E-Bike News: NY May Ban Uncertified E-Bike Batteries, Segway Introduces 2 E-Bikes, Stromer Introduces a Model With Pinion Gearbox and More!

Segway Introduces its First E-Bike Models

Segway, the maker of the eponymous self-balancing scooter, has announced a significant expansion of their product line. Among the new products are two e-bikes, the Xafari and the Xyber. The Xafari is billed as a trekking bike, which suggests it is aimed primarily at the European market; trekking bikes are flat-bar touring bikes aimed at people who aren’t trying to emulate Greg LeMond. It features a 750W brushless, geared hub motor producing 80Nm of torque. The full-suspension frame gives riders 80mm of travel front and 70mm of travel rear—enough to soften rough roads. And it rolls on 26 x 3-in. tires. The frame has an exotic look which includes a 913Wh internal battery and proprietary rear rack. The Xyber is an e-moped with a bench seat and dual batteries for a 1440Wh total capacity. The full-suspension frame offers 120mm of travel both front and rear. No word yet on the motor’s power rating, but with 175Nm of torque on tap it is reported to accelerate from 0 to 20 mph in 2.5 seconds. Segway promises a variety of security features in its “smart cockpit.” No word yet on their release dates.

Stromer adds Pinion Gearbox option to their ST5 model

Swiss e-bike maker Stromer has introduced a new version of their ST5 model. The ST5 Pinion replaces the derailleur, cassette and chain with a 9-speed Pinion gearbox, which mounts to the frame where a mid-drive motor would. The chain is also replaced with a maintenance-free Gates belt to give the ST5 Pinion quieter operation that eliminates black smudges on pants legs. Stromer has also added “Stromer Sound,” which is an acoustic feedback system that alerts the rider to functions such as on/off, charging, low battery and more. They also added a longer front fender to keep the rider’s feet dry in the event that it is raining on their commute. The Pinion gearbox offers smooth shifting which can be accomplished whether moving or stopped. The ST5 boasts a range of up to 120 mi. (180km) as well as an anti-lock braking system.

Vanpowers adds eMTB and gravel e-bike to their lineup

The Grand Teton and the UrbanCross are the two latest additions to Vanpowers e-bike line. The Grand Teton is a Class 1 eMTB featuring a mid-drive motor producing a whopping 130Nm of torque. It features a hard-tail design, includes a dropper post and rolls on 4-in.-wide tires. The UrbanCross is a gravel e-bike, which is to say it looks much like a road e-bike, but rolls on much bigger tires. It features Shimano’s gravel-specific group, GRX. Both bikes include a number of new security features from Vanpowers including hub motor lock, emergency SOS, vibration detection, geofencing and real-time GPS tracking. Both models are being shown off at CES.

Swedish brand Cake introduces its first utility e-bike

Launched by Stefan Ytterborn, the founder of helmet manufacturer POC, Cake is a Swedish brand known for its electric motorcycle. They have now introduced their first e-bike, the Class 2 utility model called the Åik. It features a step-thru frame design and rolls on 20-in. wheels. Because it’s meant as a utility e-bike, it is equipped with both front and rear racks and the rear rack is longer than standard racks for increased carrying capacity. With one 750Wh battery, it is reported to have a range of up to 74.5 mi., but users can mount as many as three batteries for more than 200 mi. of range. It will be sold in Cake stores located in Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Paris and Stockholm (with a New York store coming) as well as online. The Åik is expected to sell for $6500 and should begin shipping in May.

Shimano files patent for machine learning suspension control

The world of mountain biking has been trying to make rear suspension work more selectively since … ever. There’s been Specialized’s Brain, Fox’s electronic system Live Valve and RockShox’s Flight Attendant, and now Shimano has filed a patent to use AI to control rear suspension.

While hysterical doomsayers worry about Skynet, companies are increasingly using AI as a tool to help execute tasks that computer systems have struggled to judge correctly. Patent 11866114 B2, filed in the U.S., is a system that is meant to control rear suspension performance, as well as dropper post behavior, automatically raising and lowering the saddle, depending on the rider’s needs.

The suspension control system depends on a host of sensors that monitor speed, cadence, torque, acceleration, tire pressure and braking. It also monitors the bike’s 3D position in space, checking yaw, roll and pitch. Accelerometers check suspension input as well. Perhaps the most surprising input for the system is a voice-recognition module.

That data is then evaluated by a control unit that adjusts spring rate, stroke length, lock-out and damper adjustment for suspension and seat position with the seatpost.

According to Shimano’s filing, a rider can turn the machine-learning mode on and off at will, giving them the opportunity to ride a lap of a course in learning mode and then allow the system to use that information to make adjustments suitable to the local terrain on the fly. They can then turn off the learning mode and will enjoy a suspension setup dialed to riding in that location.

What’s interesting about this filing is that Shimano doesn’t currently produce suspension components. There are three obvious strategies that they could be pursuing. The first is that a company that started out making bike parts, but expanded into shoes, eyewear and apparel may intend to begin producing suspension forks and rear shocks. The second is that they plan to license the technology to manufacturers like Fox or RockShox. The third possibility is that they are simply carving out a technology to prevent another company from developing it. While engineers at other companies devote enormous effort to avoid Shimano’s patents, this last option seems unlikely if only for the fact that it isn’t being developed to protect existing Shimano technology.

We look forward to learning more.