Regular or Fat e-bike?

minime

Pedelecer
Feb 19, 2017
158
18
40
Hull
Hello

I am thinking of buying a new e-bike but don't know which one of these two to choose from; regular bike or fat bike.

Both have a motor of about 1000w-1500w and the same battery, 48v 17amp.

The fat bike is slightly more expensive so what are its advantages over its regular-sized brethren?

Thank you
 

Woosh

Trade Member
May 19, 2012
19,407
16,387
Southend on Sea
wooshbikes.co.uk
They are very different in feel.
You have to test ride them to know which one you prefer.
 

D8ve

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 30, 2013
2,142
1,294
Bristol
They have a gearless hub motor so not the best for steep hills and slow climbs. Makes the back heavier too.
 

RobF

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 22, 2012
4,732
2,311
I'll use it mostly on flat roads (paved with ashalt).
A fat bike is not suitable for that use, although you can, of course, ride your bike wherever you like.
 

minime

Pedelecer
Feb 19, 2017
158
18
40
Hull
What is a fat bike suitable for? I thought maybe the bike feels steadier because of the larger surface area of the tyres.
 

RobF

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 22, 2012
4,732
2,311
Fat bikes are good for soft trails, sand, snow, mud, and also perfectly suitable for harder trails.

What they are not suitable for is asphalt.

The wide, soft tyres will be hard to push at any speed, even with a motor, and will wear at an alarming rate.

I imagine they might also 'track' on road imperfections.

All-in-all, not good for the road.
 
  • Disagree
Reactions: IR772

Woosh

Trade Member
May 19, 2012
19,407
16,387
Southend on Sea
wooshbikes.co.uk
on made roads, it does feel steadier and copes better with potholes.
BTW, you can fit 3" road tyres to them instead of 4" fat tyres.
 

minime

Pedelecer
Feb 19, 2017
158
18
40
Hull
Thank you all for your replies.

I have a choice between then 4" fat bike and a regular one so I guess I'll go with the regular one.
 

falmouthtony

Esteemed Pedelecer
Thank you all for your replies.

I have a choice between then 4" fat bike and a regular one so I guess I'll go with the regular one.
I think you'd be best to do that, particularly bearing in mind that a high powered (technically illegal) fat bike, by it's nature, would attract more attention. I gather from the other thread you agree it's best to avoid that. :)
 

Deere John

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 13, 2015
532
580
46
EU
I have a Fatsix, wonderful bike, but I use it mostly in terrain, it has amazing traction and comfort in all sorts of terrain. Not only soft but good trails also. You can build custom wheels with 29'ers on if you like. They have though larger Q-factor, so if you ride with SPD pedals you might not like that at all.

But if I would ride mostly asphalt I wouldn't go for a fatbike, I would have bought a 27.5" plus bike then :) many options there, slim fast tires or kind of fat 3" ones.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Steve A

Crockers

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 19, 2014
821
689
70
Mnime....Do you drive a car?

If so is it taxed and insured?

If so why are you risking your driving license riding a motorcycle which isn't taxed or insured??

Here endeth the lecture

:D
 

minime

Pedelecer
Feb 19, 2017
158
18
40
Hull
I don't own a car yet though I've been driving for 10+ years. I use the e-bike to travel short distances 3-4 miles or go for longer rides downtown.

Also I don't plan to maintain 30mph for long periods all the time, just on few occasions and briefly (mainly for fun). I just want the bike to have decent acceleration.
 

Steve A

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 28, 2016
704
414
Ashford, UK
Not a fan of fat bikes, unless i was near a beach or in a cold / snowy environment etc. I've ridden one on the road and the tyres were very noisy. As said, great for certain conditions, but not ideal for majority road riding.
 

STEVEMANFA

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 27, 2015
731
359
60
Forest of Dean
Just like Steve said
They are ok in the snow and on the sand, stick with the standard size and when the battery is flat it will be better to ride and trust me you will be out at some point and get a flat battery.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Steve A