The Comeback of the Analog Ride

Why more riders are switching off the motor – and what it means for the future of mountain biking.
Published by Radical Life Studios / MTB Report

Sometimes you have to lose something to realize its true value.
That’s exactly what’s happening in 2025 with the classic mountain bike – the so-called “bio-bike.”
While e-MTBs still dominate sales, analog bikes are making an emotional comeback.
Not because they’re easier. But because they’re real.

The Feeling No Motor Can Give You

After years of riding e-MTBs, getting back on an analog bike feels different.
No humming motor. No display. No modes to switch.
Just you, the bike and the mountain.
Every pedal stroke means something again, every climb is earned.
Riders say: It’s like learning to feel again.
And that emotion is driving a movement.

Back to Basics – or Back to Freedom

In a world that’s hyper-connected, over-engineered and overpriced, the analog bike represents the opposite:
Simplicity. Independence. Authenticity.
No apps, no software, no charging. Just air, legs and a heartbeat.
That’s freedom – raw, quiet, and beautiful.

The Return of Lightness

Manufacturers are catching on.
Trek, Canyon, Specialized – even Santa Cruz – are reintroducing lightweight, uncompromising analog models.
These bikes aren’t nostalgic. They’re a statement.
A reminder that at the heart of MTB, it’s still about riding, not recharging.

The Community Is Feeling It

New hashtags like #BackToBio and #PureRide are everywhere.
Even hardcore e-MTB fans post about “unplugged days.”
Not out of nostalgia, but out of rediscovery – you can’t download flow.

The analog comeback isn’t a trend – it’s a wake-up call.
A reminder that freedom, movement and nature matter more than tech and torque.
Maybe 2025 is the year we finally understand:
Less charge. More life.