You might have missed it, but automatic e-bikes are here, and they are amazing. Although the days of selecting your gears on bicycles may never leave us, we are now at the point where shifting is optional. Today we have two otherwise identical bikes with only one major difference: automatic vs. mechanical gears. How do they fare side by side?
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The Evelo Omega is the most technologically advanced electric bicycle I’ve tried in over 10 years. Other bikes are faster, throw out more power, or load up with IoT gadgets, but the Evelo Omega pushes the boundaries of eBike tech by removing the gear shifter from the handlebars entirely.
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The Spectre-ST is yet another step forward for the once small e-bike company EUNORAU. Somehow, they managed to make a very stable step-through electric mountain bike with a great deal of equipment weight while keeping the price reasonable.
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The Velotric Discover 1 is a great value electric city cruiser with surprising quality given the entry to mid level price. There’s so much to love about this bike, but the look, is undoubtedly the first positive impression. The Discover 1 has a wonderful build that blends utility and aesthetics.
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Heybike, makers of eBikes small and large, has set a new standard for a feature rich electric folding bike. With so many ways to enjoy electric bikes, the Ranger model can make short work of any commute, off-road short-cut or an otherwise hum-drum day.
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Electrek had the chance to tour EUNORAU’s main USA eBike facility earlier this month. This Chinese importer has undergone a transformation from a white-label startup to a recognized USA brand in its own right. It was a great opportunity to meet some of the people who have steadily built the company at their workplace.
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Magicycle breaks onto the USA electric bike scene with a full power fat-tire cruiser that includes a comfortable stance and a wealth of extra goodies. The high powered 52v electric system can clim most any hill, and the full-house of commuter accessories can tackle most any situation. With a clean look and decent components, there’s a lot to love about the Magicycle Cruiser.
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TurboAnt, makers of both electric bikes and electric scooters, aims to answer 3 rides in one with the Thunder T1 electric bike. Being a jack of all trades, the Thunder T1 can tackle the trails, blast to work, and even has a touch of comfort for a Sunday cruise.
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EUNORAU, the makers of electric bikes both large and larger, is blazing a new trail for both its customers and its company. The Spectre S is its new flagship electric bike, built to rocket up rough terrain and bomb down with equal grace. As the company’s first foray into a new segment of the industry, there are improvements to be had, but this solid freshman entry should catch the eye of the varsity team.
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REI, the nation’s premier outdoor equipment retailer, enters the e-bike space with its CTY e2.2. For reasons unclear, REI decided to enter the electric bike space with a city bike rather than something made for off-road. If their goal was to nail down a commuter bike and test out their mettle, I believe they’ve succeeded.
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The electric bicycle market in the US is being squeezed from multiple directions at once, forcing prices higher. That could threaten the increased rate of e-bike adoption at a time when e-bike sales have been soaring.
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Blix Bikes offers a line of stylish and affordable Dutch-inspired electric bicycles designed for commuters. Now the company is releasing their first electric cargo bicycle, the Blix Packa. The Packa finally adds an affordable option to the electric cargo bike market.
Every year on November 11th, China celebrates their own version of Black Friday known as “Single’s Day”. The origin story is a bit odd (something about celebrating single people, hence the four 1’s), but the point is that it has turned into a massive international shopping holiday with crazy good deals on sites like AliExpress. Last year Alibaba reported over $25B in sales in one day.
The discounted prices cover just about everything, from computers to toothbrushes (seriously, I’m not kidding). But what we’re really interested in are the EV’s and associated parts for things like electric bicycles, e-scooters, e-skateboards, etc. Read on to see a list of some of the best deals we’ve found this year.
Commuting on a light electric vehicle such as an electric bicycle or motorcycle can have a number of benefits. From reducing your carbon footprint to making your commute enjoyable, electric bicycles and e-motorcycles are full of advantages. I haven’t owned a car since high school, and have spent the past decade commuting almost entirely on e-bikes, e-scooters, e-motos and just about e-anything.
But to make light electric vehicle commuting safe and fun, you’ll need the right kit. Here’s a list of recommended gear you’ll need when transforming your commute from a four-wheeled traffic-laden slog to a two-wheeled fun-fest. Each piece of gear described below is something I have used in my own commuting and can personally vouch for.
[Update: Check out my newest 2019 e-bike gear testing article!]
Electric bikes are not here just to help you get up some steep hills anymore. Electric motors are making their way in all segments of bicycles, scooters, and motorcycles.
The Sur-Ron lives in between those segments as a monster ebike with 50 miles of range and an insane 50 mph top speed.
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Love this idea: You carry around a little Motor/battery pack and pop it on any bike. Rubbee is taking pre-orders on their Kickstarter page.
Specs:
The Rubbee Drive system fits every standard bicycle tyre from 16 in to 29 in (700c). Smaller tyre sizes may interrupt a smooth operational use. Width of the bicycle tyre may vary between 20mm to 60mm.
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