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Michael Clark

SONDORS Returns? Shimano’s new autoshift system, an e-cargo conversion product | TWR Ep 34

Plus Safe Temps For Riding Your E-Bike, Aventure 3 Vs Nomad 2x On Hills, Paying For Features You Might Not Use & More!

This week’s e-bike news carries a familiar theme for the second week in a row: a comeback attempt from a brand many assumed was gone for good. SONDORS, once a major player in the e-bike and e-motorcycle space, is trying to stage a return with a new eMoto being launched on IndieGoGo. But it may face an uphill battle, as the company shuttered in 2023, leaving hundreds of customers out deposits for the never-delivered Metacycle.

There were also other product announcements. Shimano revealed a new automatic shifting system for its CUES drivetrain. The tech is housed in a self-powered rear hub that includes a dynamo, a self-charging lithium-ion capacitor, and sensors for speed, cadence, and gradient. Meanwhile, British startup Micro Mobility Labs is prepping the launch of an electric trailer designed to turn any bike into an e-cargo machine, offering powered assist up to 16 mph and a range of up to 19 miles.

And in the Q&A section of the video below, we tackle a few hot topics: safe weather temps for e-bike rides, hill climb comparisons between the Aventure 2 and Nomad 2X, and whether it’s worth buying a bike packed with more features than you think you need, just for the ride quality.

Rad Power Bikes RadRunner Plus Review

Rad Power Bikes RadRunner Plus Review: Overview

The Rad Power BikesRadRunner Plus is a modern and intuitive Class 2 electric utility bike from Rad Power Bikes that combines a well thought out frame design with a powerful 750W motor and 48V, 14Ah battery.

If you’re looking for a clean and efficient alternative to your car, a good small cargo bike or you’re simply looking for an electric bike that will seat another person on the rear, the RadRunner Plus is a great choice.

During our RadRunner Plus review we put the bike through our hill climb test, brake test, circuit test and range test to give us a good idea of what the RadRunner Plus is made of. The Runner is a great bang for your buck e-bike with a lot of included quality parts and features, all while keeping the Runner around the $1,700 price point.

By the end of this review you should have a good idea of if the RadRunner Plus is the right Class 2 utility e-bike for you.

Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 4 Review | The Iconic Cargo Ride

Now more affordable than ever, the faithful Rad workhorse offers great value for all your cargo needs.

The RadWagon 4 by Rad Power Bikes is a versatile cargo and commuter electric bike tailored for urban use. With a peak motor output of 750 watts, a 672 Wh battery, and a variety of available attachments, the RadWagon 4 is an impressively adaptable e-bike that could be an ideal solution for those looking to replace or reduce their reliance on a car. It’s a standout model, offering a different function and design compared to other Rad Power Bikes we’ve reviewed.

During our testing and review at Electric Bike Report, six team members collectively rode over 100 miles on the RadWagon 4. Without exception, every rider was pleasantly surprised by how much fun this e-bike is to ride.

At approximately 77 lbs, we initially expected a bike that would be difficult to handle and possibly underpowered. However, we discovered the opposite. The bike’s handling was excellent, even when loaded to its impressive 350-lb payload capacity with passengers and cargo. It tackled hills effortlessly, and the lower step-over height combined with the telescoping seat post made it accessible to riders of varying heights—from 5’4” to 6’5”.

Bottom line: If you’re in the market for a powerful, affordable e-bike capable of carrying cargo, passengers, and just about everything else, the RadWagon 4 by Rad Power Bikes is worth serious consideration.

Velotric Discover 1 Electric Bike Review

Velotric Discover 1 Electric Step Thru E-Bike Review

Velotric Discover 1 Review: Overview

The Velotric Discover 1 is a Class 2 electric step-thru bike that walks the fine line between commuter and cruiser. During the Velotric Discover 1 review we learned it has the upright and comfortable positioning of a cruiser while sporting the looks and handling of a commuter bike, taking the best aspects from both bike styles.

The Discover 1 comes with a 500W rear hub motor, and 48V, 14.4Ah internally integrated battery. The Velotric Discover 1 review was an interesting one, as we have tested numerous bikes with similar price points, and specs — we were eager to see how the Discover 1 stacked up to competitors bikes.

We conducted multiple tests to find out where the Discover 1 falls into the grand scheme of budget friendly Class 2 e-bikes, by the end of this write up you should have a good understanding of the Velotric Discover 1’s capabilities, strong suits and more.

The Velotric Discover 1 we tested was a pre-production model — which is something to keep in mind throughout the Velotric Discover 1 review write up and video. As of this writing for the Discover 1 review, Velotric is currently raising funds on Indiegogo, but will fully launch on their own website soon. Let’s jump in.

*Editor’s Note: Velotric no longer sells the Discover 1, but they do have it’s upgraded model the Discover 1 Plus. See the review here.

ZF Has a 48-Volt Mid-Drive Motor

The ZF CentriX Drive is a surprisingly lightweight system with up to 600W and 90Nm of power output, while offering powerful 48V circuitry.

Most mid-drive motors operate on 36V systems. That’s because most mid-drive motors produce just 250W, nominally. The German company ZF has introduced a new mid-drive motor, the CentriX drive, that uses 48V circuitry to supply power more readily.

The ZF CentriX Drive is a mid-drive motor that can produce up to 90Nm of torque and a maximum power output of 600W. Those are solid numbers but what is even more impressive is that the CentriX Drive weighs just 2.5kg (5.5 lbs.). In fact, ZF makes two different versions of the CentriX Drive, the CentriX 90, which produces up to 600W and 90Nm of torque and the CentriX 75, which produces up to 450W and 75Nm of torque.

The motors can be configured with either a 504Wh or 756Wh battery. ZF also produces a controller, a color display, a top-tube-mounted power button and a smartphone app.

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Based on the specs alone, the ZF CentriX Drives seem destined to be sought-after systems for eMTBs and lightweight road and gravel e-bikes. Low weight, high power output and a 33 percent increase in voltage should certainly get the attention of manufacturers.

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2024 E-Bike Trends Predictions: How Are We Doing So Far?

At the beginning of the year (Where did those four months go?) we published our predictions for the coming e-bike year. We are far enough into the year now that we thought we should take a look at those predictions and see how we are doing. The e-bike market is in the most rapid evolution we’ve seen since e-bikes became a blip on the radar.

E-bikes to look forward to

Will new motors and systems emerge?

Battery breakthroughs?

Battery certification and recycling

More e-bike cars, and microcars?

E-bikes to look forward to

Van Moof

The Dutch city bike maker was purchased out of bankruptcy and we recently reported that the new owner, Lavoie had discontinued the warranty-issue-plagued X3 and X3 and that they would add a full-suspension city e-bike and build a network of independent dealers.

As of this writing, they still haven’t resumed selling e-bikes.

More lightweight e-bikes and eMTBs

We noted that the launch of some lightweight mid-drive motors in 2023 should translate to an increased number of lightweight e-bikes. It takes about a year from when a new product hits the market before we see it spec’d on new or existing models.

We are definitely seeing a rising number of lightweight e-bikes, particularly eMTBs. Two of our favorite examples from this spring are the Aventon Ramblas and the Canyon Neuron:ONfly. These are two eMTBs that their competitors are examining how to compete against, which is good news for everyone considering an eMTB purchase.

Gocycle

The next product for Gocycle is to be a cargo e-bike. They announced the Gocycle G4, G4i and G4i+ at the end of 2023 and said it would be introduced in 2024, but as of yet, none of the G4 variants are available for purchase.

Will new motors and systems emerge?

SRAM

Since our January reporting on Amprio’s RMAG mid-drive motor, SRAM has purchased the company. This will speed up SRAM’s entry into the e-bike market. Considering SRAM’s product lineup focuses on more expensive enthusiast end of the market, it seems reasonable to expect that we will see the RMAG motors on eMTBs primarily.

SRAM is simultaneously working on its Eagle Powertrain, which is based on a Bosch motor, shown above. The SRAM Eagle Powertrain has been spec’d on an ever-growing number of e-bikes including the Megawatt 297 from Nukeproof, the GASGAS ECC and MXC enduro and all-mountain eMTBs, the Transition Repeater PT and Propain Ekano.

Pinion

While we have yet to see the Pinion MGU that combines both a motor and gearbox in a single unit, Lectric surprised everyone with their introduction of the ONE. It appears to be the only e-bike on the market in the $2000 price range equipped with the Pinion gearbox.

Veer

Since our reporting on Veer’s 2-speed drivetrain for the Gates carbon belt drive, their crowdfunding effort on Start Engine has closed and they raised more than $300,000. Veer’s innovative drivetrain will appear on bikes and e-bikes from Phatfour, Detroit Bikes, Noko Bikes and Multicycle.

Porsche

While there’s no new word yet on the mid-drive motor that Porsche is developing, five models of the Rotwild-made eMTBs are available for purchase and they are taking preorders on six more models. The frame has a distinct visual language to delineate the Porsche models from Rotwild’s existing line.

Hyena E-Road AIR System

As of this writing, Hyena has removed the page for its E-Road AIR system for road e-bikes. The 2.9-lb. (1.3kg) AIR hub is listed, apparently available to OE manufacturers.

Mavic X-Tend

French wheel maker Mavic has teased a new, ultra-small mid-drive e-bike motor. The X-Tend is reported to produce a rather modest 39Nm of torque and is powered by a 250Wh battery. Other than the media reports that have been published, there is no mention of the motor elsewhere, including Mavic’s website.

KMC

Chain maker KMC has announced an e-bike system called Kynamic that will give manufacturers a choice between a 250W hub motor and a 200W mid-drive motor. The system is powered by a 497Wh internal battery. So far, Whyte Bikes is the only company to spec the Kynamic system on an e-bike, its city e-bikes, the RHeO 2 and RHeO 3, which aren’t available online yet.

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Battery breakthroughs?

We are seeing battery technology improvements in 2024. Rad Power Bikes has introduced a new battery technology they call Safe Shield. With Safe Shield, the cells are “potted,” that is, they are encased in a resin that can dissipate heat should a battery cell heat up to a dangerous level, helping to prevent thermal runaway.

Pedego recently announced three new models—a cargo e-bike, an e-moped and an e-trike—that will all be equipped with potted batteries. Though they haven’t followed that up with an announcement that they are changing over the batteries in their existing models, but it seems a safe bet to think that once they sell through their existing stock the next wave of product to arrive from Asia will have potted batteries as well.

Battery certification and recycling

UL certification for both batteries and systems has been on the rise. Rad Power Bikes has secured certification for both their electronics systems (UL 2849) and their batteries (UL 2271). Aventon and Denago have also secured UL 2849 and 2271 certifications for their e-bikes and batteries. One of the biggest brands in the market, Lectric, provides all of their e-bikes with batteries certified to UL 2271. These companies aren’t alone, either. The industry has embraced the need to instill confidence in consumers and we can expect to see all of the reputable manufacturers follow suit.

A new law in Utah is the first to define unrestricted e-bikes as Out of Class (OCEV). There are some ambiguities to the law (particularly how it defines a 750W motor) that need to be clarified, but it is the first law in the country to address e-bikes and e-mopeds that can go faster than 28 mph.

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More e-bike cars and more microcars

E-bike cars and microcars are an emerging new take on what an e-bike can be. There’s a need for delivery vehicles with a smaller carbon footprint than a typical delivery van and more payload capacity than a cargo e-bike. FedEx has announced new vehicles that will be used in high-density European cities.

The Canadian company ENVO just announced a tadpole recumbent e-trike with an enclosure called the Veemo which is meant to address the reluctance of many drivers to give up the protection from the elements that their cars provide.

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Burley Nomad Review 2024

Light, Nimble Touring Trailer, Holds up to 100 lbs of Cargo

The Burley Nomad bike trailer is perfect for the touring cyclist who needs to carry cargo. This 16 lbs trailer offers 2.4 square feet of open space so can pack just about anything you want to bring with you, and also includes a rain cover. We tested out the Nomad to help you decide if it’s the right trailer for you – read all about it in this Burley Nomad trailer review!

We were pleased to note that the Nomad’s hitch attached quickly and easily to our test bike using the axle nut, allowing us to hit the road in no time. The solidly built aluminum chassis remained stable during all of our rides, giving us the confidence that we could tow safely for many miles.

Himiway D3 Cruiser Electric Bike Review

Summary Review: Himiway D3 Cruiser Electric Bike

*See the latest price on the Himiway Cruiser here

The Himiway brand was created by Mike Magaruh in 2017. Mike traveled around Asia familiarizing himself with e-bike manufacturers, and the component brands behind them. He then put his knowledge to use to create the Himiway brand which combines reputable componentry with a rugged outdoor design. With this in mind, we’ve looked forward with great anticipation for our chance to review the Himiway Cruiser. For this review Electric Bike Report tested both the step-thru and regular Cruiser models.

The Himiway Cruiser is a powerful all-terrain fat bike that specializes in trudging through snow, sand, and most any other surface while also destroying hill climbs. Priced right around $1,500, we think the Himiway Cruiser and Step-thru offer a lot of value – just be prepared and know that you are getting a powerful e-bike that takes off quickly and is super fast, so hold on tight!

If you are looking for a good-priced, powerful e-bike that’s able to ride on a wide range of terrain, then the Himiway Cruiser is a great option to look at. Especially thanks to the two different frame options to choose from.

Himiway Escape Pro Review | Full-Suss Moped For The Win?

Himiway Escape Review: Overview

The Himiway Escape is a Class 3 moped-style electric bike that thrives in big cities and small towns. Thanks to its 750W motor, fat tires and full suspension design the Escape has a wide range of capability and utility.

When our team here at Electric Bike Report heard we were conducting the Himiway Escape review we honestly didn’t know what to expect. All of us really dug the visuals of the Escape, but I personally wasn’t sure if its performance was going to match its looks.

It turns out the Escape provides a fun factor that isn’t like any other Himiway bikes I’ve tested and reviewed. It’s low center of gravity and full suspension design makes you want to hop off a curb or boost off a natural kicker simply due to how fun it is.

The Escape is an electric bike that you can commute on, or ride around for fun; it does both equally well and its unique design leaves its utility completely up to the rider. With that being said I think the “Escape” name for Himiways moped style e-bike is very fitting.

*Himiway is sharing some savings with the EBR audience! When you click the button above and use the discount code ELECTRICBIKEREPORT you will save $50 at checkout!.

E-Bike News: Utility Series from Vvolt plus Canyon, Yamaha and Cube New Releases!

Not that long ago electric cargo bikes were seen as something of a niche, but this week’s news confirms they are much centre stage in the current e-bike world – both in the US and Europe. Based in one the US’s leading cycle cities, Portland, Oregon, Vvolt have chosen to launch a range of small-wheeled e-bikes that can carry pretty large loads – as their mission statement webpage says, they are ‘all about making daily transportation better for everyone.’

Meanwhile, over in Europe, Cube once had a reputation for making pretty conventional but high quality and good value e-bikes and have chosen to approach the cargo e-bike market from a much more niche angle with an e-trike. Trikes and e-trikes are rare machines indeed but if anyone can make their appeal more mainstream it is Cube. Both approaches are very welcome as load carrying is still a much-under appreciated forte of e-bikes.

In this week’s e-bike news:

Volt’s new Utility Series announced for second half of 2023
Canyon revamps e-mtb range
Yamaha wants to make European inroads with its moped style Booster models
Cube’s e-trike heading for production

Michael Clark

Co-Owner, E-Bike Writer & Reviewer

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Michael Clark

Plus Safe Temps For Riding Your E-Bike, Aventure 3 Vs Nomad 2x On Hills, Paying For Features You Might Not Use & More!

Rad Power Bikes RadRunner Plus Review: Overview

Now more affordable than ever, the faithful Rad workhorse offers great value for all your cargo needs.

Velotric Discover 1 Review: Overview

The ZF CentriX Drive is a surprisingly lightweight system with up to 600W and 90Nm of power output, while offering powerful 48V circuitry.

E-bikes to look forward to

Van Moof

More lightweight e-bikes and eMTBs

Gocycle

Will new motors and systems emerge?

SRAM

Pinion

Veer

Porsche

Hyena E-Road AIR System

Mavic X-Tend

KMC

Battery breakthroughs?

Battery certification and recycling

More e-bike cars and more microcars

Light, Nimble Touring Trailer, Holds up to 100 lbs of Cargo

Summary Review: Himiway D3 Cruiser Electric Bike

Himiway Escape Review: Overview

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