The Truth about FAT Tire Ebikes: Sidestep the Bullsh

[enkei]

(03-15-2023, 07:48 AM)ichitan Wrote:  FAT tire bikes are relatively new, and many people have not had one. At the present time, it is fashionable to make electric FAT bikes. In the future, people will realize, the heavier weight, and the increased rolling resistance of FAT bikes, reduces the range of the battery, and means they they go slower when peddling. As people get to know, FAT bikes will become less desirable. Eventually manufacturers will realize bikes with narrower tires are better.

Some other things not mentioned in this video.

FAT tires get many more punctures. Which to me, makes them undesirable.

Motor bike tires are better for high performance electric bikes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT0sXETZHfw

I would have to disagree. I spoke to the owner of a fat-tyre e-bike. Having no experience with these bikes, I too wondered about the logic of something so heavy and potentially inefficient.

However, the owner of this e-bike was an older guy (probably 60s) who used to ride a lot of motocross. Age and the wear and tear on his knees had led him to give up motocross riding but he still wanted something similar.

He loves his fat-tyre e-bike. It gives him a lot of the same fun/experiences that he once enjoyed on motocross bikes, but with less weight, less hassle, and more ability to enjoy much gentler, go-anywhere ability. The fat tyres let him tackle surfaces that would be impossible or difficult/uncomfortable with narrower tyres.

The bottom line, as someone pointed out in this thread, is that it's a mistake to compare fat-tyre e-bikes to other e-bikes or regular bicycles. These machines definitely have their uses.