This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes a new solar charging kit from JackRabbit, a reversal on a plan to double the power limit for e-bikes in the UK, China is pushing to replace lithium-ion battery e-bikes with lead acid battery alternatives, the Dallas Cowboys all got new electric motorcycles, UBCO enters receivership, and more.

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There’s no denying how popular high-power electric bikes have become. And a quick way to get more power without having to go with a ridiculously large motor is to simply double up, putting one motor in each of a bike’s wheels. That’s what Wallke did with the Wallke H7 AWD, and the result is a fast e-bike that is as powerful as it is chunky – which is to say, very.

To see my testing of the Wallke H7 AWD, check out my video review below.

Or keep reading below the video for my full written review on this high power e-bike!

Wallke H7 AWD Video Review

Wallke H7 AWD tech specs

• Motor: Dual 1,000W continuous (1,600W peak) geared hub motors
• Top speed: 33 mph (53 km/h)
• Range: Unlisted (pretty darn far based on the massive battery)
• Battery: 48V 60 Ah (2,880 Wh)
• Weight: 130 lb (59 kg)
• Max load: Claimed 400 lb (181 kg)
• Brakes: Quad-piston hydraulic disc brakes
• Extras: Large color LCD display, LED head/tail light, half-twist throttle, removable battery, padded rear rack, fenders, kickstand, and companion app

Purely and simply over the top for an e-bike

The Wallke H7 AWD is so overspec’d that in many jurisdictions, you wouldn’t even be able to call it an electric bicycle. This is more of an e-moped in the truest sense. In fact, the bike can reach speeds of up to 33 mph on throttle operation, no pedaling needed, meaning it truly is well outside of the 3-class electric bicycle system.

That may be an issue for some people, but it will be a selling point for others. Many riders want something they can ride fast without needing to pedal, but keep in mind that such a feature usually means you’ll have issues trying to pass this off a street-legal electric bicycle. If that matters or not in your jurisdiction is an important disticintion that you’ll want to look up. Some states are cracking down, while others don’t seem to care.

A big part of the crazy high speed in the Wallke H7 AWD is thanks to its dual motor design. The pair of 1,000W motors make a solid 2,000W of continuous power, and closer to 3,200W of peak power. That gets transferred through a set of 20×4.0″ fat tires and is enough to sling gravel in any direction you choose. Again, that’s some serious power that requires some serious responsibility, so the rider has been warned.

To back up that power is a commensurately large battery. The 48V 60Ah battery pack is still removable, but it’s one of the largest I’ve ever seen on a retail e-bike. They don’t publish a range figure, but based on my testing, reasonable throttle speeds should net riders at least 75 miles of range. Pedal assist can take the bike much farther, if you actually want to pedal a 130 lb e-bike.

How does it ride?

The Wallke H7 AWD rides decently well, but it’s a bit janky at top speed. There’s some weird flutter that I would get in the rear end at around 31-33 mph. I could never quite place it, as it’s a bit hard to feel around behind you at such speeds, but I think it’s likely either the rear fender or the kickstand. Either could be slightly resonating with vibrations or fluttering in the wind, but I can’t be sure it really is either. Suffice it to say that something was slightly dancing around for me at the top end.

The suspension is also welcome but not exactly top-notch either. Hitting bumps results in a symphony of sounds originating from the bike’s center, likely resulting from a combination of the battery, suspension, fender, and perhaps the kickstand. The suspension does help the ride, but this is a heavy bike, and you’re going to feel the bumps even with 4″ of air-filled rubber and a few springs underneath you.

I’ll also say that while the bike can be pedal-assisted, the gearing only makes it comfortable up to around 20 mph or so. I can reasonably pedal up to 25 mph, but any faster and I just can’t comfortably keep up – the gearing just isn’t high enough in top gear.

So while there are some issues like the ones I discussed above, there are some great features, too.

The color screen is quite attractive, and probably better than most would expect on a direct-to-consumer e-bike. The brakes are also very punchy, which is important for a fast and heavy e-bike. The quad-piston hydraulic disc brake loadout is a welcome addition.

The LED lights are quite good, and the headlight was sufficient for night riding, illuminating the bike lane in front of me so I could spot obstacles in my path. However, the headlight does vibrate a bit at higher speeds, meaning your lighted area can shake up and down a bit.

And then there’s the price. At the current sale price of US $2,199, this is a lot of bike for a fairly reasonable price. Remember, you’re getting an out-of-class moped here, more or less, so it’s hard to compare directly to most ‘normal’ electric bikes. But consider that you’re getting around 4x the amount of power and battery as a ‘normal’ e-bike, and the price isn’t all that much higher.

That being said, you can get nicer, more comfortable e-bikes for lower figures elsewhere. So the reason someone would buy the Wallke H7 AWD is pretty much for the power and the range, and not much else. In that regard, it delivers on what it promises. This bike will take you far and it will knock your socks off while doing it.

Just make sure you ride responsibly and where appropriate. Fast and powerful e-bikes are fun, but they aren’t for everyone and they aren’t for everywhere.