Ecotric Vortex Fat Tire Electric Mountain Bike Review
Stylish and affordable perfectly describes the Ecotric Vortex Fat Tire Electric Mountain Bike. It comes with your choice of a white or black frame and it’s one of the manufacturer’s lowest-priced e-bikes. It has a classic design, a sturdy frame, and a powerful motor.
It’s not the fastest off-road e-bike on the market, but it does perform well on all types of surfaces. The Vortex is a great bike for beginners and those that want a little extra help on tough rides.
Sometimes a lower cost means that you’re sacrificing quality and performance. When you take a closer look at The Vortex, you’ll see that it’s worth its price and more.
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Ecotric Vortex Fat Tire Electric Mountain Bike Review
Ecotric advertizes the Vortex as an urban commute bike. It is designed to go over city streets, and its fat tires give you a smooth ride over speed bumps and potholes.
The rechargeable battery has a decent range, you won’t be stuck without a motor on outdoor excursions. Here’s what else you need to know about this off-road electric mountain bike.
Power and a Smooth Ride
The Vortex isn’t going to win any races against a motorcycle, but it’s still a quick e-bike. It comes with a 350W hub-drive motor on the rear wheel.
It has a surprisingly quick acceleration rate. When you use the throttle, the motor can reach speeds of 20mph. Along with the throttle, the off-road e-bike comes with three pedal-assist levels. You’ll get the right amount of support to match the terrain.
The 26″ wheels give you traction and a smooth ride. You won’t feel any bumps in the road when you combine the fat tires with the sporty, comfortable seat.
The wider tires grip the surface and provide traction on wet, soft, and hard surfaces. Snow, rain, gravel, and sand won’t slow the Vortex down.
Designed for the Rider’s Comfort
Ecotric had riders’ comfort in mind when they created the Vortex. The off-road e-bike comes with an adjustable seat that allows riders 5’3″ to 6′ to sit easily on the e-bike.
You don’t have to worry about your knees hitting the handlebars. When the seat is fully raised, even a 6-foot biker will enjoy a comfortable ride.
The handlebars are ergonomically designed. The grips are rubber/leatherette wrapped. Not only are they comfortable to grasp, but the material is also non-slip.
Shimano Gears and Disc Brakes
You want plenty of gears on an electric mountain bike. You’ll need them on hill climbs, descents, and rough trails. The Vortex boasts a Shimano Tourney 7-speed drivetrain.
You can easily tackle any terrain, especially with help from the pedal-assist. Some steep hills can be difficult without additional gears, but a boost from the throttle ensures you’ll get to the top.
Mechanical disc brakes on the front and rear tires ensure you quickly come to a stop. You do want more distance if you’re using the throttle or pedal-assist. It can take up to 20 feet to fully stop on a flat surface when you’re using the highest pedal-assist level.
Range and Battery Life
The Vortex Fat Tire E-Bike comes with a 324W battery. It has the power needed to run the 360W motor. The range is listed between 18-20 miles. However, it can also be less or more.
The terrain, weight on the e-bike, along with how often you use the motor determines battery life. On flat terrain, and when you don’t use the motor, the battery will go several miles farther.
The battery is located on the frame’s down tube. It’s rechargeable and pretty easy to replace. You might have to remove the rear fender, but that only takes a few minutes.
The battery is the e-bike’s most valuable component. It’s also pricey to replace if stolen. Ecotric does give you a full one-year warranty but it doesn’t cover battery theft.
The e-bike does come with a set of keys, and the battery has a small lock. You can securely lock it anytime you leave the Vortex unattended.
It usually takes between 5-8 hours to fully recharge the battery. The amount of time depends on electricity flow and how far the battery is drained. You can expect to get 400 to 600 charges before the battery needs replacing. It has a lifespan of about two years for daily bike rides.
Handy Display
You always want to know battery power, along with a few other things. The Vortex off-road electric bike comes with a small LED display. It’s a breeze to use. It’s one of the reasons this is a great e-bike for beginners. Mounted on the handlebars, next to the left grip, it only has three buttons.
- Power: Turns the e-bike on and off.
- Mode: There are three pedal-assist modes; low, medium, and high. Pressing the button once engages the first mode. Repress the button when you need additional power.
- 6km/h: It does drain the battery, but it’s great to have when you’re tired. When you press the button, the motor engages and runs the e-bike at a consistent 3.7 mph (6km/h).
The display also has 7 red LED lights. Four are dedicated to battery life. You’ll know when the battery is running low. The other three lights indicate which pedal-assist mode is engaged.
What to Expect From the Three Pedal-Assist Levels
Even experienced e-bike riders will warn you that every model is different. One model can be smooth and barely noticeable. On another e-bike, it can almost jar you off the seat. The Vortex comes with a hub-driven motor, so you’ll feel the push as you’re pedaling.
The off-road electric mountain bike has three pedal assist modes that provide varying levels of power. In the low setting, the motor provides 40% of the power, while you give 60%. In the mid-level setting, the e-bike does 70% of the work. On the highest setting, you don’t have to pedal, the motor provides 100% of the power.
Don’t expect the motor to immediately take over. The pedals must make a full rotation before an assist mode kicks in. It’s not a light push.
No matter what power mode you’re on, you will feel a strong power surge. You do need to continue to pedal unless you’re in the highest power setting.
It takes one second for the motor to disengage once you’ve turned off the assist mode. Applying the brakes also stops the pedal-assist and the throttle.
On flat surfaces, the fat tire electric bike can maintain speeds around 17mph. You can reach 20mph when you engage the throttle. It’s only designed for quick bursts of speed, and it does drain the battery.
The throttle is part of the right-hand grip. When you want a short burst of speed, twist the handle back. It’s moveable and you’ll feel the motion. Unlike the pedal-assist modes, the throttle can’t be permanently engaged. It only kicks in when you twist the handle back.
How to Assemble the Vortex Fat Tire E-Bike
The Vortex comes in a large box and does require assembly. Don’t worry, it’s not hard to do. Ecotric sends the e-bike close to 85% preassembled. There are only a few steps left for you to take. There are five pieces you need to attach to the off-road e-bike.
- Handlebar
- Seat and seat post
- Front-wheel
- Pedals
- Front fender
The motor and battery are attached to the frame, along with the display. You will need to charge the battery before riding the e-bike or using the interface. Even if you’ve never attached a bike seat, it’s still easy to assemble the Vortex.
All of the tools you’ll need are included with the e-bike. It also comes with simple printed instructions. In under an hour, the electric mountain bike will be ready to ride.
Ecotric Vortex Electric City Bike specifications and features
| MODEL SIZE | 1750*1060*630mm |
| MOTOR | Rear Hub 36V 350W |
| BATTERY | 36V 9AH |
| CHARGING TIME | 5-8 Hours |
| DISPLAY | Ecotric Smart LED |
| SENSOR | Speed Sensor |
| BATTERY LIFE | 400-600 Cycles |
| REAR BRAKE | Mechanical Disc 160mm Rotor |
| FUNCTIONS | Pedal Assist On-Demand Throttle |
| FRAME | High-Strength Carbon Steel |
| TIRES | 26’’×1.95’’ Tires |
| FENDERS | Included, Front And Rear |
| WEIGHT WITH BATTERY | 57lb |
| WEIGHT CAPACITY | 220lb |
| DERAILLEUR | 7Speed SHIMANO |
| FRONT BRAKE | Mechanical Disc 160mm Rotor |
| BRAKE SYSTEM | Left Brake For Rear/Right Brake For Front |
Final words on Our Ecotric Vortex Fat Tire Electric Mountain Bike Review
The Ecotric Vortex Fat Tire Electric Mountain Bike is affordably priced. You’re also not sacrificing on performance. A 350W rear hub motor, a long-lasting battery, and a Shimano derailleur give you speed and performance on all types of trails. Fat tires give you traction on wet and soft surfaces.
The off-road e-bike also boasts three pedal-assist modes. Whether you are new to the world of e-bikes or are looking for an affordable option, it’s worth it to take a look at the Vortex Fat Tire Electric Mountain Bike from Ecotric.
Hopefully our Ecotric Vortex Fat Tire Electric Mountain Bike Review has made your mind up if this model is for you or not. Remember we have reviewed quite a few different electric mountain bike models. If you want to check them out the go here.
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