We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More \u203a<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Whether you\u2019re trying to cut down on time spent in the car or hiking a tree stand out to your hunting spot, fat tire electric bikes make getting around town or trails fun and easy. Skinny tires are built for speed, but if you already have a motor, you may as well embrace the stability and comfort of fat tires. I tried out three of the best fat tire electric bikes with varying levels of suspension to help you decide on your new ride.<\/p>\n I tested the QuietKat Lynx and HeyBike Horizon around the foothills of Salt Lake City, Utah, on dirt trails and paved roads. I also met with Amelia Helmick, senior compliance engineer at Specialized, to discuss the merits and inner workings of the best fat tire electric bikes and try out the Globe Haul ST.<\/p>\n The first thing to understand about e-bikes is that many states regulate them using the following classification system<\/a>. All of the bikes on this list are capable of class three performance (It\u2019s the most fun).\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tSee It<\/a> The QuietKat Lynx is sexy. It looks more like a motorcycle than an e-bike with a handsome pleather saddle, dramatic headlight, and cafe moto<\/a> inspired build. I was turning heads and making friends while testing the Lynx around my neighborhood. The 1000W hub-drive motor has an impressive 1440W peak output giving you some real get-up-and-go and hauling power.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ashley Thess<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n QuietKat\u2019s pedal assist is unique with eco, trail, and boost as your options instead of a one through five numerical setting. The Lynx also has a variable output power (VPO) system that allows you to toggle through the three different e-bike classification for compliance with your local laws. There is also a secret fourth option: unlimited mode. While most states follow a three class system when it comes to electric bikes, if you\u2019re on private land, you can let loose on unlimited mode \u2014 or class four \u2014 utilizing more than 750W with no speed limit.<\/p>\n Ashley Thess<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Even with two people on this bike, it went 10 mph on steep uphills and 28 mph on flat roads. The 4.5-inch tires have a deep tread and feel stable on dirt, pavement, and rocks. Assembly was involved but not complicated; you will need a bike pump to fully inflate the tires. The seat and handlebar height aren\u2019t adjustable, but I\u2019m 5-feet-7-inches tall and felt in control while riding.\u00a0<\/p>\n There\u2019s also an app that connects to the Lynx via Bluetooth with GPS capabilities, ride tracking, and maintenance recommendations. It also allows you to put your bike in lock mode, making it impossible to turn on the bike, or theft mode in case someone walks away with all 100 pounds anyway. The only catch is it\u2019s only free for 12 months, and then it\u2019s $60 a year.<\/p>\n Overall, this is a rad bike that will take you almost anywhere you need to go. The suspension takes curbs, stairs, potholes, and more with grace. It\u2019s comfortable and stylish for city riding and powerful enough for hauling gear on rough terrain. Plus, the throttle is super fun. Just don\u2019t let it go to your head; one tester attempted to jump a tree stump and landed directly in a ditch when this 100-pound beast didn\u2019t quite float through the air.<\/p>\n Read Next: <\/strong>QuietKat Apex Pro Review<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tSee It<\/a> HeyBike\u2019s latest model, the Horizon, is unique in that it\u2019s a full-suspension, class three fat tire electric bike that also folds in on itself for more compact storage. Its unfolded dimensions are 75.6 x 24.4 x 46.5 inches, and folded it\u2019s 49.2 x 23.6 x 31.5 inches. There\u2019s a hinge on the bottom of the down and seat tubes allowing the wheels to join together. The handlebars also hinge down. Now, this bike is still nearly 80 pounds, so the folding component doesn\u2019t make it portable, but if you want to put it in your trunk to take it to a trail, or stow it in the corner of the garage, it\u2019s a nifty feature.<\/p>\n Ashley Thess<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n While the Horizon looks more like a traditional electric bike than the Lynx, it\u2019s still speedy. I loved that I didn\u2019t even have to pedal to get going; just press down on the throttle lever with your right thumb and sort out putting your feet on the pedals later. It has a Shimano seven speed derailleur, but honestly it feels a little pointless. If I want to go faster, I\u2019m just going to up the pedal assist rather than shift gears.<\/p>\n The pedal assist can be adjusted one through five, with a max speed of 28. The hydraulic front fork is a nice addition to the Horst-link, absorbing impacts from curbs, stairs, roots, etc. no problem. I like that the seat and handlebars are adjustable. This bike zips around, so I like having a lower seat to easily stabilize myself with my foot at a quick stop.<\/p>\n Out of the box, the Horizon was a breeze to assemble. I\u2019ll be honest, I didn\u2019t even watch the video. That\u2019s why I was originally sure it was my own fault when the front fork wasn\u2019t locking into the head tube, giving way too much play when I pulled up on the handle bars. But, the front wheel came pre-assembled on the bike. I had to reattach the wheel a couple times, and eventually it tightened properly.\u00a0<\/p>\n The HeyBike is also Bluetooth compatible, but the app is lacking compared to the QuietKat (but, it is free). You can change the pedal assist setting and track your activity, GPS location, and battery life. But there is no lock mode or maintenance info.\u00a0<\/p>\n HeyBike\u2019s Horizon is a fast, stable, and comfortable ride ideal for commuting or ripping around trails. The folding feature is great for riders looking to take their e-bike to their favorite trail and long stretch of nowhere. This bike is ideal for someone looking to have it all in a foldable, full suspension, fat tire electric bike.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tSee It<\/a> Technically the tires on the Globe aren\u2019t fat, they\u2019re wide. But I wasn\u2019t going to let half an inch stop me from covering this adventure bike from Specialized. If you plan to stick to gravel, dirt, or paved roads, this rigid fat tire electric bike will get you where you need to go smoothly. The 700W rear hub motor is powerful enough for steep hills and heavy loads. At 419 pounds of weight capacity, you can even purchase a passenger kit<\/a> to make riding with a friend more comfortable.\u00a0<\/p>\n Specialized<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Switch through the five pedal assist settings with the +\/- buttons, or rely on the dual torque sensor to increase your speed the more pressure you put on the pedals. The sensor measures force on each pedal to quickly pick up on when you\u2019re exerting more force with one foot or both, and your speed will increase. You can also add a throttle and hook it up using the Specialized-Globe app. Also with the app, track your rides and stats, place your bike in lock mode, and run firmware updates.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Globe is a smooth ride with plenty of power. Specialized also has a large network of service centers and retailers should you need assistance. For example, HeyBike only has one retailer within 20 miles of me. Specialized has 14. They also offer a lifetime warranty on the frame of the bikes (as does QuietKat), and a two year warranty on the battery, compared to one year for HeyBike and QuietKat. A larger company can offer these kinds of amenities.\u00a0<\/p>\n Read Next: <\/strong>Best Electric Bikes for Hunting<\/a><\/p>\n Suspension is more comfortable if you\u2019re on rocky trails, and a necessity if you want to jump tree stumps, but if you plan on sticking to dirt, gravel, or paved roads, you might be paying more for no reason. That said, if you want to rip through whatever terrain dares come your way, a hardtail or full suspension fat tire electric bike is the way to go.<\/p>\n When selecting a fat tire electric bike, pay attention to the motor and peak power. Both of these are going to affect your hauling power. Rear hub motors are going to offer the best hauling capacity and drive that power from the back, where the weight is. Electric bikes aren\u2019t legally supposed to use more than 750W motors, but class four, or unlimited mode for the QuietKat, allows for a loophole on private land. You will see motors with a peak power over 750W which is what your bike will tap into for propelling heavier weights.<\/p>\n The miles per charge range on electric bikes will always be listed for the lowest pedal assist or eco mode in the QuietKat\u2019s case. If you don\u2019t intend to drive so conservatively, or plan on hauling weight or going up a lot of hills, this will vary significantly. You might consider a portable charger or extra battery for long trips.<\/p>\nHow I Tested the Best Fat Tire Electric Bikes<\/h2>\n
Electric Bike Classifications<\/h3>\n
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Best Fat Tire Electric Bikes: Reviews & Recommendations\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Best Hardtail: QuietKat Lynx<\/a><\/h3>\n
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Best Dual Suspension: HeyBike Horizon<\/a><\/h3>\n
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Best Rigid: Specialized Globe<\/a><\/h3>\n
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Things to Consider Before Buying a Fat Tire Electric Bike<\/h2>\n
Suspension<\/h3>\n
Motor<\/h3>\n
Battery<\/h3>\n
Security\u00a0<\/h3>\n