Tuesday, April 9, 2024
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Huffy Electric Bike Review: The 20″ Fat Tire Centuric


Camping World donated this product for the purpose of review. The opinions are our own.

Designed to effortlessly transition from the compact storage spaces of your camper to ready-for-action, this e-bike combines portability with the stable performance of fat tires. In this Huffy electric bike review, we’ll explore every nook and cranny of the Huffy 20″ Fat Tire Centuric, evaluating its potential to elevate your camping experience.

For campers seeking to enhance their adventures this year, the Huffy 20″ Centuric Fat Tire Folding E-Bike is a portable, fun accessory for your next trip. Whether you’re navigating through dense forests, serene lakeside trails, or around the campground, we’ll determine if this e-bike can truly keep up with the diverse demands of outdoor enthusiasts and bring a new level of excitement to your RV trips. 

Read on as we pedal into the details of the Huffy 20″ Centuric electric bike and discover if it’s the ultimate companion for your next camping adventure.

Huffy Electric Bike At A Glance

Featured image for Huffy electric bike review
Photo by Scott Russell

I still remember the first time I checked out a camping neighbor’s e-bike when they first hit the market. He let me take it around the campground for a spin. What a blast!

E-bikes are so popular because of the pedal-assist option that makes pedaling easier or takes over the power completely. They also allow you to travel faster and farther than most people would by solely pedaling a traditional bike. The power of an e-bike creates a unique and exciting biking experience.

Huffy’s 20″ Centuric Fat Tire Folding E-Bike has the thrill and power campers are looking for while still being easy to fold and fit into RV storage for travel days. The oversized fat tires make this bike incredibly stable when riding in sand, pine needles, or other loose/uneven surfaces.

Here’s a quick look at the basic specs of this fat tire folding e-bike:

  • Electric Bike Class: 2
  • Bike Weight: 70 pounds
  • Folded Size: 30.3″ H x 37.4″ L x 19.9″ W
  • Materials: Aluminum frame
  • Set Up Size (Approximate): 65″ L x 45″ H x 22″ W
  • Wheel Size: 20″ x 4″
  • Battery: 36-volt lithium battery
  • Charge Time: 6 hours
  • Motor: 350W
  • Brakes: Front and rear hydraulic disc
  • Speed Settings: 6
  • Maximum Speed: 20 mph 
  • Ages: 13 to adult
  • Weight Capacity: 250 pounds

Learn more about this Huffy electric bike. 

Who Is The Huffy Folding Electric Bike Good For?

Lady riding Huffy electric bike
Photo by Scott Russell

Huffy’s Centuric electric bike is a great fit for an average-sized camping adult who is looking for biking trips around the campground and on beginner trails. The fat tires make the bike especially suitable for riding on gravel, sand, pine needles, or other loose surfaces with more stability than traditional tires.

The portability of Huffy’s folding design makes it easy to collapse and store inside the camper or in an RV storage bay when packing up to hit the road on travel days. The size and weight of the bike are very easy to manage while maintaining the portability and travel range that many campers desire in an electric bike.

This bike is a poor fit for adults of above-average size due to its maximum weight capacity of 250 pounds. The bike’s power bogs down significantly when the weight limit is maxed out. The Huffy Centuric bike doesn’t have as powerful a motor as some other options, which is a limiting factor for the rider’s size.

This bike is also not a good fit for someone who wants to ride more adventurous trails with tree roots, potholes, rocks larger than gravel, or more rugged terrain. Despite its fat tires, which are common in bikes made for off-road conditions, the Huffy Centuric bike has no suspension to ease the impact of bumps and dips in the trail.

Assembling the Huffy Electric Mountain Bike

When I received and opened the bike box, I knew this would be a quality item. It may just be my experience, but receiving a larger, heavier shipment that doesn’t arrive damaged can sometimes be challenging.

The detail in Huffy’s packaging was phenomenal. Not a single part or piece touched another, keeping the bike pristine. An e-bike is a significant investment, and Huffy ensured it arrived ready to roll.

The Centuric e-bike requires less assembly than most other folding electric bikes. Most brands require adding the front tire; only some have a quick-connection feature. This bike came with the front tire assembled, making it faster and easier to take the bike from the box to buzz around the campground.

No tools are required for the assembly, either. The Huffy Centuric ships folded, so the only assembly was removing the packaging, unfolding the e-bike, inserting the seat post, and securing the handlebars. While the battery arrives with some charge, it should be fully charged before the first use.

Huffy’s Centuric e-bike came with two instruction manuals: one for the bike and one for the LCD module. The bike’s manual was very clear and helpful. However, the LCD/electric assist manual isn’t as clear and requires some troubleshooting. Despite the LCD manual lacking some information, the LCD module itself is very easy to use once you get the hang of it. 

LCD display on Huffy ebike
Photo by Scott Russell

Here are my LCD troubleshooting tips: 

  • Hold the M button down for about 2 seconds to turn the display on or off
  • Increase the pedal assist by hitting the plus and decrease by hitting the minus
  • Make sure to reduce the pedal assist to zero when you stop so you don’t take off too abruptly when you begin pedaling again
  • You can monitor the bike’s battery level shown by bars on the display

Pros And Cons Of The Huffy Centuric Fat Tire Folding E-Bike

While the Huffy Centuric is a great electric bike for most campers, there are pros and cons to consider when making your electric bike decision. I tested this bike in many different riding conditions, setting it up and folding it down for our family’s RV travel days. 

Here are some of the pros and cons I found.

Pros

After testing, here are my favorite things about the Huffy electric bike:

Build Quality

Example of build quality for Huffy electric bike review
Photo by Scott Russell

The bike’s overall build quality and finish are remarkable. It is solid, and it feels like a lot of work went into the detail of each part and feature. I particularly love the striking red color and the ease of operation. Nothing on this bike feels like it’s cheap or an afterthought. It’s a quality bike through and through, which puts the Huffy Centuric above the competition.

Range

This bike has a mid-range ability to travel up to 40 miles using the pedal assist. This range assumes a full battery charge and doesn’t state the level of pedal assist required to reach it.

I have found that pedaling on Level 1 pedal assist on a flat surface is very enjoyable, and I can ride for hours and barely touch the battery life. Hills would greatly affect the battery life and rideable range.

Power Options

Gear shifter on Huffy electric bike
Photo by Scott Russell

The Huffy Centuric has five levels of powered pedal assist and a throttle that can be activated for power when you don’t feel like pedaling. I have almost maxed out the weight capacity on this bike, but the power is still substantial.

The power options are smooth and easy to operate while riding the bike. The 38-volt battery requires 2-6 hours for complete charging.

Stability

The above-average 4″ fat tires on the Huffy Centuric electric bike enhance its stability on loose surfaces. I spend a lot of time biking in sand or pine needles, and this larger and fatter tire size provides an extra layer of stability that I love.

No more slipping and sliding when I hit a patch of sand on the trail. The stable fat tires are my favorite feature on the bike, in addition to the pedal assist.

Comfortable Riding Experience

Woman riding Huffy electric bike
Photo by Scott Russell

The Huffy Centuric offers a comfortable riding experience on a reasonably smooth surface. The seat and handlebars are height-adjustable, allowing for a custom-fit riding position. It’s more comfortable and less awkward than a traditional mountain bike.

Built-in Low-Light Safety Features

The Huffy Centuric has a headlight and taillight to make riding after dark safer. The headlight could be brighter with a wider beam for improved visibility, but I appreciate that it does come with lights for increased riding safety.

Folds For Storage

Huffy Electric bike review with bike folded for storage
Photo by Scott Russell

It folds easily and fits inside a camper, in an RV storage bay, or in the back of a truck. This folding capability eliminates the need for a bike rack, which can sometimes be problematically attached to the rear of a camper.

Weight

At 70 pounds, the Huffy Centuric balances a sturdy construction and frame with a weight that is still easy to maneuver and store in the RV. Weight is important when looking at a portable e-bike for camping, but you also don’t want to sacrifice the build quality for lightweight options. The Huffy bike seems to have found the perfect balance.

Cons

These are the disadvantages of this Huffy e-bike:

Lack Of Suspension

Front fork on Huffy Electric Bike Review
Lack of Suspension

The biggest drawback is the lack of front or rear suspension. When most people search for a fat tire bike, they look for something for off-road adventures.

While the fat tires provide stability when biking on the sand, gravel, and other loose surfaces, the lack of suspension makes it an uncomfortable ride over tree roots, larger rocks, or big dips. Most competitors offer at least front suspension, with some offering full suspension.

If I could make one change to this bike, I would add front and rear suspension. However, this can be easily overlooked if your main goal is riding around campgrounds or on gravel bike trails. If you are looking for a true off-road bike, you will want to look for a bike with suspension.

Weight Capacity

This Huffy electric bike’s maximum weight capacity is 250 pounds, which is lower than some of its competitors. This is due to a smaller battery size than other models.

While I am at the maximum weight capacity, the bike still performs well and has enough power to enjoy my adventures. However, my more petite wife has a more powerful riding experience on the Huffy. This bike is not a good fit for larger riders.

Distance And Speed Limitations

This is a Class 2 e-bike with a maximum speed of 20 mph and a maximum range of 40 miles. Some riders may want a farther range or a faster travel speed.

The 38-volt lithium battery with a 350-watt rear motor provides good power, although it can struggle on steeper inclines. While it has less power than other e-bikes on the market, it still offers more than the average rider needs.

How many people really need to go over 20 mph on a bicycle? If you have the need for speed, this isn’t the bike for you. It would also be helpful if the display also showed the range left on the battery, but that information isn’t available.

Power Throttle Must Be Held Down To Use

In addition to the five levels of pedal assist, there is a throttle lever for a power boost when you aren’t pedaling. While this is a fun feature, it is designed for a short burst versus traveling long distances. 

You have to hold down the throttle while using it. For those looking for an e-bike that doesn’t require peddling or for those who don’t want to peddle often, the Huffy Centuric isn’t the best fit.

Huffy 20″ Centuric Fat Tire Folding E-Bike Features

Here are a few other noteworthy features I wanted to use this Huffy electric bike review to point out: 

  • Folding E-Bike: Folds quickly and easily for storage inside a camper, in RV storage, or in the back of a vehicle or truck. I specifically wanted a compact folding e-bike to make transport easier during my RV travels.
  • Five Levels Of Pedal Assist: You can easily switch the bike between these five levels, or turn off the pedal assist while riding. I enjoy the option to increase the assist on inclines or if I start to feel tired.
  • LCD Display: The LCD display is easy to use, showing the current pedal assist setting, speed, and battery charge level.
  • Power Throttle: You can hit the throttle if you don’t feel like pedaling or want a little break. I enjoy the zooming sensation of hitting the throttle on a flat, straight road or path. It’s a fun ride.
  • Adjustable Seat And Handlebars: You can adjust the height settings for a more comfortable riding position. I enjoy how comfortable it is to ride more upright than the leaning forward position of many mountain bikes.
  • Shimano 6-Speed Shifter: It has a Shimano 6-speed twist shifter, which has fewer gears than a traditional mountain bike but is adequate for this bike. Riding with fewer gears is more streamlined for the average user.
  • Fat Tires: The 20″ x 4″ fat tires increase stability. They are one of my favorite features, giving me more control and safety while riding on natural surfaces like sand, pine needles, and gravel.
  • Lightweight: At 70 pounds, the Huffy Centuric is easy to transport while sporting extremely durable construction. I like that it’s strong and sturdy, but not too heavy for easy traveling, loading, and unloading.
  • Motor And Battery: The 38-volt lithium battery with a 350-watt rear motor provides significant power with a 40-mile range. While this model has less power and a shorter range than some others, it adequately meets my biking needs.

Would I Recommend The Huffy 20″ Centuric Fat Tire Folding E-Bike?

I would recommend Huffy’s Centuric electric bike for campers looking for an easy-to-store and transport folding fat tire e-bike. While this bike lacks suspension for rugged off-road adventures, it’s the perfect traveling bike for anyone who wants additional stability and power for gravel, sandy, or loose surface trails. It has enough power and range to explore a large area and have a blast doing it. 

The price of this Huffy e-bike is comparable to others on the market, and I feel it is worth it for its features and build quality. Perhaps most importantly, it is a complete joy to ride.

How Does The Huffy 20″ Centuric Fat Tire Folding E-Bike Compare to the Competition?

Here are some additional models to compare with the Huffy electric bike:

  • GlareWheel 20″ Fat Tire Electric Bicycle EB-X7: GlareWheel’s E-Bike offers a motor, speed, and weight capacity similar to the Huffy Centuric E-Bike. This bike’s big benefit is that it also offers front suspension for a better off-road biking experience. It is also less expensive. The con of this e-bike is that it doesn’t fold for compact camper travel. 
  • iDeaPlay Men’s 26″ Electric Mountain Bike, 350W: iDeaPlay’s E-Bike offers a similar motor, speed, and range as the Huffy Centuric E-Bike. This bike is lighter at 50 pounds and has a higher weight capacity of 265 pounds. It also has a 7-speed thumb-shifter versus the 6-speed twist shifter in the Huffy bike. It does offer front suspension for off-road comfort. The con of this e-bike is that it doesn’t fold.

When comparing the Huffy Centuric to these additional options, I would still choose the Huffy. While I would enjoy having suspension for off-road adventures, having the ability to fold the bike for RV storage is a key feature when traveling in an RV.

Check out all the options for Electric Bikes from Camping World.


If you’re curious to compare this Huffy e-bike with some other options, here are a few additional reviews you might be interested in: 

What questions do you have about the Huffy Centuric e-bike? Let us know in the comments below.




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