What is a Fat Bike? | E Fatbike vs. Mountain Bike

An electric bike that suits your riding style is essential if you want maximum satisfaction while riding. These bikes have become a suitable means for commuting, with several for specific purposes and terrains. 

Ebikes such as mountain bikes are lightweight ebike with suspension, which enables you to go faster. On the other hand, fat bikes have wide tires with low speeds and high traction. To have proper traction and suspension, you need to have larger tire widths that result in lower pressures. Fat bikes have a Larger and better rolling resistance but slower speed. 

Let's analyze the differences between mountain and fat bikes to help you choose the right bike.

What is an e fatbike?

Fat ebikes have oversized tires between four to five inches large. Their wider tires have a better load distribution, mainly as you cycle on snowy terrains. Their tires make them more stable, giving you a smooth ride and better traction. The amount of traction and stability makes fat electric the best choice for riding on rocks, trails, dirt, and gravel.

Pros of Fat Tire Bike

The following are some benefits that fat tire ebikes offer:

Easy-to-handle 

Fat bikes have enough stability to move through different obstacles on your path. With its tires, you can ride over barriers better than mountain bikes. Their low center of gravity allows you to ride down steep hills without falling.

Less prone to injuries

Compared to mountain bikes, fat ebikes have wider tires which keep you safe. With larger tires, you can easily ride on snow, which reduces the possibility of a fall and may lead to injuries.

Suitable for long rides

Larger tires on fat tire bikes provide them more grip, which makes it simpler to ride over obstacles or longer distances without worrying about falling over as much as with a conventional mountain bike. The features of fat ebikes make them suitable for you to rid longer distances and for off-road traveling.

Appropriate for all Weather types

Fat bikes are better for riding in winter or bad weather, especially over rugged terrain. In addition, fat tire bikes offer more excellent traction than traditional mountain bikes. This makes using large tires considerably simpler for riders and provides more stability in bad weather.

Cons of Fat Tire Bikes

Apart from the above advantages, below are a few limitations that fat tire bikes may have:

Requires more maintenance

Fat ebikes have wider wheels than mountain bikes, so they need extra maintenance. Since they suit muddy and snowy terrains, you must clean them immediately after each ride.

More expensive than mountain ebikes

Due to their weight, fat ebikes usually cost more from their extra wheels, tires, and frame.

Too heavy to transport 

The size and additional weight of a fat tire ebike make it hard to transport. It may not fit into a bike rack if you are going on a camping trip or traveling by road.

What is Mountain Bike

A mountain bike or bicycle is a type explicitly made for riding off-road. Mountain bikes can also be used for transportation, especially if the route is full of rocks and potholes. Also, since they are lightweight, they are fast on trails. Although they are not as stable as fat bikes, they offer excellent control, making them perfect if you want to go fast and pedal effortlessly at the same time.

Pros of the Mountain Bike

Owning mountain electric bikes comes with some of the following benefits:

Mountain bikes are faster

You can maintain a more incredible average speed with mountain bike tires since they are lighter and have less rolling resistance. Also, you would move more quickly, especially when biking on paved surfaces.

Lightweight in nature

Tires and rims for mountain bikes are considerably narrower and require less manufacturing material, making them lighter. A mountain bike typically weighs 5 to 10 pounds less than an equivalent fat bike. A lightweight bike is quicker and more effective.

Have more gears

There are mountain bikes with 2x and 3x drivetrains. This way, a very high gear range of 30 or more gears is possible. Whereas fat ebike often have 1x drivetrains with 12 gears.

Cons of the Mountain Bike

Here are some shortcomings of mountain bikes:

Limited to some terrains

Due to their tires' propensity to sink in sand, snow, or deep muddy terrains, pedaling becomes impossible. While on slippery surfaces, you may lose grip of your ebike, and terrains with rocky surfaces are challenging to navigate with mountain bikes. 

Lesser grip or traction

Mountain bikes are for off-road riding. Though not quite as much grip as fat bikes, they nevertheless gain outstanding traction. Moreover, because their tires are narrower, the contact patch of the tire with the ground is small.

Difference between a fat bike and a mountain bike

The difference between fat and mountain bikes is more than their tire sizes. The following are some distinguishing features between them:

Tire width

One noticeable difference between fat bikes and mountain bikes is their tires. Fat bike tires are generally between 4-5 inches (100-127mm). On the other hand, mountain tires are from 1.7-2.2 inches (45-56mm). This considerable difference requires fat bike tires to have wider rims. 

Tire pressure

You can rid your mountain ebikes around 22-35 PSI, while the all-terrain electric bike KBO Tornado can run as low as a tire pressure of 5 to 15 PSI. With a lower tire pressure, a fat ebike wouldn't sink as deep in sandy or snowy surfaces. 

Frame

Since fat ebikes have large tires; they require a more oversized frame. Also, they have a wider fork, seat stay, and chain stays. These features are necessary to avoid having some challenges when you begin to ride. Conversely, a mountain bike has a considerably more conventional frame design.

Hubs

Another noticeable dissimilarity between fat bikes and mountain is the size of their hubs. The hub is the portion of the wheel in the middle that connects the bike frame to the wheel, which allows the wheel to spin freely. The one for a fat ebike has to be wide since it has wide tires. However, a mountain bike's hub is smaller because it has thinner tires.

What to look out for when buying a fat bike

When purchasing a fat bike, the following are the factors to consider:

Durable Frame

Before you get a fat tire bike, you have to consider the quality of the frame. Some fat tire ebike is made from aluminum to extend the weight limit and increase durability.

Robust Tires

When buying a fat bike, you must get one with wide tires. The tire width usually ranges from four inches on the low end to over five inches on the high end. These tire sizes are suitable for snowy or sandy terrains. Also, they provide you with good puncture resistance and better balance.

Suspension

Another factor to look out for is the suspension system. When riding steep and rugged trails, the ideal one will maintain the bike steady and responsive to control. Rigid forks are the most popular choice for fat bikes. Moreover, the large tires provide comfortable cushioning on most surfaces.

Conclusion

Deciding to choose a mountain bike or a fat bike can be challenging. The reason is that these two bikes' goals and riding styles are similar. It will help if you consider your expectations of the ebike before making any decisions. Additionally, consider the terrain you would be riding on more often.