Electric bikes are now fully ensconced in the psyche of cyclists and mostly accepted. And the electric bicycle revolution of the last decade has brought about variations on the normal bike theme, like the emergence of big-tired, heavy haulers that can go confidently through almost any terrain. More robust and useful than normal e-mountain bikes, the new crop of burly all-terrain e-bikes can conquer any path, whether paved or rutted, wet or snowy.
And because of their rugged utility, you can use them for a wide variety of activities that bikes—before being electrified—were never really considered, like hunting or fishing. The benefits for hunting include a silent running machine that doesn’t give off smelly fumes and is nimble enough to take you through the woods to your tree stand. And most are powerful enough to pull out your quarry if you add on a small trailer. For fishing, you can make it farther into the backcountry and away from crowded streams by packing up your all-terrain e-bike.
Courtesy Image
1. QuietKat Apex
If you need an all-terrain machine that’s built for true backcountry adventures, whether hunting, fishing, or just exploring, the QuietKat Apex should be on your list. It comes with either a 750- or 1,000-watt mid-range motor (up to 48-mile range on a removable 768 watt/hour battery) that lets you use the 9-speed SRAM drivetrain to blast flats or power up steep inclines. To access that power, the Apex lets you use either pedal-assist—five in eco and five in sport—or a throttle, and has a walk-assist mode for extra-sketchy spots. The burly aluminum frame is mated to an 150mm front shock and fat tires (26″x4.5″) to handle the worst terrain and is rated for 365 pounds. An integrated, 100-pound capacity rear rack will hold lots of gear and hunters will want to add the game-carrying trailer to their order.
[From $5,499; quietkat.com]
2. Rad Power 6 Plus
The Rad Power 6 Plus give you the ruggedness you need to conquer off-road situations, but delivers it in a more refined package that’s equally at home on slushy city streets. It pairs a 750-watt brushless geared motor in the hub with a 672-watt/hour battery that’s good for up to 45 miles in range. The 7-speed drivetrain spins fatty 26″x4″ tires that come with a puncture-resistant liner and are shielded by full-coverage fenders front and rear. You also get hydraulic disc brakes all around, a 60mm travel front fork with a lock-out feature, and an integrated front LED headlight and rear tail/brake light. The backlit LCD shows charge, speed, mileage, one of five pedal assist levels, a clock, and more.
[$1,499; radpowerbikes.com]
Courtesy Image
3. Engwe Engine Pro
For true off-road comfort, it helps to have a full-suspension machine like the Engwe Engine Pro. It combines a lockable front spring shock with a rear hydraulic unit that combines with the compact but wide 20″x4″ tires (shod on durable aluminum spoked wheels) to give you a smooth ride no matter the terrain. The thick aluminum frame also folds in half (along with a folding portion at the stem) to make for a super-compact AT e-bike you can easily toss in your trunk, SUV cargo area, or pickup bed. That small package is powered by a 1,000-watt motor for up to 75 miles of range and a top speed of 24 mph. The color LCD control panel offers all the usual data plus shows you which of the five levels of assist you’re in. You also get a throttle to accelerate when feeling too lazy to pedal.
[$1,450; engwe-bikes.com]
Courtesy Image
4. Juiced Bikes RipCurrent S
The Juiced RipCurrent S adventure e-bike is no joke with a powerful 1,000-watt hub motor and 52-volt battery that will propel the burly bicycle up to 28 mph and over 70 miles of range. It comes with an advanced cadence sensor that constantly checks your pedaling with over 100 signals per revolution of the cranks, giving you a level of sensitivity that gets rid of the jerky lag that can come with other pedal-assist e-bikes. In addition, a torque sensor monitors pedal force 1,000 times a second to impart a smooth, powerful input informed by your applied force. The LCD screen goes beyond most other brands and gives you the power to configure what you see, from the five drive modes (which includes Eco, Sport, and Race); speed; mileage; battery level; and more. It all rides on knobby fat tires 26″x4″ in size that are stopped by hydraulic brakes and shrouded by front and back fenders, along with a rear rack.
[$2,499; juicedbikes.com]
Courtesy Image
5. Lectric XP 2.0
Don’t let the pint-sized appearance and bargain-level price tag of the Lectric XP 2.0 fool you into thinking it’s not a competent off- and on-road beast. It comes with a powerful 850-watt hub motor mated to a 48-volt battery (with regular or long-range options) that can get you up to 65 miles of range. A twist throttle or pedal-assist gets you going up to 28 mph and there are five power modes to choose from through the 7-speed drivetrain. Off-road comfort comes with the oil-filled 40mm front shock and the 20″x3″ tires, plus you can choose an optional plush saddle and suspension seat post to dial up the shock absorption. The best part of the Lectric package, though, is you can quickly and easily fold it up to stow it in a vehicle, boat, or plane to maximize your access to all-terrain cycling fun and adventure.
[$1,099; lectricebikes.com]
Courtesy Image
6. M2S Bikes All Terrain Scout
One of the main attributes of the Mountains-to-Sea Scout is the step-through frame design, which makes it very easy to mount for adventurers of all shapes and sizes. But that’s not the only reason to choose the Scout; it also has a strong 750-watt hub motor, 8-speed Shimano drivetrain, removable battery with USB port for charging digital devices and another USB aux port, and a full color display to easily select from the nine drive modes. Power gets put down with 20″x4″ Kenda knobbies and uses a front air shock that’s lockable to absorb bumps on trails—an optional, high-quality Cane Creek suspension seat post is also available to up the comfort. Hydraulic disc brakes make sure you’ll be able to stop securely in any conditions, and a front and rear rack are included for extra utility out of the box.
[$2,199; shop.m2sbikes.com]
[ami-related id=”6101694″ url=”https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/camp-rzr-off-road-party/” title=”Camp RZR: Wildest Off-road Dunefest of the Year” target=”_blank” thumb=”true” imgsrc=”https://www.mensjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/RZR.jpg?quality=82&strip=all” imgid=”6126612″ format=”standard” flag=”” channel=”25″ showsubt=”true” subtitle=””]
Courtesy Image
7. Velotric Nomad 1
The Velotric Nomad 1 gets you a tough and durable all-terrain e-bike in a more classic, mountain bike-like frame. It still boasts big 26″x4″ fat knobbies to get you through all kinds of conditions, and also includes internal cable routing for a cleaner look and tidier set up that limits snags when blasting through wooded trails. The 750-watt battery is powered by a “Tesla-grade,” 48-volt LG/Samsung battery, and is good for up to 55 miles of range with the pedal-assisted Shimano 8-speed drivetrain (up to 52 miles using the thumb throttle). The hydraulic, 80mm front suspension soaks up off-road hazards, and the hydraulic disc brakes make stopping a sure thing even in wet weather, while the full fenders front and back keep dirt and debris from pelting you while exploring the outdoors. It also comes in either a step-through or high-step configuration and eight colorful hues.
[$1,599; velotricbike.com]
Courtesy Image
