Testing the Mokwheel Basalt E-Bike on the Bike Paths in Wilson, WY | Photo Greg Von Doersten Mountain Weekly News
The Basalt is Mokwheel’s all-terrain e-bike powerhouse. Literally. It’s integrated charging station lets you charge your devices from the bike’s Samsung 48V 19.6Ah battery. Rider’s can stay charged while they charge ahead.
Frame Sizes
The 6061 aluminum alloy frame serves as the chassis for the 79lb bike. The Basalt from Mokwheel comes in either standard or step-thru frame design. With the standard there is one size, where the step-thru offers two frame sizes to choose from Normal and Large.
Recommended Rider Heights
- Basalt Regular Frame Recommended Rider Height: 5’8” – 6’4”
- Basalt Step-Thru Normal: 4’11” – 6’2”
- Basalt Step-Thru Large: 5’8” – 6’4”
Cockpit
The cockpit of the Mokwheel Basalt E-bike has everything you need, and nothing of what you don’t. The left side features your standard brake lever, power level, lights, and on/off buttons. It also has a thumb throttle instead of a twist throttle. Thumb throttles provide riders with a more controlled acceleration and avoids the dreaded whiskey throttle.
The buttons are not the most sensitive of the bikes tested. Riders may take extra time fiddling with buttons, taking their eyes off the road to look at the LED screen at the headset. From a stationary position, find out where to press the buttons for best response before hitting the road.
On the right side of the cockpit of this Mokwheel E-bike will be a Shimano 7-speed shifter actuated by triggers. The easy to read dial and snappy levers are reliable and low profile.
The center is a bright LED screen that displays speed, battery level, trip range, pedal assist level and more.
Suspension
The front fork offers 110mm of suspension. Combined with the bike’s 26×4” tires and ergonomic grips, road and trail chatter disappear.
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Who’s This Bike For?
The size and up-right position take the Mokwheel Basalt Electric Bicycle out of the mountain bike sphere, and the storage capabilities hold it back from being the ultimate grocery-getter. However the bike is confidence inspiring anywhere it goes. From uneven pavement to muddy gravel roads, this bike comfortably goes wherever you need while offering 60-80 miles per charge which is a long time riding.
Drivetrain
The Shimano 7-speed cassette and aluminum crankset are spun by a KMC stainless chain. Inside the crankset is a torque sensor that adds power proportional to the rider’s cadence and effort. Torque sensors create a smoother accelerating experience.
Rider’s won’t be bucked off the back of this Mokwheel E-bike, and because there is no twist throttle, riders won’t accidentally accelerate further as weight is shifted backward. The top speed at PAS level 5 can bring you to a top speed of 28mph on the 750W brushless motor.
Pros: power, torque sensors, thumb throttle.
Cons: weight, button responsiveness, no step-through frame design.
Overall Impressions
The Mokwheel Basalt ($1,999) has big numbers for a big bike. The powerful battery and motor are heavy, but necessary to push around the almost 80 pound bike. The Tektro hydraulic brakes do a good job of controlling a bike that carries a lot of momentum.
With a bike of such mass, acceleration could be an issue, but Mokwheel’s torque sensors and thumb throttle keep the rider safe when taking off and accelerating. The Mokwheel Basalt Electric Bike may not be the most versatile bike due to its weight and riding style, but it has the power to haul itself and hundreds of pounds more with a 400lb weight capacity.
And as an added bonus. The rear cargo rack allows riders to create their own storage solutions, you can add a large rear rack for the ultimate grocery hauler from Mokwheel Bikes.
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