Mokwheel Basalt Review – Comfort and Capability for All Terrain

Updated May 6th, 2025

The Mokwheel Basalt is a versatile fat tire electric bike designed to handle various terrains from gravel roads to city streets. With a powerful motor, substantial battery, and thoughtful features, it promises both performance and comfort for riders.

In this review, we break down the Basalt’s design, performance, battery range, and ride experience.

Specifications

Max Speed – 28 mph
Range – Up to 80 miles
Max Rider Weight – 400 lbs
Bike Weight – 80 lbs
Motor Power – 750 watt rear hub
Battery – 48 volt 20 ah LG Cells
Speeds – 7 Speed Shimano Tourney
Brakes – Hydraulic disc
Wheel Size – 26 inch x 4 inch tires

Video Review

Mokwheel Basalt Review and Test

The Basalt has the look of a rugged off-road cruiser. It rides on 26” x 4.0” fat tires that give it a sure-footed feel on sand, gravel, or snow. The frame is 6061 aluminum with an integrated battery, and it comes in a high-step version (and a step-through “ST” model as well). The geometry is fairly upright, meaning you sit comfortably straight rather than hunched over.

The handlebars are a mid-rise mountain bike style (not as swept-back as true cruiser bars, but still set for a relaxed posture). This upright riding position, together with the big tires and 110mm front suspension fork, makes for a very comfortable ride even on bumpy ground. The bike is on the heavier side at around 80 lbs​
but that sturdiness also gives it a high payload capacity (rated up to 400 lbs) for larger riders or extra cargo​.

1 – Riding Experience

The Mokwheel Basalt is best described as a comfortable cruiser with SUV-like characteristics. Its large tires provide excellent stability and cushioning, especially noticeable on rougher terrains like dirt roads and trails. The motor delivers smooth acceleration, particularly in higher pedal-assist levels.

The torque sensor on the Basalt offers responsive power delivery, providing immediate support as you start pedaling from a standstill. However, when coasting and re-engaging the pedal-assist, the sensor requires slightly more noticeable pedal effort compared to premium e-bike models. This characteristic isn’t a significant drawback but indicates there’s room for improvement in sensor smoothness and sensitivity, especially for riders accustomed to higher-end torque sensing systems.

The bike is comfortable and smooth to ride both on and off road. The 4 inch fat tires provide good cushion and grip on almost any surface. The 110mm travel shock does a good job of soaking up potholes and ruts. A suspension seat post would be a good upgrade if you want an even more comfortable ride.

2 – Performance Highlights

Hill Climbing

To evaluate the Basalt’s climbing capabilities, the bike was tested on a rigorous half-mile ascent featuring consistent 10% gradients. Impressively, the Basalt completed the climb in just 1 minute and 41 seconds. This performance places it noticeably ahead of similar competitors, such as the Aventon Adventure 2 (1 min 50 sec) and the heavyweight Himiway Zebra (1 min 52 sec).

The powerful 750W motor delivered robust torque, maintaining steady speeds without noticeable lag, making this bike ideal for riders frequently encountering steep terrain.

Top Speed

The Basalt consistently achieves its Class 2 throttle-only limit of 20 mph with ease, offering reliable performance for leisurely rides or commuting. In pedal assist mode, the bike comfortably reaches the Class 3 limit of 28 mph. Testing showed the bike can occasionally reach around 29-30 mph indicated on the display, though actual speeds typically stabilize around the 28 mph mark.

The bike is easy to pedal up to 28mph. Its gearing is high enough that it doesn’t require you to pedal like a monster to hit its top speed.

Real World Battery Range

The Basalt comes equipped with a large 20Ah battery, promising up to 80 miles of range under ideal conditions. We rode the bike until the battery went to zero. We averaged 15-20mph during the ride which covered hilly terrain and some offroad riding. We did some throttle only riding as well. The actual range we got at the end of our ride was a little under 36 miles.

This seemed a bit short for a 20 ah battery. We expected to get closer to 45 miles with this type of riding. The use of the throttle, riding on hills, riding at higher speeds, and having heavier-weight riders all contribute to reducing the bike’s range. We have been able to get a 20 ah battery fat tire ebike, with a 250 lb rider, to over 60 miles before keeping the bike strictly at 15mph and using low pedal assist and no throttle.

3 – Controls and Display

The Basalt’s controls are intuitive and user-friendly, with a straightforward five-button controller on the left handlebar for adjusting pedal-assist levels, activating lights, and sounding the horn. A dedicated throttle is conveniently positioned next to the left grip, allowing effortless acceleration without pedaling. The right side hosts the Shimano 7-speed shifter for smooth gear changes.

The display provides essential information like speed, battery level, and pedal-assist mode. While functional, the display’s brightness leaves room for improvement, as it can be challenging to read clearly under bright sunlight conditions.

4 – Frame Sizing

With an adjustable stem, riders can easily choose between an upright, relaxed posture or a more aggressive riding position. I am about 5’11” to 6′ depending on the day. I have no extra room above the frame top tube. I would recommend the step-thru version of this bike for anyone shorter than about 5’10”. Taller riders above 6′ will like the size of the Basalt.

1 Assembly Ease

Assembly from unboxing to ride-ready condition took about 90 minutes. Mokwheel includes all necessary tools and additional spare parts, simplifying setup.

Adjustable Stem

Take care to check the adjustable stem. There is a 3rd bolt on the bottom of the stem that goes up. This has to be tightened after adjusting the angle. If you don’t tighten it the handlebars will feel like they have some wobble.

Rear Rack Quality Issue

Our bike has a quality issue with the rear rack. One leg was not not attached to the bike frame. Upon closer inspection I discovered that the rack mounting tab was bent and the bolt had pulled out of the frame leaving a gouge in the frame.

It looks like the assembler cross-threaded the bot and thought it was secure with just 1 or 2 threads engaged so that it pulled out easy. I straightened the rack tab and got it bolted on. I used some Autozone touch up paint to cover up the gouge.

1 Available Inverter and Solar Cells

One standout feature of the Mokwheel Basalt is the availability of an optional inverter, which converts the bike’s battery into a versatile 110V power source. This option is particularly useful for camping, outdoor adventures, or emergency power needs.

Mokwheel also offers a compatible solar panel accessory, allowing riders to recharge the battery through solar energy, significantly enhancing the bike’s utility for extended outdoor trips and off-grid activities.

1 Mokwheel Basalt vs Aventon Aventure 2 and Himiway D5

How does the Basalt stack up to the Aventon Aventure 2 and Himiway D5? We have reviewed both of them before. All 3 of them have 750 watt motors, hydraulic disc brakes and come in step-over or step-thru frame versions.

• The Mokwheel Basalt provides good value with both a torque sensor, 28mph top speed that is easy to pedal and a 20 ah battery.
• The Himiway D5 Zebra stands up with the longest range of the bunch and lowest cost for its cadence sensor version. It’s available in cadence sensor, torque sensor, and mid-drive versions. It has a lower top speed of only 25mph.
• The Aventon Aventure 2 is the premium offering with features such as a connected phone app and 2 available frame sizes. The Aventure 2 has a smaller battery, shorter range, and is the hardest of the 3 bikes to pedal up to 28mph.

Recommendation – Buy or No Buy?

The Mokwheel Basalt Fat Tire E-Bike provides a balanced mix of comfort, power, and practicality. Ideal for riders who prefer cruising comfortably over varied terrains and appreciate innovative features like solar charging. While heavier than some rivals, its advantages clearly outweigh this downside for most recreational and commuting riders.