Great suspension, powerful motor, big battery, hydraulic brakes: The Laotie FT100 is a foldable e-fat bike to die for. But in the test, the e-bike shows a weakness.
Foldable e-fat bikes range from relatively cheap like the Fiido M1 Pro to expensive like the Mate X. The Laotie FT100 settles in between. The fat e-folding bike is a real revelation for everyone who likes to race over hill and dale. Because the full suspension, together with the 4-inch wide tires, absorbs almost every bump. Even going full throttle over big roots is no problem. Plus it’s got a 1000 watt (peak) rear motor, really good hydraulic brakes, a big 720 watt hour battery and folds up compactly to fit in any trunk.
Its big catch: It has a throttle and is therefore not allowed on roads. In addition, the powerful motor accelerates up to 35 kilometers per hour before switching off. However, this can easily be throttled via the on-board computer. In the test, we show what else we noticed about the Laotie FT100 and for whom the foldable e-fatbike is still something.
| Brand | LAOTIE |
| Model | FT100 |
| Controller | 5-speed boost controller |
| Gear | Shiman0 7 Speed Transmisson |
| Booster | 12-point speed sensor booster |
| Display | LCD Display |
| Frame | 6061 Aluminium Alloy |
| Suspension | Front + rear oil spring suspension |
| Handlebars | Aluminium Alloy Ultra-light |
| Brake | ZOOM Power-off Disc Brake |
| Crankset | HAOMENG Crankset |
| Shifter | SHIMAN0 TX50-7 |
| Rear Shifer | SHIMAN0 TY300 |
| Color: | Blakck Red, Black Yellow |
| Certification: | EN15194 |
| Tax: | Free Tax |
| Tire | CHAOYANG 20x4in |
| Three Riding Mode | Pedal Mode, Moped Mode, Electric Mode |
| Battery Capacity | 48V 15Ah Li-ion Battery |
| Maximum Range | Pure Electric: 45-65km Power Assistant: 90-120km |
| Motor | 48V 1000W (Brushless rear drive high-speed motor) |
| Recommended Speed | 25km/h |
| Charger | 48V |
| Charing Time | 5-6 Hours |
| Climbing Angle | 35° |
| Max Load | 150KG |
| Net Weight | 27KG |
| Gross Weight | 38KG |
| Scenes | City And Outdoor |
| Folding Size | 100x80cm |
| Unfolding | 177x120cm |
| Package Size | 158x28x79cm |
Unboxing of Laotie FT100
As usual, the Laotie FT100 comes to the buyer in a large box. First you insert the front wheel using a quick-release fastener, then attach the handlebars using a quick-release fastener and screw on the front light and the front mudguard using the Allen key provided. That’s it. Thanks to many pre-assembled parts and the quick-release fasteners, we were able to do this faster than with any e-bike that was delivered in a box before. We needed about 15 minutes.
The tires initially have little air. That’s okay with an E-Fatbike, where the recommendation is between 0.2 bar and 0.8 bar. With little pressure, the tires absorb bumps better. If you inflate them tighter, you have better steering characteristics. The brakes are hydraulic and can therefore be adjusted using wheels on the brake handles. It couldn’t be easier. A simple cable lock is also included in the package. Locks can also be smarter and better, as our comparison test of four smart bike locks shows.
Optics & Features
If you want to cruise around inconspicuously, you should generally avoid fat bikes. These are not only a real eye-catcher because of their tires. The tires are significantly louder than their narrow siblings on asphalt, for example. The Laotie FT100 goes one better optically. It is available in yellow and in the red variant that we have. This color can be found not only on the frame but also on the rims in particular. It looks great and attracts curious looks.
The frame itself houses the battery. To the rear it goes up at a slight angle. This gives the e-fatbike a dynamic look. The Laotie FT100 comes with plastic mudguards. It definitely looks better without it. However, we would recommend installing the fenders. Anyone who drives through a muddy puddle with good taste will quickly appreciate it.
The front light offers four bright LEDs, which sufficiently illuminate a path in the dark. The driver controls it via the on-board computer. Unfortunately, the Laotie FT100 doesn’t have a rear light. Other Chinese e-bikes, such as the very good Ado D30C, come with a battery-powered light. However, you can also buy a rear light yourself for a few euros. More on this in our guide to bicycle lights: Bright light with rechargeable battery or battery from 15 euros.
The on-board computer has three buttons and, in addition to the current speed, its easy-to-read display also shows the battery level in five bars, the selected support level, the total kilometers, the trip kilometers and a trip timer. There is no USB-A port for charging mobile devices.
To fold it up, first fold down the handlebars, fold in the pedals and lower the saddle all the way down. The Laotie FT100 folds up via a large safety lever in the middle of the frame. The dimensions are reduced from 177 centimeters long and 120 centimeters high to 100 centimeters long and 80 centimeters high. The whole thing takes less than a minute.
Thanks to the quick-release fasteners on the front wheel and handlebars, the e-bike can be folded up even more compactly without tools. As handy as the foldable pedals are, we would have preferred it if Laotie had attached metal models. The plastic pedals give the impression that they could break under heavy loads. The manufacturer uses standard screws, so you can easily change the pedals.
When folded, the Laotie FT100 fits in any trunk, but weighs a whopping 28 kilograms.
Drive of Laotie FT100
Ergonomically, the Laotie FT100 is particularly suitable for people up to a maximum of 180 centimeters. This is mainly due to the slightly too short seat post. However, this can be exchanged for a longer one from the bicycle trade. The saddle itself doesn’t look particularly sporty, but it is soft and comfortable. The handlebar is high enough.
The suspension is fantastic and soaks up any bumps. You should still put on a helmet. We recommend our comparison test of smart bicycle helmets. Thanks to the suspension and the 4 inch thick 20 inch tires with a grip profile, you can also climb curbs at higher speeds. Even demanding forest trails are no problem for the bike. It masters thick roots, stones and potholes better than the full-fledged e-mountain bikes in our group test. In addition, the strength of the suspension fork can be adjusted and also completely fixed. The hydraulic brakes are excellent. They are very easy to adjust and take to heart.
The Shimano 7-speed gears are fine. However, we would have preferred a lower gear ratio in the lowest gear. The strong engine makes up for this flaw to a large extent. It offers a peak power of 1000 watts. The manufacturer does not provide any information on the nominal power. The electronics are good. The rear engine starts after just a few turns of the pedals and stops supporting you just as quickly. It reacts even better to the throttle. This allows the motor power to be finely dosed and even really difficult passages to be mastered.
The throttle lever cannot be disassembled easily. This is solved better with the Eleglide M1 Plus. There, the throttle grip is only optional. So if you want to drive the Laotie FT100 in Germany, you should avoid public roads. The throttle is usually not a problem off-road and on private roads. It is also permitted in many neighboring countries. Interested buyers should inform themselves urgently in advance.
The maximum speed of the Laotie FT100 is limited to 35 kilometers per hour in the factory settings. However, only 25 kilometers per hour are permitted in Germany. However, the on-board computer allows the speed limit to be reduced or further increased to up to 42 kilometers per hour by pressing the plus and minus buttons for a long time.
Battery of Laotie FT100
The battery, which can be removed using a key, has a capacity of 720 watt hours. This makes it significantly larger than the 614.4 watt hour battery in the foldable E-Fatbike Fiido M1 Pro. The more expensive, but comparably good Mate X is available in a version with an even larger 816 watt hour battery.
Laotie claims that with FT100 in assist mode, you can ride 90 to 120 kilometers before it needs to be reconnected to the grid. Even if many points play a role here, we consider this information to be exaggerated in practice. For this value, Laotie takes a very light driver, a flat asphalt track, a low maximum speed and other idealized factors. With mixed use and a driver’s weight of 85 kilograms, we assume about 50 kilometers before the Laotie FT100 has to be connected to the power supply again. The 48 volt power supply itself has 163.8 watts. Active ventilation ensures that it gets hand-warmed at most. This ventilation is clearly audible when you are in the same room.
Price of Laotie FT100
Banggood sells the Laotie FT100 in red and yellow for 1300 euros each. Alternatively, friends of foldable e-fat bikes can use the Fiido M1 or Fiido M1 Pro. We link these two e-folding bikes with fat bike tires here in the price comparison.
Conclusion
The Laotie FT100 is a fantastic folding e-bike with fat bike tires. Thanks to its price-performance ratio, it is even better than the Mate X. The Laotie FT100 has really good suspension, and you can even adjust the hardness of the front fork. In addition, the engine is strong and fast. The removable battery is really big. The hydraulic brakes are some of the best we’ve seen in our testing so far. Visually, it makes a clear statement. We like that the Laotie has mudguards and a simple cable lock.
We identified the pedals as a weak point. These are foldable, but unfortunately made of plastic. They give the impression of being able to break under greater stress. The seat post is also a bit too short for taller people. In addition, you should only drive the Laotie FT100 in off-road and on private roads. Neither the throttle grip nor the maximum speed or the overpowered motor are allowed.
Who should buy the Laotie FT100?
The Laotie FT100 is for those who enjoy off-road riding. It cuts a fine figure there not only because of its driving characteristics. There, in many cases, it is also legal to drive on roads where the road traffic regulations do not apply. So if you want to go on a day trip, fold up the Laotie FT100, hoist it into your trunk and drive to the appropriate areas.
