Please help me chose a ebike Fat rearHub on trail snow or mid drive?

cprelot

cprelot

New Member
Region
Canada
Hi,

I'm looking to buy E-Bike Fat for doing easy/medium difficulty trails in snow this winter
I do own a Mid drive EMTB Devinci and I love it... so I know what it is :)
But Since I don't have the same budget on the fat ebike and I can't go over 4000$
I'm struggling to chose a rear Hub drive instead over a Mid drive, because it's available and less expensive but do you think it's a no no for riding only on trail snow?
I don't want do commute only on snow track
or should I be fine...I know it's more heavy on back and can affect quick maneuver, also I'm aware it's less torque so I wondering if it kick up still if the snow are not packed enough with some light hills
also they said the motor get hot....
I really don't know confuse
my first choice will be mid drive but it's hard to fund in stocks...

I was looking for a Surface604 BOAR 2021 without the rack and stuff because the rim and tire are fine 4.5+
also look at the Juggernaut Ultra 1000 mid drive but look like it's only 4" fat tire :(

so I need your input...what do you think?
do you have a rear hub drive and doing trail let me know your experience
or any suggestion thanks
 
Personally I think if you're riding on powder, soft snow with fat tires you'll need a lot of torque, the kind a mid drive offers. I've overheated a hub drive twice, both times in soft snow and it was not a fat tire bike. The motor works extra hard pushing through snow and it can overheat. Fat tires, the motor will work even harder. If its packed snow and ice, just get ice spiker studded tires for your emtb.

Edit - Some snow experiences:
electricbikereview.com

Are you going to ride in snow?

I hope to avoid snow but just in case ... https://electrek.co/2020/12/08/snow-electric-bike-riding-winter-tips-and-tricks/
electricbikereview.com electricbikereview.com
 
Last edited:
To compete with a mid drive, I think you're going to be talking a BIG hub drive. 750w minimum, and preferably 1000w. Something like a MAC 12t or Bafang's 1000w. Thing is, you'd need to build both of those yourself. Neither are used in production bikes.

I have a Bafang Ultra powered Rize RX Pro which comes with 4" tires, and I have a custom bike with a MAC 12t, but it's got way too small a tire on it. Assuming for a moment both were equipped with 4"+ tires for play in the snow, not sure which I would prefer. BOTH are capable of overheating pretty easily. 4-6" of fresh powder would be fine, but 6" of heavy wet stuff maybe not so much! Packed and frozen with ruts would be no fun for sure.... on either bike!

Bottom line, talking production bikes, it would be a Bafang Ultra if I were going to give it a go.

Or maybe add a BBSHD to a bike you have.
 
I have two mid drives (road and mountain bike) and a hub drive (fat tire). If I were going to do the fat bike again, I would have gotten it fitted with a mid drive. Mid drives are better for trail and torque.
 
J.R. said:
Personally I think if you're riding on powder, soft snow with fat tires you'll need a lot of torque, the kind a mid drive offers. I've overheated a hub drive twice, both times in soft snow and it was not a fat tire bike. The motor works extra hard pushing through snow and it can overheat. Fat tires, the motor will work even harder. If its packed snow and ice, just get ice spiker studded tires for your emtb.

Edit - Some snow experiences:
electricbikereview.com

Are you going to ride in snow?

I hope to avoid snow but just in case ... https://electrek.co/2020/12/08/snow-electric-bike-riding-winter-tips-and-tricks/
electricbikereview.com electricbikereview.com
Click to expand...
Good advice from Electrek... Are you going to ride in snow? | Electric Bike Forums - Q&A, Help, Reviews and Maintenance (electricbikereview.com)

To help explain the important things to know about riding electric bicycles in the snow, I turned to Canadian resident snow-riding expert and friend Roshan Thomas. Roshan is also the founder of Biktrix, a popular electric bicycle manufacturer with a wide range of powerful snow-ready electric bicycles, as well as models for other types of riding. So he knows a thing or too about getting down and dirty in heaps of snow. When it comes to riding an electric bicycle in the snow, the type of bike can make a lot of difference.

Both hub motors (an electric motor in the center of the bike wheel) and mid-drive motors (an electric motor at the pedals) can be used for winter and snow riding. However, mid-drive motors provide more torque than hub motors. You can drop into low gear for extra torque from a mid-drive, but a hub motor can often get bogged down in thick, wet snow.
For that reason Roshan usually recommends a mid-drive e-bike for snow riding, at least when the snow gets deep. He also tells people to avoid e-bikes with just a front hub motor. They can lose traction much more easily than rear hub motors.
 
cprelot said:
Hi, I'm looking to buy E-Bike Fat for doing easy/medium difficulty trails in snow this winter I do own a Mid drive EMTB Devinci and I love it... so I know what it is :)
But Since I don't have the same budget on the fat ebike and I can't go over 4000$
I'm struggling to chose a rear Hub drive instead over a Mid drive, because it's available and less expensive but do you think it's a no no for riding only on trail snow?
I don't want do commute only on snow track or should I be fine...I know it's more heavy on back and can affect quick maneuver, also I'm aware it's less torque so I wondering if it kick up still if the snow are not packed enough with some light hills
also they said the motor get hot.... I really don't know confuse my first choice will be mid drive but it's hard to fund in stocks...
I was looking for a Surface604 BOAR 2021 without the rack and stuff because the rim and tire are fine 4.5+
also look at the Juggernaut Ultra 1000 mid drive but look like it's only 4" fat tire :(
so I need your input...what do you think? do you have a rear hub drive and doing trail let me know your experience or any suggestion thanks
Click to expand...
Take a look at the recommendations from EBR on the Best Electric Fat Bikes of 2020. ;)

These are our recommendations on the best fat electric bikes of 2020. These top five fat ebikes offer the best combination of features and value today, but you can see all 134 of our detailed electric fat bike reviews listed here. Reviewing electric bikes is what we do, EBR has the industry’s most wide-ranging and impartial reviews. Since 2012, we’ve helped millions of people discover the best ebike for their needs and budget.
 
Re: EBR's "Best". I think many might agree that the majority of these being hub drives is slighting the potential of mid drives. Further, including Rads on this list (2 of the 5!), with no mention of the fact they may be one of the more under powered with a motor of debatable size? This is misleading as far as I'm concerned, and bordering on bad advice for the uninitiated.

And last, not one of these bikes offers a Bafang Ultra mid drive.

I would share not only my disappointment regarding this "list", but also offer that anyone looking at a fat bike should consider the drag of those fat tires, and select their power accordingly..... That's me though. -Al
 
AHicks said:
Re: EBR's "Best". I think many might agree that the majority of these being hub drives is slighting the potential of mid drives. Further, including Rads on this list (2 of the 5!), with no mention of the fact they may be one of the more under powered with a motor of debatable size? This is misleading as far as I'm concerned, and bordering on bad advice for the uninitiated.

And last, not one of these bikes offers a Bafang Ultra mid drive.

I would share not only my disappointment regarding this "list", but also offer that anyone looking at a fat bike should consider the drag of those fat tires, and select their power accordingly..... That's me though. -Al
Click to expand...
I agree most of those review are not tested on proper terrain field, I see many review for the ebike Fat doing test on road or commute riding
and some people like me want ride on trail only...so those review are juste marketing and from buyer feedback after all they look the same but with a different stamp on it
 
Nothing wrong with Court's list once you understand the recommendations are grouped by price point... Premium/Value/Affordable. :)
His top pick is the Bulls Monster mid-drive FS fat bike... the other hub drives are lower price options in the Value/Affordable category.
Best Electric Fat Bikes of 2020 | ElectricBikeReview.com


BULLS MONSTER E FS Review​

Top of the line, full suspension, fat tire electric trail bike with RockShock Bluto and Monarch air, remote lockout for the fork, 11-speed Shimano Deore XT drivetrain with Shadow Plus clutch, robust skid plate and alloy drivetrain guides. High-torque Bosch Performance Line CX motor with eMTB drive mode, sand and snow capable if…
If money is no object, and you want one of the best electric fat bikes on the market right now, The BULLS MONSTER E FS is an excellent choice. It features premium hydraulic disc brakes (quad piston calipers up front), two shock absorbers that are highly adjustable for rider weight and terrain, and one of the best mid-drive motors on the market (Bosch Performance Line CX). This motor is responsive and powerful enough to handle soft sand, damp forrest flors, and packed snow even without a throttle… The benefits are that both wheels can be easily removed for easier transport and maintenance, and the bike is rated Class 1, which is allowed on more mountain bike trails. Fat tires already provide added comfort and stability, but full suspension takes that to an entirely new level and allows you to set a higher tire pressure for more precise handling while still enjoying comfort on bumpy trails. Compared to the other winners in this list, the MONSTER E FS is very light at just 56lbs, especially considering it has two shocks! If you don’t really need a FS build, BULLS sells a standard MONSTER E S that weighs 52lbs and costs $500 less. What I love about both of these products is that they are available in two frame sizes! That’s almost unheard of with value and affordable priced fat bikes right now. Furthermore, the 11-speed drivetrain offers 11-40 tooth cassette, which means that starting from standstill and climbing will be a lot easier. Many competing products don’t have such a large rear sprocket, which provides you with a mechanical advantage. BULLS is a German company that distributes globally and has been in North America since 2016. I’ve covered over 50 of their other models, visited dozens of their dealers, and recommend them as a top pick whether you’re getting a fat bike or not.
 
No interest in top of the line here. None. My comments were directed at the next 4 listed. Several Ultra powered fatties list for well under 3000. No mention of them. Yet the 350w (fake 750) powered Rads occupy 2 of those spots. Sorry, nice bikes at thier price point, but better buys & more bang for the buck available elsewhere.

So maybe we'll need to disagree on the value of those opinions.
 
After 5 years of listening to customers I’m still not onboard with Ultra series motors. To many holes in parts stream. Not unlike BBSxx series in the first couple of years. Bafang prefers supporting OEM builders.
 
Well i guess im going with mid drive not going with hub..like a juggernaut ultra 1000 pro or a fantic integra
Thanks for you feedback
 
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