Ebike Industry Updates
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Apparently, after Mr. Beast put out a call for submissions through social media, they were inundated with videos. How big was the response? They had to screen thousands of videos just to narrow the applicants down to the 600 ultimate recipients. While some of the e-bikes were delivered by hand, there were so many recipients around the U.S. that they had to ship many of them.
“Lectric Ebikes time and time again steps up to the plate, asks for very little, and helps us help as many people as possible. In this video, they gave us $600,000 worth of bikes! If you ever were curious if a brand actually likes helping people and wants to do good, you shouldn’t have to wonder that about Lectric Ebikes. If there ever was a brand you should support, it’s them,” said Mr. Beast.
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Canadian e-bike maker had an entire container of their new e-bike stolen.
The container of e-bikes, which included some prototypes as well as 140 of the new Juggernaut FS ST, had just recently arrived at their warehouse, but hadn’t been unloaded yet. Unfortunately for BikTrix, thieves with a Ryder cab broke the lock that secured the container chassis on which the shipping container sat and simply connected the chassis to the truck and drove off with it.
BikTrix provided Canadian police with surveillance video from the warehouse as well as the truck’s license plate number. Canadian police tracked the truck for two days but when they observed no illegal activity, ceased their surveillance.
“This container wasn’t just metal and contents, this container was like a treasure chest of our dreams, our entire team’s hard work, and considerable market value worth $1M—comprising all of our savings,” said Biktrix Founder and CEO Roshan Thomas
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In the braking department, we use the test (explained above) to gather 3 braking distance results and then pull the average of the three runs to get a solid idea of how the brakes perform.
The Sixthreezero EVRYjourney 250W Electric Tricycle comes with an unbranded front cable v-brake and in the rear, a drum brake. Since we don’t see rear drum brakes (or v-brakes for that matter) often, we were interested in how this setup would score in our brake test.
Once the bike reached 15 mph, Griffin, our brake tester, applied the brakes over 3 runs and the EVRYjourney 250W E-trike scored an average stopping distance of 21’ 7” (or 259 inches). Now, at first glance, that’s a really good score as our average across all the bikes we have tested is right around 21 feet. Well, if you filter that data to account for only e-trikes, the average stopping distance is 13’ 5”.
For context, the max speed of the e-trikes we have tested is around 14-16 mph as opposed to the other classes we test where nearly all others are tested at 20 mph. So, when you look at the filtered data, the result of the EVRYjourney 250W E-trike falls really short for its performance in this e-trike class.
With that said, in my testing this week, I did notice the front v-brake only offered minimal stopping power, even at a full pull of the brake levers all the way back to the grip. The rear drum brake felt better, but only brought us to a rolling stop, without any immediate stopping power as you would want to see in a scenario where you had to make an unexpected stop.
When I dig more into how this could be fixed, I took a look at other bikes in the trike class. I found that nearly all of them offered disc brakes, including Sixthreezeros own Easy Folder trike, which at only $300 more in price came equipped with front and rear disc brakes.
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Pi-Pop uses supercapacitors as the energy source for its e-bike.
The supercapacitors are housed in a module mounted to the side of the rear rack, so, in a manner of speaking, it does have a battery. The housing is notably smaller than that of a typical e-bike battery, though. That’s backed up by the Pi-Pop’s weight: just 47 lbs. (21.5kg).
Pi-Pop’s concept works from the same basic concept as regenerative braking. Rather than plugging in the e-bike to charge it up, the supercapacitors charge as you ride. Pi-Pop says that their e-bike will charge on flats, while descending and when braking. They even claim that you can arrive home from a ride with the same level of charge in the supercapacitors as when you left.
Supercapacitors are an interesting technology to use for storing energy. They have several obvious selling points. First, there’s no lithium. Second, they can last 10-15 years, rather than three to five years. Third, they are very energy dense, meaning that 250Wh of supercapacitor storage will weigh less than a 250Wh lithium-ion battery.
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Its Dutch-inspired design offers an upright, relaxed riding position for excellent visibility. While the Beaumont Rev 2 lacks suspension (common for its class and price), the wide, leather seat provides surprising cushioning and absorbs bumps better than you might expect.
The Compass 27.5 x 2.4″ tires feature a semi-slick tread we found to be quiet when rolling and the traction felt reliable. Retrospec suggests this bike is ideal for riders from 5′ to 5’10” – likely due to the non-adjustable stem. Interestingly, at 5 ’11”, I still found the Beaumont comfortable throughout my testing.
Also, the low step-over frame height of just 19.35 inches makes mounting and dismounting much easier – a welcome touch for any rider..
The Beaumont Rev 2 boasts practical features for daily commuting, including front and rear metal fenders, a rear rack rated for 22 lbs, and AA battery-powered front and rear lights.
Staying true to its budget-conscious nature, the bike forgoes an LCD display. Instead, it has a simple indicator panel on the left handlebar showing battery and pedal assist levels, with corresponding adjustment buttons. Unfortunately, the thumb throttle’s placement is a bit awkward. I found myself instinctively reaching for the throttle when intending to change assist levels, requiring a conscious effort to ensure I hit the correct button. A revised control layout would improve this aspect of the user experience.
While the handlebars do not have an adjustable stem, you can adjust the tilt of the handlebars towards or away from yourself along with the seat post height to dial-in a fit that you find comfortable.
The cockpit has a full-color LCD display that has a smart take on e-bike security, in the form of a proximity key fob. This adds another layer of theft protection as the bike’s motor cant be activated without either a 4-digit passcode, or a swipe of your key fob.
Aside from updated theft tech, the LCD display shares quite a bit of other handy information. Of course, It can show the basics like current speed and PAS setting, and the odometer, but it shares even more, like current wattage being used and the estimated range left until empty, so you can plan accordingly with no surprises.
The Radster Trail does have a Suntour SR front hydraulic suspension fork with 80mm of travel. I found this fork to feel pretty good when dropping off curbs or going over the occasional rock. However, due to the upright riding position here my center of gravity is positioned mostly on the seat post, it did not offer much shock absorption in day-to-day paved path rides.
When it comes to ride quality of the Radster Trail, it’s hard not to talk about the tires. The tires on the Radster Trail are made by Kendra and measure at 27.5 x 3.0” with an off-road tread pattern. Aside from looking great with their tan sidewalls, the choice to go with a 3 inch tire over the more commonly seen 4.0 (or bigger), in our opinion, was a great choice. The handling of the 3 inch tire just feels better in cornering and handling overall while still being wide enough to inspire confidence when tackling the trail off the beaten path. Sure, there is a little road noise when you are on paved surfaces, but that’s to be expected with any off-road tire.
I found the Radster’s motor to be one of its best features; with 750W of power, the ride felt exhilarating! The torque sensor was remarkably responsive, which created a smooth, fun, and natural experience.
I also liked that the bike had such flexibility in its speeds; where the previous generation of Rad’s bikes were limited to a Class 2 setting, the Radster offers the ability to switch between Class 1 (no throttle), Class 2 (throttle and PAS up to 20 mph), Class 3 Limited (PAS up to 25), and full Class 3 (PAS up to 28) speeds. In Class 3 settings, the throttle functions up to 20 mph.
The Radster Road is offered in two frame sizes: a Regular that fits riders from 4’11” to 5’8” and a Large for those between 5’7” and 6’4”. In terms of comfort, the bike checked most of the boxes that we look for. Our test riders (who are mostly in the 6’ range) were generally comfortable on the Large frame; we thought the saddle felt soft and supportive, while the handlebars and grips themselves were shaped well. With that in mind, the handlebar height and riding position felt somewhat awkward, blending Dutch/commuter styling in an unexpected way. To compensate for this, I found myself lowering the saddle and reducing my leg extension to balance out the fit, but this was not ideal.
For the record, we tested the Radster Road and the Radster Trail simultaneously, and found that the Trail’s low-rise handlebars felt much better, and more suited to the bike’s geometry. Fit and comfort are personal factors, so we recommend trying the bike to determine if changes are needed; the Radster Road’s stem and handlebars can be replaced if needed with relatively minimal cost and effort (though this is still an extra step).
The Radster’s frame design varies between sizes. The Regular offers a true step-thru design and a sub-20” standover height, while the Large features what I would dub a mid-step frame with a 24” standover. Prospective owners using a bike rack should consider its weight, as even with the battery removed, the bike’s 67.5 lbs is above average for a commuter. We liked the bike’s design overall, however, as it follows the industrial styling of 2023’s RadRunner 3 Plus.
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The Netherlands is experimenting with technology that would allow the government to reduce speed in certain areas.
The concept is a simple one: In highly congested areas, city officials would like to be able to reduce the maximum speed of e-bikes in order to increase safety. The technology would not cause an e-bike to brake. Rather, it would reduce the motor’s power output, effectively stepping down the pedal-assist level.
Such a concept may seem hard to fathom in our freedom-obsessed nation. Dutch officials see it as a matter of general safety for all users. Bike and e-bike use in the Netherlands is so high that parking all of them can be a challenge.
The system will allow two different forms of communication, which the Dutch officials call “nudges” and “nannies.” The nudges would be alerts sent out to riders alerting them to conditions to be aware, such as accidents. The nannies would be speed reductions based on a rider’s GPS coordinates.
As it is, e-bikes in the Netherlands are limited to a maximum speed assistance level of 25kph (18 mph). The technology would allow the system to reduce a rider’s speed to 15kph.
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Washington D.C. went with a discount voucher rather than a rebate program.
The program is aimed at low-income households and initially, applications will only be accepted from those currently enrolled in SNAP, Medicaid or the D.C. Healthcare Alliance.
Those approved for vouchers will be able to receive up to $2000 off a cargo e-bike, $1500 off a regular e-bike, up to $250 off maintenance or disability accessories or up to $150 off a bike lock. Buyers will present the voucher to the retailer who will then discount the sticker price.
People wishing to apply can do so online or fill out an application at one of the pop-up events officials will be holding around the city.
The city plans to give out 250 vouchers in the first round, which can be used with any of a group of 12 D.C.-based retailers. Direct-to-consumer online purchases will not be eligible. The list of retailers can be found here.
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Maker of adjustable, ergonomic saddle named official saddle of triathlon governing body.
BiSaddle is unusual among ergonomic saddle designs in that the shell of the saddle allows the user to move the pads to a position offering the best support for their body.
As the governing body in the U.S. for triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon and off-road triathlon, the organization sanctions more than 3500 events annually, participated in by more than 300,000 athletes.
According to BiSaddle, “BiSaddle distinguishes itself through its patented fully adjustable saddle, providing athletes the ability to tailor their saddle to individual body shapes and preferences, guaranteeing an optimal and comfortable cycling experience. Dedicated to improving athlete performance and well-being, BiSaddle’s commitment to innovation is evident in their production of groundbreaking saddles suitable for various cycling disciplines.
“BiSaddle is committed to maximizing the potential of age-group athletes, and we at USA Triathlon are excited for this partnership to work together to support athletes as they chase their personal finish lines,” said Victoria Brumfield, USA Triathlon CEO. “This new partnership will help multisport athletes experience how an adjustable shape, custom fit saddle can be used to train harder, ride further, and ride faster.”
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There is no one key to what makes the Electric Bike Co. XL Comfort Saddle better than nearly all other bike seats out there, and that’s part of its secret. But there are a few clues to why it is so successful. Its size is the biggest (haha) reason riders like this saddle so much. It’s larger than most seats on the market. Size matters because greater surface area means less pressure on any one part of your keister and that means feeling better supported.
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A new trail system in Vermont not only allows e-bikes, but it can accommodate adaptive e-bikes.
Most singletrack trails are too narrow for adaptive e-bikes, so even in places where Class 1 eMTBs are allowed, adaptive cycles with three or four wheels are too wide to fit on the trail. The trails at the Driving Range, however, are wide enough for adaptive e-bikes that have wheels in parallel.
The key to making the trails at the Driving Range wide enough was the use of a trackhoe, a kind of pint-sized bucket loader. More and more, trails are being “machine-built”—created with the help of motorized devices such as trackhoes and bobcats. This allows trail builders to exert greater control over the terrain, building features and smoothing transitions in terrain to create flowy lines that are the juice of what this sort of riding is about. The trackhoe, due to the width of its tracks, naturally cuts a path wide enough to accommodate adaptive e-cycles.
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The sale of e-bikes has given the German bike market stability at a time when other markets are volatile.
Such a shift in sales was already predicted as sales trends were clearly headed that way. In 2022, e-bikes represented 48 percent of total sales, while back in 2013, e-bike sales comprised just 10 percent of the total bike market in Germany.
Despite the increase in the percentage of total sales going to e-bikes, e-bike sales were down relative to 2022. Total bike sales have been dropping in Germany as well. After topping out at 5 million bikes and e-bikes in 2020, sales have dropped each year, with 4.7 million sold in 2021, 4.6M in 2022 and now a drop to 4M in 2023.
Not all markets and companies are seeing a drop. Swiss brand Stromer saw growth in 2023.
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When turning, all tricycles require careful attention to weight distribution to avoid tipping up on two wheels. As a rider, this is done by tilting your upper body into the turn – and perhaps most importantly, slowing down! The Easy Transit’s low center of gravity helps it to feel stable and balanced, but these handling characteristics are still important to keep in mind when transitioning from a bicycle to a trike.
In terms of comfort, I found the Easy Transit’s upright riding position to be pleasant, relaxing, and conducive to observing my surroundings. Its wide, cruiser-style saddle and ergonomic faux leather grips added to its overall comfort level, which was dialed in further with multiple points of adjustability.
The Easy Transit fits riders from 4’6” to 6’5” with its adjustable seatpost, stem, and handlebars. Its dual-telescoping seatpost offers a whopping 14” of adjustment in saddle height, while the telescoping stem offers 4.5” to change handlebar height. The trike includes high-rise, chopper-style handlebars which can be angled to adjust reach. One note about the stem: after adjusting the handlebar angle, be sure its two bolts are properly tightened to avoid slipping!
We found the motor to be moderately responsive with roughly a ½ turn of the cranks required to engage the pedal assist system. On a single-speed trike (a majority of the others we have tested) this may have been a concern, but the Easy Transit’s 7-speed drivetrain made it much easier to get moving before the motor engaged – though of course you must remember to downshift when coming to a stop.
The trike included a small suspension fork with 40mm of travel to absorb vibrations. I did not notice much of an effect as nearly all of my weight was on the saddle, but I understand that some riders may want the added reassurance of a smooth ride. We found it somewhat perplexing that the trike’s front cargo basket was mounted to the top of the non-adjustable fork; any added weight in the basket would cause compression and reduce the fork’s effectiveness.
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The Netherlands is experimenting with technology that would allow the government to reduce speed in certain areas.
Like the Curt, the Curt Anyroad begins with an aluminum frame. The frame comes in two versions, a low-step (not quite a step-thru) and a step-over (or traditional) frame. The low-step comes in two different sizes that are truly different sizes, while the step-over comes in three sizes. It’s nice to see an e-bike that really can give a broad range of riders a comfortable fit.
Like the Curt, the Curt Anyroad features a 250W brushless, geared hub motor with torque sensor powered by a 336Wh battery, a 60cm-wide flat bar, hydraulic disc brakes, seatpost with integrated light, front headlight, fenders and kickstand. Where it differs is that the carbon fiber fork is replaced with an aluminum one that includes rack mounts and the single speed drivetrain takes an exit in favor of a 10-speed drivetrain and the 40mm-wide semi-slick Panaracer tires and replaced with a low-profile knobby Panaracer GravelKing SK that is 43mm wide.
The weight jumps from 32 lbs. to 37 lbs. This is a decidedly premium e-bike and comes in near the $4000 price point.
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Cowboy introduces a new city e-bike with a step-thru frame.
The Cowboy Cross comes with a 250W brushless, geared hub motor. Cowboy estimates that riders may see as much as 80 mi. (120km) of range per charge, thanks to the 540Wh battery. If a range of 80 mi. seems optimistic for a 540Wh battery, don’t be too suspicious; that’s more than double the power of the rear hub; it seems within the realm of PAS 1 possibility.
Also worth noting is that this is a Class 1 e-bike aimed at European markets where there is a top assist speed of 15 mph. Going slower does wonder for range.
The Cowboy Cross weighs 61 lbs., which will help riders get more out of the 250W hub motor than would be possible with a heavier e-bike.
Between the 2.4-in.-wide tires, 40mm-travel inverted suspension fork and suspension seatpost, this will be the most comfortable e-bike from Cowboy in their line.
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Let’s get the basics of the helmet out of the way: This MTB helmet carries certifications both for the U.S. (CPSC 1203) and the EU (EN 1078), so potential buyers can be confident that this helmet meets basic safety standards. It comes in two sizes to cover heads ranging from 55 to 63cm in circumference. And despite the light and electronics, it weighs only 340g (12 oz.), which is right in line with many other mountain bike helmets.
So what makes this a mountain bike helmet? The visor. Sena makes other models specifically for road riding, such as the R1 EVO. The visor is helpful for anytime a rider is moving in and out of wooded areas; suddenly riding into bright sunshine can make it hard to see the trail and not having the sun in your eyes (thanks to a visor) means your eyes don’t need as much time to adjust when you ride into a wooded area. The reason this isn’t considered a helmet for the road is one of speed, not style. Above 20 mph, the wind will grab the visor and push the helmet around on your head, which isn’t comfortable and reduces the helmet’s ability to protect you in the event of a fall.
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Even though e-bikes make up nearly a third of their sales, profit is off for the world’s biggest bike and e-bike maker.
Giant attributed some of the decline in sales due to a drop in entry-level and mid-level products in both North America and Europe. Even a huge growth in sales in China was unable to overcome the slump.
The sales drop hit Giant’s profit hard, with the company’s net profit before tax shrinking to NT$4.8 billion, while after tax profit ticked in at NT$3.4 billion. Earnings per share were NT$8.68 ($0.27); the board approved a dividend of NT$5 ($0.16) per share.
Giant’s fortunes do not look to be improving in 2024. January sales were reported to be down 18 percent from 2023 and February was down even further, off by 27 percent.
E-bikes made up 30 percent of Giant’s total sales in 2023, including both those sold under the Giant name and those produced for other brands.
Remarkably stable and confident ride
The #1 feedback we hear from people after they try a fat-tire e-bike for the first time is that they were wowed by how stable the ride was and how much confidence that gave them as they road. Feeling confident and secure is a big deal, and there may not be a more forgiving ride than that offered by a fat-tire e-bike.
There are several reasons for the stability and confidence riders feel. The first are those big wheels and tires. The heavier a wheel, the more gyroscopic effect it will generate as it spins, which will make the e-bike easier to balance. The rider won’t have to do much to keep the e-bike going straight once it is moving; in fact, a fat-tire e-bike will balance at lower speeds than any other sort of e-bike.
Those big, soft tires are less likely to be deflected if you ride over a root or rock than they are to simply roll over them, and less front wheel deflection means fewer surprises, again, adding to the rider’s confidence.
Another reason riders feel so confident on fat-tire e-bikes is that the position most riders are afforded is fairly upright, making it easier for the rider to look around and take stock of their surroundings, be they natural wonders or traffic.
Versatility
Exploring dirt roads, gravel paths and other natural-surface trails can be terrific fun, but unless that’s all you want to do, it’s handy to have an e-bike that will also allow you to make a run to the store or commute to work. Big tires roll just as well on pavement as they do on dirt, a bit faster, in fact—because a harder surface is always faster.
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The drying up began in 2022, but with so many people having purchased bikes and e-bikes in 2020 and 2021, demand has yet to return. In an analysis piece on the industry website Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, Rick Vosper showed that e-bikes are poised to save the bike industry from what would otherwise be an industry-wide depression.
After brands placed huge orders to refill their depleted stock in 2020 and 2021, the glut of inventory caused imports of pedal-only bikes to shrink by 31 percent in 2022. That’s a huge drop, but it was followed by an even bigger drop of 41 percent in 2022. The 5.4 million regular bikes imported in 2023 represents the lowest number of imported bikes since 1981, when our country was digging out of the late-1970s recession.
E-bike sales, by comparison, have been on a very different trajectory. In 2016, e-bikes represented only 2 percent of the bikes imported to the U.S. In 2023, e-bikes made up 18 percent of the total number of bikes brought into the country. Even though e-bike imports fell by almost 1 million units in 2023—a 10 percent fall relative to 2022—they were still 15 points higher than the imports for 2021.
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