I’ve had a chance to test the Mokwheel Basalt ST for some time. As a year-round commuter, I really appreciate it when a bike is practical, comfortable, and reliable. These are the main characteristics I always look for in a new bicycle.
If I’m honest, I didn’t think the Basalt would be much different from many other e-bikes I had tried. Bikes with hub motors don’t excite me, but I’d read many good things about this bike and was willing to accept a unit for testing.
If you want to skip the details of the test, here is a short short summary. The Mokwheel Basalt ST is a well-built, robust bike with exceptionally good performance and a solid battery. It shines in making the ride smooth and comfortable. You should only consider getting it if you have sufficient storage space and don’t need to carry it upstairs.
In the spirit of full transparency, Mokwheel sent me the bike for testing, and I got to keep it, but I didn’t receive any money to write this review. I am a bike commuter and a bike nerd, and I always get excited when I get a chance to test new bikes.
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Appearance
I asked for the ST version, which stands for step through. Some call it the ladies’ version, but this is more practical than the regular ‘men’s’ version as it allows me to get on the bike.
There is nothing small about the Mokwheel Basalt. The packaging already tells you that you’re dealing with a huge bike, and taking it out of the box confirms your initial suspicion.
This bike could nearly pass as a cargo bike because of its robust body. It is capable of carrying up to 160kg (350 lbs), which is quite impressive and almost cargo-territory.
The wheels are 26 inch in diameter, and have huge, 4 inch wide knobby fat tires. To give you an idea of the size of the wheels, here’s a picture of the tire compared to a Bromton-size folding bike taken as soon as I opened the box.
The tires have reflective sidewalls to make it easy for other road users to spot you at night.
The bike is equipped with a ton of accessories to support your ride comfort and to make the Basalt a practical bike for everyday use. It has front and rear fenders, a rear bike rack, a front basket, a bike lock, a phone holder, a water bottle holder, as well as powerful front and rear lights.
The front basket and the rear rack have wooden inserts, which give the bike a distinct, premium look.
There is a front suspension fork with a lockout function too, and you’re given a suspension saddle post as an upgrade free of charge as well. The saddle is wide and cushy offering good comfort.
The handlebar stem is adjustable so you can dial in your riding position, and the handlebar is slightly sweapt back with ergonomic grips with gel inserts. These distinguish the Basalt from other e-bikes on the market.
You also get a sturdy, easy-to-adjust phone holder with the bike that attached to the handlebar.
The bike comes with platform pedals with studs to prevent your feet from slipping off, and it includes a torque sensor, which we will talk about later.
A 7-speed Shimano Tourney derailleur is onboard for changing gears. It’s nothing to write home about, but it gets the job done.
Tektro hydraulic disc brakes are onboard with 180mm disc rotors to provide sufficient stopping power. This is certainly a very welcome feature because the bike weighs over 40kg with all the added accessories.
Another important detail is the sturdy kickstand that comes with the bike.
The battery is built into the bike frame, and it’s an impressive 960Ah one, which I will write about later in the performance section.
You can choose from several colors. I was sent the orange version, which looks quite good, but you can go for more understated, darker colors too.
Quality
The build quality of the Basalt is on par with its robust appearance.
I was impressed by how quietly the bike rides and handles even on a stretch of rough cobble road in my neighborhood. There are no squeaks or rattles coming from the frame. This is partially thanks to the extra wide tires that absorb a lot of the buzz from the road, and also to the well-tightened screws.
The pedals and the wheels turn smoothly without any friction. You don’t find any gaps or bent parts on the bicycle.
There is a tiny brake rub from the rear disc at times, but it can be corrected quite easily.
If I want to nit-pick, I also noticed a tiny click coming from the right pedal, which I could fix by tightening the crank arm with a hex key.
The bike has a ton of accessories and design elements that also scream quality. The wooden inserts on the rack and the basket, the sewn seams of the handlebar grip, the cable guards, and the internal cable routing, are all details that the designers paid careful attention to.
With the bike you also get some premium quality tools, such as hex keys and spanners.
You get the overall impression that Mokwheel didn’t want to save money on quality.
Performance and riding experience
The Mokwheel Basalt is a lot of fun to ride. I received the EU version, which comes without a thumb throttle, has a hub motor with a nominal 250W, and has a 25 km/h speed restriction to comply with EU legal requirements.
The speed restriction can be lifted quite simply with a few clicks on the controller on the handlebar.
When you first get on the bike, you’re initially worried how this monster will drive, but the motor kicks in as soon as you start to pedal, and the bike takes off like a normal bicycle.
You feel that you’re riding a big, chunky bike, but it’s more due to its size rather than the effort you need to put into pedaling.
The bike is very comfortable thanks to the big and wide tires, the front suspension, the suspension seatpost, the wide saddle and the upright riding position. If I want to draw a comparison, I would call it the SUV of the cycling world.
The fact of being oversized makes itself felt in how the bike handles.
It’s not a nimble bike, and you need to pay attention when navigating through tight spaces. When you put down your food at stopping, you can feel that the bike has quite a bit of weight. Riding the Basalt is a lot of fun, and you feel confident riding on any rough road, and going though any pothole. This bike can take it all. It is designed to shine on dirt roads and on poor quality roads.
Leaning into a turn with this bike when riding fast is the weirdest feeling. Its big wheels have a lot of rotational mass, which gives the bike a lot of stability and makes it want to stay upright all the time, including when you’re in the curve. It’s not impossible, but it took me a bit of getting used to at first.
One of the selling points of the Basalt is the torque sensor. Such sensors assist you in a way that makes riding feel natural. They only assist you in proportion to the effort you put into pedalling. Unfortunately, the way it is implemented is my biggest complaint of the bike. In my experience, the sensor of this bike is too sensitive.
When you start pedalling, the motor kicks in with a slight delay. The power delivery is very smooth. There isn’t a big difference between the various assist levels. If you jump from level 1 to level 5, you will notice a difference, but it’s not a big one by any means. If I increase or decrease the assist level by 1 or 2 levels, the difference is negligeable.
I feel that assist level 1 should deliver just enough power to help you on flat, but still keep the riding experience a workout.
When you reach 30-32 km/h (20 mph), it feels like the bike continues to pick up speed even with minimum effort whether you’re riding in assist level 1, 5 or anywhere in between. It feels like the torque sensor becomes too sensitive, almost like a cadence sensor.
The 960Ah battery carries a lot of charge. It is certainly needed because of the weight and the size of the bike, but I feel that it gives a good range. I tested it in real life, and I’m getting 50-60km (32-38 miles) with a good mixture of terrains, including steep hills, on maximum pedal assist and constantly going at fast speeds. I’m not the lightest of riders either with my 85km weight (190 lbs). The claimed 110km (65 miles) could actually be achievable not only in theory, but also in practice with moderate use.
Is this the bike for you?
With the Mokwheel Basalt, you get a comfortable, well-equipped bicycle with a well-thought-out design and good build quality. It stands out from most other bikes and is definitely a head-turner.
I can see it being a great bike for various rider types.
If you are a big dude or gal and want a bike that can take a lot of weight, this is an excellent bike.
If you want to carry a lot of cargo, but you don’t want a dedicated cargo bike, this is an excellent bike.
If you want to carry a child and still have room for more stuff, this is an excellent bike.
If your roads are poorly maintained, or your commute involves some off-road segments, this is an excellent bike.
Overall, the Mokwheel Basalt gets my recommendation, and has earned a permanent place in my fleet of bikes.