E-bike In The Backcountry? Don’t Like Pain And Injury? Ride Rungu
Watch out for misleading claims
If you’re really looking to ride an e-bike in the backcountry on undeveloped roads in all-terrain conditions, avoid two-wheel fat-tire e-bikes.
Because of fat-tires, two-wheel e-bike manufacturers exaggerate e-bike capability. As an example, check out Campers & Gear’s comparison test with the Pedego Trail Tracker. Campers & Gear e-bike in the back country of Colorado in the video below. Pedego makes the claim that (the tires) can “empower you to effortlessly float over virtually any terrain including sand, mud or even snow.” The side-by-side video comparison tells a different story, and Pedego is by no means alone in advancing the “fat-tires make the difference” narrative.
Most two-wheel fat-tire e-bike manufactures leave out many caveats implied with riding over “virtually any terrain.” Two-wheel fat-tire e-bikes work…
- … as long as you go straight in soft sand, mud or snow and don’t have to turn right or left
- … but only when the snow isn’t deeper than a few inches
- … and when mud isn’t slick
- … but you probably don’t want to ride one downhill on a dirt road
- … and you probably want to avoid climbing steep hills, too
Read our explanation for “why two wheels in front.” You’ll understand why Rungu works where any two-wheel e-bike will fail you on “virtually any terrain including sand, mud or even snow.”
If your objective really is to e-bike in the back country over “virtually any terrain,” then choose Rungu.
Off-roading? Ask yourself three questions
If you plan to only ride single-track, bike paths and roadways, a two-wheeler is adequate and even preferable to Rungu. There are many manufacturers and products to choose from. Rungu’s dual-front-wheel design makes single-track riding more difficult, and the added stability on a paved roadway is unnecessary for anyone who’s comfortable riding a two-wheel bike.
If, on the other hand, you plan to spend any time on an e-bike in the back country on bad roads, in mud, sand and snow, avoid two-wheel fat-tire e-bikes. With Rungu you can ride with confidence over more than one-million miles of unpaved roads in the USA or through snow, over rocks, in deep sand or mud.
By the way, more power is not the answer. With dirt bikes, the saying goes “When in doubt, throttle out!” This works with motorcycles generating 10x to 20x the horsepower of an e-bike, but can also result in some phenomenal wipeouts. The team at Rung produced a series of videos comparing Rungu to one popular high-end e-bike with power output equivalent to Rungu – twice the power of the Trail Tracker. Spoiler alert – the extra power doesn’t help…
Still considering a two-wheel fat-tire e-bike? Ask yourself these three questions if you plan to off-road:
- Do I want to push it up trails that are steeper than a 20% grade?
- Will I have to walk it down trails that are steeper than a 20% grade?
- Do I expect to walk the two-wheel fat-tire e-bike around “virtually any terrain including sand, mud or even snow?”
Avoid two-wheel fat-tire e-bikes; they disappoint.
If you answered “No” to any of the questions above, you’ll be disappointed with any fat-tire two-wheel e-bike you try. Many fat-tire e-bikes sell for less than $2,000 (the Trail Tracker is not one of them), but you’ll find that they generally have half, or less than half the power output of a Rungu Dualie. There are also “off-road” two-wheel fat-tire e-bikes that sell for the same or more than a Rungu Dualie, and some have close to the same power output (like the comparison bike in our videos). But don’t count on the extra power to make a difference on “virtually any terrain.”
Rungu climbs steep trails
Now for some technical info… For climbing steep off-road terrain, the Rungu advantage comes from more than just having two wheels in front. Rungu has a long wheelbase and a frame geometry that positions 75% of rider weight on the rear wheel and 25% on the front two wheels. Apart from “cargo bikes,” most bicycles and e-bikes have a 90%/10% weight distribution. With more weight toward the rear wheel, it’s more difficult to stay in the saddle to ride up a steep incline. Why? A rider’s center of gravity is located just above his/her hips. As a bike tips backwards riding up an incline, your center of gravity moves back over the contact patch where your rear wheel touches the ground. When it crosses, you and your bike tip backwards. Ouch.
For most mountain bike geometries and people of average height, an incline greater than a 20% grade forces them to ride out of the saddle to keep the front wheel on the ground. Rungu MDV’s longer geometry moves this tipping point, so even a 50% grade is possible in the saddle. Furthermore, Dualie has 12% more power than standard 48V e-bike systems and phenomenal gear reduction to give you enough torque to climb these steep inclines. Rungu = No pushing up steep hills. Check.
Rungu descends steep trails
The dual-front-wheel design pays dividends when descending steep terrain too. If there are rocks and other obstacles on your descent and you’re riding a single-wheel e-bike, you’re counting on the side grip of your front wheel whenever you make the slightest turn. If your wheel loses grip on one of its edges, washing-out is only the beginning of your cascade of problems.
Rungu’s long wheel base also helps. Rungu frame design keeps the front wheels about eight inches further forward than a typical bicycle. The effect is like the one described earlier. During a descent on a standard bike or e-bike, the short wheelbase presents a problem. If the rear wheel loses contact, you go head over handlebars. Rungu’s long wheelbase keeps the rear wheel in contact on steeper terrain. Add that the two front wheels prevent washouts and you can descend steep back-country roads with confidence. Rungu = no walking down steep hills. Check.
Rungu is a true ATV
Rungu simply works on all terrain, and two-wheel e-bikes just don’t. Our YouTube channel shows Rungu Dualie going through snow, sand, mud, rocky terrain, up and down steep off-road trails. The patented dual-front-wheel steering system and the power output of the Rungu Dualie series mid-drive motor combine to give you ATV-like performance off-road. To read more about why Rungu works where two-wheel fat-tire e-bikes fail, visit our comparison page. See how Rungu handles all terrain. Avoid two-wheel fat-tire e-bikes. Check.
If you have specific questions about the terrain you want to ride, please contact info@riderungu.com. We have the experience and the calculators to help you answer whether Rungu is right for you and your off-road adventures.
