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QuietKat Lynx Review, 2024

An E-bike You Might Take For a Motorcycle at First Glance, The “Cool” Factor is High With The Lynx.

If 2023 was the year of the cargo e-bike, then 2024 may be the year of the e-moped. We’re seeing a number of new models enter the market and while some of the early designs were a bit clunky, with each new model, the designs get better and better. In our review of the new QuietKat Lynx we will look at what makes this e-moped different from many of the other models we’ve already reviewed and what makes it an exciting option for people who want a design that emphasizes the throttle, rather than the pedals.

QuietKat is best known as a brand that produces e-bikes for hunting, angling and overlanding. So while their product line has emphasized off-road use up until now, the Lynx is meant to blend on-road manners with off-road ability.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: We’ll forgive you if you did a double-take and thought you were looking at an e-motorcycle at first and wondered if you’d gone to the wrong website. Nope, you’re in the right place and this isn’t an e-motorcycle, but it sure does look like one.

While most e-mopeds we’ve seen have looked like something out of the Sears Roebuck catalog circa 1974, the QuietKat Lynx is drawn with lines that look much more current. From the curve of the seat to the swoop of the top tube and even the position of the front fender, the Lynx looks more like a motocross motorcycle … plus pedals.

The Lynx backs up its look with its performance. This is a full-suspension design with a long-travel fork for real off-road riding. Setting the pace is a 1000W, two-speed, direct-drive motor powered by a 960Wh battery. It can be ridden as a Class 2 (20 mph max assist), Class 3 (28 mph max assist) or an unlimited e-bike that can tear around OHV areas.

The Lynx hews to the QuietKat DNA for off-road use thanks to a full-suspension design, fenders, and a rear rack. The tires feature a moderate tread to balance on-road use with off-road fun.

Let’s take a deeper look at what makes this an exciting option for riders.

Cannondale Moterra eMTB Spec Review, 2024

The Moterra is Cannondale’s eMTB platform. We previously looked at Cannondale’s cargo e-bike, the Cargowagen Neo. We say platform because it’s not just one bike. Actually, it’s 11 e-bikes. The Cannondale Moterra comes in three basic flavors. There’s the standard edition, which is what we will be looking at in our Cannondale Moterra review. The standard includes five versions at different price points. That said, there is also an SL (super light, for the racing set) version as well as an LT (long travel, for more aggressive riders).

The Cannondale Moterra is built around 29-in. wheels and 150mm of suspension, front and rear and a 250W mid-drive motor. This is a Class 1 eMTB with a maximum assist speed of 20 mph, which is to say, it will be legal anywhere e-bikes are permitted.

Cannondale numbers the Moterra variants 1-5, with the 1 being the priciest (nearly $8500 at retail) and the 5 being the most affordable (less than $5000 at retail). The five eMTBs feature plenty of differentiation, making each price point a great balance of value and features.

There are plenty of interesting details; let’s have a look.

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Cannondale Moterra Spec Review: Bike Overview

Let’s begin by taking a look at all the features that each of the Cannondale Moterra editions share. They all come available in four sizes. They all roll on 29-in. wheels, except for the small sizes in the 3 and 5, which receive the mullet treatment with a 29-in. wheel front and 27.5-in. wheel rear. Each is built with a 250W mid-drive motor, though whose motor varies some. And they all come with a dropper post.

Similarities and themes run through the product line, but each edition responds to the value proposition a little differently.

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Cannondale Moterra Review: Specs & Features

Frame and fork

The Cannondale Moterra 1 and 2 are built from carbon fiber to give the eMTB the best ratio of stiffness to weight and strength. The 3, 4 and 5 are all built from 6000-series aluminum, something Cannondale has been an expert in since their first bikes back in the 1980s. Cannondale pioneered the heat treatment of bikes made from 6000-series aluminum.

The Moterra 1-4 all use a version of the RockShox Select shock in the rear, while the 5 sports a more affordable X-Fusion 02 Pro.

RockShox forks are spec’d on the Moterra 1-4; the Lyrik fork is spec’d on the 1 and 2. The 3 gets the Yari and the 4 gets the 35 Silver. The 5 gets the SR Suntour XCR LO, which only has 140mm of travel. The SR Suntour is a noticeable downgrade from the RockShox forks found on the other editions.

With four sizes to choose from Cannondale says that they can accommodate riders from 5 feet 1 all the way up to 6 feet 5, which seems reasonable.

In terms of geometry, the Cannondale Moterra is made to give riders great stability on fast descents while still offering agile turning on tight singletrack. The frame design is such that the rider enjoys a position over the pedals that makes pedaling easy. The seat angle is such that as the seat is raised or lowered, the reach to the bar will increase or decrease in a way that helps fit.

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Motor and battery

As we mentioned in our opening, The Cannondale Moterra is a Class 1 eMTB with a maximum assist speed of 20 mph. Each version of the Moterra is equipped with a 250W mid-drive motor. What changes between the various editions is just which motor is spec’d.

The Cannondale Moterra 1, 2 and 3 all receive the Bosch Performance Line CX motor, one of the more popular motors on eMTBs. This motor produces 85Nm of torque to give riders the power for climbing steep terrain. The Moterra 4 gets the Shimano EP8 (85Nm torque), while the Moterra 5 comes with the Shimano E7000 motor (60Nm torque).

Naturally, battery size varies with each edition. The Moterra 1, 2 and 3 are powered by Bosch’s 750Wh PowerTube. The Moterra 4 comes with a 630Wh Shimano battery, while the Moterra 5 gets a 504Wh battery.

The Bosch-equipped models all enjoy certification to UL’s 2849 standard, governing the entire system, including motor and battery. The two Shimano-equipped versions aren’t yet UL-certified (it’s coming), but they are certified to the EU’s 15194 standard.

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Componentry

It’s in cockpit components: handlebar, saddle, stem and seatpost that we often see examples of companies working hard to bring down the cost of an e-bike as they move from the most expensive version to the most affordable version. The Cannondale Moterra is no different.

With the Cannondale Moterra 1, we see a carbon fiber handlebar, but on the other four models, they all receive an alloy bar.

All five of the Moterras receive a dropper post and the amount of adjustability varies depending on the size of frame. The smaller sizes getting less range and the bigger sizes covering more.

Drivetrain, brakes and wheels

For an eMTB to meet the sort of performance riders expect, it really can’t afford to trip where the motor, battery, suspension, brakes or drivetrain are concerned. A weakness in any of those areas will hamper an eMTB’s performance.

The Cannondale Moterra comes with a 12-speed drivetrain on the 1, 2 3 and 4. The Moterra 5 comes with a 10-speed drivetrain, which results in a narrower range of gearing.

The Moterra 1, 2 and 3 see a mix of Shimano parts: XTR and Deore XT on the 1, Deore XT and SLX on the 2 and Deore XT and Deore on the 3. The Monterra 4 comes with SRAM NX Eagle parts. While the Monterra 1, 2 and 3 all feature a super-wide-range 10-51t cassette (510 percent range), the SRAM-equipped 4 sports an 11-50 cassette. The Monterra 5 comes with a 10-speed Deore group. We presume they chose this group for improved durability. However, it does come with a notably narrower range of gears (11-42t, which means a roughly 380 percent range).

Practically speaking, riders across most of the U.S. won’t miss that 51t cog in back because the terrain simply isn’t steep enough or long enough to require it.

The Cannondale Moterra 1, 2, 3 and 4 all come with 4-piston hydraulic brakes. They range from near-top-of-the-line Deore XT on the 1 down to TRP brakes on the 4. All are paired with 203 or 200mm rotors. The Moterra 5 receives more traditional 2-piston stoppers with 180mm rotors, another signal that this eMTB may be primarily aimed at riders living in flatter locales.

The wheels all feature 32 spokes and alloy rims, with hubs that use thru-axles (15 x 110mm front, 12 x 148mm rear). As we move up the line from least expensive to most expensive, bearing quality improves and weight goes down without sacrificing strength.

While the Moterra 1, 2 3 and 4 all come with 29 x 2.6-in.-wide tubeless-ready tires, the Moterra 5 comes with 29 x 2.3-in.-wide tires.

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EBR’s Cannondale Moterra First Look Review:

The Cannondale Moterra is a terrific example of how a bike company will come up with a great design and then ask themselves just how many different price points they can offer it at. While there’s never any doubt that the top-of-the-line model rocks, the sweet spot in value is often a rung or two down from the top.

Such is the case with the Cannondale Moterra 2. Thanks to its carbon fiber frame, Bosch Performance Line CX motor, mix of Shimano Deore XT and SLX parts and RockShox fork and shock, it is an impressive eMTB.

Buyers who find the Moterra 2 out of reach may find the Moterra 4 to be their sweet spot. By switching to an alloy frame, Cannondale shaves off some cost. The Shimano EP8 motor is well-reviewed against the Bosch motor and its SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain offers terrific performance for its cost. While it gives up some range (630Wh battery instead of the 750Wh Bosch PowerTube), a rider will still enjoy long rides on the Moterra 4 (Cannondale estimates up to 75 mi. per charge), but maybe not spend the whole day in Turbo.

The Moterra 5 suffers some weaknesses relative to the other versions. It’s motor isn’t as powerful and its battery is smaller, plus the drivetrain features fewer gears and a narrower range of gears, plus, the brakes aren’t as powerful. Those are only weaknesses when we compare it to more expensive versions of the Moterra, though. The Cannondale Moterra 5 shaves off more than $1000 from the Moterra 4. That difference in price may be the difference between purchasing an eMTB vs. an all-terrain e-bike. Riders save money on the front end, but enjoy the same frame found in the Moterra 3 and 4. Riders can always make upgrades later.

No matter what the buyer’s budget is, Cannondale has done an impressive job with the Moterra. This is a versatile eMTB that would be at home in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest or the rolling hills of Wisconsin’s Door Country.

While some brands suffer from spotty dealer locations, Cannondale has a vast dealer network across the country. That not only improves availability, it also means its easier to get service at home or on vacation. Indeed, with REI carrying them now, buyers will enjoy solid backing for an eMTB fun enough to want to squeeze the last watt/hour from the battery.

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Jackrabbit XG Review

E-Bike Power and Stability and a Scooter-Like Ride Make This Mini Motorbike a Super Fun Time!

Testing and reviewing e-bikes for Electric Bike Report is a seriously cool job, but I’m not sure it reached the level of pure, childlike glee until I rode the JackRabbit XG. This zippy little …bike? …scooter? …ahem, “mini electric motorbike” – packs a ridiculous amount of fun into a surprisingly tiny package. Let’s dive into our JackRabbit XG review to learn more!

To be clear, the XG is made for adult riders. Jackrabbit built its first micro e-bike to help college students make their classes on time when traveling across large campuses. This new-and-improved model serves the same purpose, but expands upon the JackRabbit OG’s massive fun factor with greater versatility, a redesigned look, and a two-thirds increase in power.

Like the ‘Noisy Cricket’ in 1997’s Men in Black, the JackRabbit XG might look like a toy, but we found that it has a serious kick. Where the original version of the bike carried a 300W rear hub motor, the XG features a full-on 500W powerhouse. The XG could do with some fine tuning in terms of starting and stopping, but its motor allowed us to confidently tackle hills and reach speeds up to 20 mph.

Like its older sibling, the XG is made to be portable. Weighing a manageable 33 lbs with its dual 36V, 151 Wh batteries, it can be carried with an optional shoulder sling. The XG’s handlebars also twist sideways, flattening the bike down so that it can fit just about anywhere – even in a dorm room where space is limited!

We tested the JackRabbit XG’s real-world performance just like any other full-size e-bike; continue reading the full review below!

[Read more…] about Jackrabbit XG Review

QuietKat Ranger Review, 2024

A powerful and practical all-terrain e-bike for hunting, commuting, or simply having fun.

Whether you’re a primitive camping enthusiast, a hunter with a distant blind or treestand, or a thrill-seeker who loves a good romp in the dirt, the QuietKat Ranger may just meet your needs. We tested the bike’s on- and off-road performance in our QuietKat Ranger review!

An e-bike aiming to adventure in potentially remote areas needs serious power to deal with rough terrain; fortunately, QuietKat specced a beastly 1,000W Bafang rear-hub motor with 80 Nm of torque. In combination with the bike’s Kenda fat tires and Mozo suspension fork with 100 mm of travel, the Ranger is well-equipped to handle any and all types of terrain.

We experienced an impressively stable ride with great handling from the bike’s chunky off-road tires and 740mm handlebars. Depending on frame size, the Ranger sports either 20”x4” or 26”x4.5” fat tires that chew through dirt with ease. The bike’s wide handlebars offer precise steering for navigating tight trails or obstacles, ensuring that the Ranger stays firmly on course.

Whether loaded up with game, camping gear, or even a load of groceries, the Ranger has a substantial payload capacity of 325 lbs. The bike’s rear rack is welded to its beefed-up chainstays, allowing it to carry up to 100 lbs – but in case that doesn’t cut it, QuietKat offers two trailer options to make the job possible.

Those were the highlights from our time on the bike, but to learn more about its real world performance, read on to our full QuietKat Ranger review below!

Trek Allant+ 8S Review

This comfortable commuter combines cool tech with a responsive, dialed-in feel.

As a legacy brand with nearly 50 years of experience, Trek is a well-established company trusted by riders worldwide. Based on the experience we had when we reviewed the FX+ 2 city e-bike, we had high expectations from the brand’s Allant+ 8s commuter. We share our thoughts following our testing in this Trek Allant+ 8s review.

The most prominent highlight from our time on the bike was the overall feel and performance of its 250W Bosch Performance Line Speed mid-drive motor. As a result of this premium drive system, the Allant+ responds naturally and proportionally to changes in pedaling with smooth assistance, yet never loses an analog bike feel.

With a Bosch drive system comes the ability to be paired with the multifunctional Bosch COBI.BIKE app. This app serves as a hub that integrates with your favorite audio, fitness, and navigation apps, allowing you to track ride data, listen to music or audiobooks, make calls to your closest contacts, and receive turn-by-turn guidance to your destination.

We couldn’t help but appreciate the bike’s overall high-quality feel and confident handling. With 2.4” wide tires and a weight of 57 lbs, the Allant felt firmly planted, but it retained the nimble handling of a lighter-weight city bike.

Additionally, as a Trek product, it felt generally well-rounded with comfortable, precise geometry, top-tier components, and a sturdy frame.

To learn more about the bike’s performance in our series of real-world tests, see our full Trek Allant+ 8s review below!

QuietKat Apex Pro Review 2024

As Tough & Rugged As The Terrain You’ll Explore, The Apex Pro Is A True Hunting Companion.

Quietkat has long been a friend to the outdoor crowd, and in our QuietKat Apex Pro review we discovered a bike with serious appeal for anybody with all-terrain needs for hunting, camping, or just exploring the backwoods on something more robust than your typical mountain bike.

The QuietKat Apex Pro is an all-terrain e-bike of a different sort. Not only is it capable of traversing more technical terrain than most all-terrain e-bikes (we will get to why in a bit), but it can do something most all-terrain models aren’t equipped to offer: supporting hunters, anglers and other outdoors enthusiasts with it’s solid build quality, nice performance, and a whole lotta accessories to choose from.

Highlights that support the use case include the 1000W mid-drive motor and a rear rack with a 100-lb. carrying capacity. The QuietKat Apex Pro can access places that e-bikes with more modest motors would have trouble reaching. There are a few reasons why. First, the 1000W mid-drive motor is four-times as powerful as most mid-drive motors, and a 250W mi-drive motor generally performs at least as well as a 750W hub motor in regards to certain applications. Second, it sports a 140mm-travel suspension fork, and the more extreme the terrain, the better the suspension needs to be; most all-terrain e-bikes come with a suspension fork with 100mm or less of travel. Third, thanks to a 9-speed SRAM drivetrain, it features lower gears than we see on e-bikes with a 7-speed drivetrain. Lastly, the large 4.5″-wide tires make it capable of riding over all sorts of terrain.

While it might seem like the QuietKat Apex Pro is just a nicer all-terrain e-bike than we typically see, QuietKat has made a name for itself in catering to outdoors enthusiasts. They offer accessory packages aimed at hunting (such as game trailers), fishing (such as cargo baskets) and camping (solar panels). That 100-lb. carrying capacity will come in handy when it is time to bring game home.

Even if you’re not interested in bagging game or sleeping under the stars, there are a number of features that make the QuietKat Apex Pro worth considering if striking out from civilization sounds like fun. Let’s take a deeper look at this e-bike.

Kona Dew-E DL Review, 2024

This lightweight, low-profile commuter hosts high-end components and long range touring ability.

The Dew-E DL is a cyclist’s e-bike, with a 250W mid-drive motor and a minimalistic style that maintains an analog appearance. As the Deluxe model (hence, the DL), it’s also fully loaded with tons of name-brand components for reliability and a premium feel! We tested this commuter to evaluate its performance in the real world; read our Kona Dew-E DL review for all the juicy details!

A Shimano STEPS E6100 mid-drive motor gives the benefit of an easier cycling experience while offering the ride feel of a non-electric bike. We found the motor’s engagement to be smooth and subtle with a natural feel; only in the Dew-E DL’s highest assist setting did it seem like we were riding an e-bike!

At just 43 lbs, the bike’s relatively low weight also stood out to us by contributing to an airy, responsive, and agile ride. With such a manageable weight, apartment-dwellers can comfortably lift and carry the bike up a few flights of stairs if needed. The Dew-E DL can also be accommodated by standard bike racks for ease of transport.

We also enjoyed the stability granted by the bike’s 650x47mm road tires. With low rolling resistance, these tires also encouraged fast acceleration. In combination with the custom carbon fiber fork, these tires helped to absorb vibrations from the street or path and make the rigid frame much more comfortable.

A list of the bike’s components is provided below, but keep scrolling for the full Kona Dew-E DL review.

Denver to Launch $200/Month Incentive for Riding Bikes

Denver is rolling out a program to reward people for riding a bike or e-bike instead of driving. Denver’s new rewards program will pay participants in cash, bike accessories or personalized coaching.

The program is meant to encourage people who ordinarily drive to get out of their car and onto other modes of transportation. It is sponsored by Denver’s Streets Partnership and Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency.

Approved participants can receive up to $1 per mile of riding and up to $200 per month, up to $500 in bike accessories or personalized coaching, or a mix of them.

The program does have some requirements and will show preference to low-income residents as well as people who face other hurdles as a result of Denver’s current transportation system. To be approved, applicants must live in Denver (there will be some exceptions) and be 18 years old. Preference will be shown to applicants who live in what Denver has identified as the Neighborhood Equity and Stabilization (NEST) areas of Denver; these are areas that have suffered disinvestment. Low-income residents and people of color will be shown preference as well.

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Denver Streets Partnership is accepting applications through the end of February. To learn more about the Bicycling Rewards Program click here and to apply for the program click here.

For the person who had to scrimp, pinch and save to afford a no-frills e-bike, this program could give a rider the means to purchase fenders, a rear rack, panniers or a basket and other basics like a floor pump and flat repair kit.

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New Jersey Passes E-Bike Insurance Bill

A committee of the New Jersey Senate passed a bill that would require riders of e-mobility devices to carry liability insurance. Outcry over the bill has been significant, in part, due to the fact that the kind of insurance the bill would mandate doesn’t yet exist.

Bill S2292 would require all riders of microbility devices including e-bikes, e-scooters and e-mopeds to carry liability insurance. The coverage would have to be substantive enough to cover the rider and anyone else injured in the event of a crash.

The bill has received vocal pushback from mobility advocates and members of the senate alike, not least because the sort of insurance required doesn’t yet exist.

“I don’t think anybody supports the bill exactly as it’s presently written,” said Patrick Diegnan, the Transportation Committee Chair. “The Senate president is well aware of the input and is working on amendments. And we’ll meet with the advocates in between now and as it goes forward.”

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Citi Bike users would be included in the legislation. Conceivably, Citi Bike would carry the insurance and the cost would be passed on to users as an incremental part of the cost of renting an e-bike from them.

A coalition of groups opposed to the legislation sent a letter to the New Jersey Senate President Nicolas Scutari.

“This bill works against many of New Jersey’s own policy goals,” stated the letter. Signees included the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Regional Plan Association, Bike Hoboken, League of American Bicyclists, Citi Bike, PeopleForBikes and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

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Husqvarna Introduces First Commuter E-Bike

Most of us know the name Husqvarna for things like chainsaws and motorcycles. They also make e-bikes (and an e-scooter), though until now all their e-bikes have been eMTBs. They have just introduced the Grand Pather 6, their first commuter e-bike.

The Grand Pather 6 features Yamaha’s PW-X3 motor, which produces 250W and 85Nm of torque; it’s the same motor found in Yamaha’s e-bikes. The battery is projected to give riders around 62 mi. (100km) of range per charge, thanks to its 720Wh capacity. That’s nearly three times the motor’s wattage, so their estimate seems reasonable. It might even be conservative.

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The Husqvarna Grand Pather 6 will offer riders some flexibility in riding surface. Thanks to a Suntour Mobie 80mm-travel, air-spring suspension fork and Schwalbe G-One 57mm-wide tires, it will be able to handle gravel paths and some unpaved roads. And it won’t falter in the hills, either, thanks to a high-quality, 12-speed Shimano Deore XT drivetrain. With a 40 x 51t low gear, it will make climb hills a snap.

Shimano disc brakes are paired with 203mm rotors for terrific overall control and stopping power.

The Grand Pather 6 will use Yamaha’s Display C and comes with a 4A Yamaha rapid charger. It also comes with a complete set of accessories including a 150 lux front light, a rear light, fenders, a kickstand and an MIK-compatible rear rack. Because it’s MIK-compatible, there are several companies making a variety of accessories for these racks, including saddle bags (panniers), baskets and even child seats. The Husqvarna Grand Pather 6 weighs 59.4 lbs. (27kg).

The Grand Pather 6 is destined for the European market with a price of €4999.

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QuietKat Lynx Review, 2024

An E-bike You Might Take For a Motorcycle at First Glance, The “Cool” Factor is High With The Lynx.

Cannondale Moterra eMTB Spec Review, 2024