E-bikes with fat tires are the SUVs of the cycling world; big wide tires provide a lot of traction and let you ride on any terrain, while the high volume of air provides a surprising amount of comfort. Fat tire e-bikes also tend to be a lot more stable due to their increased weight. Fat tire rides come in all shapes and sizes, from relatively small 20x4 inch folders up to gigantic offroad machines with 29x5 inch tires. If you haven't ridden on one of those big boys yet you're missing out! While professional opinions due differ on what constitutes a fat tire, we here at Electron Rider say "anything with tires at least 3.5 inches wide".
Fat tire e-bikes tend to be extra popular in coastal or desert areas, because - unlike a normal bicycle tire - you can ride a fat tire in the sand with no problem. The same is true for snow, although riding in freezing cold isn't quite so popular 🥶 For particularly deep and soft sand you'll probably need to drop your air pressure down, and you can actually drop it as low as 5 PSI and somehow still ride. PSI stands for "pounds per square inch", and these big rubber doughnuts have a lot of inches! Just remember that this low pressure and soft terrain will seriously hurt your efficiency and you should expect to get half, or maybe even less, of your usual range out of your battery.
The downside to e-bikes with fat tires is fairly obvious: they're big, heavy, and bulky. Such e-bikes weigh way too much for your typical bike rack so you'll have to pay more for a special heavy-duty one. They take up more space in the garage, can be difficult to park at crowded bike racks, and God forbid you have to carry them up and down stairs to your upper level apartment! Plus, these hefty cycles handle like... well, like the bike equivalent of an SUV. They're not very nimble or agile, and they take a lot more effort to pedal. Especially if you run out of juice, so try to avoid that!
Iconic is a new brand in the crowded e-bike space, but you wouldn't know it from the quality of their first model, the Cruiser - this is one amazing ride! It's got style, grace, imposing size, and quality components, and definitely lives up to the "Iconic" name in every way. Don't worry, this head-turner is useful too; Lights, cargo rack, and fenders make it a great utility city e-bike. You can even upgrade to a 1000-watt motor for truly satisfying acceleration!
This "blast" from the past will make you feel like you're a kid riding your BMX again... except now you can cruise around at 20mph without breaking a sweat! The Soda Bike is fairly small as e-bikes go, prioritizing nimble quickness over comfort, though it will definitely be WAY more comfortable than your old BMX bike was thanks to the beefy fat tires and front suspension fork. This is a Class 2 with both pedal assist and a throttle, and a 624 watt-hour battery for plenty of range.
Wing usually makes lightweight city bikes but they're branching out with the Freedom Fatty 2, rocking giant 4-inch Kenda Krusader tires on their uniquely shaped frames. These frames have lights integrated into the ends of their long top tubes, which looks cool and also helps protect the lights from accidental snag damage. There's no suspension which means you can't go too crazy in your adventuring, but those big tires provide a surprising amount of comfort!
The FT2 is quite sleek for a trike, with an approachable step-thru frame and highly adjustable stem. Both a rear rack and a front basket are included and they're quite sturdy, making the FT2 a capable cargo hauler, complete with fenders and lights for riding in any conditions. The speed limit is adjustable as high as 28mph, but since this is a trike we recommend keeping it down at 20mph... but hey, if you're feeling like a speed demon at least the hydraulic brakes will be able to bring this beast to a halt quickly.
Dual battery and full suspension for under $2,000 might sound too good to be true... but you can get it on the Cheetah! This fat tire e-bike is designed for adventuring both on and off the pavement, and even includes free rack & fenders which will come in handy for commuters. Integrated lights are also present although they aren't super bright, and there aren't any turn signals... but hey, for $1,899 it's tough to complain about that. Plus, this tanky Class 3 can carry up to 400 pounds of weight, making it a great fit for us larger riders.
Featuring an extra-thick step-through frame style that is very hot these days, the HovAlpha Step-Thru is a beefy and capable fat tire electric bike. Standard accessories include fenders and an integrated headlight, and hydraulic disc brakes which are a nice touch at this price point. Hovsco has a decently large dealer network which helps with access to test rides and maintenance, and they're known for using high quality Samsung battery cells to boot!
Sturdy construction and cast alloy wheels allow this heavy-duty folder to carry up to 400 pounds of rider and cargo weight, but that means the Ranger S is quite a bit heavier than most e-bikes. It has lights, signals, fenders, and a rear rack, so it's fully equipped for a wide variety of use cases - even some light off-road adventuring thanks to the suspension fork!
The AQ177 Pro Max has the biggest battery I've ever seen on an e-bike... was this monster made in Texas?! The downside of all that juice is a Texas-sized curb weight of 116 pounds... no sir, this electrified bicycle is not for the faint of heart. With a full loadout of commuting accessories, hydraulic brakes, and a suspiciously low price tag of just $1,799, this e-bike is tempting indeed... but how will the quality hold up over time? Dive into the full review to get my take.
Denago is all about packing in value at a low price point and they've certainly done that with their Fat Tire model, loading it up with a powerful 750-watt motor, premium LG battery cells, fenders, and an integrated headlight. The cabling is internally routed in the frame for a surprisingly sleek look too! The step-through frame is easy to mount and dismount but also thick enough to provide plenty of strength, which is important since this is capable of class 3 speeds of 28mph. While there isn't a rear rack included by default, there are mount points for adding one yourself.
Tall humans, rejoice! The Ranger 2.0 looks gigantic next to regular sized bicycles, and it's one of the few electric bikes that my tall frame actually feels comfortable on. It's not the most premium ride out there, sporting an electric system that's pretty dated but honestly still performs pretty well, and it's capable of reaching 28mph with pedal assist. It is fully kitted out with goodies such as fenders, integrated lights, and a sturdy rack, making it a great utility city commuter, especially with these efficient and comfortable fat tire slicks.
Who needs suspension when you have gigantic 4.8-inch fat tires? Not the Boar Explorer! No suspension means less weight which might explain how this monster e-bike somehow manages to feel quite nimble. If you're looking for a fat tire e-bike that can handle MTB trails, this just might be it!
It can't actually twist, but it can fold! Some e-bikes are specialists but the Twist is a jack of all trades, designed to handle a wide range of terrains and use cases. There's even two different frame sizes so it can suit a wide range of rider sizes, too! Surface604 has been making electric bikes for a long time and their expertise shows in their reliable yet affordable products, most of which have torque sensors which are rare in this price range. The step-through frame is approachable, yet thick enough to provide stability at speeds, and you can configure this e-bike as either Class 2 (20mph) or Class 3 (28mph). The sturdy rear rack is part of the frame which makes it a lot more sturdy than the typical bolt-on rack.
Have you ever looked at an electric bike and thought "I just wish I could ride that in my living room?" Well, now you can! The MorphRover has an innovative rear stand that transforms it into an exercise cycling machine that you can put in your living room or just about anywhere else. There's a companion smartphone app for different exercise programs, but the coolest part is that riding the MorphRover in exercise mode actually recharges your battery, making this the greenest e-bike ever! Cool new features aside, the MorphRover is also a sturdily-built fat tire electric bike, with quality components and some basic accessories in the form of lights and fenders.