NZ Electric Bike Review

Bam! and they’ve done it again. Specialized has created a genre-busting ebike and done it incredibly well. They have engineered their own motor and battery system (Creo in Latin means ‘create’). It is stealthily integrated and also nicely compatible with their Mission Control app, allowing infinite tune options. The clevers in Switzerland have added only 3.7kg including battery, allowing the

Every time I ride a Riese & Müller bike I think to myself, ah, so that’s how a bike in that category should ride. Unfortunately they cost more than most though, but other bikes simply aren’t as good, in most cases. So if you want great, you’ll have to pay for it. This is a cargo bike of note, and

I reckon it would be easy to convince someone who isn’t particularly bike-aware that this is an unpowered bike, and that they are simply riding down hill. Depending on your perspective you may think that is bad, but to me that is a great compliment. Hop on the Cube and it’s just like riding a bike. Cube bikes are big

This is not your average ebike. It has been designed for a particular set of riders in mind, and I suspect that is quite a large group. It’s special skill is a “one size for all” approach which actually works, with it’s laid back geometry, 20″ fat tyres and raked back seat meaning it gets bigger as the seat goes

I try to review bikes that are a bit different to provide some interest for you the reader (and for me the rider), so when Nelson from Zurk Bikes asked me to review one of his I thought “Heck, why not?” It sure looks different and I had been wondering what’s it all for. I was hoping for the Peter

I was quite excited about doing a review on an e-trike, having seen a good few in Hawkes Bay and the fact that they seemed to be a good option for mobility impaired riders. The trike in question looked nice in red (reminded me of the trike that I had as a child and my kids did too) and was

The Como is Specialized’s ‘cruiser’ ebike, built on the same electric platform as the Vado and Levo, with frame geometry from the Roll. It is simple to use, friendly to ride and more versatile than you might think. There is no front suspension to worry about or maintain; instead the long curvy forks and balloon tyres soak up the chatter.

I haven’t had much time to do full reviews lately, but Auckland Transport has put on some great community events, so here are some bikes I have ridden when I got the chance: Riese & Muller Tinker – A compact 20″ wheel bike with folding stem. The version I rode had a Bosch Performance motor with 45km/h. This is a

midCity is Smartmotion’s new generation update to bring the venerable eCity — NZ’s most popular ebike — into the current era of mid-drives. It is a ground-up redesign that achieves its goals. This is a sophisticated bike that can at least match the Euro rivals, and go a bit faster too. They’ve done some work on the graphics and colours,

The Gepida Reptila 1000 is one of the first commuter bikes available in NZ with the Bosch Active Line Plus in a 32km/h format. This ‘breakthrough’ comes after years of insistence by Bosch that we should only have ‘safer’ 25km/h bikes like Australia and Europe, when they made 32km/h versions for the North American markets and we’ve had hub motor

When I first reviewed an eZee Sprint in the early days of this site, I likened it to a Hilux Ute. To extend that metaphor, the Hilux just got an automatic gearbox and aircon. It’s still the lovable tough ute, and just as the Top Gear crew tried to destroy a Hilux, my review bike survived a similar attempt at destruction

The xCity – the “Landrover of ebikes” according to one of the dealers – is the ebike that will boogie its way off the showroom floors this summer. In many respects, it is the ideal ebike, these are xCiting times! Smartmotion is New Zealand brand that actually designs their bikes here, and the ‘old’ eCity has become one of those

The ProUser Diamant is a high quality European rack that can handle ebikes (or any bikes for that matter). What separates high quality from the rest is its compactness, ease of mounting to the vehicle tow ball, built in lights and number plate holder, and all-round quality of the materials used. It can handle 60kg all-up. Two 25kg ebikes are

If you have ever tried to hoist 25kg of ebike onto a regular ‘prong’ or clamp style rack, you will know why this product is the answer. If you plan to do any sort of road trip with your ebikes then this really is what you need. The bikes are easy to get on and off — there is even

This is the best value ebike in New Zealand right now. At $2799 for a bike that can climb like a champ and cruise at 40km/h with a good parts selection, it carries a strong “buy” recommendation. There are two models in the new sixth-generation Magnum “Metro” range. This is the ‘plus’ with a traditional diamond frame and 700c (road

I leapt at the opportunity to ride and review the Stromer ST1x – a new model for 2017 being distributed by electrify.nz The original ST1 is one of the bikes that popularised ebikes in its native Switzerland, in many cases as a car replacement. The ST2 was more of a beast, priced ‘from’ USD7000. The ST1x is not an updated

The Onya SH-1 is ecyclesnz’s latest user friendly ebike

There are not many Euro-spec 45km/h bikes available, but NZ importers are slowly waking up to the fact that commuters want speed, and that 25km/h is just too slow. This is evidenced by the number of dongled bikes being sold (a dongle tricks the bike into thinking it is going slower than it is, typically limiting speed at twice the

When I mention step-through frames to people, I can see their brains ticking over pictures of nanna-on-a-bike, and men in particular get a look of revulsion… If I showed them a picture of this Riese & Müller, I think I’d get a very different reaction! ElectricMeg and I were talking to the head of R&D from a major bike corporation the

I was lucky to be able to preview the new Pacer GT – an update to the Pacer with a mid drive motor, belt drive and Nuvinci continuously variable gearbox. The bike I rode is a prototype so details may change when it goes to production. The first batch are rolling out more-or-less as tested. Smartmotion explained they are looking

This is eZee’s first bike with a torque sensor and an LCD screen, welcome to the new generation! It’s a departure from previous (and still current) eZee designs in that it does away with the mid-mounted black-tower battery and uses the popular Reention design on the downtube that you see on many bikes including Magnum, Smartmotion Pacer, Juiced, indeed many

It looks to be interesting times in the ebike world with most manufacturers launching new models. I attended EV World recently where a few wholesalers were showing their wares, and a Specialized product launch. I’ll be covering these in some more detail with actual reviews including my now famous hill climbing mega test! Here are some impressions. Smartmotion – the

The 3.0 version of the new Vado is the ‘City-tune’ version in the Vado range. That means it is optimised for range, assistance up hills and everything you need up to 32kph (20mph). It has been a while in gestation – around 2 years in development and 9 months since announcing to the world that Specialized’s European team were having a new baby, we now have one we can buy and ride.

This is overall the nicest ebike I have ridden, and the current leader of my standardised hill climbing tests. This review was inspired by a reader who asked via Twitter if I do requests. Apparently, I do now! The ride was arranged by the distributor Campbell from eBike Studio in Queenstown and courtesy of the bike owner Matt who graciously allowed

A world premiere – 13 different bikes with different drive types being tested on one hill.

You probably haven’t heard of the Kreidler brand before (sounds like Chrysler). It is a German brand that makes motorcycles and bicycles imported into NZ by Electrify.NZ who also bring in Magnum, Prodecotec and Bottecchia. I first saw and loved a Kalkhoff Agattu in their Auckland shop, and this is an equivalent bike but powered by a Bosch Active motor

The Reid Urban+ is a nicely put together ‘street’ bike featuring the Shimano STEPS drive system. It’s a quality-built bike with smooth welds on the main parts of the frame, a svelte grey colour scheme with subtle highlights and a nice parts selection. The geometry is ‘racy street’ bike (think NY City messenger) with rigid forks and fairly narrow handlebars – good

It’s great to see that we have some genuine local ebike businesses in lil’ol’ NZ, and I don’t mean importers, but actual innovators and designers. It’s a hard road in such a small market and with limited access to capital, not to mention being able to flick off a quick mil’ or so in pre-orders on Kickstarter based on some

I’ve got helmets for every occasion — commuting, MTB, Enduro — old ones, new ones, even ones with cracks in that ElectricMeg uses for safety demos. I also have  a bit of a light fetish – I have all sorts – and often attach a Gloworm X1 and battery for added effect. So do I need a helmet with flashing

I described another bike I reviewed in car terms; this one is a Hilux Ute – a workhorse ebike with no pretences that simply does what you want it to.

This is a really popular bike from a German manufacturer, and there is a lot to like about it.

[Edit May 2018: Turned out the naysayers were right, and these bikes are presenting all manner of issues, ultimately resulting in the importer going out of business after losing a lot of money. I’m only saying this for the benefit international readers, not to depress existing owners. Later models including Crosscurrent S seem to be no better. Sad that poor

We’ve got smart watches, smart cars, smart bikes… does a smart helmet make sense? Actually yes. We all know that our ‘smart’ tech will become obsolete fairly fast, so the smart bike is not something I’d put money into (not an ebike – that’s different). We need a helmet anyway in New Zealand, so we want it to be comfortable

The Onya F-19 is a perfect “light quaxing”, campervan or boat ebike suitable for the whole family.

This is one of the nicest looking commuter style ebikes in the NZ market, and along with its good manners and good entry-level price at $2499 it is reportedly selling like hotcakes.

This is my bike. I love my bike. I bought it because it’s faster than everything else and because it doesn’t look like an ebike. Cyclists are weird like that. [Edit: this model is no longer made – you might still find one in a dealer or second hand. ] The first thing anyone who rides this bike feels is

Being overtaken by a bright orange Pedego when commuting on my road bike was one of my primary motivations to switching to an ebike for commuting.

I rode this bike in Hamilton where ElectricMeg and I were working at the Mercury try an ebike days. Bikes International distribute a range of BH bikes mostly through the Bike Barn chain and Waikato/Online retailer Evolution Cycles. They are all geared rear hub designs and mostly with a battery integrated into the down tube. Painted in yellow for Mercury

The eCity is a well put-together bike with sensible componentry and what most people will want and need in an ebike

Bikes I have ridden but not yet fully reviewed.