A clever name, a clever design and a solid premise -- now, if only we didn't see a set of front and rear pegs along with Dave Mirra grinding down a stairwell each time we looked at it, we could actually take this thing seriously. Unfortunately for our childish hopes, Ultra Motors' A2B electric bike actually won't be used in the next X-Games, but it may just get you to and from your downtown apartment. This comparatively small
electric bike features a full suspension setup, an oversized seat and a battery arrangement that provides 20 miles of travel without a touch of the pedal. Also of note, riders can reach speeds of up to 20mph (or 50mph if traveling downhill, so we hear), and an optional secondary battery can double the aforesaid distance capability. Look for this one to hit authorized dealers next month for a presumably lofty amount of scratch.
[Via
OhGizmo]
Update: And we've got a price of $2,599. $2,675 with pegs, a splash guard and a few random stickers.
posted Aug 13th 2008 6:30PM
huh, it's not embarrassing... must be freaking spendy...
I'm guessing the battery sits on the bitch-bar behind the seat?
RTFA.
[...] The lithium-ion batteries stored inside the frame [...]
Thanks, but where did you learn the batteries are in the frame? I don't see it on manufacturers site or in the gizmodo page. It does say the batteries are easily swappable. That would seem difficult if they are in the frame.
it's in the middle of the article in the read link....
http://eon.businesswire.com/releases/motor/ultra/prweb1204754.htm
in the section titled: Unique Combination: Performance, Utility, Design
Just spoke to Brent Meyer from the company. This baby will set you back a cool $2,599. If I'm not mistaken that's about on par with most electric bikes...
Not sure why that attached itself to your comment but whatever...
I wonder if the batteries are
A: Hidden in the tubes?
B: Not included? :-)
From TFA: "The lithium-ion batteries stored inside the frame provide more energy per pound than any other power source, and recharge just like a laptop computer"
I already bike to work, so this would make it even easier. How many hours of overtime is it going to cost me?
Add to the hours of overtime what you now will need on the gym to get the exercise you previosly got by actually pedaling. ;)
Wow. What an awesome bike 20 miles is 32km which is well enough to commute to and from for those not looking too far from work. I would love to have one here in London where I could probably cycle to work in 40. With that nifty invention I would blaze through traffic in 20-25min. Impressively it looks very comfortable too but seem light enough to be carried indoors for safe storage. I want one.
Same here, bring this marvel to Europe, bitches.
There used to be a company based out of California named EV Global Motors Company. They sold a bunch of models of ebikes in 1999 up until about 3 years ago. They looked like normal mountain bikes had a range of 20 miles on their 24v version with a max speed of 18mph. They were rechargeable by pedaling as well as a wall outlet.
Doesn't seem like much has improved in the the almost 10 years since then. 2mph faster and a stupid looking design?
It's not a motorcycle. You want to take an ebike on the freeway?
Not really that much faster but at least maybe some more distance off a single charge. I feel like something should have changed to improve on what another company, that went under, has done before (you know other than an ugly design.) I'm willing to bet its just as expensive also. If I were interested in buying 10 year old technology I'm pretty sure i could get a sweet deal on some some old stuff.
ill stick with my own power thanks. When the battery dies, its just going to turn itself along with tho motor into lean weights. Your better off just getting on your normal bike and getting in shape.
Typical elitist attitude, automatically assuming that everyone interested in an electric bike is fat.
Some of us work in offices that don't provide showers. Maybe your coworkers don't mind you showing up every day stinky and sweaty (even people in shape sweat), but my coworkers sure do.
What johnzilla said.
I bike 12-15 miles every morning, but the people around me at work would prefer I didn't smell like the inside of a sock when I'm meeting with them.
> I bike 12-15 miles every morning, but the people around me at
> work would prefer I didn't smell like the inside of a sock when
> I'm meeting with them.
Ok, I'll bite.
Does your office keep moving, or do you wake up in a different place every day? :)
> Maybe your coworkers don't mind you showing up every day stinky and sweaty (even people in shape sweat), but my coworkers sure do.
Chicks dig it :) At least those in your "genetic range". That should be worth it.
@Rick, I ride a stationary bike before going to work.
I'm of two minds about this. I ride to work everyday, but I know a lot of people don't think they "can" for some stupid excuse or another. Anything that breaks down an excuse is positive on some level.
On the otherhand, I do wish (as do my health insurance premiums) that most people were in good enough shape to go for a bike ride before and after work.
If it doesn't fold up why does it need to look like that. It looks like one of those folding bicycles people take on the bus.
For "urbanites"? The tires on that thing make it look like it was for "ruralites". Why doesn't someone make it out of a regular street bike, then someone would have something there.
those are street tires. notice the smooth center tread. the stuff on the side is water siping.
I guess you could call them street tires, but Im talking about the bikes that have very thin tires, check link:
http://www.trekbikes.com/images/sections/bikes/bike_path_home_1.png
width doesn't really determine street/offroad. More width makes for a more reliable ride. It makes it a little less likely to go flat going off curbs and such. What are pictured at the link are 700c which give higher top speed, are lighter.
Maxxis makes a wide slick specifically for "urban bombing".
(Tips hat, climbs back on late bus, rides off into the wide, two-months-ago yonder)
I say get ride of those peddles, chain and sprockets. Put on some rear sets and you've got yourself a killer pit bike! I'm in.
Why not call it an "Eped"... since it's clearly lacking the "Mo"?
Electric bikes are pretty rare in the States since bike commuting is supposed to be fit/clean alternative. They're much more common in Beijing, where bikes are, for a lot of people, the main means of commute.
If you are close enough to work to commute on a bicycle, shouldn't you just get a conventional one?
Where does everyone work that they have showers available to all of these bicyclists? I've never worked in an office building that provided showers.
Do you people just sit in your sweat all day? Ewwwww.....
johnzilla
more and more office are adding showers. My company has them in most of their newer offices, and there are plans to retrofit them into some of the existing ones (like mine...hopefully).
Right now I just take a shower before i leave in the morning, bring a change of clothes, a small towel to wipe off the sweat, and keep a bit of anti-stink stick in my drawer. That's really all it takes. If I get in at 8:30, there's no evidence that I rode 40 minutes to get there.
there's a guy in my office who rides 29 kilometres each way every day in season (winter here makes it impossible to ride). You'd never know it to look at him. Always clean and well dressed. The key is really having that towel and clean clothes. Sweat doesn't stink unless you let it linger.
i like the idea and would consider one if it folded up. but there actually are workplaces with showers. come to think of it, most of the places ive worked had showers.
@ johnzilla
The better question is why are all of these bicyclists showing up at work sweaty? A few months ago I switched to biking to work from walking and I don't sweat any more (maybe even less right now in the heat since I have a breeze over me on the bike). I have also for years now built and rode my own XC bikes as recreation/ a hobby, so I know what it is like to really sweat on a bike. I think the root of the sweat problem lies in the average commuter, most of whom have switched to biking as gas prices have gone up. Overall, it seems most of them have just randomly picked up bikes without educating themselves first. When I look at the bike racks at work, the majority of them are unnecessarily heavy (mountain bikes, bikes with too many gears, bikes with useless add-ons like gel seat covers and suspensions - over half of which are either broken or so cheap that they never did anything to begin with), have under-inflated tires, and are poorly maintained (worn gears and chains, no grease, hubs that drag and/or skip, wheels out of true sometimes so much you can tell just by looking at them). In addition, most people I talk to are riding the wrong size frame and many don't even realize that frames come in sizes like clothing. All this adds up to a lot of extra effort to go the same distance at the same speed. Riding a modern carbon or aluminum road, cross, or hybrid commuter bike that is stripped of extra junk (I even ditched my fenders in favor of a a set of lightweight Gore-Tex raingear a size big that fit over my clothes that I bring when the weather gets ugly and also got rid of the rear brake), has the tires inflated to at least 45-60psi (some bike commuters I know don't even own tire gauges), and is well lubricated and maintained will go a long way towards making cycling require less physical exertion. I understand this takes more money than many people seem to be willing to put in, but it's sure less than a car and the gas and oil changes. The next step is getting used to a good cadence for commuting - some people get on a bike and want to pedal fast, which would be like running to work! With the gear ratio, I can go about 13-17mph on flat ground at a cadence that is similar to walking at 3-4mph. This is the kind of thing that takes a few rides - practicing the commute on weekends for a month before ditching the car would be a good place to start. I know this is just based on my experience, but it seems to me that if bicycle commuters just put a little more time, thought, and money into it that they wouldn't be sweating any more. And if they can't do that because the commute takes longer by bike - maybe they should just drive. If gas costs too much, consider this: my wife traded her 2002 SUV for a Honda Fit a few months ago and what she saves in gas at $3.70/gal equals her car payment... and I swear that car somehow holds the same amount of stuff.
It must be nice to live in a climate that doesn't make you sweat when you exert any kind of energy to get from point to point on a map. I live in South Florida where it is 85 degrees on average at 7:30 a.m. with a relative humidity of 90% year round. It's even muggier if we had a late afternoon t-storm the day before or if there is the impending doom of a tropical disturbance.
I just do what other people above me do, bring extra clothes and hope for the best. Other people are none-the-wiser in my workplace as I usually arrive before anyone else.
When you go with the Lithium or other small, lightweight batteries that can fit inside one of the tubes, the price skyrockets.
My e-bike is currently using sealed lead-acid batteries. While they're heavy, they're also 1/4 the price of the high-end batteries. If I so desire, I could switch to lightweight batteries, but I haven't seen a need yet. Sure, my bike is a bit on the heavy side, but it gets me where I'm going. I might try other batteries later, though.
My point is that you don't have to spend this kind of money up front. You can add the better batteries later on, and save some cash.
Oh, and if you're worried about being hit by a car ("squashed by an 18 wheeler") you should check your state/country's bike laws. In my state, a bicycle is legally allowed to ride on the sidewalk, bike lane, or bike paths, as well as driveways and parking lots. According to Congress, an electric bike is to be considered a bicycle for all intents and purposes of the law, therefore I'm able to ride to work and all around my town on the sidewalks with the other bikes-- I'm hardly ever in the road, so getting hit by a car is a lot less likely. (knocks on wood)
Of course, when you're on the road, make sure to obey traffic laws and be careful. On a bike you have to drive defensively. There are always idiots on their mobile phones who don't see you, even if you are doing everything right.
Yeah, because what I want after a full day of dealing with my patients and clients is to do MORE work in order to get home. Yeah. That's the ticket.
Let me make this clear for the "e-bike riders are fatties" types: An electric bike is not meant primarily as an exercise or sporting device. It's alternative transportation. It gets me to work without expending some of the energy I'll need during my day (or getting sweaty), and it gets me home after I've had a long day and don't have much energy left. It's like my car, but takes no gas, leaves no emissions, and only seats one.
I might as well ask you" "Why you drive your car when you could walk to work?"
It's faster.
It's more efficient.
It takes less energy.
Also, yes-- Some of us are OLDER than you, with bad knees, aching joints, old injuries and less energy than a snot-nose like yourself might have. After a day of work the LAST thing I want is a brisk workout. The electric bike smooths out the hills, and makes the whole commute feel like a nice flat-ground ride. If my old knee injury makes that all-too-familiar cracking sound, then I can stop pedaling for a moment and let the bike do the work, and get home/to work without damaging myself further.
If you're a strapping young jock, then more power to you-- Enjoy your walk to and from work. Stop driving your car, because by your logic, if you drive instead of walking you must be a lazy fatty.
I'm really sick of the elitists who think that bikes should either be noisy motorcycles or aluminum manual `cycles. There's a whole range of uses for a small, lightweight, single-rider, two-wheeled vehicle. Kindly stop assuming your demographic is the only one out there.
Ever take that thing off any sweet jumps?
"Lazy" is not the only reason to add this to a bike.
As previously stated, there's reducing effort, thereby reducing perspiration - 'cuz sometimes you don't wanna lettem see u sweat (um, sorry).
There also is the matter of long/steep inclines. While going down is fun, you will at some point have to go up. This isn't as big of an issue if you live where the buses have racks - but there are usually only two of those available *if* they are available. For all the people in NYC that bike, the buses have no racks. Go fig. I would like to see them implement bike shuttles here - gutted limited shedule busses with wide doors that are ONLY for bikes.
Speed. Routes are often broken up by stretches where the cars move faster and there's no lane and maybe no sidewalk. At that point 20mph is better than 15 (although there are other bikes/kits that go faster).
Some people just want an electric alternative to a moped. If this fits your commute and you've got the scratch (batt-in-frame models that I've seen all hover around $3K), go for it. Having this instead of a petrol driven bike is going to allow you to bring it inside more places as well (ease-of-parking/locking)
I like the in-frame designs, but kit based bikes are ultimately cheaper and more flexible - even if they look "stupid". I was under the assumption that one was countermanding style by even attempting to in earnest to commute via bike.
But, whatever.
with the right mod this think could easily do 40mph on flat land while still getting the same range.
Electric bikes will get more people onto bicycles.
Less pollution & more exercize.
Win Win.
Plus this is the first (only) good looking e-bike I've seen yet.
Another Win.
less polution anyway, i think the point of the motor is to avoid exercise
(first reply failed)
The advantage of an e-bike is that you have to option to choose how much you want to assist by pedalling.
This would help get more people commuting on bikes to work if they didn't have to show up all sweaty; yet still had the option to pedal for exercise the way home.
Neither cars or bicycles have this option.
Does it stop you getting hit by a lorry?
I work for a trucking company... I was thinking about biking to work but after that comment, I'm have this horrible image of being squashed by an 18 wheeler... Thanks...
@Owen Does it stop you getting hit by a lorry?
No, but getting hit by a lorry in my Mercedes or standing up on the bus is likely to cause inhury too. Of course you can also get hit by a lorry crossing the road from the car park to the office...
Road skills are what stop lorries hitting cyclists and cyclists getting hit. If you're a smart rider and follow the rules you're not that likely to get into a crash. I commuted for 5 years, 5 miles across central London. I had one accident - my fault - I rear ended a car that was more conservative about an orange light than I was.
I bike to work every day rain or shine. Here in South Florida I mainly have to pay attention to the folks who drive the big-ass SUV's. Most of the time they're on their phones and not even paying attention when they pull out so I am forced to give them the right-of-way even though it is a state law that bicycles and pedestrians have the right-of-way.
See my second post above. It was SUPPOSED to be a reply to this comment, and not a second reply to the comment up there.
Oops. Sorry. I meant the first post, that addresses the 18-wheeler concerns.
Did anyone else notice that it weighs 73lbs! Try getting this thing up a flight of stairs.
I was in a electric bike store the other day when visiting out of state. This store had a wide selection (Eco Motor) and they allowed me to try their electric bikes. After my experience I would say the lead acid based transports were VERY heavy. I could not believe how heavy.
Now, I tried the scooter without the peddels 1000W motor and capability to go 28mph. In Utah they allow you to only ride on the sidewalk unless you can keep up with traffic. Soooooo I rode this speed demon on the sidewalk and it was daredevil time in my opinion--too fast for the sidewalk. Don't get me wrong--it was an absolute blast! I just think the handwritting is on the wall--and you will hit someone sooner or latter because the bike is heavy regardless of the battery and you time to stop from 28mph is pretty high.
I tried a folding version with a 300 watt motor and a small lithium Ion pack. It was much lighter and had pedals. This was ok but rickety so not too secure feeling but it was all the power you could need and if you pedal with marginal strength you could get some exersize and travel a good distance. The exersize is similar to what you would get pedalling a mountain bike in top gear on leval ground at about maybe 5 mph. Not strenuous just kinda getting your blood moving.
Lastly, I tried the mountain (sorta a comfort bike) bike version from this maker. This bike looked a little silly but not too outragous. It definately took me a couple minutes to decide if a bike like this would get too much attention for my taste. Anyhow, these guys make a solid bike and it rode like a regular bike. I was pleased except for that ugly battery pack--looked like a bike from the 70's. It was heavy even with the lithium ion pack. The 700 watts was more than enough power and the bike was more managable than the bikes with the smaller 16 or 20 inch tires. I could get along with this bike. I definately could go fast and I found I could pedal and assist and it felt like a normal bike OR I could use the motor and just take a respite. There is no doubt after riding this that it is superior to a bike without a motor as a long distance commuter. Here you can pass up those fuddy duttys who are like killing the sacred cow all the time..."Oh, why not just pedal your self"..."you are lazy and fat"..."it is heavy".."I would never spend that much[on an electric bike}"
I say so what, have you ridden one before you make up your mind? Yes, there is some aspect for able bodies that is a "toy" but for some with knees that hurt or such this is useful and for those who want to ride 5 miles to work you would be going 25 mph the whole way instead of 15mph.
I sell LEV’s for Ultra Motor, the first thought people have buying this kind of bike is (can I commute to work) you don’t have to ride it 20-30 miles to work, at least ride it to the (park and ride) catch the bus from there, take it to the store, the park it is just plan fun to ride any time. We all saw it, gas production is too big, they can’t slow down production and if we cut back driving our cars, the price of gas will come down (it works). This bike fits so many people. Can you afford a car and insurance for your college student today! I have customers that are legally blind, but can see will enough to ride, loss your driver license you can ride this bike, no license is needed, we all need to work. The A2B is silent it rides like a bike you won’t offend walkers or other cyclist. We don’t need to convert cyclist to LEV riders, we need to get all of us out of our cars from time to time. I filled up my truck with gas $120 this is how I’m going to pay for my A2B. The cost $2599 for the A2B, did you know the e-bike from 10 years ago sold for $2200 and they are still running around, this bike is a whole new class of electric bike although.
Before you convert your lead acid battery to Li-ion consider you need a special charger and have to have a proper voltage cutoff or Li-ion batteries will catch fire, there is more to than just changing batteries. The batteries on this bike are in the down tube.
The A2B is the best LEV on the market. Sure you will find other e-bikes for sale out there but they are not supported when it comes to repairs. Most are underpowered, some clam to go 60 miles on one charge they only use 250w motor. It is all about amp/volts you can’t change the outcome very much, the A2B has the most powerful motor and battery combination with 2 year warranty, no other production LEV has this. Come see, ride the A2B here at our store http://www.javelinacycles.com 480-598-3373 ask for Rick
please sell in korea
I test rode one of these Ultra Motor A2B bikes when the company was giving a demonstration with free test rides at my workplace. Having both owned and ridden a BUNCH of electric bikes in my lifetime, I can honestly say that the A2B bike is probably the overall best electric bike I've ever ridden. It is very well made, has more than sufficient torque and speed, and is quite comfortable. This bike could most certainly replace a car for many peoples' commutes.
But all that said, I won't be buying one. "Why?", you ask? Well, at $2,600, it's way too expensive. Now, don't get me wrong. The bike is high-tech and high-quality, and I understand completely that such a bike ain't cheap to make. But $2,600 is some serious coin. This bike would have to be about 1/2 that price before I'd be a buyer. I think the bike is worth the money...it's just that I can't ever imagine myself spending that much on a bike, no matter how nice it is. To be sure, if YOU can afford it, go for it! Like I said, it's a very nice bike that will serve you well for years. But it's too rich for my blood. And I suspect for many others, as well.