Electric Bike Reviews, News, & Testing

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Patrick Brady

E-bike Writer & Reviewer

Patrick got his start as a bike reviewer back in the 1990s before e-bikes were a thing. In more than 30 years of writing about cycling, he has written about every angle of the sport—bike reviews, travel features, essays, race coverage, how-tos, personality profiles and more. His work has appeared everywhere from Bicycling Magazine to Mountain Flyer. He’s the former publisher of the cycling blog Red Kite Prayer and Asphalt Magazine. He served as chief judge for the North American Handmade Bicycle Show for seven years. On the weekends he helps coach his son’s mountain bike team and tries to remember not to catch air in front of impressionable kids.

Get to Know Patrick Brady

Certifications

  • MFA University of Massachusetts, Amherst
  • BPS University of Memphis
  • SBCU graduate
  • Fit Kit Certified
  • Lowell Thomas Award for travel writing

Favorite Style of E-Bike

Mountain, Gravel and Road

Favorite E-Bikes Reviewed

Yuba Spicy Curry

Current Bikes You Ride/Own

Mark DiNucci custom gravel, Chris Bishop custom road, No. 22 Drifter custom gravel bike, Allied Cycle Works Echo gravel bike, Ibis Ripley mountain bike, Ibis Exie mountain bike, Co-Motion tandem, Yuba Spicy Curry, the one and only Brady custom cyclocross bike

Favorite New E-bike Tested

Globe Haul ST

Hobbies

Regular bikes, writing fiction, playing music (reformed rock drummer), wine tasting (Pinot Noir, anyone?)

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

Patrick Brady

Xnito Helmet Review 2024

Xnito Helmet Review
In our Xnito helmet review, we will look at what makes this helmet different from helmets that typically meet American CPSC requirements.

Where e-bikes are concerned, Europe has led the way in a great many regards. Europe is also leading the way where safety is concerned with the NTA8776 helmet standard. The Xnito helmet is a helmet that meets this standard, created for riders powering along on Class 3 e-bikes, which have a maximum speed of 28 mph.


Xnito is offering EBR readers 10% off their purchase when you use the code: ELECTRICBIKEREPORT

The Xnito helmet foregoes any needlessly fancy technologies that can drive up the price of a helmet in favor of in-molded EPS (Expanded polystyrene, the foam inside the helmet) with a greater thickness seen in most helmets. And unlike some in-moded helmets, the plastic outer shell into which the EPS is molded wraps around the bottom of the helmet to help protect from dings. It’s built to be safe for crashes, but also withstand the bumps that come from natural use as well.

[Read more…] about Xnito Helmet Review 2024

Denago City Model 1 Electric Bike Review 2024

Denago City Model 1 Review 2024

Every now and then we run across an e-bike that surprises us. The surprise can take many forms. Some e-bikes are an exceptional value. Some have a motor that could power a rider up Mt. Kilimanjaro, or a battery that would last all the way across Texas. Sometimes the surprises—plural—make a bike seem almost too good to be true. Such is the case with the Denago City Model 1 we reviewed: a newer e-bike company that delivered in multiple areas better than we expected.

The Denago City Model 1, the company’s first e-bike, does so much right that we were reluctant to criticize it much at all. Below $2000, we would be pleased to see a bike offered in three different sizes, or sporting hydraulic disc brakes, or equipped with a motor that would laugh at hills, provided it could laugh. The Denago City Model 1 distinguishes itself by giving riders all three of those features—a killer motor, hydraulic discs and multiple sizes.

The obvious question is how Denago managed to create a bike that does so much while competing in the ever-competitive sub $2000 pricepoint. This isn’t sleight of hand. The company made some strategic choices in order to create a bike that is as unique as a fingerprint.

In our review of the Denago City Model 1 we will examine the choices they made and ultimately the trades that were necessary to give the strengths it enjoys.

[Read more…] about Denago City Model 1 Electric Bike Review 2024

FLX Babymaker 2 E-Bike Review 2024

FLX Babymaker 2 Review 2024

Fixies—single-speed road bikes—have been quite the rage for some years now. The FLX Babymaker 2 takes the flat-bar road bike and gives it the e-bike upgrade. Put another way, it takes a good time and makes it better. We will look at the how and why in our FLX Babymaker 2 review.

The FLX Babymaker 2 uses an Aikema brushless, geared hub motor rated at 350W and paired with a 360Wh Samsung battery. And yes, that’s a relatively small motor and battery in absolute numbers, but. The but is that while the power of a motor is absolute, the amount of work it can do is relative to how much mass it is moving. Cut an e-bike’s weight in half—say 35 lbs. instead of 70 lbs.—and suddenly a 350W motor can offer terrific acceleration and sustained speed – which we’re happy to report the Babymaker 2 has in spades.

The attraction with the FLX Babymaker 2 is its ride experience. This fixie-styled e-bike trades on sporty handling, a stealthy appearance that serves to keep the bike light and spirited acceleration.

But how does all of this add up for the cyclist on the roads? Dive into the meat of our FLX Babymaker 2 review down below to find out.

[Read more…] about FLX Babymaker 2 E-Bike Review 2024

MOD Easy Electric Bike Review 2024

Mod Bikes Easy Review 2022

From the onset of our MOD Easy review it was apparent that the Easy as much a statement as it is an e-bike. It is the assertion that any bike is green enough, practical enough and that prioritizing style isn’t a wildly unaffordable luxury, but in fact, can come as standard equipment. What may surprise many potential buyers is just how practical this e-bike is once we look past its, uh, look. Whether someone chooses the charcoal black finish or the army green, this e-bike evokes the look of the Harleys the military put troops on during WWII; all it lacks is the big, white star on the tank. That tank may look decorative, but it plays a real role in the bike’s design: the battery is hidden inside the tank. Our MOD Easy review will look at these features along with arguably its best feature, its motor.

The MOD Easy can be ridden as is, or it also comes in a version with what they call the Side Boat—a sidecar. The addition of the Side Boat further cements the old-school motorcycle styling while adding the option for carrying a pet, small cargo, or a little rider. It’s worth noting that the addition of the Side Boast drastically changes up the ride experience, and we’ll get more into that in the meat of there review.

Without the sidecar, this has all the hallmarks of a terrific cruiser. It has the upright position, back-swept handlebar, the low-slung design that keeps the rider closer to the ground than with more traditional bikes and a giant saddle that is keister friendly. And while this bike may appear to have placed form ahead of function, that’s not the case at all: MOD includes fenders, a rear rack and lights on the Easy. Maybe the message that they are trying to send is that it’s possible to both have the cake and eat it too.

[Read more…] about MOD Easy Electric Bike Review 2024

State Bicycle Co. All-Road Helmet Review, 2022

Specialized Mode Helmet Review - profile view of the bike helmet

Riders who want to explore wild places, such as parks with dirt roads or trails, need a helmet different than one that might appeal to a commuter. When someone rides an e-bike off of paved streets, traction can become a little more unpredictable and the possibility of a fall—even a minor one—increases. The State Bicycle Co. All-Road Helmet is made just for such riding.

In our review of the State Bicycle Co. All-Road Helmet, we will look at what makes the All-Road Helmet suitable for riding unpaved terrain, how comfortable it is, sizing and fit.

[Read more…] about State Bicycle Co. All-Road Helmet Review, 2022

Specialized Tone Bike Helmet Review

Specialized Tone Helmet Review profile view of the helmet

With its understated look, the Specialized Tone helmet is the sort of helmet that could coax the reluctant into donning a skid lid. The Tone hits a terrific price point (<$100) and as we started reviewing the Specialized Tone helmet we were thrilled to see it still includes a MIPS liner which can reduce rotational forces, should the need arise. We’re pleasantly surprised to see such a full-featured helmet retail in such an affordable price range.

Whether you’re an e-bike rider, or still riding traditional bikes, the Tone is a stylish option worth considering. It’s become the daily use helmet for one of the Electric Bike Report staff members for numerous reasons. Read on below to see why.

[Read more…] about Specialized Tone Bike Helmet Review

Specialized Mode Electric Bike Helmet Review

Specialized Mode Helmet Review - profile view of the bike helmet

As soon as we got the Specialized Mode helmet in for review it was remarkable at how, well, normal looking it is. Frankly, there are a great many bike helmets that look like they were worn in a sci-fi comedy. They can look bad enough we’ve considered riding without one—but not wearing a helmet is dumber than the way some of them look. So when one comes along that looks like a hat on steroids, well we get excited.

The Specialized Mode is a helmet aimed at all of us who would prefer not to be noticed for our headgear. It features a MIPS liner to protect against rotational forces in an accident and performed well enough when tested by Virginia Tech that they awarded it a full five-star rating in their testing.

Going even a further step above the norm, it is rated up to the Dutch NTA8776 standard making it a great option for e-bikers with the confidence that it can hold up when traveling at faster e-bike speeds.

[Read more…] about Specialized Mode Electric Bike Helmet Review

E-bike News: Orbea, BMC, and FLX Release New E-Bikes, Rad Power Bikes Has a New CEO & More!

Electric bike news 18th November

Rider safety leads our news this week with the announcement that the CPSC has decided to make Rad Power Bikes’ rim-strip safety notices a recall. The New York City Council, in the wake of several lithium-ion battery fires is considering bills to improve the safety of the batteries. Some of the legislation could include fines.

In this week’s e-bike news:

  • FLX Introduces the “Menace,” Modeled on the Schwinn Stingray
  • E-Bike Black Friday well underway
  • Rad Power Bikes CEO Steps Down
  • CPSC issues recall on some Rad Power Bikes’ rim strips
  • BMC Launches new, premium e-road bike, the Roadmachine 01 AMP X
  • Orbea updates its popular enduro eMTB, The Wild

[Read more…] about E-bike News: Orbea, BMC, and FLX Release New E-Bikes, Rad Power Bikes Has a New CEO & More!

Thousand Chapter Helmet Review

Thousand Chapter MIPS Review 2022
The Thousand Chapter helmet we’re reviewing with MIPS offers all the protection found in expensive road bike and mountain bike helmets at an affordable price point. It also presents an understated look that can be accessorized with different colored visors (including rose gold, neon yellow and tortoise shell), while magnets at the rear of the helmet allow a rider to attach a blinking light, which is included.

In our Thousand Chapter helmet review we will look at what else makes it a great buy for e-bikers and traditional cyclists alike..

[Read more…] about Thousand Chapter Helmet Review

Bosch Performance Line CX Race Limited Edition: A Motor For eMTB Racing

Bosch Introduces New Motor Specifically for eMTB Racing

Bosch Performance Line CX Race Limited Edition: A Motor For eMTB Racing

Stuttgart, Germany—In a move that will excite eMTB enthusiasts, Bosch has introduced a limited-edition motor destined specifically for eMTBs that will be raced. While eMTB racing isn’t huge in the U.S., in Europe eMTB racing has taken off and the e-bikes used by racers have been dropping in weight. This new lightweight motor is called the Bosch Performance Line CX Race Limited Edition; it presents an evolution and upgrade from Bosch’s existing Performance Line CX motors. This new motor will be found on top-of-the-line eMTBs from recognized brands.

What Makes The Bosch Performance Line CX Race Limited Edition

The Bosch Performance Line CX Race Limited Edition can, like some of Bosch’s other motors, multiply a rider’s effort up to 400 percent, while tipping the scales at just 6.1 lbs., making it the lightest motor in the Bosch e-bike portfolio. In decreasing the motor’s weight, the overall e-bike weight will be reduced, which will improve the eMTB’s handling and make it easier to corner with and jump over obstacles. The controller will offer a “Race” mode which will offer even punchier performance than found in Bosch’s Turbo mode. They claim that only very experienced riders will possess the skill set necessary to fully utilize and control the motor’s performance in Race mode.

In designing the Bosch Performance Line CX Race Limited Edition, the engineers gave it some very impressive performance parameters. In addition to multiplying a rider’s effort by as much as 400 percent, the motor also delivers a whopping 85Nm of torque, which will deliver exceptional performance on steep climbs. They also gave Bosch’s Extended Boost feature an upgrade. Extended Boost allows for an extra kick when encountering boulders, stairs, downed trees or extended rooty passages; it is said to provide additional power for up to 2m (about 6 feet). Top speed will be limited to 20 mph.

Bosch eBike PI CX Race

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