Fat tire e-MTBs are designed for riders to take them into all conditions and to deal with all types of terrain – from snow and soggy bogs, to sand and general trails.
In this direction, ensure wide tread for a large amount of balance and increased traction, and also ensure that bikes 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 spent a lot of miles on the trails to discover the best fat tire electric mountain bike, but we were also looking to identify the crème de la crème in different fields of the e-MTB world.
Who could be so fortunate? Let’s find out….
Nireeka Mega 1500
Best fat tire electric mountain bike
Good for – All-weather playful trail riding
Price – $3,299
Peaks:
- Price
- Battery performance
- Suspension
- speed
- Handling for a big bike
Troughs:
- Needs better brakes
- Weighty
Summary:
This is just fantastic, all-purpose fat-tire e-MTB. It has tremendous power.
Though extremely heavy, the Nireeka Mega 1500 defies the trend of playfulness and versatility in it and that makes this thing a bargain.
If you want an adequately powered bike but also having more in its arsenal, then here you go.
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.
They appear composed over all the middle-of-the-road trails; there’s some sporty geometry that makes you feel comfortable when things get quite higgly-piggly between the trees – but it isn’t perfect on the gnarliest routes, like steep downhill courses – but you can still nudge it about a bit for a big bike.
Battery
The company’s own 840Wh unit is fitted, and it performs reasonably well with a maximum range of about 80km.
Another big plus point is the exceptional charge time – it only takes between 2.5 and 3 hours to juice back up from empty.
These batteries fit snugly into the bike’s elegant downtube and feel solid, hitting their maximum range figure, even when you throw in plenty of chunky inclines.
Motor
A huge selling point for this bike is the power-to-weight ratio – it’s a monster in the motor department, putting out up to 200Nm of torque.
That’s down to the company’s custom 1,500Wh motor, which makes the bike a dream on climbs – it scampers up challenging ascents and no gradient we found gave it even the slightest concern.
Also it has a punchy top speed of 60km/h, so it is competitive on flats – for a weighty bike, it seriously moves.
The Nireeka Mega 1500 is among the most powerful fat tire e bikes while giving us a slice more versatility than just pure speed.
Suspension
The bike is also well-served in the suspension department, with 150mm of travel at both the front and the rear.
The playful handling with responsive suspension delivers this bike’s capacity to drive over lumpy trails, not at all feeling like one of those tanks.
Despite the big hit of rear travel, the ferocity in the motor makes sure that the bike feels sharp on the climbs and not too spongey.
The ability of this bike to tackle unsteady terrain has made it our best off-road e-bike.
Wheels/Tyres
This fat-tire e-MTB is fitted with a pair of Kenda Gigas, it sports a 4-inch-wide tread. OnClickSeriously grippy and allow you to head out in any weather.
Also exceptionally durable, can take endless punishment and gather no punctures or nicks.
Brakes/Drivetrain
The brakes department on the bike is under-served, honestly. There are times we were left looking elsewhere at the Shimano Deore M4100 set-up, thinking it didn’t quite cut it when the coal you’re laying to the hoop gets some serious.
That brings a bit of concern when you consider the weight and muscle behind this bike.
Though the 9-speed Shimano Acera gear setup is more than enough, a 12-gear drivetrain would be awesome. However, the powerful motor in this model compensates for that a lot, so you won’t mind the limitation of gears.
These can be upgraded on the point of purchase at some extra price.
Final Thoughts
The Nireeka Mega 1500 keeps breaking all the normal logics by offering the playfulness we typically don’t expect from a fat tire bike.
It’s also super powerful, with a fashion finish to it, a brilliant range and the suspension to take in what the weight of the bike and adventurous trail riding can bear.
Oh, my goodness – really impressed with this one and for under $4,000 – a steal – our top of the class fat tire electric mountain bike is Nireeka Mega 1500.
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, in fact the unchallenged king of electric hunting bikes- really coming top at our best review guide on the Best Electric Hunting Bikes For 2024.
It is specially designed for hunting purposes and is highly detail-oriented about that, thus it is a leader in the field of hunting.
Weight/Frame
It weighs 32.6kg, relatively light in contrast to other hunting bikes. Of course, it is highly made of aluminum, with good impact dissipation.
It has easy-going geometry, allowing you to ride comfortably over long distances while carrying hunting gear. The bike has been tooled up at the rear end, with an ultra-strong luggage rack that can drag heavy loads on trailers.
It can carry up to 136kg in total, but the handling is far from playful – this bike is made for one thing, heavy-duty hunting expeditions.
Battery
With an extremely efficient Bakou 840Wh battery powering it, the range is above 130km
The range even holds out when you inject a fair amount of climbing and that in itself is impressive from a heavy bike.
It was really annoying having to charge the thing for nearly seven hours to get a top-up charge, which on this bike does require a 6 to 7-hour charge on the battery.
Motor
This very powerful Bafang M620 motor is integrated into the bike. And this has 1000Wh at its disposal.
With that, you can achieve a maximum torque output of 160Nm which combined with the weight, an efficient climber turns out to be and also, it ensures that the bike can survive on its heavy weight baring capabilities.
It produces a maximum torque output of 160Nm, which translates to a pretty efficient climber when combined with its weight. It also ensures that the bike can be comfortably used with a lot of weight and still move reasonably nimbly.
If you are dead set on a 1000Wh model, then this is the best 1000watt, mid-drive, fat-tire electric bike.
Suspension
The forks travel 120mm and the shocks 100mm, using 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 very strong and durable pair of custom rims, which can take a lot of pressure without making the riding experience feel uncomfortable.
They are mounted on a fantastic pair of Maxxis Minion fat-tires – 26 inches in diameter, with a tread that’s 4 inches wide.
It’s a bike set up to handle all kinds of weather, and the squishy amount of grip in the tires makes the bike pretty fast.
Brakes/Drivetrain
The Tektro HD E750 brakes lack a little of the responsiveness in more extreme stops, but when engaged, it manages to produce a good enough bite as to make it an upgrade on the old model of that aspect, for sure.
Nothing wrong with the drivetrain whatsoever; this is pure beast stuff 14-gears to play with to make sure you never find the hilly, or indeed boggy terrain too worrying.
Final Thoughts
This is the complete monster in the fat tire hunting market.
It is powerful, has a long-range battery, huge weight baring capabilities, and an excellent drivetrain.
If you enjoy a weekend adventure in hunting, 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 yet another hunting focused fat tire e-MTB but this time, it’s a package downgraded slightly compared to the Storm Jäger.
This still remains a great and very versatile adventurer with long range, good motor, and great weight carrying ability.
Weight/Frame
It is designed again to carry heavy weights, and the rear end is well-stocked with a strong luggage rack to drag a trailer when needed.
It only weighs in at 30kg, which makes it quite versatile thanks to its light-weight, but very durable, aluminium frame.
Given 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 boasts a solid range of more than 125km, with a reliable 840Wh battery from Bakou.
When the number of climbs is thrown in, it drops to around 100km-110km, while still showing consistency throughout.
Charging time is decent between 4 and 6 hours, depending on the age of the battery used.
Motor
This bike has a good motor performance: a punchy Bafang M620 model, with a top wattage of 1,500Wh.
This translates to high-spirited climbing with the agility of a small mountain goat and results in a maximum torque of approximately 160Nm.
The resultant power that it gives you to carry around heavy loads makes it an excellent hunting bike.
Suspension
The suspension is average. There is a hardtail with travel at the front end only of 100mm.
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 strain under too much 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 hosts a bespoke pair of 26 inch fat-tires, with a 2.4 inch tread provided by Maxxis Minion.
They are ready to take all kinds of conditions too and that amount of traction makes the big bike feel sprightly across flat ground, especially combined with that powerful motor.
Brakes/Drivetrain
Tektro HD E750 brakes also hit the mark at this point; they have an incredibly powerful bite that deals well with the weight and power of the bike.
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 good 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 is a versatile fat-tire bike that will serve you well on a weekend adventure.
ℹ️ Be cautious with your assistance use on hazardous technical sections – the bike’s heavyweight, combined with its immense power, could lead to a nasty accident if you aren’t careful or don’t have the strength to cope with it.
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. Under with a powerful motor, a burly forks set-up and reasonably playful handling, together with luggage carrying capabilities, it’s about bridging the gap between a trail bike and pack-horse style of kit carrying e-MTB’s.
It’s a hard balance to hit, and the bike does have a few issues, but it is a commendable effort by the crew at Quiet Kat.
Weight/Frame
The bike itself comes with a strong aluminium frame and weighs in at 31.7kg.
That allows the bike to have a slight hint of maneuverability and not just remain a big beast, like some fat tire bikes can be.
You can get out on some fast-flowy trails and, for a strong rider, you can duck and weave on it quite well.
It also comes 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, which brings a stated range between 40km and 80km, depending on the terrain.
On our review rides, we came in around 50-60km pretty consistently, but that is incredibly underwhelming compared to some of the other bikes on this list.
It shows the battery isn’t doing anywhere near the job that some of the other fat tire e-MTBs do.
Motor
1000Wh custom motor putting out 160Nm of torque – now that’s much more like it
With the bike at relatively light weight (for a fat tire bike), it climbs niftily, and it feels competitive on the flats, in this realm of tests.
Its motor also runs nice and silky smooth, without all that too mechanical and jerky feel – a welcome change to some of the powerhouses in this list.
Suspension
The Apex Pro features 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 feels composed on rowdy terrain.
The hardtail ensures that the bike stays pacy on flats and climbs and has a decent level of traction, but it does limit the capability of the bike to launch off big drops.
It’s worth noting that those riders who seek drop sizes many times bigger than this may find themselves subjected to very rude jolts since there is no flex when hitting with any part of the bike. A necessary consideration for serious, more aggressive trail or technical trail riding.
Wheels/Tyres
Comes with two 26 inch fat tires. And, very nice and wide for a tire. Pretty wide at 4.5 inches, but nice too.
The combination of chunky tires and relatively light weigh (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 custom tires and wheels do the job pretty well. High durability, comfort.
Brakes/Drivetrain
It has middle of the road Tektro, 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes. They are average operating very slowly sometimes, but they have a strong bite, so they kind of just tend about to do the job (unless you pull up very late).
We’re not pleased with the drivetrain on this bike though – the 9-speed SRAM set-up just seems under-served for the size of the bike. That is something that could have been an easy option to look at putting a few more gears on there to be really well done, to make the bike also even more efficient on the climbs.
Easy one to upgrade to be sure but probably the price is what’d jump.
Final Thoughts
It’s one of the more agile fat tire bikes we have reviewed in this guide- we do use the word agile lightly, though, since it’s 31.7kg.
The bike has an amazing motor and suspension set-up so climbs the bike amazingly well too, even descends well. Also, the bike is well geared up for loads to carry as well, so you can either ride the bike as a fat tire trail bike or enjoy the use for the weekend pursuits for hunting, camping, or fishing etc.
There are things to be improved-in the drivetrain as well as the brakes-but, on standard fare, it’s still a pretty good all-around package.
Juiced Rip Current S
Good for – Speed
Price – $2,299
Peaks:
- Long range battery
- Powerful motor
- Price
Troughs:
- Suspension
- Brakes
- Drivetrain
- Handling
- Weight
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.
But it does lack some sex appeal in 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.
Its aluminium frame tips the scales at 34kg, which can make it a bit of a lumbering beast on the trails.
Whereas some other machines here certainly don’t deliver in the playfulness stakes, this one certainly doesn’t feel playful and does feel very rigid in the handling stakes.
Battery
It has a 998Wh custom battery. It is awkwardly placed above the downtube of the bike, rather than being flush with the design.
That aspect doesn’t look the best, but it goes pretty well providing over 100km of range.
Climbing and hilly rides would naturally result in cutting the top figure of a long range dramatically. Along a hilly route, the distance might fall to about 70km.
Motor
The bike is geared with a powerful 1000Wh Bafang hub motor that has a strong kick in it, not the most intelligent when it comes to delivery, though.
It really helps you get up tricky climbs, of course, and on the flats it is a monster, enjoying 90Nm of torque at your disposal, proving how well you can hit top speeds, well up to 45km/h.
But if you ride it in technical terrain, then it really struggles and is jerky when it actually gets up and moving.
Suspension
Well, it only has 100mm of travel in the forks, so it comes with a hardtail.
It’s very much a custom set-up and very limited, so where you can go on the bike comfortably is also limited.
When you consider the weight, the suspension set-up totally eliminates any playful ride and it really only goes for big open flat expanses like forest roads or gravel paths-not for technical trail riding.
Wheels/Tyres
The bike is fitted 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 wear a set of fat, 26 inch tires with a width of 4 inches in tread; it offers a firm grip into the dirt and enables them for all-weather riding capability.
Brakes/Drivetrain
It’s shoed with a pair of Logan HD-E500s. These feel woefully underwhelming for the power at your disposal and not always confidence inspiring in bringing you up short. Not ideal when the bike weighs in as heavily as this does.
The drivetrain is also not up to much – an underwhelming 9-speed Trigger system to feed the crankset and the pedals can sometimes feel a little desperate on their turn.
Final Thoughts
If you are on a really tight budget, then this may be something to consider and there are a few redeeming moments: the long-range battery and the strong motor.
But, because of all the issues with this bike, it’s clunky to ride and there certainly isn’t a fun factor.
If you just want to bomb around on flatter terrain, on wide-open country paths or vast expanses, this is an acceptable hybrid fat tire electric bike.
But if you want to trail ride? Avoid this bike.
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 an e-MTB sporty design with a properly equipped electrical department and a cracking pair of fat-tires.
It’s not quite the complete package, and like all things, it has its downsides also. The main issues are weight and drivetrain.
Weight/Frame
The bike has a weight of 39kg, and thus looks more like a real chunky beast to move around.
However, Himiway designed it to be fun to ride, and the sporty geometry makes a bit more than the most basic trails suitable.
Obviously, there is that not-so-obvious caveat that this isn’t a light bike, so you’re never going to be bombing down wild downhill routes or super-technical trails. But still, you can have a degree of fun on more moderate trails.
The bike also looks the part too, with a tidy cockpit and good-looking design.
Battery
It 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 is very conservative, ensuring that the battery always hits the range bracket on a consistent basis – it’s one of the more reliable batteries in our fat tire e-MTB review guide.
Motor
Fitted to the bike is a high 1000Wh custom motor, with a max torque output of 160Nm.
That’s quite a punch and it does dampen the edge of heavy weight of the bike, so you get to climb relatively efficiently, and you can reach 49km/h.
The bike isn’t the most agile because of the heavy weight, so the bike can feel unstable, and poky in technical climbs – it’s more suited to just long straight blasts up steep hills, rather than windy, techy trails.
Suspension
It packs 100mm of travel at the front end and 190mm at the rear, with custom forks and DNM A0-38RC shocks.
Now the shocks are perfectly adequate to the task in hand, absorbing the weightiness of the bike. The forks look a bit anaemic for such a large bike and do not offer enough sponge to leave you feeling completely comfortable with this rough-and-tumble bike.
The bike takes a few of the lower-level ups and downs, but if you throw anything of any real size in there, the bike feels really uncomfortable.
Wheels/Tyres
The bike is fitted with a pair of custom 26 inch rims, and a pretty wide pair of 4.8 inch fat tyres from CST.
With these e-bike big tires, you’ll have a ton of cushioning under foot and be ready to go out in whatever Mother Nature may throw at you, from toothy tread that slices through sodden conditions, sand, snow, and everything in between.
Brakes/Drivetrain
Brakes The bike sports a competent pair of Tektro 180mm hydraulic brakes. They aren’t particularly overpowering in terms of performance, but they activate quickly enough and offer just about enough bite – without excelling.
The bike is a little under-served in the gearing department, with only a 10-speed set-up. When things get distinctly steep, or very challenging underfoot, it can feel quite tough to press on over the pedals. Better would be a 12-speed, more so.
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.
Good on varied terrain, though hard to look past weightiness, ever present in this review, denying you from tackling technical terrain and sometimes leaving the bike feeling uneasy.
Fat tire bike. Good 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-bike with a comfy ride, but heavy weight carrying.
Not flash in terms of playfulness, nor capable of taking in more adventurous terrain, it’s a reliable companion for longer-distance adventures.
With its fully juiced battery, sturdy frame and ease of use, it’s a firm favourite of ours in the entry-level market.
This costs of this much. I feel it to be worth considering.
Weight/Frame
It is aluminum framed and this gives it a decent solid feel while riding. It absorbs impacts well. The weight, however, isn’t light and it sits at 35kg, taking away any playfulness. It’s not what the bike was built for either with long distance adventures over smoother terrain in mind and it is kitted out with a strong luggage rack.
Thanks to that solid frame and rack, the bike can carry up to 181kg, so weekends camping adventures, hunting, or daily grocery shopping won’t be a problem.
Battery
The Himiway Zebra comes with a monster 960Wh Samsung/LG battery.
Of course, there is no question about this bike’s heavy weight, but that powerful battery allows you to easily reach 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 has room in a large downtube on the frame of the bike.
Motor
The Himiway Zebra sports a 750Wh customized motor that can push out as much as 86Nm of torque.
That makes this bike not nearly as spry of a climber as any we’ve ever tested, because of the weight of the bike and this motor doesn’t have nearly the same punch as some of the other bikes on this list.
But 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 limited to fairly simple trails and forest roads – the bike is a fish out of water on adventurous terrain.
The bespoke suspension components feel clumsy and uncomfortable on even moderately sized lumps and bumps.
Wheels/Tyres
Himiway Zebra comes with a pair of 26 inch wheels, with 4 inch wide Kenda fat tyres.
The wheels handle quite well the heavyweight of the bike, and the tires provide a good amount of traction to help get you up to speed and drag along the heavy load which you may be dragging.
They are weighty though and it’s another factor, which reduces any chance for playfulness.
Brakes/Drivetrain
It has a pair of Tektro 180mm brakes. This is an entirely easy component that, sometimes, seems to be not sufficient enough for the heavy weight of the bike and its possible load on an extra scale.
This would often be a worry sometime, especially when you come across something dangerous while riding at a speed.
The 7-speed Shimano drivetrain is not much exciting, and it will feel quite hard to use up the pedal shove while carrying some spare pounds that stay with you on the bike.
Final Thoughts
Himiway Zebra is fantastically cheap and packs a long range battery, sturdy frame, and fantastic carrying capacity.
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.
Conclusion
Fat tyre e-MTBs let you hit trails without a care in the world as to what the weather conditions might be, nor how bad the ground conditions may be on the trails.
And yet they enable you to lug massive weights around and deal with the stresses of riding at incredible velocities.
In this guid, we’ve selected the best of the best for purposes like hunting, trail riding, fat tire bikes for speed enthusiasts and budget shoppers.
Best Fat Tire Electric Mountain Bike
The best among them turned out to be Nireeka Mega 1500, which is an absolutely impeccable and versatile e-MTB that strikes all the right notes for us.
We hope you’ve liked our reviews on fat tire electric bikes-now it’s time for you to get them rolling.
