Blog

In this week’s news:

• The Great American Outdoors Act and What it Means for eBikers
• EP8 – Shimano’s New Powerful Mid Drive
• Canyon City eBikes and its New Concept Light Electric Vehicle
• Latest eMicromobility and Battery Tech News

Headline News

The Great American Outdoors Act Passed – What Does it Mean for eBikers?

The Great American Outdoors Act has just been signed into Law – but what exactly is it and what does it mean for e-bikers? The extra funding it secures means mountain bikers and electric mountain bikers could ultimately see more trails opening up for them to ride on.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund is now permanently funded at $900 million per year as of 2019, and the fund is divided into two separate parts—federal and stateside. Add that to new resources for maintenance backlog on federal public lands, and land agencies will have access to nearly $2 billion per year for the next five years. It has been described as the biggest land conservation legislation in a generation as well as being an unlikely success story that attracted bipartisan support from both major political parties. It is aimed at addressing, amongst other things, the US$12 billion backlog of maintenance to repair roads, trails, campgrounds, monuments, fire safety, utilities, and visitor infrastructure in National Parks.

Here’s a video from IMBA, the International Mountain Bicycling Association, that gives more detail on the implications for trail access:

 

[Read more…] about eBike News: Great American Outdoors Act, New Shimano Mid-drive, New Canyon Electric Vehicles and Lots More! [VIDEOS]

In this week’s news:

• Racial Justice & the Bike Industry
• Covid-19 Bike Boom vs the Return of Motor Traffic
• Carbon Fiber Framed eBikes from LOOK and Kellys
• Fizik mtb Shoes
• eKickscooters for Virginia
• Cytronex Battery Guarantee

Headline News

People for Bikes – Putting Fighting Racial Injustice at the Heart of the Bike Industry

Bike and e-bike advocacy group People for Bikes say they are currently taking a number of steps to fight racial injustice both within the bike industry and at large. This webpage outlines their current programme and incudes steps such as:

• Initiating an internal equity audit
• Completing a staff survey
• Implementing new hiring guidelines following best practices with the goal of increasing staff diversity
• Identifying key areas for their research and data analysis programs to better support mobility justice
• Issuing an industry-wide survey to understand how we can best support a more just, representative and equitable bicycle industry. If you are involved in the bike industry you are invited to take the survey here.

Will the Bike Boom Continue as Motor Traffic Returns?

Marker website has a great piece that gives an insight into the bike and e-bike boom consequent on Covid-19, seen particularly through the eyes of one of the US’s premier bike and e-bike brands, Trek. At the start of lockdown Trek believed a best case scenario would be a 50% sales fall in April, 20% in May then levels remaining remain flat through the rest of the year. In fact in April Trek CEO John Burke was starting to think the company would need to be making many many more bikes than usual as the sales curve headed upwards at an incredible rate.

‘According to NPD Group, a market-research firm, U.S. bicycle sales (including indoor bikes, helmets, and other accessories) hit $1 billion in April, up 75% from the previous year — and the first time ever that sales had reached such a height. Sales of bikes under $200 grew more than 200% and front-suspension mountain bikes were up 150%. Kids’ bikes spiked 107%’ says the Marker article.

Such a boom, of course, meant empty shelves and, with a typical bike or e-bike needing parts from literally dozens of suppliers around the world and taking several months to produce from the start of the order process to arrival in a shop, a scramble from manufacturers to place more orders at the same time with global capacity and supply chains severely disrupted by Covid-19 caused huge shortages.

Will the boom last? Trek’s Burke and the Marker article certainly seem to think that will be the case in the US at least: ‘Trek, which is privately held, does not disclose sales numbers, though the company reportedly sells about a million bikes a year. A company spokesperson says that it expects 2020 sales to be more than double those of 2019, and is expecting sales of kids bikes and e-bikes to surge this holiday season.’

[Read more…] about eBike News: Bikes & Racial Justice, Bike Boom, LOOK and Kellys New eBikes, Virginia eKickscooters & Much More! [VIDEOS]

In this week’s news:

• New IZIP eBike Models
• Canyon eMTB Hardtails
• Shortage of Citibike eBikes for NYC
• Jump eBike Share Rolling Back into Berlin
• More eBike Use Means Less Emissions Says Report
• Model eBike State Legislation Expanding Across the US
• eBike Tech; 3D Printed Frames and Hub Motors in Cars

New eBikes & eBike Systems

IZIP’s New Models

IZIP has announced the following new e-bikes into its Commuting, Cruising and Adventure collections for Fall 2020.

Both the new Path+ Step Thru and Path+ Step Over e-bikes use a  Bosch Active Line center motor and a 400WH PowerPack battery. IZIP say ‘This new class 1 eBike has a top pedal assist speed of 20 mph and 30-50 miles of travel per charge. The tektro mechanical disc brakes provide solid stopping power. The 700c wheels provide rolling efficiency while 40c tires add extra comfort on any surface. The Shimano Altus 7spd shifting with optical gearbox provides riders visual confirmation of gear shifting.’ $2,400 MSRP.

The new cruising range is a choice between the Zuma Luxe Step Thru and the Zuma Luxe Step Over. Both feature Bosch Active Line Plus 250W motors and 500Wh batteries. Both models are equipped with Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, Shimano Acera 8spd shifting with optical gearbox and a wide range gear cassette. $2,750 MSRP.

[Read more…] about eBikeNews: IZIP and Canyon New eBikes, eBikeshare Updates, Bosch Charging Stations and Much More! [VIDEOS]

In this week’s news:

• New Features for Tern GSD
• Pinarello’s New City eBike
• Lighter Motor Systems from Mahle and Yamaha
• Dutch Roundabout for Cambridge,UK and Dutch Cycle Storage for London
• Simon Cowell’s Back and His Non-eBike
• Battery Recycling
• Dorel Sales Figures

New eBikes and eBike Systems

New Features for Tern GSD

Tern have just announced the launch of the next generation of the GSD, their flagship 20″-wheeled longtail e-cargobike.  Tern says ‘Improving on the previous iteration, the new GSD offers a stronger, stiffer, and even more stable frame able to carry up to two kids or an adult passenger, plus your groceries.’

Other new features include a more powerful motor, new double kickstand design, front suspension fork, integrated footplates, Rohloff hub gear option, better tall rider geometry, and new luggage options.
[Read more…] about eBike News: Simon Cowell’s Non eBike Accident, New Tern GSD, eBikemotion and Yamaha New Motors, Pinarello & Lots More! [VIDEOS]

It has been widely reported that British TV celebrity Simon Cowell broke his back after falling off an ‘e-bike’. He underwent six hours of surgery to insert a metal rod into his spine and is now, thankfully, up and walking again.

The mainstream media predictably produced many articles related to the ‘dangers of e-bikes’ or similar themes.

BUT, note the term e-bike in the first paragraph is in quote-unquote marks, as the machine in question was not what the e-bike industry and most legal systems would regard as an e-bike, or a legal one anyway. It was in fact a Swind EB-01 from UK-based Swind.  This £16,500 (US$21,600) machine has ‘a 15kW electric motor, delivering speeds of over 60mph (100km/h) and 80 miles (130km) of range’ according to Swind’s website.
[Read more…] about Simon Cowell’s “eBike” Accident: eBike OR Electric Motorcycle?

In the news this week:

• World’s Lightest eBike
• BULLS New Speed Pedelec eRoad Bike
• eBikes for Baby Boomers from Islabikes
• UK’s Evans Launches Budget Priced Hub Motor Model
• JackRabbit – the New Microbility Solution
• Evari eBike of the Future?
• New Tire Developments from Puncture Proof Specialists Gecko and Tannus
• Eurobike Goes Ahead
• Stella’s Impressive New Battery Factory

New eBikes & eBike Systems

It’s Official – This is the World’s Lightest eBike

The Freicycle from Germany has been confirmed as the world’s lightest e-bike. The one-off e-bike (no, unfortunately, you can’t buy this in the shops yet…) is based on a Merida Scultura Superlite LTD, and according to Freicycle’s website GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS has officially confirmed the record.

According to Guinness World Records ‘The lightest electric bicycle prototype weighs 6.872 kg (15 lb 2.40 oz) and was achieved by Dennis Freiburg (Germany) in Dortmund, Germany, on 3 December 2019. Dennis is a mechanical engineer and was, impressively, studying for his doctoral degree in Dortmund while undertaking this project. The construction of the bicycle started in October 2018, so taking just over a year to complete.’
[Read more…] about eBike News: World’s Lightest eBike, eBikes for Babyboomers, JackRabbit Mini eBike, Evans Budget Model and Lots More! [VIDEOS]

• Yamaha Launches First Full-Suspension All-Mountain eMTB: The YDX MORO
• Bulls Bikes Releases New XC/Commuter eBike: The ICONIC EVO TR 1 SPEED E-SUV
• A 200 Mile range Cruiser from Electric Bike Company
• iZIP announces new E3 Path Plus Step Thru and Path Plus Step Over commuter bike
• Updated ABUS URBAN-I 3.0 Helmet
• Bikes as a solution to climate change?
• Win a new eBike by participating People for Bikes’ Annual Survey

New eBikes; eBike Systems

Yamaha YDX Moro and YDX Moro Pro: Yamaha’s Entry Into Full Suspension eMTB Category

(YDX-MORO in Desert Yellow)

Yamaha has announced the release of two new all-mountain e-Bikes: the YDX-MORO and the YDX-MORO Pro. The YDX-MORO bikes are All-Mountain Class 1 e-Bikes with pedal assist up to 20 mph. They feature a proprietary Yamaha PW-X2 Motor with an upgraded Quad Sensor System. This Quad system adds an angle sensor to Yamaha’s current Triple Sensor System which permits the addition of Automatic mode for a seamless transition between assist levels. Both the YDX-MORO and Pro also have an incline sensor and a new walk mode — a handy feature when you need a touch of assist while walking your bike up a techy climb. The YDX-MORO bikes also utilize an all-new patent-pending Dual-Twin Frame™ with integrated battery cage and a Horst link dual suspension design.
[Read more…] about eBikeNews: Yamaha’s full-suspension eMTB, Bulls Bikes XC/Commuter, 200 mile range Model C cruiser, Bikes for climate change, and more

In this week’s news:

• Hase Launch Redesigned Multipurpose Electric Pino
• Details of Foes 2021 New eMTB
• Kinekt Suspension Stem
• New Lock Material?
• Advantages of Ditching the Car for an eBike – A Firsthand Perspective from Northern Canada
• UK Bike Insurer Cuts eBike Premiums
• Progress for eBike Sharing Schemes in Portland, Oregon and Watford, UK
• VOI eKickscooter Share Company Turns Profit
• Infrastructure Potential In US Huge Whilst UK Cycle Network Contracts
• All the Latest eBike Business and Legal News

New eBikes & eBike Systems

Hase Launch Remarkable Multi-purpose eBike

German company Hase has been making the multi-functional Pino bike for a number of years but from this October it will appear in a redesigned form and will be available as an electric version. The flexible Pino design means the bike can act as both a cargo bike and a tandem with the front rider pedaling recumbent style on a comfortable looking seat. New design features include foldable handlebars and a folding frame for easier storage and transportation of the bike.
[Read more…] about eBikeNews: Hase Electric Cargo-Tandem, Foes eMTB, Kinekt Suspension Stem, eBike Advantages & Lots More [VIDEOS]

In this week’s news:

• UK ‘Virus Defying’ eBike Hire Scheme
• Mondraker eBalance Bike for Kids
• Superstrata eBike With One Piece Carbon Fiber Frame Crowdfunds
• Sea Otter Show Goes Virtual
• Tour de France Says Get on Your eBike to Explore Isère
• eKickscooter Trials for UK’s Tees Valley
• eCargo Award
• FUELL Diversifies With New eMotorbike
• Europe Hits 3 Million eBike Sales in 2019

Coronavirus Update

UK eBike Leasing Scheme is ‘Coronavirus Defying’

What is billed as a ‘Coronavirus defying’ e-bike leasing initiative for businesses throughout North East England and Northern Ireland has just been launched.

North East based Ride Electric says it is ‘bringing a flexible, cost-effective long-term eBike leasing option to businesses throughout the North East, and will look to actively address the critical commuting issue the UK now faces.’ High initial purchase price is often cited as a reason people don’t commit to an e-bike purchase so it’s hoped this will be an affordably welcome initiative.
[Read more…] about eBike News: Kids’ eBalance Bike, Superstrata Carbon Fiber, Tour de France eBikes and Lots More! [VIDEOS]