The Koa Rev+ 2 Fat Tire E-Bike has the brawn to tackle tough trails and looks great doing it. Photo: The Inertia // Weisberg
Last month, I trekked down to the beach on my commuter e-bike with my surfboard in tow. I descended the dirt cliffs and attempted to race through a deep, sandy patch of the trail. I knew I was pushing the limits on those skinny tires designed for the streets, and halfway through the sand patch, my tires lost grip. I lost balance, and my bike started to skid. I was headed for the ground.
Miraculously, I managed to regain control, but I knew I was just an inch away from a spill. That would have been a bummer for me and my surfboard. Since the trail is covered with splotches of deeper sand and often floods during the winter, that close call offered clarity. I needed a fat tire bike. To safely navigate the sand, dirt, and occasionally flooded mud trails that lead to the local beaches around San Clemente, a commuter bike isn’t going to cut it. No one has them around here. Fat tire e-bike, here I come. Once the decision to embrace the big boy tires became clear, I was excited to get my hands on the Retrospec Koa Rev+ 2 Fat Tire ($1,899.99) – a handsome, contemporary fat tire e-bike with plenty of power to get the job done.
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| Pros | Cons |
| Step-through accommodates most riders | Slightly less clear-cut to assemble than competitors |
| High-quality components and puncture-proof tires | Not the fanciest display |
| Comfortable bike seat and suspension | |
| Update features capable torque sensor |
Retrospec Koa Rev+ 2: First Impressions
Throttle: Yes
Class: 2, 3
Range: 72 miles
Carrying Capacity: 350 lbs
Power Output: 750 W
Sensor: Torque
Aesthetics matter, and this is a good-looking bike. Retrospec thoughtfully chose their paint offerings, and while I ended up with Matte Sage, both available options (including Matte Shale) are contemporary and should satisfy style-conscious riders. The orange accents and hidden cords are a nice touch, as is their cheeky attention to detail by planting the slogan, “Do these tires make me look fat?” on the frame of the bike. Since Retrospec isn’t a brand that I’ve had a long relationship with, those subtleties kicked things off on the right foot. Greatness is always in the details: If a company is willing to make detailed investments in its branding, it’s usually willing to make similar detail-oriented investments in its products and functionality.
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“Do these tires make me look fat?” Yep, you’re new Koa Rev+ 2 not only takes you out. He makes you laugh, too. Worth a second date, for sure. Photo: The Inertia // Weisberg
Notable Features of the Retrospec Koa Rev+ 2
I was drawn to this bike because our family sought out a fat tire e-bike that my wife (5’ 2”) and I could both confidently ride up and down the local hills and through nearby dirt and sand trails to the beach with our kids. The Step Through version of the Koa Rev+ 2 features a 16.5″ clearance, which makes entry and exit easy for my wife. That’s a huge plus. As are the 26” puncture-proof tires and 80mm front suspension fork. The suspension is adjustable, so it’s possible to disengage if you’re mostly sticking to the pavement, but it comes in handy navigating the potholed dirt trails near us. The bike zooms through sandy beach trails where other fat tire bikes have struggled. That may also be a function of converting the bike to a Class 3 (after checking local traffic rules), which allows the bike to reach up to 28 mph while pedaling. With limited spare time, shaving a few minutes off my commute to surf is always appreciated.
The Koa Rev+ 2 also uses brand-name components, including an 8-speed Shimano shifter and derailleurs. The torque sensor works great, activating smoothly as you adjust your pedal effort, and the bike has serious kick. The hills near me are steep, and when I’ve got the bike in Class 3, I’ve got plenty of power to get to the top, and as soon as I hit level ground, the bike senses the relief and zooms.
The range claims up to 72 miles per charge, but that’s highly dependent on how aggressively you engage the Pedal Assist (which features six levels) as well as the terrain and cargo load. If you’re on PAS6 and throttling to the max, don’t expect a 72-mile range.
With safety as a top priority, the front and rear lights are also relatively standard, but key for movements at or after sunset.
Also worth noting, the saddle on this bike is extremely comfortable. It might be the most comfortable seat I’ve experienced on an e-bike. It’s wide, plush, and feels like it belongs on a beach cruiser, but, alas, this rig’s equipped for the mountains, baby!
This may be a small detail, but I also appreciated that Retrospec includes an all-in-one Swiss army knife-style tool that consolidates most of the Allen wrenches and tools required for assembly. While that’s become relatively common, many e-bike manufacturers don’t include that tool. Anything to minimize assembly friction is appreciated.
Retrospec offers all kinds of accessories. If you’re hoping to haul kids around but don’t want to spring for a cargo bike, the Rover Plus Kids Trailer is a great solution to transport precious cargo. It even matches. Photo: The Inertia // Weisberg
Additionally, Retrospec offers plenty of accessories and add-ons to make the Koa Rev+ 2 as versatile as possible. I added on the Rover+ Kids Bike Trailer so we can transport the groms to and from the beach and playground (while also eliminating the possibility of a fall – which child seats can’t do), and I plan to tack on a Haul Wide Rear Rack so I can transport surfboards attached to the rack without elevating the seat height to make it as friendly as possible for my wife to use when we switch.
Drawbacks of the Retrospec Koa Rev+ 2
By no means am I a bike-building expert, but I have assembled and tested quite a few e-bikes in the past year. Each bike build is pretty similar, but I made a mistake assembling this one, which I had to fix post-assembly. I’ll chalk that up to user error, but make sure to review the assembly instructions thoroughly. At the time of assembly, I don’t believe that Retrospec offered an official assembly video to reference, which would help minimize assembly errors.
The color display can also be challenging to see in bright light or while wearing polarized glasses. It’s an absolutely functional display, but it’s not as advanced as some of the displays with more advanced graphics and features.
The Koa Rev+ 2 display is absolutely functional, but it can be challenging to clearly see in bright light or while wearing polarized sunglasses. Photo: The Inertia // Weisberg
Final Thoughts
To be clear, I love the Retrospec Koa Rev+ 2. It’s a gorgeous bike. More importantly, it’s well-constructed with high-quality components, serious power, and can navigate challenging terrain with style and aplomb. The ride is smooth, comfortable, and powerful. When looking for a fat tire e-bike that can handle the elements in style with plenty of opportunities to accessorize, the Koa Rev+ 2 absolutely hits the bullseye.
Check Price on RetrospecEditor’s Note: For more top e-bike picks, check out our guides to the Best Cargo E-Bikes, Best Fat Tire E-Bikes and the Best Folding E-Bikes. For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.
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