Electric Bike News: What's up over at Juiced Bikes?

Just a few weeks ago, I posted about a surprising new cruiser bike over at Juiced Bikes and about some other changes going on over there. Well, it happened again.

I surfed over their site yesterday and found that there is another new bike and what appears to be a whole new line of bikes or business division or something like that. The new bike is following the trend of fat-tired bikes that are so prevalent lately, but this one looks like it shares a lot of DNA with the CrossCurrent (which is very high on the Mesquite Hugger Dream Bikes List.) The new bike is called the HyperFat HF750 and it starts at $999!

Learn more at Juiced Bikes.

 

So, what's so cool about this one? Components, capability, and cost.

 

Components and Capability

 

The base model comes with big power - a 750 watt running gear and a 48 volt/ 13 amp-hour battery. This is tied to a 9-speed gear train and disc brakes. That's really impressive, especially for a bike from  a company with a good reputation.

 

(For Allen)

 

If that's not enough to have you salivating, well, you're still in luck. There's a faster, more powerful, more luxurious model available too. Let's look at some numbers for the HF1000:

• 1000 watt running gear
• 30 miles per hour
• 35 amp controller
• 30-60 mile range
• 1,800 lumen built in headlight
• LCD Digital Matric Display (yes, I know it's not a number, but it's a huge perk)
• and all those upgrades add just $500

And if all of that is not enough, you can still upgrade to a bigger battery (17amp-hour) or a much bigger battery (21 amp-hour - up to 100 miles of range!) and the oh-so-desirable torque sensor. Holy moly that'd be an impressive machine! And still very competitively priced at $2400 fully loaded!

 

Juiced CrossCurrent Air

 

[I wish they'd offer the same HF750 setup with standard-sized tires for a commuter - the HyperSkinny. The CrossCurrent Air is almost the Hypothetical HyperSkinny except it has a 350 watt running gear and a 48 volt 8 amp-hour battery. And it's about the same price.The CrossCurrent and CrossCurrent Air are still extremely darn cool, though.]

 

In case you'd like to compare the HyperFat to a few other portly-tired competitors across the spectrum, check out the ProdecoTech Rebel X series... 

The Prodecotech Rebel X Series

 

...and the Sondors Original.

 

The $598 Sondors Original

 

But let's get back to the HyperFats:

 

The HyperFat HF750 and HF1000

 

Now, here's the other interesting thing:

 

Juiced is introducing these big-boned bikes as part of a new line-up of bikes that are designed to be direct mail-order pieces with bikes that arrive fully assembled (for a $165 shipping fee.)

 

Speaking of new things at Juiced - Hype Bikes

 

So, does this mean the Juiced Bikes will become Hype Bikes? Will they remain separate entities? Will there be another new model announced every two weeks? Will bloggers keep asking stupid questions? (I don't know.)

The lineup just keeps growing! (What's next?)

 

What I do know is that this is a great time to follow e-bike development. If you can't find your dream bike this week, it'll probably appear next week.

 

May you find some form of low-carbon transport that fills your needs and makes you smile every day.

News from the Texas Capital: Cargo and Electric Bikes

Austin Bike Farm Website (Lots of cool stuff!)

Recently I wrote about seeing a Yuba Mundo in person in Dallas. I didn't get to sit on it or ride it, but it was quite huge, like really big, like it-might-need-its-own-zip-code type of massive. And that's had me (possibly) looking a little smaller -  that means midtail cargo bikes. My Top 3 on midtails: the Kinn, the Yuba Boda Boda V3, and then there's the exotic Benno Bike. But the only one of those available somewhat locally is the Yuba. Or at least, it was.

A Very Cool Mid-Tail Cargo Bike (Available in Austin)

Very cool bike, but that $4000 price tag definitely scared me away initially

Then I found pricing on the non-motorized version and started looking again.

But then there's the $999 Yuba Mundo V4 and the electrified RadWagon for $1599 plus shipping.

$200 Cheaper on Craigslist! (It's a good thing I've spent all my money on Christmas presents!)

Indeed, it's good to have choices!

An Electric Bike Shop (also in Austin)

While I was poking around the ol' internet looking at the Benno Bikes, I also ran across Rocket Electrics. It's a place that sells mid-to-high-end electric bikes: Easy Motion, Faraday, Felt Electric, Juiced Riders, and Pedego. Some are names that you may have seen here on Mesquite Hugger, especially Juiced Riders. 

Rocket Electrics - Austin

They offer lots of cool bikes. They even rent electric bikes. If you find yourself in Austin, you can rent one and zip around the Zilker Park area. Not a bad way to find out if you want an electric bike or what you want in an electric bike.

Yep, Free Delivery in our very big state - that's quite a bonus

for us Texans out here in the sticks.

So, if you live in New Mexico/Louisiana/Oklahoma, this is not such a big deal, but if you live in my neck of the woods, free delivery and setup in Texas is a pretty big deal (for a mesquite hugger who lives almost seven hours away from their shop.) Texas is a mighty big place!

The next time I'm in Austin, you know two places I'll be stopping by. (Let's hope it goes better than my trip to Small Planet E-bikes in Dallas.)

May you find yourself in a place where green transportation is easily accessible and readily available.

Three Low-Cost Electric Roadster Bikes

For all you electric bike fans who are not cargo bike fans, I decided today was a day to veer away from my heavily laden single-track mind and offer up some bikes for normal people.

 

Roadster? Roaster? Donuts! (Dave Palmer Art)

 

Are you looking for an electric bike that is just a bike? You know - not a dedicated road bike, not a dedicated mountain bike,  not a cruiser, not a cargo bike, but a bike that could do a little bit of each? Well, it's a category I have been watching closely for a few years now. Keep in mind, that I am very cheap, so I have not been watching the Stromers and HaiBikes and Felts and such. I have been keeping it in the sub-$2000 range, and I am trying to stay out of the Kickstarterisms for this group so that you can keep these stewing and not have to make an impulse buy to get in on the deal. (Two of these, however, are only available for pre-order right now.)

So let's jump into it. The first bike on the list is no stranger to those who have poked around Mesquite Hugger in the past. It's the GenZe e-bike. It's technically one model that is available in a few different frame configurations. It's a solid bike with a few very cool features and it comes in at a very reasonable $1499. A few basic stats: 36 volt removable battery pack (integrated into the frame!), 250 watt hub motor, throttle/pedelec/human power/walking and stair climber modes, cool digital readout, it weighs only 46 lbs (not bad in this price range), disc brakes, and a 7-speed Shimano derailleur. It also comes in three frame sizes for the sport model and two sizes for the step-through model. Lots of good stuff. I hope silver is your favorite color - the GenZe comes in silver, silver, or silver. The frame is aluminum.

 

[GenZe sidebar: GenZe also offers an electric scooter that seems to be doing very well. I have been watching an electric scooter sharing company in San Francisco (Scoot Networks) that has adopted the GenZe 2.0 and is having great success with these low-cost ($2999) workhorses.] 

 

Genze e101 Sport

What's that? You're allergic to aluminum? You don't want to be seen riding around on recycled beverage cans? Well, maybe this next one will be more to your liking. Its frame is not metal at all. It's carbon fiber (or "fibre" for those of you from across the pond and whatnot). And it comes in a very stealthy matte black. It is from our old Canadian Beast-maker buddies, Daymak.

 

Daymak EC1 (Electric Carbon 1)

 

There are three versions available that cost $1899, $2399, and $3499. And they weigh 34, 32, and 28 pounds respectively. That's right - the cheapest version is 12 pounds lighter than the GenZe. I'll focus on that less expensive version - it's a 21-speed, has a removable 24 volt battery pack (the more expensive ones have 36 volts), has a 250 watt motor, disc brakes, and front suspension. But the big deal here is the carbon fiber frame - you just don't see that stuff in this price range - and 34 pounds is nothing to sneeze at. The bad news? If you want one next week, you are out of luck - this one is only available through pre-order at this time. But it is a cool machine.

This next one is for you speed junkies. The GenZe and the Daymak are both limited to 20 miles per hour, but the Cross Current has no such limitation - it'll do 28 miles per hour. If you are accustomed to riding around in a car, that may not sound like much, but if you are used to bicycle speeds, 28 mph is flying! 20 mph on a bike is actually impressively fast for us mere mortals. 28 will make you feel like a two-wheeled Chuck Yeager.
 

Juiced Rider Cross Current - One Bad Mamma Jamma!

The Cross Current is a product of Juiced Rider or Juiced Bikes, a small but very well thought of e-bike company best known for their rather sweet cargo bikes that have up to a 100 mile range.

[Okay, I'll be honest here. This one is my fave by far.]

Just like the GenZe, it costs $1499, but it is very impressive in features and hardware: Kenda e-bike tires (!), Samsung removable 48 volt (!) battery pack, 500 watt (!) motor, Tektro hydraulic (holy moly!) disc brakes, and an honest-to-goodness torque-sensing pedelec. Almost all e-bikes in this price range have cadence sensors - not the vastly superior torque sensors. This means that the Cross Current responds to how hard you pedal, not just to the fact that you are pedaling. Sweet!

And, it comes in sexy red or matte black. (For those of you who are worried about such things.) It also comes in three frame sizes, you can get a bigger battery for $200 more, and it has mounts for a utility rack (which has this eco-cargo dork all excited.) Sure it weighs the most (49 pounds), but who really cares when you get this much bike for the money!

(While visiting the site, I noticed that they are cross-currently sold out, but expect to have more in stock in late September.)

Add some taller bars, the bigger battery, a rear cargo rack - yep, I want one. Sure, I want a cargo bike, but this thing is cool sexy fast and all kinds of stuff that make the heart beat faster. Oh so cool!

 

May your heart beat faster and your carbon footprint be smaller.

 

Gratuitous Dog Pic with a Scoot Networks GenZe 2.0

 

 

 

Fossil Free Friday: Cargo Bike Dreaming (Again)

Personal Carbon Reduction = the Big Goal.

For me, finding ways to not burn gasoline is a big big big part of that goal.

So let's talk cargo bikes. Who needs a pickup or a minivan when you have a cargo bike?

Recently I learned that my favorite cargo bike can be had for much less money than I had thought.

Yep, the Yuba Mundo V4 7-speed can be had for $999. Let me try that again. The Mundo has been the cargo bike by which I judge all others. When I look at building my own or buying a conversion kit or finding a used cargo bike, I always look back at the Mundo and sigh.

The Yuba Mundo 7-Speed

Yep, the Yuba Mundo V4 7-speed (a very basic model) can be had for $999!!! (That's more like it.)

The RadWagon

That means that the Yuba Mundo can be bought (and DIY electrified) for about the same price as a RadWagon. Oh snap! For less than $1800 I could have either one parked in my garage.

The RadWagon came on the scene about a year ago and has held my imagination since. In many ways it's a Mundo clone, but it's a Mundo clone with a whole lot of cool add-ons and a pretty low price. It's $1700 but it seems to be on permanent sale for $1600. See those disc brakes? See that 48 volt, 750 watt electric running gear? It's a whole lot of cargo bike for the money.

The next one in our affordable cargo bike dreaming is a bit of a (very desirable) dark horse in the category. (I think it's the small wheels.)

The Juice Bikes - ODK

For a few hundred dollars more than the RadWagon, you could park a Juiced Bikes ODK Utility Bike in your garage.

Ladies and gents, this a cool machine! This bike is known for being easy to handle, easy to load, and built with very high-quality components. It is also known for its incredible electric range. The base model is rated at 40 miles and that can extend up to 82 miles at a price ($3200) that is still considerably less than most electrified cargo bikes.

 

 

Ok, I can see that you're starting to squirm a bit - $3200! Yep, that's getting way out of the Mesquite Hugger (Cheapo) price range, so let's get back down to Earth.



 

Let's look at turning an existing bike into a cargo bike.

 

Option 1: The Xtracycle Leap

 

The Extracycle Leap 

 

Ross Evans and the crew at Extracyle redesigned their FreeRadical concept and came up with a kit known as the Leap. Take the bike that you already have, buy a $600 basic kit, combine the two, and you have a pretty bulletproof longtail from the people who defined the category. If you want to add some accessories, there are a few more kits to get you going, but the basic kit will definitely get you started.

 

Option 2: A Very Exciting Newcomer - The Lift (What is it with the four-letter "L" words?)

Something new and green out of Colorado, the Lift is in Kickstarter mode right now, and it's doing well. I am normally a longtail cargo bike fan, but this product has me seriously questioning my bias.

Why do all cargo bikes look better with a dog in the pic?

 

The Lift is a Bakfiets-style cargo bike kit that is easily installed or removed from your existing bike. It will retail for $900, but you can Kickstart a Lift into your possession for $750. Early reviews are very favorable and they have easily reached their KS funding goal with time to spare. Be sure to watch their video showing the 60-second conversion - just wow!

 

Condo is not so sure about the Lift...

...but Kylie (and Mattie) are all about it!

 

So, there you have it. My top contenders in the cargo bike dreaming campaign.

 

May you find yourself dreaming of ways to get off the (exhaust) pipe while enjoying the ride.





Friday Random with Three e-Bikes

The attention span has been a little short this week.

#FossilFreeFriday, is this a real thing like Meatless Monday or Time-Travel Tuesday? (If not, I think I'll take advantage of Tuesday to make it a real thing.) Me, I love Friday, I love Fossil Free, and I am pretty fond of alliteration. Yep, I am liking it.

In the spirit of Fossil Free Friday, let's talk about some electric bikes. (Yes, I know, electric bikes aren't completely fossil free and are sometimes recharged by carbon-fueled sources, but an e-bike carrying an eight-tonner like me is massively more fossil-free than driving a two and a half-ton pickup across town, so there, smarty pants. How did you get to work today?)

By the way, I have been riding the newly functioning electric workhorse some this week. I am even planning some trailer work with it this weekend. Life is better on any bike!

Three bikes have popped up on my e-bike radar this week, an inexpensive crowd-funded roadster, the Porteur's lovely new crowd-funded female companion, and a cool and established workhorse I keep forgetting to include when I drool on about cargo bikes. So, let's start with the cargo bike.

I really hope to test ride a Juiced Rider ODK some day. From all reviews and such, it's an unsung hero in the cargobike world. It looks a little cutesy until you start reading stats. I'd write them all down, but that short attention span - so here goes:

 

For you e-bikers, I'll add that they all use 48 volt electric systems and have scads of name-brand, high quality components. The combo of front hubmotor and 3-speed rear hub should make for an ideal drivetrain. Also, 20" wheels offer easier loading, a lower center of gravity, and more structural strength. Lots of good stuff! (And some of you will be excited to know that it's not orange!)

 

(While you're on the website, check out their new offering - the CrossCurrent, but it's not one of today's three.)

 

Next up is the brand new offering from Faraday. Faraday made its name when the Porteur came out. It is a stylish e-bike that is gorgeous and does not look like an e-bike at all. The only visual indication that it is electric is a very discreet 250 watt front hubmotor.

 

 

 

It is apparently not good for a manly bike to live alone, so Faraday has created a companion for the Porteur, and her name is Cortland. And, if you jump on the Kickstarter bandwagon you can save yourself a cool $800! You will pay ($2000.) Be sure to check out the long list of feature and options - my favorite is the additional battery pack in a tiny saddlebag. They make a beautiful couple!

 

 

At the other end of the spectrum is the promised roadster the Propella. It's fun to say, isn't it? (Especially if you adopt a New Jersey accent!)

 

 

You could have gotten one for only $599 on Indiegogo if this blogger had been a little quicker (that short attention span again), but now you'll have to pony up $699 (+ shipping) or more if you wait longer. You get a pretty sparse bike for your money, but that's not always a bad thing. It's a bike you could fairly easily build yourself, but I don't know that you'd save much money. You can buy the same running gear from greenbikekit.com (+ bigger battery) and a few other places. Don't get too excited until you factor in shipping.

 

So, there it is. Fossil-almost-Free Friday with very few attention span breaks and a bevy of e-bikes to check out.

 

May your attention span be long enough to read an article like this, and may you find yourself fossil free on Fridays and other days that end in "y".