Mokwheel Tarmac Review: Trail Muscle, Modest Range for $1,700
Strong climbing power, quality brakes and gearing, and a throttle for the tricky bits, as long as you keep your rides within reach of a charger.
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What the stars are rated against
The stars compare this bike with other off-road e-bikes we have scored — 36 of them, priced $850–$2,550. They are a ranking inside that group, not an absolute grade: four stars means it beats most of that set on the measure, not that it hits some fixed standard.
Peers are drawn from a tight price band around this bike, so a $1,000 commuter is judged against other $1,000 commuters rather than against machines costing three times as much. Change the group and the stars would change with it.
The headline Genius Score is not decided by that group alone. It blends the category ranking above with a market-wide view across every bike we publish, so a bike cannot climb simply by sitting in a weak category. How we score.
The Mokwheel Tarmac is built for the rider who doesn't want to choose between the trail and the pavement. With and a 750W , it pulls a loaded bike up a fire road or a rough back lane without much fuss, and the lets you get moving from a dead stop without pedaling. That helps more off-road than people expect, because starting on loose or uphill ground is the hardest part, and the throttle takes over the work.
It's a bike, so the throttle carries you up to 20 mph on its own and pedaling with the takes you to 28. Between the strong brakes, the wide gear range, and that climbing power, it earns a Genius Score of 73 out of 100. The catch is range. The battery is on the small side for an off-road machine, so all-day backcountry rides will keep you thinking about the next charge.
Pros & cons
What we like
- and a 750W motor give it real climbing muscle, so steep fire roads and loose dirt don't stall you out.
- A lets you launch from a stop or crawl up a hill without pedaling, which is genuinely handy when the terrain turns tricky.
- Tektro deliver confident stopping on steep descents, and the 8-speed Shimano gearing gives you a wide spread for both climbs and flats.
- A 350 lb leaves room for camping gear, a trailer, or a bigger rider without straining the frame.
- Priced fairly for the capability, so you get a lot of usable off-road bike for the money.
Worth weighing
- The 720Wh is modest for an off-road bike, so it gives up range to rivals carrying a bigger pack.
- The 29" x 2.35" tires suit gravel and dirt roads, and with no published suspension spec, rocky and technical trails will feel harsh.
Key specs
The motor & power
The Tarmac runs a 750W , and that is what you'll feel most of the time. It's a common power level for this class, and it's enough to keep you moving across mixed terrain.
is the number that matters on a climb, and it's strong for a hub-motor bike. It'll haul you and a load up a steep fire road, though a long, sustained grind keeps the motor working hard the whole way.
The tops out at 20 mph on its own, and pedaling with the takes you to 28, which makes it a bike. Off-road, the throttle really helps when you've stopped on a hill or in soft dirt and need to get rolling again.
Mokwheel's own page lists the peak output two different ways, once as 750W and once as 920W. We go with 920W and 750W continuous. Peak only shows up in short bursts, so judge the motor on that steady 750.
Range & battery
The pack is a 48V, 15Ah unit that works out to 720Wh, and Mokwheel . That figure comes from ideal conditions: flat ground, light effort, and low assist.
Real off-road riding looks nothing like that. Climbs, loose surfaces, a heavy load, and time on the throttle all pull from the same battery, so plan for a figure under 60 and you'll avoid surprises. If you're the type who vanishes for all-day rides far from an outlet, that's worth thinking through before you buy.
Ride & components
This is where the Tarmac feels like more bike than the sticker suggests. The Tektro TKD171 give you strong, easy stopping power for heading down a dirt slope, and the 8-speed Shimano drivetrain hands you a useful spread of gears for switching between climbs and flats.
The 29" x 2.35" tires roll fast and easily on gravel, dirt roads, and light trails. Mokwheel doesn't list a figure, so on genuinely rocky, technical terrain you'll feel more of the ground than you'd like.
It carries a 350 lb , which opens the door to loading up with gear or towing behind you. At 66 lb the bike itself is on the lighter side for an off-road e-bike, so lifting it over a downed log or onto a rack is easier than it is with a lot of the competition.
Mokwheel's spec sheet calls the drivetrain both 8-speed and 7-speed Shimano in different spots. It's an 8-speed setup; the 7-speed mention reads like a leftover typo. Either way it's solid, beginner-friendly gearing.
Price & value
At $1,699.99 the Tarmac sits in the middle of the off-road field, and it earns that spot on climbing power and a build that holds up under real use. You're getting genuine capability rather than just a price tag.
The value adds up as long as your riding fits the battery. A couple of hours on trails and back roads within reach of home, and you're getting a lot of capable bike per dollar. If big range is what you're after, you'll have to spend more elsewhere to find it.
Who it's for
The trail-and-tarmac wanderer
If your rides are a mix of gravel paths, dirt roads, and the paved stretches to reach them, this bike fits that life well. The torque handles the climbs, and the makes pulling away on loose or uphill ground painless.
The load-it-up rider
If you haul camping gear, tow a trailer, or you're simply a heavier rider, the 350 lb gives you plenty of headroom without putting stress on the frame.
The all-day backcountry explorer
If you routinely head out for long, remote rides with no charger for miles, the battery is the sticking point. You'll spend the day eyeing the range meter, and a bike with a bigger pack would treat you better.
The technical singletrack rider
If you like bombing rocky, root-strewn trails, the all-terrain tires and the missing suspension spec mean this bike will beat you up where a proper mountain e-bike wouldn't.
Frequently asked
Does the Mokwheel Tarmac have a throttle?
Yes. It has a thumb that moves the bike without pedaling up to 20 mph. Pedaling with the assist takes you up to 28 mph.
Can you ride the Mokwheel Tarmac without pedaling?
Yes, the throttle powers it on its own up to 20 mph, which helps for pulling away from a stop or getting up a hill. Riding on the throttle draws more battery, so it will shorten how far you can go.
How far does the Mokwheel Tarmac go on a charge?
Mokwheel claims up to 60 miles from the 720Wh battery, but that's a best-case figure. Over real off-road terrain with climbs and throttle use, count on noticeably less.
How fast does the Mokwheel Tarmac go?
The throttle takes you to 20 mph on its own, and pedaling with the assist gets you up to 28 mph.
What class is the Mokwheel Tarmac?
It's a e-bike, meaning throttle to 20 mph and pedal-assist to 28 mph. Class 3 bikes are sometimes restricted on shared paths, so check your local rules before you ride.
How much can the Mokwheel Tarmac carry?
It has a 350 lb , enough for a heavier rider plus gear or a trailer.
How much does the Mokwheel Tarmac weigh?
It weighs 66 lb, which is manageable for an off-road e-bike.
How it compares to its siblings
The Tarmac shares its motor, battery, brakes, and drivetrain with the Tarmac ST at the identical $1,699.99 price, so you're not paying more here, you're trading differently. It carries 350 lb versus the ST's 300 lb and runs bigger 29" x 2.35" tires, but that comes with 9 extra pounds of bike weight and a lower Genius score (73 vs 76). Pick the Tarmac only if you need the higher payload rating; otherwise the lighter ST is the better-scoring version of the same bike.
Similar bikes
Ariel Rider X-Class 60V
A 1,200Wh battery and 110 Nm of torque make this a genuine all-day machine for trails, fire roads, and sand.
Read the review Genius 76 / 100Mokwheel Tarmac ST
A $1,700 all-terrain bike with 75 Nm of grunt, a throttle, and a genuinely light 57-pound frame, best for riders splitting time between dirt and pavement who can plan around a modest real-world range.
Read the reviewCompare against the Ariel Rider X-Class 60V
Mokwheel Tarmac is ranked on:
Guides worth reading
- E-bike classes explained: Class 1, 2 and 3Three classes, two questions: does it have a throttle, and how fast does the motor keep helping.
- Nominal vs peak watts on an e-bikeThe wattage in the headline is usually the peak figure, which can be roughly double the number the motor actually sustains.
- E-bike range explainedEvery range figure on every spec sheet is a best case. Here is how to translate it into what you'll really see.
How we score: the Genius Score blends a bike's capability against same-price peers with its value for the money, weighted for what this off-road buyer prioritises. Specs are pulled from the manufacturer's live page and normalised (nominal vs peak watts, true weight with battery). Ratings are our estimate from specs, not a lab test.