Snapcycle Eagle (Twin Suspension Folding Fats Tire E-Bike) Assessment

A number of weeks in the past, Snapcycle despatched me a fairly distinctive e-bike to check (full disclosure: the corporate let me hold it, and I gave it to my brother for additional testing). Not solely is it a folder, but it surely has a twin suspension system to deal with every thing from harsh terrain to city curbs with ease. On this article, I’m going to cowl a number of the ups and downs we discovered for the Snapcycle Eagle for testing.

Snapcycle Eagle Specs & Options

Earlier than I get into driving impressions, I need to give readers an concept of what this bike’s specs are to allow them to evaluate it to different bikes. You’ll be able to discover full particulars right here on the web site, however I’ll go over the necessary stuff.

Energy-wise, it’s geared up with a 750 watt rear hub motor, however understand that we’re solely trying on the steady energy ranking. For brief bursts (peak energy), the bike can put out over 1,000 watts, making for barely higher acceleration than many motors that solely do 750 most. That is fed by a 48V 15Ah (720 Wh) Samsung lithium battery, which Snapcycle says provides you with as much as 30 miles on throttle or 45 miles in the event you put in a few of your personal effort by way of the pedals.

A heavy e-bike (68 lb) with that sort of energy and pace must cease, so Snapcycle included not simply disc brakes, however hydraulic disk brakes. And, after the experience, you’ll must cost it up once more, and an included 3 amp fast charger can cost the battery whereas within the bike or indifferent from it.

The aluminum folding body is a part of what units this bike aside, but it surely’s additionally acquired one other off-road trick up its sleeve: a rear suspension. So, each of the bike’s 4″ fats tires (which can provide you a fairly soft experience on their very own in the event you don’t inflate them an excessive amount of) have some suspension between you and them.

This can be a fairly first rate set of specs for $1,699, however as of this writing, it’s on sale for $1299, which makes it an actual steal.

However How Does It Carry out?

If driving had been all about numbers, we might cease the article proper right here, however an necessary a part of getting your cash’s price is how the bike rides. So, I’ll offer you that qualitative info, too.

First, let’s speak meeting. There’s just about no meeting in comparison with most e-bikes, as a result of the bike is folded up and packed as an alternative of shipped with quite a lot of work left. Get the bike out, take off the packing supplies, insert the battery, connect the fenders/mud guards (if desired), and get to driving. Straightforward-peasy. Personally, I’d take the extra step of including Slime sealant to the tubes, however that’s one of many more durable stuff you’ll do to get it prepared (as a result of the remaining is fairly straightforward).

Whereas twin suspension bikes sound hardcore and rigged for critical and excessive journey, the bike is clearly not constructed for rugged abuse. No bike within the sub-$2,000 worth vary goes to deal with a lot torture on trails, particularly if it weighs as a lot as an e-bike usually does. So, don’t go thrash this on the worst mountain bike trails on the market like a racer and get mad when it wants work.

So, I began off with one thing straightforward and rode it round in a subdivision for a couple of minutes (which is what many individuals do with fat-tire bikes in actuality). The Eagle did an important job doing every thing from easy pavement to xeriscaping in your yard to leaping curbs. The twin suspension setup made for a really comfy experience, even when dropping off a curb and letting it slam. So, if that’s what you had in thoughts for twin suspension, this bike will do this job very properly.

Subsequent, I despatched my brother off with the bike to go take a look at it on some intermediate mountain biking trails and Jeep roads so we might see whether or not actual off-road use is an excessive amount of for the bike. We did discover that the bike has some limits, however nothing broke.

First off, on trails above the newbie stage, having solely 20″ wheels is limiting. My brother mentioned they acquired a bit “squirrely” on harsher bumps and washboards if any turning is concerned. He didn’t crash it, but it surely was undoubtedly much less comfy and secure than a 26″ fats bike on the identical trails (which is absolutely 27.5-29″ with all of that rubber). So, in the event you’re trying to do some extra critical off-road exploring, hold that limitation in thoughts as you store, as a result of you may want a full-size bike.

One other limitation with the bike is that longer steep climbs will not be one thing you may count on to overcome on throttle energy alone. As soon as the height energy runs out and the bike has to again off to its rated 750 watts, you have to give the bike some assist with your personal muscle tissue to make it to the highest. This isn’t an issue in the event you’re on the market making an attempt to get train, however you may’t all the time deal with it like a miniature dust bike. So, in the event you get this bike, you’ll nonetheless need to shift to a low gear prematurely and be prepared to assist the bike make the climb.

However, aside from these two limitations, the Eagle does a good job off pavement and even in some semi-challenging terrain with small drops, rocks, and many others.

The Off-Highway Position That This Bike Shines In

After my very own testing and speaking it over with my brother, I’d must say that I feel this bike is right for somebody who’s extra all in favour of exploring than racing or making nice time on Strava (which might be dishonest, proper?).

For instance, in the event you’re out exploring in a automobile that may deal with dust roads however not critical off-roading, it’s a really perfect “shuttlecraft” of kinds. Whenever you attain the boundaries of what your crossover or 2WD pickup can do, the bike’s means to fold right into a small dimension makes it ultimate for driving within the again with out taking over a bunch of cargo area. You’ll be able to even match the factor in some sedan trunks. At that time, you get the Eagle out, unfold it, flip it on, and hold going to achieve your backcountry locations with out an excessive amount of hassle.

In the event you get to the purpose the place even the Eagle can’t deal with the terrain, it’s loads lighter than a dust bike, so you may stroll it by way of extreme challenges and even decide the bike up and carry it just a few toes as wanted to get to rideable path or street once more. Washouts, ravines, and different obstacles that will cease you on a dust bike or 2WD automobile aren’t an impassible impediment along with your Eagle.

So, if that’s the sort of driving you take into consideration, the Eagle ought to most likely land in your driveway.

Photos by Cody Sensiba (used with permission).