2019 AddMotoR MOTAN M-70 Review

Video Review

Written Review

The AddMotoR MOTAN M-70 fat tire electric bike is a fast, powerful and comfortable fat tire retro cruiser that will get you from point A to point B in style.

AddMotoR has a large number of electric bikes to choose from; this one, the MOTAN M-70, is a fun moped style fat tire electric bike that’s fun to cruise through the streets or on some trails. It has an integrated headlight, fat tires and a comfortable banana seat.

Power — 750 nominal watts, 1,200 peak watts

The AddMotoR MOTAN M-70 fat tire electric bike has a Bafang 750 watt nominal motor with around 1,200 peak watts and 85 Newton meters of torque. This is an incredibly powerful motor, so much so that the bike will wheelie if the rider isn’t careful. This motor is particularly effective on this bike since it is a retro style cruiser without an adjustable height saddle. So, while this style of e-bike tends to make for a less efficient pedal stroke, the powerful motor helps to make up for the lost energy.

Speed  — 32 mph

The AddMotoR MOTAN M-70 fat tire electric bike has a top speed of around 32 mph, which can be reached using the throttle or pedal assist, making this a class 4 electric bike. Out of the box, the M-70 is limited to 20 mph to keep it as a class 2, but the top speed can be quickly adjusted with the display.

Battery and Range — 48 volt 14.5 ah, 55 miles

The AddMotoR MOTAN M-70 fat tire electric bike runs on a 48 volt system and has a 14.5 amp hour battery for an estimated max range of 55 miles with pedal assist. The battery uses Panasonic cells and is locking and removable and is located just beneath the seat. The battery’s location does raise the bike’s overall center of gravity, but it also helps to keep it relatively hidden.

Pedal assist sensor — Cadence sensor

The AddMotoR MOTAN M-70 fat tire electric bike is equipped with a cadence sensor that measures the rotation of the cranks. Like most cadence sensors, there is some delay from the time the rider starts and stops pedaling to the time the motor activates and deactivates.

Display — Bafang, LCD

The AddMotoR MOTAN M-70 fat tire electric bike uses a Bafang display located on the center of the handlebars with an independent button pad located on the left of the handlebars. This is a good display with plenty of electronic feedback including speed, distance, battery level, wattage output and more.

Frame and weight — 6061 Aluminum alloy, 85 pounds

The AddMotoR MOTAN M-70 fat tire electric bike has a one frame size and one color: white. It has a curb weight of nearly 85 pounds, which is pretty heavy considering this bike doesn’t have any suspension.

Suspension —  Solid steel forks

The AddMotoR MOTAN M-70 fat tire electric bike has solid steel front forks, which offer some vibration dampening for noisy roads. These are solid forks, but because they are steel they do help contribute to the M-70’s heavy curb weight.

Gearing — Shimano, 7 speed

The AddMotoR MOTAN M-70 fat tire electric bike has a Shimano Altus derailleur with a 7-speed cassette. It uses a Shimano SIS Index thumb shifter on the right side of the handlebars.

Brakes — Tektro, mechanical disc

The AddMotoR MOTAN M-70 fat tire electric bike has Tektro mechanical disc brakes with a 180 mm rotor in the front and 160 mm rotor in the rear, offering plenty of stopping power. Although the M-70 has two different rotor sizes, it’s good that AddMotoR placed the larger motor in the front wheel, where the majority of the stopping power comes from. The brake levers are equipped with motor inhibitors, which instantly cut power to the motor whenever the brake levers are depressed.

Warranty — 1 year comprehensive

The AddMotoR MOTAN M-70 fat tire electric bike has a 1 year comprehensive warranty.

Price — Starting at $1,799

Starting at $1,799, the AddMotoR MOTAN M-70 fat tire electric bike inches towards to the upper end of the affordable spectrum, but it does have some pretty cool features that help justify the price, including an upgraded derailleur, powerful 750 watt motor, integrated headlight that works quite well, larger than average capacity battery, free shipping and overall cool factor.

Who’s it for — Cruisers who want a retro vibe

The AddMotoR MOTAN M-70 fat tire electric bike feels like a good choice for riders who want a powerful retro cruiser electric bike. The M-70 has power to spare, and a larger-than-average frame for a retro bike, making this a good bike for taller riders. Because of the 4” fat tires, the M-70 also lends itself well to light trails, and would be particularly effective on sand, snow, gravel and other loose terrain. As far as retro bikes go, the M-70 is one of the cooler ones out there and while the $1,700 price tag isn’t necessarily cheap, it’s a lot more affordable than some of it’s competitors.