The Lightweight Prodeco Titanio (Titanium) Electric Mountain Bike!
Oct 04, 2012
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Prodeco recently launched their flagship Titanio series of e-mountain bikes. Their 26″ wheel Titanio weighs 29.5 lbs. and their 29″ wheel version (29er) weighs 31.8 lbs.
Based on the component spec, the Titanio looks like it will actually be trail worthy for many miles of riding. Some bikes try to get the weight down but they use very flimsy components that don’t endure the test of time on the trail.
Titanium is what bike connoisseurs (geeks) drool over! Titanium is lightweight and it has a very supple ride characteristic. Compared to an aluminum frame it is much more comfortable and it tends to have a “livelier” feel. Titanium also has that coolness factor because it has a high quality look to it.
The motor and battery spec on the Titanio is interesting. They are using a 200 watt front hub motor and a 33 volt 9 ah ULW Pan battery on the 29er and a 33 volt 6 ah ULW Pan battery on the 26″ version. The 200 watt motor might seem like low power to some, but the electric assist is meant to help you get over a hill, not rocket you over it.
This bike is intended to make you feel like you are still mountain biking with “a little help”. From personal experience riding a bike like this, 200 watts of power provides a nice feeling of balance between your riding power and the electric assist. The smaller motor and battery also keeps the weight of the bike in check so it will still feel close to a normal mountain bike.
The Titanio is a pedal assist electric bike with a torque sensor so that it will respond proportionally to how much effort you are putting into the pedals.
Prodeco did not skimp on the component spec when it comes to this high end e-bike. They are using a Rock Shox SID PushLoc suspension fork on the 29er and the Rock Shox Recon Gold Air PushLoc suspension fork on the 26″ version. These are well known suspension forks that have been used for many years on conventional (non-electric) mountain bikes.
The drivetrain is a mix of SRAM X9 and XO components and the brakes are Avid Elixir XO hydraulic disc brakes. The stem, handlebars, and seat post are all Truvativ components. The rims are Ryno Lite’s and the tires are Continental Race Kings.
That is a solid line up of well known brand name components from the traditional mountain bike world.
Here is a pic of the 29er (31.8 lbs.):
And a pic of the 26″ wheel version (29.5 lbs.):
Here are the claimed ride specs from Prodeco:
29er Titanio:
- Top speed is 18 mph
- Range is 20-30 miles (depending on how hard you pedal!),
- Charge time is 3 hours.
26″ Wheel Titanio:
- Top speed is 16 mph
- Range is 18-25 miles (depending on how hard you pedal!)
- Charge time is 2 hours.
The 29er Titanio will retail for $4,999 and the 26″ wheel Titanion will be $4,499.
Here is a link to their new 2013 catalog with the Titanio and their other electric bikes which include a mix of other e-mountain bikes, electric commuters, and electric folding bikes.
The Titanio is their flagship series but most of their bikes are in the $999 to $2199 price range.
Here is another point of interest: All Prodeco electric bikes are assembled in the USA at their facility near Miami Florida! They have a large warehouse with over 3 million components in stock.
What do you think? Would you be interested in riding a lightweight titanium electric mountain bike like the Titanio? Please leave your comments in the section below.
Thanks!
-Pete
P.S. Don’t forget to join the Electric Bike Report community for updates from the electric bike world, plus ebike riding and maintenance tips.
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OMG it’s gorgeous! Totally out of my personal price range, but it’s nice to see options for lighter weight e-bikes. Hopefully, it’s the start of bring the average weight down. My prodeco bike weighs 48 lbs, which isn’t bad for an e-bike, but for commuting it’s a bit heavy. Price-wise, I’m more inclined to go with their new Outlaw (around $2200). I do hope they don’t stop making folding e-bikes, though. Not too many full size folders out there for those of us who commute or need to bring them indoors. BTW I have had my Prodeco bike 7 months now, and their service and responsiveness has been stellar. Nice article, thanks!
I , it looks great, specially for a mountain bike with a suspended fork,;
the price is out of range for everybody !;
mine is a Cybien sport and weights about 42 lbs , it is the good weight for a good range (effectives 42 miles in mountain roads and quite the double in softs areas),
when you have to push the bike with a empty battery the weight is crucial;
Good to see ebike makers moving in this direction. I feel like the typical strategy for making bikes lighter is making the battery smaller or placing the battery in a place where it will be more balanced… which doesn’t seem to work as well as just plain making the bike lighter.
The weight is nice but with that little power the price point is too high. While I mostly ride my Prodeco PhantomX2, probably the best buy for the money on the market today, it is heavy. I also have a much cheaper but far lighter Chinese made bike that does much of what these bikes purport to do but at 1/5th the price. My ideal bike would be much lighter, with a minimum 500 watt direct drive motor (higher would be better) that comes with three cruise control BUTTONS (I just did 40 miles in freezing rain and holding down that thumb throttle was a real pain (frozen pain). I’d like one button for full power, one for high pedal assist and one for low pedal assist, and of course the ability to not use the motor at all. Since I use the bike to travel 40-60 miles roundtrip I carry an extra battery, it would be nice to have a bike with an extra rear carrier for that second battery, one that you could remove when it wasn’t necessary and use for cargo transport.
Just recently bought an aluminum 26″ E-moto Ridge 3.0 mountain bike that folds and has a full suspension with a Panasonic lithium battery pack and mid-level components. Much lighter than my old Currie electric mountain bike at just under 50 lbs so I can’t complain. I really love it! Cost me, after receiving a $150 rebate from Austin Energy, no more than a like quality full suspension bike without the electric assist. Having a electric assist 29er weighing 32 lbs like this one would be a dream come true so its nice to drool over!
It’s nice to see these high-end ebike options available, but Prodeco and all the other ebike companies out there stand to make more if they fOcus mOre on AFFORDABILITY and VALUE for the masses. Most people out there are still without an ebike, and are struggling to even cover their basic needs to survive. Hence, they will nOt even consider purchasing an ebike to handle their short commutes or all their commutes if the ebike is priced out of their range. High-End Quality frames and components is nice to us all, but the absolute best components is not necessary for mOst people’s simple commuting needs. Most of us would be just fine with an ebike that instead strikes a nice balance between quality, value, and affordability. NEWSFLASH…our economy is at an alltime low, the realestate market is not fairing well either, and GAS is nOt cheap yet such a critical need for mOst of us. Prodeco’s $999 to low-$1k lineup should suffice for most of us. Anything more is just for the wealthy enthusiast, diehard cyclists, athletes, and long-distance commuters. Currie also has some more affordable, but heavier, ebike options available, but I feel most ebike novists are willing to deal with the extra weight as they at least are able to test the waters of the NEW ebike trend. And if they like it, surely they’ll UPGRADE their choice of ebike as soon as they can afford to do so. And fortunately, this ebike industry is growing fast and allowing for more lighter and more affordable ebikes to become available with each passing day. So most of us just need an incentive to give the ebike option a chance. And what better incentive than to give the average person with an average income an ebike that can provide him/her with decent quality at a truly affordable price(below$1K). In my opinion, if mOst ebikes produced in this industry are priced above $1K, I don’t think this industry will last the long haul. The higher the price, the more most people will say to themselves, “I might as well buy a used car/motorcycle/scooter if I’m gonna spend that much on a bicycle!”
Hi Clay, Great points! I believe we will see more economical e-bikes coming out in the near future. Stay tuned for more reviews of econo e-bikes (I have one com ing in soon).
The higher end electric bikes do have their place by providing innovation and pushing the boundaries of what is possible with these lightweight electric vehicles. Usually the innovation in these high end bikes trickle down to the more economical bikes after a few years. These flashy bikes also attract general media attention that reaches more of the general public. At first glance these high priced bikes might scare people away, but if they dig a little deeper they will find that there are bikes in the more affordable prices.
Certain countries in the European market (and certain cities in the US) have demonstrated that the more expensive e-bikes are selling to people who value higher quality products.
Batteries continue to be the expensive part of an e-bike and I hope that we will see improvements in battery tech soon that will bring the prices down so that e-bikes will be available to even more people.
Overall, I want to see more people on e-bikes and I will be on the lookout for good economical bikes to review on Electric Bike Report.
It probably isn’t realistic to expect to get all that you need for under 1K but I would expect to get all that for under 2K if electric bikes are to actually become a realistic form of transportation. My current bike cost, a Predico PantomX2 cost $1399, to which I added a second battery at $499 and probably will pick up a third battery at the same cost.Right now with that second battery I’m able to do approximately 50-60 miles. Now of course we all want what Optibike offers but the price tag is way beyong most of us. It still seems to me that you can produce a quality bike with a direct, rather than a hub, motor with a minimum of 500 watts(though higher doesn’t seem all that out of reach)for under 2K. As I have said before such a bike needs to have three levels of cruise control (one of them can be with no power). If Predeco can produce a titanium bike in their Phantom line with a direct drive motor and variable crusie control then such a bike would dominate the market if they can keep their price along current lines, though it might mean scrapping the titanium frame to keep it under 2K. This just doesn’t seem all that hard to achieve. Direct drive is not only good for hill climbing, it makes repairing flats a lot easier.
@PETE Thanks for understanding my(and most others) plight. Looking forward to seeing more reviews on econo ebikes. Again, we all love all the high-end ebikes, but mOst people still can’t afford them in today’s economy. So, in the meantime, the next best option is to at least explore more affordable ebikes that’ll at least introduce mOst of us to the ebike industry and get us to use our gas-powered vehicles LESS 😉
@TOM SCHANTZ You replied, “It probably isn’t realistic to expect to get all that you need for under 1K but I would expect to get all that for under 2K if electric bikes are to actually become a realistic form of transportation.”
Tom, what you may need may not necessarily be what mOst others need. The reality is $2000 is alOt of mOney for mOst of us. You’re personally able to affort a Prodeco Phantom X2, a Second $499 Battery, and now you’re looking to get a 3rd $499 Battery? Wow, that’s good for you. More Power to you my friend. But Unfortunately, mOst of us cannOt do thAt. So mOst of us are willing to cOmpromise on bells and whistles if it means we’ll at least be able to OWN OUR OWN EBIKE SO WE CAN TRY THIS TRANSPORTATION-CONCEPT OUT FOR OURSELVES.
Just surf the web, and you’ll find many satisfied ebike newcomers whom are already using inexpensive ebikes and even electric folding scooters as transportation to and from work whom spent under $1K. This is thanks to companies like Currie Technologies and even a small company called Super Cycles and Scooters among other mass-market-oriented companies that have been offering value-packed ebikes, folding e-scooters, and even ebike conversion-kits that allow anyone to simply convert their existing old bicycle sitting in their garage(or even an inexpensive mongoose, schwinn, huffy, pacific, etc. available at most department stores)into an actual usable ebike.
My point again is that mOst us realistically don’t have $2K on-hand to fork out on an ebike. However, I believe there’s a whole bunch of people out there, like myself, whom still are very curious and excited about this new ebike trend and want to give it a chance IF we can afford to do so. So the industry players that only offer expensive high-end ebikes, at this time, must either find a way to create more affordable ebike models that can actually be attainable by the average-joe, or they’ll never be able to get a piece of the huge pie that Currie Technologies and other reputable ebike-kit co.s already have.
I didn’t say $2000 was cheap but you have to remember that my MAIN means of transport is my electric bike. I might drive 8 miles a week (and then only to transport my bike from my home in the mountain the two miles to the highway leading out onto the plains) but I put on 100 to 200 miles a week on my e-bike. At 68, I need a good ebike to do those miles because even the plains along the Colorado Front Range involve rolling hills. What I am saying is that a quality ebike could be made for under $2000. Mine cost $1399 but I do have to add extra batteries because my round trips average 45-60 miles. It isn’t the bike that’s expensive, it’s the battery. And here is where I am surprised that costs aren’t going down, though I understand that lithium prices are going up. Maybe Pete knows if we can expect battery prices to go down. And, yes, there are good ebikes at 1K or less but for the most part I would be throwing money away at them because they can’t do what I need.
Oh, and I didn’t say that paying for all of this wasn’t a great hardship. What I was saying is that it was unavoidable. I am getting the most for my money that I could find after examing every ebike on the market when I made my initial purchase. I did comment that I thought the new Prodeco titanium bike was priced way to high for what you are getting. When you look at an ebike you have to ask yourself: am I buying a fun toy or am I buying my primary means of transport. If it’s the first, then there are plenty of cheaper options; if it’s the latter, then the available options shrink dramatically, especially if, like me, there are budget constraints.
@TOM SCHANTZ After reading your clarification as to why you purchased the particular ebike you have at the price you mentioned, I can definitely understand your particular case. As I mentioned in a previous comment, the ebikes above $1K are more suited for people like yourself(ie.,long-distance commuters). Well, I’m glad you now have an ebike solution on your end that works for you my friend. We all share our thoughts here, and we learn from each other with nothing but good intentions and to share our common ground…our love for the new Ebike Craze. Be SAFE alwAys out there 🙂
Hello Robert or Pete.
I’m leaning towards buying the Titanio 29er. I am curious about the resistance/friction of the front motored hub. Does it cause much more friction than lets say a Shimano hub when the motor is not engaged? Are there any vids of the Titanio being ridden?
Hi Gary,
I am not sure yet, but I may be doing a review of the Titanio 29er in the future.
Pete
Hi Gary,
This is Rob Provost, the CEO of Prodeco Technologies. Regarding the motor, there is zero resistance when riding as a traditional bike. The motor design is very unique and utilizes 3 steel friction wheels inside for reduction to build torque and speed instead of gears. This allows for the ultra lightweight design. This also allows the over building of the motor enagement system for years of issue free riding.
When picking up the front motor wheel of the Titanio off the ground and spinning it, the motor spins 100% free with no more resistance than a high quality sealed bearing hub such as a Shimano XT. It just continues to basically spin.
When powering the motor, it sort of spools up as it starts to propel the bike forward as you pedal. As soon as you stop pedaling, coasting the bike is idential to a traditional high quality bike. The motor is not engage and the bike will coast free of any resistance. If the motor is turned off all together, the bike will pedal identical to a high quality traditional bike. We have been told by everyone who rides it, that it is the closest e-bike to a traditional bike found anywhere. The 31.8 lbs including battery and motor for a 29er is amazing in itself.
The only time you realize there is a motor is when the power is turned on and the torque felt from the front of the bike as it powers up. There is also a Low to High lever dial for increasing or decreasing assistance.
I do have to say the bike is flat out amazing and we are so proud of it.
Thank you for your question and I will try to get some videos of the bike in action done.
Rob Provost
Thanks for the info Robert. Since the Titanio is almost as light as my Giant Trance 1, I was hoping it may replace it as my main ride, but I often do far more than 18m in an outing, so knowing the hub won’t cause drag is great news. I have to say it is by far the best looking ebike I’ve seen by a large margin. I have a few more questions if you don’t mind:
How does the bike handle rain/trail moisture? Is the battery/hub-connecter sealed well enough to handle riding in the rain, or would that risk a short-out? I keep my bikes inside my apartment, but I tend to ride rain/snow/shine :).
Some sites are listing the battery as 9mah and others at 6mah (including the Prodeco site). Are there two battery versions?
Hi Gary,
I apologize for the late reply and seem to have missed this comment with questions earlier.
First, I would like to state my personal feelings about the Titanio. The Titanio in person is a work of art. I am an avid collector of high quality watches for example and mainly due to the intricate details in what make one watch worth the money over another watch. The same goes for the Titanio. The design, details and finishes of the bikes are just amazing.
The first production Titanio models just started coming off their production line and when I stood next to bike #1, a tremendous sense of pride hit me. The bike is just so beautiful and feels to me like a museum piece. I don’t want to sound corny or anything but the Titanio came together so nice and we have been working on a Titanium design bike for 5 years. We shelved the Ti bike concept a few years back and revived it last year.
I am ecstatic we finally completed the Titanio and now have it available. It is a timeless design that will be in style for the next 20 years. There is also something very special about a bare, non-painted brushed Titanium finish on a bike. It seems to get better with age.
Back to your questions, there was an event in California produced by Interbike at the Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes this past month. Most of the e-bike manufacturers were there. All the companies brought a line-up of their bikes for the media to test and ride. We were told by multiple publications, the Titanio was one of their favorites if not their favorite and the closest ride to a high quality traditional bike.
We believe the low weight is a huge contributor to the impressive ride and performance. The bike weighs an amazingly low 31.8 lbs. while being a full size 18″ MTB frame with 29 inch wheels and a 100mm travel suspension lockout fork. I always compared the ride to riding on a cloud because the pedaling can become effortless when in high power and the bike being so light for an e-bike.
If wanting an even closer riding sense to a high end traditional bike versus an e-bike, slide the power dial in low assistance. The battery range will also increase and the power can always be dialed up on the fly for the hills.
We cannot take all the credit for the great ride experience and a lot of the quality in the ride itself is the result from using the traditional bike industry’s highest quality components. The RockShox Sid fork, Avid XO brakes and XO shifter are at the top of their field. These same components can be found on bikes costing higher than the Titanio that are not even electric.
As far as rain, the motor and battery are sealed better than any of our other bikes and are maintenance free. The battery is basically sealed shut. I would not leave the bike in a down pour however, especially due to the LCD computer on the handlebar only being water resistant and not waterproof. It is removable but the high low dial lever is not removable. A light rain does not disturb anything but a down pour could.
As far as rust and corrosion, all the components are made from the highest grade metals such as Titanium, Magnesium, Aluminum and Stainless Steel. There are no carbon or iron steel parts to be found anywhere on this bike. This bike is 100% rust proof and even the saddle rails are made of Titanium.
Regarding battery size, there is a 6.2Ah and a 9.3Ah battery. The bike can be ordered either way and we do not charge for the 9.3Ah upgrade. The 9.3Ah increases weight by about 1.3 lbs. and why not the standard battery. The added weight is not wanted by all riders and why the 6.2Ah is the standard. Some riders just want enough power for 20 miles.
These batteries hold the new high output Panasonic 3100mAh 18650 cells. There are 18 cells in the 6.2Ah case and 27 cells in the 9.3Ah case. The case is the water bottle and made of stainless steel and no longer painted black but left a natural brushed SS finish.
I hope my answers helped with your questions and please feel free to contact us with any other questions or requests.
Best regards,
Robert Provost
Thanks again Robert.
Well, I think I’m as excited about the Titanio as you are. The last bike that really caught my interest was the Specialized Turbo, but it is both more expensive and unavailable in North America, not to mention the Titanio’s more sleek design! I’ve been in contact with the Canadian distributor for Prodeco, and I’ll be picking one up over the next few months. I’m moving to Vancouver for grad-school this summer. I’ve sold off my car, and will be selling my motorbike since I’ll be living in the downtown area. I expect the Titanio will be perfect for commuting to work, and enjoying the trails on the weekend.