8 of the Best Folding Electric Fat Bikes – How Practical Are They?

ebikechoices is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Novelty e-bikes or practical daily transport? Fat tyre bikes conjure up images of riding through snow or hurtling down sand dunes. But, do they make versatile commuter e-bikes? In this article, I’m going to be taking a closer look at 8 of the best folding electric fat bikes currently available in the UK and US. I’ve personally tested a few of the bikes below and will be sharing my thoughts.

Folding Electric Fat Bike Pros and Cons

There are several advantages (and disadvantages) to owning and riding a folding fat tyre e-bike. Below, I’ve listed some of the main pros and cons, so you can decide whether this type of e-bike is suitable for your needs.

Pros:

• Great versatility – can be ridden on snow, sand and mud. Plus, they can tackle urban obstacles like steps and high pavements.
• Extra riding comfort from the over-sized tyres.
• Looks cool (depending on your opinion).
• Can be folded up for easier storage or transportation.

Cons:

• Weight – folding electric fat bikes are usually very heavy (25kg+)
• Road noise when riding on tarmac (from tyres).
• Sluggish handling at low speed / tight turns.
• Harder to pedal without e-assist – they usually have limited gear range, plus the extra weight and high rolling resistance of the fat tyres make it unrealistic to use these e-bikes without help from the motor.

A folding electric fat bike isn’t going to be for everyone. They’re way too heavy to be taking on public transport and pedalling these bikes without the electric requires a hell of a lot more effort than on a regular bike. If you’re looking for an e-bike just to help on the hills, you would be much better with a lightweight option like the Fiido X.

The handling can feel sluggish or downright weird at slow speeds and the tyres can be quite noisy on tarmac. When you’re up to speed though, this becomes less noticeable and folding electric fat bikes are particularly good for riding in urban environments.

Where they really come into their own is on sand or snow. The 4 inch wide tyres can be run at pressures of around 10 psi making them great for tackling obstacles like steps.

Common features on Folding Fat Tyre E-Bikes

• Tyres: Tyre size is nearly always 20″ x 4″ wide, although some of the folding fat tyre e-bikes featured below have the more traditional 26″ wheel size.
• Motor: Rear hub motors are exclusively used with common power outputs ranging from 250w all the way up to 1000w+. You need to consider the e-bike laws in your country, as the UK and EU have much more restrictive laws than the US.
• Battery: Most of these e-bikes use 48 volt systems with batteries ranging in energy capacity for 10Ah up to 16Ah.  The greater the Ah (amp hour) rating, the better the range. **It should be noted that manufacturer quoted ranges are not based on real-world conditions and should be taken with a pinch of salt!
• Top speed: This depends on the power output. A typical 750w folding e-bike will get you to around 28mph on assist. Most 250w e-bikes are limited to 15.5mph (25km/h).
• Suspension: Most of the e-bikes featured below have front suspension. Some of the more expensive models also have rear suspension. This adds to the weight but improves rider comfort, giving them a ‘magic carpet’ ride.
• Accessories: Most of the folding electric fat bikes I’ve tested are well equipped with accessories like mudguards, headlight, kickstand and pannier racks.

The Best Folding Electric Fat Bikes for 2023

My list below features 8 of the best folding electric fat bikes currently available in 2023. My selection is based on personal experience, specification, value for money, brand awareness and also positive customer feedback.

Engwe Engine Pro 750w 🥇

I was sent an Engwe Engine Pro to review and I’m thoroughly impressed with this e-bike for the price. It features a 750w rear hub motor with a top speed of around 28mph. Other features include a 48v 16Ah battery, hydraulic disc brakes and a full colour display. There’s also a very sturdy pannier rack, metal mudguards, headlight, and rear brake  / stop lights. There is even regenerative braking, which is activated when coasting downhill (needs to be put in zero or assist level 1 to work) – I’ll be doing a range test in the near future to see if this really works.

If you’re after a featured-packed commuter e-bike, the Engwe Engine Pro is one of the best folding electric fat bikes available for the price and well worth considering.

Buy direct from the official Engwe website – use code: engwebikes for a €50 discount

Also available from geekbuying.com

Buy from Amazon

Himo ZB20 Max

If you live in the UK or EU and are looking for a road legal folding fat tyre e-bike, then the Himo ZB20 fits the bill perfectly. With full EN15194 compliance and a 250w motor limited to 15.5mph (25km/h), you can safely ride the Himo without fear of persecution from the law.

I was sent a Himo ZB20 to review a few months back, and it’s great fun to ride. Plus, it goes surprisingly well for a 250w e-bike. It features a 48v 10Ah battery with mechanical disc brakes, front suspension and 7-speed Shimano gearing. The bike also includes metal mudguards (not fitted), headlight and a kickstand.

Buy from geekbuying.com

Buy direct from the Himo website

Heybike Mars

The Heybike Mars is a great budget option if you live in the US and don’t want to spend much more than $1000. Powered by a 48v 500w rear hub motor and 12.5Ah battery, the Heybike has excellent reviews on Amazon US. With a respectable top speed of 20mph, and an assisted range of up to 48 miles, the Heybike Mars represents excellent value for money. It’s currently the best seller on Amazon is the adult folding electric bikes category!

If you live in the States, and are looking for a versatile folding fat tire e-bike, the Heybike Mars is well worth considering.

Buy from Amazon

Rad Power RadExpand 5

Out of all the e-bikes featured in this article, the Rad Power RadExpand is the one I’d most likely buy with my own money. The main reason for this is it’s a rigid frame (no suspension). I’ve always felt that having full suspension on a fat tyre e-bike is really unnecessary, as the large tyres will provide more than enough cushioning for most riders.

Rad Power are the largest independent e-bike manufacturer in the States and now sell most of their range in the EU and UK market (with appropriate speed and power limits).  Although their range of e-bikes use ‘no frills’ components, they’re well thought out and offer excellent value for money.

The RadExpand 5 comes with a 48v 250w motor (750w US version) powered by a decent 674Wh battery, and offers a good all round package. If you’re after a road legal fat tyre folding e-bike, that’s not too heavy and has all the features you’d need, then the RadExpand is well worth the money.

Visit Rad Power EU for more information

Buy the US version (750w) from Rad Power

Fiido M1 Pro

The Fiido M1 Pro is another great value folding electric fat bike that’s proven to be really popular with consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.  Fiido are a well estabilshed brand and have built up a good support network in the EU and US. The Fiido M1 Pro uses a 500w motor with 48v 12.5Ah battery.

There’s nothing about the M1 Pro that sets it apart from the competition, but it’s a good all rounder and if your after a folding fat tyre e-bike it is definitely worth a look.

Buy from the official Fiido website UK, EU, US, CA

Engwe EP-2 Pro

If you’re looking for a fat tyre folding e-bike, but your budget doesn’t quite stretch to the Engine Pro, the Engwe EP-2 Pro is a great alternative. With a 48v 12.8Ah battery and 750w geared rear hub motor, performance is excellent. Stopping power is provided by mechanical disc brakes and the EP-2 Pro has 7-speed Shimano gearing.

This is a great budget option and a lot of e-bike for the money. If you want a reliable daily commuter or leisure bike, the Engwe EP-2 Pro is well worth considering – check out the customer reviews, it’s got some great feedback. ** I’ve just received one of these to test – check out the full Engwe EP-2 Pro review.

Available from Amazon

Buy direct from the Engwe website – use code: engwebikes for a €50 discount

Also available from geekbuying.com

Ado A20F

The Ado A20F is another great option if you’re looking for a road legal folding fat tyre e-bike (in the EU and UK). Ado E-Bike have become a well-established brand in the EU and UK, and are backed-up by a technical support centre  (in Europe), and regional repair specialists. The A20F is one of their best sellers and is fully EN15194 compliant (EU version).

Power is provided by a 250w geared rear hub motor and 36v 10.4Ah battery. Components include front suspension fork, mechanical disc brakes and 7-speed Shimano gearing. Plus, there’s the usual raft of accessories including lights and kickstand.

Ado e-bikes have a great reputation a good support network. If you’re looking for a budget fat tyre e-bike the A20F is well worth a look.

Check availability on Amazon

Also available from geekbuying.com

Cyrusher XF690

The Cyrusher XF690 is a full-sized folding fat tyre electric bike that boasts even more features than the excellent XF800, with the added benefit of being foldable. I’m currently testing the Cyrusher XF800 and I’ve been thoroughly impressed with it’s performance. The XF690 features the same 48v 750w Bafang hub motor, but with a 48v 15Ah battery (the XF800 uses a 13Ah). It’s also available in a road legal 250w version called the ‘Max’.

Whereas the XF800 has a 7-speed drivetrain, the XF690 boasts 27 gears – 9 at the back and a triple crankset up front. Plus, there’s the hydraulic disc brakes and front and rear suspension.

It’s the most expensive e-bike featured here, but it does have by far the best specification. If you want a full sized e-bike that can be easily folded for storage / transportation, then the Cyrusher XF690 is one of the best available.

Buy from Amazon

Available direct from Cyrusher

Conclusion – is There a Clear Winner?

The quick answer is no. All of the fat tyre folding e-bikes featured above are worth considering. It really depends on your budget, and whether you want a 250w or 750w motor.

If I were to pick a winner, then the Engwe Engine Pro 750w is the best all-rounder. It has an excellent specification for the price and is the only e-bike here that has a regenerative function – although I’m not sure how effective this system actually is (I’ve yet to do a full range test on the Engwe, but will be doing one in due course). Performance is very strong and the 48v 16Ah battery has the highest energy capacity of any e-bike on this list.

If you want the performance, but can’t quite stretch to £1400, then the Engwe EP-2 is a great alternative – at just under £1000 it’s got a great motor and decent battery.

Consumer brand perception is a big deciding factor when spending a lot of money, and the Rad Power RadExpand 5 wins hands down here. Rad Power are now a massive global brand and have an excellent after sales service in place. Their e-bikes use quality components and the batteries use branded cells like Samsung and LG. Plus, I like the design of the RadExpand 5, and if I were to buy one of these bikes with my own money it would be this one.

I’m a big fan of the Himo ZB20, it’s fully certified (EN15194) for legal use in the UK and EU. I owned one of these for a few months and it proved to be very reliable and comfortable. Performance was very good and the battery was good for around 30 miles.

The Heybike Mars is one of the best budget options and is only available in the US and Canada. For around $1000, it’s excellent value for money. It has a 48v 500w motor with 48v 12.8Ah battery, which is a great spec for the price. It’s also one of the best sellers on Amazon and has loads of positive customer reviews.

Ado e-bikes are another budget brand that has good customer support in the EU and UK. The Ado A20F is road legal and is excellent value for money at its current price of £949. Fiido are another very well established global e-bike name, and the Fiido M1 Pro is a good all rounder at a very reasonable price.

Finally the Cyrusher XF690 is the best option if you don’t like the idea of smaller wheels. The XF690 is a full-sized folding electric fat bike and benefits for features like hydraulic brakes, 27 speed Shimano gearing and a dependable 48v Bafang hub motor with 48v 15Ah battery.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you’ve found this article useful. If you have any questions relating to the e-bikes featured here, please leave a message in the comment section below. Don’t forget to check out my latest article featuring 11 of the best electric fat bikes for 2023.