There are so many electric bikes in the market, varying by size, shape, features and whatnot. For an average person, there are plenty of options to choose from but for someone who is a heavy rider, the options are limited. Worry not, to help all the heavy riders out there, I did some in-depth research, looked at over 30 highest-rated ebikes and hand-picked some of the best models in different payload capacities and price ranges.
All these bikes are from reputable manufacturers with great track records. The models are feature-packed and support riders over 300lbs. If you are someone who is super tall and heavy, check out our ebikes for tall people post.
Important things to consider when buying a heavy-duty ebike
Before we dive into the top electric bikes for heavier riders, let us talk about the key things you should consider when shopping for an electric bike.
Payload Capacity or Weight limit
Weight limit is perhaps one of the most important factors when shopping for electric bikes. You do not want to buy a bike that supports up to, say 300 lbs, when you weigh 350 lbs. Make sure you check the payload capacity of different electric bicycles before buying one.
Note: Sometimes, the manufacturers may refer to payload capacity as the weight of the rider + the weight of the rear carrier/front basket
Bike Dimensions and Weight
Different bikes weigh differently. Some e bikes are more lightweight than others due to the difference in bike frame construction and material. Pay extra attention to the frame material. In general, aluminum frames would be great if you want a lightweight e-bike.
Speed & Range
How long do you want to ride? Do you want to use the bicycle for a few miles, or are you planning to take it on extended rides? Some e-bikes can deliver up to 50 miles on a single charge, whereas others might only last up to 30 miles.
Speed is equally important.
Most electric bikes can deliver speeds over 25mph with pedal assist. In the pedal assist mode, the bike draws motor power to help you pedal easier and move faster. When you turn on pedal assist on your ebike and choose the level of assist, you will get a slight push as you ride.
Price & Warranty
It goes without saying that you want to get a bike that offers a good warranty period and has a competitive price.
In this article, we have included bikes from the best of the best manufacturers with good brand names and reputations.
Now that we have talked about the benefits of using electric bicycles, let us dive into the best ebikes for heavy riders.
Top eBikes for Heavy Riders – Editor’s Picks
I personally spent a ton of time researching bikes for this article and talked to several manufacturers to make sure the products are accurate. Almost all these bikes support around 300lbs. If you need recommendations for any other weight range, please let me know in the comment section or send me an email and I will get back to you.
1. Aventon Aventure – 400 lbs
This is where the Aventon Aventure ebike comes into the picture. Most e-bikes from Aventon support weights over 300lbs but I particularly like the Aventure model because it has a maximum payload capacity of 400 lbs. That’s massive!
The Aventure e-bike has a powerful 1130W (peak) 750 W(sustained), 48v brushless rear hub motor. The delivers upto 45 miles on average. The bike packs a 6061 single-butted aluminum alloy with an internal battery.
When you purchase the Aventure bike, it will come as a Class II e-bike, with pedal assist and a maximum throttle of 20mph. However, you can also modify the ebike into class III with speeds up to 28mph with pedal assist.
All the bikes from Aventon are IPX4 water-resistant. In other words, you can park your ebike in the rain. However, like most e-bikes, the Aventon Aventure electric bike is not meant to be submerged in water.
If you want a more lightweight electric bike, the Aventon Soltera could be a good option. Soltera supports up to 300lbs and has a 36v, 350w (nominal) brushless rear hub motor. The Soltera Can reach speeds up to 20 mph on pedal assist and throttle.
The Aventon Soltera electric bike packs an aluminum alloy frame, which makes it extremely lightweight. The single-speed Soltera weighs just 41 lbs, whereas the seven-speed version weighs 43lbs.
Please also note that the Soltera bike cost less than the Aventure model.
2. Ride1UP Cafe Cruiser
The Ride1UP Cafe Cruiser electric bike packs some serious power with its powerful 750w sustained geared hub electric motor power (60 nm torque).
Supporting upto 300lbs rider weight, Cafe Cruiser is perfect for most people falling in the height range of 5’5″-6’4″. The bike weighs about 65lbs. So, it is not a good option if you live on the second floor or something and have to carry it up the stairs.
This bike can deliver upto 50 miles depending on factors such as rider weight, terrain, incline, and level of assist. The bike has a lightweight alloy frame, which allows it to reach speeds of over 25mph.
Another reason why I believe that this is an excellent electric bike for heavy riders is that it comes with hardened alloy fenders, and 130lbs rated loading weight with a pannier side mount.
Cafe Cruiser comes with a rear cargo rack/carrier which lets you carry another person or some cargo. The 300lbs payload capacity includes both rider and cargo. So, if the rider alone weighs 300lbs, it is recommended to leave the rear carrier rack empty.
Features:
- Supports riders weighing up to 300lbs
- For people 5’5″-6’4″ in height
- Max speed: 28 MPH in pedal assist, 20 MPH in throttle mode
- Range: 50 miles
- Motor power: 750W
- Bike weight: 65lbs
3. Juiced RipCurrent S
With a total payload capacity of 300 lbs, the Juiced RipCurrent S is another great choice for heavy riders. Being a class 3 e-bike, it has a top speed of 28mph and a range of 70+ miles, again depending on weight, terrain, and ride mode.
Though this may not be the same for you, I realized that this bike could achieve an impressive 120 miles on a single charge when using pedal assist at the lowest setting.
Of course, a bike for heavy riders will weigh a little bit more, so I hope you won’t mind the 73 lbs bike weight. Thankfully, there is a 750W motor and a 52V, 19.2Ah to make up for the weight.
You have hydraulic brakes that provide reliable stopping power and 26″x4″ puncture-resistant tires for when you need to off-road. And thanks to the 45lb weight capacity for the rear rack, you can carry just about everything you need for offroading.
4. RadPower RadWagon 4 & RadRunner Plus
If you are looking for an ebike with a 750 W motor, 300 lbs weight capacity, and more than a 45-mile range, you should definitely give the RadPower RadRunner Plus a try.
This ebike comes with a 14-day free trial and a 1-year warranty. Rad power bikes are known for their dependability. When I first saw this bicycle, it reminded me of the vintage design. In fact, its moped-style frame with espresso-colored grips does give it a vintage appeal.
The RoadRunner Plus comes with a 7-speed drivetrain and rugged front suspension that helps you easily ride uphill and on rocky terrains.
RadWagon 4 – 350 lbs
What if you want to do more with your electric bicycle? Say, you want to do a grocery trip with your kids. This is where the RadWagon 4 Electric Cargo bike would come in handy. This model features an elongated frame and lower center of gravity for stable and reliable rides.
The RadWagon 4 has a 350 lb. payload capacity, which makes it ideal for cargo deliveries. You can easily add a child seat, caboose, deckhand, or running board to this ebike.
Check out more rad power bikes to learn more about different models.
5. Velowave Ranger Heavy Duty eBike
The Velowave Heavy Duty bike packs a 750W BAFANG geared hub brushless motor with 80 Nm torque. This powerful motor allows the ebike to reach up to 28mph by pedal mode.
This ebike comes with front and rear hydraulic disc brakes for strong and responsive braking. Supporting rider weights up to 300 lbs, the Velowave makes for an excellent electric bike for heavy riders.
And if you weigh around 280lbs, you might want to check out Velowave’s Ghost e-bike. The Ghost model electric bike is a bit cheaper than the Ranger and Prado S bike models from Velowave. The Ghost version comes with a 500W motor that allows the bike to reach a max speed of 25mph.
Both Ranger and Ghost models come with pedal assist and throttle assist features. You will get both a front and rear mechanical disc brake system, and an adjustable front fork that can be adjusted to adapt to different road conditions. Its multifunctional color-screen display shows speed data, assist level, battery indicator, and mileage display. The LCD display makes it easier to ride both night and day when riding this electric bicycle.
You can also buy Velowave bikes on Amazon
6. Velotric Nomad 1 – 440 lbs
The Nomad 1 fat tire e-bike from Velotric boasts a 440 lbs payload and a wide height range (5’1″ – 6’9″), thanks to the variable frame style. And with a 750W rear hub motor that churns out 75Nm of torque and peaks at 1200W, you never have to struggle to ride this bike.
And if you’re a heavy rider who just likes to cruise around, there is a throttle mode with which you can get a top speed of up to 20mph. When you’re feeling a little pumped up, you can use the 5-level pedal assist mode and maybe get to burn some calories.
The 48V, 14.4Ah battery will give you a maximum range of 55 miles. Of course, this will vary depending on your weight, the terrain, and the riding mode. The hydraulic brakes, responsive front suspension system, and the big, easily visible display are just some of the things that make this ebike loveable.
Oh, one more thing. I don’t know if it’s just me, but Velotric did a good job when painting this bike.
7. Zugo Rhino
I personally tested this bike a few weeks ago. Its build quality and power are amazing. I loved its torque.
Boasting a rather unconventional design, ZuGo Rhino Electric Fat Bike has garnered some attention lately. The bike has a weight limit of 300 lbs and delivers up to 80 miles of range per charge. This not only makes it a good electric bike for heavier riders but also for those who commute long distances.
Rhino comes with a 750W Geared Hub Motor
What I also like about the Rhino is that it has fat tires with puncture protection. These fat tires give them better traction and grip in diverse terrains such as sand, snow, mud, and water. In other words, the Zugo Rhino is truly an all-weather ebike.
There is also a Step-Thru version of this bike if you are interested
Want to take your child along? Thanks to the Thule child trailer, you can enjoy safe and fun rides with your little one on the Step-Thru Fat bike.
8. (Bonus) Ranger by Quietkat – 325 lbs
Quietkat offers some of the most rugged ebikes ever. Their bikes are very expensive but the build quality is immaculate. The Ranger eBike is available in two motor options: a 750W and a 1000W motor. Being an e-bike designed for the modern & stealth hunter, the quiet motor is a good bang.
Once you have your game, it should be easy to carry thanks to the 100 lbs max capacity rear rack. A 48V, 12.8Ah battery powers the motor so that it gives enough torque to help you reach speeds of up to 20mph.
A single charge should give you a maximum range of 48 miles which is more than enough for a single hunting trip.
Final Words
There are many more models that support higher weights but when you take a look at price, features and brand quality, the above-mentioned models will not prove you wrong. I hope I was able to include a bike in every possible rider’s weight range.
Also, it is recommended to choose a bike that is rated slightly higher than your weight. For example, if you are a man who weighs 280lbs, it is better to go with a bike supporting 300lbs capacity.
Electric bikes are excellent for both physical (lose weight, build muscle) and mental health. Have fun riding and stay healthy!
Hi there,
I’m 6′ 4″ and 365 lbs (starting to try and lose some of those lbs), but most of the bikes I come across for “heavy riders” max out at 300 lbs. I also have a 31 pound toddler that I’d like to get a trailer to pull around so we can get out of the house more and ride to some of the neighborhood parks. I would love some good suggestions of where to find an e-bike that would work for me, and allow me to pull him with me.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your comment. I know it is hard to find an ebike meeting your requirements. The Aventure from our list is suitable for people upto 400lbs and their large option suits people up to 6.4″. I know it is an expensive bike. Let me do some digging to see if I can find some more options for you.