ANCHEER launched the folding 20″ fat tire e-bike to take advantage of this form factor’s extra balance and appeal while delivering a versatile unit to a wide range of users.
Before reading the review, let’s examine its mechanical and component specifications.
Table of Contents
ANCHEER 20 Components and metrics
MOTOR & TOP SPEED
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BATTERY & RANGE
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CONTROLLER & RIDING MODES
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FRAME
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DRIVE-TRAIN SYSTEM
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BRAKING SYSTEM
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OVERALL WEIGHT & CARRYING CAPACITY
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TIRES AND SUSPENSION
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FEATURES
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How Good is It?
When you receive the bicycle, it is about 85% ready out of the box, which is great considering that some e-bikes need some work to set up.
The unit also has the tools needed to complete your setup and a manual to guide you through the coupling process.
Powering it up
– Under the hood, I found a 12.5A battery to power the 500W rear hub motor and every other electrical function on board.
– Even though the company does not list where this battery is from, I think it performs similarly to the Samsung battery models, which are the most preferred in the industry.
– One aspect I don’t like about the battery is its charging time, which can take 4 to 5 hours.
Some other websites mention a 2-3 hr charge time, but that is not what I saw myself and from real users.
– For that full charge, I got decent mileage (discussed in the range section below) and enough time to use the bike’s electric features between charges.
What range and mileage does it offer?
– ANCHEER suggests that the bike can go as much as 40 miles (64 km) with electric assistance, but this number is subject to some consideration.
– Before getting into that, I liked that this e-bicycle allows you to keep riding even when the battery is completely drained due to the brushless motor.
Here’s the average mileage I found from the battery in different riding modes.
| Riding Mode | Mileage |
| Throttle Mode | Up to 22 miles (35 km) |
| Pedal-assist mode | Up to 40 miles (64 km) |
| Human riding mode | Unlimited mileage |
I noticed the data above gives an “up to” estimate instead of a fixed number to expect. This is because several factors can occasionally affect how much of that mileage you get.
Some of those factors to consider include:
– The rider’s weight has a maximum weight load of 300 lbs. The heavier the rider (and any cargo they have), the more power the battery will provide to drive the unit.
– Pedal-assist level: There are five (5) different pedal assist levels. Your choice will determine how much power the battery has to supply, causing a corresponding drain.
– The terrain you’re riding on: don’t use as much power when navigating smooth landscapes, unlike off-road or climbing hills.
I suggest considering these pointers when estimating the range so you don’t feel cheated by the advertising material.
The assistance and speed on roads
The maximum speed I reached on this ANCHEER electric bicycle is 24mph (38 km/h), easily attained with pedal assistance, the rider’s efforts, or the throttle mode alone.
Speaking of the pedal-assist modes, you can cycle through the low, medium, and high levels.
I didn’t like that the manual does not explain how these pedal-assisted levels work in-depth, so you must figure it out yourself. I recommend spending some time finding the sweet spot that always works for you.
The brand added a 6-speed transmission system for more effortless pedaling, allowing quickly getting up to speed with or without assistance.
The Shimano shifter is standard on most models today and is proven to work seamlessly. The brand offers a thumb shifter on the right handlebar and a gear display in this model.
How are the ride and handling?
A 500W brushless gear motor might not be as powerful as the 750W beast we have on the TurboAnt fat-tire eBike, but it is decent enough at this price range for the ride quality it provides.
Climbing hills, conquering slopes, and completing less strenuous rides are all made possible by this little motor.
I appreciated the carbon steel front suspension fork when climbing hills or going off-road. It distributed the vibration better and ensured a more comfortable ride in uneven terrain.
I thought the fat tires would impede ride quality, but they improved it instead. Their anti-slip and wear-resistant surface makes them even better suited to different terrains.
Another thing I found that could be improved is the seat comfort, although it is not bad at this price point.
The rear rack (an included feature) was small but seemed sturdy enough to carry up to 15 kg. That will definitely benefit the rider’s experience.
What Is to Offer on Safety?
Lighting system
The company ships this model with front lights, which is one of my most significant safety drawbacks with models like the Ecotric Dolphin fat-tire eBike.
I found the lamps on this bike to be really good and bright. When riding at night or in low light conditions, I’m sure you get better visibility and signal other road users of your presence.
The light angle can be adjusted to not blind other road users.
Braking system
The brand also equipped the bike with a dual mechanical braking system on the front and rear wheels. It is not the most impressive braking system, but it did the job as I needed it to.
Controller
The LCD keeps you aware by showing you error reports on the screen if there’s anything wrong; this means you can quickly attend to diagnosed issues before they become too serious.
Other added features
Besides the lights and brakes, I really liked the horn feature. It looked easy to mount and reachable when needed.
Since the frame is foldable, I did worry a little about the bike attempting to curve in to fold itself. This is a more serious concern for those riding off-road since they could hit something with the front tires that cause the bike to fold; to prevent this, they included strong locks on the folding joint so it doesn’t buckle under you when riding.
What I found questionable in safety
The points discussed above are reasonable for what this budget electric bike offers. I also add how versatile it is to adjust the height of the handlebar and seat post; however, I don’t feel so confident about the strength of the clip that holds the handlebar.
From experience, these clips tend to loosen up and eventually get damaged. I suggest not playing much with them and checking their integrity occasionally.
Final Thoughts
– If you are looking for an exercise bike that also doubles as a daily commuter, I think this bike was undoubtedly built for that.
– For those who prefer something better suited to city riding and commutes alone, I believe you better look at models such as the Schwinn Mendocino.
– That versatility could make a convincing argument for getting one of these, even if you will mainly stick with city riding for now.
Images courtesy of ANCHEER.
