Fat tires and a powerful electric-assist motor make this bike one of a kind.
“I am a cheater!! It’s electric, I’m a fake!” These words race through my head. I want to shout. But I’m smiling the whole time.
It’s a Tuesday afternoon in early June. I’m riding tight urban singletrack near GearJunkie headquarters, testing the Defiant Electric Fat Bike. It’s touted as the first commercially-available bike of its kind.
Defiant Bicycles is based in Minnesota, a state where fat bikes were arguably born (if not massively popularized). Defiant takes the genre to a powerful new place by adding a motor.
The pedal-assist bike is a beast. It weighs about 50 pounds and costs a healthy $3,300. The company employs a 500-watt motor and five modes of assistance to pedal through almost anything.
You can ride 20 mph with ease. Cranking it to the max, I felt giddy. Read on for my first impression review.
Fat E-Bike: First Ride
The first experience on an e-bike can be awe-inspiring. Part dirtbike, part bicycle, an e-fat bike goes really fast, really easily.
I pedaled from 0 to 20 mph, posture relaxed and upright, all without breaking a sweat. Meanwhile, I zoomed past nearly every cyclist within eyeshot on the trail. It felt a little evil.
There is no throttle. The Defiant e-fat bike operates with a pedal-assist motor. The motor powers the rear wheel, in addition to your pedaling.
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E-Fat Bike Review
Fat Bike On Pavement
Singletrack E-Fat Bike
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Build Components
- Brakes: SRAM DB# hydraulic, 180mm rotors on front and rear
- Cranks: SRAM GX-1000 100mm Fatbike Crankset
- Bottom Bracket: SRAM GXP 100mm
- Rear Derailleur: SRAM X7, Type 2, Medium Cage
- Front Hub: Formula Disc Hub, 135mm
- Rims: Alex Blizzerk 80mm Aluminum
- Tires: Innova Pro LV 26”x 4”