We rounded up five full-power Bosch eMTBs and put them to the test. The Santa Cruz Vala, Santa Cruz Bullit, Orbea Wild, Mondraker Crafty and Transition Regulator CX, all went head-to-head in real-world trail conditions—no labs, no gimmicks, just dirt, sweat, and a whole lot of watts. If you’re trying to figure out which long-travel eMTB is actually worth buying in 2025, this is where you’ll find out.
We’ve reviewed each of these bikes individually. We’ll provide some quick details here, but if you want an in-depth review of each bike, hit these links to read and watch.
All-Mountain MTB – THE Standalone Reviews
Santa Cruz Vala
Light, quick, and efficient. Feels more like a regular trail bike with a motor—great for riders who want subtle assist, not brute force.
| Highlights | Vala (XL) |
|---|---|
| Battery | 600Wh |
| Travel | 150/160mm |
| Wheel size | MX |
| Head tube angle | 63.9° |
| Reach | 497mm |
| Chainstay length | 446mm |
| Wheelbase | 1297mm |
Santa Cruz Bullit
Slack, long, and built to smash. Prioritizes downhill stability and traction, but the front end can wander on steeper climbs.
| Highlights | Bullit (XL) |
|---|---|
| Battery | 600Wh |
| Travel | 170/170mm |
| Wheel size | MX |
| Head tube angle | 63.3° |
| Reach | 497mm |
| Chainstay length | 449mm |
| Wheelbase | 1306mm |
Orbea Wild
Composed and fast. Holds a line well at speed and balances support with just enough sensitivity. A solid all-rounder for aggressive riders.
| Highlights | Wild (XL) |
|---|---|
| Battery | 600 or 750Wh |
| Travel | 170/170mm |
| Wheel size | 29″ or MX |
| Head tube angle | 63.5° |
| Reach | 505mm |
| Chainstay length | 448mm |
| Wheelbase | 1311mm |
Mondraker Crafty
Long, planted, and ultra plush. Takes a bit of muscle in tight terrain but rewards you with tons of traction and comfort when things get rough.
| Highlights | Crafty (L) |
|---|---|
| Battery | 600Wh |
| Travel | 150/160mm |
| Wheel size | 29″ |
| Head tube angle | 64.1° |
| Reach | 496mm |
| Chainstay length | 466mm |
| Wheelbase | 1315mm |
Transition Regulator
Simple, stout, and a little wild. Playful suspension and aggressive geo make it a bruiser on descents, though it’s the liveliest in the bunch
| Highlights | Regulator (XL) |
|---|---|
| Battery | 600Wh |
| Travel | 150/160mm |
| Wheel size | MX |
| Head tube angle | 63.3° |
| Reach | 497mm |
| Chainstay length | 449mm |
| Wheelbase | 1306mm |
2025 Bosch eMTB – The scores
Here’s how we scored these ebikes. We used a scale of 1-5 in the following categories: Drive unit, climbing performance, descending capability, suspension performance, handling, versatility, and the intangibles. \We scored each bike relative to this group only. We wanted to see how these five stack up specifically. Now, keep in mind, on a scale of 1-5, 3 is right in the middle. We are using that as “average” in the category. Average is not bad.
Drive System
| Opinion Haver | Santa Cruz Vala | Santa Cruz Bullit | Orbea Wild | Mondraker Crafty | Transition Regulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zach | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Conor | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Joey | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Ranking | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Climbing performance
| Opinion Haver | Santa Cruz Vala | Santa Cruz Bullit | Orbea Wild | Mondraker Crafty | Transition Regulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zach | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Conor | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Joey | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Ranking | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Descending capability
| Opinion Haver | Santa Cruz Vala | Santa Cruz Bullit | Orbea Wild | Mondraker Crafty | Transition Regulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zach | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Conor | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Joey | 3 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 5 |
| Ranking | 4 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
suspension performance
| Opinion Haver | Santa Cruz Vala | Santa Cruz Bullit | Orbea Wild | Mondraker Crafty | Transition Regulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zach | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Conor | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Joey | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Ranking | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
handling
| Opinion Haver | Santa Cruz Vala | Santa Cruz Bullit | Orbea Wild | Mondraker Crafty | Transition Regulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zach | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Conor | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Joey | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Ranking | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
Versatility
| Opinion Haver | Santa Cruz Vala | Santa Cruz Bullit | Orbea Wild | Mondraker Crafty | Transition Regulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zach | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| Conor | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Joey | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| Ranking | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
intangibles
| Opinion Haver | Santa Cruz Vala | Santa Cruz Bullit | Orbea Wild | Mondraker Crafty | Transition Regulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zach | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Conor | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Joey | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Ranking | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
overall scores and rankings
| Category | Santa Cruz Vala | Santa Cruz Bullit | Orbea Wild | Mondraker Crafty | Transition Regulator CX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drive System | 8 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 8 |
| Climbing Performance | 8 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 11 |
| Descending Capability | 10 | 15 | 13 | 7 | 11 |
| Suspension Performance | 11 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 13 |
| Handling | 12 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 12 |
| Versatility | 8 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 12 |
| Intangibles | 9 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 9 |
| Total points | 66 | 68 | 72 | 68 | 76 |
2025 eMTB — overall rank
1. Transition Regulator – 76pts.
2. Orbea Wild – 72pts.
3. Mondraker Crafty – 68pts.
4. Santa Cruz Bullit – 68pts.
5. Santa Cruz Vala – 66pts.
At the end of the day, this ranking is just one take — based on how these bikes performed for us, on our trails, under our riders. Every bike here has its own strengths, and the “best” one really comes down to what matters most to you. Whether it’s support on big hits, motor feel, or how a bike handles tight switchbacks, the right choice depends on your priorities.
Thanks for joining us for the 2025 eMTB Showdown. These are all seriously capable bikes. You can’t make a bad choice here — just figure out which one fits you best.
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