when you look at E-Bikes When you think of the sleek, elegant models that you often see in the city, you think of them. But what about the fat bikes – the e-bikes with super-wide tires? In the E-bike community Opinions are divided on this and now comes my opinion on the subject.
Some love them, others are more skeptical. Today I will tell you what I think about it, after having ridden some “fat bikes” like the Vakole CO20 MAX, the VT4, the Y20 or the Choose Tankroll was on the road and was therefore able to find out enough about it myself.
the e-bike as a fat bike
So, imagine: I'm just about to buy a new e-bike and the fat bike option comes up. At least 4 inch (approx. 10 cm) fat tires - that sounds cool, but also cumbersome and certainly not battery-friendly, right? Of course, I want to be on the road mainly and occasionally on dirt roads. So of course I ask myself: Is a fat bike right for me?
Driving comfort and robustness – clear plus points!
First the positive. I can definitely driving comfort of the fat bikes. Because the wide tires are really cool, especially when it comes to stability. No matter whether on sand, snow or gravel - these things stay on the ground and ensure a safe driving experience. That doesn't sound bad, does it?
And you can still achieve a lot if you tire pressure adapts depending on where you are driving. Less air for the beach or a tour through the forest, more for the road. Brilliant! A mobile air pump is of course a must. And another plus point is the robustness of the tires. Thanks to the wider contact surface, they can take a lot of pressure and you hardly have to worry about broken rims. That's a clear advantage, especially when you're on harder surfaces.
Design, spare parts, noise: the downsides
Of course, a fat bike also has its weaknessesThe wide tires often do not fit into the usual bike racks or bike rack and not to mention that suitable Spare Parts are sometimes really hard to find. The clunky design is certainly not to everyone's taste. Especially when it comes to relatively small e-bikes. At least my Feel.
And another point that should not be underestimated is the rolling resistance. The coarse tire profile can make driving on slippery roads much more strenuous, and the Movement noise is sometimes much louder than with narrower tires. Of course, with the motor support of the e-bike this is not so noticeable, but imagine the battery is empty and you have to ride without the e-motor - then you will notice the difference.
Alternative: Wide tires on a normal e-bike?
An alternative in my eyes are “normal” e-bikes, but with slightly wider tires, let’s say up to 2,5 inches (6,35 cm). The one I drove Engwe L20 SE was still bearable with 3 inch (approx. 8 cm) tires, but already very bulky. The narrower tires have the advantage that they are lighter and therefore also more Reach At the same time, they provide hardly any less grip than the really big ones. So if you don't necessarily have to go into hard terrain or extremely soft surfaces, you might be happier with this option.
Motor choice – hub motor or mid-motor?
And another hot topic of discussion is the question of the right Power TypeOf course, a fat bike with hub motor and Hall sensor not bad, in my opinion one with Mid-engine and with torque sensor, like the one I drove Mokwheel Basalt ST, but still better. Why? The Comfort is simply higher, and the motor reacts much more directly to the pressure you put on the pedal. Nevertheless, the fat bikes with hub motors mentioned above are also fine.
Weight – an underestimated problem
And last but not least, the WeightFatbikes are sometimes significantly heavier. Just two weeks ago I was able to 40 + kg serious Vakole CO20 MAX with the 19 kg lightweight EC1-ST from Heybike to compare. The difference was really stark! Fat bikes like this always weigh over 30 kg, which is a real hefty weight. So if you have to carry the bike up the stairs or put it on the roof of your car, it quickly becomes really tiring. You should definitely consider this before you decide on a fat bike.
Conclusion: Is a fat bike right for me?
So, after having gained a lot of experience myself, I am still caught between two stools. The wide slippers definitely deliver more Comfort and stability, but the (loud) rolling resistance, the weight and the clunky design make me doubt whether a fat bike is really the right one. In the last two years in particular, I have been out on unpaved roads a lot and sometimes even in winter, and the fat bike was exactly the right choice. In the end, what matters is what you expect from an e-bike – and how much weight you are willing to carry!
