Fat tire e-MTBs are made to take riders out in all weather conditions and cope with all manner of terrain – from snow and soggy bogs, to sand and general trails.
The wide tread helps provide a large amount of balance and increased traction, while also ensuring bikes can take heavier loads.
That opens fat tire bikes up to all sorts of pursuits – such as hunting, camping, long distance adventures and the ultra-fast, big motor market.
We’ve spent many hours on the trails to find the best fat tire electric mountain bike, while also looking to pick out the cream of the crop in varying sectors of the e-MTB scene.
So who made this esteemed list? Let’s find out….
At a glance:
Nireeka Mega 1500
Best fat tire electric mountain bike
Good for – All-weather playful trail riding
Price – $3,299
Peaks:
- Price
- Battery performance
- Suspension performance
- Top speed
- Handling for a big bike
Troughs:
- Needs better brakes
- Weighty
Summary:
The Nireeka Mega 1500 is a versatile fat-tire e-MTB, with an immense amount of power.
Although it’s quite heavy, the Nireeka Mega 1500 defies the norm by offering playfulness and versatility, making it a bargain.
If you want a bike that offers raw power, but also has a more in its armoury, then look no further.
Weight/Frame
The bike comes in at 31.8kg, with an aluminium frame that has a sporty looking finish.
Despite that chunkiness, it still has a hint of the fun factor within the bike’s design and the handling remarkably retains a level of playfulness.
You feel composed while riding it through moderate trails and the sporty geometry makes you feel at ease when things get quite tricky between the trees – it doesn’t cope well on the gnarliest routes, such as steep downhill courses, but it can still be manipulated well for a big bike.
Battery
The e-MTB comes with the company’s own 840Wh battery, which performs decently, offering a maximum range of around 80km.
Another plus point is the excellent charge time – it only takes between 2.5 and 3 hours to juice back up from empty.
The battery fits seamlessly into the bike’s stylish downtube and feels reliable, hitting its maximum range figure, even when you throw in plenty of chunky inclines.
Motor
An enormous selling point for this bike is the power to weight ratio – it’s a monster in the motor department, capable of throwing out up to 200Nm of torque.
That’s thanks to the company’s custom 1,500Wh motor, which makes the bike a dream on the climbs – it scampers up challenging ascents and no gradient we found gave it even the slightest concern.
It also reaches a punchy top speed of 60km/h, making it competitive on the flats – for a weighty bike, it seriously moves.
The Nireeka Mega 1500 is among the most power fat tire ebikes, while offering a slice more versatility than just raw speed.
Suspension
The bike is also well served in the suspension department, with 150mm of travel at both the front and the rear.
The bike's playful handling and responsive suspension allow it to tackle lumpy trails with ease, avoiding any sensation of feeling like a tank.
Despite the high amount of rear travel, the ferocity in the motor makes sure the bike still feels nimble on the climbs and not too spongey.
The bike’s ability to tackle unsteady terrain makes it our best off-road e-bike.
Wheels/Tyres
This fat-tire e-MTB comes with a pair of Kenda Gigas, with a 4-inch-wide tread.
They offer a serious amount of traction and give you the ability to head out in any weather.
They’re also particularly durable, capable of taking endless punishment, without picking up any punctures or nicks.
Brakes/Drivetrain
The bike is a little under served in the brakes department – we found the Shimano Deore M4100 set-up just doesn’t cut the mustard when you’re really giving the bike a lick.
That’s a bit of a concern when you factor in the bike’s weight and power.
While the 9-speed Shimano Acera gear setup is adequate, an upgrade to a 12-gear drivetrain would be ideal. Nonetheless, the powerful motor in this model compensates significantly, making the limited gears less of a drawback.
These can be upgraded at the point of purchase for an extra cost.
Final Thoughts
The Nireeka Mega 1500 defies normal logic by offering a playfulness we don’t usually expect from a fat tire bike.
It’s also immensely powerful, has a stylish finish, a commendable range and the suspension to cope with the bike’s weight and adventurous trail riding.
Seriously impressed with this one and for under $4,000 – a steal – the Nireeka Mega 1500 is our best fat tire electric mountain bike.
Bakcou Storm Jäger
Best for varied terrain & hunting
Good for – Hunting, luggage carrying capabilities, all-weather, rough terrain
Price – $7,599
Peaks:
- Powerful motor
- Battery performance
- Luggage carrying ability
- All terrain & conditions
- Drivetrain
Troughs:
- Heavy
- Lack of playfulness
- Poor handling
- Battery charge time
Summary:
The Storm Jäger is the king of the electric hunting bike market. In fact, it came top in our review guide to the Best Electric Hunting Bikes For 2024.
It’s an immensely powerful fat tire e-MTB, which can carry heavy loads and is geared up for adventurous weekends out in the country.
The design is specifically tailored for hunting, and its high level of attention to detail for such purposes, establishes it as a leader in the hunting field.
Weight/Frame
The bike weighs in at 32.6kg, which for a hunting bike is reasonably light, and it comes with an aluminium frame that offers good impact dissipation.
It has an easy-going geometry to help you feel comfortable over long distances when carrying hunting gear. The bike is tooled up at the rear end, with an ultra-strong luggage rack, which is capable of dragging heavy loads on trailers.
It can take up to 136kg in total, but the handling is far from playful – this bike is made for one thing, heavy-duty hunting expeditions.
Battery
The bike offers an impressive range of more than 130km, thanks to an efficient 840Wh battery produced by the Bakou.
The range holds out even when you throw in plenty of climbing and that’s impressive for a heavy bike.
One particular issue we found was the lengthy charge time on the battery, with a full charge taking between 6 and 7 hours.
Motor
The bike has a seriously powerful Bafang M620 motor, which has 1000Wh at its disposal.
That allows you to hit a maximum torque output of 160Nm, when combined with the weight makes it an efficient climber and it also ensures the bike can cope with its heavy weight baring capabilities.
It achieves a maximum torque output of 160Nm, which makes the bike an efficient climber, when combined with its weight. Additionally, it ensures that the bike can handle carrying a lot of weight and still move reasonably nimbly.
ℹ️ The bike can at times feel immensely powerful and with that we just advise lighter riders to be careful, as it could feel over-facing, particularly in narrow or technical terrain.
If you’re dead set on a 1000Wh model, then this bike is the best 1000watt, mid drive, fat tire electric bike.
Suspension
The bike comes with 120mm of travel in the forks and 100mm in the shocks, with RST Renegade at the front end and Rockshox Monarch shocks.
They do just enough to ensure the bike can cope with a few lumps and bumps without feeling rigid and it also ensures the bike can soak up the weight of a heavy load.
This is a hunting focused e-MTB, so if you want to head into wild technical terrain, this isn’t the bike for you – it’s suited to wide open trails, moderate ups and downs, but without offering great descending ability.
Wheels/Tyres
The bike comes with a highly durable pair of custom rims, which can cope with a lot of pressure without making the riding experience feel uncomfortable.
They’re coated in a great pair of Maxxis Minion fat-tires – 26 inch in diameter, with a 4 inch wide tread.
The bike is geared up for all weather and the grippy amount of traction in the tires makes the bike quite pacy.
Brakes/Drivetrain
The Tektro HD E750 brakes aren’t the most responsive, particularly in emergency stops. However, they do offer a solid bite once activated – an upgrade in this area would be a wise idea.
Absolutely no issues with the drivetrain – it’s a complete beast, with 14-gears to play with, which ensures you never find any hilly or boggy terrain too challenging.
Final Thoughts
The Storm Jäger is a complete monster in the fat tire hunting market.
It’s powerful, has a long-range battery, huge weight baring capabilities and an excellent drivetrain.
If you enjoy a weekend hunting adventure, this is the best fat tire electric bike for the job.
Bakcou Mule
Good for – Hunting, all-weather, longer adventures
Price – $4,599 – $4,999
Peaks:
- Range
- Motor performance
- Fast paced
- Decent price
- Geared up for carrying extra weight
Troughs:
- Gearing set-up
- Lack of playfulness
- Poor gearing
- Suspension
Summary:
The Bakou Mule is another hunting focused fat tire e-MTB, but it’s a slightly downgraded package compared to the Storm Jäger.
It’s still an excellent and versatile adventurer, with a long range, powerful motor and great weight carrying ability.
Weight/Frame
It’s another bike geared up to carry heavy weights and it’s well stocked at the rear end with a strong luggage rack, that can drag along a trailer when needed.
It only weighs in at 30kg, which makes it quite versatile thanks to its light-weight, but durable, aluminium frame.
Considering that overall weight figure it can still drag along a remarkable 136kg thanks to its powerful motor (which we’ll speak more about shortly).
Battery
This e-fat bike has a solid range of more than 125km, with a reliable 840Wh battery produced by Bakou..
When you chuck in plenty of climbs it can fall to around 100km-110km, but overall it performs consistently.
It also has a decent charge time of between 4 and 6 hours depending on how old the battery is.
Motor
The bike performs well in the motor department, with a punchy Bafang M620 model that can hit a top wattage of 1,500Wh.
This results in a maximum torque of approximately 160Nm, enabling the large bike to climb with the agility of a small mountain goat.
The substantial power it offers allows you to transport heavy loads, making it an excellent choice for a hunting bike.
Suspension
The suspension is average, with a hardtail and only 100mm of travel at the front end.
It doesn’t make the bike the most versatile and when terrain gets quite lumpy the bike can feel uncomfortable.
The BCEB GT MRK forks struggle when you have an enormous amount of weight on the bike, which can be a slice disconcerting if you are out on a hunting adventure and need to take on a big load.
Wheels/Tyres
The bike comes with a custom pair of 26 inch fat-tires, with a wide 2.4 inch tread provided by Maxxis Minion.
They’re ready to take on all-conditions and the amount of traction makes the big bike feel spritely over flat ground, especially when combined with that powerful motor.
Brakes/Drivetrain
The Tektro HD E750 brakes hit the mark too, with a powerful bite, which cope well with the bike’s weight and power.
The 11-speed Shimano Alivio gearing set-up is a little under-gunned, but we’re only talking a touch – they manage with most challenges the bike faces, unless you have a silly amount of weight on there or you’re facing a monster climb.
Final Thoughts
In the hunting and camping market the Mule hits the spot nicely – it’s powerful, has a great battery range, good weight carrying ability and comes in a damn sight cheaper than its bigger brother the Storm Jäger.
There are areas to improve, but it’s a versatile fat-tire bike that will serve you well on a weekend adventure.
Quiet Kat Apex Pro
Good for – Fat-bike trail riding, weekend pursuits (hunting, fishing, camping)
Price – $4,999
Peaks:
- Motor power
- Design
- Suspension
- Handling
- Tires
- Weight baring capabilities
Troughs:
- Drivetrain
- Range
- Price
- Brakes
Summary:
The Quiet Kat Apex Pro is the company’s most versatile fat tire trail bike.
With a powerful motor, burly forks set-up, reasonably playful handling and luggage carrying capabilities, it’s designed to bridge the gap between a trail bike and the pack-horse style of kit carrying e-MTBs.
A difficult balance to hit and the bike does have a few issues, but it’s a commendable effort by the crew at Quiet Kat.
Weight/Frame
The bike has a strong aluminium frame and weighs in at 31.7kg.
That allows the bike to have a slight hint of manoeuvrability and not just remain a big beast, like some fat tire bikes can be.
You can head out into some fast-flowy trails and, particularly for a strong rider, you can duck and weave on it quite well.
It’s also fitted with a strong luggage rack as standard and can cope with up to 147kg on the back of it, making it a versatile carrier too.
Battery
The bike is fitted with an 828Wh custom battery that serves up a slightly unimpressive stated range of between 40km and 80km, depending on the terrain.
On our review rides we clocked in at around 50-60km quite consistently, but that’s mightily underwhelming compared to some of the other bikes on this list.
It suggests the battery isn’t performing anywhere near as efficiently as some of the other fat tire e-MTBs.
Motor
The bike is fitted with a 1000Wh custom motor that delivers 160Nm of torque – that’s much more like it.
With the bike’s relatively low weight (for a fat tire bike), it climbs niftily and it feels competitive on the flats as well.
The Apex Pro’s motor also operates nice and smoothly, without feeling too mechanical and jerky – a welcome change to some of the powerhouses in this list.
Suspension
The Apex Pro comes with a hard tail and a burly 140mm forks set-up at the front.
The bike is geared up to take punishment thanks to the amount of travel in the forks and it feels composed on rowdy terrain.
The hard tail ensures the bike stays pacy on the flats and the climbs, encouraging a good level of traction, however, it prevents the bike from being able to launch off big drops.
Riders who choose to tackle larger drops can experience significant jolts, due to the lack of cushioning on impact. This is important to note for those planning to navigate more challenging or aggressive trails.
Wheels/Tyres
The bike comes with a pair of 26 inch fat tires, with a nice and wide 4.5 inch tread.
The mixture of the chunky tires and the bike’s relatively light-weight (for a fat-tire bike) means the bike actually remains pretty nimble in poor conditions and you don’t feel too sluggish in soggy or snowy weather.
The tires and wheels are custom components and do a great job, with a high level of durability and comfort.
Brakes/Drivetrain
The bike is fitted with a pair of middle of the road Tektro, 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes. They’re average, operating quite slowly at times, but they do have a firm bite, so tend to just about do the job (unless you pull up really late).
We aren’t pleased with the drivetrain on this bike though – the 9-speed SRAM set-up just seems under-served for the size of the bike. It would have been easy to put a few more gears on there, to make the bike even more efficient on the climbs.
An easy improvement to make though, but likely to see the price climb.
Final Thoughts
The Quiet Kat Apex pro is one of the more agile fat tire bikes we’ve reviewed in this guide (we do use the word agile lightly though, since it’s 31.7kg).
The bike has a fantastic motor and suspension set-up, which means the bike can climb spectacularly and descend well too. The bike is also well geared up for carrying loads, so you can either ride the bike as a fat tire trail bike, or enjoy use it for weekend pursuits for hunting, camping or fishing etc.
There are aspects to upgrade, such as the drivetrain and the brakes, but as standard, it’s still a decent overall package.
Juiced Rip Current S
Good for – Speed
Price – $2,299
Peaks:
- Long range battery
- Powerful motor
- Price
Troughs:
- Suspension
- Brakes
- Drivetrain
- Handling
- Weight
- Ugly
Summary:
Juice in the name, juice by nature – the Rip Current S is well stocked in the electrics department, hitting all the right notes when it comes to range and power.
However, it lacks sex appeal in the design and handles with difficulty.
Weight/Frame
The Juiced Rip Current S isn’t the best looker, it’s just all a bit average in terms of the design.
It’s fitted with an aluminium frame and weighs in at 34kg, which can make it feel chunky on the trails.
Unlike some of the other bikes on this list, it definitely doesn’t offer playfulness and feels rigid in the handling department.
Battery
The bike is equipped with a 998Wh custom battery. It’s awkwardly positioned on top of the bike’s downtube, instead of being seamlessly integrated into the design.
That aspect doesn’t look the best, however, it performs well, providing a range of more than 100km.
If you include a lot of climbing on your day’s ride, expect the top range figure to decrease considerably. On a hilly route, the distance can fall to around 70km.
Motor
The bike is fitted with a powerful 1000Wh Bafang hub motor, which offers a strong kick without being the most intelligent in terms of its power delivery.
It certainly helps get you up tricky climbs and is a monster on the flats with 90Nm of torque at its disposal – reaching speeds of up to 45km/h.
However, if you’re riding this bike on technical terrain, it struggles and the motor feels jerky when it comes to life.
Suspension
The bike comes with a hardtail and only 100mm of travel in the forks.
It’s a custom set-up and extremely limited, meaning where you can go on the bike comfortably is also limited.
When you consider the bike’s heavy weight, the suspension set-up rules the bike out of any playful riding and it’s really only suitable for big open flat expanses, such as forest roads or gravel paths – not one for technical trail riding.
Wheels/Tyres
The bike comes with a heavy-duty aluminium rim, which is doubled walled, to try and provide extra durability and help soak up lumps and bumps on the road.
They’re covered in a chunky pair of 26 inch fat tires, with a 4 inch wide tread – they offer a firm bite into the dirt and offer all-weather riding ability.
Brakes/Drivetrain
The bike comes with a basic pair of Logan HD-E500s. They feel lackluster for the power of the bike and you don’t always feel confident in their ability to bring you to a stop. Not ideal given the bike’s weight.
The drivetrain is also of low quality – with only a 9-speed Trigger system that underwhelms and the pedals can feel hard to turn at times.
Final Thoughts
If you’re on a low budget, this bike could be a consideration and has a few moments to celebrate, such as the long-range battery and powerful motor.
However, there are several issues throughout the bike, which make it clunky to ride and there certainly isn’t any fun factor.
If you just want to bomb around on flatter terrain, on wide open country paths or vast expanses, this is a decent hybrid fat tire electric bike.
However, if trail riding is what you want – avoid this bike.
Shipping and delivery info:
- Free
- Only ship to US mainland, doesn’t ship to Hawaii, Alaska or Canada.
- 3-8 working days.
Himiway Cobra Pro
Good for – Fat-tire trail riding
Price – $3,899
Peaks:
- Motor power
- Battery range
- All-weather/conditions fat-tires
- Good-looking design
- Shocks
Troughs:
- Weight
- Drivetrain
- Brakes
- Forks
Summary:
The Himiway Cobra Pro is a sporty e-MTB, with a well-stocked electrical department, and a cracking pair of fat-tires.
It isn’t quite the full package though and has a few flaws, including the weight and the drivetrain.
Weight/Frame
The bike weighs in at 39kg making it a chunky beast to move around.
However, Himiway have designed it to be fun to ride and it has a sporty geometry, which lends itself to more than just basic trails.
There is the obvious caveat that this isn’t a light bike, so you’re never going to bomb down wild downhill routes or super technical trails. However, you can still have a degree of fun on moderate trails.
The bike also looks the part too, with a tidy cockpit and good-looking design.
Battery
The bike is fitted with a sizeable 960Wh battery, which sits tidily into the bike’s downtube.
That serves up a magnificent range of between 95km-130km, depending on the type of terrain you’re riding on.
It operates conservatively, helping to ensure the battery meets that range bracket on a consistent basis – it’s one of the more reliable batteries in our fat tire e-MTB review guide.
Motor
The bike is fitted with a powerful 1000Wh custom motor, with a maximum torque output of 160Nm.
That’s a sizeable punch and it helps take the edge of the bike’s heavy weight, allowing you to climb efficiently and reaching speeds of up to 49km/h.
The bike isn’t the most nimble due to the heavy weight, so on technical climbs the bike can feel unsteady and hefty – it’s better suited to long straight blasts up steep hills, rather than windy, techy trails.
Suspension
The bike comes with 100mm of travel at the front end and 190mm at the rear, fitted with custom forks and DNM A0-38RC shocks.
Now the shocks are perfect for the job in hand, helping to soak up the weightiness of the bike. However, the forks seem a little timid for such a big bike and they don’t offer enough sponge to make you feel completely comfortable with such a burly bike.
The bike can take a few low-level ups and downs, but if you throw anything of any real size in there, the bike feels seriously uncomfortable.
Wheels/Tyres
The bike is fitted with a pair of custom 26 inch rims and a particularly wide pair of 4.8 inch fat tires, produced by CST.
These e-bike big tires provide a lot of cushioning under foot and also allow you to go out in all weather and ground conditions – with a toothy tread, which makes light work of soggy conditions, sand, snow and everything in between.
Brakes/Drivetrain
The bike comes with an average pair of Tektro 180mm hydraulic brakes, which didn’t blow us away in terms of performance. They operate quickly enough and offer just about enough bite – without excelling.
The bike is slightly under served in the gearing department, with only a 10-speed set-up. When things are particularly steep or challenging under-foot, it can feel quite difficult to push over the pedals. A 12-speed, or more would be preferable.
Final Thoughts
The electrics department on this e-MTB is a monster and its fat-tires are among some of the best in this review guide.
The bike performs well on a variety of terrain, but we find it hard to look past the weightiness, which constantly lingers in this review, denying you the ability to take on technical terrain and at times making the bike feel uncomfortable.
This is a great fat-tire bike for uncomplicated terrain and it keeps performing all day long and in all conditions – that’s something to celebrate.
Himiway Zebra
Best budget fat-tire bike
Good for – Riders on a budget
Price – $1,799
Peaks:
- Battery
- Low price
- Durable
- Weight carrying capabilities
Troughs:
- Motor power
- Suspension
- Weight
Summary:
The Himiway Zebra is a budget fat-tire bike, which offers a comfortable riding experience and heavy weight carrying capabilities.
It may not be flash in terms of playfulness or have the ability to take on adventurous terrain, but it’s a reliable companion on longer distance adventures.
With a fully juiced battery, sturdy frame and ease of use, it’s a firm favourite of ours in the entry level market.
At this price, it’s worth considering.
Weight/Frame
The Himiway Zebra is aluminum framed and it feels sturdy while out riding, soaking up impacts well.
It isn’t light though, weighing in at 35kg, which removes the potential for any playfulness.
That isn’t what the bike is made for though, it’s made for longer distance adventures on more even terrain and it’s fitted with a strong luggage rack.
Thanks to that strong frame and rack, the bike can carry up to 181kg, making it a great option for weekend camping adventures, hunting or daily grocery shopping.
Battery
The Himiway Zebra comes with a monster 960Wh Samsung/LG battery.
Despite the bike’s heavy weight, that powerful battery allows you to achieve a top range figure of around 120km on a single charge.
It’s another reason why we recommend the bike for longer distance, multi-day, adventures.
However, there is a downside, the battery can take up to 7 hours to charge back up to 100% from empty, which realistically is an all-night time frame. So if you are going on a multi-day adventure on this bike, make sure you factor in electricity sources during your evening stops.
The battery sits into the bulky downtube on the bike’s frame.
Motor
The Himiway Zebra is fitted with a 750Wh custom motor, which can emit up to 86Nm of torque.
The bike isn’t the most spritely climber we’ve ever ridden as a result of the bike’s weight and the motor doesn’t pack the same level of punch as some of the other bikes on this list.
However, you still have enough of a kick to help you get up some decent climbs, but when things are particularly steep, the bike can feel sluggish.
That issue is amplified further when you are carrying a heavy load.
Suspension
The bike comes with a limited suspension set-up, with only 100mm of travel at the front end and a hardtail.
The bike is therefore constrained to simple trails and forest roads – the bike is a fish out of water on adventurous terrain.
The custom suspension components can feel clunky and uncomfortable on even moderate lumps and bumps.
ℹ️ If you want to hit fun and flowy trails, then this isn’t the bike for you. It would be completely inappropriate.
Wheels/Tyres
The Himiway Zebra comes with a pair of 26 inch wheels, with 4 inch wide Kenda fat tires.
The wheels cope well with the bike’s heavyweight and the tires offer a good amount of traction to help get you up to speed and drag along the heavy load which you may be dragging.
They’re weighty though and it’s another factor, which reduces any chance for playfulness.
Brakes/Drivetrain
The bike is fitted with a pair of Tektro 180mm brakes. They’re a simple component and can struggle a little against the heavy weight of the bike and its potential extra load.
That can be a worry at times, particularly if you come across a hazard while moving at pace.
The 7-speed Shimano drivetrain is also underwhelming and it can be difficult to churn around the pedals when you have a lot of extra weight on the bike.
Final Thoughts
The Himiway Zebra is incredibly cheap, but offers a long range battery, sturdy frame and great weight carrying potential.
It isn’t without its flaws though – the bike is weighty, the brakes and drivetrain undergunned, plus there isn’t any playfulness to be had out of the handling.
However, if you’re shopping a low budget, and want a trusty steed for longer distance touring or need to carry loads – this is a brilliant bargain option.
Final Thoughts
Fat tire e-MTBs give you the freedom to head out without worrying about what the weather conditions are like or how poor the ground conditions are on the trails.
They also allow you to cart around enormous weights and cope with the rigours of moving at immense pace.
In this guid, we’ve highlighted the top choices for a variety of purposes, including hunting, trail riding, fat tire bikes for speed enthusiasts, and budget-conscious shoppers.
The best fat tire electric mountain bike came out as the Nireeka Mega 1500, a truly exceptional and versatile e-MTB, which strikes all the right notes for us.
We hope you enjoyed our fat tire electric bike reviews – now time for you to give them a ride.
FAQs
Are fat tire e-bikes good for mountain biking?
Fat tire e-bikes definitely have their benefits for mountain biking. Firstly, they allow you to go out in all weather conditions, with the chunky tires offering a big surface area to increase traction.
The fat tires also raise the rest of your bike off the ground, so your spokes, gears and brakes don’t get clogged up with mud, which can prevent you from riding.
Fat tire e-MTBs can also carry a lot more weight than a normal mountain bike, allowing you to head out on big weekend adventures with lots of extra kit.
Fat tire e-bikes can also cope with higher speeds, as the wheels are larger and more durable – that opens the bikes up to taking larger and more powerful motors.
Are fat tire e-bikes harder to ride?
Not necessarily – fat-tire e-bikes can often be easier to ride because they have larger wheels – this increases the amount of balance riders have and can be helpful for new riders.
The bike’s larger tires also allow you to feel much more composed in poor weather conditions, allowing you to head out in snow, sand and take on very wet/boggy sections.
Fat tire bikes often come with larger and more powerful motors than normal e-MTBs too, helping enormously on the climbs.
However, fat tire e-bikes can often be heavier, less nimble and harder to move around on the trails.
What are the pros and cons of fat tires on ebikes?
Peaks:
- Fat tires are larger, which makes balancing easier and it encourages traction, allowing you to go out in all weather conditions. They’re also more durable, so can cope better with higher speeds.
- They can carry more weight, which means fat tire bikes often have bigger batteries, motors and can carry heavy loads.
- With the ability to carry heavy loads you can head out on a wide variety of different adventures, such as camping, fishing, hunting and they can be used for carting big cargos around cities.
- Fat tire bikes can also feel more comfortable to ride.
Troughs:
- Fat tire bikes can be heavier, which can make them far less nimble and harder to move around on the trails.
- This issue rules the bike out of super technical terrain and they simply aren’t suitable for downhill riding or anything particularly technical.
- The heavier handling can make them less appealing for many women riders and lighter male riders.
- It can also be harder to find spare parts as the bikes aren’t as common as conventional e-MTBs - it can make fixing or replacing components tricky and more expensive.
