What is the best fatbike?

There is no single best fatbike for everyone. Which one suits you best depends on your height, your rides and where you store it. So compare your riding position, the battery capacity in watt-hours, the weight, the brakes and the tires. And check the rules: pedal assistance up to 25 km/h and a nominal power of no more than 250 watts.

Below, you can read what to look out for in each area, with examples from our fatbikes. The data for each model comes directly from the manufacturer. The models to compare are listed at the bottom.

Does the fatbike suit you?

Start with your riding position. According to a DTV report for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, popular fatbikes typically have 20-inch wheels, a long saddle that usually cannot be adjusted in height, and a lower riding position than a regular e-bike. If you are tall or rather short, check carefully which rider height the manufacturer specifies.

There are also fatbikes with 26-inch wheels, such as the JOBOBIKE Robin ST with a low step-through and the ENGWE E26 with a high step-over. A low step-through makes getting on and off easier, which is handy at every traffic light. The OUXI GT-20 and the S20 Pro have 20-inch wheels.

How many watt-hours does the battery have?

Look at the watt-hours (Wh), because this tells you how much energy the battery contains. You calculate it as volts multiplied by ampere-hours. The JOBOBIKE Robin Pro has 48 volts and 20 ampere-hours, so 960 watt-hours, while the ENGWE E26 has 48 volts and 16 ampere-hours, so 768 watt-hours.

According to Milieu Centraal, how far you can ride depends on the watt-hours and how hard you pedal. Headwinds, hills and cold weather drain the battery faster. Also pay attention to quality: according to the ANWB, poor-quality battery cells create a greater fire risk and reduce range.

How heavy is it, and how much can you weigh?

According to DTV, most popular fatbikes weigh around 35 kilos, while most other e-bikes weigh 25 to 30 kilos. Fatbikes weighing around 25 kilos also exist, according to research firm Goudappel. According to JOBOBIKE, the JOBOBIKE Robin Pro and Robin ST weigh 34.6 kilos, while the ENGWE E26 with a high step-over weighs 34.5 kilos.

If you have to carry the bike up stairs, bear this in mind. The ADAC says that this can already be very difficult from around 25 kilos. According to DTV, a heavy fatbike is also harder to handle, especially for young and lightweight riders.

Also check the maximum load: how much you and your luggage may weigh together. According to the manufacturer, this is 150 kilos for the S20 Pro, the V20 Comfort Pro and the OUXI GT-20, and 120 kilos for the JOBOBIKE Robin Pro and Robin ST.

Which brakes does it have?

The brakes must bring that weight plus you to a stop. The ANWB explains that brakes are designed for the maximum weight specified by the manufacturer. If you exceed it, the bike brakes less effectively and your stopping distance becomes longer. Brake pads also wear out faster on an e-bike than on a regular bike, so check them a few times a year.

Check the specifications to see which type of disc brakes it has: hydraulic or mechanical. According to ENGWE, the ENGWE E26 has 180 mm hydraulic disc brakes, while according to OUXI, the OUXI GT-20 has hydraulic Tektro brakes with 4 pistons.

Which tires suit your rides?

The typical fatbike has tires about 4 inches wide, or around 10 centimeters, writes DTV. According to the parties DTV consulted, wider tires provide a more stable ride, greater comfort and less trouble on poor road surfaces; DTV says there is no known scientific research on this. The ANWB puts it this way: the wider the tire, the more cushioning it provides over bumps.

The S20 Pro, the V20 Comfort Pro, the OUXI GT-20 and the GT-20 Pro have 20 x 4.0-inch tires, while the JOBOBIKE Robin Pro, Robin ST and ENGWE E26 have 26 x 4.0-inch tires. If you mainly ride on asphalt and want a more maneuverable bike, take a look at the skinny bikes. According to tire manufacturer Schwalbe, a bike with narrow tires accelerates better and is more maneuverable because there is less mass rotating in the wheels.

Which fatbike is better left alone?

A fatbike that does not comply with the rules for an electric bicycle. According to the Dutch government, these rules apply when pedal assistance goes up to a maximum of 25 km/h and the motor has a maximum output of 250 watts. Under European rules, this refers to the nominal power. If the fatbike has a throttle that allows you to go faster than 6 km/h without pedaling, or if the motor assists while you pedal above 25 km/h, it must be type-approved as, for example, a moped, low-speed moped or speed pedelec. Otherwise, you may not ride it on public roads and you are not insured.

What matters is what the bike is technically capable of, not how you ride it. A higher speed that you can set in a menu also counts (Government Gazette 2025, 14637). If you are unsure, make sure to get proper information from the seller, as recommended by the Dutch government.