Photo credit: Brady Miller
One of the more recent additions to the GOHUNT Gear Shop this fall was Bakcou electric bikes. These bikes are built by hunters from the ground up, so they know what it takes to make a bike to stand up to the rigors of hunting. We are excited to add these bikes to the shop as a means to give hunters more options.
Learn more about the Bakcou bikes we carry here
For an in-depth discussion on Bakcou bikes, be sure to watch the video below when we had Bakcou's VP of Sales, Brian Marsing, at GOHUNT.
We carry three models of Bakcou electric bikes:
Bakcou Storm Electric Bike
Highlights:
Full-suspension
Meaning a smoother ride which equals comfort
Comes with a rear rack for strapping down gear or attaching saddlebags
Steel gears in the Bafang 620 (more torque, more longevity)
Ability to add a trailer
Softer ride
Quad piston braking
9 gear system
Beefy tires
5 levels of assist in Eco and Sport mode (1 is minimal, 5 is maximum) give you assistance based on the amount of pressure you put on the pedal.
Bakcou Mule Electric Bike
Hightlights:
Hardtail
One of Bakcou’s best-selling bikes
Great for heavy gear (50 to 75 pounds)
Great for climbing
Comes with a rear rack for strapping down gear or attaching saddlebags
Ability to add a trailer
Steel gears in the Bafang 620 (more torque, more longevity)
Quad system braking
9 gear system
Beefy tires
5 levels of assist in Eco and Sport mode (1 is minimal, 5 is maximum) give you assistance based on the amount of pressure you put on the pedal.
Bakcou Scout Electric Bike
Hightlights:
Full-suspension
Considered more of a sport riding option
Currently not compatible with Bakcou e-bike trailers
Bakcou's E-bike Batteries
Photo credit: Brady Miller
Photo credit: Brady Miller
When shopping for a Bakcou electric bike in our Gear Shop. Besides for three main models, you also can select between battery capacities (17.5ah, 19.2ah, 21ah, 25ah). So... when it comes to batteries, what sort of distance are you looking at? That is probably the biggest question in regard to electric bikes. Basically, the bigger the battery, the more distance you can travel. But several things can impact the mileage; the weight of rider/gear, weather, terrain, and what assist level you're using. Charge time ranges from 4 to 6 hours, and then if you're in the mountains, even on solar panels you'd be looking at 6 to 8 hours on a sunny day for them to charge up. A rough example of the amount of distance you can expect... Brian explained to me that when he went on a hunt with a 17.5 amp battery, on a 17-mile loop in the mountains he did, there was still 50% of the battery left.
Electric Bike Laws in States
It should go without saying, but abide by the laws when it comes to electric bikes! You'll want to check with the local area you are hunting (Forest Service, BLM, etc). Ask them what classifications of e-bikes are legal in that area. Also, these Bakcou bikes feature the ability to adjust the torque to accommodate the three classifications of electric bike laws.
E-bike Classification Basics:
Class 3
28 mph max
759 watt
It has a throttle
Class 2
20 mph max
750 watt
It has a throttle
If the max for your area is a Class 2, you can jump into the display and change the speed limit.
Class 1
20 mph max
750 watt
No throttle
You can simply just unplug the throttle (or just remove the throttle), and you have a Class 1 bike.
Want to know if an e-bike is legal in your state? Check out the link below for an overview of the rules in all states:
Hardtail vs Full-suspension Electric Bikes
When purchasing your electric bike, you have some options. It's important to consider whether you'd want a hardtail or full suspension. Hardtail bikes have only the front fork suspension and have a completely rigid frame (the Mule is considered a hardtail). On a hardtail bike, the bumps and vibrations can only be absorbed by the suspension fork. The benefits of a hardtail are they are lighter as well as the efficiency is increased on a hardtail because the rigid frame transfers power from the pedals to the rear wheel, as well as less maintenance is required.
Whereas a full-suspension electric bike (Scout and Storm) has both the front fork suspension and a rear suspension shock. Both shocks will essentially work together to absorb most of the rocks, bumps, and uneven terrain and the vibrations that come with them. The rear shock allows wheels to continue to roll over bumps, whereas, on a hardtail, the wheels would bounce off the rocks and slow the bike down, so you’ll get better traction and handling control. Rear shocks offer multiple adjustment points so riders can dial in the bike specifically to their liking. Basically, you're getting a more comfortable ride with a full-suspension electric bike.
What Hunt Would Make an Electric Bike a Great Option?
Bakcou Storm electric bike on a recent elk hunt. Photo credit: Omar Lopez
Bakcou Storm electric bike on a recent elk hunt. Photo credit: Omar Lopez
While every hunt is different, there are lots of hunts where an electric bike might shine. If you have access to some whitetail property, an electric bike could be a great option for silently moving around the property or to your stand; a spring bear hunt out west is another area where an eBike could shine on logging roads, and even on elk hunts when you have road systems that you to move through. Plus, with their walk-assist mode, you can walk next to the bike and engage the motor to help the bike move up the mountain without needing to push the bike. So that saves on energy. In addition to all that, you can pick up small trailers to put behind the bike to help carry your backpack, camp, and even help when packing meat!
Another benefit of an electric bike for hunting is being mobile. You can now cover more country to find huntable animals, and at the same time, you can stay fresh. So if you’re hunting a unit with a road/trail system that allows bikes, an electric bike will save your legs when it comes to packing meat.
Back in August, Trail, Brady, and Chris took a Bakcou Storm and Mule on an archery antelope hunt. They used the bikes to ride down small roads from camp and then parked the bikes away from their ground blind during the day. These bikes also saw a lot of use scouting, as the guys were able to check out multiple spots with ease.
Even if the area you are looking to hunt is open to ATVs, having the ability to roll into a hunting area in stealth has huge benefits. Or maybe you're hunting a remote spot where you could take a truck, but then you're beating up your truck and so taking an electric bike could be beneficial in not destroying your truck and also the stealth side of moving into your area before you start hiking.
If you're a person who has a bad back, has had knee surgery, or other things that make getting into the mountains difficult and still want to get out hunting, an electric bike is a great way to keep you in the mountains and hunting.
From scouting to hunting, an electric bike is a great option. At the end of the day, be good stewards and know the laws when it comes to electric bikes and hunting.
If you’re ever in Las Vegas, you can test ride at the GOHUNT Showroom.
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