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Griffin Hales

Senior Writer | Edtior

Like most of you, I turned 16, got a driver’s license, and spent more time on four wheels than two. I got into e-bikes shortly before their boom years back in 2019. From my first ride - when I really saw what an electric motor could do for bikes - I was happily back on two wheels as often as possible! Since joining Electric Bike Report I’ve tested and ridden over 300 different e-bike models, logged thousands of miles of riding, and have had the privilege of riding and working with people from all over the industry. I’ve traveled to tradeshows and expos, corporate headquarters, and local bike shops talking with and learning from passionate people in all corners of the industry. My favorite part of working for EBR is being known as “the e-bike guy” by my neighbors, family, and friends and geeking out and talking about all the cool things in the e-bike world with them!

Get to Know Griffin Hales

Certifications

  • B.S. Business Administration; Emphasis in Marketing

Favorite Style of E-Bike

Fat Tire, Commuter/Touring, Moped/Moto

Favorite E-Bikes Reviewed

Aventon Aventure.2 ST, Evelo Atlas, Ride1UP Prodigy V2

Current Bikes You Ride/Own

Trek Rail 9.8, Ride1UP Prodigy V2, Aventon Pace 500.3, Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 IGH, Globe Haul ST

Favorite New E-bike Tested

Ride1Up Roadster V3

Hobbies

Watching trash TV with my wife (the secret to a strong marriage), doing anything and everything with my kids and dogs, playing basketball, watching the NBA and NFL, learning all I can about tech, learning to cook new recipes, and scoping out the best new food places.

Some links may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these.

Griffin Hales

The Aventon Aventure: The Next Great Fat Tire E-Bike?

Launch Details

Are you ready to go on an ‘Aventure?’ Today the Californian e-bike company Aventon announced its newest addition to its lineup with the Aventure. This fat tire-styled electric bike comes equipped with massive 4” Kenda Krusade tires which are propelled by the bike’s 750W hub motor capable of a whopping 1130W peak. This combination has a lot of promise for those looking to head off-road on occasion.

On top of the new bike itself, Aventon is debuting what they call an industry first color display screen that integrates with an all new app. The app powers the bike and its integrated lights on and off, while also tracking your mileage and trips, and provides a community feature to meet up with other Aventon riders. The app even displays how many trees you’ve saved riding on your bike instead of a car.

Aventon sees the bike and app as a collective step forward for e-bike communities.

[Read more…] about The Aventon Aventure: The Next Great Fat Tire E-Bike?

Electric Bike Company Radical Scooter Review, 2021

Summary Review: Radical Scooter

We’ve had pretty positive experiences with the electric bikes we’ve reviewed from the Electric Bike Company. So we were pretty excited to review their Radical Scooter.

The Electric Bike Company is known for making comfortable, powerful electric cruiser bikes, and they managed to bring this look and feel to the electric scooter market with the Radical Scooter. Thanks to its generous suspension, tires, and moped-style seat, you can explore almost anywhere with comfort and ease.

The fast 350W motor on this e-scooter lives up to its promised expectations of 20 mph on straights, and it performs admirably on hills as well. You’ll be able to zip around town with little trouble, and thanks to the safety of lights on the front, back, and sides, you’ll be riding with a highly visible profile.

Taller and larger riders will appreciate the wide deck pad, adjustable stem, robust suspension, strong hydraulic braking power, and 250-pound weight limit. Three assist levels–eco, mid and high–allow you to ride at a leisurely pace through a park or at max speed for your workday commute.

For long commutes, the comfortable moped-style seat ensures you’ll be fresh and energetic when you arrive at your destination. And the wide handlebars and cushy grips mean your shoulders and hands will be too.

There is plenty to love about this feature-heavy, powerful, value-driven scooter. Read on to learn more in our full performance review of the Radial Scooter by the Electric Bike Company!

[Read more…] about Electric Bike Company Radical Scooter Review, 2021

Proposed E-BIKE Act Would Save Consumers 30% On eBike Purchases Via Federal Tax Credit

Last Updated: Feb 12, 2021

On February 9th, 2021, Congressman Jimmy Panetta and Congressional Bike Caucus Chairman Earl Blumenaur introduced the Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstarter for the Environment Act to the United States House of Representatives. The proposed E-BIKE act has been submitted in order to kickstart and encourage increased demand for electric bikes by way of a tax credit for all United States citizens.

Speaking on his proposed bill, Congressman Panetta had this to say:

“E-bikes are not just a fad for a select few, they are a legitimate and practical form of transportation that can help reduce our carbon emissions. My legislation will make it easier for more people from all socio-economic levels to own e-bikes and contribute to cutting our carbon output. By incentivizing the use of electric bicycles to replace car trips through a consumer tax credit, we can not only encourage more Americans to transition to greener modes of transportation, but also help fight the climate crisis.”

What is the E-BIKE act?

The proposed bill, if passed and signed into law, would result in a full refundable tax credit for those who take advantage of the proposed legislation. While the full rules and regulations surrounding the bill are currently being debated by congress, the following restrictions are part of the current bill:

  • The proposed bill would cover 30% of the purchase price of a single eBike once every three years, or twice for joint-return couples who are buying two electric bikes.
  • The new electric bike must cost less than $8,000 dollars.
  • A $1,500 dollar refundable tax credit is the maxed amount that can be awarded per bike. As such, you would receive the same credit for a $5,000 dollar eBike as you would for a $8,000 dollar eBike.
  • This is a fully refundable tax credit. Up to $1,500 dollars can be subtracted from what you owe to the government the year you purchase your eBike. If the total tax credit awarded is more than the taxes you owe, the government will pay you the excess amount.
  • The Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, will be mandated to deliver a report regarding the financial results of the proposed bill after two years. Additional adjustments may be made to the legislation based upon the findings, income tax bracket distribution, and equity of the proposed bill.

[Read more…] about Proposed E-BIKE Act Would Save Consumers 30% On eBike Purchases Via Federal Tax Credit

Rad Power Bikes Announces $150 Million Dollar Investment, Major Expansion Plans

On February 4th, 2021, Rad Power Bikes (one of the largest eBike brands in the world) announced a minority investment totaling $150 million dollars. The new round of investment was led by Counterpoint Global (Morgan Stanley), Fidelity Management & Research Company, The Rise Fund, and other accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates. Durable Capital Partners LP and Vulcan Capital, who have invested in Rad Power Bikes previously, also contributed to this historic new round of investment.

rad-power-bikes-radmission

With the new funding and pledge of support from major experienced investor companies like Morgan Stanley, Rad Power Bikes hopes to rely on their expertise to accelerate its bike development plans. In a statement made by Mike Radenbaugh, founder and CEO of Rad Power Bikes:

“We are thrilled to be working with this group of prestigious investors who are known for successful, long-term investments, and share our vision for the future of mobility. Demand for our products has outpaced our wildest projections every year and this partnership is helping us accelerate in-house innovation while creating more of what our customers tell us they love. I can’t wait for everyone to see what we will deliver in 2021 and beyond.”

Continued Growth For One of the World’s Most Recognizable eBike Brands:

Founded in 2015, Rad Power Bikes first made a name for themselves with their flagship electric bike, the RadRover Electric Fat Tire bike. Since their initial release, Rad Power Bikes has grown to be the most popular eBike brand in North America, with 11 unique models to choose from for a wide range of cyclists. It is estimated that more than 200,000 unique riders ride Rad Power Bikes equipment every day, with Rad Power Bikes a major eBike brand in over 30 different countries around the world.

With this new funding, Rad Power Bikes hopes to accelerate its expansion plans and further increase the popularity of Rad Power Bikes around the world. With 325 employees currently working for Rad Power Bikes, one of the major goals now set by the company is to more than double the size of their company team by the end of 2021. Rad Power Bikes has now begun to interview new applicants living in North America, Europe, and Asian territories.
[Read more…] about Rad Power Bikes Announces $150 Million Dollar Investment, Major Expansion Plans

eBike Industry Interviews: Bimotal Elevate With CEO Toby Ricco

We are always excited about new innovations in the ebike market and the new Elevate from Bimotal is a premium removable powertrain that is lightweight and powerful. We have been keeping an eye on this product and recently we were able to have a conversation with Toby Ricco, CEO and founder of Bimotal. Toby provides an overview of the Elevate system – and explains how this removable motor can add 50-100Nm of torque to the back wheel of your regular mountain bike. Elevate solves the issue of multiple bikes because you can use your existing bike with the option to add power when needed. The mount weighs less than 200 grams, the drive unit is two pounds and the whole system is under six pounds. A battery pack fits in your bottle cage with a throttle attached to the front handlebar to control the system. We found Elevate to be an intriguing solution to several problems and were excited to discuss this system with Toby.

Thanks for joining us here on Electric Bike Report, Toby! We’re excited to discuss Bimotal and Elevate with you today. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your company? How did you get started? What spawned the idea for the Elevate system?

Thanks! I’m happy to be here. Yeah, so I’ve always been an avid mountain biker, but a skiing accident left me with a knee injury that made it so I could no longer power up the hills like I once did. I considered buying an ebike, but at the time I had a custom Cannondale Lefty that was fully spec’d, only weighed 25lb, and had 160mm of travel. Most ebikes are close to 50lb and didn’t have the same level of specs so I just didn’t feel I’d be able to get the same experience. Plus, I had customized my bike quite a bit and I wanted to keep riding it! So I started to analyze retrofit systems and how I could design something that would allow me to use my current bike, but which added torque when I needed it. I focused on the drivetrain and then zeroed in on the rear rotor as a means for adding power to the rear wheel.
[Read more…] about eBike Industry Interviews: Bimotal Elevate With CEO Toby Ricco

10 Year Anniversary of Electric Bike Report – Highlighted with New Ownership

After many fun and exciting years of building the Electric Bike Report community, the time has come for me to move on to new adventures in the electric bike world.

It has been a pleasure to get to know all of you and to take part in the growth of the industry since founding electricbikereport.com in 2010.

As the electric bike world continues to flourish, I look forward to seeing electricbikereport.com evolve and progress along with it.

After careful consideration, I chose to hand over the future of electricbikereport.com to new owners. The incoming team is very excited to bring their experience and knowledge to the eBike industry. They have 10+ years of experience managing various review websites in the outdoor/fitness industries, and they plan on investing a lot of time and additional resources into growing electricbikereport.com.

Justin Taylor and Michael Clark will be managing electricbikereport.com going forward with Richard Peace continuing to provide eBike stories and news. Several other new team members will be joining the Electric Bike Report crew, and you can get to know them all here.
[Read more…] about 10 Year Anniversary of Electric Bike Report – Highlighted with New Ownership

Orbea Rise – Is This Lightweight Electric Mountain Bike a Game Changer?

New-Orbea-Rise-emtb
Today, Spain-based bike manufacturer Orbea released their latest electric bike in their lineup, the Orbea Rise. The Rise is an all-mountain/trail ebike that is targeted towards sporty mountain bikers who are looking for a more natural mountain biking experience with an EMTB.

Our first take on the Orbea Rise:

This is an obvious shot across the bow to the Specialized Turbo Levo SL, which is Specialized’s light-weight EMTB. Coming in just above 35 lbs for the highest/most expensive version of the bike, the Orbea Rise is lighter than the Specialized Turbo Levo SL but has more torque (60 Nm vs 35 Nm). This will be very interesting to test out, especially on uphill climbs and through technical sections. The SL has been a fantastic emtb (one of our favorites) because it feels much more like a normal mountain bike. The Orbea Rise has the potential to do that while possibly providing even more power.

[Read more…] about Orbea Rise – Is This Lightweight Electric Mountain Bike a Game Changer?

Order 3376 – Encouraging eBike Use On Public Lands


As electric bikes continue to grow in popularity, more and more governments and state legislatures are developing laws and codes that will state the rights and areas of usage for eBikes. Such is the case with the new Department of the Interior Order 3376, which has implemented the new rules for eBike usage on public lands for much of the United States. These rules have been implemented with the goal of simplifying where you can and cannot use an eBike, and will lead to better, more defined trail systems as time goes on and more parks implement the new rules. However, the new order can be a bit complicated to understand, so we’re here to break down the major changes and rules as put forth by the Department of Interior here in the United States.
[Read more…] about Order 3376 – Encouraging eBike Use On Public Lands

Chrome BLCKCHRM Lako 3-Way Tote Review 2020

Chrome_BLCKCHRM_Backpack_Over_Shoulder
There is no shortage of bag options on the market, but the difference between a good or bad bike bag is the difference between wrecking your cargo or protecting it when you have a crash. Having a bag that is affordable and looks great as well is important to many bikers, besides having multiple carry options. When it comes to having a great bag, there’s much more you have to consider than you might otherwise expect.

It’s because of these factors that we can recommend looking at the BLCKCHRM 22X Lako 3-Way Tote bag. Manufactured by Chrome Industries, a popular urban clothing and equipment manufacturer that has been building great bags since 1995, the 22X Lake is the latest bag made with city riders in mind. The 3-way tote bag offers multiple carry options when it’s not fitted to your eBike, with multiple compartments to fit your cell phone, laptop, and other important gear. The 22x shell offers great durability, while the cool BLCKCHRM look fits in well with the rest of the stylish bag lineup. Featuring a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects and 0% financing options, there is a lot of value when it comes to the BLCKCHRM 22X Lako bag.
[Read more…] about Chrome BLCKCHRM Lako 3-Way Tote Review 2020

Seatylock Comfort Classic Review 2020

Seatylock
When it comes to eBikes, and bicycles in general, an important accessory to consider is your ebike lock. A simple, lightweight lock might be easy to throw in your backpack, but won’t do much to deter thieves as they cut through the lock or find ways to undo it. At the same time, you don’t want to lug around a heavy and bulky lock.

Finally, even if you do lock up your bike properly, you are still at risk of having someone come by and steal your saddle.

Click here to see current pricing for the Seatylock

Seatylock_on_bike
[Read more…] about Seatylock Comfort Classic Review 2020

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