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Ebike News: E-Fat Roundup, Kinesis Lightweight Town Model, E-bikes Mean Exercise & Much More!

E-bikes mean different things to different people – it might be pure power you want, it might be a lightweight machine that’s nimble in town traffic or it might be practical and fun e-fat bike transport.

We have all three in this week’s news courtesy of China’s Bafang, the UK’s Kinesis and the US’s Juiced and Lectric. Proving that whatever e-bike you want the world is your oyster.

In this week’s news:

  • The Latest E-fat Bikes from Juiced and Lectric
  • Lightweight E-commuter from Kinesis
  • Bafang’s New Ultra-powerful Mid-drives
  • Miami University Study Shows How to Get Meaningful E-bike Exercise
  • London’s Critical E-scooter Trails To Begin
  • Bike Commuting from the US and Bike Masterplans from Europe

[Read more…] about Ebike News: E-Fat Roundup, Kinesis Lightweight Town Model, E-bikes Mean Exercise & Much More!

Guide To Electric Bike Drivetrains

E-Bike Drivetrains

The 3 E-bike Drivetrain Types:

The type of drivetrain you choose for your electric bike will significantly influence how you ride your bike and how much you enjoy it.

There’s not a ton of drivetrain variations to choose from — really only three, which I’ll get into below — but the make and model of your drivetrain is an important choice, especially when buying an e-bike.

  • “Traditional” sprocket, chain and cassette drivetrains: A chain-driven system that transfers power from a front sprocket attached at the cranks to a cassette of different sized cogs mounted on the rear wheel. The chain wraps through a derailleur (or two) which mechanically pulls the chain onto the different sized cogs or sprockets when you change gears, altering the gear ratio. This is likely what comes to mind when you think of a bicycle drivetrain.
  • Single speeds: A chain or belt-driven system extremely similar to a “traditional” bike drivetrain that lacks the capability to shift gears. You get one sprocket in the front attached to one cog in the rear, making for a super simple system that’s strong and easy to maintain. The downside is you’ve only got one gear option.
  • Internally-geared hubs: Power is transferred to the rear wheel by a system that looks extremely similar to a standard single-speed drivetrain, but once it arrives at the rear wheel the power is transferred to a complex gear or drive system housed inside the rear hub that allows a rider to change the gear ratio. This type of system is becoming more and more popular on e-bikes, though the technology has been around for a while.

The first two categories I’ve listed above are probably familiar to most people reading this, so I won’t waste a bunch of page space explaining them. Instead, I’m going to jump right into internally geared hubs.

[Read more…] about Guide To Electric Bike Drivetrains

E-Bike Battery Safety And Fires

Ebike Battery Safety and Fires

*This post has been previously published by LEVA and is being republished here for our audience at Electric Bike Report
Edward Benjamin
Chairman, Light Electric Vehicle Association

I have an electric bike in my garage. The battery on that bike contains enough energy to propel my 100 Kilo self, plus the relatively heavy Pedego Stretch Cargo Bike, and whatever cargo I am hauling (often more than 50 kilos of SCUBA gear) at 20 MPH (32 KPH) for …. more than an hour… (I have never actually exhausted that battery.)

The amount of energy needed to push me, my cargo, the bike, at 20 mph for an hour is something any physicist can calculate. I cannot. But I will just say it is a LOT of energy crammed into a battery box about the size of two cigar boxes (or one shoe box, size 13, for those who do not smoke cigars).

And at 20 mph, I am drawing current at a glorious rate (more than 30 Amps) that is heating wires, connectors, circuit boards, and despite a very efficient motor….the motor.

As recently as a couple decades ago, using a lithium manganese battery in such a fashion would have risked of starting a battery fire. Today, on that bike, a fire is extremely unlikely.

[Read more…] about E-Bike Battery Safety And Fires

How To Fix A Flat E-Bike Tire

How to fix a flat tire

Intro to Fixing A Flat E-Bike Tire

We’ve all been out for a ride that’s borderline heavenly; the weather’s pristine and everything seems to be perfect until BAM! You’re riding around on a deflated tire. The frustration is real, but you can learn quickly enough how to fix a flat e-bike tire.

While a serious flat may be the end of your ride that day, it doesn’t have to keep you off the trails for long. With proper preparation and a few simple steps, it’s only a matter of time before you can resume riding like nothing ever happened. The Electric Bike Report team has outlined simple step-by-step instructions for fixing a flat and getting back on the road.

Before you get started you’ll need

  • 1. A replacement tube
  • 2. Tire levers
  • 3. A way to inflate the tube
  • 4. A wrench (possibly)

[Read more…] about How To Fix A Flat E-Bike Tire

Ebike News: Speed Pedelec with ABS Braking, New Smart Charger, Rent Citroen’s New Quadricycle and More!

No doubt many readers would be more than happy riding the latest version of the Stromer ST5, a class 3 (28mph assist) e-bike, now with ABS anti-lock braking. But would you consider riding a 28mph microcar? Well you might soon get the chance by renting the Citroen Ami which we cover below and is becoming available to rent at more and more places around the world (now including the US).

And talking of electrically powered alternatives to e-bikes there’s also news of the remarkable Hydroflyer which, as its name suggests, appears to fly above the water. If all this seems a little far fetched for your tastes the e-bike show season is getting underway, and we bring you news of tryout shows over the summer months where you can get your hands on the latest models.

In this week’s news:

  • Stromer ST5 Speed Pedelec with ABS Braking
  • LiON Smart Charger for Different E-bike Batteries
  • Biketrax GPS Tracker Now Available for Yamaha
  • Meet the Citroen Ami Quadricycle
  • New E-bike Shows to Enjoy over the UK summer
  • Hydroflyer’s Electric Power Lets You Glide Above Water
  • More Delays to UK E-scooter Decision
  • The Latest E-bike Stats and Biz News

[Read more…] about Ebike News: Speed Pedelec with ABS Braking, New Smart Charger, Rent Citroen’s New Quadricycle and More!

Specialized launches all-new Turbo Kenevo SL

Specialized-Turbo-Kenevo-SL-Electric-Bike

Specialized is trying to make the electric mountain bike skeptics into converts.

On Thursday the California-based company released the slimmed-down Turbo Kenevo SL, an all-new eMTB that shaves 12lbs off the full-power Kenevo and packs a much gentler pedal-assisted punch. But aside from the name, the parallels between the two bikes stop there. In fact, the collective mountain bike clan may recognize the new Turbo Kenevo SL as a close sibling of one of Specialized’s most sought-after trail-slaying machines — the Enduro.

The Enduro, one of Specialized’s most shred-worthy mountain bikes just got the Super Light treatment, making big mountains, big hits and big days all the more accessible while still carefully preserving the “MTB” in eMTB.

The Turbo Kenevo SL has been built for the modern trend of aggressive trail and enduro riding; for the mountain biker who might be e-bike curious, but who’s unwilling to compromise performance for a heavy motor and battery.

“We’re targeting kind of the core acoustic trail riders who maybe are kind of interested in e-bikes but are not wanting to sacrifice the handling, because of the weight of a full-power e-bike,” Joe Buckley, product manager for full suspension mountain bikes at Specialized, said on a media call announcing the new bike

[Read more…] about Specialized launches all-new Turbo Kenevo SL

E-bike News: New Releases From Cowboy and Forestal, Shimano’s New Drivetrain Tech, Bikeflights Performing Well, and More!

Would you consider renting rather than buying an e-bike? Would you consider ordering an e-bike in advance that hasn’t been produced, but promises as yet unproven, though exciting technology?

This week’s news covers both scenarios, in the first case it’s rental company Zoomo’s plans for major expansion and in the second relatively unknown company Forestal have released news of an exciting new range of lightweight carbon e-bikes with a new lightweight mid-drive. And would an e-bike company’s ability to recycle old e-bike batteries influence your decision to purchase one of their bikes in the first place? Specialized are certainly hoping so…

In this week’s news:

  • Belgium’s Cowboy Release Details of Latest generation City E-bike with Higher Torque Motor
  • Three New Models from Forestal with New EonDrive Mid-drive
  • Shimano’s New Linkglide Technology for Stronger Drivetrains
  • Bikeflights’ Boxing & Delivery Service Has Strong Pandemic Record
  • Specialized Expands Battery Recycling Plans
  • Zoomo E-bike Hire Raises Capital for Expansion
  • Lime Calls on Its Workers to Help Lobby For More Bike Lanes
  • All the Latest Business E-bike News

[Read more…] about E-bike News: New Releases From Cowboy and Forestal, Shimano’s New Drivetrain Tech, Bikeflights Performing Well, and More!

Rad Power Bikes RadRover 5 Review, 2021

Rad Power Bikes Rad Rover 5 E-bike Review

Summary Review: Rad Power Bikes RadRover 5

Looking for the review of the latest RadRover? Click here.

We were eager to get our hands on the RadRover 5, as we have had great experiences with Rad Power Bikes in the past. With that being said, the Rad Power Bikes RadRover 5 review process was an absolute blast and lived up to our expectations here at Electric Bike Report.

There’s just something about a rugged, giant-wheeled bike that seems so inviting for fun, isn’t there? The RadRover 5 is largely just that – a fun time to be had on two massive wheels. You can charge hard on any terrain thanks to its 4” fat tires. And between the tires and the suspension fork you’ll be able to focus more on enjoying your ride, and less on feeling any bumps in the road.

Backing up the RadRover is a reputable company we’ve reviewed often in Rad Power Bikes. So when it comes to questions, customer service, and accessories Rad Power Bikes has your back. And, at least in our experience, Rad takes care of their riders.

One thing worth noting before you dive into our RadRover 5 review: you’re going to see the word “smooth” a lot, and that’s simply because the RadRover 5 is noticeably smoother than many of the other fat tire competitors out there. I’m not by any means saying this is a perfect bike, but it’s certainly been a fun, controlled ride.

We’ve reviewed plenty of fat tire e-bikes with similar specs, and price points, very few of them ride as smoothly (see, “smooth”!) as the RadRover does.

[Read more…] about Rad Power Bikes RadRover 5 Review, 2021

The Aventon Aventure: The Next Great Fat Tire E-Bike?

Launch Details

Are you ready to go on an ‘Aventure?’ Today the Californian e-bike company Aventon announced its newest addition to its lineup with the Aventure. This fat tire-styled electric bike comes equipped with massive 4” Kenda Krusade tires which are propelled by the bike’s 750W hub motor capable of a whopping 1130W peak. This combination has a lot of promise for those looking to head off-road on occasion.

On top of the new bike itself, Aventon is debuting what they call an industry first color display screen that integrates with an all new app. The app powers the bike and its integrated lights on and off, while also tracking your mileage and trips, and provides a community feature to meet up with other Aventon riders. The app even displays how many trees you’ve saved riding on your bike instead of a car.

Aventon sees the bike and app as a collective step forward for e-bike communities.

[Read more…] about The Aventon Aventure: The Next Great Fat Tire E-Bike?

E-bike News: Shimano E-cargo Mid-drives, Ribble Lightweights, Olympia 900Wh Model, Hydrogen Cargo Hybrid and Much More!

Whilst Shimano have often gone toe to toe with Bosch mid-drives in the city, trekking and e-mtb areas they have not been forthcoming in other areas where they might have wanted to match Bosch’s increasingly extensive offering of mid drives, such as cargo bike specific systems….until now!

There’s also some intriguing new tech this week in the form of carbon composite, injection moulded e-bike frames on the immediate horizon (2022) and further experiments with e-bikes and hydrogen. Which technologies will become mass adopted, which will remain specialist applications and which will disappear is as hard to tell as ever…

In this week’s news:

  • New Firmware from Shimano Makes EP8 and E6100 Mid-drives Cargo Compatible
  • Ribble Introduce Two New Superlight E-bikes
  • Brompton Electric Apple App Now Available
  • Carbon Composite Injection-Moulded Frames for 2022
  • Olympia’s New 900Wh Model
  • Italy’s Military Police E-bike
  • E-tech Developments with Hydrogen Hybrid and UK’s New ‘Self Driving’ Laws
  • Bike Share Companies Going Public and More E-bike Biz

[Read more…] about E-bike News: Shimano E-cargo Mid-drives, Ribble Lightweights, Olympia 900Wh Model, Hydrogen Cargo Hybrid and Much More!

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