Both models come with full suspension frame, Bosch Performance Line Speed motor. This offers a maximum torque of 85 Nm and it can get you up to 45km/h. The Electric Cruiser offers three levels of electric assist, with a maximum boost of 20 mph. A very basic LED display indicates battery and power-assist levels but doesn’t include a speedometer or mileage counter.
Kent currently offers three electric models for adults, plus one for kids. Alongside the 27-inch Kent Electric and Kent Step-Through Electric, the Cruiser is more of a unisex offering and is available exclusively from Walmart. With Japanese motors, Taiwan-made frames and U.S. assembly, the bikes largely bypass the recently imposed tariffs on Chinese-made e-bikes and other bike products. 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.
We have hired electric bikes before and wanted to do it again. Marcus offered to be our guide which was great and meant we didn’t get lost. We joined him on a vineyard tour and the two younger kids were towed on their tag a long bikes. Marcus sorted a flat easy route that my son loved as he didn’t pedal once! We hired the bikes for a day to travel from Staplehurst train station to Sissinghurst Castle. Marcus was exceptionally helpful when I was arranging the hire.
SPIN will be hosting tabling events and safety events where students can earn riding credit and helmets. Of course, all the fun is in going fast in high power mode, though that drains the battery quicker. Now before I start getting disgruntled comments, let me start by saying this isn’t a small motorcycle – it’s a pedal-assist e-bike. Speaking of steps, the step-thru frame comes in only one size but should fit most riders five feet and taller.
With a fun e-bike like this, kids that may have never expressed an interest in cycling could be hopping onto the saddle and discover the joy of life on two-wheels. And at just $498, it’s easier for parents to afford than a typical adult e-bike. At this kent hybrid bike 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.
Students can download the SPIN app on their mobile devices to begin using the service. Students and community members around Kent’s campus will have a new way to get around starting March 7. While the Electric Cruiser was lighter than most e-bikes I’ve tested over the years, I would still hate to have to haul it upstairs or lift it onto a car rack. I contacted Kent’s customer service about a different issue and an actual human being answered the phone after just a couple of rings. I’m confident if a customer had an issue, they’d quickly try to resolve it. If you’re running a script or application, please register or sign in with your developer credentials here.
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 kent hybrid bike plans to sell a complete line of “deluxe e-bikes” under the Van Dessel brand in the U.S. and Europe. “On an item that’s going to be $2,500 or $4,000, the non-e-bike components are only a few hundred dollars at most. If we have to pay an additional tariff on that, it’s not a big deal,” he said.
The geared motor doesn’t provide any extra resistance other than adding a couple pounds of needless weight. There’s also a 6-speed shifter that makes it easier for kids to climb hills in the proper gear, even without electric power. If the battery does die on a ride, the shifter definitely makes it more manageable to pedal. Shimano Tourney TX800 8-speed derailleur and shifters are paired with a no-name crank and mechanical disc brakes.
Front and rear fenders and a rear rack come standard on the Electric Cruiser, which was a bit of a surprise, given its relatively low price. Most of the people buying this bike will love the wide, padded saddle and upright ride position, but adjusting the saddle angle was next to impossible. While nearly all the best electric bikes I’ve ridden or reviewed over the years have been aimed at commuters or enthusiasts, research shows that older Americans are the most frequent purchasers of motorized bicycles. Most of these buyers probably haven’t ridden a bicycle in decades and are looking for a cheap and non-intimidating way to get back on the bike. Retailing for under $700 (around £515/AU$970), the Kent Electric Cruiser was created for them. Electrek reports that the steel-framed Torpedo sports a 180W 24V rear hub motor with a 125Wh battery.