Fat tire bikes were designed to go where other bikes simply couldn’t. Created to conquer the likes of sand and snow, versatility has always been at the forefront of what a fat bike is. Now, with the addition of an e-bike motor (which offsets their sluggish fatal flaw), fat bikes can scarcely be contained with their potential use cases.
Many riders love the comfort a fat tire bike provides on a commute, the balance it brings to a cargo bike or the forgiving nature it provides when rolling over rocks and roots off the beaten path. Whatever category of bike exists, it can likely outfit a pair of fat tires to change up the ride properties.
The internet will spit out several definitions of a fat tire e-bike. Here at Electric Bike Report, we define it as any tire at least 3”-wide, and we’ve ridden some up to 5”. The diameter is typically 20 or 26”, but there isn’t a limit to what the sizing could be.
Since a wider tire has a drag penalty, we commonly find bikes paired with powerful motors that compensate for the drag. That doesn’t mean all these bikes are speed demons, though; several have output dialed to the more mild side. There is something for everybody in the fat tire e-bike world.
Since fat tire e-bikes permeate all bike styles, our reviews play a key role. We’ve done extensive testing that reveals the range, hill climbing, speed, and braking capabilities of dozens of bikes on the market today.
See how the bikes shook out in our testing from the reviews below. Or, if you want to see which proved their mettle as the best, check out our recommendations for the top fat tire electric bikes.