Is it worth switching to an electric mountain bike at that price?

It really depends on how much you'll use the bike and what terrain you have nearby. If you're going to ride regularly on technical trails or mountains where you'd get tired quickly on a regular bike, electric assistance opens up a ton of possibilities and lets you enjoy it more without arriving completely wrecked. Yeah, the price is steep, but these bikes last for years and electric motors are getting more reliable all the time; if you're going to use it at least a couple times a week, it's probably worth it. Either way, before you shell out the cash, try one at a shop to see if it really changes things for you.

I've been testing a mountain ebike in my free time, between haircuts, and I gotta say the price tag hurts but the experience is pretty different. The thing is, if your idea is just to head out to the mountains every now and then on Sundays, you probably won't get your money's worth. But if you're keen on hitting the trails regularly, especially on technical terrain or steep climbs, the assist changes the game. It's not just "easier" - you arrive fresher, you cover more kilometers in less time, and that lets you explore routes that would otherwise bore you because you'd be too tired.

What nobody really tells you much about is the maintenance and battery situation. I charge mine every four or five rides, depending on how aggressive I'm going. And the maintenance is a bit more hassle than a regular bike because of the electric side of things. But yeah, if you live in a genuinely mountainous area and you're used to getting around by bike, you hit those trails constantly. Eventually the cost per ride evens out.

My advice would be to borrow one or rent it a couple times before you spend the cash, just to see if it really grabs you. And if you're mainly gonna use it in the city or on flat terrain, honestly it doesn't make sense to blow that money. But for mountain riding and having a proper good time, especially if you're heavier or don't want to arrive completely knackered - yeah, it's definitely worth it.