2019 Eccobike Chamaleon Review

Video Review

Written Review

The Eccobike Chamaleon folding fat tire electric bike is a practical, compact ride with a powerful motor and good size battery that’s ready for street and trail adventures alike.

Eccobike has a handful of electric bikes to choose from; this one, the Chamaleon, is their folding model that comes stock with fat tires, an adjustable stem, disc brakes, a rear rack and integrated lights. The frame is reinforced with two large gussets to increase its structural integrity and allow for heavier riders or some more aggressive trail rides. One of the best things about this electric bike though is that it can be quickly and easily folded into a compact package that can be stowed in the back seat of a car, underneath an RV or just in a closet when the ride is over.

Power — 500 nominal watts, 750 peak watts

The Eccobike Chamaleon folding fat tire electric bike has a powerful Bafang hub motor that spits out a continuous 500 watts of power with the ability to temporarily crank it up to 750 watts. This motor has 80 Newton meters of torque, which helps with acceleration, hill climbing and slogging through mud, snow, sand and gravel.

Speed  — 20 mph

The Eccobike Chamaleon folding fat tire electric bike has a top speed of 20 mph, which can be reached using the throttle or pedal assist, making this a class 2 electric bike. There is an option to increase the top speed in the display settings, but it feels like the motor on the Chamaleon winds out at 20 mph, so it’s unlikely it will get any extra assist from an electronic adjustment.

Battery and Range — 48 volt 11 ah, 25 miles

The Eccobike Chamaleon folding fat tire electric bike runs on a 48 volt system and has a n11 ah battery for an estimated max range of 25 miles with pedal assist. The battery is located behind the seat post, which does make the Chamaleon a bit back heavy since the motor is also in the back wheel. The battery can be removed for charging and storage. 

Pedal assist sensor — Cadence sensor

The Eccobike Chamaleon folding 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 Eccobike Chamaleon folding 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, 55 pounds

The Eccobike Chamaleon folding fat tire electric bike has one frame size and weighs in at nearly 55 pounds. This is quite heavy for a folding electric bike, but the Chamaleon does have fat tires, which increase the weight considerably. The single tube design keeps the standover height low and makes it easy for riders to place their feet flat on the ground when at a complete stop. The gussets help reinforce the frame to increase structural integrity and decrease frame flex. The frame folds in half and the handlebars fold down for easy storage. 

Suspension —  Solid forks

The Eccobike Chamaleon folding fat tire electric bike has solid forks and no rear suspension, though it is possible to easily add an aftermarket seat post suspension.

Gearing — Shimano, 7 speed

The Eccobike Chamaleon folding fat tire electric bike has a Shimano Tourney 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 Eccobike Chamaleon folding fat tire electric bike has Tektro mechanical disc brakes in the front and rear with 160 mm rotors. These brakes offer ample stopping powered 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 Eccobike Chamaleon folding fat tire electric bike has a 1 year comprehensive warranty.

Price — Starting at $1,699

Starting at $1,699, the Eccobike Chamaleon folding fat tire electric bike is well priced considering the powerful motor, good size battery, fat tires and disc brakes. 

Who’s it for — Adventurers with limited space

This feels like a good choice for those who love the outdoors but don’t have tons of space to store their electric bike. The Eccobike Chamaleon folding fat tire electric bike is a solid folding electric bike that can easily cruise through the city but also tackle some modest off-road trails. The motor is more powerful and has more torque than most folding electric bikes which also makes this a good choice for those who live in a hilly area or expect to run into mud, sand, snow or gravel on their adventures.