E-bike In The Backcountry? Don’t Like Pain And Injury? Ride Rungu Dualie®
Watch out for Single-Front-Wheel E-Bikes’ misleading claims
If you’re really looking to ride an e-bike in the backcountry on undeveloped roads in all-terrain conditions, avoid single-front-wheel fat-tire E-Bikes.
E-Bike producers exaggerate single-front-wheel capability – and even more so when promoting E-Bikes with fat tires. As an example, check out Campers & Gear’s video comparison test from 2020 with the Pedego Trail Tracker. Pedego still (2026) makes the claim that “The Trail Tracker is built for adventure, offering a smooth and powerful riding experience across challenging terrains. Its thoughtful design ensures comfort and ease, making it perfect for those seeking to explore off-road with unmatched reliability and control.” The side-by-side video comparison shows that the Trail Tracker definitely met its match. And Pedego is by no means alone in advancing the “fat-tires make the difference” narrative.
Most single-front-wheel, fat-tire E-Bike producers leave out many caveats promoting their products. Single-front-wheel, fat-tire E-Bikes work…
- … as long as you have enough torque to make it through soft sand, mud, or snow
- … and don’t try to turn left or right, you may wash out
- … when the snow is deeper than an inch
- … or when the sand is dry
- … and if the mud is slick
- … and you can’t ride saddled up steep hills because the single-front-wheel E-Bikes flip backwards (if they have enough torque to make it).
- … and be careful, these single-front-wheel E-Bikes have a tendency to washout and result in high-side wipeouts going downhill
Otherwise they’re great in challenging conditions. Seriously?
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 “challenging terrains.”
If your objective really is to e-bike in the back country, then choose Rungu Dualie.
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 Dualie. Many manufacturers produce E-Bikes that work great on road and on MTB single track trails (moto trails are fine). Rungu’s wide stance makes MTB single-track riding more difficult, and the added control is unnecessary on road for anyone who’s comfortable riding a single-front-wheel bicycle.
If, on the other hand, you plan to spend any time E-Biking dirt and gravel roads, ATV track, in mud, sand and snow, choose Rungu Dualie. With Rungu you can ride with confidence over the more than one-million miles of unpaved roads in the USA or through snow, over rocks, in soft sand or mud.
For better off-road control, 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. Over the years, the team at Rungu produced a series of videos comparing Rungu Dualie to a single-front-wheel, fat-tire E-Bike with power output equivalent to Rungu (twice the power of the Trail Tracker). Spoiler alert – extra power doesn’t help…
If you’re still considering a single-front-wheel, fat-tire e-bike for the backcountry, ask yourself these three questions:
- Do I want to push the E-Bike up trails that are steeper than a 20% grade?
- Do I want to walk the E-Bike down trails that are steeper than a 20% grade?
- Do I want to walk the E-Bike around or through “challenging terrain” like mud, sand, rocks or snow?
Avoid single-front-wheel, fat-tire e-bikes; they disappoint.
If you answered “No” to any of the questions above, any single-front-wheel, fat-tire E-Bike you choose will disappoint. Only Rungu Dualie, delivers on this terrain like the E-ATV it really is…
Because Rungu Dualie can climb really steep terrain
Rungu Dualie’s climbing advantage comes from its long wheelbase. Rungu’s frame geometry 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 90/10 bike moves up a steeper 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.
Rungu Dualie climbs steeper terrain without making you leave the saddle. 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 Dualie’s longer geometry moves the tipping point. Even a 50% grade is possible in the saddle (watch the video). Furthermore, Rungu Dualie uses phenomenal gear reduction in first gear and a higher power (1,125 W) motor for the torque you need to climb the steeps. As one of our customers puts it: “My old E-Bike didn’t go up hills. Rungu Dualie goes up hills.” Hills. Check.
Because Rungu Dualie descends steep terrain without wiping out
The dual-front-wheel design pays dividends when descending steep terrain too. On the descent, most of the weight and traction come from the front of the bike. On a single-front-wheel E-Bike, you count on the side grip of your front wheel when you make the slightest turn. When you loose that grip on loose dirt, gravel or rocks, washing-out is only the beginning of your cascade of problems. Having the extra wheel on the outside of the turning circle with Rungu gives you a whole tire’s worth of extra grip.
Rungu’s long wheelbase and dual front wheels keep you from high-siding. A steep descent on a standard wheelbase bike or E-Bike can result in a high-side (over-the-bars) wipeout. Braking hard on a steep descent moves the tipping point forward causing the rear wheel to lose contact with the ground. When that happens, you go head over handlebars. Rungu’s long wheelbase keeps the rear wheel in contact on steeper terrain. Add the two front wheels to prevent washouts and you can descend steep back-country roads with confidence. Rungu = no walking your bike down steep hills. Check.
Rungu is a true ATV
Rungu works on all terrain, and single-front-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 enhanced power output of the Rungu Dualie series mid-drive motor give you an ATV experience from an E-Bike. To read more, visit our comparison page. Or to see why Rungu Dualie is 20x better than a quad ATV, visit our ATV comparison page.
If you have specific questions about the terrain you want to ride, please contact sales@rungudualie.com. We have the experience and the calculators to help you answer whether Rungu is right for you and your off-road adventures.