Velowave Ranger 2.0: Long range fat tire e-bike
While I don't ride fat tire bikes for commuting, they are fun to ride on trails and in wet conditions where you want long range and comfort.
Hyperdrive Hits
4/5 Medals of Yavin: Recommended for people looking for a solid fat tire e-bike with solid range and good build quality
Reasonable price for a big, powerful fat tire e-bike
Long range with throttle and pedal assist
Available in silver and dark gray
UL 2849 certified so no worries about electrical issues
It’s that time of year when fat tire e-bikes make a lot of sense for most people in the US who will be riding in the rain or snow on roads, trails, and maybe even out hunting in the remote areas of the country. I love riding fat tire bikes in the wet and muddy conditions and one of the newest bikes I’ve been riding on trails with slippery leaves is the Velowave Ranger 2.0. The Dark Gray model was sent to me for review and it has been a blast to ride.
Use code MM100 to get $100 off! (valid until 20 November).
I’ve tested a few big fat tire e-bikes and I thought the Lectric XPeak was going to be my favorite. However, there were some instability issues that I believe were due to the shorter frame that also prevented me from using the fender since it hit my foot while riding. The Velowave Ranger 2.0 does not have those issues and the range was much longer than I expected, which is definitely a good thing to see.
Rating:
As explained in my palmsolo’s Refresh Rating Scale post, I’m awarding the Velowave Ranger 2.0 four (4) Medals of Yavin. There isn’t anything that blows me away, but the overall package is solid and the long range bounced it up from a rating of 3 to 4. The basic display, lack of brake/rear light, and limited range front shock were some primary reasons for my rating.
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
Range exceeds the advertised long range for throttle and pedal assist
Reasonable price
Front and rear hydraulic brakes
Easy front wheel assembly and removal
Powerful throttle with no surging
Cons
No rear suspension
Shifter needed some adjustments
Heavy weight of 73 pounds
Experiences
The Velowave Ranger 2.0 arrived in a typical cardboard box, but unlike some other bikes I was unable to cut open the top and lift the bike out. It seems that foam material was injected around the bike so it is very secure and safe in the box, but you need to cut open the front and carefully remove the bike. There are several thick zip ties to cut and protective covering material to remove.
A 16-page manual is included and unlike me, make sure to perform step 1 (install the handlebars) first before you put on the front wheel. Assembly was easy and Velowave provides all of the tools you need to put the bike together and then maintain the bike.
The hydraulic brakes are responsive and I was a bit shocked how quickly I was able to stop, even on wet pavement. The big tires and comfortable saddle provide a very comfortable ride for many miles.
Velowave advertises up to 90 miles with a low level of pedal assist and up to 30 miles with throttle only. My testing indicated that 90 miles was achievable and I actually saw closer to 35 miles in throttle only mode.
The front shocks provide comfort when riding on trails and roads, but there is not much travel for jumps and such. There is also no rear suspension so don’t think this is a eMTB and stick to the gravel roads for miles of riding.
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 four colors
Motor: 750W rear hub (1000W Peak), 80Nm torque
Bike weight: 73 pounds
Bike capacity: 300 pounds
Pedal assist: Five levels with Shimano 7-gear transmission
Suspension: 60mm travel front fork
Max speed and range: 20 mph with up to 90 miles PAS, 30 miles throttle
Brakes: 180mm hydraulic disk brakes
Tires: 26” x 4” knobby
Display: Small color display
UL certification: UL 2849
Bottom Line
I don’t ride fat tire e-bikes for commuting since I mix up my commute with train segments and these types of bikes are too large and heavy to pack on the train and up/down flights of stairs. That said, fat tire e-bikes are great for getting out and about for errands, exploring, and enjoying the outdoors. The large, knobby tires work well in the rain, snow, mud, and gravel.
The Velowave Ranger 2.0 doesn’t have quite enough power to get me up steep hills with just the throttle, but only a minimal amount of effort is required with pedal assist. The battery range has seriously impressed me and I still can’t believe I was able to exceed the advertised 30 mile throttle only range.
The Velowave Ranger 2.0 is currently priced at $1,499 and comes with a lock and discounts on other accessories. Use code MM100 to get $100 off! (valid until 20 November).