This winter, if I’ve been on two wheels it’s been on the Ari Explorer Peak. This exceptionally capable fat bike has made a ton of waves over the past months since its release. This fat bike is powerful and has excellent range, with a progressive geometry and carbon frame to keep it nimble. This winter hasn’t been typical with a record low snowpack across the PNW to this point, but the capable Explorer Peak has made it fun regardless.
Ari Explorer Peak Comp Build Features:
- Frame: Ari Explorer Peak Carbon frame with UDH derailleur hanger
- Fork: Ari Racing Design Explorer Peak Carbon, tapered steerer, 150×15 mm thru-axle, 180 mm post mount
- Shimano EP6 mid-drive motor powered by Darfon 720 Wh integrated battery
- Shimano CUES SL-U6000-11R shifter with RD-U6000 rear derailleur
- Crankset: SAMOX E-Fat Bike crank, Shimano interface
- Cassette: Shimano CS-LG400-11, 11–50T, 11-speed
- TRP Slate EVO hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm front and rear rotors
- Sun Ringle Mulefut SL 80 mm, 27.5?, 32h, tubeless ready rims
- Sun Ringlé SRC, 150×15 mm front / 197×12 mm rear, e-bike specific hubs
- Maxxis Colossus 27.5×4.5 tires with EXO casing, tubeless ready
- Cane Creek 40 ZS56/ZS56 sealed cartridge bearings headset
- TranzX JD-YS105J dropper post (travel varies by frame size)
- Frame Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large
- MSRP: $5499
Ready to explore out of the box:
There’s lots to talk about with this bike. I’ll comment just a touch on unboxing to start. Ari continues to establish themselves as a leading direct to consumer (D2C) brand, so their purchasing and unboxing process is pretty important. I received this bike as a review loaner but there’s a lot of overlap with the commercial process. Ari generated a text and email right off the bat with the FedEx tracking information, and a signature was required at delivery. I couldn’t be home for the driver for a few days in a row so I redirected it to a local FedEx shop.
The bike box is just a touch wider than usual, but it wasn’t overwhelmingly heavy. The Comp build that I received comes in just under 52lbs. The box was pretty beat up (not Ari’s fault), but the bike was in perfect shape. The build was easy – just handlebars and front wheel, as well as double checking the headset and putting some pedals on.
Powerful, durable drivetrain
The Explorer Peak Comp is powered by the Shimano CUES system. This is a burly system that is strong and durable, and isn’t likely to appeal to gram counters (although are there any gram counters on an e-fat bike?). The derailleur cage is steel which gives it a big durability edge over aluminum competitors. There’s no clutch on the U-4000 series which the Explorer Peak Comp comes with, but I haven’t had any issues with chain slap so far.
The CUES is one of Shimano’s LinkGlide systems, which is rugged. Not sexy, but definitely rugged. The shifting is sturdy and predictable, and the gears slot into place reliably. This definitely isn’t a finely tuned race groupset, but honestly that’s great: the LinkGlide has tougher, beefier cogs and is meant to hold up to the high torque demands of e-bikes. Shimano built the CUES and EP-series motors to work together, and the shifting is smooth under power.
The Explorer Peak’s power comes from a Shimano EP6 motor system powered from a Darfon 720w battery. From a rider’s perspective, I’m not sure that you lose much with the EP6 motor compared to the more expensive EP801 included in the Elite build of the Explorer Peak. The EP6 is about 300g heavier, but cranks out the same impressive 85Nm of torque. The EP801 has a roughly 20% higher maximum power output, so perhaps if you’re using this as a dedicated hauling bike (think sleds, backcountry access) perhaps the benefit of the 801 is there for you.
You interact with the system through a top-tube button, power controller and display plus the E-TUBE PROJECT Cyclist app. If you’ve had one of Shimano’s electronic group sets, you know this app. For the Explorer Peak, it lets you cycle between different modes for harder or softer terrain. The power controller is an easy two-button clicker that lets you pick between 8 assistance levels. The highest has a TON of power and I loved it for cruising home on the road or two track.
Commenting on range is a bit tricky. I couldn’t actually find Ari’s stated range for the bike, but one retails advertises 40-80km or 25-50 miles. That fits with what I saw in my testing. If I was cruising around city trails on the bike, I felt like I didn’t have to charge it for days. When I was trail riding and using a ton of assist on soft ground or snow, my range was in the mid to high 20’s. I didn’t do any gear hauling unfortunately; the PNW winter (like much of the west) just did not cooperate this year.
Modern geometry
Ari built the Explorer Peak with a carbon frame, which coupled with its progressive geometry helps it feel nimble despite the bulk. The Explorer Peak runs a consistent 67° head angle across the size range, paired with a 75° effective seat tube angle. That combination places it firmly in modern trail territory, though not on the extreme end of current long-and-slack trends. Chainstays measure 450 mm regardless of size, which is longer than many standard trail bikes but appropriate for a 27.5 x 4.5-inch platform where rear-wheel traction and weight distribution are priorities.
Reach spans roughly 430 mm (S) to 490 mm (XL), with wheelbase numbers extending from about 1,156 mm to 1,232 mm as you size up. Bottom bracket height sits around 325 mm with approximately 65 mm of drop, accounting for fat-tire sag and keeping the rider’s center of mass reasonably low. In aggregate, the geometry prioritizes stability and climbing balance over agility.
But what’s it like to ride??
The two biggest words that come to mind are power and stability. I’m an all-around rider and I enjoy road, mountain and gravel. I’m not one of those only fat bike guys and don’t generally seek them out. But, wow, the Explorer Peak is just a ton of fun. The motor gives you the feeling that you can cruise endless two-track like a gravel bike, but the geometry is progressive and you mostly feel like you’re on a rigid mountain bike. I was able to tackle some tight switchbacks that are a challenge on my mountain bike. To some extent, the super wide tires and rims give you a wide platform for balance.
The carbon frame and progressive geometry really help the Explorer Peak not feel like a whale. It can still whip, especially in lose conditions. At the same time, I didn’t mind cruising along at 25mph with max assist on two tracks or the bike lane to make my way home after riding trail. It feels stable at both low and high speeds.
There are all kinds of people who are going to like this bike. It’s really versatile in the sense that it can be your snow machine, your beach machine, your commute machine or even your summer trail machine. There are plenty of mounting points for racks and hardware and the range opens up a lot of possibilities for backcountry access. For some people, this could reasonably replace a snowmobile for accessing backcountry ski lines. For others, this is going to carry your surfboard. It won’t be hard for you to find a use for it.
Buy Now: Visit AriBikes.com
The Bottom Line
Power Playful
The Ari Explorer Peak stands out for power and versatility. Its carbon frame and well-balanced geometry keep it composed and predictable, while the Shimano EP6 delivers consistent 85Nm torque with plenty of range. The CUES drivetrain favors durability over flash, but you can upgrade and get a GX build easily enough. It’s stable at speed, manageable in tight terrain, and adaptable across seasons. Ari has made more than a novelty fat bike; the Explorer Peak offers a ton of potential for many different types of riders.
The Good:
- Geometry feels modern
- Carbon frame helps reduce late, stays compliant
- Kicker of a motor and great range
- Plenty of spots to attach your goodies to the frame
- Get it shipped to your door!
The Bad:
- CUES isn’t sexy but it gets the job done
- The Shimano app is famously bad
- A good value but not cheap
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Comfort
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Handling
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Descending
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Climbing
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Versatility
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Value
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Power and range