At Delfast, we always consider our customers' preferences when developing new models or enhancing existing ones. A significant portion of our customers reside in the United States, and based on their feedback, we introduced the previous Top 2.0 model, which was more powerful than its predecessor, the Top 1. The Top 2.0 is an electric bike designed for long-distance travel without being overly picky about the terrain. However, like any mountain bike, it has its limitations. Despite its power and weight, it leans more towards lightweight enduro than traditional mountain biking. Yet, this wasn't the primary reason we decided to develop a new model.

The main driver behind the creation of our new off-road bike was the diverse climates and geographies where our American customers live. Delfast bikes traverse mountains, beaches, snowy plains, forests, and deserts. Given that we have customers in more than half of the U.S. states, it became essential to release a model suitable for rural terrains and not just confined to city garages during harsh winters. After extensive research, we chose the design of a bicycle with low-pressure tires. These bikes, often referred to as fat bikes or snow bikes, are essentially rugged SUVs. Their standout feature is their ability to handle virtually any terrain, excelling on ice and snow alike. For instance, riding one of these bikes across a frozen lake for winter fishing is completely feasible. They also perform exceptionally well on sandy surfaces—perfect for attaching a surfboard and heading to remote beaches inaccessible by foot or car. We previously discussed this concept in an earlier article about the fat bike category.

Making this decision was no small feat. Initially, it seemed simple enough to combine a heavy-duty electric bike with impressive range capabilities. However, it proved to be quite challenging. The capabilities of the Top 2.0 platform, which we decided to build upon for our new Delfast Offroad TOP 3.0 model, are ten times greater than what even the most skilled athletes can achieve. This meant the loads on the bike increased exponentially. If we added off-road capability to the mix, the challenge was akin to designing a lightweight off-road electric vehicle from scratch. We had to determine if suspension was necessary, how the tires and structural components would handle road conditions, and strike a balance to ensure maximum versatility.

During the pre-production phase, we experimented with the popular and high-quality RockShox Bulgar front fork. However, we discovered that this fork didn't provide any practical advantage over using our custom rubber. In extreme situations, the fork acted as an additional shock absorber, but under normal conditions, the rubber alone sufficed. Therefore, we opted for rubber with a metal casing, capable of withstanding much higher loads than standard bicycle tires.

Throughout the development process, our focus shifted toward achieving optimal off-road performance. While this resulted in a slight decrease in speed and overall range compared to the Top 2.0, the bike's versatility, all-weather adaptability, and cross-country capability on loose soil and snow improved significantly. Additionally, our model, like all fat bikes, offers enhanced carrying capacity. Below is a chart summarizing these features.