A Fat Tire Folding E-Bike That Doesn’t Break the Bank | GoTrax F3 Review

Our range test consists of two separate trials – one using the lowest PAS level, and another using the highest. The low power test is used to find the maximum range that the bike can provide, whereas the high power run is used to find the range when the bike is using its most powerful settings.

In the low power test, the F3 stretched to an impressive 74.02 miles using PAS 1. The category average sits at 66.14 – about 8 miles shorter than the F3’s showing. However, as much as the numbers show a good result, there is a caveat.

I mentioned in the speed test that PAS 1 has a very low threshold for assist power. If you exceed roughly 8 mph in the lowest assist level, the bike will stop providing power. Once again, we’d expect that most riders will naturally reach higher speeds, and therefore will look to increase the PAS level pretty quickly.

Because we are testing the maximum distance this bike’s motor can take riders, we tested the range in PAS 1. So, while 74 miles is a long way, the F3 averaged 7.78 mph over the course of the test. Essentially, to reach the same sort of mileage, you’d have to keep the bike under 8 mph, as increasing the PAS level can shorten up range numbers. I’d expect the practical range to be a bit shorter.

Speaking of practical range, the high power test saw the F3 reach 32.26 miles; almost exactly on par with the class mean of 32.71 miles. In addition to the fact that this is a solid result, the PAS 5 setting is much more usable.

I’d also like to point out that this bike does offer significantly more mileage than the F2 and Efold. This is to be expected, as the battery here is significantly larger, but if you’re comparing between GoTrax folders, this one takes the cake in terms of range.

Our hill test method is as follows: Our test rider, Justin, climbs Devil’s Backbone (our hill test segment) twice. Once using throttle only, again using the pedal assist. This climb is taxing for Ebikes; but the F3 stood up to the task.

On throttle alone, the F3 made the climb in 1:56 at an average speed of 15.6 mph. This is a respectable time, coming in just a hair behind the average of 1:54. The comparison class is also stiff competition; several of the fat-tire folding Ebikes we’ve tested have 750W motors. Even with its 500W powerplant, the F3 manages to stay close to the pack, and avoids the label of “underpowered” entirely.

The pedal test builds the case even further. This bike summited in 1:49, which is actually above average compared to its class, which sits at 1:58. Plain and simple, this is a good result. The F3 has the stuff for hill climbs.

As I mentioned, GoTrax offers multiple folding Ebikes, and this is the most expensive of their lineup. When it comes to the hill test, the extra cash isn’t wasted; the F3 does climb better than the F2 and Efold. Their performances weren’t bad, but crushing hills isn’t quite in their wheelhouse. While the F3 isn’t elite here, it’s very solid, and this is the GoTrax folder I’d choose if I was tackling a lot of elevation.

The F3 has a number of strengths, and its brake test performance is one of them. We tested the bike’s stopping power using the method outlined above, and simply put, it did well.

The F3 stopped at an average distance of 18 feet 11 inches. Similar bikes we’ve tested averaged 19 feet 5 inches in this test – not dramatically longer, but still a noticeable difference.

GoTrax equipped the F3 with NUTT hydraulic disc brakes and 180 mm rotors. This bike’s little brother, the F2, has a similar setup – it also yielded above-average test numbers. In addition to the solid brake hardware, the 20 x 4.0 inch tires have a sizable contact patch – these two attributes combined make for good results.

The brakes feel powerful from the get-go. Some systems are effective, but grabby and overly sensitive. With these, I was able to feel the tires’ purchase on the pavement immediately, but not in a startling way. The feel of these brakes is genuinely very good.

The F3’s scope is a bit broader than some folding EBikes. While portability is a part of this bike’s package, there’s a lot more to it.

Off road capability is an example of this. The fat, knobby tires give riders the option to venture away from paved paths – I tried some of this myself, and the F3 generally does well off road. The bike has a stable feel, even on loose dirt, and I could feel the 4 inch tires smoothing out the bumps. For additional cushion, GoTrax also equipped the bike with front suspension. It’s a coil fork with roughly 30-40 mm of travel and a lockout. Frankly, it’s not the most refined suspension, but we don’t expect otherwise on a sub-$1000 bike.

On pavement, the bike keeps its settled handling. However, while the fat tires have some positives, there are some drawbacks as well. The bike feels settled, but also mildly sluggish. It’s reluctant to make quick movements, and the rolling resistance is noticeable – it doesn’t want to coast when on flat terrain, so I had to keep pedaling to sustain momentum. This is common for bikes with tires of this size, and it isn’t a huge issue, but it is there. Additionally, the motor helps level the playing field.

For additional cushion, GoTrax has equipped the bike with front suspension. It’s a coil fork with roughly 30-40 mm of travel and a lockout. Frankly, it’s not the most refined suspension, but we don’t expect otherwise on a sub-$1000 bike. The wide tires help pick up the slack as well.

As for the riding position, the F3 has riders in an upright stance with significant weight bias towards the saddle. GoTrax doesn’t provide a size range, but I’d estimate that riders from about 5’2 to 6’3 are in workable territory. I’m about 6’3, and was impressed with the F3’s adjustability. I was able to get comfortable leg extension using the seatpost, and the bars can be raised or lowered to tailor riding position.

Value has been a key hallmark for GoTrax, and the F3 comes with some extras to support that. A seat bag, lock, phone holder, mirrors and tire levers are all included.

As for the motor engagement, the F3’s torque sensor feels natural and responsive. The motor engages fairly quickly – usually within a quarter turn of the cranks. This is another point of separation between this bike and its little brothers. There’s a refinement in the pedaling experience that is slightly above what I found in the F2 and Efold.

The F3 is the largest and heaviest of the GoTrax folding family. GoTrax claims that it weighs 58 lbs; we weighed it, and found it was actually about 67 lbs. This isn’t abnormally heavy, but it’s not lightweight either. Removing the battery may help ease the strain when transporting the bike.

To sum it up, the F3 offers a decent package in the way of versatility and performance. The size of the tires have positives and negatives, but this is the case with most fat tire Ebikes. If you’re alright with the extra size and rolling resistance, there isn’t much to dislike about the F3’s ride quality.

Having tested a variety of folders from GoTrax, I can confirm that they’re all solid bikes with unique value propositions. This one is still oriented to be affordable, but with extra optionality. The off road chops, added comfort factor, and sufficient motor power are the main hallmarks of this bike.

The F3 is a good fit for riders who want a bike that is comfortable and up for anything. It would do well as a campground bike or a grocery getter, and the performance is all there.

We’d like to see improvement on the PAS 1 programming. The low speed cap limits the level’s usability, and fixing this would improve riders’ ability to choose the amount of power they’d like. The rolling resistance also may be a hang up for some riders, but this is a common trait of bikes in this class; it’s more of a data point than a definitive con.

Beyond that, the F3 is a solid option if you’re looking for a fat-tire folding Ebike. It’s got comfort and versatility at a reasonable price, and that’s something anyone can appreciate.

Happy Riding! Make sure to let us know if you have any questions or if you think we left anything out in this review of the GoTrax F3 down in our comments section.