Latest news with #ShimanoAltus
WIRED
5 days ago
- Automotive
- WIRED
Aventon's Affordable Level 3 Is a Great Starter Electric Bike
I love step-through ebike frames, not just because it allows my much-shorter wife to borrow the bike when she's wearing a skirt, but also because when a bike is this heavy (67 lbs), it makes it much easier to balance and hop on and off of. I never felt sketchy hitting an intersection or trying to keep my bike upright when I had a saddle bag full of groceries. The gearing and drivetrain is entry-level Shimano Altus stuff and includes an 8-speed trigger-controlled transmission. It also comes with decent Kenda tires that provide plenty of grip, even on slippery Portland roads. There is a built-in 4G connection that allows you to GPS track the bike—nice for thefts and also in case you, like me, forget where you parked your bike at the Portland Timbers game. The 500W motor was more than powerful enough to get me over hills, even with gear or food in tow. Even for my large, 210-pound body, the range proved more than enough for long commuting rides. I took it over 20 miles across town in a single session, over big hills, and still ended at my destination with over 20 percent battery. If I hadn't ran the bike at full speed the entire way, and had pedaled more on the flats instead of using the thumb throttle, I would easily have made it with half my battery left. Good for Most Photograph: Parker Hall Most folks aren't riding 40 miles a day on their ebikes. They're just riding a few, and this bike is more than capable of doing that. The included charging brick easily charges the bike in a few hours, you will only really need to charge once a week if you're doing a shorter commute or just riding a bit around town. There aren't a lot of downsides to this model, but the main one is the gearing. I just wish that the top gear allowed me to keep up with the 20-mile-per-hour speed limit on the motor with more ease; I sometimes felt like I was pedaling like a crazed hamster when trying to go max speed. At lower speeds and assistance rates, the gearing works just fine, so you're better off riding slower when you want to pedal, and using the thumb throttle to go full speed. I generally prefer mid-drive ebikes for this reason; they use the actual drivetrain of your bike to deliver the power, rather than a motor on the hub of the rear wheel, so things pair better together. That said, it's nice to have the option of a thumb throttle when you're feeling lazy and just want a glorified electric scooter to take you home, which isn't offered by mid-drive ebikes. For daily commuting, trips to the farmers market, and occasional long weekend rides, the Aventon Level 3 is a great choice. The price is right, the specs are solid, and it's a confidence-inducing ride that has every feature most folks will need. Just snag a good helmet and a solid bike lock. These bikes look more expensive than they are.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
E-bike company's 'luxury riding' model could transform your daily commute: 'Bridge the gap between affordability and premium features'
Heybike recently unveiled an exciting addition to the competitive e-bike market with the Alpha, a fat-tire, adventure-ready model that the company touts as "a luxury riding for everyone." New Atlas detailed the specs of the Alpha, which is now available at an early-bird price of $1,599, according to its official product page. Heybike says the model is thus positioned to "bridge the gap between affordability and premium features," per New Atlas. The bike's performance is impressive, with a pedal-assist top speed of 28 miles per hour and 20 mph for cruising without pedaling powered by a 500-watt mid-drive motor. There are 105 Newton-meters of torque to ensure getting up steep hills is a breeze. Meanwhile, there are both torque and cadence sensors to facilitate a smooth, responsive ride. While Heybike says the four-inch fat tires are built to handle "city streets, gravel, dirt, sand, and snow," the company's ad campaign for the Alpha targets on-the-go urban commuters. There are definite conveniences for commuters built in. Those include an easy-to-remove rechargeable battery that can get up to 60 miles of range at the lowest setting, a large color LCD display, and Bluetooth connectivity to the app. The bike comes in step-through and step-over options, which cater to riders' preferences. The 71-pound bike should work for riders of almost all sizes with a capacity of 400 pounds. Other features include a Shimano Altus eight-speed gear set, 26-inch rims for the fat tires, a hydraulic suspension fork for both models, and hydraulic disc brakes for stopping. For eco-conscious riders, Heybike says the "Alpha is the dream bike with its energy-efficient and sustainable performance." Along those lines, E-bikes are a growing alternative to car travel that can save commuters money on fuel, lower urban congestion, and cut down on cars' air and noise pollution. A Bike Adviser study revealed that replacing half of car trips of under 5 miles in the U.S. with e-bike rides could reduce carbon pollution by 273,000 metric tons (almost 270,000 tons) a day. That could make a real dent in planet-heating gases that contribute to the dangerous warming of the planet. For riders interested in the Alpha, Heybike will begin shipping it out in late February. Would you be more likely to use a rideshare service that offers EV rides? Absolutely Only if it wasn't more expensive Only if the wait times weren't longer Not interested Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
