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Ebike News: Scott’s Integrated eMTB, Vaast Urban Adventure, UK’s Evari and Much More

Bird Bike 4

Three new e-bikes this week and all feature Bosch mid-drives. With high end mid-drives now giving pretty similar and very impressive performance the question for the manufacturers must increasingly be how they differentiate themselves from others.

Integration and connectivity are two areas based on the evidence of this week’s new e-bike releases – Scott have produced one of the most integrated looking e-bikes to date whilst Vaast have opted for a Unique suspension system and Evari stress hidden (or very well integrated) display and connectivity tech, with as many elements as possible hidden in a carbon monocoque frame.

In this week’s news:

  • Scott’s integrated Patron eRide eMTB
  • Vaast go Urban Adventure
  • Carbon-framed Evari from the UK
  • Bafang mid-drives
  • Magnet speed hack from New Zealand’s NLS
  • San Francisco Transit First Analyzed

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What makes a good cheap electric bike?

what makes a good cheap electric bike

Bicycles, especially electric bikes, are often more expensive than the average person might think. But not all good e-bikes have to be expensive bikes.

So what makes a good, cheap electric bike? The short answer is the best electric bike is the one you’re most excited to ride, but there are some things to consider that will likely help your dollar stretch further. Things like component choices, battery size and even what type of e-bike you choose.

Radmission good electric bike

The Rad Power Bikes RadMission is one of our all-time favorite cheap e-bikes. It’s also a great example of a no frills e-bike that’s still an absolute joy to ride.

With a critical eye and a good grasp of what you want from your bike and what features are most important to you, it’s absolutely possible to find an e-bike that’ll prove to be your diamond in the rough. This post will walk you through how to do that and offer Electric Bike Report’s tips on what makes a good, cheap e-bike.

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Can I lose weight riding an electric bike?

Though they’re designed to make bicycling slightly easier, you definitely can lose weight riding an electric bike.

At the end of the day, an e-bike is still a bicycle. You still — for the most part, at least — have to pedal the bike to make it go. There is some nuance to the fitness element of e-bikes, of course: Throttle-powered Class 2 bikes take pedaling out of the equation and some of the more powerful e-bikes require little more than soft pedaling to reach very high speeds. But for those looking for help with weight loss from their e-bikes, there’s plenty to be had if you approach your rides with a little strategy and a lot of willpower.

Losing weight on an e-bike

Though there’s whole categories of e-bikes dedicated to fitness, you don’t have to don lycra and go find big hills to lose weight on an e-bike.

And though there are entire categories of e-bikes dedicated to fitness riding, any e-bike can provide you with a good enough workout to lose weight and feel healthier. In this post we’re going to go over why e-bikes can help you lose weight and cover some tips from the Electric Bike Report staff on how to get the most weight loss bang-for-your-buck from your e-bike rides.

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Ebike News: Bosch 2022 ‘Smart’ System and New Mid-drives from Yamaha, Fazua and Others

Bird Bike 4

It’s Eurobike right now – Europe’s biggest bike trade show – so new announcements on e-bikes come thick and fast. Some are more predictable than others; bigger batteries and more powerful mid-drives from the likes of Bosch and Yamaha may be welcome developments for some but they are hardly massive surprises.

The more exciting changes these days seem to be at the lightweight end of the market with lightweight yet powerful mid-drives announced by Fazua and the little known Maxon – to give just two examples. Of course, only time will tell which systems will endure and which will be less popular or even fade away (see the mention of the Mando Footloose below….) – but Eurobike remains a great showcase for all the new developments and an exciting time for e-bike tech watchers, whichever tech goes on to succeed.

In this week’s news:

  • Bosch 2022 Smart System
  • All new Yamaha PW-X3 mid-drive launches
  • Lighweight Maxon mid-drive
  • Fazua’s new removable mid-drives
  • Schaeffler’s Free Drive that needs no chain or belt
  • New Gen4 Lime e-scooters launch in New York City
  • E-bike charging stations set to grow says report

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Bosch announces new ‘smart’ e-bike system, a larger battery and new app for 2022

Bosch on Tuesday announced a host of new model year 2022 products and updates for their line of electric bike drive systems that promise to make e-bikes smarter, more connected and go further.

Along with a new 750Wh in-frame battery, a new app, a handful of software updates and a new Bluetooth remote and display, Bosch outlined its vision for a more connected and smarter e-bike — one that can adapt intuitively to your riding style, help you get from point-to-point quicker and interact with other smart devices to become a more integral part of your day.

Bosch MY 2022 announcement

Bosch on Tuesday announced a host of new products and updates for model year 2022.

“The idea is that the physical experience of riding an e-bike and the digital experience of using a smartphone (should) combine very nicely,” Claus Fleischer, CEO of Bosch e-bike systems said during the company’s annual press conference on Tuesday morning.

The updates and new products planned for 2022 are some of the most significant we’ve seen from the German manufacturer in recent years, but new things for the 2022 model year weren’t the only things teased during Tuesday’s press event; Bosch also hinted at several other innovative smart features just over the horizon.

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E-bike Industry Leaders: An Interview with Aventon Bikes

Aventon is fast becoming one of the most popular makers of electric bikes in the U.S. Known for their stylish bikes and disruptive designs, the California-based company has one advantage few others in the e-bike game have: Their own factory.

That asset has helped Aventon create some of the best bikes we’ve reviewed, including the popular Aventon Level commuter bike and the fan favorite Aventon Aventure electric fat bike.

Electric Bike Report sat down with Adele Nasr, Aventon’s chief marketing officer, for a conversation about the Aventon brand, the company’s passion for cycling and how owning their own manufacturing process helps them ensure quality and build better bikes.

What sets Aventon apart from other e-bike manufacturers?

Well, we have a very unique position in the marketplace in that not only do we own our own factory, but because we manufacture many other (cycling and other) products in our factory in China. We know and understand manufacturing differently than the rest.

Level Step-Through frames on the Aventon factory floor in China. Aventon is one of just a few e-bike manufacturers that owns their own factory.

We have an advantage in understanding the landscape at a global level. So that advantage really sets us apart in not just understanding the U.S. market but really understanding all other markets because we are supplying and working with markets like Australia, Europe, the U.K. and South America.

So that really gives us a very unique advantage in really knowing those markets and almost being ahead in what the US may be looking at next. The U.S. is a little behind in adoption, so knowing some of those more progressive e-bikes and e-mobility markets gives us that foresight and understanding of what’s to come in the future. I would say at a higher level than most.

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Ebike News: Bird Bike On Sale, Tenways Lightweight Crowdfunds, Eurobike Highlights and Much More!

Bird Bike 4

This week’s headline news has to be Bird’s new e-bike now on sale to the public. It’s not a groundbreaking e-bike in itself, though it looks to pack in plenty of sleek design features at a reasonable price. Most comment-worthy has to be the fact this is a giant of e-micromobility hire now selling its own-designed e-bike.

Bird was founded in Santa Monica, California in 2017 and went on to become one of the biggest share e-scooter outfits in the world. Initially their business model was all about the software and the app, as many companies’ early cheap and cheerful share e-scooters had a notoriously short service life. But the hardware was gradually updated by many e-mobility companies, with share e-bikes and e-scooters becoming much more durable. Bird’s latest move seems to suggest their hardware capabilities have fully caught up with their software expertise.

In this week’s news:

  • Bird Bike on sale in US and heading to Europe
  • Lightweight Tenways city e-bike crowdfunds
  • Eurobike reveals latest e-bike designs
  • Spin and Bird on Google Maps
  • 39lb Eovolt e-folder takes on 17lb carbon racer
  • DPD all-electric city aims to show the way on parcel delivery

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Do you need a license to ride an electric bike?

Can you ride an electric bike without a license? In most U.S. states e-bike riders are not required to have a valid driver’s license, but it really depends on where you live.

Unfortunately e-bike law in the U.S. can be messy and difficult to understand. Thus far, it’s been largely left up to individual states to determine what qualifies as an e-bike and how those bikes and riders are regulated. About two-thirds of U.S. states have adopted a “classified” system that categorizes e-bikes into three tiers based on speed, motor size and whether the bike has a throttle. But in the states that haven’t, e-bike riders are subjected to a host of rules — ranging from laws around licensing and registration to speed and motor size restrictions — that may be unique to that specific state.

Do you need a license to ride an e bike - throttle

The thumb throttle on a Bakcou Storm electric fat bike. Because of this throttle, the Storm is considered a Class 2 e-bike.

E-bike law can even change within a state’s bounds depending on whose land you’re riding on. But never fear, fellow e-bike enthusiasts, there is a method to this legal madness (for the most part) and just like driving a car, the laws get easier to understand and follow as you learn some of the basics.

This post will help lay out those basics so hopefully you can better know what you can and can’t do on your e-bike.

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What Are The Pro’s and Con’s of Electric Bikes?

Electric bicycles seem to be popping up everywhere, and with good reason. The self-sufficiency mixed with a little help here and there has allowed riders across the world to rediscover the fun of biking and, possibly, reconsider driving to and from work.

With so many positive benefits revolving around electric bikes it’s hard to see anything wrong with them, however there are a few cons worth discussing. This list weighs the major pros and cons of electric bikes.

Pros of Electric Bikes:

Electric bike pro #1 – The efficiency and experience of electric bikes

It’s hard not to love the feeling of hopping on an e-bike, turning it on and then flying like the wind. Thanks to the pedal assist, you get a lot more from your pedaling than on a standard bike. A common stigma revolving around electric bikes is that it takes the exercise out of biking, but that’s not true. A recent study showed e-bike riding made for a meaningful workout.

The ability to choose how hard you work when riding is a unique characteristic of e-biking; when riding with assistance you receive a consistent workout and difficulty level throughout the span of your ride, ultimately resulting in a more predictable strain level.

Commuters, off road riders and those getting out for a simple cruise are all going to benefit from being able to alter how difficult the ride is and how fast the bike is moving.

Electric Bike Pro #2 – Electric bikes are good for you and the environment

Electric bikes not only benefit your health, but also benefit the world we live in. It’s commonly accepted that electric bikes and cars are better for the environment than their gas powered predecessors, and with good reason.

A 2019 study done in Italy proved electric bikes consume 40 times less energy than a gas powered car going the same distance.

Not only does electric biking benefit the environment, it benefits you. I’ve found my work day is always better if I’ve got some exercise prior to clocking in. I’m more focused and ready for the task at hand. Being able to ride an electric bike to and from work combines exercising with eco-friendly commuting. That’s two birds with one stone!

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Ebike News: Motorbike Inspired E-bikes from Ruff & Super 73, Peyman CVT, MacAskill Endorses E-bikes & Lots More!

harley serial

This week we have a truly mixed bag of news, which shows how wide-ranging the world of e-bikes can be. Motorbike-inspired e-bikes have come to the forefront with two very different designs from Ruff and Super 73 / Mattel. There’s also a novel new bike transmission system from Peyman, a team up between e-scooters and an e-bike microvan and an example of mind-boggling e-mtb ability from Danny MacAskill.

In this week’s news:

  • Ruff e-bike produce their first Bosch mid-drive powered e-bike
  • Mattel and Super 73 team up for a limited edition
  • Intriguing Peyman CVT design
  • Specialized’s new battery recycling partnership
  • Spin e-scooters use EAV 2Cubed four-wheeled e-bike for logistics
  • Arlington’s life-saving bike lanes
  • Huge new e-cargo showroom in London
  • Danny MacAskill rides Torridon e-mtb style

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