The best $850 I’ve spent on an e-bike

After spending a month or two locked up throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, people have turned to e-bikes en masse as a strategy to get out of the home and have interaction in social distancing enjoyable. Whereas lots of the finest electrical bikes on Amazon have been sold out for weeks, one of many few remaining good choices remains to be hanging in there: the Ecotric 500W fat tire electric bike.

Now I wish to be clear from the beginning: This isn’t a high-end electrical bike, although you in all probability guessed that from the $850 price tag.

However what shocked me was that it isn’t a low-quality e-bike both. Whereas the Ecotric fats tire bike has its shortcomings, it truly presents an honest vary of components and specs that far exceed its modest value.

For anybody trying to find an reasonably priced fats tire bike that they’ll thrash round on with out babying it or worrying about their funding, this could possibly be an incredible choice.

Take a look at my video evaluate of the Ecotric 500W fats tire e-bike under, then hold studying for the complete particulars.

Ecotric 500W fats tire e-bike video evaluate

Ecotric 500W fats tire e-bike tech specs

• Motor: 500W geared rear hub motor
• Prime velocity: 32 km/h (20 mph)
• Vary: 25-50 km (15-30 mi) relying on throttle or pedal help
• Battery: 36V 12Ah (432Wh)
• Cost time: 6 hours
• Max load: 120 kg (265 lb)
• Body: 6061 aluminum
• Suspension: None
• Brakes: Tektro mechanical disc brakes with 160 mm rotors
• Extras: LCD show with speedometer, battery gauge, PAS stage indicator, odometer, tripmeter, half-twist throttle

What are its strengths?

The Ecotric fats tire bike’s largest power is that it really works simply advantageous. I do know that sounds underwhelming, however persist with me right here. There’s nothing fancy concerning the bike, nevertheless it works.

It’s not fairly, nevertheless it’s a heck of loads higher trying than some other ultra-budget e-bikes we’ve tried.

The fats tires provide you with loads of grip and cushion, making up for the shortage of suspension. And reality be informed, typically I want a inflexible fork over an el-cheapo suspension fork that appears like it’s going to disintegrate.

The pedal-assist is cadence-based and so it has that telltale delay for the primary revolution or so earlier than it kicks in, however as soon as it does it feels loads sturdy.

I did some climbing on filth hearth roads and located that between me and the pedal-assist, there was no hill I couldn’t climb. Nevertheless, the identical hills have been a lot more durable on throttle alone. The Ecotric may do it, however boy did I decelerate. That’s typical for a 500W system with a 36V battery – they merely have a way more highly effective really feel on flat floor than when climbing large hills.

The bike additionally feels surprisingly effectively designed. And certain, which may be because of the body being ripped off of another bike, however no less than they ripped it off effectively. Meaning the geometry truly feels comfy and never sketchy like some funds e-bikes.

The bike parts aren’t wonderful. We’re speaking the bottom of the Shimano drivetrain components and Tektro brakes. However no less than it has model title components, proper?!

Primarily, the bike didn’t blow me away in anyone class, nevertheless it did nearly every thing I requested of it aside from climbing large hills on throttle solely. And maybe I used to be asking an excessive amount of there.

What are its weaknesses?

So the place does the Ecotric lag behind?

Principally in options and equipment. It doesn’t have any LED lights or fenders or a rack – all issues that I like to see included on a motorbike. Certain, I can add all three of these myself, however I don’t wish to! I need a bike to come back with them – is that a lot to ask?

At this value, maybe it’s an excessive amount of to ask.

The opposite sticking level is the vary. With a 432Wh battery, I wouldn’t name the vary underwhelming, nevertheless it’s definitely not spectacular both. Most e-bikes include no less than a 500Wh battery today. The Ecotric can get you round 30 miles of vary in case you’re pedaling however count on to get round half of that on throttle solely.

Meaning it is likely to be good for a Sunday afternoon pleasure experience, however not a prolonged tour. At the very least not with out a spare battery.

What’s the decision?

Regardless of the Ecotric’s downsides, I nonetheless give this bike a thumbs up. However not an unconditional thumbs up.

You must go into this e-bike realizing that you simply’re getting reasonable energy and a scarcity of any fancy options.

But for $850, you get a full-size electrical fats tire bike that can have you ever flying by the park and across the trails with out breaking a sweat. It’s an e-bike that works and does its job – it simply doesn’t provide you with something further in the best way of creature comforts.

In the event you’re ready to make that sacrifice to get on an reasonably priced e-bike, then this could possibly be the fitting bike for you. When you’ve got only a bit extra to spend, I would advocate the Lectric XP fat tire e-bike that gives extra energy for just $899. However if you wish to persist with a full-size and ultra-low priced electrical fats tire bike, the Ecotric has the fitting stuff.

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