Lectric founders Levi Conlow and Robby Deziel, the company’s CEO and CINO, recently shared two milestones on social media. On the same day, Lectric crossed $1 billion in sales through Shopify and passed 750,000 e-bikes sold.

Shopify is the platform Lectric uses for its direct-to-consumer sales, so those numbers don’t include units moved through Best Buy or other retail channels. The real totals are higher.

The company launched in 2019 and sold over 100,000 bikes in its first two years. Conlow and Deziel landed on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in 2021. Lectric now owns both Juiced and Monarc.

Our Take:

These numbers are why Lectric is America’s number one selling e-bike brand. The bikes are designed for fun, and people genuinely enjoy riding them, which is a harder thing to pull off than spec sheets suggest.

The company also backs up its products. John’s dad recently told him about a neighbor whose bikes stopped working after riding through rain. The warranty had already expired. Lectric sent new batteries and controllers anyway. We’ve heard plenty of similar stories over the years, and that kind of thing sticks with customers far longer than a good launch price.

Congratulations to Levi and Robby. With Juiced and Monarc now under the same roof, we hope they find the same success with those brands that they’ve had with Lectric.

Scott’s new city lineup is built around a single model called the Sweep, offered in two spec tiers. The Sweep 10 is a slim, sporty, lightweight rigid-frame city bike. The Sweep 20 is a slightly more robust commuter with suspension, and it comes in both a high-step frame and a step-thru version called the Wave.

All three bikes use Bosch’s 250W Hub Line rear-hub motor with 400W of peak power and 45 Nm of torque, paired with a removable 360 Wh PowerTube battery. They share a 9-speed Shimano CUES drivetrain, Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brakes, integrated lights and fenders, and a 15.5 mph top speed that makes them clearly primed for the EU market.

The Sweep 10 keeps things simple with side hangers for panniers and a non-adjustable stem with flat bars. The Sweep 20 adds a full cargo rack, an adjustable stem with an SP Connect mount, Schwalbe Energizer Active Plus tires, and an SR Suntour NEX coil fork. Handlebars differ by frame: the high-step gets ergonomically swept-back bars, while the step-thru Wave gets Dutch-style cruiser bars.

Our Take:

We don’t have pricing information yet, which makes it hard to say how these stack up against the rest of the European city bike market. What we can say is that the whole lineup looks intriguing. Scott built three genuinely different riding positions off one platform instead of forcing every rider onto the same bike, and the Bosch drive system and CUES drivetrain are a sensible foundation for daily commuting.

Mondraker is calling the new Dusty an “all-round” e-bike, and says it doesn’t care about labels. In practice, that means a category-bender you could take commuting one day and onto gravel the next.

There are four versions, and all of them use a carbon frame and a TQ HPR 60 mid-drive motor with 350W of power and 60 Nm of torque, fed by a 580 Wh battery. The bikes roll on 700x50c tires with clearance up to 50mm. Both Class 1 and Class 3 capability are built in, though unlocking Class 3 speeds requires contacting Mondraker with your bike’s serial number.

Buyers can choose between drop bar and flat bar configurations, and the flat bar version also comes with a dropper post. Pricing starts at $7,999 for the entry-level model and climbs to $11,499 for the RR.

Our Take:

The move from a rear-hub motor on the original Dusty to a mid-drive here is the story. Gravel riders tend to care a lot about a natural pedal feel, and Mondraker leans into that in its own messaging. This is an upgrade.

We also like that the flat bar option exists, and that it comes with a dropper. Plenty of riders want gravel capability without committing to drop bars, and this splits the difference nicely. The Class 3 unlock process is a bit of a hassle, and these prices put the Dusty well out of reach for most riders, but the bike itself makes sense.

A bit of recent history first. Kona’s original founders reacquired the brand in 2024 after selling it in 2021, and their statement at the time was refreshingly blunt. They said they’d expected the brand to keep growing without them, admitted that recent history proved us wrong, and described the team that stayed as smaller but stronger.

Now the El Kahuna is here. It’s a versatile SUV-style e-bike running a Bosch Performance Line motor and a 625 Wh battery on 29-inch wheels. The build includes a 100mm RockShox Recon Gold fork, a TranzX dropper post, Tektro Gemini brakes, a 10-speed microSHIFT Advent drivetrain, and a rear rack. It sells for $3,499.

Our Take:

We loved the attitude in that 2024 statement, and it’s good to see the follow-through. The El Kahuna covers all the usual SUV-style territory: commuting, grocery runs, campground cruising, and gravel. A dropper post and a Bosch Performance Line motor at $3,499 is a reasonable ask for a bike meant to do that many jobs.

• Is the Velotric Summit 2 worth over $2,000 when mid-drive e-bikes like the Ride1Up TrailRush cost less?
• Did Avinox release its powerful new motors to help heavier and disabled riders, or to grab market share?
• How does riding a rear-hub motor differ from riding a mid-drive?

Pedego has released the first two bikes in its second-generation lineup. The Ridge Rider 2 is a step-thru, SUV-style commuter, and the Latch 2 is what the brand calls a mid-size folding e-bike. Both ship as Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes, and dealers can enable Class 3 mode where it’s legal.

The two share a long list of hardware. Each runs a 750W rear-hub motor with 90 Nm of torque, an 835 Wh battery built with LG cells, and a pedal assist system with both torque and cadence sensing modes. Both also get a twist throttle, a color display, integrated lights with turn signals, an 80mm coil fork, UL 2271 and 2849 certification, and Pedego’s 5-year warranty. The frames have been redesigned with a more angular, contemporary look.

The Ridge Rider 2 adds an 8-speed Shimano drivetrain with an Acera derailleur, a 30mm suspension seatpost, Tektro hydraulic brakes with a 203mm front rotor and 180mm rear, 27.5×2.4″ tires, and an MIK-HD rack rated for 100 lbs. Pedego claims up to 90 miles of range. MSRP is $2,195, with a launch price of $1,999 running until August 16th.

The Latch 2 uses a 7-speed Shimano drivetrain, Tektro hydraulic brakes with 180mm rotors, 20×3″ tires, and a welded rack that also carries 100 lbs. It sells for $1,695.

Larry Pizzi, CEO of New Pedego Holdings, isn’t downplaying what’s ahead. “The Ridge Rider 2 and Latch 2 are just the opening act. With four more Pedego 2.0 models launching before the end of this year, we are fundamentally redefining what riders and dealers should expect from a premium electric bike – exceptional quality, serious performance, and prices that make sense. This is the new Pedego.”

Our Take:

Spend more than a few seconds looking at these bikes and the acquisition shows through. Urtopia’s parent company bought Pedego, and a lot of the components are now shared between the two brands. We don’t see that as a knock. It’s a pretty clear explanation for how Pedego arrived at $1,999 for a fully equipped, UL-certified commuter with an 835 Wh battery, which is not the price range the brand has been known for.

Four more models before the end of the year is an aggressive schedule, so we’ll be watching how the rest of the 2.0 lineup shakes out. In the meantime, our sister channel, Electric Bike Review, has already published reviews of both bikes. Head over there if you want a closer look before the launch pricing on the Ridge Rider 2 runs out.

Last week the administration announced new Section 301 tariffs of 10% and 12.5% that apply to more than 99% of all imports. Six countries fall under the 10% rate, including Canada, Mexico, and the EU. A total of 54 countries are subject to the 12.5% rate. Several major bike and e-bike producers are on the list, including China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Steel and aluminum products already covered by Section 232 tariffs, bike chains being one example, are not affected.

Some context helps here. Before this, imports from all US trade partners were subject to a blanket 10% Section 122 tariff, which was put in place after the administration’s IEEPA tariffs were ruled illegal. The Court of International Trade then ruled the Section 122 tariffs illegal as well. They expired on Friday, July 24th, and the administration has appealed that decision.

Where it gets complicated is the overlap with Most Favored Nation duties. Many bikes and related products carry MFN duties between 5.5% and 11%, and the new Section 301 tariffs will not stack on top of them. If a product’s MFN duty is higher than the Section 301 rate, nothing changes. If it’s lower, the total gets raised to the 301 rate. A product from Taiwan or the EU with an MFN duty under 10% goes up to 10%. Products from Switzerland, Korea, and Japan with duties below 12.5% go up to 12.5%. Anything already above those numbers stays put.

As we’ve covered before, these tariffs are meant to penalize countries that import goods made with forced labor, along with countries whose laws against it aren’t strictly enforced. There’s an interesting wrinkle with Canada: Canadian products appear on the list, but bicycles made in Canada are exempt under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The administration has threatened a 50% tariff that would apply to exempted products, currently set to take effect August 18th.

Our Take:

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: the constantly shifting tariff situation is a mess. Tracking what applies to which product from which country now requires a spreadsheet and a decent amount of patience.

We don’t support forced labor, and we understand the reasoning behind going after it. We also don’t want to see bike prices climb any higher than they already have. Our hope is that this gets resolved in a way that removes the tariffs and keeps bikes at prices people can actually afford.

Trek announced that every eMTB it sells in the US will be limited to Class 1. The restriction is self-imposed. The company says it wants to be a better neighbor to analog mountain bikers and other trail users, and to avoid abusing the respect and permissions that e-bike riders have been granted. Trek is also concerned that manufacturers pushing past or flatly ignoring speed and power limits will bring crackdowns and restrictions down on everyone.

Trek President John Burke put it this way: “As an industry, we’ve worked for decades to earn access to trails and bike paths. We’d rather lead with responsibility today than explain tomorrow why riders lost access to the places they love and to a sport that makes the world a better place.”

He continued, “Trek’s mission is to change the world by getting more people on bikes. E-bikes are a great way to get more people riding, but that’s only possible if people continue to have access to places to ride. These limits are about protecting what all riders have.”

The company is encouraging other manufacturers to make the same move, pointing to rider safety, trail access, and growth of the sport. This applies to eMTBs only. Trek will keep selling other e-bikes with throttles and pedal assist up to 28 mph.

Our Take:

This is a slightly odd move coming from Trek. Their eMTBs have traditionally kept assist levels pretty modest, while the real push on power output has come from elsewhere. Avinox, for one, has defended its numbers publicly, saying the company prioritizes safety and legality while giving heavier riders and riders with disabilities a way into the sport.

We land somewhere in the middle. Safety matters and protecting trail access matters, but we also want to see as many people out riding as possible. Education is a huge piece of this. If you’re new to riding, be considerate of the other people on the trail and look into some training.

Last summer, Florida Republican Representative Vern Buchanan and California Democratic Representative Mike Thompson introduced the US Bicycle Production and Assembly Act, H.R. 3904. The bill would create a 10-year window in which manufacturers could import foreign-made bike components without paying import taxes, as long as those components go toward bikes assembled in the US.

The numbers behind the push are stark. According to PeopleForBikes, the US produced 9 million bicycles a year in 1997, about 75% of the domestic market. Today, more than 97% of the bikes sold here are built elsewhere and imported. Companies that want to assemble domestically currently pay the tariffs we just covered on imported frames and components. The bill’s premise is that a decade of relief would buy the industry enough time to build the infrastructure needed to make bikes here affordably.

Chris Bell, PFB’s Director of Federal Policy, said, “Policymakers have increased the pressure to ‘build at home’ without addressing the specific challenges faced by the U.S. bicycle industry. We saw an opening to shape the conversation before the conversation got shaped for us. We want to create a business environment where our members have the ability to scale up their domestic production and assembly.”

He added, “Today, tariff barriers make it economically unrealistic for the vast majority of the U.S. bicycle industry to even consider building on U.S. soil. HR 3904 removes those barriers. Our goal is to give many bicycle companies something they haven’t had in a long time: a choice.”

PeopleForBikes launched a website to gather support for the bill. It includes a fact sheet, a summary, the full text, and a tool that helps people contact their congressional representatives.

Response from the industry has been mixed. Cane Creek President and CEO Brent Graves sees a gap in the legislation, since it doesn’t address companies that assemble in the US and then export. “This bill is an issue for me because it leaves domestic parts assemblers out in the cold,” he said. “Sure, parts we assemble that go to domestic bike assemblers would be tariff-free, but as I understand it, parts that Cane Creek assembles that are sold to non-domestic bike assemblers would face a tariff. Why is assembly of a bike treated better than assembly of a bike suspension fork? To add insult to injury, Cane Creek has been assembling in the U.S. for 50 years, but a start-up domestic bike assembler would get preferred tariff treatment.” He also doubts the bill would change much, saying he doesn’t believe Americans want to work in factories.

Others see real upside. Pat Cunanne, an industry veteran who advises Hyper Bike Company, said, “If HR 3904 passes as-is and the 301 tariffs stay in effect, there will be a huge transfer of assembly back to the USA. Hyper would start assembly quickly; our plans are ready to implement.” Pivot CEO Chris Cocalis agrees. Before the Section 301 tariffs, Pivot did all of its assembly in the US, and the tariffs forced the company to scale that back. “Passage of HR 3904 would make U.S. assembly very attractive to not only Pivot, but I assume most of the largest brands in the U.S. as well,” Cocalis said. “Long-term, I believe it would bring back some component manufacturing to the U.S. to support the increased assembly volume similar to what has occurred in Europe.”

Our Take:

Graves raises a fair point. It’s tough to justify why assembling a complete bike gets better treatment than assembling a suspension fork, and a company that’s been building here for 50 years shouldn’t end up at a disadvantage compared to a brand-new operation. There are wrinkles to work out.

Even so, the direction is a good one. We’re glad to see PeopleForBikes pushing for domestic production instead of waiting to see what gets decided for the industry. If you agree, head to PFB’s website and use their tool to tell your representatives to support the bill.

• Is the Trek Borrego overpriced next to the Aventon Level 4 REC at $1,999?
• Which is the better pick for a shorter rider in hilly terrain: the Aventon Level 4 REC or the Aventon Pace 5 REC?
• How does the Monarc Tracer compare to the Velotric Discover 3?
• Are beach cruisers really heavier than commuters, or is that just a style penalty people assume?

Trek’s new Borrego+ follows the same playbook as last year’s throttle-equipped FX+1 and Electra Townie Go! models, and it brings that formula to a fat tire platform. There are Class 1 and 2 versions with a 20 mph top speed, plus Class 2 and 3 S models that offer throttle up to 20 mph and pedal assist up to 28 mph.

Every version comes with a 750W Hyena rear-hub motor putting out 90 Nm of torque, paired with a fully integrated 720 Wh battery good for up to 70 miles of range. Trek rounds it out with an 80mm coil suspension fork, a suspension seatpost, an 8-speed Shimano Acera drivetrain, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, and chunky 26×4″ Bontrager tires. Integrated lights and turn signals come standard, along with an SP Connect stem mount and a 60-lb-rated MIK cargo rack that’s also compatible with a front rack and other accessories. The bike pairs with the Trek Central app for motor tuning, range estimates, ride tracking, and bike lock functions, and it’s priced at $2,499.

Our Take:

This one looks great and comes well equipped for the price, but we’re a little bummed not to see the MagSafe charger show up here. We really liked the quick attachment and visible charge ring on Trek’s other throttle bikes, and its absence is a noticeable step back. We’re hopeful that the battery management features that came along with it are still on board in some form, even without the physical connector.

Specialized’s newest release is another entry in its rally-inspired lineup, and this time the focus is lightness, agility, and precision. The bike pairs a 140mm-travel Fox 36 SL Factory fork with the Grip X damper up front and a 130mm-travel Fox Float Factory Genie shock with bottom-out protection out back, wrapped around cross-country-style geometry.

Power comes from Specialized’s S-Works 3.1 motor, putting out 850W of peak power and 111 Nm of torque, fed by a 600 Wh integrated battery with extra downtube storage. It rolls on a SRAM XX SL Eagle drivetrain, and the build costs $13,000. The big story here is weight: Specialized says this is its lightest full-power eMTB yet, coming in about 5 lbs lighter than the standard Levo R.

Our Take:

Put simply, it looks awesome. We tested the standard Levo R and would love to get some time on this version to see what the weight savings actually feel like on the trail. On a mountain bike, 5 lbs is a real difference, and we’re curious to ride the two back to back to find out just how much it matters.

The USDOT’s Federal Highway Administration maintains a webpage called Proven Safety Countermeasures, which lists recommended design features and infrastructure elements meant to prevent fatalities and injuries on roads, things like bike lanes, lighted crossing signs, and rumble strips. Earlier this month, the agency removed all mention of bike lanes, speed management, and lane reduction from that list.

According to the League of American Bicyclists, the removed page had stated that bike lanes could reduce all crashes by 30 to 49 percent depending on where they were implemented. The organization pushed back on the change, and Rick Larsen, a Democratic representative on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has requested an explanation for why the countermeasures were removed. The League of American Bicyclists is urging both industry members and individuals to contact their representatives in Congress in support of that request. You can find a link to take action in the video description.

Our Take:

Removing proven safety guidance doesn’t change the physics of how speed and infrastructure affect crash outcomes, it just leaves communities with less information to work with. We’d like to see the USDOT explain this decision, and we think it’s worth adding your voice to the request if bike safety matters to you.

We first covered this bill, HB2021, back in May as it moved through Hawaii’s legislature. It formally defines e-motos as high-speed electric devices separate from e-bikes, which are now defined using the 3-class system developed by People for Bikes. According to the Hawaii Bicycling League, the law was needed because high-speed electric devices have been masquerading as e-bikes and contributing to serious traffic injuries and fatalities. Under the new law, these devices are specifically prohibited from operating on shared public roadways, bike lanes, streets, and sidewalks.

The law also makes stunts like wheelies illegal, requires riders under 18 to wear helmets, and keeps the existing $30 registration fee for bikes in place. It was developed by the Hawaii Bicycling League working alongside People for Bikes and the League of American Bicyclists, and Governor Josh Green signed it into law on July 15th.

Our Take:

Clearer definitions between e-bikes and e-motos are overdue, and Hawaii’s approach gives other states a workable template. Drawing a hard line on devices that ride like motorcycles but get sold as e-bikes protects both riders and the reputation of legitimate e-bikes.

• Is there a practical way to prove to a park ranger that a multi-class e-bike, like the Velotric Discover M, is actually set to Class 1?
• How concerned should we be about the long-term reliability and service support of Velotric’s new VeloCore mid-drive motor?
• How are manufacturers like Wired and Magician getting away with the speeds they allow on their moto-style e-bikes?
• Which offers better long-term value for heavy daily commuting, the Monarc Tracer or the Lectric XPress2?
• What’s the difference between maximum total weight capacity and payload capacity, and which method do most e-bikes use?
• A correction from last episode: was our top folding e-bike pick for hunting actually the Heybike Mars 3.0, not the 2.0?

N+ has opened preorders on two Volkswagen-branded e-bikes, the Sport and the Crossover. The Sport is a high-step urban commuter, while the Crossover leans more utility with a step-thru frame and an integrated cargo rack (one can also be added to the Sport). Both are optimized for the EU market, but they can be preordered here in the US. This follows N+’s partnerships with Ford and Mercedes on other car-branded e-bikes.

Both models share a 250W Yamaha PW-X3 mid-drive with 85 Nm of torque and six assist levels, plus an automatic mode that adjusts power output based on riding conditions. Other shared specs include a fully integrated, removable 490 Wh battery good for up to 99 miles of range, a 9-speed Shimano CUES drivetrain, Tektro 2-piston hydraulic brakes, a 100mm suspension fork, and a 15.5 mph top speed. Both bikes also get a custom single-piece stem and handlebar with an integrated display, similar to the Mercedes e-bike we tested previously.

One of the standout features is Smart View, a rear-facing radar system that activates a rear-view camera when traffic approaches from behind. The bikes also come with an integrated security system that includes motion detection, an alarm, and Apple Find My compatibility, along with a rear wheel lock and side lighting with a turn signal function.

Optional accessories include a Smart Helmet with front and rear lights that sync to the bike, brake lights, turn signals, and crash detection that can message an emergency contact after an impact. There are also Smart Glasses with a heads-up display for speed, navigation, and radar-activated blind spot alerts. Both bikes can be paired with a rack-mounted range-extender battery. The Sport can be preordered for $4,000, while the Crossover runs $4,350.

Our Take:

The car-branded e-bike trend keeps rolling, and N+ is packing in a genuinely useful feature set here rather than just slapping a logo on a standard commuter. Smart View in particular stands out. A radar-activated rear camera addresses a real safety gap for city riders sharing the road with cars. That said, these bikes are built around EU regulations, so US buyers should go in expecting a 15.5 mph assisted top speed rather than the 20-28 mph most American riders are used to. At this price point, that’s a real tradeoff to weigh.

Tern has launched a third generation of its popular HSD longtail cargo e-bike. The new models are stiffer and more reinforced than their predecessors, with a lower center of gravity. Gross vehicle weight comes in at 419 lbs (190 kg), which covers the bike itself, the rider, and up to 176 lbs of cargo or passengers.

The Gen 3 HSD uses different frame geometry than earlier versions, along with the brand’s adjustable Andros stem and dual-telescoping VLT seatpost, fitting riders from 4’11” to 6’9″. All models are Class 3 e-bikes running Bosch Gen 5 Performance or Performance PX mid-drives, with either 70 or 90 Nm of torque and a 545 Wh battery. They also feature Magura hydraulic disc brakes and Bosch’s eShift wireless electronic shifting, along with Flow app compatibility for assist personalization and security features.

Drivetrain options range from a 10-speed TRP chain drive paired with Bosch eShift up to a 3×3 NINE 9-speed internal gear hub, which delivers a 554% gear range. The bike also stands vertically for easier storage. Pricing spans $5,000 to $7,500 depending on configuration.

Our Take:

Tern’s HSD has long been one of the go-to compact cargo bikes for families who need serious hauling capacity without a full longtail’s footprint, and this update looks like a meaningful refinement rather than a reinvention. The wider rider fit range and the internal gear hub option with a 554% range are the details that matter most here. Cargo bike owners tend to keep their bikes a long time, so a stiffer, lower frame should pay off in everyday stability with a loaded bike. The price jump to $7,500 for the top build is steep, but Bosch’s eShift and a proper internal gear hub aren’t cheap components to begin with.

Importers of e-bikes and other micromobility devices will soon need to submit documentation of compliance with CPSC standards through a new eFiling program. CPSC Acting Chairman Peter Feldman said the agency faces a surge of imported products moving through increasingly complex supply chains, including direct-to-consumer shipments that often bypass traditional retail channels, and that the eFiling system is meant to help the agency identify and stop high-risk shipments earlier.

The goal is better coordination between the CPSC and Customs and Border Protection, allowing both agencies to focus enforcement resources where they matter most. There are still open questions about how this will play out in practice. The current mechanical standard for bicycles and e-bikes, 16 CFR 1512, covers mechanical requirements only and doesn’t address batteries. As we’ve reported before, the CPSC has also floated a proposal that would require e-bikes and similar devices to meet stricter UL battery standards, though it remains to be seen whether that will move forward. In theory, that standard would give brands an easier path to proving compliance.

Our Take:

More scrutiny on where e-bikes and batteries come from is a good thing, especially given how many battery fire stories we’ve covered on this show. But eFiling alone doesn’t close the real gap, since the current mechanical standard still says nothing about batteries. Import paperwork can flag a shipment, but it can’t tell CBP whether the battery inside it is safe. Until the UL battery standard proposal actually gets enacted, this feels like a useful but incomplete step.

Specialized has introduced three EU-market models in its Turbo Vado 3 IGH line: the 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0. Each is built around an Enviolo continuously variable transmission paired with a Gates Carbon belt drive. All three share a Specialized 3.1 mid-drive with 810W of peak power and 105 Nm of torque, an integrated and removable 840 Wh battery, integrated lights, fenders, and a cargo rack, a single-piece stem and handlebar setup with internal wiring, and Apple Find My compatibility.

The 4.0 uses manual shifting, an SR Suntour suspension fork, a suspension seatpost without a dropper, and a stem-integrated display. The 5.0 also uses manual shifting and an SR Suntour fork, but upgrades to a dropper seatpost with suspension, a touchscreen display, and high-end Supernova lighting. The 6.0 tops the range with Enviolo’s Automatiq shifting, a Rockshox Psylo suspension fork, a dropper seatpost with suspension, a large 2.2 inch touchscreen display, an included front rack, a Quadlock mount with wireless charging, keyless anti-theft, and a Garmin Radar. Pricing ranges from 4,999 to 7,900 Euros.

Our Take:

Pairing a CVT with a belt drive is a smart combination for a commuter built around low maintenance, and the tiered feature set gives riders a real reason to step up through the lineup rather than just paying more for the same bike in a different color. The 6.0’s Garmin Radar and Automatiq shifting make it the standout, but the price gap between it and the 4.0 is nearly 3,000 Euros. It’s a shame this lineup is EU-only for now, since a lot of US riders would appreciate a maintenance-light commuter option like this.

• What are some good folding e-bikes for hunters who need to keep gear in the vehicle?
• Does the Monarc Tracer’s tested weight include one battery or two, and how does its ride quality compare to the Aima Santa Monica?
• Why doesn’t the Urtopia Carbon Atom have a rear rack option available at launch?
• How much cargo can the JackRabbit MG Cargo actually carry, and is a side rack kit worth adding?
• Is the JackRabbit MG Cargo really an e-bike, or something else entirely?

Amflow’s new TL is an SUV-style e-bike built to handle commuting, long-distance touring, and trekking, with enough trail manners to venture off-road too. It blends eMTB styling with a more upright, commuter-friendly riding position, and it’s built around a 6.4-lb carbon fiber frame with full Fox suspension, 120mm up front and 105mm in the rear. The bike is compatible with 27.5, 29, or mixed wheel setups, and Amflow says an anti-squat design keeps pedaling efficient even under full suspension travel.

Power comes from an Avinox M2 mid-drive with up to 125 Nm of torque, paired with a Traction Control System that adjusts output automatically to help maintain grip. Riders can run a 600 or 800 Wh main battery, and an optional range extender pushes total capacity up to 1,280 Wh for a claimed 169 miles of range. A TRP electronic derailleur handles shifting, and the bike can carry up to 440 lbs total (rider, bike, and cargo included) with a trailer, panniers, or other luggage attached.

On the tech side, the TL pairs with the Avinox Ride app for offline navigation, includes Apple Find My for location tracking, and can sync with a heart rate monitor to automatically adjust power and keep riders in a target zone. Amflow also showed a charging hub that recharges up to four batteries in sequence, with a settable charge limit to stop topping off once a battery hits a set percentage. The TL was shown at Eurobike in multiple configurations, including one with drop bars.

Our Take:

The range numbers here are what stand out most. A 1,280 Wh total capacity with a range extender is a lot of battery for a single bike, and 169 miles puts this firmly in a different category than most commuter or touring e-bikes we’ve covered. The heart rate integration is a nice touch for anyone using an e-bike as part of a fitness routine rather than just point A to point B transportation. We’d like to see final pricing and a US release timeline before getting too far ahead of ourselves, but on paper, this looks like a serious touring platform.

Amazon and Underwriters Laboratories filed suit back in January against four companies and an individual over trademark counterfeiting, trademark infringement, and false designation of origin. The companies in question made and sold e-bikes and e-scooters that falsely claimed UL certification. Three of the companies were based in China and one in Hong Kong.

The complaint stated that the defendants’ actions infringed and misused UL’s intellectual property, breached contracts with Amazon, and undermined the trust customers place in both companies. Seven models sold by Aipas and A4 were listed as falsely bearing the UL trademark. A judge for the US District Court for Western Washington ruled in favor of Amazon and UL on some claims while dismissing others, and issued an injunction barring the companies from importing, manufacturing, distributing, or promoting any product using a counterfeit or imitation of UL’s certification marks, or from helping others do the same.

We previously reviewed the Aipas M2 Pro around the same time it came out that the company had falsely claimed its batteries used Samsung cells. The bike’s webpage still claims UL 2849 and UL 2271 certification for the bike and its battery. We’ve reached out to the testing lab, SGS, to verify those documents and will report back on what we find.

Our Take:

Fake certifications are one of the more dangerous problems in this industry, because a UL mark is supposed to mean something specific about how a battery was tested. When that mark shows up on a product that never went through the process, riders are trusting a label that doesn’t hold up. This ruling won’t fix the whole problem on its own, but it’s a real consequence for companies that have been getting away with it. We’ll update this story once we hear back from SGS.

The CPSC has issued a new warning telling owners of Ridstar’s Q20 and Q20 Lite e-bikes to stop riding them immediately. These same models were already the subject of a battery safety warning back in March, when 11 fire-related incidents had been reported and Ridstar refused to agree to a recall.

This latest warning is about the front wheels, which can detach without warning and create a serious crash hazard. As of June 25th, the CPSC had logged 32 related incidents, 31 of which involved broken bones, concussions, cuts, and bruises. Ridstar has again been unresponsive to the agency’s efforts to get more information or start a recall. The CPSC is urging owners to stop using these e-bikes and dispose of them, with batteries taken to a local household hazardous waste center. The bikes were manufactured in China and sold through AliExpress, Amazon, Walmart, and Ridstar’s own site.

Our Take:

Two separate safety warnings on the same model in a matter of months, with no recall and no response from the manufacturer, is about as bad as it gets. A detaching front wheel is not a minor defect. We’d add that this is a good example of why thru-axle designs, which use a threaded bolt instead of a quick-release skewer, are worth seeking out. If you or someone you know owns one of these bikes, stop riding it.

Galian’s new Formidable is a French-built cargo e-bike with both a rear seat and a front passenger compartment, giving it a claimed capacity to carry up to four kids at once. The front compartment uses 5-point harnesses, while the rear seat has a folding handrail so parents don’t have to lift kids into place. Total carrying capacity is 250 kg, or 551 lbs.

The frame is made in France from 7000-series aluminum with a 10-year warranty, and buyers can choose between a Valeo Cyclee mid-drive with 130 Nm of torque and an integrated automatic gear system, or a Bosch motor with 120 Nm paired to a 9-speed Shimano CUES drivetrain. Battery options run from a 630 Wh pack on the Valeo system to 545 Wh or 800 Wh packs on the Bosch version. The bike uses a steer-by-wire system with up to 90 degrees of tire turn for tight maneuvering, along with 3-inch balloon tires, 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes, and 203mm rotors. Pricing starts at 7,500 Euros, with options for an alarm, location tracking, and a passenger canopy.

Our Take:

This is a genuinely capable design, and the four-kid capacity alone sets it apart from most family cargo bikes we’ve seen. We’d love to see more options like this reach the US, but for now, Europe still has the edge when it comes to cargo bike variety and features like steer-by-wire tuning.

ARC’s Cedar Drift Cycling Sneakers are artisanal, small-batch, handcrafted leather mountain biking shoes designed for use with clipless SPD-compatible pedals. They’re waterproof and built with a composite shank for efficient power transfer, a composite midsole for support, and a reinforced toe box for structure and protection. A lace cover with a snap keeps laces clean and prevents snagging. They’re priced at $240.

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