You might be familiar with the Turboant brand as they have some best-selling electric scooters in the US. I’ve reviewed many electric bikes on BikeFolded but the new Turboant Thunder T1 stands out of the crowd as it is the first one coming with fat tires. Is this ebike another successful product from Turboant? We’re going to find out in this review.
Disclosure: We received the ebike in exchange for the review. We spent time testing it to make sure it is honest and unbiased.
Unboxing Video
Specifications & Features
| Weight | 72.8 lb (33 kg) |
| Gear | Shimano 7-speed derailleur |
| Battery | Removable 48V x 14Ah Samsung battery |
| Range | 35 – 60 miles (56 – 97 km) |
| Motor | 750W brushless gear motor |
| Max Speed | 28 mph |
| Max Load | 264 lbs (120 kg) |
| Controller | 48V/25A |
| Display | LCD display |
| Pedal Assistance | 5 levels |
| Tires | 26″ x 4.0″ Kenda fat tires |
| Brakes | Tektro Aries brake (7.1 in/180 mm), Tektro aluminum alloy grip lever |
| Lights | Brake taillight, 48V LED front light |
| Freewheel | Shimano freewheel |
| Chain | KMC chain |
| Stem | Promax MA-593S |
| Crank | Prowheel 42T forged alloy (6.7 in/170 mm) |
| Front Fork | RST Hydraulic Adjustable alloy front fork |
| Frame | Aluminum alloy 6061 |
| Saddle | VELO Plush VL6221 |
| Spoke | 12-gauge stainless steel |
| Recommended Rider Height | 5’3″ – 6’4″ (1.6–2m) |
Product Images
Performance
Turboant actually releases two versions of the fat-tire ebikes, which are the Thunder T1 and Nebula N1. They have almost the same specs, the only difference is that T1 comes with an external battery while the N1 has internal battery. Between the two versions, I actually prefer the T1 because it is $200 cheaper while the motor and battery are exactly the same. Of course, the N1 looks a bit sleeker as they hide the battery and controller inside the frame. For both versions, I can take the battery out for recharging and replace the battery myself when it is broken.
Although the T1 is not foldable, it uses a quick release axle on the front wheel, therefore, I can remove or attach the front wheel within seconds, making transporting the bike easier. I have no problem fitting it into my car trunk after folding down the back seat, so you don’t need to install any bike rack on your car.
This is still one of the largest bikes I’ve ever used, so make sure you have enough space in your room or apartment to keep it. I thought that the bike would be too big for me but it has the perfect size. It is also very heavy at more than 72 lbs, so carrying it up or down the stairs is inconvenient. There are just a few steps in front of my house, but I still need to remove the battery when carrying this bike. It would be ideal to store the Turboant bike in your garage in order to use it whenever you want.
After taking the bike out of the box, you will need to put some parts together but it took me just about 10 minutes. They include all necessary tools inside, so I don’t need to get my toolbox. The ebike was in great shape and available to ride immediately.
Most of my previous bikes were fairly compact and I had to sacrifice comfort for portability. Therefore, I was so excited when testing the T1 because it features both fat tires and RST Hydraulic front suspension fork. The performance didn’t disappoint me. This is undoubtedly the most comfortable bike I’ve used in my entire life. I tested it on different road surfaces and it performed extremely well. The suspension fork is adjustable and I only use it on uneven roads when exploring some bike trails. It is even more comfortable than riding other bikes on paved roads. I no longer feel a pain in my butt at the end of each ride.
The T1 offers 5 levels of pedal assistance and you can also ride it in full throttle mode. You can use the throttle twist on the right handle and there is a button to lock it to avoid accidental acceleration. Its motor is very powerful at 750W and the bike could reach a max speed of around 19-20mph in full-throttle mode; The max speed could be even higher when you pedal with motor assistance. There is also a 7-speed derailleur which helps climb hills as well as reach max speed easier; I rarely changed the speed when riding on flat roads.
I am quite satisfied with the battery range of the bike. If you ride the bike in full throttle mode only, it could reach 20-30 mile range. In case you pedal more, it could reach 50-60 miles.
Conclusion
Pros
- Super comfortable with flat tires and suspension fork
- Great battery range
- High-quality build
- Powerful 750W motor
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Cumbersome design, especially for small houses/apartments
Overall, I really enjoyed riding the Turboant Thunder T1 as it offers everything I was looking for in an ebike. If you have enough space to store it in your house, we at BikeFolded highly recommend it.
Buy Thunder T1 Ebike on Turboant Website
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