Best fat tire ebike for winter single track?

[John660]

Hi everyone, I'm looking to get into an ebike, but I have a fairly specific use for it. Rather than riding roads or even paved trails, I want to be able to ride single track with snow and ice on it replacing my current (old) fat bike, which is a heavy $800 special from back in the day (with no suspension). Does anyone have experience doing this and if so, what would you recommend? Can I get away with something in the $2K range like an Aventon Aventure or the Radster Trail or Radrover Plus 6 or am I just going to end up disappointed? Any and all recommendations considered, thank you!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@Prairie Dog

 

[Jim1348]

Do you want a one wheel drive or two wheel drive e-bike?

 

[Prairie Dog]

Hi everyone, I'm looking to get into an ebike, but I have a fairly specific use for it. Rather than riding roads or even paved trails, I want to be able to ride single track with snow and ice on it replacing my current (old) fat bike, which is a heavy $800 special from back in the day (with no suspension). Does anyone have experience doing this and if so, what would you recommend? Can I get away with something in the $2K range like an Aventon Aventure or the Radster Trail or Radrover Plus 6 or am I just going to end up disappointed? Any and all recommendations considered, thank you!

Where do you ride if you don’t mind me asking? I’m afraid that I've only ridden one mid drive brand of fatbike up to this point so my opinion may be biased. I currently own a 2023 Norco Bigfoot VLT1 and all I can say is that it’s an exceptionally capable bike for winter riding. It’s powered by a Shimano EP8 motor that puts out 85Nm of torque along with a 900 wH battery. Norco has opted instead to offer its customers a range of three separate battery capacities to choose from depending on how far you want to extend your ride. It has plenty of grunt to tackle the steepest of icy climbs and is quite nimble for a 54 lb bike. The Bigfoot comes with a set of studdable tires but I chose instead to replace them with 4.5”, 45North Wrathchilds with 252 XL tenacious concave carbide studs. The tandem really makes the bike a beast on the local singles. The VLT 1 is also equipped with a 100mm Manitou front shock which is a nice luxury to have.

Here's footage from the first day I picked it up from the LBS and immediately rode it to the nearest trail.

...and the epitome for me of where the Norco excels would be along brutally icy spring ground conditions as evidenced by the chatter of studs.

For 2024, Norco has introduced the VLT S2 as their entry level model but it still offers serious performance for any demanding winter fatbiker.

Bigfoot VLT 1 | Norco

The Bigfoot VLT 1 is the electric fat bike that you'll forget is an electric fat bike.

www.norco.com

Another Canadian brand to consider would be Rocky Mountain. Neither Rocky Mtn or Norco models are cheap to begin with particularly if you’re on a tight budget but RM is currently discounting their Blizzard Powerplay line significantly for both the AL 30 and 50 to a tune of over $2000 Cdn. Might be worth a look. The power from the Dyname motor is off the charts. Most fatties I see on our local trails are either RM or Norco which speaks highly for both brands.

Blizzard Powerplay

The all-new Blizzard Powerplay unlocks access to winter riding in a whole new way. By combining the power of our Dyname 4.0 drive system with the trail-ready geometry of the Blizzard, expect a powerful ride in all conditions with the Blizzard Powerplay.

bikes.com

 

[John660]

Where do you ride if you don’t mind me asking? I’m afraid that I've only ridden one mid drive brand of fatbike up to this point so my opinion may be biased. I currently own a 2023 Norco Bigfoot VLT1 and all I can say is that it’s an exceptionally capable bike for winter riding. It’s powered by a Shimano EP8 motor that puts out 85Nm of torque along with a 900 wH battery. Norco has opted instead to offer its customers a range of three separate battery capacities to choose from depending on how far you want to extend your ride. It has plenty of grunt to tackle the steepest of icy climbs and is quite nimble for a 54 lb bike. The Bigfoot comes with a set of studdable tires but I chose instead to replace them with 4.5”, 45North Wrathchilds with 252 XL tenacious concave carbide studs. The tandem really makes the bike a beast on the local singles. The VLT 1 is also equipped with a 100mm Manitou front shock which is a nice luxury to have.

View attachment 186695

Here's footage from the first day I picked it up from the LBS and immediately rode it to the nearest trail.

...and the epitome for me of where the Norco excels would be along brutally icy spring ground conditions as evidenced by the chatter of studs.

For 2024, Norco has introduced the VLT S2 as their entry level model but it still offers serious performance for any demanding winter fatbiker.

Bigfoot VLT 1 | Norco

The Bigfoot VLT 1 is the electric fat bike that you'll forget is an electric fat bike.

www.norco.com

Another Canadian brand to consider would be Rocky Mountain. Neither Rocky Mtn or Norco models are cheap to begin with particularly if you’re on a tight budget but RM is currently discounting their Blizzard Powerplay line significantly for both the AL 30 and 50 to a tune of over $2000 Cdn. Might be worth a look. The power from the Dyname motor is off the charts. Most fatties I see on our local trails are either RM or Norco which speaks highly for both brands.

Blizzard Powerplay

The all-new Blizzard Powerplay unlocks access to winter riding in a whole new way. By combining the power of our Dyname 4.0 drive system with the trail-ready geometry of the Blizzard, expect a powerful ride in all conditions with the Blizzard Powerplay.

bikes.com

This is great, thank you for the feedback and all the detail. I've looked a bit at the Rocky Mtn Blizzard PP, but hadn't considered the Norco models.

 

[Prairie Dog]

This is great, thank you for the feedback and all the detail. I've looked a bit at the Rocky Mtn Blizzard PP, but hadn't considered the Norco models.

The current discounts on the Blizzard PPs are quite decent and I think that the A 30 represents a respectable value as it's powered by the same motor and battery as the A 50. Even though those models sport rigid forks, both are compatible with Manitou’s front suspension fork if you wish to upgrade.

Naturally, you could have your cake and eat it too with any of the suspended models from Norco’s lineup. Just be aware that the current sales price on Bigfoot VLTs doesn’t include batteries which also happen to be marked down in price.

Batteries

Customize the range of your electric bike for bigger adventures, the speed you want and to re-define what you think is ridable.

www.norco.com

 

[Prairie Dog]

Also worth mentioning is that both Norco and RM have a countrywide support network of dealers/shops to address any concerns or warranty issues that may arise. Tires on all of their models are studdable allowing you to install carbide stud kits which can be purchased either in store or online. I work on my own bikes but if I should ever need expert advice or repairs, my LBS which is also an authorized Norco/RM dealer is only a few minutes away. I’m not certain as to how the other sellers that you referred to in your original post compare with regards to after sales support.