2022 Mokwheel Basalt Review


Today we’re checking out the Basalt from Mokwheel. This is just one of the cool rides from Mokwheel that we’ll be reviewing over the next few weeks. So, stay tuned for that! Feel free to subscribe if you want so you don’t miss out on the exciting new reviews coming up next.With a starting price of $1,799, the Basalt is a serious contender in the saturated fat-tire Ebike space.Mokwheel offers a 2-year limited warranty as well as a 15-day return policy, which is great for those who might be on the fence about buying one.

Video Review


Highlights

Detailed Specs

Price: $1,900
Minimum Range: 50 Miles
Top Speed: 28 Miles Per Hour
Electronics: 925Wh Battery, 750W Rear-hub Motor
Suspension: Hardtail
Gearing: 7 Speed, Shimano Tourney
Brakes: Tektro HD-350 Hydraulic Brakes, 180mm Rotors
Cargo Capacity: 45 Pounds

Featured Accessories

Written Review


Today we’re checking out the Basalt from Mokwheel. This is just one of the cool rides from Mokwheel that we’ll be reviewing over the next few weeks. So, stay tuned for that! Feel free to subscribe if you want so you don’t miss out on the exciting new reviews coming up next. 

With a starting price of $1,799, the Basalt is a serious contender in the saturated fat-tire Ebike space.

Mokwheel offers a 2-year limited warranty as well as a 15-day return policy, which is great for those who might be on the fence about buying one.

And with that, let’s dive into the specs.

Driving the Basalt is a powerful 750-watt hub motor in the rear wheel that can propel this cruiser up to a top speed of 28 mph out of the box. And that top speed can be reached using the thumb throttle or the pedal assist. The motor has the typical 90Nm of torque we’re used to seeing, but the programming here is what sets the Mokwheel apart from other bikes we’ve tested. 

The main difference is this: even though the Basalt has 5 levels of pedal assist, it only has one variable power mode, which increases in power as the bike increases its speed. When you turn on your bike, and at low speeds, the motor will be in Eco Mode. Once you ask a bit more from the motor, it will crank up into Power Mode, and you can easily tell the difference between the two modes. This seems to be an engineered power curve, specifically designed to conserve the battery. 

Speaking of the battery, the Basalt has a hidden, 48-Volt, 19.6 Ah battery. Mokwheel utilizes Samsung cells, which are high quality cells, on par with LG and some of the best lithium cells in the game. The Basalt ships with a 3A charger, meaning you can charge faster and ride sooner! And once you’re fully charged, you should be able to get 60-80 miles per charge, in part thanks to the programmed power curve. 

The position of the battery is low and in the center of the frame, keeping the Basalt perfectly balanced. This is important for those who want to take the Basalt on light trails, or even some tougher terrain. 

I keep getting drawn to the Basalt’s frame style. The straight-through top-tube design is striking, powerful, and pleasing to the eye. This design choice lends itself to having a higher standover height, but if you’re looking for a step-thru frame, you’re going to like one of our next reviews. Hint, hint. 

The Basalt has a max payload capacity of 450 pounds, which is way above average, and weighs a surprisingly reasonable 79 lbs. Based on those stats, you wouldn’t think this chonker would have great handling, but it still feels much more nimble than it should. This electrified chariot is a bit on the longer side, measuring in at an overall length of 79” and having a 50” wheelbase. This lengthened geometry makes the Basalt feel stable and capable of traversing uneven terrain. 

At the back of the frame we’ve got a bolt-on rear rack. I love that Mokwheel puts rear racks on most of their Ebikes as it really increases the functionality of their lineup. You can use the Basalt as a commuter, a trail rider, or even a delivery vehicle.

However, since this rear rack is a bolt on, it’s always a good idea to periodically check the bolts, as they might become loose over time. 

At the front we’ve got Overlord Adjustable front forks, with 110mm of travel. They do a good job of mitigating chatter from rough roads, and they can pretty easily soak up the bumps from light trail riding. They’re not designed for getting air, or hitting gnarly gappers, but they do their job well! 

Let’s shift gears, and talk about the derailleur!

The Basalt is a 7-speed Ebike, and it utilizes the Shimano Tourney rear derailleur. It’s great to see so many name brands on these components, especially considering the price point. On the handlebars, just left of the locking ergonomic grips, is the Shimano SIS Index thumb shifter. Say what you want about this shifter, but it’s easy to use, easy to understand, and they’ve never let us down. There are pluses to using trigger shifters, but on the Basalt we feel like the SIS Index shifter made sense. 

The Basalt is also equipped with a double sided bash guard, which not only helps to prevent damage to the front chainring, but also helps minimize derailments by keeping that chain locked tightly into place.

While we’re down here, you’ll notice that the Basalt has the frame for a mid-drive motor. Right now, it looks like Mokwheel might be utilizing this space for their electrical components, but maybe in the near future we’ll see a mid-drive offering from Mokwheel. 

When it comes to stopping power, the Basalt has plenty. This electric bike is outfitted with Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with 180 mm rotors in the front and rear wheels. Since this is a reasonably weighty bike, it’s so cool to see name brand parts yet again! This gives the Basalt enough stopping power in ideal conditions, and will also bring you to a stop quickly and consistently in less than ideal conditions. 

Ok, let’s talk about the nighttime safety aspects of the Basalt. 

The Basalt has an integrated headlight that is bright enough for most urban night commutes. This slick ride also has an integrated rear light. These tail lights get brighter whenever you hit the brakes, letting anyone behind know that you’re slowing or coming to a stop. To complement the plethora of lights here, the Basalt also features these fat 26” x 4” tires, complete with sidewall reflective stripes. Despite the darker color options for the frame, these added safety aspects earn the Basalt a quick 10 points in the safety category. 

The wire management is great here too, with everything routed internally. The overall feel is that of a fully-thought out electric vehicle. 

Moving up to the handlebars, we’ve got the throttle and independent control module on the left side, we’ve got the half-twist throttle on the right-hand side, and in the middle we’ve got the display. The display is fairly easy to read in direct sunlight, and can be adjusted with the intuitive menu system. One thing that I will give the Mokwheel team is an additional 10 points for their distinctive interface. I love the footprint of this display. With the bezeled corners, it’s large enough to see all the information I need, but small enough that it fits in well with the bike. Plus, it doesn’t stick out too much for passersby. The layout is unique and refreshing in a space filled with greyscale position menus. The comprehensive menu and full-color readouts is something that I wish more brands in the industry would adopt. 

The Basalt and Scoria lines are known as the world’s first electric bike with integrated power station technology. Now, when we first read that, we thought that this was a solution built into the bikes themselves, but it turns out you need an additional Inverter. The 1000W inverter is not terribly expensive, coming in at $400 as of this writing, and we’d love to test it out! Unfortunately, we did not receive a unit with our Ebikes, so we can’t speak to the efficacy or usability or the inverter. It seems like a great idea, and the streamlined Mokwheel carrying case makes it all the more appealing. So be sure and check it out! 

Overall, the Mokwheel Basalt is a well-built, feature rich Ebike, and we’re going to give it the title of a value-buy. It’s got a more-than-reasonable starting price of $1,799 USD, is highly versatile, comes with a great warranty and is a fine looking Ebike. What more do you want? Seriously, let us know what you’re looking for in an Ebike in the comments below. We’d love to hear your thoughts.

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My Posted Review. Mokwheel has the worst customer service. I bought Asphalt ST. in July. The keys did not fit and the pedal assist and the throttle cut off... a lot. They replied back to send pictures of the keys I did they were correct. The lock was not installed properly. The pedal assist issue has yet to be resolved the only thing they said is to describe the issue. I did. It has been 5 months since my first email... I am so disappointed. My last email 3 weeks ago has yet to be replied to. I requested a new throttle and Pedal assist controller...and have yet to hear back. This bike will cut out if you come to a stop it hesitates if it goes at all and you end up peddling, kind of sucks when you are crossing a multiple-lane road. I would not recommend this to anyone...

I feel IMO that the below person is dishonest, plays you, and does not stand behind their products. I would not recommend any ebike from Mokwheel and they should correct the spelling in their name to Mock Wheel.

Ellery Peterson Mokwheel Support https://www.mokwheel.com/ Ellery | Customer Service