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Fat tire electric bicycles have many unique benefits compared to other bikes. Check out our rundown of these advantages and some examples of high-quality fat tire e-bikes.
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Electric bikes are one thing, but fat tire e-bikes take the concept to a new level. Because the wheels and tires are arguably the most important part of any bicycle, fat tire bikes offer specific advantages that might interest you if you’re in the market for a new electric bike.
Fat tire e-bikes not only have the benefit of being electric but will offer greater stability on a wider variety of terrains and weather. They are also, contrary to some claims, a great choice for beginners as they are more comfortable than regular tires.
If you’re interested in grabbing your own fat tire electric bicycle, here’s a list of my favorite choices that are guaranteed to be fun and useful.
Range
19 miles
Speed
20 mph
Weight
58 lbs
Power
500 Watt
Verdict:
The ECOTRIC is a great fat tire electric bicycle that is comfortable, fun, safe and dependable. One would have to be very picky to not enjoy all it has to offer.
Pros:
Cons:
The first fat tire electric bike I want to show off is the 500W model from a great company called ECOTRIC. ECOTRIC is one of the best and biggest names in fat tire e-bikes and for great reason.
This 500W model has a max speed of 20 mph, comes with a removable battery and has a mileage of 19 miles. It weighs 58 pounds and has a maximum load capacity of 260 pounds.
There’s a reason why this is a best-selling fat tire e-bike. It’s solidly built out of aluminum alloy and has 26-inch wheels, which makes it a very solid choice for bike riders of any level of experience.
Additionally, the ECOTRIC 500W comes with many extra features that make it a high-value product. The tires are not only waterproof but skid-proof which keeps the bike secure on a variety of surfaces such as sand or snow. It has a solid braking system that is quite responsive and a pedal assist mode as well as a walking assist mode.
One of my favorite things about it is the 7 speed Shimano gear shifting system. This is a very useful feature I use all the time when it is available as it lets you manually change the max speed to your liking. This gives you lots of freedom over how the pacing of your bike rides.
Range
25 miles
Speed
26 mph
Weight
58 lbs
Power
1000 Watt
Verdict:
This is essentially a faster and updated version of the , and I definitely recommend it if it is within your budget.
Pros:
Cons:
If you’re wondering why I have two ECOTRIC bikes listed here in a row, it’s because they have some key differences that are worth comparing.
The first difference I should point out is that this ECOTRIC model has double the wattage. With a motor that offers 1000w, this fat tire electric bicycle can go up to 26mph and travel just as many miles on a single journey.
This ECOTRIC has a lot of the things that made the previous model great, such as the 7 speed Shimano shifting, the allow frame and the disc brake. However, it also added a few new features I very much welcomed, like the LCD screen. This little digital screen displays certain stats like your current speed and travel distance, which I always like to have on hand to check.
The ECOTRIC 1000W e-bike also has added a suspension fork this time around. This gives it better adaptability to rougher surfaces, including bumpy dirt trails, snowy roads, and sand. ECOTRIC also added a headlight which makes this bike safer to ride after dark. One last lovely little convenience they threw in is a USB port so you can charge your portable devices on the go.
Range
35 miles
Speed
22 mph
Weight
66 lbs
Power
300 Watt
Verdict:
Combine all of that with a 100% Aluminum frame, a SHIMANO brake & gear shift system, and great grip on the handlebars and you have yourself an excellent City Fat Tire E-bike that would be a fantastic choice for adult riders.
Pros:
Cons:
NAKTO’s City fat tire electric bicycle first impressed me with its elegantly ergonomic frame. It is made out of high strength aluminum frame, making this a very rugged bicycle, but the good news doesn’t stop there.
The front of the bike is equipped with a decompression device that provides superior shock absorption. Riding this bike through mountain trails after a few bumps felt even smoother than I was expecting, and it makes rough paths feel surprisingly smooth.
Adult bike riders will be glad to hear that this bike comes 26-inch tires. This is perfect for hilly and bumpy rides. With its SHIMANO brake and gear shift system, your challenging adventures will be more safer.
One of the most amazing things about the NAKTO’s City fat tire electric bicycle is its three riding modes: Pure electric bicycle, Auxiliary bicycle, and Bicycle modes. The pure electric and bicycle modes are pretty understandable, these are common in all e-bikes. Its auxiliary bicycle mode, however, is something that’s unusual. It is a new type of human-computer interaction technology to make riding effortless on your part. These three modes combined is something any bike rider could ask for.
Range
40 miles
Speed
28 mph
Weight
66 lbs
Power
750 Watt
Verdict:
W Wallke‘s fat tire e-bike is a great choice for riders who like to use a variety of different cruising levels to maximize their range per trip.
Pros:
Cons:
The W Wallke comes with three different cruising settings: level 1 has a speed of 13mph and a range of 40 miles. Level 2 has a speed of 18mph and a range of 35 miles, and level 3 has a speed of 25mph and a range of 30 miles per hour. This makes it a very efficient e-bike when it comes to mileage. It’s a great choice for anyone who wants to squeeze the most distance out of their commutes.
Another great property it has is the dual disc brake system. This is easily my preferred type of braking system as it stops both wheels, not just the rear one. This makes braking a much smoother process even when going at faster speeds on rougher terrain. The stability felt on this bike while braking is very noticeable.
Additionally, the W Wallke has a great HD LCD screen display, the 8 speed Shimano system and shock absorbers in both the front and center of the bike’s frame. This is a great choice for people who want safety and efficiency above all else.
Range
55 miles
Speed
28 mph
Weight
59 lbs
Power
1200 Watt
Verdict:
Easily my favorite choice on this list when it comes to style and looks, the CIVIBIKES Vintage electric fat tire bike is made to look like a motorcycle from the 1960s or 1970s and simply has a great look about it. Even the headlight is designed in this style.
Pros:
Cons:
When it comes to stats, they’re impressive. 28Mph as top speed and 55 miles for the maximum range will surely allow you to cover a lot of ground.
Not only does it have Shimano 7 speed gear shifting but it also has some advanced settings that allow you to tinker with the riding modes. There are three in total: Normal, Eco and Power.
This fat tire electric bike also has a very high max weight capacity of 350 pounds. You can also purchase optional saddlebags that attach to the back of the frame. They not only give you some carrying space but their looks fit the aesthetic of this e-bike perfectly.
It doesn’t have the fanciest features but with solid stats and an excellent sense of class, there’s no denying this will really appeal to anyone who wants to cruise in style.
Range
23 miles
Speed
20 mph
Weight
57.3 lbs
Power
500 Watt
Verdict:
Once again, we’re back with ECOTRIC. This 500W model is primarily different from the first bike on my list because it can be folded up into a compact size.
Pros:
Cons:
Foldable bikes are great because of their portability, whether that be storing it at home, having to take it into a vehicle – especially a crowded bus – or having it tucked away at the office.
This particular fat tire electric bike is not so much made for athletic rides but commuting around town. The tires are indeed fat but it’s a relatively small bike with 20-inch wheels. Shorter people would feel right at home riding this e-bike, and it’s great for getting around town after rainy or snowy weather.
For riders who aren’t interested in all-terrain riding but want the benefits of wider tires, this folding ECOTRIC model will really get the job done.
Range
65 miles
Speed
25 mph
Weight
65 lbs
Power
500 Watt
Verdict:
The SOHOO bike is the choice to make for anyone who wants a smaller, portable fat tire e-bike, but still manages to be a great choice for all-terrain and off-road bike riding.
Pros:
Cons:
With a max load capacity of 325 despite its small size, it is excellently constructed out of high-quality aluminum alloy. It also has some of the most responsive dual disc braking I’ve ever used on any e-bike.
One of my favorite things about the SOHOO bike was its ability to handle tough terrain. It performs excellently while going uphill, even on fairly steep slopes. Its size is deceiving because it really feels like a powerful machine when blasting through tough mountain trails with ease.
It is also highly efficient when using the cruise assist mode. At level 1, you can go an absolute whopping 65 miles on a single trip as long as you are riding at 13mph. If that doesn’t blow your mind then I don’t know what will. Even at its top speed of 25mph, you can get up to 40 miles of mileage depending on your weight.
While the folding ECOTRIC is great for urban riding, the SOHOO is the best folding electric fat tire bicycle I’ve ever used for off-road riding by far.
Now that I’ve shown you some excellent examples of fat tire electric bikes, I next want to tell you about how you can spot great quality bikes for yourself and which features are important.
Fat tire electric bikes undeniably share some things in common with regular bikes. Just like normal bikes, the fat tire equivalents should ideally be made out of materials like aluminum alloy or carbon steel for durability. They should also have comfortable parts like gripping on the handlebars or a soft cushion. Extras such as a good braking system (preferably one with dual discs) and a headlight are also great to have.
For attributes specific to bikes that are electric or with fat tires, the first thing you should pay attention to is size. Fat tire bikes are going to be bigger than their normal counterparts. That means that if you are a shorter person you will be much better off with a fat tire bike that has wheels as tall as 22 inches or less.
The motor and its wattage are very important aspects of electric bikes as they help determine the maximum range and top speed. Higher wattage always means a higher price, so be sure to purchase a bike with a top speed that will be enough for you. There’s no use getting a bike that can go as fast as 30mph if you know you only need 20mph.
Lastly, keep in mind where you plan on using your fat tire electric bike and what kind of commutes you’ll be making. It’s important to get a bike with a max range that will be able to take you on your journey and back home on one single charge. If you plan on stopping somewhere in the middle of your trip then removable batteries are highly recommended as they allow you to take the battery with you and charge it while the bike is parked outside.
In my opinion, the best way to imagine fat tire electric bikes is that they are like a combination of regular fat tire bikes and mountain bikes.
Mountain bikes have thinner wheels and are better for dirt trails. They are faster and require less effort when it comes to pedaling.
Fat tire bikes require more effort for pedaling as they are heavier, which makes them a great choice for exercising. They are not so good for mountain trails but work on more types of terrain as the thicker wheels give much more traction. Imagine the difference between standing on one-foot verses both feet. Two feet gives you more stability and balance just as more inches on a wheel does.
Fat tire electric bikes are like the best of both worlds between fat bikes and mountain bikes. They have the traction of fat bikes but the better speed and dirt trail riding capabilities of mountain bikes.
The biggest advantage of fat tire electric bikes is that they allow you to go faster on terrains that are hard to ride on with other types of bikes. This includes bumpy mountain trails, dirt roads, snow, slippery surfaces during rainfall and sand.
They also allow for better traction which will improve the stability and the shock absorption of your riding experience.
Fat tire electric bikes also allow one to ride uphill more easily thanks to the motor power, a benefit one obviously does not get with regular fat tire bikes.
While people will always have their personal preferences based on where, how and why they ride bikes, fat tire electric bicycles are considered to be a superior choice by some.
Because fat tire e-bikes have a combination of speed, cruising, and traction, they are an excellent choice for someone who does a variety of cycling activities.
People who cycle for exercise can use the bike with pedals only to receive better exercise due to the extra energy needed to pedal a heavier bike.
Riders who like to cycle on a variety of different terrains or environments will be able to ride in many different locations simply by using a fat tire electric bicycle. This is much more convenient as opposed to owning different types of bikes for different situations.
And because they are of course electric bikes, they come with many technological tricks not found on a regular mountain or fat tire bikes, such as USB charging ports, a digital screen for tracking stats, cruise control functions, and of course being able to ride at speeds exceeding 30mph without having to manually pedal.
Because they capture the best elements of different types of bikes, it makes sense why some people consider fat tire e-bikes the better than others.
Some people think that these types of bikes may be a hassle to ride because non-electric fat tire bikes generally are. Fat tire bikes may offer better traction but because of the extra weight, it requires more strength to pedal, especially when going uphill on certain trails.
However, because these types of fat bikes are electric, most or all of the pedaling is gone. You won’t be feeling the extra weight of the battery, motor or the larger tires on a fat tire e-bike when you’re going 15 or 20mph without having to make yourself sweat. Just like regular e-bikes, fat tire electric bicycles are an excellent choice not only for experienced e-bike users but beginners as well.
The versatility of fat tire electric bikes is undeniable. They can be used in so many different situations that they are a fantastic choice for the most extreme of biking enthusiasts. Yet they are also a great option for less experienced riders who want smooth riding. They are a superb kind of vehicle and I can only see their popularity increasing in the future.
Last update on 2020-11-25 at 08:51 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
