QuietKat 1000 Watt RidgeRunner Fat Tire Electric Bike Review
If you’ve been searching for a new electric mountain bike, look no further than the QuietKat RidgeRunner Fat Tire electric hunting bike. Produced by QuietKat, one of the three big names in electric off-road bikes, the RidgeRunner is perfect for the outdoor lover who is looking to elevate their arsenal to the next level. Equipped with a 1000 watt Ultra Mid-Drive motor and a 16 amp hour lithium ion battery, the RidgeRunner is loaded to the brim with excellent, sustainable power. Additionally, this electric mountain bike has hydraulic disc brakes, basically an industry requirement at this point, heavy duty off road fat tires, and high quality suspension to keep you comfortable no matter what terrain you are traversing. Throughout the rest of this review we will go over the specs of the QuietKat RidgeRunner in more detail, as well as answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this electric bike.
QuietKat RidgeRunner Electric Mountain Bike Review
Researching a new electric bike can be a daunting process, especially give the laws are regulations around the world it can be very confusing if you are a first time buyer. That is why our team does all the research about the bikes review so that all you will need to know before you make a purchasing decision is right here in our through reviews. With that being said, one of the most important things to know about your electric bike before you buy it is the class that it falls under. In a majority of US states there are three classes, Class 1, pedal assist only, max speed of 20 mph, class 2, throttle motor, max speed of 20 mph, and finally Class 3, speedometer required, throttle or pedal assist motor, and max speed of 28 miles per hour. The QuietKat RidgeRunner arrives as an unclassified bike, however with slight modifications, and no extra equipment, can be programmed down to either class 1 or class 2. Please be sure to look up your areas specific classification laws to ensure you are riding a legal bike! Now that that is out of the way let’s get into the fun part of this review, the specifications of the QuietKat RidgeRunner electric mountain bike.
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Bafang 1000 Watt Ultra Mid-Drive Motor
Near the apex of electric motor technology, the ultra mid-drive motor by Bafang is our second favorit motor system, narrowly beaten out by the all-wheel drive capabilities of only the most expensive and high performing electric hunting bikes, such as the Rambo Megatron. As we have said many times before, the Bafang 1000 watt motor provides more than enough power for the vast majority of riders and unless you are looking to climb extremely steep hills you will not notice a difference in performance. This motor gives an average output of 1000 watts with peak output of up to 1600 watts, making the RidgeRunner technically an unclassified electric bike. This leaves you in a somewhat grey area in terms of legislation about your electric bike, however if you are worried about this you can easily change your bikes setting to lower the motors output to 750 watts turning it into either a Class 1 or Class 2 bike, depending on the settings you decide to use. This option to change the class of your bike may not seem important but it can be extremely useful, especially if you decide to ride your bike in an urban area which may have electric bike laws more strictly enforced. For someone who will only be riding off-road this feature doesn’t provide much benefit, however for most people who will be riding their bike in a number of different places this will give you peace of mind knowing that your bike is fully legal.
CST Roly Poly Fat Tires
While QuietKat bikes give you the versatility to quickly switch between 4.8 inch fat tires and standard mountain bike tires, let us be frank, if you’re buying an electric hunting bike you’re going to want to have fat tires. The new CST Roly Poly fat tires are CST’s first attempt at a fat tire after a long history of producing quality traditional mountain bike tires, and unlike most first attempts CST struck gold with their innovative tread and paddle design on their high performance fat tire. Designed with a continuous center tread to give little rolling resistance these tires are fast while going straight, but have excellent traction throughout turns due to their thick and protruding side paddles. Overall this will allow you to ride quickly and efficiently while maintaining full control through your turns. Control is obviously one of the most important things to consider when buying a high performance bike, and these fat tires are the best of both worlds in terms of traction, speed, stability, and durability. We wish more electric hunting bikes were equipped with these wonderful fat tires!
Tektro Hydraulic Disc Brakes
The best of the best in terms of brake performance, hydraulic disc brakes are exactly what you should be looking for when researching any high end mountain bike, but especially on an electric bike where stopping power is extremely important. Having a quality brake system can mean the difference between a crash and a close call and Tektro is slowly but surely building themselves up as a leader in the world of braking that has for so long be dominated by Shimano, the industry giant. While it is not yet up for debate as to whether Tektro brakes are better than Shimano, many experts in the field have stated that the level of performance of Tektro hydraulic disc brakes is extremely close that of Shimano brakes at the same price level. You cannot go wrong with these brakes, but if you would feel more comfortable with Shimano Hydraulic brakes, with a little work you can switch out the standard brake with whatever hydraulic disc brakes you would like.
High Quality Inverted Air Suspension Fork
Different from the traditional suspension fork, the inverted air suspension fork of the RidgeRunner is designed differently from your traditional suspension and gives the bike better absorption and faster reactions to bumps on your biking path. Lighter than a traditional fork, and with better rebounding and compression an inverted suspension fork is far superior to a traditional front fork, however it still does not provide as much comfort as a full suspension bike would. On a fat tire bike suspension is not nearly as important as it is for a traditional mountain bike so we certainly are not complaining, however it might be nice for an manufacturer to come out with a full suspension electric hunting bike, just to see how it performs compared to the classic front suspension fork electric hunting bikes.
Conclusion
Overall, the QuietKat RidgeRunner is a high quality electric hunting bike with a powerful motor capable of towing over 300 pounds, a battery which gives it a 32 mile range, and high performance tires which allow you to traverse even the most rugged terrain. While not the most high end electric bike we have tested, for a middle of the pack electric bike in terms of its price, the RidgeRunner will give you great performance at a very reasonable price. We would recommend this bike for your traditional hunter, camper, fisher, or outdoor lover who is looking to invest in a high quality bike but is not necessarily looking for something to tackle extremely long and arduous trails. While not our favorite electric hunting bike, the RidgeRunner is everything it is advertised to be and more, and will certainly live up to your expectations in terms of durability and performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the QuietKat RidgeRunner electric bike made?
The QuietKat RidgeRunner is made in Eagle, Idaho, USA, like all QuietKat electric bikes.
Is there a risk free trial period for my electric bike?
Yes, QuietKat provides all customers with a 14 day, 10 mile maximum, risk free trial period which will begin on the day that your new bike arrives.
What is the max speed for the QuietKat RidgeRunner electric hunting bike?
The RidgeRunner is a 1000 watt electric bike with a max speed of 32 miles per hour.
