Are MTB Helmets Safe for eBikes? (What the Research Actually Says)

Electric bicycles are changing how we move. But with higher speeds and heavier frames come higher crash forces—and an important safety question: are traditional mountain bike (MTB) helmets enough, or do eBike riders need specialized protection?

The short answer: standard MTB helmets provide some protection, but eBike-certified helmets (like those tested to the Dutch NTA 8776 standard) are significantly safer for the unique crash dynamics of eBikes.

Why eBikes Change the Equation

Traditional mountain biking involves bursts of speed, but most pedal-powered riding happens below 20 mph. By contrast, Class 3 eBikes reach and sustain speeds of up to 28 mph. That difference matters: kinetic energy grows with the square of velocity, meaning a crash at 25 mph has almost three times the energy of a crash at 15 mph.

Data highlights the risk gap:

• eBike riders are 57% more likely to get into accidents than pedal cyclists.

• Head injuries are reported in 65.7% of eBike crashes, compared to 64.1% for regular bikes.

• Internal injuries are more common in eBike crashes (17% vs. lower rates for pedal bikes).

The takeaway? Even if head injury rates look similar, the severity of injuries is worse for eBikes.

MTB Helmets vs. eBike-Certified Helmets

Most MTB helmets meet CPSC standards, designed for impacts around 14–15 mph. That’s fine for traditional cycling—but underpowered for eBike speeds.

By contrast, NTA 8776-certified helmets are engineered for eBikes and speed pedelecs.

Key difference: MTB helmets aren’t built for repeated high-speed impacts, extended coverage zones, or side/rear crash scenarios that eBike riders face.

What the Studies Show

Crash simulations confirm the gap:

• Standard bike/MTB helmets reduce head acceleration and injury risk—but still exceed thresholds for severe injury in eBike-type crashes (Wei et al., 2022; Bailly et al., 2025).

• Even with a helmet, head injury metrics in eBike falls often cross the severe injury line.

• Helmet use among injured eBike riders has fallen to 44%, making both adoption and proper certification critical.

Meanwhile, observational studies show MTB helmets leave vulnerable coverage gaps in the rear and sides—exactly where many eBike crash impacts occur.

The Bottom Line: What Should Riders Do?

• Don’t rely solely on MTB helmets if you regularly ride at eBike speeds.

• Choose an NTA 8776-certified helmet whenever possible—these are specifically tested for 28 mph impacts.

• Consider full-face helmets if riding aggressively or consistently above 25 mph.

• Replace helmets after any major crash—damage isn’t always visible.

   

   

MTB helmets are excellent for trail riding—but for the faster, heavier world of eBikes, eBike-specific helmets are the safer bet.

 

References

Wei, W., Petit, Y., Arnoux, P., & Bailly, N. (2022). Head-ground impact conditions and helmet performance in E-scooter falls. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 181, 106935. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2022.106935

Bailly, N., Schäuble, A., Guesneau, M., Wei, W., & Petit, Y. (2025). Assessing bicycle helmet protection for head and neck in E-scooter falls. Traffic Injury Prevention. https://doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2025.2462685

Høye, A. (2018). Bicycle helmets—To wear or not to wear? A meta-analysis of the effects of bicycle helmets on injuries. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 117, 85–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2018.03.026

Alnawmasi, N., Alogaili, A., Rangaswamy, R., & Oviedo-Trespalacios, O. (2024). A temporal statistical assessment of the effectiveness of bicyclist safety helmets in mitigating injury severities in vehicle/bicyclist crashes. Analytic Methods in Accident Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amar.2024.100338

Act Lab. (n.d.). NTA 8776 Standard Testing. https://act-lab.com/nta-8776-standard-testing/

Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute. (n.d.). Helmets for eBikes. https://helmets.org/ebike.htm

Smith Optics. (2024). What does it mean for a helmet to be eBike-certified? https://blog.smithoptics.com/b/what-does-it-mean-for-a-helmet-to-be-ebike-certified

MET Helmets. (2024). Why NTA 8776 matters. https://www.met-helmets.com/en/bluegrass-stories/nta-8776/