TurboAnt Thunder T1: Specs
Battery: 672 Wh
Max estimated vary: 60 miles
Max pace: 28 mph
Motor: 750W, 48V brushless rear hub motor
Gearing: Shimano 7-speed rear derailleur
Wheel diameter: 26 inches
Weight: 72.8 lbs.
Extra of a avenue robust than a sedate suburbanite, the TurboAnt Thunder T1 is squarely located within the (very) crowded camp of fat-tire ebikes designed to deal with tough and prepared commuting chores, in addition to weekend path rides. It is priced competitively in opposition to the likes of Rad Energy, Biktrix, and Aventon, however it additionally lacks among the design elaborations supplied by the later two manufacturers.
Among the many best electric bikes, there is a welter of basic-black, knobby-tired fashions in the marketplace. They’re are a staple of messengers and supply folks, they usually have a tendency to supply fundamental however sturdy transportation. With pedal help and full-throttle modes, the TurboAnt T1 is reduce from the identical fabric and delivers stable worth for these seeking to swap from 4 to 2 wheels for his or her day by day mobility wants. Learn our full TurboAnt Thunder T1 overview to search out out if that is the very best mannequin for you.
TurboAnt Thunder T1 Ebike overview: Pricing and availability
TurboAnt provides a restricted line of electrical bikes and scooters direct to customers on-line. There are 4 ebike fashions in all, together with the T1, which begins at $1,699.
For about $150 extra, the TurboAnt N1 is nearly similar to the T1 however with a sleeker design that includes the battery into its down tube. It additionally makes use of a barely completely different controller.
When you do not plan on hitting any trails and simply need a suburban commuter, there’s the TurboAnt Ranger, which prices about $400 lower than the T1. The Ranger has a much less highly effective motor, smaller battery, and street bike tires, however it additionally weighs 20 kilos lower than the T1. If you would like extra portability, the TurboAnt Swift S1 is a 20-inch-wheeled foldable mannequin accessible for about $100 greater than the T1.
Customers do not must be reminded that as with many different client items, provide chain points have affected the worth of ebikes, which had been trending downward. However not a lot any extra. So the TurboAnt Thunder T1 is one thing of an anomaly, managing to take care of its decrease $1,699 price ticket the place others have risen to only beneath $2,000.
TurboAnt Thunder T1 Ebike overview: Design
The T1 is a straight-ahead bike with straight deal with bars and an upright using stance. It is primarily based on an aluminum alloy body with a entrance hydraulic shock absorbing fork, a large foam seat, 7.1-inch disc brakes, and 7-speed Shimano rear derailleur.
Full-length fenders to maintain the mud off your khakis are normal, as are entrance and back lights. The entire bundle rides alongside atop a pair of 26-by-4 inch knobby Kenda tires.
The Thunder T1’s electrical elements embrace a rear hub 750-watt Bafang motor (fairly typical for this class of ebike) and a chargeable 672 wh battery. It is all beneath the command of a relatively fundamental handle-bar mounted controller. Its monochrome LCD delivers fundamental data together with the battery degree, energy help mode, odometer, mph, and headlight indicator. There are 5 fundamental energy help modes, and for full-electric energy, there is a right-hand twist throttle. Lest you flip it inadvertently, TurboAnt properly added a crimson lock-out button in order that you do not immediately end up taking pictures off the path.
TurboAnt Thunder T1 Ebike overview: Efficiency
We gave the T1 a run for its cash in quite a lot of circumstances starting from dusty heat autumnal days to snow-and-ice winter afternoons. The ebike dealt with all of it with aplomb and by no means gave us trigger to worry we would land within the ditch once we pushed the bike to its limits. And whereas it ideas the scales on the heavy side–nearly 73 pounds–it was even regular throughout some relatively difficult icy patches.
Based on TurboAnt’s rankings, the T1 solely does a most of 20 mph in full throttle mode. However the firm notes it could exceed these speeds — as much as 28 mph- — within the pedal help mode. We weren’t capable of obtain the highest pace (perhaps we weren’t attempting arduous sufficient), however we went properly in extra of 20 mph on downhills and the bike stayed regular on muddy and rutted filth roads.
The Thunder T1 additionally zoomed throughout snow and ice with out worry. The ebike’s flat extensive handlebars present comfy management over the bike’s path, and in panic breaking, it slides sternly however predictably.
The bike’s entrance suspension fork took among the vibration out of stretches of washboard and regardless that there is no particular suspension on the rear finish, the Thunder T1’s trip wasn’t excessively extreme on potholes or damaged pavement.
When utilizing the pedal help modes, there is a slight turbo lag as there’s with most rear-hub motor designs; it takes about half a pedal rotation from a standing begin earlier than you’re feeling the enhance. Nevertheless, we discovered it was smoother in energy supply than say the Aventon Aventure. However, it did lavatory down going uphill; on the steepest inclines, it might solely keep about 9 mph, whereas others, just like the Aventure and Biktrix Stunner, have been capable of hold it going at round 14 mph. Nonetheless, the TurboAnt T1 was nonetheless a stable performer on steeper grades in comparison with some modest commuter ebikes, comparable to Trek’s Verve+ or Gazelle’s Ultimate 380.
After all, if you wish to leap proper off the road, the Thunder T1’s throttle for full electrical energy will do this for you. It actually helps if you’ve stopped on a hill at a lightweight and simply do not feel like getting out of the seat to get the bike rolling.
Additionally welcome are the entrance and back lights. The headlight supplies first rate visibility; extra necessary, the rear crimson mild will increase in brightness if you hit the brakes. The one piece we felt fell quick was the meager mechanical bell, which is inadequate for city environs. An excellent rechargeable bike horn will set you again about $15.
TurboAnt Thunder T1 Ebike overview: Battery life and vary
TurboAnt’s T1 comes with a 672 Wh lithium ion battery strapped to its down tube. It is comparable in dimension to others on this class, and the vary you will obtain depends upon how a lot help you crank up and the way typically you resort to full-throttle mode.
The corporate charges the battery for a most vary of 60 miles. That is overly optimistic; all of it depends upon how briskly you are going, the place you are going, and the way a lot you weigh. Sadly, the T1’s controller does a relatively poor job gauging battery life. A fast 4-mile street journey to my rural mail field appeared to empty the battery rapidly; in response to the show there was solely about 30 p.c of battery energy left.
Nevertheless, that fortunately turned out to be incorrect. With quite a lot of pedal help and quite a lot of throttle use, I sometimes obtained round 28 miles of vary, not atypical for fashions with this motor and battery mixture. However if you wish to know what you’ve left, you will need to estimate it by yourself by guessing how aggressive you have been with the help and the way far you have traveled. The show’s battery indicator is not going to be a lot assist.
One extra be aware: the battery is detachable and could be charged off of the bike. It’s undoubtedly handy for many who in a single day their bikes in an house storage room and wish to have the ability to take the battery with them to cost.
TurboAnt T1 Ebike overview: Competitors
In a class crowded with knock-off fats tire bikes, the TurboAnt Thunder T1 distinguishes itself as dependable, tough street prepared transportation with elements that are not going to interrupt down after only a few weeks use. Nevertheless, to take care of its lower cost level, it does not have the larger battery that, say, Aventon’s Aventure possesses (672 vs. 750 Wh), so you aren’t getting fairly the mountain path climbing energy of some dearer fashions.
A lot of the fat-tire ebikes additionally pack 750 watt rear hub motors with 672 Wh batteries, such because the Rad Energy Radrover 6. Nevertheless, Rad Energy’s mannequin looks like a tighter trip, and it has a lot better controllers and shows that precisely ship a raft of data but are simple to navigate. However for these enhancements, you will pay about $300 extra for the Rad Energy mannequin versus TurboAnt’s T1. And that comparability extends to many different fashions when it comes to value vs. options.
In case you are interested by spending a couple of hundred {dollars} extra, think about the aforementioned Aventon Aventure. For slightly below $2,000, it contains a wonderful controller, slicker body design, and the bigger 750 Wh battery.
TurboAnt T1 Ebike overview: Backside line
When you’re in search of a fat-tire ebike for robust metropolis streets or some weekend filth street enjoyable, the TurboAnt T1 can deal with each. It is a balanced, predictable trip that will not throw any sudden surprises at you. And at this value, it is a whole bunch lower than a lot of the competitors.
However, if you’re in search of smooth tech to help the bike, like related apps and a full-color show for the controller, you will not discover that right here. However at its lower cost than different fats tire ebikes, that could be a tradeoff you’re keen to make.