackle whatever comes your way.

Conquering technical terrain

To conquer technical terrain on an eMTB, put yourself into the ready position with your weight over the back of your bike. Start with smaller obstacles and build up to bigger jumps and more complicated lines.

The trick, as with everything else, is to pick your line, look where you want to go and trust yourself. Stick to your chosen line and ride confidently.

Mastering jumps and drops

Jumping on an eMTB is harder than on a traditional MTB due to the added weight of the bike. Off-the-bike training will also help here to give you the strength needed to properly jump the bike.

The way that some trails are designed and shaped will allow you to use the weight of the bike to propel you into a jump, while on flatter sections or in the park you’ll have to pedal harder on the approach to get the necessary momentum.

No matter how tempting it may seem, we don’t advise using the e-assist to propel yourself into a jump.

Learning trail scanning

We’ve spoken a lot about finding a line and looking where you want to go, but how and why should you do that?

First, to find a line, look about 15 to 20 feet down the tail and scan for any hazards before looking back towards your tyre. Pick a line around the hazards and look 15 to 20 feet down that line. Your bike will go where you look, so looking where you want to go will avoid any obstacles.

As your experience increases, you will get better at picking the right line. There may be a few slips and slides along the way, but they’ll teach you plenty of ‘what-not-to-do’ lessons.

Training and conditioning for eMTB riding

To help with your on the bike performance, consider incorporating cross-training into your eMTB riding. Activities such as yoga and strength training will both help you be stronger and feel more confident on your bike.

Generally speaking, any off-bike activity that targets your core, upper back and legs will give you better control over technical terrain once you’re back in the saddle.

Leveraging technology and resources

Beyond practicing your technique, one of the best ways to learn is to use modern technology to your advantage. Apps and wearable devices can all provide concrete data with which you can measure your progress.

The internet is another excellent resource for learning proper eMTB techniques. There are plenty of tutorials that you can watch to develop your skills. Community forums and local eMTB groups are another great way to get advice from other riders. Be sure to look out for any local eMTB clinic or workshops so that you can put your skills into practice.

While reading or watching others is a great place to start, the best way to learn is always to try it out yourself. The beauty of eMTB is that you are continually learning and improving, so don’t be discouraged if your technique isn’t perfect the first time. Set goals and monitor your progress as you learn, so that you’ll be able to look back on your improvement. And remember that eMTB should always be fun!