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Boar Explorer Review

The Surface604 Boar
By
Robb Dorr,
Co-founder
The Surface604 Boar
By
Kristy Snyder,
Professional Editor
Images from manufacturer's website

40 mi

RANGE

20 mph

TOP SPEED

4 hrs

CHARGE TIME

50 lbs

WEIGHT

Rear Hub

MOTOR TYPE

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Boar Explorer Review: Takeaway

Lightweight, nimble, and agile, the Boar Explorer is made for having fun on the track or trail. It’s a sports SUV as e-bikes go, and with its ample power and range, it does this very well. Just keep in mind — it’s not suited to cargo work.

Ideal for...

Trail riding
eMTB on rough paths
Day overlanding
Rides out to see friends around the city

E-Bike Overview

The Surface 604 Boar Explorer is an excellent fat bike eMTB with a fixed fork and a torque sensor to optimize performance and handling.

Though it’s relatively small, the Bafang 500W motor is very mighty thanks to the torque sensor that measures the pressure on the pedals 1,000 times a second. This gives the controller a precise idea of how much output you need from the motor, allowing for a great riding feel you won’t get from other bikes in this price category.

To keep the price down, the brand has given the Boar Explorer a fixed fork. If you get the tire pressure right, then you’ll find this isn’t a big issue. However, you can always buy the optional extra inverted suspension fork for more comfort.

While the standard battery offers a decent range, we recommend you get the upgraded 960 Wh battery. The upgraded battery will take you a realistic 40 miles on average terrain.

Reasons to Buy

We would describe the Boar Explorer as a “sports SUV” e-bike that’s great to ride just for the sake of riding. When it’s set up right with the tires just soft enough to counteract the lack of suspension, you’ll find it an agile and powerful machine that weighs just 50 lbs — a full 20 lbs lighter than most of its kind.

Things to Consider

Unlike the similarly priced Surface 604 Hunter, this isn’t a bike for carrying gear into the wilderness. Instead, it’s a fun eMTB for taking on rough terrain and enjoying the ride. It has no rack and carries a maximum load of 285 lbs.

The Hunter, on the other hand, comes with front and rear racks. The Explorer is better suited to day rides and those you may enjoy with a daypack with water food and warm clothing.

Specs & Components

Motor
500W Bafang rear hub motor
Battery
672 Wh standard upgradeable to 960 Wh
Power delivery
Thumb throttle/PAS
Screen
Color LCD
Cassette
SRAM 9-Speed 11-34T
Lights
BÜCHEL SHINY 120 LED Headlight
Derailleur
SHIMANO ALIVIO 9-Speed Drivetrain
Brakes
TEKTRO AURIGA Hydraulic Disc Brakes (180mm rotor)
Crank Set
SAMOX 36T front sprocket, 170mm crank arms
Wheels/tires
27.5 x 4.5 Maxxis tires
Options
Suspension fork, suspension seatpost, racks, lights, 4A fast charger

The specs above come from the manufacturer and may vary from what you’ve experienced. Notice something that needs correcting? Let us know.

Ratings

Power
4/5
4

Thanks to the torque sensor, the 500W Bafang rear hub motor delivers a lot more power than it does on machines with a cadence sensor. This means you get precise and proportional power delivery almost instantly, which is a better feel than you would get from a 750W motor and a cadence sensor.

The motor offers a lot of torque and will get you up even steeper hills on throttle only or pedal assist.

Range
4/5
4

We recommend the 20Ah, 48V (960 Wh) battery for the upgrade price of $300, as this will offer a full day of off-road riding without breaking the $3,000 mark. With this battery, you will get a good 40 miles of rough terrain riding — that’s a lot of wilderness to explore.

The standard, 672 Wh option may get you 30 miles on tougher terrain — still 15 miles out and back.

Comfort
4/5
4

Though it lacks a front suspension fork, the geometry and fat tires allow the Surface 604 Boar Explorer to be a surprisingly comfortable electric fat bike. For a combined $818, you can make this an even more comfortable ride with the addition of an inverted suspension fork and suspension seat post. However, this setup isn’t necessary for the type of riding the e-bike is designed for.

Durability
4.5/5
4.5

We have given this a 4.5 for durability in a large part due to the fixed fork. This means there are fewer components to go wrong, and with the Bafang motor and Samsung cells in the battery, we feel this is an e-bike that will last a long time.

As with all e-bikes, if you use the pedal assist a lot, you will likely have to switch out the chain every 1,000 miles — around the time you will need to replace the brake pads.

Style
4/5
4

With its big, bulky looks and fat tires in its camouflage green color scheme, the Boar Explorer is a butch bike to look at. This is an electric bike that will turn heads thanks to its great geometry and fat-tire style.

Our Research Methodology

We personally research and test every e-bike featured in our reviews and guides to provide accurate, data-driven recommendations. Learn how we review.

About Our Editorial Team

robb dorr
Written by Robb Dorr
Co-founder
Robb is a massive cycling enthusiast who has more than 20 years of non-motorized cycling experience. He started eBikes.org to lower the barrier of entry to cycling and reduce the intimidation people can experience when getting into the cycling world.
Kristy Snyder
Edited by Kristy Snyder
Professional Editor
Kristy Snyder is a professional writer and editor living in Pittsburgh with over 10 years of content creation experience. When she's not contributing to eBikes.org, Kristy enjoys reading, practicing yoga, drinking beer, and hitting up rail trails.
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