It seems a common view around here that e-MTBs are crazy overpriced (and I guess most MTBs in general), but it really demonstrates just *how severely* overpriced they are when you compare it against something like [Kawasaki’s new Ninja electric motorcycles](https://electrek.co/2023/11/27/closer-look-at-kawasakis-new-electric-motorcycles-ninja-e-1-and-z-e-1/).
>Last month, we finally received the long-awaited pricing details. In the US market, the Ninja e-1 will carry a US $7,599 price tag, while the 2024 Z e-1 starts at a slightly lower US $7,299.
That’s a well known, name brand motorcycle! In comparison, the **lowest** cost Specialized (and it’s the same for other brands, just picked them due to familiarity) e-MTB has an MSRP over $5k.
by Craigslist_sad
13 Comments
I can’t sell my ’97 Yamaha 600ccm motorcycle for more than 1k … But MTB? That was 5x of that …
The market dictates value for most items. Does it make sense that a powermatic wood planer and a kubota bobcat are similarly priced? Not in the sense of what you get for the money, but the people who buy each have specific uses in mind and can utilize the tool for what they need to get done. A powermatic wood planer is like gold to a finish carpenter, and the same goes for the bobcat to a landscaper.
Not really. 41 miles of range and top speed (boosted) of 65mph? Doesn’t sound useful or high end at all.
There was a video posted recently that compares why MTBs are so much more expensive than motos.
I would still venture to guess that MTBs have a much higher profit margin though.
Personally I’m waiting for the Pinion MGU integrated motor/gearbox to become widely available on ebikes, then I might try one. I have 2 kids and it would maximize my riding time.
you would think the market would fill in the gap of this price gauging you are claiming…
My favorite is when people justify this by saying “yeah well that’s because you can buy the same race bikes the pros ride for a tiny fraction of what a top end race motorcycle costs” as if that somehow justifies an SX/NX MTB (e or otherwise) costing $3-5k.
I race motorcycles as one of my hobbies, and my fully built race r6 with ohlins suspension, a full exhaust, tune, controls all done, a quickshifter and auto blipper, all braking components are brembo aftermarket — all of that cost 7k. So yea, it’s overpriced, but that’s also kinda where the market sits.
Pricing is no longer a function of cost, is a function of how much you can profit from it.
If unit cost is 1k and you sell just 2 bikes at 11k you make 2x more profit than selling 11 bikes at 2k each (20k vs 11k).
So, marketing engineers say fuck people with a 2k budget, let’s focus on those who can pay 11k.
It’s a lot easier to build to cost when weight mostly doesn’t matter. There’s certainly markup, but really as someone below said, if there was truly a huge gap someone would fill it with ebikes of the same quality.
Cool, what size do I get if I’m 6’2? What if I’m 5’5″?
Check this video out: [Why Motorcycles and Mountain Bikes Cost the Same – YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS9ugdl1FZc)
Usually the MTB has other advantages, not to mention smaller addressable market.
eh market will dirve the value. I bought a giant reign E+2 last year with gx drivetrain, lower end zeb and code r brakes with 625 wh battery for 6100. There are ebikes for 15k and now 3.5k
The carbon verion of my ripmo af was same price before sales this year.
E-bikes are starting to come down in price. You can get an e mtb in the 3-4k range now. Sure some are still ridiculous but it’s starting to get to a point where cost isn’t the major issue. I’d argue access is more of an issue. Where I live almost every trail system doesn’t allow e-bikes unless you have a handicap placard. Spend 3-7k and you still can’t ride them anywhere except moto trails. If that’s the case why not just buy a moto. Of course lots of people ignore rules and ride wherever they want.