Thursday, January 30, 2014

The next big thing in e-bikes

This isn't out yet, but can be pre-ordered for $599, which seems like a good deal. It's a wheel that can be easily attached to any bike, and will transform your bike into a pedal assist bike. No wires or complicated construction required. The wheel syncs with your smartphone to tell you the speed, battery power left, etc. One of the coolest things is a GPS that is inside the wheel which tells you where it is located in case someone tries to steal it (if you live in NYC, they probably will, I know because I got my first electric bike stolen). If you're worried about e-bike laws this wheel seems like it won't be easily identified as an ebike wheel, and since there's no throttle, that won't give you away either. http://www.flykly.com/smart-wheel



Cool E-bike if you want more bells and whistles and aren't as worried about e-bike laws

At $1670 it's not cheap but it does seem like it's got good features and it's sturdy and reliable. Also, Oprah likes it. I'm conflicted about whether that makes me like it more or less.

Regardless, a 500W motor is strong enough to take you up most hills and move decently fast while still abiding by the e-bike laws (under 20 mph in most places). This bike's vespa-like appearance clearly won't fool anyone into thinking it's a regular bike but that doesn't seem to stop most people in NYC, meaning that you likely won't have trouble either (no guarantees here though). The headlights are cool along with the LCD display which tells you how much battery power you have left. Also, it gets great reviews on Amazon.




Best e-bike on Amazon right now

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

This has a lithium battery, which is the best kind of battery because it's light, lasts long in terms of charges you get before having to replace it, and in terms of miles per charge. The 500w motor is stronger than most in this price range, meaning it gets decent top speed and power. It looks cool enough in matte black, and it's discreet in case you are worried about e-bike laws. Also gets fantastic reviews. If you have $1355 to spend, this is a solid deal.

  • SRAM X7 8 Speed Mid Derailleur
  • SRAM X7 Twist 8 Speed Shifter and Avid BB7 Disc Brakes
  • Rear Direct Drive 36V 500 Watt Motor
  • 38.4V 12Ah LiFePO4 24 Cell Battery
  • 20 MPH and 28-38 Mile Distance
Prodeco V3 Phantom X2 8 Speed Folding Electric Bicycle, Matte Black, 26-Inch/One Size