Segway just announced the creation of a dedicated eBike division in the United States. The new Segway eBike department is said to be an assembly of “bike-industry veterans”. They have a sales plan that will support independent dealers before launching their first two eBikes. First teased at CES 2024, the Xyber and Xafari will be officially available in Q1 of 2025.

“We’re committed to entering the e-bike market in a big way and doing it right,” said Nick Howe, head of e-bike. “This means doing something new and different with both our products and our sales model. We see an opportunity to redefine the e-bike and micromobility product categories and return to a true dealer-centric sales model in the process“.

Segway Dealer Network

For its new eBike division, Segway plans to grow a national dealer network in the US. The focus will be the IBD (Independent Bicycle Dealers) and the EBDs (Electric Bicycle Dealers). But they will also focus on what they are calling the OBDs (Other Bicycle Dealers). OBDs are shops that may not be “bike-specific” but may be a good fit for eBikes. These could include motorcycle, power sports, and outdoor retailers.

Besides purchasing directly through the dealer, Segway customers will be able to buy eBikes on their website, then shipped to their choice of local dealer for assembly. The receiving dealers will still earn a margin on these O2O (online to offline) purchases.

Segway promises competitive retail pricing, industry-leading margins, and exceptional retailer access to parts, service, and support. Segway’s new Xchange app, which will be available on Apple’s App Store and Google Play, will help with access.

The app is said to be a user-friendly, all-in-one mobile version of the Segway dealer portal. it’s designed to help retailers easily manage inventory, orders, warranties, test rides, service, and more.

What About the Bikes?

The first two eBikes to be released, the Xyber and Xafari, will feature what Segway calls the “Segway Intelligent Ride System”. They say it’s “industry-leading tech that has more in common with modern cars than other eBikes”.

“In many ways, we’re a technology company first,” said Howe. “Product conversations start with discussions of ‘tech stacks’ and expand from there. We are using our technology to create a more seamless user experience much like what has been done with automobiles.”

Along with the new eBike’s advanced smart tech and features, they are said to expect “category-leading safety and performance”. In its dual battery configuration, the Xyber will be capable of more than 100 miles of range on a single charge. And, the Xafari can go 88 miles before needing to be plugged in.

Full specs, features, and pricing for the Xyber and Xafari will be announced during CES 2025. Pre-orders are open here, and through select dealers on January 7, 2025, with an expected Q1 delivery.

Get on the mailing list and get updates on the new Segway eBikes here.

Segway.com

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The all-new Scott Patron eRIDE is truly their next level. The Swiss bike maker’s goal seems to be to smooth out their mountain bikes and hide all of the suspension & ebike tech inside the frame, protected from the elements. Dialing back its travel a bit to 150mm out back, Scott gives the new Patron an all-new 4-bar suspension design and more capable & adjustable geometry. At the same time, tucking the rear shock and the latest Bosch Performace CX motor and an 800Wh battery entirely inside both carbon and aluminum frame versions.

All-New Scott Patron eRIDE eMTB

Scott’s all-mountain to enduro Patron eRIDE eMTB was already one of the most integrated when it tucked its vertically-oriented motor & shock under special covers in the previous generation. But this new generation takes a big step further.

Now the latest, smoother Bosch Performace CX motor goes back to a horizontal orientation under a new motocross-inspired cover. Scott calls it their “most impact-resistant component ever“. They designed it first to protect the motor. But thanks to rubber contact against the motor itself, it also damps motor noise for quieter eMTB riding.

And then, the new 800Wh PowerTube battery gets tucked inside the oversized downtube, behind a tool-free but secure protective easy-access door.

Plus, the new Patron eRide eMTB gets the same upside-down shock hidden from mud inside the downtube like all the latest Scott Bold-inspired mountain bikes. Only this time, there’s a removable cover at the front of the seat tube for easier shock access, taking cues from the previous Patron. There are also partial covers for the builds with piggy-back shocks.

Adjustable, adaptable geometry

Shifting the new Patron eRide into a more versatile eMTB, Scott starts off with a slightly steeper head angle (now 65.8° vs. 65° in the previous generation) and about 1cm longer Reacg. But that’s really just to give them more flexibility to play around. So then, the Super Trail ST versions can get a longer travel fork pushing it to a 64.9° head angle, and effectively bringing Reach back to what it was before. But that’s all in the standard -0.6° headset starting position.

Yes, thanks to a +/-0.6° adjustable headset, buyers can easily further tweak how they want the new ebike to handle riding the steepest terrain. (New Patrons all also come with the 0° no-offset headset cups if they’d prefer an in-between position.)

Carbon or Aluminum, plus some Carbon/Alloy combinations

Of course, integration is all the rage, and Scott is all about hiding everything inside. But it’s also pretty interesting that they managed to tuck shock, motor & battery seamlessly inside the frame – both with carbon and alloy mainframes. Balancing weight savings and cost, Scott also has a carbon and aluminum version of the rear triangle as well. However, only the more aggressive riding ST version gets the option of carbon seat & chainstays.

Tech details

• 150mm Virtual 4 Link 4-bar rear travel with upside-down shocks hidden in the seat tube behind an access door
• external Sag indicator for easy suspension setup and to keep track of how you use the rear travel
• Bosch Performance CX ebike motor protected by impact-resistant moto cover
• simple top-tube-mounted Bosch controller and LED display, plus a thumb remote
• 800Wh PowerTube internal battery, plus the option to run a 250Wh PowerMore external range extender battery

• integrated Syncros taillights on both seat stays
• angle adjust headset
• UDH universal derailleur compatibility
• Boost 12x148mm thru-axle with 55mm chain line
• Bosch Pro ABS brakes on the 2 top-tier models
• 29 x 2.6″ tire clearance

2025 Scott Patron eRIDE eMTB – Pricing, options & availability

If you are looking for a capable big mountain ebike, Scott has plenty of options with their all-new Patron eMTB. Two styles based on the same main frames, and 6 models in all.

The standard “do-it-all” Scott Patron eRide eMTB sticks with matching 150mm travel front & rear and versatile Maxxis trail tires.

Or the super trail Patron eRide ST ratchets that up to 170mm of fork travel to the 150mm rear travel, and gives them extra grip of Schwalbe’s latest Radial mountain bike tire tech and extra sticky rubber. Built for “aggressive technical trails and handling bigger impacts.”

Pricing starts at 6000€ for the fully alloy 25.8kg Patron eRide 920, 7700€ for the carbon front/alloy rear 24.3kg Patron eRide 910, and 8800€ for the 24.4kg Patron eRide 900 also with a carbon/alloy frameset.

Or go Super Trail from 6000€ with the 25.9kg full alloy Patron eRide ST 910, from 9500€ for the full carbon 24.6kg Patron eRide ST 900 RC, and the top-tier 11,000€ full carbon Patron eRide ST 900 Tuned at 24.3kg.

Get them all now from your local Scott dealer.

Scott-Sports.com

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Let’s not beat around the bush, The Beam full-face Virgo Integral MIPS helmet looks pretty wild when you compare it to a conventional half-shell bike helmet – with its integrated chin bar and flip-down visor. But just like how DH full-face helmet tech has trickled down to a lot of lightweight convertible and full-face helmets for enduro and even some aggressive trail riders – it’s hard to argue with extra head protection.

The Beam Virgo Integral MIPS full-face city & ebike helmet

Full-face helmets are nothing new in cycling. But for some reason, they’ve really never made the transition from gravity mountain biking to more mainstream cycling.

The Beam Virgo full-face looks to break down that barrier with a lightweight and well-ventilated helmet that offers more of the light comfort, adjustable fit, and premium safety tech that we’ve come to expect from modern cycling helmets. Plus, of course, the added benefit of extra protection of the rider’s chin & face.

I’ve been following the development of this lightweight, multi-disciple full-face since it began as an aero road helmet almost 5 years ago. So, with my own adoption of more time riding a strange utilitarian ebike and a bright yellow cargo ebike, I was happy to test out this latest evolution of the Virgo full-face.

Why an ebike commuter full-face? Why not!

As more people have adopted ebikes as an alternative form of transportation, we have seen more helmets get ebike certifications – i.e. NTA 8776. Yet still, we still only really see ebike helmets going full-face for off-road-focused aggressive eMTB riding.

But, as commuter ebikes share more of the road and urban environment, it makes sense that ebike helmets could start to look a bit more like a scooter or moto helmet.

When you are riding back and forth to work amongst car traffic, or zipping around town on quick & powerful ebikes, The Beam Virgo Integral MIPS helmet simply offers extra peace of mind in a lightweight and comfortable helmet at a reasonable price. And it delivers enough ventilation that you won’t really roast when you have to pedal a bit on your own, too.

Tech Details & Actual Weight

The Beam developed the Virgo full-face to not only comply with the regular EN1078 / CPSC bike certification standards, but also to meet the more stringent European NTA-8776 regulation created for higher-speed (45kph/28mph) pedelec ebikes.

The French-designed helmet features a unique multi-layer construction. First, there’s essentially a more conventional in-mold half-shell helmet – with just a plastic shell molded over the edges of its EPS foam energy absorbing layer for wear & tear protection. Then, molded on the outside of that, there’s the complete ABS shell with separate in-mold EPS around the cheeks and chin bar for additional protection.

Lastly, inside it all, is a black MIPS Evolve Core liner insert to isolate your head from rotational forces in an impact.

• unique multi-part construction for conventional impacts, plus separate face protection
• ABS shell with in-mold EPS foam
• 5 forward & top facing vents, 4 rear exhaust vents & small internal ventilation channels
• fixed height dial-adjustable fit system, with adjustable nylon webbing chinstrap & plastic buckle
• removable, washable, sweat-wicking padding and separate padded cheek cushions
• optional, removable visors (glasses-friendly)
• optional, removable magnetic taillight
• designed in France, made in China
• EN 1078 / CPSC / NTA 8776 certified
• 3 adult + 1 child size available
• lightweight, starting as low as 600-650g claimed (size Small, without visor)

Our size medium The Beam Virgo Integral MIPS full-face helmet has an official claimed weight of 710g without its visor, but measures a real 706g.

But the actual weight with the visor is 786g, plus an additional 28g when the smart tail (brake) light is mounted.

Lighter than most MTB full-face helmets

As a mountain biker who spends plenty of time riding long travel trail, enduro, freeride, and the occasional downhill bike, there wasn’t really even any mental obstacle to opting for a full-face helmet for ebike riding. In fact, while riding commuter bikes or even trail bikes in the winter, I’ve already been apt to put on a lightweight enduro full face and goggles to get a bit of extra weather protection with the added safety just a bonus.

Weight-wise, I have a couple of light enduro MTB full-face helmets that are lighter (Dainese & Endura) than the Virgo without its visor, but only the Endura is lighter once I factor in a pair of goggles, and then only by about 10g. Only the Dainese has MIPS, and neither are NTA-8776 certified. What that says is that comparing apples to apples (or at least to pears), The Beam’s Virgo Integral MIPS is truly a lightweight when it comes to full-face protection.

Riding Review

I’ve ridden the Virgo Integral MIPS mostly through autumn, with my ebike rides generally leaning towards jackets and gloves weather, so I really can’t vouch for how it will do on hot summer days when you have to pedal uphill by yourself. Or when your ebike battery will run out. But I have ridden in cold enough weather to notice that the vents do let a good bit of air in, so I definitely put a thin windproof cap on when it got closer to freezing.

I picked the sand tan helmet to test because I figured the lighter color would offer improved visibility to drivers. And I have the clear Crystal visor, which still has a tiny bit of a gray tint, although it’s completely fine for riding at night with lights.

The visor itself doesn’t have any specific handles or tabs to move it. But it sits far enough away from my face that I have no problem pushing it up or down by the visor’s edges, even with winter gloves. When it’s not exceptionally cold, I like to ride with the visor up so I can feel the wind on my face. Or half way up which offers a tiny bit of shading against the setting sun. But on especially cold, windy, or even rainy days, dropping the visor down is great.

Virgo Integral’s snap-on Smart Rear Light

I especially like the Virgo Integral’s included rear smart taillight (optional on Access models), as it greatly boosts nighttime and low-light visibility.

It puts out a steady 40 lumens of red light, then powered by an on-board accelerometer, it automatically boosts to 120 lumens when braking for added visibility. The water-resistant 28g USB-C rechargeable taillight has a 400mAh battery for a claimed runtime of 20 hours, and a 2hr recharge time – both of which seem to match my real-world use.

The Smart rear light is StVZO-certified, and comes in a package with the top-spec Virgo Integral models, or sells for 49€ separately.

Riding Takeaways

If you are only used to road, gravel, or conventional urban commuter helmets, The Beam Virgo Integral MIPS full-face is a pretty shocking switch. And I won’t lie, the first comments that I’ve got from coworkers, friends, and family were often astonishment why I would want a helmet that they thought looked more like a motorcycle helmet than a commuter bike helmet.

But on second thought, pretty much everyone understands that more coverage and more protection means improved safety. And what other reason do we wear helmets than to keep our heads safe?

Plus, more ebikes means more time sharing the road with cars, more inexperienced riders on heavier ebikes (vs. conventional bikes), and maybe even higher average speeds. So there’s good reason to offer more protection to the heads of ebikers. And The Beam’s Virgo Integral full face does all that in a lightweight and comfortable helmet, that I personally feel better riding.

The Beam Virgo Integral – Pricing, options & availability

The Beam offers their Virgo full-face helmet in 3 sizes: S(51-54cm), M (55-58cm) & L (59-63cm. Then, you get to pick from 4 colors – black, white, navy blue & sand (tested). And then, if you get one of the top-tier Integral models, it comes with your choice of 4 visor options – lightly tinted Crystal (tested), dark smoke tinted Black, reflective Polarized Blue, bronze-tinted Yellow.

Lastly, The Beam Virgo is available in 4 spec options to hit all price points: Integral includes both the visor of your choice and the taillight. Access is without a visor (but one could still be added later).

Technically, it looks like only the top-tier is available in the US-specific web store, at the moment. But global delivery is available from the European webshop, so you might just have slightly higher shipping costs or extra delivery time.

The top-spec The Beam Virgo Integral MIPS full-face (as tested) sells for $299 / 299€, directly from The Beam’s online shop. Get rid of the visor & that smart taillight, and the Virgo Access MIPS retails for just 239€. Or without the extra rotational impact protection, the Virgo Integral sells for 229€ with the accessories, and the Virgo Access goes for 179€ without.

There are also even cheaper XS (48-50cm) & S (51-54cm) kids versions for just 99€ in more child-oriented colors, too.

As an extra holiday shopping deal now in Europe, if you buy any Virgo helmet right now, The Beam will give you a free visor and a helmet Reflector reflective sticker for free, making it cheaper to get a visor-equipped commuter full-face. (Apply code: VIRGOSTYLE at checkout after adding the accessories).

TheBeam-Europe.com

The post The Beam Virgo Integral Helmet Gives eBike & Commuters Extra Full-Face Protection: Review appeared first on Bikerumor.

Gouach proposes a more sustainable way to power most of the ebikes out on the road, with their new modular and repairable Infinite battery. Instead of expensive and eventually disposable ebike batteries – whether from the original ebike motor supplier or an unknown 3rd-party – the new Gouach Infinite Battery creates an affordable replacement solution that allows the reuse of functional battery cells, easy replacement of any single point of failure (e.g. a cell or controller hardware), a much more fire-resistant ebike battery, and it can be used to power almost any brand of ebike out there…

Gouach Infinite Battery, sustainable universal ebike power

Sure, ebike batteries are expensive and heavy. But for the most part, the environmental impacts of those large battery packs that power the electro-mobility movement are also often overlooked. But Gouach has an idea for a more sustainable solution with their Infinite Battery.

1 modular, easily-monitored, user-repairable, fireproof, and universal battery that could power the majority of ebikes out there.

They call it, “The only e-bike battery you’ll ever need. Repairable. Sustainable. Fireproof.“

Why does universal compatibility & serviceability matter?

While most premium eMTBs that we write about have sleekly integrated internal batteries these days, the bulk of the existing stock of ebikes being ridden around still use external battery packs. But they are not at all standardized – varying in size, mounting style, electrical connection, and even how their power output is managed through BMS.

Plus, all of those proprietary batteries are aging, meaning with each recharge they are incrementally losing their energy storage capacity, inching their way towards their end-of-life. Or after years of riding around out on the streets, a simple failure in a single battery cell (out of 39 total cells, for example) would mean an early death for an entire battery, when most of its individual parts are still fine and functional.

At that point, or simply eventually, they become a heavy, hazardous paperweight – almost never serviceable or repairable because of spot-welded internal battery cell connections. And they most often breakdown as a whole before they really should, due to a single element inside failing. Beyond their environmental impact, replacing ebike batteries is expensive. The retail cost of a standard Bosch or Shimano external battery is typically $600-750.

But the Gouach Infinite Battery proposes a better solution.

What’s so unique?

The Gouach Infinite Battery uses a simple honeycomb carrier to hold the standard lithium-ion cells that power pretty much every ebike battery, and a couple of contact plates on either side to connect those cells in series and parallel to get your desired voltage output – 36V or 48V. It’s pretty much the same concept as how you might drop 4 AA batteries into the back of your favorite RC car. Except, these patented contact plates are designed to deliver consistent power in the most difficult conditions, not hampered by vibration, impacts, extreme temperature swings, etc.

The benefit here, of course, is that if one cell fails, the user can quickly replace that one cell, and be back on the road with pedal-assist power in probably 10 or 15 minutes.

And then the other secret weapon is a smart onboard BMS (battery management system) that can track each cell’s performance and can communicate in the language of all of the major ebike powertrain systems. That means this1 single battery can work for a Bosch, Brose, Shimano, Yamaha, or many other different systems.

Universal compatibility is great, but it also means that you could use this Gouach Infinite Battery on your Bosch-powered flat bar commuter ebike today, and you could still use it on the Shimano-powered cargo ebike you buy next year.

Tech details

• “10 minutes” to replace any individual battery component
• compatible with all major ebike motors and battery systems, 36V or 48V
• 450Wh (48V) or 460Wh (36V) with 1400/2000W max power output
• die-cast aluminum housing for fireproofing

• raw anodized finish and colorful plastic carry handle
• IP67 waterproof
• Gouach battery bracket can be mounted externally on downtube or seattube, or even on a rear rack (most often on existing battery bracket mounts)
• possible to use the Infinite Battery as a 500Wh range extender with an optional Battery Mixer

• Wifi & Bluetooth smart connectivity allows remote battery staus settings & monitoring with a companion smartphone app
• 3.6kg battery weight

Gouach Infinite Battery – Pricing, options & availability

The Gouach Infinite Battery is still technically in development. And it was recently backed by an IndieGoGo crowdfunding campaign, exceeding their funding target by about 4x. But Gouach has been producing this same general concept for quite a while, and has a bike share fleet of around a thousand ebikes made by Pony, successfully running a less universal modular system for more than a year.

There are 2 general options now to get pre-order pricing for a Gouach Infinite Battery. First is the 317€ Infinite Battery kit which is the fireproof aluminum case with all the key electronic bits inside and the mounting brakcet and charger, just no battery cells – you provide your own, either harvested from another ebike battery or purchased new.

The other option is the 430€ Gouach Infinite Battery Kit + Cells. This gives you everyhting you need to assmeble your own ebike battery and to install it on your current ebike.

There are also then add-on options to add a 2nd bracket for 46€ to use the same battery on two different ebikes. Or more interesting to me, the 65€ Battery Mixer which lets you add the Infinite Battery as a range extender in addition to your current existing ebike battery.

Gouach is fast-tracking the final development of their Infinite Battery now that they have funding. And they anticipate delivery of these pre-orders already starting by the end of January 2025.

Gouach.com

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Yes, if you already have a recent ebike powered by the top Shimano EP801 motor, you can now get the latest Race Mode tune over-the-air by simply updating your firmware in their E-Tube app. Faster ramp up to the max 400% assist. Customizable assist cutoff feel at the max speed. And most importantly, extended overrun for Uninterrupted Power Delivery as you momentarily stop pedaling through the roughest terrain.

Fine-tuned on the pro e-enduro circuit, now the Shimano eMTB Race Mode upgrade is as easy as connecting your smartphone to your ebike…

Shimano EP801 ebike Race Mode over-the-air upgrade

The Race Mode firmware tune isn’t entirely new. We already knew about it this past summer. It promised “exciting new features and more customization options to help you boost your race speeds and keep the momentum rolling longer through techy terrain“.

And if you already had an EP801-equipped ebike at the end of June, you could have taken it into your local bikeshop to have them update the firmware. But let’s be honest, how many of you actually did that? How many people take their already functional bikes into the shop for service in the middle of the riding season, even if there was a promise of some incremental performance improvement?

Yeah, that’s what I thought.

But now you can upgrade your own ebike from the comfort of your own home. I just updated the E-Tube Project Cyclist app on my phone (just for clarification, it’s simply called E-Tube on my iPhone) and updated my own firmware in about 15 minutes. It probably took longer because I had a terrible WiFi signal in my garage.

But that’s it. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Can I just say that one of my favorite things about electronics (when they work like I want) is free over-the-air updates that give me new or improved functionality!

What’s actually new?

Higher Boost Mode assist level.

Peak power is still 600W, max torque is still 85Nm, and max assist is still 400%. But the race mode tune means a steeper curve to get to those peak levels, so you get the maximum power out of the motor much faster in the tuned Boost mode.

Adjustable max speed cutoff progression.

Normally, Shimano smoothly transitions their motor’s pedal assist power off as it approaches its max speed limit (25km/h for my ebikes in Europe). But that means you sacrifice a little power at the end to gain a natural and comfortable feel. But now, if you want, you can set the motor to go full gas to the limit to eke out extra seconds of max power, and deal with an abrupt drop in power as you hit the speed limiter. Your choice – Natural, Middle, or Aggressive in each assist mode. I would prefer natural, but many will like the middle mode, too.

Extended pedal-assist carry-over or overrun.

This one is the biggest deal. Just like Bosch’s CX Race motor has extended overrun, now Shimano EP801 riders get some extra customizable power after they stop pedaling for a second. Pick from 3 levels Short (the same as before), Middle & Long applied to all assist modes. Long seems to be nearly comparable to the Bosch version, giving about a second of extended assist power.

Interestingly, backpedaling on the Shimano motor cancels its ‘carry-over’ or overrun, which had existed to a minor degree in Boost mode already since EP801’s debut. But while that originally kept you from being able to ratchet the pedals through really rough sections, now these longer overruns are not so easily canceled by backpedaling, giving it much more usability, and making it a better head-to-head competitor with Bosch CX Race.

There’s also the same AutoShift updates that we previewed back in the summer, again developed with Yeti-Shimano EP Racing’s Mick Hannah to give the latest EP801 eMTBs more of a race-tuned feel.

Shimano EP801 Race tune availability

“The new firmware is available to all EP801 bike owners and is now free to apply using Shimano’s E-TUBE Project Cyclist smartphone app (Version 5.3.2).” The over-the-air update is available through the E-Tube app on either iOS or Android, giving ebike riders more control over their eMTB and more of a racing feel to their ebike riding.

Bike.Shimano.com

The post Shimano Gives Existing EP801 eMTB Riders a Race Mode Upgrade Over-The-Air appeared first on Bikerumor.

Wisconsin’s Trek Bicycles released a new eBike earlier this week, and it’s ready to conquer urban life. Meet the new FX+7 City eBike. The FX+7 is a high-end, lightweight, city eBike that is “light enough to carry up stairs and powerful enough to fly up climbs.”

Let’s see…

The Trek FX+7

Claiming to weigh in at 40 lbs, the FX+7 could be heaven for the right commuter. It comes equipped with everything you may need on a bike like this. For instance, it comes complete with a rear rack that fits both MIK rear and side panniers, front and rear lights, and full coverage fenders.

The riding position is what Trek is calling “active”, which looks to me like an upright position, but with a slightly more aggressive posture. The FX+7 is equipped with a compact TQ HPR50 motor that delivers 50Nm of power.

With the stealthy, integrated 360Wh battery you get a claimed range of up to 50 miles and up to 75 miles with the optional 160Wh range extender. It boasts an assisted top speed of 28 mph and has a battery size of 360Wh.

Smart Phone Integration

Kinda buried in the specs is the fact that the FX+7 also offers true smartphone integration. It’s about time that ebikes offered the option of charging your phone as you ride, while using it for navigation, and that’s exactly what the FX+7 provides. Thanks to the Quad Lock wireless charging mount on the integrated handlebar and stem, you can seamlessly mount and charge your phone while riding. Trek doesn’t go into detail, but based off the specs of other Quad Lock charging mounts, it should be compatible with Apple and Android devices that are wireless charging compatible.

Riders can also connect to the Trek Central app to customize assist levels, get turn-by-turn directions, estimate range, plus much more. This means you can use your phone as the ebike display screen, but it’s completely optional since there is also a small display screen on the top tube.

The drivetrain on the Trek FX+7 is the durable and reliable Shimano CUES with Linkglide technology. This drivetrain offers smoother shifting, made for eBikes. Plus, it is very durable, offering longer life and less visits to the bike shop.

Trek FX+7 Retail & Geometry

Retail: $3,999
Colors: Dark Star Matte & Lichen Green Gloss
Sizes: S, M, L, and XL

Geometry

Check out more details on the Trek FX+7 and all of the other bikes Trek offers by hitting the link below.

TrekBikes.com

The post Meet the New Trek FX+7, a Lightweight City eBike That Offers Wireless Smartphone Charging appeared first on Bikerumor.

Last summer’s 3D-printed aluminum Project 4 eMTB is reborn as the now-carbon Thok TP4, a full-power all-mountain ebike that retains modular batteries so you get only the juice you want and no extra weight. Thok’s first Bosch eMTB gets fitted with the latest CX motor update, and the option for anywhere from 400Wh-1050Wh batteries to suit each buyer’s style of riding.,

Thok TP4 Italian carbon all-mountain ebike

Last year at Eurobike Thok teased us with Project 4, what they called the world’s first 3D-printed alloy full-suspension ebike.

Now, it turns out that modular eMTB project was simply the rapidly-developed test bed for Thok’s first ebike with a Bosch CX motor.

And what was made quickly with additive manufacturing in aluminum to dial in the shaping and geometry, is now being made entirely in Italy out of carbon fiber.

The new Thok TP4 is mid-travel 29er eMTB with 150mm of 4-bar rear wheel travel mated to 160mm up front. Thok calls it “enhanced all-mountain with an enduro side to it“. While building an all-new made-in-Italy eMTB platform around the new lighter, smoother, and quieter Bosch Performance Line CX motor, Thok wanted to create a technically-capable do-it-all-mountain ebike that riders could tailor to their needs with the precise battery size that they needed.

Modular battery size was a key point of the original 3D-printed project bike. And they carry that on here with an adaptable battery cradle inside the downtube that can secure 3 sizes of batteries behind the removable battery cover/downtube protector.

Slacker geometry for all-mountain eMTB versatility

Compared to Thok’s shorter travel all-mountain MIG (140/150mm) and longer-travel e-enduro TK01 (170/170mm ), the new TP4 is actually as slack or slacker than either. Thok says that was about bridging the gap between the two, while creating and even more versatile all-mountain ebike capable of riding any terrain.

Start off with a 64.5° headtube angle, 79° seattube, 459mm chainstays, and 477mm size L Reach.

And thanks to the Hi/Lo flip-chip at the forward shock mount, riders can further slacken the geometry by 0.5° (and lower BB height 9mm). Or even run it in the Hi position with a 27.5″ rear wheel for a slacker mullet conversion.

Tech details

• hi-mod carbon frame with alloy rocker, made-in-Italy
• 3.5kg bare carbon frame weight (size M, claimed)
• full 29er setup with 150mm travel rear pair to 160mm forks

• powered by the latest 85Nm Bosch Performance Line CX motor (BDU384Y)
• grip-mounted Purion 200 display
• choice of 400Wh, 600Wh, or 800Wh internal batteries
• plus optional 250Wh PowerMore range extender external battery
• tapered 1.5″ headset
• internal cables routed through the outside of the headtube
• forward shock mount flip-chip for adaptable geometry or also mullet conversions
• UDH compatibility with mechanical or electronic drivetrains

Thok TP4 ebikes – Pricing, options & availability

The new carbon Thok TP4 eMTB comes in 2 complete ebike builds – both of which come standard with the big 800Wh battery. But all buyers can opt for a smaller battery if they want, to save both money and weight.

The TP4-R is the ‘more affordable’ option at 7190€ with Fox 36 & Float X Performance suspension, a mechanical XT drivetrain, 4-piston Magura MT5, and then alloy DT H1900 wheels wrapped in the great new Schwalbe Albert Gravity Radial tires – at a claimed 24.3kg complete (size M).

The much more expensive 10,490€ TP4-LTD steps it up to Öhlins RXF36 fork, TTX2 Air shock, SRAM GX Eagle electronic T-type derailleur wired into the ebike’s battery, Magura MT7 brakes, and carbon DT Swiss HXC1501 wheels with those Schwalbe Albert Gravity Radial tires – at a claimed 24.1kg. The LTD is also actually a limited edition, and Thok only make 30 of them.

And if you prefer a smaller battery for either model, you can pick the smaller 600Wh option to then save 1.1kg & 200€, or get the lightest 400Wh battery to save 2.2kg & 400€ vs. the standard big battery setups.

Both versions are technically available to buy now. But Thok sold out the first small batch, so the next delivery comes next month in December.

ThokBikes.com

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Yamaha is officially withdrawing from the ebike and performance eMTB market in the USA from the end of this year, at least from the retail side. What that means is that your local Yamaha dealer shop in the US will be selling out whatever inventory of ebikes they have in stock – at heavily discounted prices, no less. But there won’t be any more new ebikes coming in. Yamaha USA does say they’ll still honor their extra-long warranties. But it seems the ‘ebikes in motorcycle shops’ business model just wasn’t cutting it in the US. We’ll have to wait and see what this means on a more global scale.

Yamaha withdraws from the US retail ebike market

Over the weekend we started hearing that Yamaha Motor Corporation USA – the American parent brand behind everything from Yamaha motorcycles, ATVs, golf carts, boat motors to Yamaha Power Assist Bicycles (aka ebikes) – has been informing their dealers that they are getting out of selling their own ebikes. Reddit’s r/Yamahaebikes shared an official letter sent out to dealer shops.

Apparently, after 6 years of selling ebikes through some motorcycle and some independent bike shops, including the boom & a post-COVID bust in ebike sales, the numbers just weren’t adding up. It seems Yamaha just couldn’t compete with mix of low-cost online direct sales or more established high-end eMTB sales through traditional bikeshops. So, they’re putting a stop to dealer ebike sales in the US once the current 60%-off, cashback & extended 5-year warranty of their ‘Fan Promotion’ sales clear out all the US ebike inventory.

Yamaha USA also assures that they’ll keep providing spare parts, service & customer service support flowing to keep everyone who’s bought a Yamaha ebike pedaling through their full 5-year warranty.

Possible global & OEM impacts?

Now, as to the broader impacts of this pull-out, we know a bit less.

Should we expect a similar fate to impact Yamaha ebikes in motorcycle shops more globally?

We’ve asked both our US & European Yamaha ebike contacts. And so far have only heard back from the Americans who couldn’t speak to broader impacts, but could only reiterate that “current customers can rest assured that Yamaha will continue with parts and warranty service” to keep their ebikes going.

While the same ‘ebike vs. moto vs. bike dealer’ argument could be a bigger issue globally. We’d guess that, is unlikely to have any further-reaching direct impact on Yamaha ebike Systems themselves. Yamaha has been manufacturing ebike motors since 1993. They celebrated their 30th anniversary of Power Assist System ebike motors with a special edition YDX Moro 07 last year. And we still see them in the broader OEM ebike motor market as competition to the likes of Bosch and Shimano. It’s true that we see fewer ebike brands directly spec’ing Yamaha motors as we did in the recent past from BH, Ghost, Lapierre & more. But Giant & Liv still prominently use Yamaha SyncDrive motors in their premium eMTBs.

Full text of Yamaha letter to ebike dealers via Reddit:

YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION, U.S.A.

Dear Yamaha eBike Dealer,

We want to thank you for your partnership and for your business in purchasing and retailing Yamaha eBikes, and for proudly representing the Yamaha brand. However, as you know, the combination of a post-COVID oversupply within the entire bicycle industry, coupled with a significant softening of the market, has resulted in a particularly challenging business environment where it is extremely difficult to achieve a sustainable business model. Given these market conditions, we regret to inform you that Yamaha has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the U.S. eBike business and cease wholesaling units effective the end of this year.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS) entered the U.S. eBike market in 2018, and we have enjoyed the opportunity to partner with you these past six years to sell exciting, high-quality, all-road, mountain, and fitness/lifestyle eBikes.

We will continue to support your dealership in the sell down of your inventory by extending the current “Fan Promotion” program where customers may receive up to 60% off their purchase of a new Yamaha eBike. This “Fan Promotion” program will be offered on all units retailed and warranty registered through June 30, 2025. YMUS will continue to provide parts, service, and customer support in the United States both now and in support of our limited 5-year warranty.

Finally, we wish to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to you and your staff for your dedication and support of the Yamaha eBike business.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

YamahaBicycles.com in the USA & Global.Yamaha-Motor.com globally

The post Yamaha Ends USA eBike Sales In 2024, Global eBikes Up In The Air appeared first on Bikerumor.

Just over a week ago Merida launched their first real lightweight eMTB with the all-new eOne-Sixty SL powered by the Bosch SX ebike motor and a 400Wh internal battery. Mixing the smooth feel and ‘just enough’ power of the SX eMTB powertrain, Merida gives the e160 SL a full carbon frame with truly enduro-capable all-mountain geometry and 160mm of travel front & rear to create a do-it-all shredder for riders looking for ultimate lightweight and a more natural ride.

I spent a couple days riding this new light eMTB on familiar steep, loose & rocky trails in Catalonia, and came away truly appreciating an ebike that felt like riding a regular bike, just with several hours of fresh legs built-in!

First Rides on new lightweight Merida e160 SL Bosch SX eMTB

I’m a little torn over whether I should call this ebike the eOne-Sixty SL like Merida does on their website, or the e160 SL like is written on the top tube. But I’ll stick with the latter, if for no other reason than simplicity.

I feel like this new e160 SL is the real highlight of Merida’s 2025 move to Bosch. After years of Shimano pedal-assist power, Merida diversifies with their first move into Bosch motors. The Shimano-powered bikes aren’t going anywhere, but now German motor lovers get their options, too.

Together with this Performance Line SX-powered e160 SL, there’s a new Performance Line CX-powered e180 and a few base CX-powered eFloat commuters of various sorts. All come at a time as Bosch has seriously overhauled their premium performance ebike motors, while also adding the same small unobtrusive handlebar style mounted displays that Shimano has used for years.

Important details – Bosch SX

The heart of this e160 SL ebike then is the lightweight Bosch Performance Line SX motor that debuted last year, tucked under this custom plastic protector.

You get a nominal 250W ebike motor cranking out 55Nm of torque but at a claimed motor weight of just 2kg. That makes it 35% less torquey than the latest CX motor, and 40% lighter. But it still peaks at 600W of pedal-assist support – the same as the CX, making it double what you get out of a TQ motor, for example. The lower overall SX torque actually translates to less power drain, though.

So even though this Merida e160 SL only has a 400Wh battery inside, you’ll get a lot longer range than if you put that small of a battery into a CX-powered eMTB.

+250Wh if you need more

Yet still, if range anxiety is a concern, the Merida eOne-Sixty SL has its charging port right on the side of its seattube below the rocker link pivot. And you can strap an extra 250Wh Bosch PowerMore range extender external battery in place of the regular water bottle to carry you 62.5% further than without it.

In fact, I would probably recommend that everyone who buys this lightweight ebike plan to cough up another 400€ for that extra battery.

The greatest thing about this eMTB is probably how light it is and how that makes it handle more like a regular enduro or all-mountain bike. And I think the building 400Wh battery offers plenty of range for the majority of rides you’ll do on it – where you don’t want the penalty of an extra 1.6kg on every ride, when it’s usually not needed. But being able to increase your range by so much when you do plan on an all-day ride with more climbing than usual, just makes this a much more versatile ebike in the end.

29er eMTB with 160mm front & rear

This new lightweight 29er Merida eOne-Sixty SL ebike gets 160mm of travel front & rear in a <2kg full-carbon frame with a simple linkage-driven single-pivot suspension design and flex stays that help keep it simple & lightweight. Or 174mm in the rear if you convert it to a mullet setup via the flip-chip and a 27.5 rear wheel swap.

It looks quite a bit different, but suspension kinematics-wise it’s quite similar to the new Shimano EP8-powered eOne-Sixty that launched last spring (which was actually already a mullet with 174mm of rear wheel travel paired to a 170mm fork). Plus, this new eMTB is about 3.5kg lighter.

With its new lighter weight, this SL eMTB even feels a bit more capable off-road too, even with the shorter fork travel. It does get a half a degree slacker headtube at 64°, the same ultra-steep 78.5° seat angle, 4mm longer chainstays at 450mm, and an extra centimeter of Reach to 489mm on my size Long test ebike.

So, it’s a bit longer and slacker for more stability. But it is lighter, so it’s much easier to hop and maneuver around on the trail – and still available in 5 Agilometer sizes (XS-XL).

A few more key details… all the cables are routed in through the Wire Port cap on the Acros block-lock headset, and there’s an UDH out back. There’s a downtube protector, thick sculpted wrap-around rubber chainstay protector to silence the drivetrain, and optional short or long rear fenders to keep mud away from the main pivots.

The e160 SL has clearance for 29 x 2.4″ tires, and is rated for enduro Category 4 riding, anything shy of DH racing. Plus, Merida backs the carbon frame with a lifetime warranty.

Want more details? Check out my eOne-Sixty ebike launch story, here.

Actual weight

Okay, so the new Merida e160 SL 8000 that I tested in size L (Long or Large) weighs 20.4kg That’s set up tubeless without petals, but with the mini-tool strapped under its seat.

That’s not really light for a regular bike, but it is only about 2.5kg more than an entry-level pedal-it-yourself One-Sixty. And so for an ebike, it’s a pretty lightweight feel. 


A lot of weight savings comes from that 400Wh battery in it, which is relatively small. But it still seemed to be plenty for what I was getting up to and riding.

So how does it ride?

Riding Impressions – Lightweight All-Rounder

Merida describes this as an ebike meant to blur the divide between conventional regular bike riding and pedal-assisted ebiking. 
And it does that for sure. There’s no doubt that the Bosch SX powertrain makes you feel like you have fresh legs zipping up climbs easier than you probably should. And the complete package is still light enough that you go downhill without really feeling like being weighed down by a heavy, clunky ebike.

At just 20 kilos, it’s plenty light enough to still be maneuverable under you. This is an eMTB that’s easy to pick up and hop around on tight technical trails. And it’s really easy to get it off the ground. Riding a number of heavier, ‘full-power’ ebikes, I often feel I’m plowing into things, smashing through loose rock gardens, dragging through creek crossings. But not with this e160 SL. This ebike still feels light enough that you can pick lines easily, change direction effortlessly, and confidently tackle more challenging lines. It just feels much more natural.

But still plenty of power

Going uphill though, yes, the Bosch SX motor is less powerful than its heavier-duty CX sibling. But still it offers that same peak power of 600W, even if the torque is lower. So it’s still feels like it’s going to carry you up some of the steepest terrain. 
Sure, its torque is about 40% less than the most powerful motors out there, so it won’t feel quite as zippy.

But to just make getting back up the hill a bit quicker, a bit easier, it definitely felt like plenty of zip for me. And that lower torque in the end actually does create a more natural ride – a feeling I prefer when getting pedal-assist.

Balancing battery & range

The SX setup kind of strikes a balance between really lightweight and full-power motor support. And it manages power well with the 400Wh battery to still deliver quite long range.

I (85kg) had no problem getting 2 solid hours of riding and 900-1000 meters of climbing out of this relatively small motor and small internal battery while pushing it hard, mostly in Turbo mode. Knocking it down to eMTB mode looked like it would get me about 10% more, or 50-60% more in Tour or Eco modes.

For sure, it won’t keep up all-day with full-power eMTBs with much bigger batteries if you head high into the mountains. But it’s definitely a compromise I’m willing to make in order to have that much better maneuverability and much more playful feel to the ebike – both when going downhill and especially carving the ebike through tight technical terrain & more flowy trails. Saving 3-5kg off many of the more powerful eMTBs out there, the e160 SL just creates a much more enjoyable feel that is much more like riding a mountain bike and less like lugging a heavy ebike up & down in the forest.

Going further & countering range-anxiety

And I think it’s simply more fun to throw a lightweight eMTB off of jumps that it is a heavyweight ebike.

Now like I’ve already said, if you’re looking to ride further, you can just strap on a range extender battery. And while a 250Wh is a relatively small addition to a thousand Wh battery, when you’re already starting from just 400Wh, it’s a sizable boost. So you’re genuinely increasing your range by more than 60%! Of course, the one thing I don’t like is that the range extender takes the place of your water bottle, and on those longer ebike rides, you’re going to need more water, too. So, you’ll just have to accept wearing a hydration pack.

Hiccups

One recent Bosch update that I can really get behind is their new Purion 400 display (which looks a lot like Shimano’s similar Di2 & ebike display). It simply puts useful ebike info in an easy-to-see spot and lets the rider cycle through whatever you prefer to focus on – estimated range, speed, cadence, assist level, ride stats, etc. It’s simply much more informative than the LED indicator bars that Bosch puts on your toptube. Although sometimes it gives bad news, as well.

The one issue I had tested this Merida e160 SL 8000 was that this model includes a wired-in SRAM AXS transmission rear derailleur. While that would normally be wireless, here it’s powered directly from the ebike’s battery. But the Bosch system & SRAM don’t talk. So ultimately, when you get to 0% battery on your motor, you have 0% battery in your derailleur, too. That means when you run out of battery for the ebike, you run out of the ability to shift. It shuts down, and you’re left in whatever gear you’re in. To be fair, you get a decent warning, it runs on 0% for a bit. So definitely, when you see your ebike hit 0%, you should just turn off any pedal-assist to still get more shifting.
But once it shuts down, that’s it. Yes, you can start it back up for a second and probably get a couple extra shifts out to get back to a pedal-able gear. I was able to, but your results may vary. And ultimately, it’s going to shut down again with its lovely Bosch message of “See You” at the end. 


But easy enough to fix…

My recommendation if you get any Bosch ebike with a wired-in SRAM derailleur is just to buy an extra AXS battery to carry as a spare so you don’t ever have to worry about it again. It’ll cost you about 60€ and weigh <25g. Surely worth the peace of mind.

Parting thoughts

What I come away with is that this new e160 SL is my favorite Merida ebike, yet. It actually rides a lot like the regular 160s, which I liked a lot for the it simple, playful ride, and great slack & capable geometry.

The Merida e160 SL is not super long travel, so it’s not really e-Enduro. Although its geometry is really trying to emulate full-on enduro bikes. But it’s much more of an e-All-mountain shredder type of thing. But with light weight, long reach, long chainstays, a slack 64° head angle, and Merida’s characteristically steep seattube angle, you can comfortably ride this thing down just about any trail. And with plenty of eMTB motor support,
you can get back up just about any trail, too.

It’s probably the most versatile e-mountain-bike that Merida has made. And at this light weight and natural ride feel, it really just handles so much like a regular bike that it’s just fun for all types of trail riding and makes you feel like you always have fresh legs.

Merida-bikes.com

The post Merida e160 SL eMTB Review: Light Enough to Ride Like a Bike, But Always with Fresh Legs appeared first on Bikerumor.

The Schwinn Hurricane is back. Only this time, it’s as a low-cost eBike, and it’s marketed to young riders.

Hold on, doesn’t it seem like a bad time to release a bike named the Hurricane? On the surface, yes, but most bikes are in development for years before they are launched, so Schwinn likely named this bike long before the devastation of the recent hurricanes. Schwinn also has a history with the name. Following the success of the Tornado and Typhoon, Schwinn’s original 1978 Hurricane took naming inspiration from natural disasters, but styling inspiration from Motocross.

Although the new bike shares the same seat type, it’s substantially different than the Hurricane of yesteryear. Now, that was a bitchen bike.

Long gone are the fillet-brazed glory days of Schwinn Bicycles. Instead, this new Hurricane is a compact eBike with tiny 14″ wheels aimed at teens.

Schwinn Hurricane

Here are some pertinent details:

• 250-watt motor with a top speed of 17.5 mph
• Up to 30-mile range
• Throttle or pedal assist
• 3″ wide tires
• Throttle display
• Front and rear mechanical disc brakes
• Built-in fenders
• Automatic LED lights

Fits Some Riders

The long seat (like the OG) is designed to let you slide back (for pop-a-wheelies, I guess) and forth (for whatever else isn’t a pop-a-wheelie). But, it also allows you to find the right fit on the bike. Schwinn says it’s for riders age 13+ and up to 260lbs.

Look, I’m not trying to be a curmudgeon, but I think this age bracket should be using an actual bicycle to get around. When I was 13 I had the lungs and the legs to take my Schwinn Stingray anywhere I wanted. That was also in 1978. Kids these days.

It’s OK, I’m just saying what you’re thinking. Now get off my lawn.

Hurricane Retails and Specs (from the website)

Retail: $600

• Durable steel frame
• Aluminum rims
• JAK mechanical disc brakes
• “Moto-style” seat with foam padding
• Weight: 56lbs (seems very heavy for such a small bike)
• Steel dual crown, rigid fork
• 14″x 3″ tires
• Steel, 680mm wide handlebars with a 22.2mm clamp
• “Soft comfort”, single density grips
• Kickstand and front and rear fenders

Don’t get mad at me, check out the bikes at the link below.

SchwinnBikes.com

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