FAT-AWD

1 review for FAT-AWD

1. 

   CC E-Cycles – July 6, 2023

   Video Review

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   Written Review

   To run the forums, host the website, and travel, EBR charges a universal service fee for reviews. This in-depth review was sponsored by EUNORAU. The goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of EUNORAU products.

   The EUNORAU FAT-AWD has an interesting set of mechanical and electrical components that make it one of the more unique eBikes on the market today. Coming from snow laden Salt Lake City, my first impression was that of a snow commuter, but after riding the bike on the most loose terrain I could find, I had new appreciation for it as off-road entertainment.

   First and foremost, the AWD bike has two motors; a 250w front geared motor, and a 350w rear geared motor. This combination of motors still qualifies under the legal definition in many states as an electric bicycle, as it doesn’t exceed a total of 750w of power. This system is operated by a single battery; a 48v 10Ah downtube mounted battery that locks into position on the bike, likewise a single controller, and a single set of controls on the front of the bike. Operating the electric system is surprisingly easy: the red rocker switch on the right side of the handlebars designates which motors to operate. The throttle and pedal assist function normally, and drive the wheels depending on the position of the rocker switch. With the switch in the middle both motors are available. In the right or left positions, the front or rear motors are available, respectively. Having the ability to change which wheels operate on the fly is a lot of fun, and it opens new possibilities for keeping traction and continuing into further terrain. I’m not much of a 4×4 guy, but my impression is that the greater on obstacle one can climb without leaving the car the greater the enjoyment. A bike like this is a fitting comparison. With some practice, I believe a rider could utilize the motor selector switch to climb difficult obstacles that would be realistically impossible for other electric bikes. The bike uses a cadence sensor to activate pedal assist, this means the electric system reads rotations from the crank to know how much power to send to the motor(s). This makes for very low-impact riding on the road, but in off-road conditions where immediate power is desired, one can employ the use of the throttle. The throttle control is exactly as you would expect; twisting the throttle engages the selected motor without reading the pedals at all. I’m very glad this bike has a throttle, as that is where I would be spending most of my time while venturing off-road. The throttle is located on the left side of the handlebars, to actively balance the use of the selector switch on the right ride. Having these two controls on opposite sides really helps the rider to control the motor engagement very well, and I’m glad I got to see that in action. One of those features that no one really notices, until they try it out.

   The FAT-AWD is equipped with fitting mechanical components for the price. The mechanical disc brakes are quite welcomed on a larger, heavier bike with the additional weight of two motors. For road riding on a heavy bike like this, the disc brakes are quite necessary. There is a hydraulic disc brake upgrade available from EUNORAU, but personally I would use the bike in uneven, rocky terrain where speed is not much of an issue. If the terrain you’re traveling has more inclines, then you may wish to opt for the upgrade set. Mechanical discs are easier to fix, but do require more fixing in the first place. Hydraulic brakes stop much more effectively, and need maintenance far less often, however the installation or repair has a much higher learning curve. On the shifting side, the FAT-AWD has a fairly basic 7 speed Shimano Altus derailleur, with a windowed thumb and trigger indexer up front. This gear set works, but the uniqueness of the electric system, and the size/weight of the bike in total doesn’t encourage pedaling too much. I was very comfortable riding with the bike in the lowest gear, with hardly any tension, and using the pedals as a means to engage the electric system and add only a tiny a bit more torque to the tires. Riding in this style off-road was very, very fun! I really enjoyed riding up and down the rock covered walls of a nearby highway berm with additional weight and traction from the two fat motor’ed wheels. The FAT-AWD is equipped with a 48v 10Ah battery, which is very difficult to estimate range with. If this had a skinnier set of wheels, and a single hub motor, I would make an educated estimate of 20 miles of range on full throttle. With the added load of the fat tires and second motor, perhaps 15 miles? Then factoring in the additional draw of using two motors instead of one… well… Perhaps at full throttle, both motors on the road, I’d guess about 7-9 miles of range. To be clear, this is with no pedaling, at all, and using two motors on the road, which I believe is fun, but for efficiency is quite counter intuitive. The display on the FAT-AWD shows only some basic parameters; speed pedal assist level, and wether the front light is on or off. One great note about the simplicity of the display is the durability and the ease of replacement, a feature that very well may appeal to someone putting the bike through more rigorous rides that require AWD.

   Aside from its off-road capabilities, I think this bike has a great place on the road as well. As noted, the presence of metal fenders and a rear rack first sparked the idea of a winter commuter. One great way of using an electric bike in the winter is to lower the seat allowing the rider to extend their legs on either side to maintain balance on slippery terrain. Of course, this lowers the effectiveness of the rider’s contribution through maximum leg extension, but the thrill can’t be beat! I’ve ridden several Utah winters in this fashion, but in many cases with skinnier road tires. Using a quick selecting AWD bike with a lowered seat, and additional balance would make any winter commute a great adventure, and open new trails and areas. The front light is a nice addition to the commuter aspect of the bike, it’s always a plus when the light integrates with the main battery pack, saving the rider from having to replace batteries. On that note; I find it odd that EUNORAU included a rear light that operates on 2x AAA batteries. From the glass-full perspective, they did include it, from the glass empty perspective; the rear doesn’t integrate like the front. Fortunately, the bike does have two fenders. The rear rack has both a top and lower mounting pannier rails if the rider has a varying sizes of bags, or if they choose to keep the package weight low while riding. The knobby tires are great for grabbing traction on loose terrain, or wintery roads where available.

   EUNORAU eBikes is a direct to consumer brand based in Hangzhou China, with USA shipping and service support. Kind of a blend of both worlds. Chinese made and sold bikes have one great appeal to them; price. Since China is hub of bicycle manufacturing, the vast resources available to these companies can make for a compelling offer. However, in many cases direct bikes take months in shipping, and have literally no support at all, so it’s nice to see EUNORAU filling a less-charted space between affordable price and addressing customer needs. EUNORAU does have some upgrades on offer from their site, though shipping times and availability are not as clear compared to their standard models. As always, we welcome feedback and comments below, we also just launched a EUNORAU forum section where you can connect directly with others and share your pictures, videos, and deeper questions 🙂

   Pros:

   • Dual motors provide greater grip and propulsion options for tackling difficult terrain, the rider can choose to use the front wheel, rear wheel, or both wheels simultaneously
   • On the fly motor switching while riding enables much greater options for maintaining traction and clearing obstacles, this is a very welcomed feature compared to other AWD bikes that require stopping the bike to change the drive modes
   • Dual motors wattage doesn’t exceed the known threshold for legal classification as moped or motorcycle, the combined wattage comes to 700w (250w front and 350w rear)
   • Lockable 48v 10Ah battery has it’s own unique key to prevent theft while keeping the battery firmly attached to the bike, also the downtube mount for the battery keeps the weight centered and lower on the bike
   • Included rear rack has rails for both tall and short panniers, as well as a wide platform for trunk bags. The matte metal frame of the rear-rack also matches the fenders and frame of the bicycle itself, a really nice touch
   • Color-matched metal fenders are great; as they won’t bend and rub as easily as plastic fenders. Also includes metal mounting rods for front and rear
   • Fat 4” Kenda juggernaut tires can maintain grip on loose surfaces, such as snow, sand, mud, gravel, this is especially useful for off-road riding where utilizing two motors would be ideal
   • 12 magnet cadence pedal assist is easy on the legs for riders with leg stress considerations, the pedal assist levels control the top speed of assist, which also caps the throttle at these same levels
   • Center mounted kickstand makes for easy loading of cargo on the rear rack, tons of fun burning dual rubber with the throttle, and is very convenient for commuting or errands
   • Suspension seat-post also telescopes in the seat tube as normal as well as compresses to ease the bumps of the ride, a great compensation for the lack of frame suspension
   • Integrated front light runs from the main battery, without the need for spare batteries or recharging provisions. Also employs an LED light for greater longevity and brightness from a small package
   • Sloping top tube provides a more accessible stand-over height, and the slight sweep handlebars and lowest position of the seat enable for a range of adult riders to comfortable access the bike
   • Thicker 13ga spokes on the front and rear wheels accommodate the torque of two motors more effectively, and the 160mm brake rotors are well suited for the varied uses this bike can offer

   Cons:

   • Very limited options: One frame size available; Medium, One color option available; Black, also lacking in bottle cage attachments
   • Basic display is a straight shooter, and only reports basic parameters or pedal assist level, light condition, and battery level
   • Rear light is included, but it’s a loose light with it’s own batteries. This is an odd choice since many integrated light systems have both front and rear lights, or include no lights at all. I’m not a big fan of changing batteries, but I’m quite a big fan of staying seen, and staying alive
   • Using the bike at full throttle, in loose terrain, with both motors will afford a drastically lower range compared to other ebikes on the road with a single motor. For full adventure, definitely start with a full battery