The popularity of fat tire bikes has also contributed to the adoption of ebikes in the outdoors. Originally designed for use on snow, fat tire bikes have wider than usual tires, typically 4 to 5 inches wide. Since fat bikes have become more mainstream, many additional benefits have become evident besides the increased traction that fat bikes offer.

Better Traction

Riders benefit from fat tires' increased traction compared to thinner tires. You'll need this increased traction to avoid slipping around on rough or loose terrain that you may encounter in the outdoors. The lower PSI of fat tires allows for maximum surface contact with the trail, allowing you to ride in comfort and confidence everywhere from bumpy logging roads to sandy beaches. Similar to how our urban riders enjoy a more comfortable ride when they can hop curbs and roll right over potholes and cracks in the road, fat tires also make it easy to roll over rocks, sticks, and many other obstacles that are commonly found off-road and could inconvenience riders on thinner tires. 

Shock Absorption

Additionally, fat tires can be run at a lower air pressure than thinner tires, which helps to absorb the shock caused by these obstacles. The increased traction also ensures greater stability when rolling over obstacles. Ebikers are particularly benefited by this, as they are going at higher speeds than regular cyclists, so the bumps and bruises are felt even more. Fat tires run at a lower PSI, which reduces the jolting caused by riding on loose gravel, resulting in a much more pleasant riding experience since it reduces the stress on your hands, wrists, low back, etc.

Tackle Any Terrain

Another benefit of fat tires and the outdoors is that they can be used on a variety of terrains. Fat tires were originally designed to assist year-round riders in tackling snow. The wider tire allows riders to float on sand, snow, and mud, rather than sinking in as they would with a thinner tire.  

Practicality & Portability

Adding an electric motor and battery will make an ebike heavier than a normal bike, but it still provides much greater portability and practicality than other alternative motorized transportation options. Offering an electric motor will allow riders to do many things that are difficult on a standard bike, replacing other gas-powered options, such as scooters, mopeds, four wheelers, dirt bikes, and golf carts, that are commonly used to get around off-road. Electric bikes are often smaller and lighter than standard bicycles. Some are even foldable for easy storage and transportation. In terms of weight, ebikes are typically around 50 to 80 pounds, compared to the aforementioned options that can range anywhere from 150 pounds for a light dirtbike to several hundred pounds for a four-wheeler to upwards of over a thousand pounds for a golf cart. Its smaller size and weight will allow it to be more easily portable, which is great for people who are always on the go or have limited space.