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E-bike News: Ribble Lightweights, Mokumono Innovation, Igogomi Shaft Drive, Colorado Solar Charging and Much More

Ribble New E-Bikes

Ribble hit the headlines a few months ago after producing an ultralight e-bike with a claimed weight of 10.5kg / 23lbs. Their two new e-bikes, at 17.5 / 38.5lbs and 19.5kg / 42.9lbs are much heavier but for fully-equipped e-bikes for more utilitarian use they are pretty light. Mokumono are a Dutch firm who also look like they enjoy doing things their own way and this week we detail the unique design behind their latest e-bike. And talking of unusual designs you can also learn about a funky looking shaft drive e-bike from California in the shape of the Igogomi range.

In this week’s news:

  • Ribble launches two new lightweight, fully-equipped e-bikes
  • Mokumono’s unique new e-bike
  • Igogomi shaft design
  • Colorado’s new solar-powered e-bikes
  • Manchester’s large new bike and e-bike share scheme
  • Bikmo lowers insurance costs
  • Lyft’s new share e-bike unveiled
  • E-scooter share from Unagi and Lift in Europe (Superpedestrian)

[Read more…] about E-bike News: Ribble Lightweights, Mokumono Innovation, Igogomi Shaft Drive, Colorado Solar Charging and Much More

Ebike News: Gazelle Class 3 Belt Drive, Rose Lightweight, Wayel E-fat Bike and Much More!

Gazelle Ultimate C380plus Lifestyle

We have speed for you this week in the form of Gazelle’s new class 3, 28mph belt drive e-bike, lightness and versatility with a new German e-bike from Rose and a great value looking folding e-fat bike from Italy. There’s a deep dive video into the role cobalt plays in e-bike batteries and plenty of e-micromobility developments are afoot too.

In this week’s news:

  • Gazelle’s fastest belt drive launched
  • Rose launches lightweight range with Shimano’s powerful EP8 mid-drive
  • Wayel’s new e-fat folder
  • Extra large battery from BMZ and background on cobalt in batteries
  • Spin’s new share e-bike launches in Providence, Rhode Island
  • Helbiz e-sccoters get Italian styling from Pininfarina
  • Swedish subscription e-bike raises US$11 million

[Read more…] about Ebike News: Gazelle Class 3 Belt Drive, Rose Lightweight, Wayel E-fat Bike and Much More!

Bike Mechanics Should Become LEVA Tech Certified, Or Risk Being ‘Left Behind’

LEVA Training - EBike Maintenance

Why You Should Become LEVA Tech Certified

E-bikes are selling like hot cakes. But are bike shops prepared to service them when they break?

Ed Benjamin shouldn’t be surprised anymore when he sees an electric bike cruise down his quiet south Florida street, but he is.

When COVID-19 gripped the world last year and sent nearly everyone home, Benjamin, who founded the Light Electric Vehicle Association in 1996, said his neighbors flooded out of their homes and into the outdoors.

As the world ground to a halt, he watched from the window of his home office as his historically empty suburban neighborhood came alive: People were going on socially-distanced walks; they were spending time in their yards; and, most notably for Benjamin, they were riding e-bikes.

Benjamin has sat at the helm of LEVA for the better part of three decades. The trade association of about 400 members spans 29 countries and is the loudest voice championing e-bike mechanics, dealers and manufacturers. From day one, Benjamin’s job has been to spread the good word about e-bikes to pretty much anyone who would listen. Even back in ‘96 when e-bikes were little more than an odd novelty, Benjamin knew they would one day change the entire world’s relationship with bicycles.

But it has been a slow burn, especially here in the United States.

Before March 2020, the sight of just one e-bike cruising down his street would have caused enough excitement for him to point and shout from his desk, calling “honey come see!” to his wife across the house.

Now, of the roughly five bikes a day he sees roll by his window, at least three are e-bikes. He still has a hard time containing his excitement.

“I think they’ve woken up to electric bicycles,” he told me on a late-March phone call.

It would seem his neighbors aren’t the only ones.

[Read more…] about Bike Mechanics Should Become LEVA Tech Certified, Or Risk Being ‘Left Behind’

Ebike News: Radio Flyer E-bikes and E-scooters, VW E-Cargobike, Trek Pride Ride & More

Radio Flyer Adult Electric Bike

It’s never too late to get on the evermore popular e-bike train, as one of the US’s oldest, most respected and well-run firms has confirmed this week, with their launch of a line of both e-bikes and e-scooters. Less convincing perhaps is the ‘reannouncement’ of a new e-cargobike from one of the world’s best known automotive brands.

There’s plenty of innovation too, from airbag jackets for cyclists to car style, roll up and plug in charging points about to be rolled out in the UK.

In this week’s news:

  • Radio Flyer’s new e-bikes and e-scooters
  • Trek Hosts a Nationwide Pride Event
  • VW Announce E-cargobike launch (again…)
  • Cirrus airbag safety jacket gets off to a flying start on Kickstarter
  • Spelsberg aims to bring e-bike charge points to the UK
  • E-scooter news; Voi survey shows popularity whilst Raine refuses deposits return

[Read more…] about Ebike News: Radio Flyer E-bikes and E-scooters, VW E-Cargobike, Trek Pride Ride & More

E Movement Thor Review, 2021

E-Movement Thor electric bike review

E Movement Thor Review: Summary

The E Movement Thor is a sporty hardtail e-mtb with a solidly performing rear Bafang hub motor and frame-integrated and non-removable batteries. The relatively small 360Wh battery and rear hub motor design mean it’s best suited for sporty leisure riding rather than full on mountain biking.

The current discounted IndiegGoGo price of £1200 means it’s an affordable entry level type price point for those looking to tackle both tarmac and less challenging trails.

There are some nice extra touches though that take it above the ultra low budget price level, namely the Bafang DPC-18 full colour display with customisable settings and the hardwired Spanninga front LED light that can be turned on and off manually and that also turns on automatically in low light conditions.

Overall the Thor looks a solid purchase with a couple of luxury touches for those wanting to get out and about on the trails and don’t need the hill-climbing oomph of a mid-drive.

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[Read more…] about E Movement Thor Review, 2021

Ebike News: Torque 1 Torque Sensor Affordability, Ji-MoveII Mini Ebike, Woom Kids E-bikes & Much More!

Further proof that simple and lightweight e-bikes are an increasingly important area of the e-bike world this week with details of the Torque 1 from the US and a joint collaboration from the UK’s Bikeworks and Revolutionworks.

Novel lock designs also feature heavily in the never ending quest to make them more effective and lighter. And if you want to know where to find the best city cycle lanes in the US just read on….

In this week’s news:

  • Torque 1, affordable torque-sensing e-power
  • Ji-Move II, the new mini e-bike with high spec and low price
  • Lightweight e-bike collaboration from Bristol UK firms
  • Woom kids’ e-bikes come to the US
  • New accessories; Schwalbe cargo tire, two innovative locks
  • City News; E-bike hire for London, Bird 3rd gen e-scooter and People for Bikes’ new city ratings

[Read more…] about Ebike News: Torque 1 Torque Sensor Affordability, Ji-MoveII Mini Ebike, Woom Kids E-bikes & Much More!

Ebike News: Sea Otter Classic registration date set, Stromer and QuietKat have new owners, EU road fatalities hit all time low & much more!

One of the world’s largest bicycling events is nearing after a more than year-long hiatus; some e-bike companies were bought and sold; and U.S. lawmakers took positive steps to make our roads safer as Europe reported the fewest pedestrian road deaths on record.

Those things and more in this week’s news roundup.

In this week’s news:

  • Registration for Sea Otter Classic nears after COVID hiatus
  • European road fatalities fall to all time low
  • Transportation bill moves forward with funding for cycling, walking infrastructure
  • QuietKat acquired by Vista Outdoor, owner of several well-known outdoor brands
  • Luxury e-bike brand Stromer also gets bought
  • Support people for bikes, (maybe) win a Stromer

Registration opens next month for California’s famed Sea Otter Classic

Registration for one of the United States’ largest bicycling events is set to open next month after being postponed for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Read more…] about Ebike News: Sea Otter Classic registration date set, Stromer and QuietKat have new owners, EU road fatalities hit all time low & much more!

E Movement Hunter Plus, 2021

E-Movement-Hunter-Plus-Review-2021

SUMMARY REVIEW: E movement Hunter Plus

UK-based E Movement describe themselves as a family-operated e-transport brand, was founded in 2018 and today they sell a wide range of own brand e-bikes and e-scooters direct to the consumer. E-fat bikes don’t have the high profile they have in the US and so it’s great to see E Movement raising their profile here, as their range contains several e-fat bike models.

The E Movement Hunter is a folding e-fat bike that looks to provide a lot of bike at a budget price and does just that. The huge tires (huge by bike standards anyway) are designed to roll easily over looser surfaces like rocks, gravel, snow and even sand and to be a comfort feature in general.

Of course adding all that rubber means a standard fat bike can be hard work to pedal and that is where the ‘e’ in electric comes in, opening up the experience to those who aren’t superfit. The fact this is a step-thru model and it folds opens it up to even more users too.

If you thought e-fat bikes weren’t for you this review might just make you think again; I’m not used to seeing fat tires on smaller 20″ wheels and was surprised at the wide variety of terrain they could tackle and found the ‘go anywhere’ feel of the e-bike great fun and very liberating. Compared to larger wheeled e-fat bike models it’s a more manageable package but still gives you the confidence to widen your e-bike horizons.
[Read more…] about E Movement Hunter Plus, 2021

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

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