APE RYDER: rugged scooter-like E-fatbikes

There is a trend that we have been seeing coming for a while now: traditional scooters or mopeds, with their 50cc engines and gasoline, are being replaced by electric versions. With 50cc engines, you must be at least 16 years old. This also applies to these electric fatbikes for the time being.

Although there are already many electric scooters on the market, they lack the rugged appearance and distinctive sound of their gasoline counterparts. But now there is a new brand that seems to fill this void: APE RYDER.

Electric Bikes for Young People

Scooters are accessible from the age of 16, and you don’t need a driver’s license (B) for them. This is similar to a speed pedelec, but it is rare to see a 16-year-old riding a speed pedelec to school. However, we are seeing more and more young people on electric bikes. They often opt for an electric mountain bike, probably because it looks cooler.

APE RYDER: A New Player in the Market

And now there’s APE RYDER. This brand is entering the market at a time when we suspect the market is ready for it. Young people between 16 and 18 are usually allowed to ride motorized vehicles. Depending on a driver’s license, this can be an e-bike class 1, class 2 and sometimes even class 3, or a 50cc scooter.

With the rugged design of these motorcycle-like fatbikes, we believe the choice is quickly made. The bike reaches a speed of 25 km per hour, but has the appearance of a moped. Or rather, a scooter, given the lower speed.

What Makes APE RYDER Unique?

APE RYDER was an unknown brand to us. They have four different models, all with a maximum speed of 20 mph or in Europe 25 km per hour to comply with legislation. They also have models with a throttle or that can go up to 28 miles or 45 km per hour, but these are currently not sold in Belgium for legal reasons.

The bikes from APE RYDER feature a RKS or Bafang rear-wheel motor, a chain without derailleur, but with gears that you can change via the handlebars. There is no throttle, so it’s a fully legal electric fatbike.

They have models with and without full suspension, and they use thick, rugged fatbike tires. Due to the small size of these tires, this electric bike resembles a moped a lot.

Our First Impression of APE RYDER

We haven’t tested the APE RYDER yet, so we’re very curious about the riding comfort and quality. Once tested, you can find the results in the review, the road test, and our list of the best e-fatbikes to see where these APE RYDERs end up. What we can say, however, is that these electric bikes are sold for a very reasonable price.

We also see GASGAS coming out with similar types of fatbikes. These are more expensive, whereas with APE RYDER it’s more about price/quality ratio. The cheapest model costs 1800 euros and the most expensive 2500 euros. That seems very low to us in the current market.

The future of electric bikes looks exciting, and we look forward to seeing what brands like APE RYDER have in store. Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed.