Best step-through off-road e-bikes

The Basalt ST earns the top overall score here by pairing 90 Nm of torque with 4-inch fat tires, a combination built to hold traction in sand, gravel, and loose dirt where narrower tires wash out. A 940Wh battery backs that up with a claimed 80 miles of range, so a full day exploring backroads rarely means watching the battery gauge. Mokwheel doesn't publish suspension specs, though, so how it handles rocky or root-covered trails is unclear, and its 28 mph top speed puts it in Class 3, a category some trails and paths don't allow.

The Mesa Lite ST wins on price, the cheapest bike on this list at $999.99, an entry point into off-road riding without a premium price tag. It weighs 58 pounds, lighter than typical fat-tire e-bikes, so handling it on and off the trail is less of a chore, and the throttle covers you up to 20 mph on gravel or long dirt stretches. Its 350W motor and 45 Nm of torque run short on steep or sustained climbs, and mechanical disc brakes need more frequent adjustment than hydraulic ones, so this one's built for easy terrain, not hills.

160 Nm of torque puts the Ultra Duo Pro Step-Thru at the top of this list for climbing power, drawn from a Bafang Ultra mid-drive that can push up steep, loose grades a weaker motor would stall on. It also holds the biggest battery here, a 1,040Wh pack that can take an optional 910Wh extender for multi-day backcountry trips, and the low step-through frame makes mounting a heavy fat-tire bike easier. It's capped at 20 mph as a Class 2 bike, a conservative limit for this much power, and the Shimano Alivio 9-speed drivetrain trails behind the rest of the build's quality.

Hauling gear is where the Basalt ST 2.0 shines, tying for the highest payload rating on this list at 450 pounds so it can carry a rider plus a loaded rack without straining the frame. Its 940Wh battery and claimed 80-mile range mean a loaded ride doesn't have to end early, and 90 Nm of torque keeps that weight moving on loose, uphill ground. It's classified Class 3 with a 28 mph top assisted speed, so check local trail rules before you count on that speed.

Solo hauling gets easier with the Tarmac ST, the lightest bike on this list at 57 pounds, light enough to lift onto a hitch rack or carry up stairs without a second person. Its 750W motor delivers 75 Nm of torque for moderate climbs and loose surfaces, and the throttle gets you moving up to 20 mph before pedal assist carries you to 28. The 720Wh battery is the trade-off for that low weight; expect real-world range well under the claimed 60 miles once dirt, hills, and throttle use factor in.

At $1,499.99, the Asphalt ST packs in hydraulic disc brakes, a sizable battery, and a throttle, features that usually cost more on other off-road e-bikes. Its 63-pound frame is light enough to load onto a car rack or wheel through a doorway without help, and 70 Nm of torque keeps it steady on moderate climbs and loose ground. The 500W motor and 2.4-inch tires aren't built for steep, technical terrain or deep sand, so keep expectations to gravel roads and easy trails.