A review of the Vtuvia SF-20 folding fat bike

Winter can be a challenging time in the bike lanes of the world, which is one reason why the Vtuvia SF-20 fat tire, folding e-bike came in so handy.

For those of us living in more northern climes, bike lanes are not always in good working order. Sure, some cities try and plan, but don’t always get it right. Ice and snow accumulate and harden into treacherous mounds of mayhem that send many a would-be commuter to the asphalt or worse, to the car! Yikes.

If there is one thing that can help, it’s more rubber on the proverbialy asphalt, more tread to grip and hold, and that’s why a fat-tired bike makes sense. That and, let’s be honest, they are so fun.

Not everyone can add another bicycle to the quiver let alone another expensive e-bike, which is why we decided to have a look at the Vtuvia SF-20, one of the more inexpensive on the market at less than $1,500US. Here we have an affordable e-bike with fat tires and disc brakes making it an ideal candidate for winter commuting. Plus, it folds up for those with storage issues as well as providing another use for the bike — as a fun recreational ride for summer trips and cottaging.

Tell Your Friends

The Vtuvia SF-20 features a large 48vV13AH battery housed behind the seat post, which is removable for easy charging. The battery powers a 750w rear-hub motor that allows the SF-20 to easily hit and maintain a 15 mph speed.

The battery is good although the range at 48 miles with pedal-assist and 38 miles pure electric might be a bit ambitious. I found using the throttle exclusively to be a quicker drain on the battery so better to keep that in reserve for when it is needed most.

Commuters will like the full, wide fenders, full lighting system, seven-gear Shimano cassette, disc brakes, large comfortable saddle, and front suspension along with the 20-inch by four-inch fat tires and solid rear rack.

The bike travelled well throughout the winter, handling the snow and ice nicely and providing some more confidence for daily commutes. An added bonus to the five-level pedal assist is the half-throttle that can be engaged for an extra boost while travelling up steep inclines. We also found it useful at intersection to get moving in a hurry before engaging the pedal-assist.

With everything on the bike being open including the cabling and the battery, we found things get messy quite quickly, so users would need to commit to daily cleaning to ensure proper function.

The comfortable level is very high and was amongst the best features on this bike. The riding position was ideal, nice and upright, with a luxurious saddle to sink into. The front suspension and fat tires provided a smooth riding experience.

The e-bike has a good and simple handlebar display and contoured grips.  The folding mechanism is an easy bi-fold that compresses the bike by half.

The Vtuvia SF-20 can fold into a tidy trunk-sized package for easy storage

Wish List

The other side of the smooth-and-comfortable riding coin is that the bike has some weight for its size, mostly and large battery, and as a result the steering isn’t as optimal and it is harder to pedal below the second-level of assist.

I would prefer a range of pedal assist that begins at the second level and gives riders three solid options instead of five. At the fifth level, the bike flies, but almost outpaces pedal strokes, which renders it less than effective.

Riders will find themselves in the third and fourth levels of assist most often, and it is unlikely anyone will use the first level of assist unless the battery is almost dead. Plan accordingly.

Ideal User

Anyone looking for a fun and safe e-bike to make winter commuting more enjoyable would make good use of the Vtuvia SF-20. The seriously fat tires are fantastic, not only providing more rubber on the road and offering more security on sub-optimal winter rides, but it’s also fun and comfortable, which is really what it’s all about.

The bike held up well to winter conditions, slushy and muddy streets, and cleaned up nicely and easily. The removable battery made it a bit easier on the cleaning side of things. The wide fenders worked well.

At the end of the commute, there was always a smile. No sore lower back, no white knuckles from icy conditions. Just good times.

Final Thoughts

Don’t discount the fun option with this bike for summer road trips and cottaging. We even took it for a ride on the beach, and it had no issues on sand.

The size is such that it can fold up and be put into most trunks for daytrip transport. Imagine, if you will, taking it up to the cottage and using it to explore trails — making great use of the fat tires as they would easily tackle many an off-road trail. In addition, it’s a great option for a quick trip into town to grab a few groceries.

Overall, for the price, the Vtuvia SF-20 is a good option for those looking for some versatility, a portable option to bring on day trips and cottaging and as a winter commuting alternative in dicey conditions.

For information on this bike, head to the Vtuvia website.