Today we are reviewing the first fat tire, full suspension e-bike that’s been designed to be solar-powered! The Mokwheel Obsidian is a high quality bike with premium features. We loved the color display, coil + air suspension, ergonomic riding feel, and sizeable battery. We also tested out the solar charging feature, using Mokwheel’s solar panels + inverter setup. Read on to learn about the things we did and didn’t like about this ebike.
Get yours here for $2399!
Mokwheel Solar Panels: $599
Mokwheel Inverter: $399
Specs
Battery: 48V, 19.6Ah (940.8 Wh)
Motor: 1000W
Speed: 28 mph (claimed), 35 mph (tested)
Range: 80 miles (claimed)
Tire: 26″ x 4″
Charge Time: 7 hours
Max Rider Load: 400 lbs
Weight: 77 lbs
Features
- Full Suspension
- Fat tires (26″ x 4″)
- Solar charging
- UL-rated battery (Samsung)
- Torque Sensor
- Center-mounted color display
- 2-piston Tektro hydraulic brake levers
- 180mm brake discs
- Leather grips with gel inside
- Shimano 8-speed shifter
- Front coil suspension with 130mm travel, adjustable preload
- Rear air suspension
- Plastic fenders
- Bottom-mounted removable battery, works as a power bank
- Solar panels + inverter add-on
What we love about the Mokwheel Obsidian
Geometry: A lot of e-bikes, especially fat-tire e-bikes, are difficult to pedal, and ride more like mopeds. Not so with the Mokwheel – even with pedal assist completely turned off, it rides just like a normal bike.
Suspension: The suspension did a great job of handling some gnarly off-road terrain.
Packaging: The box arrived in great condition, partly due to the rigid cardboard that Mokwheel uses to pack their bikes. We also appreciated the set of tools they provided, and the accessories were all neatly organized and labeled. within the box.
Display: We wish more e-bikes came with color displays. The Mokwheel display is easy to read, even in direct sunlight through polarized glasses.
What we don’t like about the Mokwheel Obsidian
No Quick-Release: We wish there was a quick-release mechanism for the front tire, which would make it much easier for transporting in a van or even a truck.
Front Light: This is definitely one of the worst lights we’ve seen on an e-bike. Not a great throw angle, and definitely not bright enough.
Display: The display is a little too small for our liking. The thick bezel makes it look larger than it actually is.
Mokwheel Solar Setup:
The solar panels and inverter are heavy (20+ lbs) and the solar kit doesn’t come with backpack straps, making it somewhat difficult to transport. To carry the solar panels while riding, I just slip the thin panels between my backpack and my back which worked surprisingly well.
The provided inverter case also doesn’t attach anywhere to the bike besides the top of the main frame, which gets in the way of pedaling so we ended up putting the inverter in my backpack.
While the power from the sun will be free, setting everything up will cost extra. The inverter will cost $400 and the panels will cost $600 so plan on spending another $1000 to harness the “free” power of the sun.
The inverter paired with the Ebike battery opens up a lot of options other than charging the ebike when out camping. You can easily charge and power cell phones, laptops, lights, cameras, drones, CPAP machines, breast pumps, TVs, and other electric gadgets.
The Freshly Charged Take
The Mokwheel Obsidian is an excellent choice for those looking for a full suspension, fat tire e-bike, that is capable of handling virtually all types of terrain. The price point is competitive, the build quality is excellent, and the Ebike is solar ready.
Get yours here for $2399!
Mokwheel Solar Panels: $599
Mokwheel Inverter: $399
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