Mokwheel boasts that they offer “more than just an e-bike.” The description of the Basalt e-bike on their website is “the world’s first all-terrain electric bike with integrated power station technology that allows you to charge your devices whenever you want.”
Shipping
Most e-bike companies will ship their bikes directly to their customers, although you can also find some bike shops that are willing to order/assemble for an extra fee. I like the convenience of home shipping, although it’s important to make sure you track the delivery and have someone home to receive the bike (it is not ideal to leave it on your front porch, but it is ‘hard to steal’, lol). Then, you can assemble it yourself (surprisingly fast/easy).
Mokwheel uses FedEx or UPS for shipping. Your order will be processed within 48 business hours, and the actual shipment will arrive in 2-7 business days.
My bike was shipped via FedEx and arrived within 5 days of ordering (I’m based in Los Angeles, CA), so I love the fast shipping time! I also like that their ordering process sends just the right amount of reminders/updates since it is important to be home when the bike arrives.
Assembly
Specs
Assembly is pretty straightforward. It comes with all of the tools you need to put the bike together yourself, and the instructions are easy to understand. Here’s a nice assembly video I found on YouTube:
Experience Riding It
It doesn’t have a step-through design, so you do have to be able to lift your leg all the way over the center bar in order to mount. That being said, it feels like a very sturdy base that is well-built. One downside is that it is a rather heavy bike at 80 lbs, so you can’t just toss this bike around like a standard non-motorized bicycle.
The Basalt can handle multiple terrains thanks to its fat tire design and the strength of the motor. Hill climbing feels effortless on this e-bike. The throttle controls make it easy to boost the power as you need it.
At low speeds, your bike will maintain eco-mode, likely to help save battery power for when you need it and want it to go faster or do more difficult maneuvers. It goes up to about 28 miles per hour.
It has a dual-bulb front light for night riding and cruise control, so you can set the speed you want without thinking.
Device Charging Capabilities and Solar Panels
For more power capabilities, you can splurge the power inverter and solar panels that turn it into a charging device for the other electronics you have with you, such as your cell phone. This can be a game changer for delivery drivers who need to have a fully charged phone on hand during deliveries for a smooth work day. You will need to pull over for a while to use the solar panels unless you have a way to rig up your ride to soak in the sun as you’re doing your thing.
The power inverter is $399.99, and the 100W foldable solar panels can be purchased for $299.
You can also, in turn, use both the inverter and the solar panels to charge your bike if you’re taking a long trip somewhere and don’t have an independent power source. According to Mokwheel, “Solar panels need to be connected to the inverter before charging the Mokwheel Electric Bike Battery, and it takes about 4-5 hours to charge the battery with solar panels in full sunlight.”
Range/Distance
The Basalt is considered an extended-range vehicle. Its 750W motor can travel about 60-80 miles on one charge, and it has a 400-lb load capacity.
This can be great for deliveries. That kind of range will get you a decent day’s work before you need to charge or use all of your own power to use the bike.
I’d recommend taking it for a few trial runs in different conditions to get to know the bike so you don’t have to deadhead it home with no charge after a long day of work. The motherboard does display the battery’s health status, so you can keep an eye on it throughout your busy day.
Price Point
Mokwheel is pushing a springtime sale at the time of writing this article, offering a discount price of $1,699 for the Basalt e-bike. The regular price is set at $2,199. Along with the sale is a limited-time bonus of a free full fender (usually $99.99) and a free rear rack (usually $79.99).
There’s also a Basic Accessory Pack offered for $99.99 (usually $368.96), including a bike trunk bag, padded saddle, rearview mirror, suspension seat post, and a water bottle holder.
The Deluxe Accessory Pack is being offered for $199 (usually $607.93), including a front-mounted basket, helmet, bike trunk bag, folding lock, padded saddle, phone mount (metal), rearview mirror, suspension seat post, water bottle holder.
You have the choice of colors: Grey, Steel Blue, Jungle Camo, and Desert Camo.
They do offer a 15-day money-back guarantee, free shipping on all online purchases, and a 2-year limited warranty.
This bike is a bit on the pricey side for many folks, but with the quality of the build, it seems like it’ll be a good quality bike for a long time. So, if you’re looking for a way to make deliveries without putting miles on your automobile while also not wanting to power your way through bicycling under your own power, this could be a great investment for you.
Delivery Driver Options
Without a doubt, the Basalt e-bike is a great option for people looking to do delivery with Doordash, GrubHub, etc. The back panel that’s being offered makes it easy to mount bags to the back for carting around personal items or making your deliveries.
Using an ebike like the Basalt will be easier on your joints than using a standard bicycle, and it can help you save money in the long run if you’re currently depreciating your personal vehicle for deliveries.
Keep in mind the fat tires and larger framing make this bike difficult to lock up as it doesn’t fit standard bike racks. So, you might want to consider getting a strong lock on Amazon for when you’re parking at restaurants to pick up deliveries or if you don’t have storage space for it at your home or apartment.
If you spring for the optional solar panel and power inverter, you can even take this for extended rides and keep the bike and your electronics fully charged.
