eBikeNews: Kent Kid’s eBike, Gazelle Family Cargo, Eunorau AWD & Lots More! [VIDEOS]

In this week’s news:

• Kent’s $498 Children’s eBike
• Gazelle’s New Family-friendly eCargo Bike
• Moustache 28mph Pedelec with Dual Battery Option
• Eunorau Defender S All Wheel Drive Crowdfunds
• Speed Pedelec Helmets and Tyres
• Plus All the Latest On eBike Finance, Infrastructure and Industry

New eBikes and eBike Systems

Kent’s $498 Kid’s eBike Now in Walmart

Kent Bicycles is a long established and well-known name in the bike world and they have just launched their first kid’s e-bike, the Torpedo. 

It has 20″ wheels, is pedal assist only (no throttle) and comes with front suspension and V-brakes with power cutout triggers for when the brakes are activated, ensuring power is cut immediately.  It also has a 125 Wh capacity battery which Kent says should take you  15 miles in the lowest power setting.

Walmart is currently selling it for $498

Note that low power e-bikes like this are generally legal for children to ride in many US states and in most European countries, though in the UK you need to be 14 to ride an e-bike. If you want to check the precise laws for your own state check out People for Bikes excellent state by state guide to the rules on e-bikes. 

Gazelle’s New Family eCargo Bike the Makki

Gazelle’s new Makki family cargo bike puts child comfort and safety first, according to the Dutch bike maker.  Add in a bundle of accessories and it all means ‘you can dare to replace your second car with a Makki’ according to Gazelle. There is comfortable looking bench seating, storage drawer and a rain hood.

Gazelle designed the bike after getting real world feedback from Dutch cycling families using bikes for everyday use, so that it incorporates easy to use features like an easily accessible kickstand and adapters for car seats and child seats inside the very capacious box.

Spec is solid as you would expect from a manufacturer with a reputation for durable and high quality manufacture;  Bosch Performance Line motor, 400Wh or 500 Wh battery, hydraulic disc brakes and a low-maintenance belt drive.

UK prices from £4,199 with availability from September.

Moustache Announce New Speed Pedelec

Speed pedelecs or class three e-bikes can assist the rider up 28mph but there are as many models out there due to the fact there are usually on where you can ride them – many bike paths and trails are off limits for example (check out our article on speed pedelecs here for more info on why many people do find them very useful though).

So it’s always encouraging to see new speed pedelecs come on the market and the French brand Moustache have just announced the Friday 27FS Speed with a dual battery option.

Both models come with full suspension frame, Bosch Performance Line Speed motor. This offers a maximum torque of 85 Nm and it can get you up to 45km/h. Magura disc brakes and a Shimano XT 11S drivetrain.

There are two battery options, 625Wh and the dual battery system of 1125Wh and a choice of Kiox and Nyon displays and dropped top tube frame on the single battery options.

Retail prices are €6,299 for the single battery version and €7,199 for the dual version. Both are out in early April.

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Eunorau Defender S – an All Wheel Drive, Full Sus eFat Bike!

Eunorau have been making e-bikes since 2010 and claim to output around 50,000 units a year with a global reach. They have taken to IndieGoGo to launch their new dual motor, full-suspension electric fat bike, the Defender S. The great news is the starting price of $1999 for dual motor model (most all wheel drives or AWD e-bikes are a few thousand bucks more). There is a single motor version too. The not so good news is te projected fall delivery date.

The Defender S Pro features two 750watt rated Bafang hub motors in front and rear wheels and a frame-integrated 672Wh battery which can be upgraded to an 816 Wh battery, and riders can also add on a second 816 Wh battery for a stagggering 1632Wh of power – of course two powerful hub motors will certainly get through your battery quickly.

At this price other components won’t be top of the line won’t be top of the line but they don’t look bargain basement either – there’s a color LCD display, hydraulic disc brakes, and a 9-speed Shimano Alivio derailleur plus RST hydraulic front fork and rear DNM air shock.

Once funding is completed via the company’s Indiegogo campaign, production is expected to begin in May with shipping slated for October.

Endura’s Speed Pedelec Helmet

Bike Rumour carries news of a new speed pedelec helmet from Endura. It is certified to speed pedelec standards (designed for greater speed impact and covering more of your head than a regular helmet) and features tilting visor and Koroyd Core honeycomb structured shock absorbing material.

The Endura Speed Pedelec Helmet is covered by Endura’s Crash Replacement Policy, comes in three sizes (S-M, M-L, L-XL) and retails at £159.99.

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Continental’s New Speed Pedelec Tire

According to the UK’s Bikebiz Continental has just launched the e-bike specific tyre the eRuban Plus, certified for S-Pedelecs.

It is described as having a ‘=chunky width and knobbly tread pattern bu ‘unlike MTB tyres that drop off speed when faced with tarmac, a fast-rolling, energy-saving centre area enables the Ruban and eRuban Plus to comfortably switch terrain without compromising on capability.’

Weight starts at 790g per tyre and ETRTO sizing is between 54-584 and 65-622 (27.5 x 2.1 to 29 x 2.6)

eBike Finance

Washington State eBike Sales Tax Exemption Makes Progress

Electrek reports that House Bill 1330 passed Washington state’s House of Representatives last week and has is now in the Senate.

The bill would mean the removal of sales and use tax on e-bikes and related cycling equipment. With the maximum exemption set at $200, Washington’s 6.5% sales tax rate means e-bikes priced up to around $3,000 could be purchased without paying any sales tax, if the bill passes.

The idea of the bill is to provide extra incentives to purchase e-bikes (note the bill does not apply to pedal bicycles) in the hope they will replace cars and car journeys – in other words it’s designed to be an environmental piece of legislation.

It’s certainly a welcome move from the Evergreen state. Tax incentives on e-bikes seem to be the legislative flavour of the day – witness the proposals for a nation-wide 30% saving on e-bikes.

Infrastructure

Is Canada About to See Huge New Bike Lane Program?

The Canadian government’s website recently announced $400 million over five years to help build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails and pedestrian bridges – the first federal fund dedicated to building active transportation through Canada. The new $400-million fund is part of an eight-year, $14.9-billion public transit investment outlined by Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister McKenna on February 10, 2021.

The announcement also tells us that since 2015, the Government of Canada has invested in almost 400 miles of active transportation trails, bike and pedestrian lanes, and recreational paths. Projects include the Grouse Mountain Regional Park trails in North Vancouver, the Flora Foot Bridge in Ottawa, a bikeway extension in Corner Brook, and a new cycling path along the Mine, Notch and Kingsmere corridor in Chelsea, Quebec.

Any doubters that well designed and connected bike lanes work should check out this CBC article on how pandemic bike lanes have increased the accessibility of Canadian cities and how moves are afoot to make the lanes permanent. Several cities, including Moncton, Kitchener, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto, Calgary and Winnipeg have extended their bike lane networks since the pandemic began.

Minnesotans Lobby to Keep Their Slow Street

Streetsblog reports on how one Minnesota street – currently closed to through traffic as part of SFMTA’s “Slow Streets” program – has been a big hit and how a group of local residents and advocates is pushing to keep it that way.

“A number of slow streets have been temporarily set up but Minnesota is one of a few streets that have garnered particular support, a sizable petition/survey, and a number of volunteers and events,” wrote advocate and local resident Peter Belden in an email to Streetsblog.

They’re urging people to take SFMTA’s slow streets survey for Minnesota and to ask for it to remain after the pandemic. And they’ve set up a petition and ‘call to action’ of their own.

eBike Biz

US eBike Sales Grew 145% in 2020 Compared to 2019

The New York Times reports the findings of market research firm NPD Group, that sales of e-bikes grew 145 percent in 2020 compared to 2019, with sales of all bikes being up 65 percent.

Whilst this may only confirm in precise figures what many knew to be a fact, the article is also interesting as it details the success of e-bike share during the pandemic – after many had initially assumed all share type services would see a huge decline in use. ‘Covid did not kill bike-sharing’ proclaims the article’s byline, detailing how ‘In the early days of the pandemic, bike-share usage stalled as those working from home stopped commuting. For essential workers who needed to travel, bike-sharing became an alternative to buses or trains, where they might be exposed to the virus by other passengers. Lyft, which manages bike-share fleets in nine cities — including the largest systems in New York City and Chicago — gave about 30,000 essential workers free yearly passes.’

With 28 percent of bike-sharing systems incorporating e-bikes in 2019 (the last year for which statistics are available) according to the North American Bikeshare Association ,it seems 2021 could well see e-bike share grow even further. NABA’s 2019 figures also found e-bikes were used some 1.7 times more than traditional bikes.

Cannondale’s Adventure Neo Goes High Profile

Cycling Industry News reports on how Cannondale’s Adventure Neo e-bike has taken high visibility billboards taken in London, Berlin, New York and San Francisco.

The ad campaign has thus far made brief appearances in New York’s Times Square and will soon return to the SoHo area of NYC next month.

Van Moof Expanding Global Reach

VanMoof, manufacturers of sleek city e-bikes, recently announced plans to expand their physical presence from 8 to 50 cities.