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Rad Power Bikes announced an unexpected update to the RadWagon lineup this week—not a revision of the RadWagon 5, but an upgraded version of the RadWagon 4, now positioned as the mid-tier option in the family.

The refreshed model includes a larger 720Wh battery using Rad’s SafeShield technology, new hydraulic Gemma brakes, and an updated display with password protection for motor activation. Rad also added a new teal frame color.

Outside of those updates, the bike remains very similar in look and spec to the RadWagon 4. The new model is priced at $1,799, while the RadWagon 4 remains available at $1,299 and the RadWagon 5 at $2,399.

Our Take: Rad has been navigating a difficult stretch. The company recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy while seeking a buyer, and two additional retail locations closed last week, bringing the total store count down to seven.

This RadWagon update was almost certainly in development long before recent headlines, but Rad is seeing it through. Is it a sign of forward motion? Possibly. We hope so, but the timeline for finding a buyer is getting tight.

This is clearly a better bike than the RadWagon 4, but time will tell if people are willing to get it now or wait till Rad’s future is clearer.

Aventon has introduced an all-new Soltera—the Soltera 3 ADV—which is now the brand’s lightest e-bike at a reported 37 lbs. It features a singlespeed Gates belt drive, a 250W motor (500W peak), and a fully integrated 367Wh battery with a claimed range of up to 70 miles.

Other features include hydraulic disc brakes, integrated turn signals, four frame sizes, and three color options: Matte Storm Blue, Matte Midnight Black, and Sterling. Aventon is aiming for simplicity here, while breaking new ground with the lightweight frame design.

The bike is priced at $1,499.

Our Take: Nearly every major brand needs a lightweight entry, and this is a significant weight drop for Aventon—nine pounds lighter than the previous Soltera.

This model is tailored for casual riders, fitness-focused commuters, and cyclists who want something that still feels close to a traditional bike. The lack of a throttle and non-removable battery may deter some, but many will appreciate the 37 lb package and the more natural ride feel that comes with it.

Ananda—one of the world’s largest suppliers of e-bike electrical systems—has unveiled its new M7000 mid-drive platform, which brings several notable improvements for riders and manufacturers alike.

The new moors include:

• M7600: Designed for aggressive eMTB use with technical climbing in mind; delivers up to 120Nm of torque and 850W peak power—high numbers for a 36V system.
• M7200: Built for urban and trekking applications, offering 100Nm of torque and 650W peak power.
• M7100: An entry-level commuter option with 85Nm of torque and 600W peak power, aimed at high-volume city bike projects.

A key highlight for brands is shared architecture: all three motors use a universal mounting bracket and unified system integration. That means reduced development time, simplified project management, and a consistent ride feel across multiple models.

The platform ships as a complete system—including motor, battery, controller, sensors, display, and optional IoT—designed to function smoothly as a single package.

Our Take: Ananda is a giant in the e-bike ecosystem, even if most riders don’t recognize the name. They power a lot of the motors, controllers, and displays found across the industry.

The new M7000 line brings solid performance numbers and a far more streamlined path for brands to build on. If this reduces design bottlenecks and gets new models to market faster, that’s a win all around. We’re eager to see which bikes roll out with this next-gen system.

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One of the largest and most impressive booths we saw belonged to Segway; the mobility device maker debuted two new e-bikes and an electric dirt bike.

The Myon, a sleek-looking step-thru commuter, boasts electronic shifting and algorithm-adjusted power output meant to smooth the riding experience. The Muxi is a cruiser-influenced utility e-bike that can be outfitted with loads of accessories. In addition to regenerative braking, it has many uncommon features, including hill descent control, traction control, and hill start assist.

We also caught a glimpse of the Rivian branch-off ALSO’s TM-B! This e-bike, which we reported on in October, is outfitted with a wide array of proprietary technology, including a non-mechanical drivetrain that converts the rider’s pedal effort to stored electrical energy. It also features GPS tracking, navigation, multiple drive modes, and a modular design that can be converted between moped, commuter, and trail styles by swapping elements of its frame.

Urtopia’s booth had many e-bikes in the company’s lineup we’ve reviewed previously on display, including the Carbon Classic and the Carbon Fusion Pro. It also featured an ultra-lightweight prototype electric road bike with a 3D-printed titanium frame and a fully internal solid-state battery. Weighing just 23.8 lbs, I could lift it easily with one hand!

At Heybike’s booth, we saw another prototype called the Polaris: a hybrid SUV-style commuter/eMTB boasting a mid-step frame, a Shimano EP8 mid-drive, and an Enviolo CVT (among loads of other flashy components). The company also debuted the lightweight Venus cruiser/commuter, which we currently have in for testing, along with the retro-styled Helio F folding e-bike and the super-high-capacity Hybrid commuter.

Yadea, one of China’s largest e-bike and e-scooter manufacturers, also made an appearance. Marking the company’s second attempt at entering the US market, it showed off two new models. The Fatboy is a fat-tire utility e-bike featuring a full suspension and both front and rear cargo racks, while the Flo is a step-thru urban cruiser with a sleek frame and a comfortable, upright riding position.

While exploring the crowded aisles at the convention’s many separate venues, we also stumbled on a handful of new or less-familiar brands with unique products.

Lynq, a branch of the Canada-based Apollo e-scooter brand, debuted three newly-announced e-bikes, including a longtail cargo bike, a utility-style cruiser, and a step-thru commuter. In addition to regenerative braking, the brand offers a lifetime warranty on its frames and plans to donate a portion of each purchase to an as-yet-undecided charity.

The Italian-based e-scooter brand Lexgo also branched into e-bikes, with three models of its much wider lineup on display. The brand showcased a full-size step-thru commuter, the E-City 28, in addition to a partially collapsible and portable urban bike called the E-Micro 10 and a fully folding model called the E-Micro 20. Aside from including Apple Find My tech and full color integrated displays, we were intrigued by the company’s “virtual password” feature, which requires a combination of physical button presses and lever squeezes to unlock the bike.

We saw two companies working on highly coveted solid-state batteries: ProLogium and Donut Lab. For those unfamiliar, this “holy grail” of next-gen battery technology promises ultra-fast charging (a full charge in minutes instead of hours), remarkable longevity, non-flammable chemistry, and roughly double the energy density of Lithium-ion batteries.

Donut currently produces solid-state batteries for EVs, and has partnered with Verge to create a production-ready electric motorcycle called the TS Pro. It boasts a 370-mile range, an 80% charge time of around 10 minutes, and 737 lb-ft of torque. Aside from batteries, Donut also manufactures powerful, high-torque EV motors, including futuristic open-wheel designs.

ProLogium had solid-state cells, a prototype solid-state e-bike battery, and a prototype front-loading cargo e-bike on display. This company, which is currently based in Taiwan, is currently building a factory in France to begin mass-producing solid-state e-bike batteries in 2028.

While we weren’t able to attend the company’s presentation, Bosch announced the rollout of new theft deterrent features via the Flow app coming later this month. Owners’ bikes, batteries, motors, and displays will be linked to their profiles in Bosch’s system, allowing them to flag bikes or components as stolen and making them more difficult to resell.

A handful of companies demoed Bluetooth-enabled smart helmets, including the aforementioned Lexgo and Urtopia, plus the conversion-kit maker Livall. These helmets include integrated turn signals, tail/brake lights, speakers, and microphones, increasing safety and visibility while allowing riders to listen to music and take calls while on the go.

Urtopia’s team explained the company’s future plans to upgrade the AI-enabled smart module found in the Carbon 1 Pro and expand its integration into more e-bikes. Once this happens, an electronic “ecosystem” can be created with a paired app, smart helmet, and heart-monitoring AIVELA smart ring, allowing for intuitive automatic power adjustments.

Livall’s booth featured its all-in-one conversion kit, featuring an integrated 250W motor and 220 Wh battery with up to 43 miles of range. The unit, which supplies power to an analog bike’s rear wheel, features a traditional assist mode, an effort-free cruise mode, and—to our surprise—an exercise mode that adds pedal resistance to provide a workout.

Details about the new features were presented at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. At the consumer level, Bosch e-bike owners will be able to flag stolen e-bikes and/or batteries via the Bosch Flow app starting at the end of January. This allows stolen items to be easily identified, making it much more difficult for a thief to resell the bike or its parts.

Pairing stolen e-bikes with the Flow app is also blocked. Additionally, dealers will receive a system notification advising them about the stolen items when connecting a bike to Bosch’s diagnostic software.

To enable these features, Bosch’s e-bikes, and their motors, batteries, and displays will be linked to the owner’s profile within the company’s management system. This information is shared between the Flow app, dealers’ DiagnosticTool software, and Bosch’s eBike Support system.

The goal of these new features is to prevent theft, and, if a bike is stolen, to increase the likelihood that it can be recovered by its owner. This feature rounds out Bosch’s app-enabled security suite, which also currently includes a bike lock, a battery lock, and an alarm function.

For commercial purposes, Bosch’s ConnectModule now allows owners to remotely deactivate bikes in their commercial or rental fleets if they aren’t returned. Owners also have remote access to data for each of their bikes, including its location, charge level, estimated range, mileage, and service history.

This feature can be incorporated into fleet management software, making it easy for business owners to monitor bike status, ride data, etc.

Our Take:
Regardless of whether they are used personally or commercially, there’s no disputing the fact that e-bikes can be a significant investment. Those made with Bosch components are typically on the more premium end of the spectrum, making them even more valuable.

We hope these new measures will successfully reduce and prevent e-bike theft, and we appreciate the steps Bosch has taken to allow users to secure their e-bikes and recover them if stolen.

As of January 1st of this year, Californians need to be aware of a few big changes to the laws governing e-bikes and electric motorcycles (also called e-motos), as well as their enforcement.

For starters, Assembly Bill 544, which addresses e-bike safety, requires that e-bikes be equipped with a rear-facing reflector or a red light that includes a reflector. The red light can either be solid or flashing. Lights and reflectors must be on at all times, with the goal of increasing visibility and reducing or preventing e-bike-related crashes.

New e-moto regulations require all off-highway electric motorcycles, such as Sur Rons and Talarias, to be registered with California’s DMV. Their use on all walkways, sidewalks, and public roads is now strictly prohibited, and electric vehicles of this type must comply with all laws governing off-highway vehicles (OHVs).

When it comes to the enforcement of e-bike-related laws, minors operating e-bikes—or their parents—can be cited for infractions, depending on the situation. At this time, specifics are unclear.

Minors cited for riding without a helmet can clear their fines by taking a California Highway Patrol safety class.

Our Take:
The enactment of Assembly Bill 544 is unsurprising, especially considering the rise of e-bike-related accidents over the past few years. We support measures implemented to increase safety, and considering that most e-bikes come equipped with integrated lighting (and that all bicycles and e-bikes are required to include reflectors), this step seems minimally invasive. We’re hopeful that it makes a difference in keeping riders safe!

California’s steps to restrict e-motos seem smart, and in some ways, a long time coming. We will be curious to see if other states adopt similar measures to control the irresponsible use such bikes have become synonymous with in many locations across the country.

The ability of law enforcement to cite the parents of minors violating e-bike laws is likely a good way to encourage responsible use. We believe education to be the best approach when encouraging young riders to behave safely and responsibly, so we’re glad to see California offer classes as a method of discharging fines.

Montgomery founded Cannondale in 1971, building its reputation on innovation in both materials and designs. Initially, the company gained traction for manufacturing a bike trailer called “the Bugger.” At a time when other brands exclusively used steel for their bike frames, Cannondale began mass-producing the aluminum ST-500 touring bike in the 1980s.

In 1997, it released its first non-aluminum bike, the carbon fiber Raven trail bike. Cannondale also gained fame from two unique suspension forks: the Headshok was a monoshock-style urban fork, while the Lefty XC fork boasted a mind-bending single-sided design.

Unfortunately, Joe Montgomery lost the company to a private equity firm after trying to branch into motorcycles; he filed for bankruptcy in 2003. Currently, Cannondale is owned by the Dutch conglomerate Pon Holdings, which also governs other well-known cycling brands, such as Schwinn, Mongoose, and GT.

In recent years, Montgomery ran a software company in Florida. He is survived by five children, including his son Scott, who served at different times as Cannondale’s co-president and vice president prior to its bankruptcy, as well as three grandchildren. Memorial services were held last weekend.

Our Take:
Iconic companies often don’t become legendary by playing it safe, and Joe Montgomery’s legacy of risk-taking and innovation clearly helped to further cycling technology and the industry as a whole. After all, most e-bikes we test and review are made with aluminum frames, which may not be the case if Cannondale hadn’t pioneered the material’s use.

We’re grateful for Montgomery’s contributions and we admire his bold spirit. We also wish comfort to his family and friends during this difficult time.

The ASMAX T30 is a small, lightweight 4-in-1 device that serves as a tire pump, a ball pump, a tire pressure gauge, and a small LED light. It includes a digital readout indicating set and current pressure and battery charge level, and its adjustable pressure limit for the pump can be altered by increments of 1 PSI.

Other features include:

• Measures around 3”L x 2”W x 1.5”H
• Weighs just 123g
• Can produce up to 120 PSI and 14L of air per minute
• Includes a threaded air hose, a ball needle, as well as Presta, Schrader, and Dunlop Valves
• Also comes with a charging cable, lanyard, and storage bag
• Has a 500mAh battery charged via USB-C
• List price is $110, but at the time of writing, it is priced at $60 (45% off)

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The company’s Chief Financial Officer, Angelina “Angy” Smith has, for the moment, been raised to the role of CEO. She joined the company in April after previously holding CFO positions at the travel company TrovaTrip and Athena Consumer Acquisition Corporation.

This move comes after Rad Power Bikes’ recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The company is currently downsizing its administrative team as it works through the bankruptcy process.
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Angy Smith will replace Kathi Lentzsch, who took over the role of CEO in March, and will be Rad’s fourth CEO in three years.

Our Take:
As we’ve covered in previous weeks, we’re hopeful that this news is a positive step for Rad’s future. As the end of the year approaches, we’re nearing the deadline mentioned in the company’s WARN notice, filed in November.

We hope to see the brand purchased by an outside investor or gain funding through some other method that would allow it to remain open in January and beyond. .

The first recall concerns Pedego’s Fat Tire Trikes, which can pose both a fall and a laceration hazard. The potential issue can be caused by cracks that may develop near a weld in the frame. If this happens, the tubes can separate, resulting in injuries.

So far, 16 incidents of frame breakage have been reported, with one owner suffering a laceration to their leg.

The affected Fat Tire Trikes come in matte black, and were sold between March 2024 and March 2025 for between $3,500 and $4,000, both in-store and online.

If you own one of these trikes, stop using it immediately! You can contact Pedego via a registration form on their website to schedule a repair, which includes the replacement of a portion of the frame.

According to their website, Pedego “reengineered and strengthened the section of the frame in question. ” The company will ship the replacement section of frame to your nearest dealer after you complete the form, then notify you that your part has arrived. Repairs will be performed at no charge. At the time of writing, lead times are 4-6 weeks.

This week’s second recall, issued by Pacific Cycle, concerns Schwinn Ovation child carriers. 650 units are being recalled, as their buckles can loosen, presenting a fall hazard. No injuries have been reported at the time of writing. The affected child carriers were sold on Amazon and Schwinnbikes.com from May through September.

If you believe you may own one of the affected carriers, you can get more information regarding specific model numbers and ways to get a refund via the recall page on Pacific Cycle’s website.

Electric Bike Company (EBC) previously filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in October, so the sale of its property is being overseen by a court to pay back its creditors.

In addition to the brand, website, and other intellectual property, the company’s remaining inventory and equipment are for sale.Its inventory consists of finished and in-progress products, while its equipment includes paint supplies, wheel building tools, assembly equipment, jigs, etc.

Interested buyers can get more details by contacting [email protected] and completing a non-disclosure agreement. Bid on any of EBC’s physical and/or intellectual property will be due in January, but if an auction is required for remaining assets, they will be offered in early February. Closing is expected by the end of February.

Our Take:
Electric Bike Company was, of course, an iconic name in the industry prior to its bankruptcy filing. Considering the potential value of its assets, we are curious to see if there will be some future rebirth of the company, and if so, what form it will take. As always when it comes to uncertain situations, time will tell!

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This new recall affects Domane+ ALR 5, Domane+ ALR 6 AXS, Checkpoint+ SL 6, and Checkpoint+ SL7 e-bikes with 2026 model years only. The affected bikes were sold in the US from July through September of this year and were priced between $5,000-8,000.

The reason for the recall centers around loose chainring bolts, which could present a crash hazard if they come off while riding. As of the writing of this article, three incidents have been reported, but no injuries have been caused.

If you have one of the affected bikes, Trek’s announcement advises that you stop riding it immediately. You can schedule a free repair at your nearest Trek dealer, where technicians will tighten the bolts to the appropriate specification. Trek will also provide you with $20 of in-store credit towards Trek or Trek-owned merchandise, which is valid through 2026.

Our Take:
Overall, this is a relatively small number of bikes when compared with Trek’s recent recall of 26,000 kids bikes. The fix for this current issue is extremely easy—we’re glad no one has been hurt and that Trek caught the problem relatively early.

In recent weeks, Rad Power Bikes announced that it may close in January of 2026 if it did not receive additional funding. Some of its older batteries were also deemed potentially unsafe by the CPSC, though Rad disputed that claim. The company did not agree to a recall because the required costs would immediately put it out of business.

Last Monday, a spokesperson from Rad made a statement saying, “As we work to secure a sustainable future for the Rad brand, Rad has filed for Chapter 11 protection as part of a process to complete a sale of the company within the next 45-60 days.This step allows us to keep operating in the ordinary course of business while we pursue the best possible outcome for the people who rely on Rad every day. Our goal is to keep the company intact and preserve the relationships we have built with riders, vendors, suppliers, and partners. We are not giving up.”

According to Bicycle Retailer, the bankruptcy filing lists Rad’s estimated liabilities at $72.8 million. Its estimated assets are valued at $32.1 million, including its remaining inventory estimated at approximately $14.2 million. The company owes over $8 million to US Customs and nearly another $8 million (7.99) to manufacturing companies in Asia.

Our Take:
The information revealed by the bankruptcy filing is proof of the impact of tariffs; a significant portion of the company’s debt is due to import taxes.

We’re unsure if the brand’s statement means that Rad has a buyer lined up or if it’s simply a step intended to make a buyout more appealing. Either way, we’re still rooting for Rad Power Bikes to pull through. The iconic company makes excellent e-bikes, and we hope to see it bounce back after it finds funding.

While Sonder is a UK-based maker of analog and electric gravel bikes, Skarper manufactures all-in-one conversion kits that are compatible with nearly all bikes with 26-29” wheels and disc brakes. Skarper’s device includes a combined motor and battery in a single unity that attaches to a non-electric bike’s chainstay (the non-drive side).

The Skarper kit weighs 4.5 kg (9.9 lbs) and includes a motor with 76 Nm of torque. Its internal 240 Wh battery is rated for up to 50 km (31 miles) of range. The unit has a maximum motor-assisted speed of 20 km/h (15.5 mph).

Skarper and Sonder have partnered to offer build kits for three of Sonder’s Camino Gravel bikes, including the Apex 1 Flat Bar, and the aluminum and titanium versions of the GRX1. When paired with the Skarper, the bikes are priced at £2,649, £2,999, and £4,249, respectively.

Sonder offers an electric version of the Camino called the El-Camino, which features an integrated KMC motor and 250 Wh battery. In contrast to this option, the conversion kit allows riders to remove the motor and battery to have a lighter-weight analog bike.

The CEO of Skarper, Ean Brown, made a statement about the partnership, saying “Riders want freedom and flexibility, not a second heavy bike. With Sonder we bring click-on power to award-winning frames through a partnership celebrating British design and innovation. The result is one bike covers the city and the wild, with no compromises on ride feel. For the Skarper brand, this is an exciting step forward as we develop new partnerships that bring to life a new use case for our product…”

An installation showcasing the partnership is already in place in London’s Selfridges store.
Current Sonder owners can buy Skarper add-ons at Alpkit stores in Edinburgh, Hathersage, Bristol, Kingston, and Ilkley.

Our Take:
Skarper is one of the more promising conversion kits we’ve seen. The company’s partnership with Sonder seems like a good move for both brands; it boosts Skarper’s distribution while offering versatility to those who might not want to go all-in on a full electric gravel bike.

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