Jasion Thunder Review: I Thought This Cheap eBike Was a Joke

If you see a cheap fat tire eBike claiming big speed, long range, and a 400‑pound load rating, you kind of expect it to be a meme. The Jasion Thunder looked like that bike. Then I actually rode it, in real Florida heat, and it surprised me in all the right ways. This is a step-through fat tire eBike built for people who want throttle, comfort, and real-world power, not a gym membership.

Bike Overview and First Impressions

On paper, the Jasion Thunder is a powerful fat tire eBike for commuting, beach runs, gravel paths, and general chaos. In reality, it feels like a moped that learned manners. It is turning heads with its performance because it mixes budget pricing with specs you usually see on bikes that cost way more.

Standout features:

Huge 26×4 knobby fat tires for pavement, sand, gravel, and even light snow
LED headlight, rear brake light, and rear turn signals
Electronic horn that sounds more like a scooter than a bicycle
Handlebar control cluster for lights, signals, and horn

If you want to pick one up, you can get 3% off with code HAZERS through the discount link for the Jasion Thunder (affiliate, which helps support more testing abuse).

The frame is step-through, and I am unapologetically biased here. Step-through is my favorite style. When you start getting a little fluffy around the midsection and your leg only wants to go about 10 inches off the ground, a step-over frame becomes a circus trick. With this, you just slide your foot through, sit down, and you are rolling. No yoga, no pulled hamstrings.

Heavy-Duty Build Specs

Frame and Load Capacity

The Thunder is not a light bike. It weighs about 82 pounds, and it feels every bit as solid as that sounds. In return, you get a 400‑pound max load capacity, so bigger riders, passengers, and cargo are absolutely in the picture.

Tires and Suspension

You get 26×4 fat tires that do a lot of the comfort work on their own, plus a front suspension fork.

Terrain it handles well:

Pavement
Sand
Gravel
Light trails and packed dirt

There is no rear suspension and not even a suspension seatpost, so the back end is hardtail. The “rear shock” is basically the giant squishy saddle.

Powertrain Breakdown

Motor Details

At the heart of the bike is a 750W brushless rear hub motor that peaks at 1,500W and puts out about 85 Nm of torque. On the road, that translates to strong pickup and easy hill climbs, especially once you are already rolling.

If you want to see how Jasion positions it, check the official Jasion Thunder product page.

Drivetrain and Assist

You get a 7‑speed Shimano drivetrain, 5 levels of pedal assist, and a half‑twist throttle.

The pedal assist uses a cadence sensor, not a torque sensor. That means:

The bike gives power when your cranks are spinning
It does not care how hard you are pushing
As long as your legs are moving in circles, the motor wakes up

So in PAS 2, it feels like you are “doing some work,” but really your legs are just there to convince the controller you are alive.

Battery and Charging Info

Powering all this is a 48V 18Ah removable lithium-ion battery (about 864 Wh). Jasion rates it for up to 80 miles in pedal assist mode, with ideal conditions and a lighter rider.

Charging is simple:

Included 2A charger
Around 8 to 9 hours from empty to full

Range depends heavily on:

Rider weight
How much you use throttle
Hills and wind
Tire pressure and terrain

Comfort Features Up Close

Seat and Grips

The saddle deserves its own shout-out. It feels, in the best way possible, like you are sitting on water balloons. Big, soft, supportive water balloons. The comfort level is wild for a stock seat, and with the right height set, you can ride longer than you probably should.

You also get ergonomic rubber grips and a built-in rear rack, so commuting or strapping a bag on the back is easy. “Feels like sitting on water balloons. That’s a good thing.” Still accurate.

Pedal Assist Level Tests

PAS 1: Easy Start

In PAS 1, you ease up to around 12 mph. It is a light assist that takes the edge off pedaling but does not throw you forward.

PAS 2: Cadence Feel

Pas 2 is where you feel the cadence sensor behavior. Move your legs in circles, power kicks in, and it feels like you are helping when the motor is doing most of the work. Effort is low, speed creeps up.

PAS 3: Building Speed

PAS 3 feels closer to 20 mph, especially once you are in 7th gear. There is some actual resistance at the pedals here, so it feels more like riding a “real” bike, just with a secret turbo.

PAS 5: “Cocaine Mode”

PAS 5 is the party mode. The bike pulls to about 27 mph while you are pedaling. There is still some resistance in the top gear, which hints that with an 8‑speed cassette you could probably squeeze more speed out of it. It feels fast, chaotic, and way more fun than the price suggests.

Throttle Performance

The throttle is the real star. No matter what pedal assist level you are in, the half‑twist throttle will push you to about 28 mph on flat ground. From a rolling start, the pickup feels strong, and in hill tests it pulled up without drama.

Braking System Review

Braking is handled by dual 180 mm hydraulic disc brakes with dual-piston calipers, branded Jaffa Cycle. They work, and they will stop you, but they do not have that “grab and lock” feel you get on higher-end systems.

At 28 to 30 mph, you need to think ahead and plan your stopping distance. Do not grab your phone while riding, be safe. Treat the brakes as adequate for the price, not performance stoppers.

For a sense of how more aggressive setups behave, you can compare it to the Magician Alpha 72V eBike review where the speed and braking story gets a lot spicier.

Off-Road and Terrain Handling

You can absolutely take the Jasion Thunder off-road, but it is not a true trail bike. With only front suspension, the rear end will remind you every time you hit a root or pothole. On dry dirt and gravel, it does fine. Hit mud or wet patches and the fat tires start to slide and spray.

This bike feels much more at home as a commuter or beach cruiser that can survive the occasional sketchy shortcut rather than a dedicated off-road machine.

Real-World Range Test

In hard riding with almost all throttle and very little pedaling, about 5 miles of riding only ticked off a single bar of battery. Earlier tests showed roughly 15% battery loss at 8.5 miles of aggressive riding. Based on that, and how these claims usually go, here is a more honest look at range:

Riding Style / Mode	Estimated Real Range
All throttle, average rider	50 to 60 miles
Mix of PAS and throttle	55 to 65 miles
Light rider (105–110 lb), PAS 1	Up to ~70 miles
Very heavy rider, steep hills	Could be under 20

Jasion’s 80‑mile claim is possible only in very light PAS use with a light rider. For most people who like to live on the throttle, assume about half the marketing number and add a few miles if you are kind.

If you want another angle on range claims and specs, there is a solid breakdown in this Jasion Thunder eBike review on The Gadgeteer.

Jasion Brand Background

Jasion is better known for its foldable eBikes, not big full-frame fat tire rigs. The Thunder steps out of that lane but keeps the same budget-friendly vibe. In places like Florida, you see a lot of older riders and people who do not want a $4,000 eBike hopping on Jasion bikes and just cruising everywhere.

Price and Value Breakdown

At the time of testing, the Jasion Thunder came in around $999 (sometimes listed in the high $900s). For what you get, that price is kind of wild.

At under a grand, it is easy to recommend. If this same bike jumped to $1,500, the conversation would change fast. You would have better options in that bracket.

If you want to see how it stacks up against other models in real riding, there is a full eBike playlist with more reviews and chaos.

Who Should Buy the Jasion Thunder

The Jasion Thunder is perfect for:

Riders who want throttle first, pedal assist second
Heavier riders who love a step-through frame
Commuters who like comfort and speed more than fitness

If you want pure pedal-assist workout vibes, this will feel too much like a small motorcycle.

Final Pros and Cons

Pros

Strong 750W motor with 1,500W peak
Super comfortable “water balloon” seat
28 mph throttle, solid hill performance
Lights, rear turn signals, horn, and built-in rack
Excellent value under $1,000

Cons

Brakes lack strong bite at higher speeds
Only front suspension, rear gets harsh off-road
Heavy frame for smaller riders to lift or carry

Want More eBike Chaos?

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