Leading Edge Gear Week: Electric Mountain Bike

Posted by Mary Anne Potts on September 15, 2009
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Bike-500Sure, tens of millions of electric bikes will be sold around the world this year—more than ever before—but only one is for hard-core performance riding, the OB1 battery-powered dual-suspension mountain bike. The patented drive system integrates with the bottom bracket for a seamless boost as you shift among the nine gears to climb killer steeps or power across flats. Here’s hoping the technology filters down to
a more realistic price soon (it currently sells for $13,995).

Each day this week we'll feature an innovative new product featured in our October issue's ADVENTURE's Leading Edge story, on newsstands now. Preview it here.

Photograph by Joshua Scott
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  3. Leading Edge Gear: Natural Fit – Transistor FS Trail Shoe
  4. Leading Edge Gear: Weekend Warrior Fold-Up Plane

Comments

  1. Snakebite
    September 15, 2009, 3:33 pm

    Unless a person had some sort of medical issue, who would be caught riding one of these?

  2. Charles Duffy
    September 17, 2009, 1:51 pm

    Snakebite, the Opti’s MBB (“motorized bottom bracket”) doesn’t pedal for you — it pedals *with* you; you’re still expected to keep up a cadence around 85 or so for it to run at peak efficiency. I’m just as sweaty after my 15 mile commute on either the Opti or my old bike — but on the Opti, I’m averaging 20mph door-to-door even when I hit all the red lights, and my commute ain’t anything close to flat.
    Also, the $14K OB1 is for folks who want to pay for all the bling; the cheaper models are still ass-kicking, beautiful bikes. (I get compliments from motorists pulled up next to me at lights, and the components used make the cycling geeks go gaga at every shop I’ve gone to — sometimes even the same folks who’ve turned up their noses at the thought of an e-bike before they saw it in person).

  3. Africa Safari
    September 18, 2009, 5:23 am

    Nice bike, but agree with you on the price, a litle steep. I like the design, stylish!

  4. lowco2
    October 12, 2009, 7:20 pm

    Hi Snakebite,
    To answer your question: Me! I’m a competitve mountain biker, 100 mile events, 24 hour events, etc, and I love this thing. Don’t knock it until you try it. The most perfect training device ever created and just more fun than you can imagine.

  5. mens mountain bike
    November 18, 2009, 2:23 am

    i like the design but the price oh no, i cant even afford to buy it so please please give me a discount on that bike.

  6. Car hire
    March 19, 2010, 5:47 am

    Wow! Never seen it before..nice, but I prefer normal bike!

  7. vertigo symptoms
    May 3, 2010, 6:23 pm

    Does anyone have any experience of a Synergie Extreme E-Bike Mountain Bike?
    I am tempted to buy an electric mountain bike but don’t know anyone who has one.

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    May 24, 2010, 5:29 pm

    It’s amazing! they are using electric bikes and use them for sport. Proquad is not the same there is not much physical effort.

  9. truck rental
    June 1, 2010, 12:20 pm

    The bike looks GREAT but come on- if you like dbiking – as in actually working with your legs up the hill this is not for you. Perhaps for the downhill lovers who care only about the way down :)

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    August 13, 2010, 6:42 am

    wow, I death on visit this wesite, because I like once cycle and I have much informations about bicycle please visited http://www.freebikes.us tq, greeting recognizes altogether

  11. Manny on Mountain Biking
    August 19, 2010, 12:33 pm

    Does it still need physical effort if you will have this electric bike thing?
    Manny

  12. Manny on Mountain Biking
    August 19, 2010, 12:35 pm

    Does it still need physical effort if you’ll have this electric bike?
    Manny

  13. upvc windows
    August 31, 2010, 3:14 pm

    I think you would have to be crazy to pay $13.995 for a pedal/electric bike

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  15. MikeMac
    November 22, 2010, 5:11 pm

    …and the public lands protection dialogue spearheaded by mountain bikers seeking more bicycle-friendly policies on federal lands is at once set back decades.

  16. Bicycle Storage
    November 25, 2010, 2:21 am

    I was searching on google for blogs regarding Hiking and cycling when this posting showed up in the final results. While not actually what I was looking for it was really worthy of the read and for that I could give it four stars.

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    March 18, 2011, 10:59 pm

    please find our electric bikes:
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  19. Cyclist Jerseys Rey
    April 22, 2011, 9:48 am

    This is so awesome. I want to have this for my birthday. Hehe I’m sure I’ll be getting this somehow. Thanks for posting.

  20. rent a car Switzerland
    April 27, 2011, 9:28 am

    Nice bike, but agree with you on the price, a litle steep. I like the design, stylish!

  21. newport beach chiropractor
    July 27, 2011, 7:03 pm

    Here’s hoping the technology filters down to a more realistic price soon (it currently sells for $13,995).

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