*Electric Bike Report’s founder Pete Prebus contributed this interview. We’re always happy when Pete comes back to share the stories he’s covering in the e-bike world.
I recently had the privilege of interviewing Sushil Reddy and Luis Fourzan along their ~7,000-mile solar electric bike tour around the US.
Sushi and Luis were riding through Tucson, Arizona during their SunPedal Ride that is focused on raising awareness of clean energy and sustainable mobility.
And what better way to do that than riding a solar electric bike?
- The route and weather challenges
- Previous SunPedal Ride tours
- The inspiration for the tours
- How they promote solar and e-bikes
- The people they’ve met along the way
- The highlights and surprises
- How much the solar panels help & bike specs
- Comparison of the solar e-bikes to the traditional e-bikes
- Their impressions of US bike infrastructure
- Their tips for e-bikes touring
- What the future looks like for solar and e-bikes
Enjoy the interview!
It was great to meet Sushil and Luis in person as I have followed Sushil’s previous SunPedal Rides online and been inspired by his journey to raise awareness of solar and e-bikes.
They have been successful in garnering a lot of local media attention along the way and as you can see from their social media channels they have also had good connections with universities, energy groups, bike groups, and more.
Additionally, they have had many conversations with people just passing by who are curious to learn more about their tour. It’s hard to miss a solar e-bike!
Overall this is a great way to get out and spread the word about the possibilities of solar and e-bikes and I am excited to follow Sushil and Luis along with their adventures!
-Pete
State of the Industry at the People for Bikes 2021 eBike Summit
State of the Industry at the People for Bikes 2021 eBike Summit
By: Pete Prebus
After a year off due to Covid, everyone was excited to meet up in person and discuss the state of the electric bike world.
This year’s eBike summit had a good group of topics to cover which included:
- The state of the eBike boom
- Rider safety
- Advocacy
- Innovative eMTB uses
- The new eBike battery recycling program
This year’s summit was held in Tucson, Arizona in conjunction with the 38th annual El Tour de Tucson which is a road ride that drew over 6,700 cyclists for rides of 28 miles, 57 miles, and 102 miles and this year there was a new eBike route included in the event. A number of the attendees of the summit rode in El Tour. El Tour de Tucson is a ride focused on raising funds for charity and non-profit organizations while promoting health and wellness.
The eBike summit kicked off with a happy hour at a local brew pub to network and catch up with friends in the industry. There was a lot of enthusiasm to catch up after so much time away due to COVID.
The weather did not disappoint either with highs in the low 80s, many people who traveled in from colder regions were happy to enjoy some time in the sun.
The next morning there was a fun group eBike ride from the University of Arizona campus along one of the bike boulevards. I rode a Santa Cruz Heckler to start with and then swapped half way through the ride for a Moustache Samedi Xroad step-thru. There were many different styles of eBikes for the riders to try.
After the fun ride the seminar started with a look at the state of the industry with Ash Lovell, PhD from People for Bikes hosting the summit.
A hot topic was the eBike boom that happened during the pandemic as more and more people found eBikes to be a great way to get out and explore their towns, cities, and recreational areas.
Jennifer Boldry from NAXION presented sales data and as you can see from the charts above 2020 and 2021 have seen an incredible rise of eBike sales! An important note is that these numbers are from traditional bicycle retailers that provide sales data to the NPD Group. This data does not include sales data from electric bike specialty retailers, direct to consumer eBike companies, third party eCommerce stores, and used eBikes. So with that in mind, the sales numbers are actually higher but the general trend is the important part.
[Read more…] about State of the Industry at the People for Bikes 2021 eBike Summit
eBikeNews: Yamaha’s full-suspension eMTB, Bulls Bikes XC/Commuter, 200 mile range Model C cruiser, Bikes for climate change, and more
- Yamaha Launches First Full-Suspension All-Mountain eMTB: The YDX MORO
- Bulls Bikes Releases New XC/Commuter eBike: The ICONIC EVO TR 1 SPEED E-SUV
- A 200 Mile range Cruiser from Electric Bike Company
- iZIP announces new E3 Path Plus Step Thru and Path Plus Step Over commuter bike
- Updated ABUS URBAN-I 3.0 Helmet
- Bikes as a solution to climate change?
- Win a new eBike by participating People for Bikes’ Annual Survey
New eBikes; eBike Systems
Yamaha YDX Moro and YDX Moro Pro: Yamaha’s Entry Into Full Suspension eMTB Category
(YDX-MORO in Desert Yellow)
Yamaha has announced the release of two new all-mountain e-Bikes: the YDX-MORO and the YDX-MORO Pro. The YDX-MORO bikes are All-Mountain Class 1 e-Bikes with pedal assist up to 20 mph. They feature a proprietary Yamaha PW-X2 Motor with an upgraded Quad Sensor System. This Quad system adds an angle sensor to Yamaha’s current Triple Sensor System which permits the addition of Automatic mode for a seamless transition between assist levels. Both the YDX-MORO and Pro also have an incline sensor and a new walk mode — a handy feature when you need a touch of assist while walking your bike up a techy climb. The YDX-MORO bikes also utilize an all-new patent-pending Dual-Twin Frame™ with integrated battery cage and a Horst link dual suspension design.
[Read more…] about eBikeNews: Yamaha’s full-suspension eMTB, Bulls Bikes XC/Commuter, 200 mile range Model C cruiser, Bikes for climate change, and more
iGO Discovery Atwater Electric Bike Review Part 2: Ride & Range Test [VIDEO]
After many miles of testing the new iGO Discovery Atwater it has proven to be a comfortable and high-tech eCommuter bike with performance capabilities.
A smartphone app lets you customize the ride performance and the haptic feedback from the control pad makes the bike feel very modern.
The Atwater has an easy and comfortable ride style with its low 17″ step through frame and upright riding position.
The Atwater also has performance capabilities with its 750 watt (500 in Canada) motor and high capacity 48V 14ah battery posting impressive range.
At $2,299 with free shipping the iGO Discovery Atwater offers a lot of high end features for a relatively economical price.
In this second part of the full review you will get an idea of the ride characteristics, range test results, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this electric bike. [Read more…] about iGO Discovery Atwater Electric Bike Review Part 2: Ride & Range Test [VIDEO]
iGO Discovery Atwater Electric Bike Review Part 1 – Pictures & Specs
The new high-tech and feature rich iGO Discovery Atwater step through is in for testing and review!
The Atwater features a smartphone app for ride performance customization and haptic feedback from the control pad.
It features a hydroformed aluminum frame with internal battery and a low step through area for easily getting on the bike.
The specs are impressive with a high capacity (672 Wh) lithium battery, 750 watt (500 Canada) motor, Shimano components, aluminum fenders & rack, LED lights, and much more!
This commuter style eBike is priced at $2,299 USD with free shipping.
In this first part of the review you will get a detailed look at this bike with a BUNCH of pictures and the specifications. [Read more…] about iGO Discovery Atwater Electric Bike Review Part 1 – Pictures & Specs
Gear Roundup: DZR Cove Cypress Shoes, Hiplok Gold Superbight Lock, ABUS Pedelec 2.0 Helmet [VIDEO]
Time for a look at some new bike accessories that can make your eBike ride safer, more comfortable, convenient, and fun!
In this roundup we have the:
- DZR Cove Cypress Shoes
- Hiplok Gold Superbright Lock
- ABUS Pedelec 2.0 Helmet
Carrying Cargo: Old Man Mountain Sherpa Rack & Chrome Barrage Pannier
I’ve recently been riding the Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 HPC SL eMTB as an all around eBike for off road and on road adventures, commuting, and errand running.
It has also been a good test eBike for a number of accessories that enable it to be a great do-it-all eBike.
Carrying cargo is an important part for adventure rides and running errands around town.
A good combination of gear for carrying cargo on this full suspension eMTB is the Old Man Mountain Sherpa Rack with Chrome Barrage Pannier.
[Read more…] about Carrying Cargo: Old Man Mountain Sherpa Rack & Chrome Barrage Pannier
Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE Electric Cargo Bike Rack Review [VIDEO]
Hollywood Racks has been very progressive in developing many electric bike racks for vehicles and the latest addition to their line up is an eCargo bike option.
The Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE for Cargo Bikes accommodates longer and wider cargo bikes that also generally weigh more than traditional bikes.
This rack can support eBikes up to 80 pounds of weight per bike!
That can be 2 eCargo bikes or a variety of eBike types, including fat tire eBikes.
The base price for the Sport Rider SE for Cargo Bikes is $439.99. [Read more…] about Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE Electric Cargo Bike Rack Review [VIDEO]
Surface 604 Rook Electric Bike Review Part 2: Ride & Range Test [VIDEO]
After many miles of testing the Surface 604 Rook it has proven to be an easy get on and go step-thru eCommuter with a comfortable upright position.
The Rook posted impressive range and it has a smooth and powerful ride feel with the torque sensor pedal assist system.
It also has a durable ride feel from quality components from Bafang, Shimano, Tektro, and Kenda.
And a full accessory package makes it ready for the daily commute and adventure rides.
The Rook is priced at $1,999 with free shipping which is a good value considering the features, quality components, and accessories.
In this second part of the full review you will get an idea of the ride characteristics, range test results, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this electric bike. [Read more…] about Surface 604 Rook Electric Bike Review Part 2: Ride & Range Test [VIDEO]
Surface 604 Rook Electric Bike Review Part 1 – Pictures & Specs
The new Surface 604 Rook step-thru eCommuter bike has arrived for testing and review!
With its easy get on and ride step-thru design and upright ride position the Rook is a comfortable eBike for zipping around town.
Some of the feature highlights are a torque sensor pedal assist system in addition to throttle assisting up to 20 mph along with two battery options.
Component highlights include a 500 watt (750 watt peak) Bafang geared rear hub motor, 48V 10.4ah battery (+optional 14ah extended range battery), Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brakes, Shimano Alivio 9 speed drivetrain, and a full assortment of accessories.
The $1,999 base price includes free shipping and the optional extended range battery adds $200.
In this first part of the review you will get a detailed look at this bike with a BUNCH of pictures and the specifications. [Read more…] about Surface 604 Rook Electric Bike Review Part 1 – Pictures & Specs