Adam Scepaniak 05.22.24
Imagine the perfect hunting scenario… you have this prime cut of land that you have been surveying, food plotting, observing, and formulating a plan to harvest wild game from. It’s the dawn of the opener for that season and you are already in place waiting for the forest to awake like a ninja in the shadows. You snuck out to your perfect spot in silence under a moonlit night sky because you rode in on a capable and silent electric bike. A technology that didn’t seem possible a decade or two ago is now becoming commonplace for archers and firearm hunters alike. The common thread in people’s complaints is the price-point. Maybe in 20 years they’ll be “a dime a dozen,” but in the here and now, people are searching for a more affordable option that isn’t junk (too cheap can often be worse than too expensive). So, today we turn our gaze to QuietKat eBikes. They are one of the leaders in the electric bike revolution with bikes at all price points. While we are on the near paradoxical hunt for an affordable yet high-quality eBike, we will take a look at the QuietKat Ranger. So, in this AllOutdoor Review, we are going to take a look at the QuietKat Ranger Electric Bike in their Veil Cumbre camouflage pattern to see how it performs. Let’s dive in!
QuietKat Coverage on AllOutdoor
Specifications – QuietKat Ranger Electric Bike in Veil Cumbre Camo
The QuietKat Ranger Electric Bike in their Veil Cumbre camouflage pattern typically has an MSRP of $3,099.99, but QuietKat has this model and camo colorway on sale for a more attainable $2,269.99. No one is going to say that is necessarily cheap, but it is significantly cheaper than a lot of other electric bikes on the market today. So, the question we shall look to answer today is: Is this bike both good quality and affordable?… An in-depth listing of all of the specifications for the Ranger Electric Bike in their Veil Cumbre camouflage pattern can be read below as presented by QuietKat:
- Motor: 1000W Hub-Drive (VP0™)
- Battery: 16AH/48V 768Wh 10 lbs
- Range: 24 – 48 Miles
- Modes: Class 1, 2, 3, Unlimited, Walk-Assist
- Gears: SRAM 7-Speed
- Suspension: Mozo Coil Suspension Fork
- Frame: Alloy | Internal Cable Routing | Integrated Rack
- Display: Customizable LED
The range on this eBike is advertised as 24 – 48 miles which is quite the window for your potential travel, but a lot of that has to do with the terrain that you are tackling. Are you going uphill? Downhill? Are you towing something? What is the surface you’re traversing? A river? Pavement? A gnarly, ravenous canyon? All this contributes to the distance (or lack thereof) you will be able to accomplish. The QuietKat Ranger also tips the scales at 65 Lb which is not bad if you need to lift your bike over some rocks or an obstacle, but it does feel a bit heavy when hoisting this bike onto a vehicle bike rack or a truck bed.
- Brakes: Tektro 2-Piston Hydraulic Brakes
- Tires: 26” x 4.5” (MD, LG) | 24″ x 4.0 (SM)**
- Weight: 65 Lb
- Load Capacity: 325 Lb
- Color: Veil Cumbre Camo | Sonic
- Axle: 175mm Solid Axle
- Sizes: S | M | L
- Top Speed: Unrestricted
One of the best features of the QuietKat Ranger is their powerful hub-drive motor. The whole point of eBikes within the outdoors community is to get off-grid and deep into the wilderness – places that larger vehicles cannot reach. So, what do you do if you’re deep in the wilderness and you break a chain?… With the QuietKat Ranger Electric Bike and the hub-drive motor, you simply drive yourself out of that predicament with the integrated throttle in your handlebar.
- VPO™ Technology – 1000w hub-drive motor with Variable Power Output Technology allows you to select between Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, and Unlimited Modes.
- Long-range performance – Improved battery offers up to 48 miles on a single charge in ideal conditions. Extend your ride farther and add an additional battery with up to 17.25Ah of available capacity.
- Powerful hub-drive motor – A 1000w motor provides direct power to the rear wheel, independent of the chain; giving you consistent power in all gears with almost no maintenance required. Break a chain? Our innovative hub-drive technology will still get you home with a push of the throttle.
- Integrated cargo rack – A heavy-duty built-in rear cargo rack with an industry-leading 100 lbs of carrying capacity that allows you to haul even more.
Another aspect that is desirable about the QuietKat Ranger Electric Bike is its ability to charge not only on a traditional wall-charger in your garage or shed, but also remotely with the assistance of mobile or solar chargers. Then, the distance you can roam becomes significantly greater than the “sticker distance” of 48 miles when you can charge while you’re on an exploit.
- Updated frame and geometry – Our rugged frame with integrated rear pannier rack has a load capacity of 325 lbs. and provides improved handling when you’re deep in the backcountry or simply riding to the store.
- Premium components – Outfitted with an adjustable Mozo coil suspension fork with 100mm of travel, hydraulic disc brakes, and a 7-speed drivetrain, the Ranger fat-tire electric bike can handle rough terrain and rolling hills with ease.
- Improved braking – Equipped with an optimized set of Tektro two-piston hydraulic disc brakes and large 203mm rotors, the Ranger’s braking system provides confidence and control in all conditions.
- All-terrain tires – Featuring all-terrain fat tires for added stability and traction, the Ranger can handle a variety of tough terrain from soft sand and snow to hardpack rocks and roots.
- Charge anywhere – Includes a standard wall charger and is also compatible with mobile and solar chargers available separately.
- 109 Point Inspection – An industry-leading quality assurance inspection ensures every last bolt and connection is checked before it arrives. Period.
As always, in the rare event that you should ever need service for your electric bike, QuietKat offers a 1 Year Warranty on all components and the frame has a Lifetime Warranty. One final snapshot into what the QuietKat Ranger Electric Bike is all about can be read below in QuietKat’s press release statement:
A powerful and versatile eBike that unlocks adventures on backcountry trails, makes tackling chores on the ranch easy and allows you to embark on extended hunting expeditions in stealth with all your gear in tow.
With its unparalleled hub-drive performance and rugged durability, the Ranger eBike is the ultimate companion for any outdoor enthusiast looking to go farther and explore more terrain and is used by military and law enforcement around the world for its legendary capability and reliability.
The Ranger eBike boasts an impressive array of features including an integrated long-range swappable battery and powerful motor system that provide extended range and power, while the innovative hub-drive motor delivers consistent performance in all gears, ensuring a smooth and comfortable ride.
With built-in redundancy, the Ranger can be operated simply by pedaling if you don’t have power, as well as under throttle operation only allowing you to get back home even without a chain.
Additionally, the Ranger is outfitted with industry-leading load capacity with its integrated pannier cargo rack, premium components, and all-terrain fat tires, making it the ideal choice for adventurers who demand capability without breaking the bank.
Experience the freedom of the outdoors like never before with the QuietKat Ranger eBike.
Field Use – QuietKat Ranger Electric Bike in Veil Cumbre Camo
So, how did the QuietKat Ranger Electric Bike in their Veil Cumbre camouflage pattern perform during our testing?… I had the pleasure of assembling and testing this eBike with my lovely wife, Andrea, who has more of an adventurous spirit than anyone I have ever met. So, she was a perfect companion to put this eBike to the test.
The assembly was fairly intuitive when it came to adding the pedals out-of-the-box as well tightening down the handlebars. QuietKat has this bicycle well protected during the shipping process and everything was unscathed during its travels to getting into our possession. The only difficult part of the assembly was getting the tires on. You might be thinking, “Adding the tires would be incredibly intuitive, what gives?” Well, there is a small plastic place holder for where the disc brakes are going to index with the frame. If you don’t know to remove that (it appeared like a part that should have remained where it was and not removed), then it is very perplexing to get the tires to fit properly. Heed our frustration and read the Owner’s Manual as well as watch a YouTube video or two.
All that being said, you can rip open the box of your QuietKat Ranger, and probably have it assembled in less than 20 minutes. The only other peculiarity is that QuietKat ships the bicycle with the tires mildly deflated. So, you will need an air compressor or a hand tire pump to inflate your tires as well.
Once the tires were inflated to a proper PSI (check the listing on the side of your given tire), I immediately hopped on and cut my way through an alfalfa field edge to see what this was capable of. I immediately noticed the grip and handle the tires had on the precarious terrain. I rushed down a hill and ran over several indiscernible pockets in the field which jolted my body, but didn’t dissuade the bike from its path. I kept cruising along at a fast clip and gained speed even while pedaling uphill through a field. I was beginning to be impressed.
Next up was my lovely wife Andrea’s turn. She hopped on the bike and disappeared into the distance. She had a slight expression of trepidation when she began, but 5 minutes later when she returned from her short jaunt, she was all giggles and smiles – she loved it. She exclaimed how powerful it was, and that it was nice that it had an assisted feeling while you were pedaling so you get more output from the bike with the work that you put into it.
After we both got a short test ride in, we wanted to hook up the All-Terrain Game Trailer to see what the towing capabilities might be like. The load capacity for the All-Terrain Game Trailer is suggested to be 100 Lb – but I have never been one for following rules – so, I implored Andrea to hop on the bike while I simultaneously planted myself on the trailer.
I’m not suggesting you should do this nor am I recommending it, but for transparency, I weigh 180 Lb and we easily went for a 4 mile trek around the section of our property with no issues.
The All-Terrain Game Trailer worked flawlessly with a “heavier than 100 Lb payload.”
After those lively shenanigans, we tested some more appropriate cargo like my turkey hunting vest as well as my weighed down Yeti toolbox. The bike and connected trailer seemed completely unbothered by this payload. Over the course of several hours using the QuietKat Ranger I was attempting to make mental notes as to how fast the battery was draining. Depending on how squirrelly we were running the bike, it was draining about 4% – 6% of the battery per mile while towing a payload with trailer (~16 to ~20 miles per battery towing). It was burning through the battery at about 1/2 that rate when we weren’t towing. So, the advertised distance on the QuietKat’s website I would say is exactly right. Again, varying widely depending on payload and how you’re running the bike.
Final Thoughts – QuietKat Ranger Electric Bike in Veil Cumbre Camo
So, what are my final thoughts on the QuietKat Ranger Electric Bike in their Veil Cumbre camouflage pattern?… Overall, I believe the QuietKat Ranger is the eBike that we hoped it to be: it is impressive in its capabilities yet it is at an attainable/affordable price-point for prospective electric bike owners. The handling was nice on this bike, we achieved speeds of 26+ MPH while towing, and with the varied terrain that we tackled, this bike conquered it all. With the QuietKat Ranger Electric Bike in their Veil Cumbre camouflage pattern currently being on sale for $2,269.99, I believe that is a great buy for anyone who is looking into getting their 1st (or potentially 5th) eBike.
In closing, I want to say thank you to QuietKat for allowing AllOutdoor and myself the opportunity to try out their QuietKat Ranger Electric Bike in their Veil Cumbre camouflage. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think? Do you believe that the QuietKat Ranger Electric Bike in their Veil Cumbre camouflage is something worth spending your money on? Would you take one with you hunting? Scouting? Or, trail riding with friends? As always, let us know all of your thoughts about QuietKat and the Ranger Electric Bike in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
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