IB13: Felt Teases Bosch Powered Electric Fatbike

I’m sorry but I don’t get the fat bike hype and I probably never will. But a motorized one just scream lazy fat bastard to me. Bury this and forget it ever existed.

When does a bicycle stop being a bicycle?

@Tyson- yep.

It’s 2013. Not just bike brands will do anything to earn a penny of profit. Although most of us mid to high end bike consumers might not realize it yet, these are tough times. Although most people are feeling this downturn a decreasing percentage have unimaginable time and money to burn on these types of conspicuous consumption, fat of the land, in your face toys. Such people are usually overweight so something novel like this has appeal. This bike can be ridden, if that’s what you call it, where motorcycles have long been banned. Wait till they come with a universal charging system for i-futz junk.

This is great! regarding the whiners that doll themselves up in the latest seasonal racing colors of their favorite athlete then whine about those who don’t care enough about who is leading whatever racing season happens to be occurring… well who cares, and if you want to call it something else, who cares. You are not required to purchase or ride the machine. You also have other choices, to fly or not to fly, to walk, or not walk. If a guy or gal is fat so what if they want to ride an electric fat bike, why would anyone care? Just like bicycle racers are not hurting anyone, neither are they. I remember the big fights in the late 80s and early 90s between mountain bikers and hikers. “Bikes don’t belong in the forest, they belong on roads”. It seems bicyclists can never just accept that others enjoy their bicycles for their own reasons. See ya on my fat electric bike suckers!

Photos hardly do the fat bike experience justice. It creates opportunities for new cyclists to traverse rough terrain with a more forgiving float. They climb like hell as well. Locally, it’s pretty flat. We have lots of rail trails, but they get riveted by ATV tracks. 29r / 650b won’t do too well in some of the deeper gravel unless you’re cooking (25kmph). This is where I see a use case for the electric fat bike. Those Bosch Motors are really efficient. If I work in a rural area that connects to town by rail trail, or road… I can do either. With an assist ice motor such as this, it’s power is an exponent of my input. I don’t think it’s lazy in many practical use cases. 20k to town? An hour is totally tolerable, and by fat bike, you can manage precarious terrain in all conditions … Comfortably. I won’t be buying one tomorrow… But I’m keeping my eye on this concept. I can’t wait to see where it goes.

I get all of it but the dropper post.

I don’t have a need for this bike. But if someone wants to build it and someone else wants to buy what is the problem? I don’t get to hostility because they are going to sell something YOU don’t want or that YOU don’t think belongs in the market. Isn’t it great there are so many choices out there?

About three weeks ago i built up a Suly Moonlander with a BionX electric motor, and it was boss. The build was custom for a surfer who wanted to ride his bike with his board to surf remote locations surrounded by sand. This guy was one of the most fit human beings I have ever seen! (In your face haters thinking its for fat lazy people!) As an electric bike mechanic and professional shop mechanic, I can see the pros alot more then the cons. Especially with the introduction of Haibike and their electric Mountain bikes with the bosch motors. I think people need to look at the bigger picture here, snobbiness aside, electric is a great way to get people out of their coffins and on to a bike. If you dont like it, get on one and try and then tell us why you hate it…

If you don’t like fat bikes you’re doing it wrong or have never tried it. I also have a downhill and a 29″XC. They all have a designated purpose. The. FatE is no exception. I have my fat bike for snow and wet conditions. It also has nothing to do with being fat or lazy. I look at the assist as giving you the chance for a longer adventure or covering more ground in a shorter time. Maybe you’re bike packing and carrying camping gear. It assists you pedaling and still allows you on trails where motors are prohibited.