Archive for April, 2011

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Electric Cargo Bikes – a new look!

Friday, April 29th, 2011

Are you planning to turn your electric bike into a car, or at least, one that will carry the same load? Is it possible? And the answer is yes, since that’s what electric cargo bikes are all about. This bike is a recent innovation and one that currently makes it possible for you to carry the same load, weight as you would carry in a car. It’s going to come in handy, especially if your routine work deals with making several trips round the town, picking and dropping materials, packages, luggage, etc.

Kona Electric Ute
With its existing model that has been for two years in the market, the Kona Electric Ute has certainly proved its worth with its full electric cargo models and through the form of its conversion kits too. It can effectively handle up to 220 lbs. (100 kg) of load and costs around $2599 approximately. Its models currently operate on three modes, read on to learn more:
• Power Mode: Covering 18 miles.
• Normal Mode: Covering 35 miles range.
• Economy Mode: Covering approximately 60 miles.

Gary Fisher Electric Cargo Bike
The Gary Fisher electric cargo bike model, namely the ‘Transport +’ is said to available sometime by 2011 with power packed components, such as a 350 watts motor, in-housed battery at the rear rack, cargo bags, and lots more. The extras that come along with Gary Fisher’s Transport + are remarkable and definitely worth mentioning: folding road racks, front and rear lights, Bontrager Transport cargo bag, fender, and double kickstand.

Urban Arrow
This particular electric cargo bike has already won an ‘Innovation Award’ at the Eurobike Show in Germany and makes it clear that electric bikes are here to stay. The significant feature of this type is that it has got the removable cargo box in front of the rider, which is capable enough of carrying around 400 lbs.
Apart from these ‘ready to go’ cargo electric bikes types, there are many other bikes available with the option of conversion kits, namely Xtracycle, Madsen, Work Cycles, Civia Cycles, and many more.

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Electric Bikes – what to look for in an electric bike!

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

With plenty of models, make and styles to sort through, finding the best fit may seem difficult. When comparing the various brands of electric bicycles in order to select the “one”, you need to take a closer look at some of the features on offer. One brand could come packed with great battery/motor housing – featuring good range whereas another could provide power riding and the list goes on…

Kalkhoff Electric Bikes

The German electric bike star, the Kalkhoff Pro Connect Sport 300, is quite popular in Europe. This model is getting the top billing in US mainland as well. Naturally, it comes with a hefty price tag amounting to approximately $3, 899.00. The other models should cost a lot less, around $3, 000. But this bike is worth the high price tag and while you’re right in thinking it’s on the high side, the quality components, the dollars you end up saving on gas bills and other features sure make it an attractive option.

It comes with two motors: a Panasonic Pedelec brushless motor activating at 300 watts and provides a top speed of 25 mph and an integrated motor for maintenance assistance, which further offers 3 levels of pedal assistance.

• Apart from the motor, the hydraulic brake system and the puncture resistant tires with lightweight aluminum frame makes it apparent why the Kalhoff model is getting the top billing.

eZee LiV Electric Bike
This is an ideal model for recreational riding on moderate hilly regions as long as you don’t add too much load / stress on it. It beats other brands as far as price is concerned, because it costs approximately 1, 199.00; even the full throttle activated electric bikes of eZee LiV range well under $2, 000.

• With its brushed motor of 200 watts, it provides a good range of 15-30 miles in addition to a top speed of about 20 mph.

Detailed research through websites that are dedicated to reviewing and rating electric bikes and magazines such as A to B, Bikeradar, Livestrong, NYCeWheels etc. can really aid you when it comes to selecting the ideal electric bike.

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Exercise in the city: hybrid bicycles

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

More and more people prefer to ride the bike to work or school, instead of taking the bus. Aside from the fact that bike riding is a great exercise for the body, it’s great for the environment. And if you are riding on the paved streets of your city, you should consider getting one of those hybrid bicycles everyone’s talking about.

First of all, a hybrid bike is a combination between road and mountain bikes, especially designed for those who love to head out on road trips. It blends the best features of both models, and the result is perfect for commuting on a wide variety of surfaces, including paved roads, paths, trails and other unpaved roads.

Hybrid bicycles encompass the upright frame of mountain bikes, giving the rider a more comfortable position, and the lighter rims of the road bike, which offer an increased speed. The tires are a little wider than in the road bike, giving hybrid bicycles better traction and a little more stability.

Not all hybrid bicycles are the same. You may choose from a wide range of models and narrow down the selection, depending on what you need the bike for. For example, the city bike is a model optimized for the rough roads city commuters are faced with. On this kind of bike, you will find a couple of 26-inch wheels, heavy belted tires and a more upright seating position. The frame will most likely be aluminum. Other hybrid bicycles include commuter bikes and comfort bikes.

Hybrid bicycles are the ideal choice for commuting in the city. You are advised to look for the bike with the best quality parts, because they determine how well the bike will function and for how long. Accessories are also of great importance. The bike can be customized to better fit your requirements. You can get a tool bag, a water bottle or a frame pump, depending on your needs.

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All you wanted to know about electric dirt bikes!

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

If you’re into “save the environment”, then you should definitely consider acquiring an electric dirt bike instead of the regular, gas powered motocross bike. Electric dirt bikes are not only environmental friendly, but they happen to be easy on the pocket.

These electric dirt bikes are ideal for teens above the age of 14 who want to experience the excitement offered by off road motorcycling. Electric bikes can carry up to 150 lbs and reach up to 14-mph. However, keep in mind that because of the light built of the bike, the speed will decrease considerably with added weight. So, you may want to consider some add-on’s, like a few enhancements for power, speed, etc.

A single charge of the engine of electric dirt bikes will last for 40 functioning minutes or for as far as 10 miles. They are perfectly geared for dirty roads; with pneumatic knobby tires and a powerful electrical motor (some motors go up to 350 watts).

Depending on the manufacturer and model make, an electric dirt bike’s batteries will take up to 12 hours to charge. Also, experts advise us to charge the batteries after every ride in order to extend their life. Remember to plug the battery charger into the bike before plugging it into the wall outlet. If your bike is in storage, you must recharge the batteries every 3 months.

These bikes are great for daily usage. For starters, you get to save bundles on gas and you can custom the bike to fit your needs – from enhancements to frame modifications.

Electric dirt bikes are ideal for beginners and for teenagers who enjoy off-roading or beach racing. These models do not harm the environment in any way and as an added bonus; you wouldn’t have to deal with any exhaust issues since there’s no exhaust fumes involved with electric bikes.

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City or country, it’s just the same!

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

If you like bikes, then probably you have already heard about hybrid bikes. Probably bike enthusiasts around you keep chattering about stunts they pulled off or terrains they have mastered, on their hybrid bikes, However, you do not need to be a die hard bike fan to enjoy the riding experience. Hybrid bikes provide you with pleasure and release when riding – no matter whether you are on a hiking trip to Yellowstone or you are tackling the traffic jams of downtown New York.

From sturdy frames to thick wheels with high air pressure, hybrid bikes come in all shapes and sizes. But some of the features are standard throughout the prevailing models in the market. For example:

• A stout frame will give you stability on mountain tracks and you will be able to carry more weight; at the same time, the frame in hybrid bikes are made of strong but light weight material, which gives you ease in riding in city conditions.
• The wheels of hybrid bikes are stouter and wider for more traction on off-road tracks, but with the ability to withstand a higher air pressure for city slickers.
• The ergonomics of a hybrid bike allows the rider to sit in an upright position that gives better control while riding and at the same time, reduces the stress on the back and the neck.

There are several other advantages of hybrid bikes such as different gears for different terrains, straight and flat handle bars, and so on. The customization of a hybrid bike, nevertheless, will depend on the person riding the bike and the purpose he/she is using the bike for. A few minor alterations on the user’s end and a few add-ons can change these hybrid bikes from being a city machine to an off-road monster. And that’s just where the fun begins.

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Motor – the heart of your electric bike!

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

Traffic congestion, a greater sense of responsibility towards Mother Nature, rising oil prices, greater maneuverability, and a host of other reasons are making people turn towards electronic bikes and electronic bicycles from the traditional gas-powered two-wheelers. Few in today’s world would want to get stuck in a miles-long traffic jam with a 300 pound chopper that drinks gallons of gas just to pull itself a few miles. Electric bikes are the future, and awareness is on the rise regarding this new breed of vehicles.

However, the most important component of an electronic vehicle is its motor – and they come in all shapes and sizes. Electric bike motors vary from a mere 200 watts to 1,200 watts and depending on your requirement can be tuned and fine tuned. The power of the motor will also depend on the bike frame and its other components such as shock absorbers, pedals, tires and so on.

Electric bike motors are reliable, silent, and affordable and as mentioned earlier, the torque depends on the power of the motor. It is the heart of the vehicle and as such, should be the most important component to be considered while buying an electronic bike. A number of companies manufacture these motors and one will have a plethora of options while choosing a motor for his/her bike.

Electric bike motors come with easy-to-do and do-it-yourself kits, complete with video demonstrations and diagrams. But since most motors are designed for plug and play, they are fairly easy to assemble and integrate with the bike. Just integrate the motor with the wheels, clamp on the battery pack, place the ignition switch and check the fuse. That’s as simple as it gets. Some do-it-yourself kits even boasts that you can assemble the whole thing is a matter of minutes!

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Electric Bicycles…Greener Than You Think!

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

E-Bikes are a recent development in the world of motor biking but the concept has been around for over a century. Until recently with inexpensive gas in high supply many people were unaware and unconcerned with the advantages of electric bikes. However, with gas prices rising to record highs all over the world and pollution rising to alarming levels, the importance of electric powered bikes has been gaining momentum. As the name suggests, electric powered bikes run on rechargeable batteries. And you may surprised to know that a battery-powered e-bike is actually even more efficient and less environmentally offensive than conventional human -powered cycling.

Common sense and intuition may lead one to think that conventional bicycles cause zero pollution and consumes very little energy; but this isn’t the case. It’s not that pedal power isn’t insanely better than an automobile when it comes to saving energy and the planet but, believe it or not, electric powered bikes are even better!

Human-powered cycling consumes human energy and we eat food to gain that energy. That said, the energy produced by a human being is just 1/4th times the food consumed. In other words, a person will have to consume four pounds of food(fuel) to produce one pound of energy. On the other hand, electric motors are much more efficient in converting energy than the human body. A motor’s conversion rate, on average is 3/4th of the amount of fuel. In other words, for four pounds of fuel, a motor can produce three pounds of energy. And even when factoring in additional energy spent on manufacturing the motors, electric powered bikes, on average consumes six times less fuel than their conventional counterparts.

Therefore, in terms of environmental savings, there is not a more efficient vehicle than the electric bicycle. E-bikes also cut down on noise pollution levels as they are completely silent. In the future as our cars, SUVs and other gas guzzlers are replaced with electric powered bikes and other electric powered vehicles, the world will benefit and so will you. If you’re commuting by gas power for trips less than 20 miles and you’re concerned about the future of energy consumption and the health of our planet, please consider an electric bike as a viable clean-energy alternative; they’re greener than you think!

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Things you need to know about electric bikes!

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

If you’re into “save the environment”, you must have heard about electric bikes that are available almost everywhere. An electric bike in simple terms is basically a type of bicycle that comes equipped with an electric motor. The motors range from 200 to 1000 watts of power and about 12-34 miles per hour top speed.

These bikes are powered by rechargeable batteries and their average range is about 20 miles. To meet the growing demand for such bikes, many manufacturers are developing them in different designs and sizes. Interestingly, to ride an electric bike you don’t need a license or insurance in most states. However, you should know that some states follow their own set of rules when it comes to permitting youngsters ride these bikes.

Hub motors are commonly used in these bikes and they can be used either on the rear wheels or in the front. The benefit of installing such motors is that these do not require any maintenance and also produce no sound. So, you get to save a lot of money!

Since these bikes are powered by batteries, the choice of battery plays a very important role. Sealed lead acid (SLA) is the most commonly used battery that powers these bikes. It is a cost effective option that provides high amp hours. But the SLA batteries are quite heavy and do not last as long as the lithium polymer or lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries.

Building an electric bike from a bike kit is the best option because you get to purchase the bike at the right price and also ensure that it delivers best performance. Electric bike kits are the best value if you want an electric bike. A proper kit will offer you various features, a powerful motor, a high-quality battery pack and your choice of controller with different functionality choices . In addition, you will get complete instructions to run and maintain your bike.

Environmental upside, affordability, convenience and common sense are a few of the reasons you need to at least consider leaving your car at home and opting for an electric bike for that next commute or errand run!

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Understanding the electric bike motor!

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

If you own a bike and keep getting frustrated with the recent hike in gallon rates, you may want to consider converting your bike into an ebike. In countries like China and Thailand where bicycles have traditionally sold in large numbers, the concept of ebikes is fast catching on. In fact, this trend is on the upswing in the U.S.A., Australia, Greece, Holland, Brazil, England and Germany to name a few countries. Of course, this trend could be as a result of the recent hike in gas rates or the facts on how ebikes are fuel efficient and safe to ride does the trick.

There are several electric bike conversion kits readily available in various parts of the United States. These kits are meant to help you convert your bike into ebikes. When you purchase a conversion kit, you get several things along with all the instructions to convert your bike easily. The electric bike motor is the most efficient drive system for your bike. It is located at the center of your bicycle’s wheel and is the cheapest as well as cleanest component. The best thing about the electric bike motor is that it produces no noise, hard to believe, right? So, no one can actually guess that you have converted your bike into an ebike. Furthermore, the conversion process does not change the way you handle your bike. So, you can keep riding the way you like.

Types of motors
There are mainly three kinds of motors that are available in the market – 200 W, 350 W and 500 W. 250 W is the most common electric bike motor which is easiest to handle. It is apt also because conversion in most cities does not require a lot of power.

Handling a kit that provides 500 W or more, requires some extra consideration since they are powerful and have a lot of torque. If you are looking at installing this type of motor, you need to make sure your bike can support the motor, translated that reads steel dropouts (the place on the forks where the axle goes into the forks) for front conversions. Not sure about your forks?  Use a magnet to test your dropouts; if it sticks then your forks are steel! If you want a 500w motor on your bike and you don’t have steel forks consider a rear conversion or maybe changing the fork.

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Interesting facts about motorized bicycle!

Friday, April 1st, 2011

A motorized bicycle is a bike that has a motor connected to provide you with more speed. The concept of motorized bicycles dates back to the 1800s when it was felt that the bicycle can be used as a prototype to add engines and increase its speed and efficiency. Naturally, the concept became popular [no surprise there] and inventors tried a lot of things to turn the bicycle into a great way to transport yourself from point A to point B.

Today, motorized bicycles refer to motor vehicles that are powered by small combustion engines. Some of these bikes can be propelled by the engine only when the rider chooses not to pedal it while in the others the motor is run only when the rider starts pedaling.

In the past few years, motorized cycles have become extremely popular largely because these bikes are lighter and have a higher storage battery life.

So, what makes these motorized cycles different from the motorcycles? The difference lies in their capacity to be powered by only pedals when it is necessary. Most of these bicycles with motor designs are designed on the basis of standard bicycle frames.

Markets for motorized bicycles
In the recent times, the US market has seen a sharp increase in the demand for the motorcycles. In countries where bicycles have been selling in millions, market for these motorized bicycles is growing at a swift pace. For instance, in China motorized bikes are selling like hot cakes. Interestingly, the entire Asian market is showing immense potential for these bikes.

Keeping in mind the various factors that may affect riding these bicycles, manufacturers are building strong motorized bicycles that can suit any terrain and climate.

A motorized bike is extremely easy to assemble and maintain. You can easily use it to travel comfortably. Simply invest in the right motorized bike and access convenient transportation.

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