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Mokwheel Granite Review | Is This E-Trike Solid as a Rock?

This affordable tricycle delivers great performance and many customization options, though it has its tradeoffs.

Electric Tricycles are ideal for riders who need extra stability, as their three wheels (compared to the two of an e-bike) add an additional contact point with the ground. Our team of reviewers has seen an increasing number of affordable, sub-$2k e-trikes entering the market, with the Mokwheel Granite being a recent entry from a familiar brand.

Mokwheel earned its reputation as a heavy hitter in the industry with its big, burly “Power Station” fat-tire e-bikes whose massive batteries can power or recharge other devices when combined with an optional power inverter. The brand’s lineup also includes lighter-weight commuters, city cruisers, folding bikes—and now an electric trike.

One of the potential pitfalls of designing an e-trike is deciding what type of motor to employ; many models on the affordable side use front-hub motors that are cost-effective but can lack traction and give the feeling of being pulled along. On the other hand, mid-drive motors that provide a more natural feel can be expensive.

For the Granite, Mokwheel borrowed a clever and effective solution pioneered by Lectric on the XP Trike. It uses a 500W hub-style motor mounted between the rear wheels, which is connected to a differential axle. This combination retains the affordability of a front-hub design with improved traction and the more natural feel of a mid-drive.

Additionally, the trike features a few uncommon line items on its spec sheet that stood out in comparison with other similar models we’ve tested. Its down tube carries a relatively high-capacity 48V, 720-Wh battery, which we expected would lend the Granite better-than-average range.

In contrast with many e-trikes that have mechanical brake systems or hydraulic disc systems with only two rotors, the Granite also has a potential advantage. Its Zoom hydraulic brake system utilizes three rotors (one on each wheel), which we expected would result in better-than-average stopping power.

To find out if our predictions for the Mokwheel Granite were correct, continue to the test sections in our full review below!

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E-Biking in Edinburgh

*Promoted post by Edinburgh Bike Coop, edited by Electric Bike Report.

Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities in the world boasting the historic “Old Town,” including Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile sitting above the stunning “New Town,” with gorgeous Georgian architecture. Throughout the city are vast green spaces and miles of cycle paths to explore, making Edinburgh a great city to explore by bicycle, particularly, due to all the hills, an electric bike.

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Hollywood Racks Crosstrack Hitch Rack Review | VALUE!

One of Hollywood Racks nicest products to date is one of the smoother operating racks they’ve produced, but still undercuts most of the competition.

Hollywood Racks has long been one of the go-to options for a quality bang-for-your-buck hitch rack. The products are true workhorses; they aren’t the fanciest options on the market, but they’re routinely a few hundred dollars less than comparable models while going toe-to-toe on most features and occasionally going beyond.

Spending less for similar features sounds great, but there is usually a caveat or two to consider. Competitors were typically a little more sleek, and while it could carry bikes of similar sizes, the adjustments when fitting bikes were often clunky. Consider those problems addressed with their latest model, the Crosstrack, all while keeping the ethos of producing a product that undercuts others on the market.

The Crosstrack is a platform-style bike hitch rack that uses two arms to establish contact with the tires. The rack handles bikes up to 66 lbs and fits most tires from 20-29” in diameter and up to 4” wide with a 52” long wheelbase.

With no frame contact and an easy-to-fit tray system, the Crosstrack can be loaded up in seconds, and it works nicely for different styles of e-bikes, from road and gravel to eMTB and city. The front-handle pull system quickly snaps the rack into one of four positions, and once I figured out the best practice for unloading bikes, it was a simple start-to-finish experience getting bikes from the garage to the the trailhead and back again.

This has been an intensive year for me in hitch rack product testing and as is often the case, the drawbacks I could find on the Crosstrack for hyper-specific to the life of a bike tester or somebody who is swapping between bikes with different tire-sizes frequently, but overall, I was highly impressed with the Hollywood Racks Crosstrack after weeks of testing and reviewing it. For all the details, read on!

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Canyon Strive: ON CFR Underdog Review | Bet on the Underdog?

One of the most value-packed enduro’s out there with a killer motor, and high quality frame.

Rarely do I get too caught up in the naming conventions of the e-bikes I test. Most aim to sound EPIC or come with a backstory that’s either cool or sentimental. But calling something an “Underdog” immediately caught my attention. After all, don’t we all like rooting for the underdog? After several weeks of reviewing the Canyon Strive: ON CFR Underdog, I can confidently say it’s a name well-earned. This bike is scrappy and plucky enough to hang with the big boys.

This bike packs plenty of desirable features, like the carbon frame and the renowned Bosch CX motor, but its spec sheet is geared toward a budget-conscious rider. It’s a bike that punches above its weight, holding its own against top-tier enduro rigs without demanding a sky-high price tag. Canyon also offers the LTD version of this bike, loaded with everything you might want, but the Strive: ON Underdog provides everything you need for a fun and aggressive enduro experience.

The Strive: ON CFR Underdog is both stable and responsive. It has a slacked-out headtube, a steep seat tube, and a long wheelbase for getting rowdy even on speedier downhills. Using a 160/170 Fox suspension and Horst linkage, the bike was very controlled on even technical descents.

Of course, the Bosch motor lives up to its stellar reputation. It delivers punchy, responsive engagement, giving just the right amount of assistance when you need it most. The overrun feature adds a helpful boost even after you stop pedaling, making sure finish strong over steep climbs.

The bottom line: this bike can keep up with any enduro eMTB in your friend group. It’s built on a solid foundation that appeals to everyone, from newcomers to seasoned vets, offering a beefy, capable ride without breaking the bank.

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Saris Modular Hitch System Review | The Future-Proofed Rack?

This adaptable system allows you to haul a lot of e-bikes (both in number and weight), and has the versatility to serve cargo-carrying needs as well.

Saris’ Modular Hitch System (MHS) is a well-thought-out concept. It’ll grab e-bikers’ attention as one of the few hitch racks out there that can haul up to two 100-lb e-bikes, but that is only the beginning. It’s a hitch rack system that can address today’s needs and adapt to needs that will arise later in life, with just a little forethought required.

There are three different base options to choose from. You buy the receiver with the bike-carrying capacity you need, with room to add more later.

We tested the Saris Modular Hitch System 3+1. We were impressed with how quickly and easily you can load up and carry heavier e-bikes in the first two tray spots and loved the flexibility of taking up to four bikes. Saris has several additional accessories that make life even simpler, like a portable bike ramp, lights that integrate with a vehicle’s brake lights, and a hitch tightener to ensure the heavy-duty system is tightly in place.

Bikes secure easily with no frame contact (your bike’s paint job will thank you), and since they’re modular, you can choose the tray option that secures one or two wheels. The modularity extends to a cargo basket that can replace or line up next to your bike trays. It makes it easier to lug a cooler when camping and still bring your bike along.

Overall, this system was heavy-duty. It was one of the beefier racks we’ve tested, which gives it such a good weight rating, but it also makes it one of the heavier racks to fold up and down.

Overall, we really enjoyed this system. There are just a few caveats to it that you need to know about to determine whether it’ll best suit your needs. All the details are found below in the full Saris Modualr Hitch System review.

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Heybike Hauler Review | Comfy & Cost-Friendly, but Capable?

This cargo e-bike offers a lot for its price point, including app connectivity, a dual-battery option, and both front and rear turn signals!

When shopping for budget or entry-level e-bikes, consumers have an abundance of options among most bike styles/categories. We’ve tested and reviewed dozens of fat-tire, beach cruiser, commuter, and folding e-bikes with wallet-friendly prices, but cargo e-bikes are somewhat unusual in that we haven’t seen many options priced below $2k.

Heybike smartly priced their cargo e-bike, appropriately named the Hauler, well below that threshold. The bike is offered at two price points: a simple single-battery model starting around $1500 and a dual-battery behemoth priced around $1700. These prices are simply some of the lowest we’ve seen for this style of bike.

In true Heybike fashion, the Hauler also boasts a myriad of uncommon features for its price point, including Bluetooth connectivity to pair with the Heybike app, foldable footboards for carrying passengers, front and rear turn signals, and an enormous, remarkably cushy saddle.

As with the handful of similarly-priced cargo e-bikes we’ve tested, the Hauler packs a powerful 750W rear-hub motor for moving its payload. With a cadence sensor, we found the bike’s overall pedal experience relaxed, easy, and fun—that motor can be peppy!

Did all of these aspects and elements add up to a worthwhile purchase? We evaluated the bike’s real-world performance in a series of four standardized tests and also challenged its ability to carry additional weight. Continue reading below to get our verdict!

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Pivot Shuttle AM Review | The All-Mountain Gold Standard?

The Pivot Shuttle AM makes a serious case for the title of best all-mountain eMTB with a well-balanced approach. It has power, agility, and performance in spades.

The all-mountain eMTB category has many impressive options to sort through, but Pivot went swinging for the fences with the design of the Shuttle AM. One quick look at the spec sheet of the Pro X0 Eagle Transmission that Pivot sent us for testing was enough to get my mouth watering: Bosch’s CX race motor with a big ol’ 750Wh battery, a full Fox 148/160mm suspension setup, SRAM’s wireless 12-speed drivetrain, and Shimano XT brakes on a carbon frame with 29″ Maxxis tires.

Those ingredients sounded like a recipe for success, but the final product still exceeded my lofty expectations.

The power was terrific – the Bosch motor is punchy in the climbs and can help you get to speed in a blink. It was built for racing, after all. It doesn’t take a racer mentality to appreciate it, though. It multiplies the fun of the ride and enables you to get through climbs that I would otherwise “NOPE!” away from.

The geometry feels spot-on. It’s what you want for a variety of mountain biking applications, and thanks to the flip chip, you can tailor the build to your liking. It can be made into a mulleted-wheel setup while keeping the geometry inline, or you can pick the high or low option if you can appreciate the subtle shift that change makes on the 29ers it comes with.

There’s no such thing as the perfect suspension setup, but the DW-link paired with Fox’s Float system had an impressive feel. The rear triangle feels supportive and efficient when pedaling uphill, but it feels compliant and plush when pointed downhill. No, it’s not the same bomber as the Shuttle LT, but it still does well in point-and-go scenarios over some chop.

Perhaps the most surprising thing was how light and poppy the bike felt. It weighs 50 lbs, which is common for a full-power build. However, the front end felt incredibly light and maneuverable. It was fun to jump with and easy to pull up over technical obstacles on a climb.

There are a couple of nits to pick at, but for the purpose of being designed for an all-mountain ride, it’s one of the more impressive eMTBs our team has ridden all year. The Pivot Shuttle AM is worth recommending to those seeking a jack-of-all-trades mountain bike that rides like a top-tier machine.

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