MOD Updates the Black: Cool New Features Abound

MOD Bikes has unveiled the latest version of their popular model called the Black. The MOD Bikes Black 3 has been updated in a number of ways, making what was already an exciting full-suspension e-bike notably better; they’ve even made it a bit more affordable with a price that comes in below $3000.

The first upgrade to note is that the MOD Black has gotten a big power infusion. They replaced the formerly 350W mid-drive motor, which included a torque sensor, with a 750W hub motor and added a torque sensor as they usually use a cadence sensor. Torque also received a boost, climbing from 90Nm to 116Nm, a gain of nearly a third.

The battery received a boost from 557Wh up to 720Wh. Previously, MOD said the Black could have a range of as much as 60 mi.; that figure had dropped a bit due to the motor power more than doubling. They now say riders may enjoy as much as 50 mi. on a single charge. For those with range anxiety, the MOD Black can be ordered with a second battery for a range of up to 100 mi.

The previous version of the MOD Black was a Class 3 e-bike with a maximum-assist speed of 28 mph. The new MOD Black 3 ships as a Class 2 e-bike with a maximum-assist speed of 20 mph and includes a throttle. Riders can go into the settings to unlock it for Class 3 speeds.

The suspension fork picked up an extra 20mm of travel, a 25 percent gain over the previous 80mm-travel fork; a 100mm-travel suspension fork will do a better job of soaking up bumps on dirt and gravel roads as well as trails.

The 7-speed drivetrain changed in only one notable way: The chainring has grown from 42 teeth to 48 teeth, which means that it will be easier to hit top cruising speed on the MOD Black, but getting up hills will be a bit harder (or require more assistance from the motor).

The brakes appear to have received an upgrade as well. Previously, the Zoom calipers were minimal in size and looked like something you’d find on a race bike. The new calipers have a bit more mass to them so the braking performance may improve.

MOD says the Black hasn’t changed in weight; it’s still 65.8 lbs.

MOD offers a new feature with their e-bikes called MOD Connect which wirelessly pairs the e-bike with a Lumos smart helmet so that the helmet’s lights can be synced with the controller’s turn signals and will make the helmet light up to indicate turns.