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E-bike News: Heybike Magnesium, SWFT BMX, Desikino and Much More!

Electric bike news 6th January

Exactly what does innovation mean when it comes to ebikes? That’s a question this week’s news seems to be asking. We start by looking at the touted advantages of magnesium frames and move onto a really powerful looking yet lightweight retrofit kit before a final look at a new lightweight hub motor. So, whilst none of this is truly innovative in the sense of reinventing the wheel, it really tells the tale that much progress is refinement of existing technology.

In this week’s e-bike news:

  • Heybike goes magnesium
  • SWFT BMX – yes it’s an e-BMX (kind of)
  • Spain’s Deskinio premieres lightweight innovative urban and gravel models
  • Will CYC’s new retrofit mid-drive make a powerful impact?
  • Other news on the Bay Bridge bike path, Yadea in the US and more

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iGo Core-Edge Electric Bike Review – 2024

iGo Core-Edge E-Bike Review 2024

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say there are hundreds of makes, models and styles of affordable e-bikes to choose from on the market today. But for all those types of e-bikes, very few among them are built with off-road use in mind.

And when I say “off-road use,” I mean real off-road use. There’s generally good reason for this void in the affordable e-bike market — the parts, engineering and bicycle know-how it requires to build a bike durable and capable enough to regularly tackle anything more than a dirt shoulder aren’t cheap.

But nonetheless, some companies are figuring out how to make it work without busting the piggy bank.

This iGO Core-Edge review takes a look at one such e-bike that’s struck a balance between affordable cost and off-road capability.

With an MSRP nestled nicely under $2,400 and component choices that better fit the bill for off-road use, the iGO Core-Edge is designed to be a durable choice for fire road and dirt trail riding, but stops short of the definition of a full-blown eMTB.

*iGO has shared an exclusive discount code with the Electric Bike Report audience. Use code: GOELECTRIC100 at checkout for $100 off your e-bike purchase.

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Hub Motor Brands: The Complete Guide

Hub Motor Types, Brands, and the E-Bikes That Use Them

Hub Motor Guide

All consumer-ready e-bikes provide assistance to their riders through either a mid-drive motor or a hub motor. While mid-drive motors are placed centrally at the bottom bracket and tie into their e-bike’s cranks, hub motors – as their name suggests – are mounted at the center of either the front or rear wheel. We’ll focus on the latter type in this complete guide to e-bike hub motors; read on to learn the differences between types of motors, and keep scrolling to examine some of the best hub motors on the market!

At the present time, electric hub motors are much more affordable than mid-drives, and are subsequently much more prevalent. Additionally, hub motors are often much lighter than their cousins, and make practical additions to urban e-bikes or folding frames that need to be carried often. They also function well in conjunction with belt drives and internal gear systems that are nearly maintenance-free. In fact, you’ll find hub motors on some of our favorite electric bikes we have had the pleasure of reviewing.

Mid-drive motors, on the other hand, have a reputation for being more efficient and responsive than hub motors – though hub motor technology is improving constantly and coming ever closer to bridging the gap. Mid-drives are also known for their ability to replicate or approach the feel of non-electric bikes. They are, however, much more expensive, and as such are most commonly found on higher-end models.

The topic of e-bike motors is complex enough that we have a separate guide to mid-drive motors. In this article, focused exclusively on e-bike hub motors, we will dive into the most common manufacturers, discuss some of the best e-bike brands who use their products, and also cover some unique one-offs.

Rev your engines and get ready to read!

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QuietKat Jeep Electric Bike Review – 2024

Quiet Kat Jeep Review

What do you get when you take the off-roading ethos of the Jeep brand, a full suspension all-mountain chassis and top it off with a souped-up 1,000W mid-drive motor? You get the QuietKat Jeep.

In this QuietKat Jeep review, we take a deep dive into the bike’s climbing ability, battery life, off-road performance and more to get the low-down on what makes this all-terrain electric fat bike special.

With a very capable full suspension design and one of the most powerful e-bike motors on the market, the Jeep is designed to tackle backcountry roads and rugged 4×4 tracks with ease. It comes with a stout suspension system, good brakes, a crisp shifting groupset and a host of other features that make it uniquely capable in environments far too punishing for your average e-bike.

Keep reading to see how this e-bike stacks up against the rest.

Editor’s note: QuietKat is not currently selling their Jeep model. Instead, we’d recommend that you check out their Apex Pro e-bike.

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Euphree City Robin Electric Bike Review – 2024

Euphree City Robin E-Bike Review 2024
Did you know there’s a newer version of this bike? Check out our Euphree City Robin X + reveiew here.

With Class 3 speed, a step-through frame and a host of new features for this model year, the 2022 version of the Euphree City Robin is a remarkably comfortable and quick electric commuter bike.

In this Euphree City Robin review, we test the new iteration of Euphree’s flagship commuter in the real world — getting a feel for how it performs on hills, how long the battery will last and how the bike rides.

Built around a Class 3 500W motor and 672Wh battery, the City Robin is no slouch when it comes to power. But with its step-through design and upright riding position, that power is paired with very comfortable and predictable handling that’s approachable for all levels of rider.

Though some companies choose to entirely revamp a bike for new model years, Euphree took a lighter touch with their 2022 City Robin. A number of small changes for this year have had a big impact on how the bike feels.

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QuietKat Villager Electric Bike Review, 2024

QuietKat Villager Review
QuietKat is known for being a hunter or outdoorsperson’s kind of e-bike maker, but in our QuietKat Villager review we found an e-bike made with appeal for that crowd while producing a capable commuter bike.

So, what happens when an e-bike maker best known for powerful all-terrain designs decides to make a commuter? In the case of QuietKat, that means building it with a 500W Bafang hub motor and 614Wh battery, spec’ing it with 3-in.-wide tires for comfortable road riding and light offroad riding, a 7-speed Sram drivetrain to conquer hills, plus lights, fenders and a rear rack to give it commuter functionality.

We took the QuietKat Villager on roads, bike paths and even some smoother unpaved roads and trails to see just how versatile this e-bike is for ourselves.

While the QuietKat Villager isn’t meant to be a backwoods explorer delivering sportsmen (and women) to their favorite hunting blind or fishing hole that its stable-mates are, it accommodates a broad number of uses and many of QuietKat’s accessories can be added to give the Villager optimal versatility.

For this review of the QuietKat Villager we subjected the bike to all the same tests as we’ve done for its off-roading siblings.

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JackRabbit OG Electric Bike Review

JackRabbit Review

Many e-bikes we review attempt to be one-stop shops; e-bikes often try and be versatile enough to be a commuter, cargo vehicle, leisure ride, etc. all at once. But when we got the JackRabbit to review it was apparent that this was a product that knew to lean into what it is: a quirky and fun little mobility solution that is designed to be highly portable and save a lot of collective time by getting you around quickly on shorter trips.

Billed as a micro e-bike, the JackRabbit at first glance could be mistaken for an e-bike for kids, but in fact, it’s intended for adult use as it accommodates riders from 4’10” up to 6’2” (seriously!). The JackRabbit’s short wheelbase and minimal frame make this easy to toss in a trunk or keep in a closet. Heck, they even sell a shoulder strap for the JackRabbit which makes sense given it’s only 24 lbs., making it simple to move around and you can store it almost any place.

While the JackRabbit does have two wheels, a seat, and handlebars it’s readily apparent that it has pegs where pedals should be. There is no drivetrain so the JackRabbit is a throttle-only option. In truth, it’s closer to an e-scooter than an e-bike, but for simplicity’s sake, we’ll evaluate it similarly to how we evaluate e-bikes.

In this review of the JackRabbit we will take a look at answering basic questions about how it performs, what it’s good at, what it’s not good at, what use case it serves and whether or not we feel it accomplishes what it sets out to do.

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REI Co-op Cycles Generation e1.1 E-Bike Review 2024

REI Co-op Cycles Generation e1.1 Review 2024
We geek out for a lot of e-bikes we get in, but we really looked forward to receiving REI’s Co-op Cycles Generation e1.1 to review.

REI, the store we go to for everything from puffy coats to camp chairs, sleeping bags to binoculars, has been selling its own branded products for a fair number of years. They even make their own bikes, produced overseas, alongside some of the biggest brands in cycling. More recently, REI has begun offering e-bikes. The Co-op Cycles Generation e1.1 is REI’s first cargo/utility bike.

In broad strokes, the REI Co-op Cycles Generation e1.1 is meant for lighter cargo needs. It’s ideal for carrying a kid in a child seat, in part because it positions the child farther behind the rider. That means the child can see more easily and therefore better enjoy the ride, plus it reduces the distraction that can come from grabby hands or a foot that escapes restraint.

Because the rear rack is integrated into the frame design, both the rack and the frame enjoy improved stiffness than if the rack were bolted on. That means no matter what the load, the rider will feel less input from the back of the e-bike when riding through turns.

So how did the REI Co-op perform in our testing, and can REI make an e-bike that earns top honors among all e-bikes? Continue reading our full review to find out.

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Blix Sol Eclipse Electric Bike Review

Blix Sol Eclipse Electric Cruiser Bike Review Bike Path

Blix Sol Eclipse Review: Overview

The Blix Sol Eclipse is a Class 2 electric beach cruiser that comes with a 48V, 12.8 Ah battery and 750W rear hub motor. With a comfortable and upright riding position and plenty of power, the Sol Eclipse excels at keeping the rider satisfied by keeping things easy.

Throughout the Blix Sol Eclipse review process I found myself liking the bike more and more with time. It’s a great bike to cruise around paved trails and boardwalks on. Blix has designed the Sol Eclipse in a way that makes it great for just about anybody who wants to go on a stress free casual cruise.

The budget-friendly price point mixed with the bike’s smooth sailing riding experience makes it a hard one to ignore. We conducted numerous tests and put in over 100 miles on the Sol Eclipse so that you can get a better understanding of if it’s the right bike for you.

Looking to cruise? Stay comfortable? Own a good looking bike? If you answered yes to any of these questions then I’d highly recommend you read on. Let’s get into it.

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Ride1UP Roadster V2 Electric Bike Review – 2024

Ride1UP Roadster V2 Review 2024

Summary Review: Ride1UP Roadster V2

*Looking for the review of the new Ride1Up Roadster V3? Click here.

When Ride1UP sent us their Roadster V2 electric commuter bike for review and we pulled it out of the box for the first time, I was hit with a healthy dose of nostalgia.

It’s clean lines, urban styling and refreshing simplicity for an e-bike made me spend the rest of the day thinking about a bike I used to spend a lot of time on.

In college I rode a steel frame fixed-gear commuter bike to and from campus every day. It was silver with black wheels and a funky “Metropolis” handlebar from FSA and a leather Brooks saddle. It was the paramount of cool campus bikes, and I rode the wheels off it. It ferried me daily on an eight-mile round trip to campus, shepherded me safely home from more than a few nights at my favorite watering hole and was quick enough to claim victory at a small handful of local alleycat races.

I loved that bike. In fact, I loved it so much I’ve never been able to part with it. That steel commuter still lives in my garage today; its heavily stickered frame covered in a layer of dust (almost) thicker than my nostalgia.

The Ride1UP Roadster reminds me so, so much of that bike.

Ride1UP’s Roadster clearly takes its style cues from the same fixed-gear and urban commuting culture I sank my teeth into in college. The wheelbase is short and snappy and the bars narrow, perfect for darting through congested areas. It’s also hard not to stare at the monster 64-tooth front sprocket that turns a belt drive instead of a traditional chain — a 20-tooth cog at the rear wheel makes that gear manageable for the average commuter (when the motor is on), but it just looks fast when the e-bike rolls by. The frame is racy, and the geometry more closely matches that of a road bike than a commuter.

Our testers at Electric Bike Report agreed this is a bike rider’s e-bike, perfect for someone in an urban environment that needs a great looking e-bike to cover a relatively short distance fast. The modest 350W motor packed a nice punch and easily propelled larger testers to a good cruising speed; it even flattened hills surprisingly well considering you’ve only got one gear. This e-bike is extremely affordable at $1,095 and is a good value for the money. It’s also lightweight, and has an exceptionally well performing bottom bracket cadence sensor for a value-priced bike.

Overall, it’s a great buy for someone in the market for a value-priced, stealthy commuter e-bike with enough juice to whisk them around town for a day. In EBR’s opinion, the Roadster is an homage to the stylish fixed-gear commuter and messenger bikes made popular on the streets of Chicago, New York and L.A. The modest 350W hub motor has a surprisingly strong kick and the bike’s geometry favors a person unafraid of riding in a more aggressive body position.

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