The answers will help steer you to the right bike. The Panasonic drive systems offer some promising specs for e-bike enthusiasts. Its top-of-the-line GX0 system, used on both Van Dessel models, weighs 2.95 kilograms (6 pounds, 8 ounces) and generates 90 nM of torque. He said the Univega models have the potential to sell up to 10,000 units, and the Van Dessel models up to 3,000 units in the U.S. and 20,000 worldwide. Kent eventually plans to sell a complete line of “deluxe e-bikes” under the Van Dessel brand in the U.S. and Europe.
But for the $1,498 price, it’s at least an interesting addition to a slew of Walmart e-bikes that so far haven’t taken a shot at such higher-end (or perhaps even midlevel) markets. Because its battery is mounted underneath its rear rack, SixThreeZero Around the Block e-cruiser has more of that classic beach cruiser look. On my second test ride, a short 4-mile singletrack trail my wife and I ride each week, I popped both the front and rear tire tubes, probably due to my weight stressing the tubes. Popping a tube wouldn’t be so bad, except I had to walk the bike the remainder of the trail.
Kent Cycle will only accept trade-ins from IBD direct manufacturers. Kent’s specialty brands, Van Dessel and Univega, this spring will launch the company’s first e-bike models incorporating new Panasonic mid-drive systems. The e-bikes will be assembled in Kent’s South Carolina factory and sold in North America and Europe. Panasonic intends to announce partnerships with other U.S. and European brands in the coming months.
At this price point, you’re going to have to deal with some compromises. I wish the bike came standard with thru-axles or quick-release skewers for the wheels. If I ever got a flat on the road, it’s going to be that much more difficult to change the tire.
Mid-drive motors are one of the two most common electric bike drivetrains, with the other being hub motors. Most low-cost electric bicycles use hub motors – or a motor housed in the center of a wheel – simply because they are cheap and easy. They cost less to produce, and they are basically bulletproof in terms of user error. The Kent Electric Cruiser’s 350W rear-hub motor was more than capable on the flat roads and bike paths around my home, easily reaching and staying at 20 mph. But when the bike was pointed uphill, the performance was much less impressive.
The LED display offers three levels of assistance. The motor is mounted in the rear wheel and adds 180W kent seachange bike of power in full power mode. There are medium and low power modes that provide even softer assistance.
I said mostly healthy because I don’t think anybody thinks of broken collarbones or Alpha-gal Syndrome as healthy things. I’m the guy who broke his collarbone and my pal Nick is the one who got Alpha-gal Syndrome. Alpha-gal is something I’d never heard of and it’s not some high-status chick, it’s a disease like Lyme Disease that you get from a tick bite.