The $2000 price point in e-bikes is super-competitive. It is arguably the price tier in which the consumer’s dollar goes farthest. As a result, it’s hard for a company to introduce a bike that presents a significantly greater value than its competitors are. We see bikes that are different from their competitors, but we rarely see one that can easily be called “better.”
The Mokwheel Basalt takes a fair run at the notion of better. With its 960Wh battery, it can lay claim to one of the biggest batteries available in this price range. A bigger battery can mean different things to different riders. For the absent-minded among us (who, me?), it can mean not having to worry about a dead battery after forgetting to charge it … three days in a row. A bigger battery can mean long adventures, or it can mean riding everywhere at PAS 5. Or it can mean putting some camping gear in panniers and taking off for the weekend.
Thanks to the optional power inverter, the Mokwheel Basalt can serve as a weekend camper’s power supply, charging a phone or electric grill. For anyone who wants to drive to their camp location, the inverter’s wall outlets mean that weekend getaway can include a coffee maker, portable fridge or DJ table. Add the optional portable solar panels and a rider might not feel a need to return home.
Typically, when we see one noticeably superior feature on an e-bike, we will either see a jump in price, or the quality of some other components shaved in order to bring the price down. Rather than make sacrifices to try to bring the price of the Mokwheel Basalt closer to $1500 in price, the manufacturer stuck with a 7-speed Shimano drivetrain, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes and two frame designs, features we consider pretty standard in this price range. Mokwheel equips the Basalt with front and rear lights as well as a rear rack; fenders can be difficult to make work well on fat bikes, but they do offer them as an accessory.
As much as we were impressed by the Mokwheel Basalt’s performance in our battery of tests, particularly the range test and circuit test, the presence of 4-in.-wide knobby tires pumped to a cushy pressure undercut these performances. This isn’t a knock against those tires. For anyone wanting to ride both on and off road, these Chaoyang tires are quite nice. However, a narrower tire with no knobs would boost the e-bike’s performance even further.
Mokwheel’s warranty covers the motor, battery, frame and components for two years, a full year longer than most of its competitors. Reviews of the bike on Mokwheel’s site are very positive, though one user did note that a 5 feet 9 inches, they wish the traditional frame was a bit smaller; they also expressed a desire for more low gears when riding steep hills offroad.
Mokwheel offers a number of accessories for their bikes. In addition to the power inverter and the foldable solar panels, Mokwheel’s site includes front and rear baskets, helmets, a pet carrier, panniers, and a number of replacement parts, taking the guesswork out of replacing worn parts.
Our reviews look at the bike we rode, as equipped. Our job is to report on that experience to our readers and viewers to give them the clearest explanation possible of what their experience will be should they buy the bike. With the Mokwheel Basalt our crew here positively drooled at the possibility of riding off into the sunset, equipped with the inverter, some food, a stove and a hammock. For riders interested in camping or touring, this e-bike presents possibilities we hadn’t really considered until now, and one of the best things an e-bike can do for someone is to let them imagine new ways to get out and see the world.
‘Happy Riding, make sure let Electric Bike Report team know if you have any questions down in our comments section or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Mokwheel Basalt.
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