QuietKat Apex Review | Electric Bike Report

The Apex is the workhorse cousin of QuietKat’s full-suspension Jeep e-bike. The two bikes share much of the same componentry, but as a hardtail the Apex has an integrated rear rack welded to the frame and boasts a slightly higher carrying capacity — 325 lbs.

It also just feels like a more load-capable bike. I got to ride the Jeep e-bike and the Apex back to back, and the Apex felt more like a freight train as opposed to the Jeep’s rock crawler persona. The Apex climbed very well, and felt like my pedaling and the motor’s power was transferred directly to the ground and the handling felt quick but very balanced. None of this is to the determent of the Apex’s off-road abilities, but I do see the Apex being more comfortable on 4×4 roads or doubletrack as opposed to more technical trail.

The Apex also sports an inverted moto-style front fork that QuietKat specs on most of their e-bikes. It’s noticeably stiffer than many of the standard forks we see on other electric fat bikes, making the front end feel more precise during hard corners. Based off my experience running larger and stiffer forks on traditional mountain bikes made for high-speed technical trail riding, this stouter fork would likely also give greater control in rough and unruly terrain.

The moto-style front fork really stiffened up the Apex’s front end, which was really noticeable on some high speed descents.

Quietcat built the Apex around the Bafang Ultra mid-drive motor, which produces a massive 160Nm of torque and up to 1,500W nominally. To stay compliant with e-bike laws, you can buy the bike in a “classified” 750W motor with a Class 2 throttle that cuts out at 20 mph, or, if you’re riding on private land or in OHV areas, you can buy the unclassified 1,000W model.

That substantial power is one of the reasons the Apex doesn’t fall neatly into the eMTB category. In either configuration, that amount of torque and wattage can be unwieldy in tight terrain like singletrack. But, for hunters and others hauling gear to a tree stand or camp site, that power serves extremely useful.

The Apex’s powerful mid-drive motor is housed inside a casing, protecting it from the elements.

The aforementioned Bafang Ultra mid-drive motor powers the Apex, giving riders access to 750W, 1,000W or 1,500W of power and 160Nm of torque. You can choose between one of the three motor options when purchasing the Apex, and, depending on what you choose, powering that motor is a 48V, 14.5Ah battery for the 750W and 1,000W motor options and a 52V, 17.5Ah battery for the 1,500W motor.

Keep in mind that e-bike laws are a thing when choosing the motor, and unfortunately there are quite a few inconsistencies in those laws between states, land managers and others. If you want to ride your bike on the street or on many other federally or locally managed lands, the 750W is probably the best option. If you’re sticking to private land or OHV areas, the larger motors may work.

Also, don’t underestimate just how much power any of these three motors produce. Most eMTB motors weigh in at 250W; not because they’re underpowered or because they’re made for fitness, but because that alone is plenty for most off-road uses. Amplify that power to 750W or even 1,500W, and that’s a substantial amount of energy.

QuietKat spec’d the Apex with a 9-speed SRAM X5 drivetrain, a low budget but reliable option.

Its got fewer gears and a little less tech than some of the high-end drivetrains, but there’s some logic behind running a cheaper set of gears. One, the bike has enough power that you’re shifting less and need less incremental gears. And two, the extremely powerful motor will likely wear out drivetrains quicker; a cheaper setup means cheaper maintenance.

The 9-speed SRAM drivetrain is affordable and reliable; important features considering that 160Nm motor will likely wear things out quick.

Brakes: Tektro four piston hydraulic disc brakes

Slowing the bike down is a pair of Tektro Dorado 4-piston hydraulic disk brakes, a pretty standard setup for this caliber of e-bike. I’m a big fan of these brakes, which proved reliable and strong on some of the larger descents in Park City.

Other notes: Lots of accessories, three sizes and an all-new integrated rack

A feature new on the 2021 model of the Apex is an integrated and color matched rear pannier rack. That rack, which is welded to the frame as opposed to bolted, can carry up to 100 lbs of weight. The Apex is an e-bike designed for people toting heavy loads into far-flung areas, so they also designed that rack to center cargo weight low and directly over the center of the rear wheel, preserving the bike’s handling.

As this is a bike made for hauling, QuietKat has a whole line of racks, bags and off-road trailers designed specifically for the Apex and their other e-bikes.

The Apex’s cockpit is clean and complete with a Bafang display and touchpad.

The Apex is an impressive contender in the burgeoning new class of all-terrain electric fat bikes.

It’s a workhorse capable of carrying and pulling heavy loads, but is also equipped for some of the most difficult off-road terrain like mud, snow and sand. Its component package — particularly the fork, brakes an the integrated rack — is top notch and the Bafang Ultra motor is a souped-up mid-drive that flattens hills. It’s a bike that would likely be a little unweildly on tight terrain, but stay in its natural habitat of 4×4 roads or unmaintained paths and it’s more than capable.

I’m also impressed with just how stable the Apex felt. Some of QuietKat’s staff, the ones who had a serious hand in the development of this bike, have an extensive background in mountain biking and it shows in the design. They’ve clearly built this bike to go anywhere and do anything, and I think they hit their mark.

QuietKat sells the Apex e-bike on its website and ships bikes directly to consumers. Or, if you’d prefer to buy the bike in person, you can find it at QuietKat’s growing network of dealerships..