Fat tyre electric bikes

Fat tyre electric bikes for the commute, the school run and town

People picture a fat tyre electric bike on a beach or a snowy trail. In reality, most spend their days going to work, to school and around town. The wide tyres soak up potholes, speed bumps, kerbs and broken tarmac on the cycle lane, and they keep the bike calm on wet roads. Here you'll find fat bikes from OUXI, V20, ENGWE, Diablo and 7GO, among others. Most have 20-inch wheels and a 250 W motor that helps you along up to 25 km/h (15.5 mph) while you pedal. Use the filters to sort by frame type, battery, range or wheel size.

What is a fat bike, and what's the catch?

The name gives it away. A fat bike has tyres far wider than an ordinary bike, run at lower pressure. That means more grip, and the tyre takes the edge off bumps before they reach your wrists. Wide tyres take more effort to roll, and that's where the motor earns its keep. The catch is the weight. Most models here weigh between 30 and 40 kg. Live in a first floor flat with no lift? Think about where the bike will go each night. With a flat battery it's also hard work to pedal.

Are fat bikes legal in the UK?

Yes, as long as the bike counts as an electrically assisted pedal cycle, or EAPC. According to gov.uk, the motor's continuous rated power can't be more than 250 W, the assistance has to cut out at 15.5 mph, and the pedals must be able to drive the bike. The bike should also be marked with its power output and its manufacturer. If you're 14 or over, you can ride an EAPC in the UK without a licence, and it doesn't need to be registered, taxed or insured. A helmet isn't a legal requirement. You can use cycle paths and anywhere else a pedal bike is allowed, but not the pavement. Nearly every model in this collection is built to that 250 W limit with assistance up to 25 km/h. The exception is the OUXI GT-2000, which has a 2000 W motor. It doesn't meet the EAPC rules, so gov.uk treats it as a motorcycle or moped, and it's meant for private land, not public roads or cycle paths. Check the motor in the specifications. If it says more than 250 W, it isn't an EAPC.

How fast and how far does a fat tyre e-bike go?

A road legal fat bike assists you up to 15.5 mph, which is 25 km/h. You can go faster, but then it's your legs doing the work, not the motor. So the fastest legal fat bike is simply the one that keeps you comfortable at that limit for the whole ride. How far you get depends on the battery, your weight, headwind, hills and which assist level you use. Manufacturers usually quote around 80 km, roughly 50 miles, on a medium setting. Most single batteries here sit between 600 and 850 Wh. Got a long commute? Look at the models with two batteries. Expect less range in winter, because batteries give less in the cold.

Which fat bike suits you?

Start with the frame. A low step-through lets you hop off at the lights without swinging a leg over a child seat or panniers. A high crossbar suits you if you're used to a traditional frame. Wheel size matters too. With 20-inch wheels the bike stays short and nimble in busy traffic. There are also models with 24, 26 and 27.5-inch wheels if you're tall or mostly ride longer distances on open roads. Most models are designed for riders from about 150 cm, just under 4 ft 11. If you're stuck between two bikes, compare battery capacity and weight in the specifications. They tell you more than the motor, because that's 250 W on almost all of them. Not sure about a particular model? Message us on WhatsApp and we'll talk it through.

See also: OUXI fat bikes | V20 fat bikes | ENGWE e-bikes | fat bike deals | fat bike accessories