About Ecotric
After spending a month or two locked up during the COVID-19 pandemic, people have turned to e-bikes en masse as a way to get out of the house and engage in social distancing fun. While many of the best electric bikes on Amazon have been sold out for weeks, one of the few remaining good options is still hanging in there: the Ecotric 500W fat tire electric bike
Now I want to be clear from the start: This isn’t a high-end electric bike, though you probably guessed that from the $850 price tag.
But what surprised me was that it isn’t a low-quality e-bike either. While the Ecotric fat tire bike has its shortcomings, it actually offers a decent range of parts and specs that far exceed its modest price
For anyone searching for an affordable fat tire bike that they can thrash around on without babying it or worrying about their investment, this could be a great option.
Check out my video review of the Ecotric 500W fat tire e-bike below, then keep reading for the full details.
Overview of Ecotric
The Ecotric Lark City is a 500w hub motor electric bike designed specifically for a womens frame. The Lark City comes with a low quality basket and fenders. The Lark City ebike has quite a unique battery frame and design that is unlike many other electric bikes on the market. The battery is attached between the seat post and the rear wheel in a triangular position. The Lark City by Ecotric scored a 43 on our tower ebike score ranking it just barely as a “mediocre ebike.”
Ecotric 500W fat tire e-bike review
Ecotric 500W fat tire e-bike tech specs- Motor: 500W geared rear hub motor
- Top speed: 32 km/h (20 mph)
- Range: 25-50 km (15-30 mi) depending on throttle or pedal assist
- Battery: 36V 12Ah (432Wh)
- Charge time: 6 hours
- Max load: 120 kg (265 lb)
- Frame: 6061 aluminum
- Suspension: None
- Brakes: Tektro mechanical disc brakes with 160 mm rotors
- Extras: LCD display with speedometer, battery gauge, PAS level indicator, odometer, tripmeter, half-twist throttle
What are its strengths?
The Ecotric fat tire bike’s biggest strength is that it works just fine. I know that sounds underwhelming, but stick with me here. There’s nothing fancy about the bike, but it works.
It’s not pretty, but it’s a heck of a lot better looking than some other ultra-budget e-bikes we’ve tried.
The fat tires give you plenty of grip and cushion, making up for the lack of suspension. And truth be told, sometimes I prefer a rigid fork over an el-cheapo suspension fork that looks like it will fall apart.
The pedal-assist is cadence-based and so it has that telltale delay for the first revolution or so before it kicks in, but once it does it feels plenty strong.
I did some climbing on dirt fire roads and found that between me and the pedal-assist, there was no hill I couldn’t climb. However, the same hills were much tougher on throttle alone. The Ecotric could do it, but boy did I slow down. That’s typical for a 500W system with a 36V battery – they simply have a much more powerful feel on flat ground than when climbing big hills.
The bike also feels surprisingly well designed. And sure, that may be due to the frame being ripped off of some other bike, but at least they ripped it off well. That means the geometry actually feels comfortable and not sketchy like some budget e-bikes.
The bike components aren’t amazing. We’re talking the lowest of the Shimano drivetrain parts and Tektro brakes. But at least it has brand name parts, right?!
Essentially, the bike didn’t blow me away in any one category, but it did just about everything I asked of it except for climbing big hills on throttle only. And perhaps I was asking too much there.
What are its weaknesses?
Mostly in features and accessories. It doesn’t have any LED lights or fenders or a rack – all things that I love to see included on a bike. Sure, I can add all three of those myself, but I don’t want to! I want a bike to come with them – is that so much to ask?
The other sticking point is the range. With a 432Wh battery, I wouldn’t call the range underwhelming, but it’s certainly not impressive either. Most e-bikes come with at least a 500Wh battery these days. The Ecotric can get you around 30 miles of range if you’re pedaling but expect to get around half of that on throttle only.
That means it might be good for a Sunday afternoon joy ride, but not a lengthy excursion. At least not without a spare battery.
What’s the verdict?
Despite the Ecotric’s downsides, I still give this bike a thumbs up. But not an unconditional thumbs up.
You have to go into this e-bike knowing that you’re getting moderate power and a lack of any fancy features.
But for $850, you get a full-size electric fat tire bike that will have you flying through the park and around the trails without breaking a sweat. It’s an e-bike that works and does its job – it just doesn’t give you anything extra in the way of creature comforts.
If you’re prepared to make that sacrifice to get on an affordable e-bike, then this could be the right bike for you. If you have just a bit more to spend, I might recommend the Lectric XP fat tire e-bike that offers more power for just $899. But if you want to stick to a full-size and ultra-low priced electric fat tire bike, the Ecotric has the right stuff.
FAQ
What size should I get?
The frame size for each model is posted on the respective bike’s page. Just take a look at the Specifications section down towards the bottom of each page.
The frame size for each model is posted on the respective bike’s page. Just take a look at the Specifications section down towards the bottom of each page.
Do bikes ship fully assembled or are assembly required?
Your bike will arrive about 95% assembled. The only assembly you will need to undertake is to put on the front wheel, install the handlebars, screw on the pedals, attach the fender and the front light, and you are good to go! The whole process should not take more than 30 minutes, and no special skills or tools are required. Any small tools required are included with the bike.
What is an electricc bicycle, and how do I operate one?
An electric bicycle is essentially a regular bicycle equipped with an electric motor that is designed to make the ride more enjoyable. Most can operate in three modes:
1.Pedal-Only – The bike is ridden just like a regular bicycle, powered only by the rider.
2.Pedal-Assist – The onboard computer activates the motor only when the pedals are turning in order to assist the rider. This mode makes it easier to pedal up hills and against the wind or to go faster on flat ground. The rider can control the level of assistance received from the motor by adjustments to the display unit mounted on the handlebars.
3.Throttle – The rider simply twists the throttle to engage the motor and start moving (similar to the operation of a moped). No pedaling is needed when using the bike in this mode, making it great for taking a break without necessarily having to stop traveling.
Is the bike waterproof?
While our bikes aren’t fully waterproof and should not be submerged in water, generally speaking they are very water resistant and can be hosed down and washed like any other bike. The battery, motor and display are fully sealed and can resist rain, snow and being hosed down after a ride. Like any bike, you’ll need to make sure to keep your chain lubed and well cared for to ensure optimal performance.
What is the top speed and range of your bike? What is the battery lifespan?
The top speed is about 20 mph. And the battery would last about 18 to 20 miles with the throttle for one full charge. The battery can hold up to 400 to 600 times of discharging and recharging.
Does your bike comes with a battery and charger? Do you need to buy the battery separately?
All bikes come with a new battery and charger. If you need to buy an extra battery, you can place an order for the extra battery on our website.
Where are you located? Do you offer free shipping?
We have warehouses in CA, IL, AL, and other states. We offer free shipping on all of our bikes everywhere within the lower 48 states.(Excludes: Alaska/Hawaii,Puerto Rico, US Protectorates, APO/FPO, PO Box).
When do you ship the order if I place the order today? When will my order be delivered?
Shipping time varies from 2-3 business days and delivery time varies between 6-8 business days if your product is in stock.