Speedrid fat tire electric bike review
Speedrid Ltd was founded in 2017 in China. Now it works internationally in the electric scooter and e-bike market.
The Speedrid fat tire electric bike is one of the company’s most popular products. Why? Because it has both fat tires and it’s portable. Like other bikes of a similar size, the frame can be folded in half making the bike more compact.
This folding electric bike costs around $850 USD (£610 / 720€). On the surface this seems like a great deal for under $1,000, but let’s dive into the nitty-gritty to see how this Speedrid bike performs.
Speedrid is so confident in its products that it offers a 1 year warranty. That’s a good start.
Introducing the Speedrid foldable electric bike with fat tyres
- Motor
500W brushless gear motor - Battery
36V 12.5Ah Lithium-ion - Distance
32 km (20 miles) motor only - Recharge Time
6-8 hours - Speed
38 kph (24 mph) - Load Capacity
136 kg (300 lb) - Weight
27 kg (60 lb) - Tyres
10 cm (4”) x 50 cm (20”) - Pedal assist settings
5 -
Extras
- 6-speed gears
- LCD display
- Removable battery
- 1 year warranty
- Pros
- Fat tyres
- Compact/foldable
- LCD display
- Cons
- Weak in-built headlight
Design and portability
The bike’s frame is made of carbon steel, so it’s strong. Using steel normally means that it weighs more, but the bike’s total weight is 27 kg (60 lb) - similar to its competition (see the ENGWE EP-2 and ECOTRIC).
But, like its competition, you wouldn’t want to carry the bike long distances.
One obvious advantage of the Speedrid fat tire electric bike is the in-built carry rack over the rear tyre. It allows you to carry things while you’re riding.
The Speedrid fat tire e-bike folds in the centre of the frame making it more compact. This is great for storage at the office, school, or in the trunk of the car.
Folding the bike is also really simple. There’s a clamp on the frame which is similar to the clamp to adjust the bike’s seat height. It’s very user-friendly and anyone can do it.
Speed, Distance, and Battery
The Speedrid fat tire electric bike has a top speed of 38 kph (24 mph) in good conditions. This is the max speed the 500W brushless gear motor is capable of. Riding manually or downhill can get you moving faster.
Obviously, the range depends on the riding conditions, the weight of the rider, riding mode, etc.
Speedrid says the bike can go for 32 km (20 miles) on motor power alone. Once the 36V 12.5Ah lithium-ion battery dies, the bike rides like a normal pushbike. With power-assist activated, the bike has an extended range of 64 km (40 miles).
The battery is removable with a key lock. This makes charging the bike easy - simply detach the battery and charge it indoors. With an extra battery, you also have the option to take a backup battery for longer rides. Replacement batteries can be bought on Amazon or by contacting Speedrid directly.
The Brake System
This Speedrid e-bike has disc brakes on the front and rear wheels. This is pretty standard for an e-bike. They’re reliable and long-lasting.
Certification and Safety
Let’s start with the fat tyres. The fatter the tyre, the more grip a bike has on the ground below it. This even proves useful for city riding where general debris and ice in the winter can make roads slippery. Fat tyred e-bikes are becoming more popular for this very reason.
The Speedrid folding e-bike does come with its own headlight, but it’s weak. For you night-riders, we recommend removing the Speedrid light and buying something more powerful. Also, there is no rear light, just a reflector, so this would be a good investment as well.
With all electric rideables we recommend riders wear helmets and take other appropriate safety precautions, including using lights and/or reflectors.
Riding Experience
The fat tyres on this Speedrid e-bike make for a smoother ride compared to bikes with normal tyres. They act as added suspension. Also, the front wheel has a carbon steel fork for shock absorption. Combined, the fat tyres and front fork mean those smaller bumps won’t affect the riding experience.
Like all electric bikes, this Speedrid folding e-bike rides best on paved roads, but it can also handle gravel and rocky roads, as well as snow, and sand - the benefits of an e-bike with fat tyres. The 500 W motor can also handle inclines up to 40 degrees.
Like many other e-bikes, this one has 3 power modes: throttle mode, pedal-assist, and manual. The throttle is all motor, the pedal-assist mode is leg power with the motor’s help, and the manual mode is 100% leg power.
The pedal assist mode is customisable to adapt to riding conditions. There are 5 levels of assistance to choose from - least amount of assistance to most assistance from the motor. This setting can be changed from the handlebar and is reflected on the LCD screen display.
This Speedrid e-bike also has a 6-speed transmission. This is enough to handle most hills with ease, even without the motor.
Final Thoughts
The Speedrid fat tire electric bike is a very good price for what you get. It has decent speed, battery, and distance specs. The fact that it’s a foldable e-bike helps transportation, and the fat tyres are an added bonus.
For under $1,000 USD (£855 / 850€), it is very affordable. It’s actually very similar to another e-bike we reviewed, the ENGWE EP-2. While we can't separate them on ability, they separate themselves on price. So we have to rated the Speedrid fat tire electric bike because it's a little cheaper.
If you’re looking for a new city bike, or you need an off-road electric bike for light-to-medium off-road surfaces, then consider this one. It will definitely get the job done.
If you’re looking for something with more power check out the ENGWE 750 W EP-2 on Amazon.
