Electric Bikes

Customers that never received their expensive e-bike due to the company’s bankruptcy are being offered a discount on the resurrected company’s new — and seemingly much improved — S6 series, reducing the price to €2,298. Now that the new VanMoof is once again producing spare parts for its expanding network of European service partners, co-CEO Eliott Wertheimer told Bike Europe that he wanted “to help those who were let down by the old company and get them riding.”

JW Zhang, founder of US-based Aventon, now has control over UK-based Gocycle — the financially troubled maker of premium, fast-folding electric bikes. “Aventon is going to help Gocycle unleash its true potential and bring more exciting products to people in the future,” said an unidentified Aventon spokesperson speaking to Cycling Electric.

The TOPO2 MTB trailer from Escapod features a Küat Piston ION rack that can handle two 80-pound e-bikes, an integrated Feedback sports toolkit and workspace, heating and water system, and 140 watts of solar to keep its 240Ah battery charged to help power your electronics. Delivered in 2-3 months if ordered today for a price starting at $53,990... because a boy can dream!

you’ll need buy a new full suspension Turbo Levo 4 electric mountain bike from Specialized, apparently. It features a new 12A, 700W “Super Charger” that can charge its 840Wh removable battery to 80 percent in less than an hour — take that USB-C! Add a 280Wh range extender and you can ride for about 4.75 hours in eco mode even with “significant elevation gain.” It’s also the first Specialized e-MTB with gear storage in the downtube.

Phil Molyneux is stepping down as chief executive of the embattled e-bike company, Electrek reports. The once dominant e-bike company has faced a series of challenges over the years, including layoffs, recalls, import taxes, lawsuits, and regulations. And now it appears to be going through another leadership shakeup. Molyneux, a former Sony and Dyson executive, was Rad Power Bikes’ chief operating officer when founder and CEO Mike Radenbaugh tapped him as his replacement. According to Electrek, the company’s CFO Stephanie Roberts will serve as interim CEO while the board searches for a replacement.

The 20-inch all-terrain wheels and extended wheelbase make the ride less twitchy compared to the iconic British foldable and it still packs up incredibly small for those last-mile commutes. Prices start at $3,300 for the non-electric pedal bike. The Electric G models will be available Stateside in the fall with a 20mph top speed and handlebar controls for a price that’s TBD, but will likely demand a 40 percent premium if European pricing holds true. Look for my review in the coming weeks.

A Ride Pro subscription lets you hunt down your stolen e-bike yourself — instead of paying €150/yr for the Bike Hunters recovery service — while adding remote notifications, health app syncing, and more. It’s available for older S3/X3 models first, with newer S5/A5 support “following soon.” Ride Pro’s introductory price costs €4.99/mth or €49/yr with a two-week free trial.

Denver’s much-lauded subsidy program has helped more than 9,000 residents afford an e-bike. And those bikes are being used in lieu of car trips — a lot of car trips. According to Mother Jones:

The TFL has announced plans to create additional parking spaces for dockless rental e-bikes and e-scooters, and will “consider taking action against operators” who allow them to be dumped in busier areas of the city.

Following a version of its electric motorcycle with a design inspired by Nintendo’s atomic purple Game Boy Color, Dab Motors has revealed a Back to the Future customization. It’s got a glowing flux capacitor, DeLorean-themed rims, an elaborate time circuits dashboard, and a speedometer capped at 88mph, which is a bit faster than the bike’s actual top speed.

After cruising onto the scene in 2018, Yamaha told e-bike dealers that it’s ending its US e-bike business due to the “significant softening” and “oversupply” after the pandemic-fueled e-bike boom, reports Electrek.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission warned this week about “universal” chargers for e-bikes and the like, recommending only using those “tested and approved to work safely with your device.”

The company just got hit with its fifth round of layoffs since April 2021, TechCrunch reports. It’s not clear how many employees are out of work, or which divisions were affected, but TC’s sources suggest most came from product development. Seattle-based Rad Power Bikes has accepted at least $300 million from investors, which in hindsight may not have been the best move for a company in an industry with tight margins and an extremely complex supply chain.