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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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Canyon Strive:ON CFR Spec Review 2024

Canyon has introduced another new electric mountain bike, bringing their lineup for four eMTBs. This new ride is called the Strive:ON CFR and it sits between the gravity-focused Torque:ON and the trail-styled Spectral:ON. This new model is aimed at competitive enduro riders.

The Strive:ON sits almost perfectly between the Spectral:ON and the Torque:ON. Canyon begins with a carbon fiber frame, same as the Spectral:ON and Torque:ON. Like the Spectral:ON, the Strive:ON comes equipped with 160mm-travel rear suspension, but increases fork travel to 170mm. The big difference comes with the motor. Where the Spectral:ON and Torque:ON come spec’d with Shimano’s EP8 motor, the Strive:ON comes equipped with Bosch’s Performance Line CX motor, one of the most powerful mid-drive motors found on Class 1 eMTBs.

In short, the Strive:ON is the Canyon eMTB for riders who want more power than either the Spectral:ON or Torque:ON produce, with a perfect blending of the best handling attributes of each eMTB.

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Canyon Strive:ON CF Spec Review: Bike Overview

Canyon has created an intriguing eMTB with the Strive:ON. Rather than try to split the difference between the two bikes, it borrowed attributes from each model. The Strive:ON features the suspension travel and wheel sizes found in the trail-focused Spectral:ON, while the frame features the geometry behind the gravity-dedicated Torque:ON.

The Canyon Strive:ON is ideal for the trail rider who wants more fearless descending than the Spectral:ON can provide. It’s also perfect for the gravity rider who wants a more enduro-oriented design that pedals well uphill and rolls over rocks more easily.

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Canyon Strive:ON CF Review: Specs & Features

Frame and fork

Like the Spectral:ON, the Strive:ON features a mullet setup; that is: The front wheel is 29 in. while the rear wheel is 27.5 in. The Torque:ON because it’s aimed at gravity riders looking for maximum maneuverability and speed went with 27.5-in. wheels front and rear.

Perhaps the simplest way to explain the frame design is to describe it this way: The Strive:ON features the 160mm suspension travel and 29/27.5-in. wheels of the Spectral:ON, but its handling geometry is borrowed lock, stock and both barrels from the Torque:ON, including the ultra-slack 63.5mm head tube angle.

The fork features 170mm of travel, 10mm less than the Torque:ON and 10mm more than the Spectral:ON—right in the middle.

Like the Canyon Spectral:ON CF and Torque:ON CF, the Strive:ON is crafted from carbon fiber. However, the similarities end there. Where the Torque:ON CF weighs 3.35kg (7.4 lbs.) and the Spectral:ON CF weighs 2.9kg (6.3 lbs), the Strive:ON shaves even more weight, coming in at 2.45kg (5.4 lbs.).

Canyon produces the Strive:ON in four different sizes Small through XL.

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Motor and battery

Canyon makes clear who the Strive:ON is meant to satisfy: the e-enduro rider. That is, someone who is reasonably fit, is aggressive on downhills and wants to race. That’s why they chose the Bosch Performance Line CX motor, rather than the EP8 found on both the Spectral:ON and Torque:ON.

At first glance, both motors seem pretty similar. Both produce 250W nominally. And both motors offer a maximum of 85Nm of torque. Where they differ is in maximum wattage and weight.

The Shimano EP8 motor weighs 2.9kg (6.4 lbs.), the Bosch Performance Line CX shaves nearly a pound off, coming in at 2.6kg (5.7 lbs.) and it increases maximum wattage from 500 to 600. Now, 100W may not sound like much; that’s just enough power to light a small room. However, 600W represents 20 percent more wattage than 500W.

To a racer, that’s huge. And here’s the thing: A racer most needs an extra 20 percent when the race is at its hardest. To put it another way, given the way gears develop, that’s enough power to shift up two gears.

The Strive:ON comes equipped with Bosch’s 625Wh PowerTube battery.

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Componentry

Canyon produces the Strive:ON in two different builds at two significantly different price points. The Canyon Strive:ON CFR Underdog goes for a little less than $6000 and includes a 12-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain and SRAM DB8 hydraulic disc brakes with a whopping 220mm rotor front and 200mm rotor rear.

The Canyon Strive:ON CFR LTD comes in a nick below $8000 and includes a slightly upgraded motor, the Bosch Performance Line CX Race, which features different software for even more aggressive performance and it’s built with SRAM’s 12-speed Eagle wireless transmission and Guide RSC brakes with 220/200mm rotors.

Both versions of the Strive:ON feature an aluminum stem and bar; the bar measures 780mm wide. Both come with a dropper post that will offer between 150mm and 200mm of travel, depending on which size frame the rider is on.

Both versions come with high-quality DT Swiss wheels, with a 15x110mm axle front and 12x148mm axle in the rear.

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EBR’s Canyon Strive:ON CF First Look Review:

A common occurrence when a manufacturer releases a new model is for anyone in the market to think, “Ooh, that’s the one I want.” The new stuff is always supposed to be better, right? With the Canyon Strive:ON, it would be easy for trail riders to think this is the better eMTB; same for gravity riders, but that would be a mistake.

The Strive:ON is aimed at a specific audience. This rider is competing in the eMTB category in enduros, a setting where an extra 100W at the right time could mean seconds gained at the finish. This rider isn’t just go-fast competitive, they also enjoy a level of fearlessness on fast descents that would leave most of us with watering eyes and white knuckles, but that mullet-wheel setup means that this eMTB will pedal uphill and roll over rocks in a way that will leave the Torque:ON eating dust.

That Canyon has delivered these two e-bikes at these price points—less than $8000 and less than $6000—demonstrates the remarkable value proposition of Canyon’s consumer-direct approach. Canyon was the first company to offer high-quality bikes and e-bikes without the added markup of a brick-and-mortar bike shop and the Strive:ON shows just how well the buyer makes out.

Some e-bikes are aspirational; that is, when we buy them they can do things that we can’t yet. For most of us, the Canyon Strive:ON CF is such an eMTB. A rider could spend years honing their skills and trying to amputate their fear module in an effort to wring all the performance possible from this thing … and still never get there. A fair comparison is the fighter jet that can pull more Gs than a human body can handle. Seeing someone reach the limits of the Canyon Strive:ON CF would make for a great reel on social media, but it would probably leave the viewer sweaty and out of breath.

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Heybike Mars 2.0 Review, 2024

An affordable multi-purpose folding bike with a smooth ride and serious speed!

The Mars 1.0 has been one of Heybike’s most popular e-bikes, but the brand aims to kick things up a notch on the second generation of its fast and functional folder. With a more powerful motor, a sturdier cargo rack, and Class 3 speeds up to 28 miles per hour, the Mars 2.0 feels like a true upgrade. We discuss the bike’s performance in this Heybike Mars 2.0 review!

Historically, 750W rear-hub motors have been uncommon on folding e-bikes; after all, they’re generally more focused on portability than power. The Mars 2.0 eschews tradition with its drive system, offering punchy acceleration for thrills and potent uphill power.

A full suspension is another seldom-seen feature on folders, but the Mars 2.0 offers both a suspension fork and seatpost to soften and smooth out the ride. With 65mm of travel on the fork and around 45mm on the seatpost, there’s enough cushion to make commuting or light off-roading comfortable and that much more fun.

Another feature that the Mars 2.0 offers that you won’t find on folding bikes from many other brands is a massive level of customization through the Heybike app. With the touch of a button, riders can adjust the number of pedal assist settings, the maximum speeds in each setting, the bike’s overall top speed, and more!

Read on to see our full Heybike Mars 2.0 review below, where we discuss the bike’s specs, features, and performance in our series of standardized tests.

Bosch Announces Smart System Update

Bosch eBike Systems has announced a major update to its smart system. This is the system software behind their Kiox 300 and 500 displays used on many e-bikes we’ve seen equipped with Bosch motors, as well as their Flow smartphone app.

The biggest single change is introduction of the new “Dynamic Screen,” in which the display will switch to different screens based on the terrain the rider is on; the displays will show data relevant to where the rider is riding. For instance, if a rider is going uphill, they will be shown power, cadence and elevation. Once they are headed downhill, they will see current speed in large numbers. Once back on the flats, the display will shift to distance traveled and range.

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Also, thanks to new integrations to the Flow app, riders can view heart rate data from external heart rate monitors on either the Flow app or their Kiox display. There’s also a new screen to display elevation graphs, performance data and time spent in different riding modes. Also, for riders in Europe or anyone who wants to limit their speed, there’s a limit mode riders can select in order to limit their speed to 25kph (18 mph).

Riding modes can still be customized in the Flow app. Rather than being restricted to one mode at a time, riders can now select “Auto” mode in the Flow app and it will change modes dynamically, in response to the riding conditions, increasing assistance when going uphill, while dialing it back when going downhill.

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Yamaha Forms Subsidiary for Battery Swap Program

One of the limitations in using each of the forms of e-mobility, be it an EV, e-bike or some other device is range. What would allow users greater freedom would be eliminating concerns about range and with e-bikes, the best way to do that is when users can simply swap batteries.

Yamaha, in its effort to shape how e-bikes are adopted across the globe, has created a new subsidiary called Enyring. The company will offer a battery-swap program for e-bike riders. The service will be launched in the Netherlands and Germany in 2025.

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With Enyring, subscribers will not own the batteries; rather, they are rented. As long as the subscriber has a current account with Yamaha, they are entitled to unlimited swaps. That means the only range limitation users will experience will regard time, not charge.

Yamaha plans to work with manufacturers to make compatibility as universal as possible. Presumably, this means standardizing the battery mounts used in e-bikes. Yamaha also has plans to break down old cells so they can be recycled.

If this seems like bleeding-edge technology, it’s not. In China, Nio provides battery swapping for e-bike riders and Gogoro runs a program on the island of Taiwan. Already, battery swapping was a $1.7 billion industry in 2022 and it is projected to grow to $11.8 billion by 2027.

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Trek Allant+ 8S Review

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

QuietKat Apex Pro Review 2024

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

Kona Dew-E DL Review, 2024

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

Denver to Launch $200/Month Incentive for Riding Bikes

New Jersey Passes E-Bike Insurance Bill

Husqvarna Introduces First Commuter E-Bike

Canyon Strive:ON CFR Spec Review 2024