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Michael Clark

Co-Owner, E-Bike Writer & Reviewer

Michael has been involved with many of the aspects of operating Electricbikereport.com. Figuring out how to test products and help consumers decide which e-bike is best for their personal needs is a passion. E-bike’s have the opportunity to completely change the way people move around, get outside, and get from one place to the next. Riding bikes is a daily thing around here, and man do we get to ride a lot of bikes!

Get to Know Michael Clark

Certifications

  • B.S. Accounting

Favorite Style of E-Bike

Commuters, Utility Bikes, and E-MTB’s

Favorite E-Bikes Reviewed

RadRunner 2, Globe Haul

Current Bikes You Ride/Own

Orbea Rallon, RadRunner 2, Lectric X-Pedition, Lectric XP Lite, DYU, Euphree City Robin X

Hobbies

Traveling around the world, Hanging out with my wife and kids, and growing our business.

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

Michael Clark

Bimotal Elevate E-bike Conversion Kit Review

Monterey, CALIF. (2021 Sea Otter Classic) — The Bimotal Elevate is a 750W removable electric bike motor that’s designed to retrofit your existing mountain bike into a relatively light and powerful e-bike.

Electric Bike Report has had an eye on the Bimotal system for quite a while now, but the 2021 Sea Otter Classic was the first time we actually got to ride the system and see it mounted on a bike. In short, it’s relatively discrete, easy to use and surprisingly fun.

Bimotal Elevate removed

Removed from the bike, it’s hard to believe the compact Bimotal system produces the power it does.

The Elevate can consistently produce around 50 Nm of torque and can produce up to 100 Nm in short bursts, according to the company’s CEO and founder, Toby Ricco. It mounts to the bike via the rear brake post mounts and transfers power to the rear wheel through a specially-designed rear brake rotor. In addition to the actual braking surface, that rotor also sports a machined metal cog that meshes with another cog in the motor, transferring power to the rear wheel. Powering it all is a 250Wh battery that sits where your bottle cage would normally go.

The kicker is the whole system can be removed with the flick of a few quick release levers and viola — your retrofitted e-bike is back to a pedal-powered traditional bicycle.

[Read more…] about Bimotal Elevate E-bike Conversion Kit Review

5 Coolest things from Day 1 of Sea Otter Classic 2021

Day one at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California was a whirlwind of new electric bike tech, some sneak peeks into what’s coming just over the horizon and lots of literal wind.

This October marks the return of the event after a one year COVID-forced hiatus and the industry was out in force. The Electric Bike Report team was on the ground for the first day of Sea Otter, and here’s a quick look at the shiny things that caught our eye.

Stay tuned of more in-depth bike reviews, on-camera chats with industry experts and first looks at some of the coolest new e-bikes on the market.

[Read more…] about 5 Coolest things from Day 1 of Sea Otter Classic 2021

What Are The Pro’s and Con’s of Electric Bikes?

Electric bicycles seem to be popping up everywhere, and with good reason. The self-sufficiency mixed with a little help here and there has allowed riders across the world to rediscover the fun of biking and, possibly, reconsider driving to and from work.

With so many positive benefits revolving around electric bikes it’s hard to see anything wrong with them, however there are a few cons worth discussing. This list weighs the major pros and cons of electric bikes.

Pros of Electric Bikes:

Electric bike pro #1 – The efficiency and experience of electric bikes

It’s hard not to love the feeling of hopping on an e-bike, turning it on and then flying like the wind. Thanks to the pedal assist, you get a lot more from your pedaling than on a standard bike. A common stigma revolving around electric bikes is that it takes the exercise out of biking, but that’s not true. A recent study showed e-bike riding made for a meaningful workout.

The ability to choose how hard you work when riding is a unique characteristic of e-biking; when riding with assistance you receive a consistent workout and difficulty level throughout the span of your ride, ultimately resulting in a more predictable strain level.

Commuters, off road riders and those getting out for a simple cruise are all going to benefit from being able to alter how difficult the ride is and how fast the bike is moving.

Electric Bike Pro #2 – Electric bikes are good for you and the environment

Electric bikes not only benefit your health, but also benefit the world we live in. It’s commonly accepted that electric bikes and cars are better for the environment than their gas powered predecessors, and with good reason.

A 2019 study done in Italy proved electric bikes consume 40 times less energy than a gas powered car going the same distance.

Not only does electric biking benefit the environment, it benefits you. I’ve found my work day is always better if I’ve got some exercise prior to clocking in. I’m more focused and ready for the task at hand. Being able to ride an electric bike to and from work combines exercising with eco-friendly commuting. That’s two birds with one stone!

[Read more…] about What Are The Pro’s and Con’s of Electric Bikes?

LEVA: U.S. e-bike sales should top 1 million in 2021, 3 million in coming years

Tahoe east shire trail

Guest post by: Ed Benjamin, chairman of the Light Electric Vehicle Association This post was previously published on LEVA’s website and is being reposted here for our audience.

The United States tends to make changes slowly until a tipping point is reached. And then, change can be startlingly fast.

That tipping point has occurred with electric bikes in the last two years. We are on our way to becoming the most profitable and largest western market for electric bikes.

For nearly 23 years, the U.S. electric bike market was tiny compared to the Asian and even the European electric bike market. For each of those years, I would assure my clients, readers, and peers that the U.S. will — eventually — be one of the largest markets for e-bikes and pedelecs.

Growth was slow, partly because the bicycle industry of the U.S. is focused on sport, fitness and recreation, and for years the electric bike has been regarded as primarily a transportation tool. Two wheelers as transportation has been a very small business.

Read more: Bike Mechanics Should Become LEVA Tech Certified, Or Risk Being ‘Left Behind’

But now… the limit on the U.S. market is the performance of the supply chain. U.S. brands will take almost any electric bike they can get and sell it almost as soon as it is received. Unfortunate lead times — as much as two years — are the problem.


[Read more…] about LEVA: U.S. e-bike sales should top 1 million in 2021, 3 million in coming years

Ebike News: Sea Otter Classic registration date set, Stromer and QuietKat have new owners, EU road fatalities hit all time low & much more!

One of the world’s largest bicycling events is nearing after a more than year-long hiatus; some e-bike companies were bought and sold; and U.S. lawmakers took positive steps to make our roads safer as Europe reported the fewest pedestrian road deaths on record.

Those things and more in this week’s news roundup.

In this week’s news:

  • Registration for Sea Otter Classic nears after COVID hiatus
  • European road fatalities fall to all time low
  • Transportation bill moves forward with funding for cycling, walking infrastructure
  • QuietKat acquired by Vista Outdoor, owner of several well-known outdoor brands
  • Luxury e-bike brand Stromer also gets bought
  • Support people for bikes, (maybe) win a Stromer

Registration opens next month for California’s famed Sea Otter Classic

Registration for one of the United States’ largest bicycling events is set to open next month after being postponed for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Read more…] about Ebike News: Sea Otter Classic registration date set, Stromer and QuietKat have new owners, EU road fatalities hit all time low & much more!

E-Bike Battery Safety And Fires

Ebike Battery Safety and Fires

*This post has been previously published by LEVA and is being republished here for our audience at Electric Bike Report
Edward Benjamin
Chairman, Light Electric Vehicle Association

I have an electric bike in my garage. The battery on that bike contains enough energy to propel my 100 Kilo self, plus the relatively heavy Pedego Stretch Cargo Bike, and whatever cargo I am hauling (often more than 50 kilos of SCUBA gear) at 20 MPH (32 KPH) for …. more than an hour… (I have never actually exhausted that battery.)

The amount of energy needed to push me, my cargo, the bike, at 20 mph for an hour is something any physicist can calculate. I cannot. But I will just say it is a LOT of energy crammed into a battery box about the size of two cigar boxes (or one shoe box, size 13, for those who do not smoke cigars).

And at 20 mph, I am drawing current at a glorious rate (more than 30 Amps) that is heating wires, connectors, circuit boards, and despite a very efficient motor….the motor.

As recently as a couple decades ago, using a lithium manganese battery in such a fashion would have risked of starting a battery fire. Today, on that bike, a fire is extremely unlikely.

[Read more…] about E-Bike Battery Safety And Fires

How To Fix A Flat E-Bike Tire

How to fix a flat tire

Intro to Fixing A Flat E-Bike Tire

We’ve all been out for a ride that’s borderline heavenly; the weather’s pristine and everything seems to be perfect until BAM! You’re riding around on a deflated tire. The frustration is real, but you can learn quickly enough how to fix a flat e-bike tire.

While a serious flat may be the end of your ride that day, it doesn’t have to keep you off the trails for long. With proper preparation and a few simple steps, it’s only a matter of time before you can resume riding like nothing ever happened. The Electric Bike Report team has outlined simple step-by-step instructions for fixing a flat and getting back on the road.

Before you get started you’ll need

  • 1. A replacement tube
  • 2. Tire levers
  • 3. A way to inflate the tube
  • 4. A wrench (possibly)

[Read more…] about How To Fix A Flat E-Bike Tire

Rad Power Bikes RadRover 5 Review, 2021

Rad Power Bikes Rad Rover 5 E-bike Review

Summary Review: Rad Power Bikes RadRover 5

Looking for the review of the latest RadRover? Click here.

We were eager to get our hands on the RadRover 5, as we have had great experiences with Rad Power Bikes in the past. With that being said, the Rad Power Bikes RadRover 5 review process was an absolute blast and lived up to our expectations here at Electric Bike Report.

There’s just something about a rugged, giant-wheeled bike that seems so inviting for fun, isn’t there? The RadRover 5 is largely just that – a fun time to be had on two massive wheels. You can charge hard on any terrain thanks to its 4” fat tires. And between the tires and the suspension fork you’ll be able to focus more on enjoying your ride, and less on feeling any bumps in the road.

Backing up the RadRover is a reputable company we’ve reviewed often in Rad Power Bikes. So when it comes to questions, customer service, and accessories Rad Power Bikes has your back. And, at least in our experience, Rad takes care of their riders.

One thing worth noting before you dive into our RadRover 5 review: you’re going to see the word “smooth” a lot, and that’s simply because the RadRover 5 is noticeably smoother than many of the other fat tire competitors out there. I’m not by any means saying this is a perfect bike, but it’s certainly been a fun, controlled ride.

We’ve reviewed plenty of fat tire e-bikes with similar specs, and price points, very few of them ride as smoothly (see, “smooth”!) as the RadRover does.

[Read more…] about Rad Power Bikes RadRover 5 Review, 2021

Lectric XP Step-Thru Review, 2021

Lectric XP Step-Thru Review: Summary

Lectric has been on our radar for some time now, and we were super excited to see how their Lectric XP Step-Thru stood up to other, similar ebikes that we have tried. It didn’t take us long to figure out the Lectric XP Step-Thru is where fun and budget-friendly meet.

The XP Step-Thru is Lectric’s second bike and really only has one difference from the original XP – the step-thru frame. So for those who are familiar with the Lectric XP, you are going to feel right at home with the XP Step-Thru.

The Electric Bike Report team’s consensus is that this is easily one of the better ebikes you can buy for under a thousand dollars: it’s powerful, it has great battery life, and it’s foldable. The combination of those points plus 20”x4” tires is going to make the XP Step-Thru ready for pretty much anything you throw at it. We took this bike on dirt, gravel, and the steepest hills we could find and it handled all of them with ease.

If you are looking to get into the ebike space but don’t want to spend thousands of dollars, the Lectric XP is a great option. Everybody from college students who don’t want to buy a car, to campers who want something to adventure on, to those with limited space in their garage are really going to appreciate what the XP has to offer.

In our eyes Lectric has solved the issue of eBikes being too expensive for those who could benefit from them the most. With that being said the Lectric XP is going to be great for those who don’t have a lot of extra storage space or cash to spend, if you are trying to save money but still have places to be then we would definitely recommend considering the Lectric XP

*Looking for the review of latest version of the Lectric XP? Click here.

Lectric XP VS Step-Thru

There are a few key differences between the Lectric XP Step-Thru, and the original Lectric XP. The Step-Thru XP is going to be a lot easier to get on and dismount, it’s also going to have a lower center of gravity than the standard XP model, which comes in handy on corners.

The Lectric XP Step-Thru is going to be better for shorter riders, as they don’t have to step up and over the frame to get on the bike. When it comes to folding up the two bikes the Step-Thru folds slightly smaller than the standard, and is just as easy to stow away.

[Read more…] about Lectric XP Step-Thru Review, 2021

Evelo Delta X Review – 2021

Summary Review: Evelo Delta X

The Evelo Delta X is a capable, aggressive commuter bike. Evelo has taken a lot of time developing this ebike, which shows in its design and performance. The Delta X provides excellent handling, quick acceleration, smooth shifting, and a powerful mid-drive motor, all of which will add up to an impressive ebike.

With 120N.m of torque from the motor and adjustable top speeds up to 28mph, there isn’t a route that’s too steep or too difficult for the Delta X. If you want a commuter that gets you quickly from A to B with relative comfort and ease, then the Delta X should be on your radar.

Overall, the Evelo Delta X is a unique bike that’s designed for the hardcore commuter. If you encounter hills on your daily route, this bike will have you feeling like a superhero as you effortlessly fly up hills. Coming in around $3700, there is no compromising on components or performance, and we appreciated the experience the Delta X provided us with.

Other ebikes we’ve tested from Evelo have all been high-quality and provided us with a great ride. The team here at Electric Bike Report has waited with much anticipation to ride the Delta X after hearing Evelo describe this bike as “the perfect blend of power, comfort, and performance – the Delta X is our fastest model.”

[Read more…] about Evelo Delta X Review – 2021