This is the MATE X electric folding fat bike. Like the Super73, RadRover Mini and Unimoke it’s a 204 Bike (tyres are 20” x 4”)
I do love this bike... and I love the community behind it, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. I’m one of the early backers from their indiegogo campaign back in 2018. It took 15months to have my bike delivered and to my knowledge there are still people from the original campaign that have still not received their bikes.
In this video I review the two bikes I received and explain some of the issues with what could have been a great ebike.
**UPDATE:
I’ve had a number of comments about the upgrades on the grey bike and you can see the video with the details here https://youtu.be/3L4d9FuILA8
I’ve also linked to all the parts used to upgrade that bike down below if you want to do the same and where possible a cheaper amazon alternative as I’m aware that some of these companies are based in specific countries or you might just want to order through amazon.
Stem
The one on the bike is no longer available but here’s an Amazon Alternative: https://amzn.to/3yF0oJi
Handlebar Blank for peace - https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/blank-for-peace-bmx-bars/rp-prod129720
Amazon alternative if you can’t find the above one locally (affiliate link) - https://amzn.to/3CJKpwj
Eggrider V2 display - https://shop.eggrider.com/eggrider-v2
Vee Tire co Speedster these are notorious for selling out fast so I’ve included two places in Europe to get them, but they aren’t available on Amazon (if anyone has a link for the US let me know and I’ll add it)
https://urbandrivestyle.com/products/unimoke-speedster-white-wall-tyre-20-x-4-0?_pos=1&_sid=c1f502e9a&_ss=r
And https://ebikeparts.shop/product/ebp-vee-tire-speedster-black-20-x-4/
58T Chainring 130 BCD
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ta-130-pcd-alize-outer-chainrings-57-61t-/rp-prod175967
Amazon alternative (affiliate link) - https://amzn.to/2X5khve
Pedals:
The pedals I’ve used are the KCNC Platform pedals which look like they’re no longer available outside of Switzerland but here’s a cheaper alternative on Amazon if you don’t need the reflectors but want to keep the same style and they’re also available in other colours (affiliate link) - https://amzn.to/3s5BcsW
Rim Tape Reflectors
CustomTaylor33 is the probably the best place for this as they’re high quality, fit perfectly and you even get extra in case you mess up the installation. Just make sure you select the 16” size as bike wheels are measured differently to motorbikes - https://amzn.to/3fLQpKU
Front Fork upgrade
I got mine from aliexpress https://www.aliexpress.com/i/33034063254.html
But the same fork is available on Amazon as well if you want it faster (affiliate link) https://amzn.to/3iyOoDy
Nuke proof starnut and top cap (needed when changing fork from the original) https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/nukeproof-top-cap-and-star-nut/rp-prod92345
Amazon alternatives:
This one comes with spacers if you don’t want to cut the new front fork to the exact size - https://amzn.to/3CCO2DV
Cheaper alternative with just the star nut, bolt and top cap (affiliate link) - https://amzn.to/3lQgvQI
Pipe cutter tool - You’ll need to cut down the top section of any front fork you buy and you can use a saw but this is much easier, faster and gives a clean cut (affiliate link) - https://amzn.to/3lLGEjL
Star Nut tool - You don’t need this but it makes putting the star nut in so much easier and it will go in correctly first time. I hammered the star nut in by hand on the grey bike and it took me 3 tries and quite a bit of time to get it in straight, I bought this when I changed the fork on the black bike and I wish I had it before. https://amzn.to/3yDRMCG
Rear Shock Upgrades:
DNM Rear Shock (affiliate link) I’m running the 165 but the 190 will also work, this is the new version of the one I have that is a little more reliable - https://amzn.to/2VKD5PF
Rock Shox monarch RL - I’m now running this shock on the grey bike and moved the DNM one to the Black bike (affiliate link) - https://amzn.to/3lKu986
Note on the RockShox upgrade: it doesn’t come with the hardware installed so you’ll need 2x of these rockshox 24x8mm spacers (affiliate link) https://amzn.to/3lQosFu
Along with the tool used to install them, I tried installing them without this tool to be cheap and it was impossible (affiliate link) - https://amzn.to/3xAxFnG
The Abus Granite Extreme 59 D-Lock
https://amzn.to/3Avk5UI
Camera Gear I used in this video
GoPro Hero 7 Black - https://amzn.to/3yC14iN
Rode Video Micro - https://amzn.to/3AslX0i
Canon M6 (with 15-45mm Kit lens) - https://amzn.to/3fPT5Hj