February 23, 2022 - The fat-biking craze hit me a few years ago so there was a great deal of anticipation and excitement when given the opportunity to review iGO Electric’s eXtreme 3.0 e-fatbike this winter.
Founded in 2006, iGO Electric was one of the first Canadian companies to take its passion for cycling and join the e-revolution. Today iGO designs and produces e-bikes for all aspects of cycling from urban, to road, to mountain-bike, and cargo bike and of course fat bikes.
Their dealer in Gatineau, Vélo et Mobilité Électrique, helped facilitate the pick up on a snowy day in December. While transferring the eXtreme 3.0 to my vehicle I was reminded that e-bikes are much heavier than regular bikes – this e-fatbike is hefty at about 70 lbs – so plan accordingly including your car rack selection.
Equipped and with huge 26” x 4.5” Kenda Juggernaut Sport fat tires, the iGO eXtreme 3.0 looks and feels like it can go anywhere, and over anything. The Bafang 500-watt rear hub geared motor, with 80Nm of torque, is powered by a Samsung 576Wh Lithium-ion battery that offers a range of 55km or 34 miles.
The Shimano Altus 1 x 8 speed drivetrain features Tektro Aries mechanical disc brakes with 180mm rotors to bring everything to a full stop – all of which worked very well. Other nice touches include integrated front and rear lights, sturdy and eXtra wide 110mm aluminum alloy fenders, as well as a heavy-duty rear rack that can carry 25kg or about 55lbs of cargo.
An easy-to-read display is where the rider turns the system on and can select from nine assist levels. The unit also turns the lights on and off, controls the walk-assist, and even provides a USB port to charge your phone or other accessories.
An integrated throttle will get you to the maximum assist-speed of 32 km/hr in a flash without pedaling, which was appreciated during several outings. As a safety feature both brake handles will cut the power assist.
The iGO eXtreme 3.0 was a hoot to debut at our annual family New Year’s Day run, a 3-5 km event on a wet and slushy day. It was great fun scooting on the e-fat bike from one group to another for camera shots, while the bike’s full fenders kept me dry.
On several occasions doing errands in town, the iGO eXtreme 3.0 was a great companion for picking up groceries or take-out food. The lockable and removable battery is also a nice eXtra measure of security when needed.
It was time for a spin on my local fat bike trails at Bennies Corners and the eXtreme 3.0 was great fun and did not disappoint. On a soft snow day I aired down the tires a bit for traction, and hit the trails, keeping the assist at Level 3 for optimum acceleration in the woods.
The throttle was a nice touch to help me get moving following a dab or two, and also saved me a few times on hills as well – keep in mind that the throttle delivers max power regardless of what assist level you’re on.
The RST suspension kept things smooth and could use a bit more travel for my liking. The lockout feature is useful in urban and on smoother terrain. While the eXtreme 3.0 is close to 3X heavier than my personal fat bike the additional heft is not as apparent as you would think when riding – but as noted when loading or unloading keep in mind it’s a bit of a beast and you’ll appreciate the walk-assist.
I managed a fun 30km trek towards Ottawa and back, using close to half the battery – the range is 55km on a full charge. This was impressive as it is quite hilly and I was using fairly high assist as well as the throttle amidst snowy conditions. This would absolutely be my go-to e-bike for commuting a few times a week.
As conditions warmed up, I was able to take the eXtreme 3.0 for a longer ride out on the Trans Canada Trail (TCT) which is only a few rideable kilometers away. Again the terrain was no match for this e-fat bike bringing smiles around every bend from start to finish.
As with all e-bikes, also keep in mind that the operating temperature range has limits. While the iGO eXtreme 3.0 User Manual states -25C is the limit, there are factors to consider such the wind-chill etc., so best to do your own testing if you like riding in the bitter cold. We found that at around -20C we had to bring the battery inside to warm up.
In conclusion, iGO’s new eXtreme 3.0 is a feature-rich e-fat bike that can do it all for errands, recreation, commuting and e-adventures to boot. The sturdy and practical the component package is well thought out with many extras that you’ll come to appreciate.
The SRP is $2,599.99 and for more information please visit here.
