Lankeleisi MG740 Plus: Dual motor fat tire bike built for speed
I've tested lots of e-bikes, but this is the first with two motors. It performed well, but was not as powerful as I thought it would be.
Hyperdrive Hits
4/5 Medals of Yavin: Compelling fat tire bike with decent weight and lots of power
Comfortable fat tire riding on wooded trails and gravel roads
A bit expensive and US support may be limited
Well designed and generous three-year warranty service
Fat tire bikes are very popular and they aren’t all just for blazing down forest service gravel roads or sandy beaches. The fat tire provides a nice level of comfort for riding in various conditions and are enjoyable for cruising on paved trails and roads. The folks at Lankeleisi reached out and asked if I wanted to try out the X3000Max, but it turns out that dual motor model wasn’t actually available. I was then offered the MG740 Plus that is available in the US and since I haven’t yet tried a dual motor e-bike I thought it would be a good opportunity to try out one of these bikes. The company offers several dual motor models.
The dual motor design of the MG740 Plus provides a powerful 1000W motor on both the front and rear wheel of the e-bike so you get more power and capability to get through the terrain ahead of you. I rode the bike on wooded trails, paved terrain, and single track trails with power and speed to get through all conditions.
Rating:
As explained in my palmsolo’s Refresh Rating Scale post, I’m awarding the Lankeleisi MG740 Plus four (4) Medals of Yavin. It is a powerful e-bike for gravel roads and wooded trails, but it is not set up for commuting with no rear lights and simple mud flaps to keep the rocks and mud from flying in your face. It is a bit big and bulky for city riding, but a sheer joy to ride in the woods.
The Good and the Bad
It’s pretty rare for me to not find something that can be improved with a product and for things like electric bikes the pros and cons can depend on your riding needs.
Pros
Lighter than expected
Dual hub wheel motor design
Ample range front suspension for excellent riding comfort
Front and rear hydraulic brakes
Easy assembly and set up
Powerful assist levels
Large, easy to read display and basic controller
Cons
No rear suspension
Expensive
Not the most elegant battery mount
Experiences
I have tested a lot of e-bikes over the past seven years, primarily with a focus on commuting to and from the city of Seattle. A few months ago I started riding bikes on single track trails and I have been thrilled with this experience. Lankeleisi reached out and I have been enjoying the fat tire experience of its MG740 Plus, even more than the Lectric XPeak I tested earlier this year.
The bike arrived in a large cardboard box with the front wheel, mud flaps, center display, handlebars, and pedals to be installed. Lankeleisi provides all of the tools and parts needed to fully assemble the bike and I was able to get it up and running in about 30 minutes. Since the front wheel also has a motor, a cable connection was required to power the front motor.
Just to shake things out, I took the bike for short 5-mile spin around the neighborhood and enjoyed a flawless riding experience on the hills and road of the neighborhood. The bike has great power and propelled me up all of the hills with ease with even the steepest hill able to be conquered in throttle only mode at about 9-10 mph.
I then enjoyed riding the MG740 Plus on trails in the woods. The bike is a bit bulky, but thankfully the throttle helped me get through tight turns and over tree roots. It’s not as sleek and agile as other eMTB bikes I have ridden and I won’t be taking it to our local trail park as wide fat tires aren’t the best for narrow trails.
The bike was a joy to ride on gravel roads next to the river with the fat tires providing excellent comfort, the front suspension easing the rough rocks, and the well-cushioned saddle. It’s a great e-bike for gravel riding and riding on the pavement. I did not commute with the bike since it is too large and heavy to load on and off of the train, but given the battery life results I experienced I could ride the bike all of the way to the office if I wanted.
The front light is bright, the brake calipers in red looks awesome with the black color, and the display is large and bright. The Shimano 7-speed gear system is a great supplement to the pedal assist and throttle functions so there is no terrain that you cannot conquer on this bike.
The half twist throttle on the right provides a throttle experience similar to a motorcycle and it was a blast to cruise along at such high speeds with no effort at all. Lankeleisi advertises a 40 mile range with throttle only and my riding experiences show that I can go about 30 miles with my 235 pound weight.
Specifications
Specifications alone don’t mean much, but they are useful for comparing similar devices and checking that you are getting value for your money.
Frame: 6061 aluminum alloy available in two colors
Motor: 2000W of available power, 1000W hub on front and rear wheels, 90Nm torque
Battery: 48V, 20 Ah Samsung Lithium
Bike weight: 75 pounds
Bike capacity: 400 pounds
Pedal assist: Five levels with Shimano 7-gear transmission
Suspension: 100 mm adjustable front fork
Max speed and range: 28-32 mph with up to 44 miles throttle to 93 miles with pedal assist
Transmission: 7-speed Shimano
Brakes: Hydraulic disk brakes with red hardware
Tires: 26” x 4” knobby
Durability: IP54
Display: Color LCD center mounted
Extras: Mudguards, Allen wrench tools, locks, bike lock and air pump
Bottom Line
E-bikes are very popular today and the technology continues to advance. Lankeleisi offered its dual motor bike to test out and it is the first dual motor option I have tested. The dual motors are located on both front and rear wheels with technology in the controller to manage both motors. The Lankeleisi MG740 Plus has been a joy to ride with high quality fit and finish, long battery life, good looks, comfortable fat tires, and a controller that manages the power and ride.
This is my first experience with Lankeleisi and to be honest I was a bit hesitant to accept the offer at first. The company offered a model that is available for US customers, the MG740 Plus, and I figured it couldn’t hurt to give the bike a test drive. I’m very happy with the opportunity and it turns out that the bike performed well in my testing in the woods and on the pavement. The company offers a few dual motor models so I may test another soon too.
Lankeleisi has several bike options available and the MG740 Plus is compelling dual motor fat tire option available for just over $2,000. This was my first experience with a dual motor bike and Lankeleisi impressed with its power, capability, long battery life, and quality. I was also surprised that it felt so much lighter than other fat tire bikes I have tested and I guess 5-10 pounds is apparent at times.
I own one. Honestly, the Lankeleisi MG740 is a great e-bike.