The Optibike 850R is the best electric bike on the market. It is the Bugatti of e-bikes, the gold standard by which all other electric bikes are measured. Calling the Optibike 850R just a bike is like calling the Mona Lisa just a painting. It is a high test piece of technical badassery that will make you rethink getting back into your car….MORE
Photo by @SheaGunther
photo by @SheaGunther
photo of Rohloff Speedhub by @SheaGunther
I was reminded of the tortoise and hare while pitting a Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet against a Vespa GTS scooter in a “race” across Manhattan.
It was a low-speed sprint, with Bloomberg TV anchor Matt Miller wending his Vespa around the crosstown traffic I was stuck behind. My top speed was 15 mph.
Despite the $140,000 and 478-horsepower disparities, my Porsche was beaten by a full two minutes. (See the video herehttp://www.bloomberg.com/video/61402998/.)
What are the best ways to get around the city? Usually I prefer walking, the subway or a taxi, in that order. If it weren’t for arriving everywhere sweaty, I might take advantage of the new bicycle lanes.
So I decided to test two rather unusual but very green options — a $12,000 electric bicycle and a $19,000 street-legal golf cart.
The e-bike is from Optibike, a Boulder, Colorado-based company which makes about 100 electric bikes a year…..MORE
As difficult as it is to imagine an electric bike as anything other than a lazy man’s chariot, it does present a practical solution to the challenge of a long-distance commute. Imagine the guy who drives 15 miles to work every day. Maybe he bikes it a few times a year, but it’s a pretty hefty jaunt for a daily routine. Throw a little electricity behind those pedals and suddenly a 15-mile commute feels a little closer to a 5- or 10-mile commute. It’s still a decent haul, but not nearly so intimidating.
To that end, Optibike is making the world–or at least that 15-mile stretch–a little bit easier. The Colorado-based company is custom producing bikes with more rugged chutzpah than you’ll find in the typical electric model. By the company’s measure, they’re offering the most powerful battery of any electric bike on the market. It’s the same one used in Tesla electric cars.
I took the Optibike for a spin around Manhattan, and as an avid bike commuter, I felt like a cheat. Of course, my daily ride isn’t nearly so long as to require a motor. Even with the bike’s aluminum frame, it’s still a little heavy to comfortably haul up the stairs that occasionally impede my journey, but revving it up strip of grass alongside the stairs, I had a moment’s feeling I was goosing a dirt bike. The motor kicks. I hit a top speed of 28 mph on flat ground, which was fast enough to outpace all other riders on the street. Clearly the bike is bulkier than the carbon fiber road bike I’m used to, but by no means is it too cumbersome for an open road.
Overall, it’s a fun ride, and certainly worth considering if ….More
Watch the video here:
Hey Fabian Cancellara, wanna race?
Some of you may recall the “electric bike scandal” where Mr. Cancellara was accused of using an electric assist to help him win the Paris-Roubaix. There is no guessing whether Team Optibike uses performance inhancing electric motors- we are proud to design and build the Worlds Fastest Electric Bikes- and going head to head against the pros who race by our Boulder, CO factory is just plain fun.
Team Optibike went up against some top pro riders in the Boulder Time Trial Series on Wednesday June 30, 2010 and placed an impressive first and third. See the official results here. Not bad for our first race of the season.
Optibike is going to continue to enter this event over the next 3 weeks, trying out different combinations of equipment to see how the times change. You will be able to track our progress at http://blog2.optibike.com and in the Optibike Newsletter- sign up for that here.
Here is how the bikes/riders were configured for the 6/30 race:
First place rider: Ryan Welsh, Optibike MBB Systems Engineer.
Time: 20:55 (average speed 28.97 mph)
Bike: 2008 Optibike 700 with a 2010 22ah 36v Lithium battery and 850 watt silver motor, 55 tooth front chain ring with standard 9 spd cassette (11-34), platform pedals, and standard street/running clothes.
Third Place Rider*: Kyle Hale, Optibike Production Manager.
No Lycra was used in the winning of this race.
Time: 22:25 (Average speed 27.03)
Bike: 2010 850R HD with clipless pedals, Marathon Plus tour tires, standard street clothes, 44 tooth front chain ring with Rohloff rear. Powered by external battery.
*about a mile into the race, Kyle was wondering why he was only going 20 mph. It was then he noticed he was in “eco” mode. We corrected the problem and finished in “fast” mode. He promised to win next week. We shall see…
Some info about the course:
Distance: 10.1 miles from Lyons to Boulder, CO on highway 36.
Elevation Profile for the race.
Stay tuned for next weeks bike configurations and race results!
How about the new Trek, at $6819.99
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/mountain_full_suspension/remedy/remedy99/
What do you get for an extra $3175.50 on top of Treks pricing?
1) Custom fitting. More on Optibike custom fitting HERE.
2) The electric motor and electronics part. (minor, but worth mentioning) 
3) A bike that is made in America.
4) Integrated headlight and LED taillight.
5) The highest capacity lithium battery offered in an electric bike.
6) Just as much exercise.
7) Much higher top speeds.
Pride in owning a product that is NOT imported from China.
I could continue, but you get the idea. The Optibike is the highest performing electric bike you can buy, and its worth every penny- just ask the guy you will pass who is riding this Trek.
Happy riding,
Craig Taber.
Early Monday morning I packed my trailer with my tenor and alto saxes, clarinet, flute, laptop, clothes, and bike tools and hit the road to my Huntington Beach studio. The clouds looked a bit threatening, but no rain was forecast, so I hit it. It always amazes me how I can get on that Opti pulling 90 pounds, and it takes off like a rocket.
About 5 minutes into to my ride, it comes thunderig down. 10 minutes later, I get to the top of my big hill about 2 miles away, and I am pretty drenched. Good thing I’ve got water resistant cases. Mud all over my clarinet. I think to myself, “that’ll play some pretty nice Dixieland when I pull it out!” I’m drenched, and exiting the storm clouds on myway to Laguna Canyon.
As I pick up speed on the other side, the rain starts to really sting, and I can tell those clouds are pretty cold and
bothered that I bested them. They let out a thunderclap so loud that it blew me right off my intended path. That was scary. I straigthened up and rode right. Laguna Canyon is a beautiful sight in the rain. It changes to a dar green with tall gray grass. The oak trees look like something out of a life insurance commercial, taking on this very three dimensional character depicting longevity. The smell of wet soil becomes very pronounced, something you just don’t get much of in Southern California.
It was wonderful.
The next day I was riding home, pulling my trailer. Gorgeous sunset, warm and clear. The Opti is nothing short of amazing in Economy mode. It will pull that trailer on the flat at about 20 mph without pedaling. To this day, it never ceases to amaze me–I’m still looking for the giant, hidden, magical motor. I throw it into fast mode and climb that massive hill near the end of my ride in first gear with light pedaling. I’m still thinking, “How does it do this”??!! Arrived home tired and euphoric, and didn’t use a drop of gas.
Sing it for me, Tony….”Oh The Good Life, to be free and explore the
unknown…”
Keith
“ How do you justify spending $12000 on a bicycle? You don’t. How do you justify spending $12000 on a second car, local commuter vehicle and high-end mountain bike all wrapped into one? Easy. Its called anOptibike.
My wife and I have ridden our 850R and 850R Helia Optibikes for six months daily in all types of conditions.
Our conclusion: the Optibike is the most innovative, convenient and exhilarating form of transportation invented in the past three decades. In urban environments within a 10 mile radius, the Optibike will transport you door-to-door faster than any other vehicle. Light and agile, it is easy to slip through traffic, use bike lanes, short-cut across small streets, alleys, parks, open spaces, parking lots and sidewalks, then park for free directly in front of wherever you are going. Average speeds can easily be 20-25 mph without getting sweaty, which leaves you in clean, presentable condition to attend a meeting in regular clothing. For the majority of local trips when you need to carry only a few items, U-lock and cable in a backpack when it is not raining, the Optibike will replace your second car or motorcycle/scooter. My wife and I commute to work every day on our Optibikes faster and cheaper than we would in cars. The Optibike even beats our motorcycles and scooters locally because we get there just as fast, but always find front-door parking, and pay no parking meters or parking fines, not to mention using zero gasoline, creating zero tailpipe emissions and never wasting time stopping at gasoline stations.
On the road, the Optibike enables non-cyclists or slower cyclists to keep up with avid road cyclist enthusiasts, potentially giving friends or partners more time to spend together. On the trail, the Optibike is the most awesome form of mountain bike we have ever experienced. It climbs like a Himalayan mountain goat, carves single track with awesome agility, suspension and traction, and replaces what would otherwise be a prohibited highly-strung motocross bike on non-motorized parks, trails and mountains. If you live in a hilly area, the Optibike may open up options for local errands, enabling you to climb hills around your home without getting too sweaty and over-exerting yourself when you simply want to run to the store or visit a friend or neighbor outside of walking distance. If you are a fitness enthusiast who uses heart rate, cadence and power in structured cycling workouts, you can do that on an Optibike too.
If you calculate the thousands of dollars you save on insurance premiums, annual license plate renewals, maintenance, SMOG checks, tires, oil, filters and fuel of a second vehicle, not to mention parking costs, the Return on Investment for the $12000 Optibike can easily reach the 15-20% level – i.e. $2000 or more per year — not bad for a “bicycle” that replaces a second car. A regular bicycle cannot make this claim because it cannot practically replace a vehicle like an Optibike can. The Optibike can be configured a “Chariot”-type bicycle trailer to transport the kids or a “Bob”-type trailer to haul gear bags. We are considering “Old Man Mountain” racks for full suspension bicycles to do touring on our Optibikes. The psychological benefit of knowing that you burn no gasoline and use very little depreciating material (i.e.65lb bike rather than 3000 lb metal car or 400lb motorcycle) to get from A to B is gratifying.
In sum, the Optibike is an extremely useful and convenient tool that leaves you wondering why millions of other people in cities don’t use it. Once you get past the sticker shock and realize that the Optibike represents a second car, motorcycle/scooter and high end mountain bike all built-into-one, it becomes much easier to justify the price, particularly once you own one and begin to enjoy the benefits of using it. Coming from a couple who did extensive research before buying, we highly recommend the Optibike, particularly for people who fit the usage patterns described.
RW Curtis
Santa Monica, CA”
Phil commuting on his Optibike
Dear Craig Taber and Optibike,
The Twin Cities of Minnesota has a strong band of bicycle commuters, many of whom commute to work all year, despite the frigid winters. I live north of the Twin Cities with a 68 mile round trip commute, and yearned to ride my bicycle to work. I have been aserious bicycle rider since four years of age, and contemplated using the road bike and quickly realized its impracticality because my best riding times far exceeded the round trip time spent commuting by automobile. There had to be a way!
The round trip commute only becomes practical when the elapsed time falls below three and a half hours: round trip driving to work (2 hours) followed by a bike ride (1 1/2 hours). Electric assisted bicycles came to mind, but my initial investigations of available electric assist bicycles revealed that they did not have sufficient range to get me to work. Second, the limited range meant an average road speed that did not improve upon my unassisted road bike speed. This all changed when I stumbled upon the Optibike website.
Phil in the backcountry.
Wow! Here was a bicycle that could do it. I ordered a 600T with a 2nd battery and anxiously awaited its arrival. It arrived early September 2007, and I was immediately impressed with the quality and care taken in packaging the bicycle. I assembled the bicycle that night and took it for its first ride the following day to get a feel for its road manners and capabilities. Then for my second ride, with a huge leap of faith and full trust in the specs, I rode it to work the next day. Guess what? The batteries made it with power to spare. I commuted until the beginning of October when the daylight hours became too short to complete my commute without the headlights.
This bike’s ride is smooth, like a Cadillac. Bumps that rattle your teeth on your typical road bike barely send a ripple through this one. Riding a washboard gravel road is truly amazing. The speed is only slightly slower than on a paved road. The suspension eats up all the divots with nary a complaint. Railroad tracks, no need to back off for these unless they happen to be wet. This bike beckons to be ridden, the first bike I ever yearned to ride. It is that much fun!
As a scientist, I truly appreciate the engineering execution of this bicycle. It is extremely well thought out. All elements of this design work together as a whole, both functionally and aesthetically, to create an elegant machine that resembles other bicycles, yet stands apart. A feature I especially like about this design is its ease of upgrading. Its layout facilitates the incorporation of future advances. The most recent Optibike website already highlights several advances over the 2007 models. I suspect more are in the works.
I choose to commute during daylight hours for safety reasons. This constrains my riding season to around six months a year. The beginning of the riding season must wait for a couple of good rains to wash the winter salt off the roads. Over the course of the next six months I expect to commute 7000 miles, with an additional 1500 miles of pleasure riding bringing the total to around 8500 miles annually. For these six months a gas-powered vehicle comes off the road. With $4/gallon gasoline on the horizon this quickly puts money in the bank. From an environmental standpoint, this prevents 8,800 lbs of CO2from entering the atmosphere. Health benefits are icing on the cake. I now have more time to do other things: the Optibike commuting time is less than the cumulative time of commuting by car followed by a bicycle ride. In addition, my available riding season increased due to using the daylight spent commuting by car. Finally, the stresses of work are gone by the time I get home. My hat is off to the designers and people of Optibike.
Phil M. PhD
Another enjoyable ride to work.
Born from the Experience
| 1977
Jim Turner races moto-cross for the Suzuki Factory Team and wins the Canadian National Championship. Not without a quality mechanic, Jim traveled with then mechanic Mike McAndrews, now Specialized Bicycle Components Suspension Director. |
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| Muddy from head to toe, Jim Turner in his early moto-cross racing days. Jim would later help shape the moto-cross industry through racing and technological developments. |
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| 1978
Jim joins the Fox Racing Team, developing and testing the worlds first long travel moto-cross suspension complete with a season racing throughout Europe. Jim’s mechanic in Europe, Keith Bontrager, went on to found Bontrager Bicycle Components which are a staple to the Trek brand. |
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| The 1978 Fox Racing Team. Jim Turner #95, would later develop and test the world’s first long travel moto-cross suspension. |
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| 1980
Jim raced in the 250cc World Championship in Europe then “retires” from professional moto-cross.
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