Comments on: Shimano STEPS group for e-bikes

By: Stop the excuses! « Pedego Electric Bikes Blog

Stop the excuses! « Pedego Electric Bikes Blog — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 23:47:14 +0000

[...] additional attempt to further normalize my ability to consistently bike commute, by adding in an electric bike hub motor into the equation. I’ve been considering electric assist from several angles, mainly speed, [...]

By: Rebekah

Rebekah — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 21:05:29 +0000

Cool.

By: abhay

abhay — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 05:17:13 +0000

it is only 250 watts because that is the limit set by government regulations in most countries. I suppose this groupset is aimed at the same market as the Nexus set.

By: Morpheous

Morpheous — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:05:04 +0000

Have you all seen the ‘Opti-bike’ (Made here in Colorado)? The drive system on built around the crank centralizing the mass, with the military spec battery in the down tube. very nice, very expensive, but years ahead. It is nice to see Shimano get in to this game as the benefits of japanese reliability will prevail for these electric assist systems, but you have to question why it takes them so long to “innovate”. Combine this with their forthcoming 11 speed internal hub and belt drive and you will have a winner.

By: Tools for Normalizing the Bike Commute | Commute by Bike

Tools for Normalizing the Bike Commute | Commute by Bike — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:43:17 +0000

[...] an additional attempt to further normalize my ability to consistently bike commute, by adding in an electric bike hub motor into the equation. I’ve been considering electric assist from several angles, mainly speed, [...]

By: Wytze

Wytze — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 10:45:47 +0000

Gazelle are doing that for a couple of years now with the rear light and battery integrated. No problems there, the neat thing is that the LED’s are also the indicators for the battery, so you can see how much is left and while charging they lit up one by one. And off course you can just exchange the rear light housing or the internals of the LED’s when either one fails, you do not have to buy a new battery.

By: Charity rides » Cyclelicious

Charity rides » Cyclelicious — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:18:14 +0000

[...] Shimano announced eBike component group, including motor and batteries. The group goes with the 15mph / 250watt limitations common outside of the United States. See also Bicycle Design commentary. [...]

By: Bill S

Bill S — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:39:58 +0000

Integrating the battery and rear light may be a neat design, but like so many neat designs it’s design triumphing over practicality.

If the battery fails, you also need to buy a new rear light. And if the rear light fails, you need to start thinking aobut getting a new battery! Neither of which is cheap.

If they have made the two separable, that’s another story. But it’s odds on that they haven’t.

By: Wytze

Wytze — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:30:49 +0000

it is only 250 watts because that is the limit set by government regulations in most countries. I suppose this groupset is aimed at the same market as the Nexus set. The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark make up almost the entire market for internal gearhubs and also in these countries 250W is the limit.

Too bad That Shimano could not do better than copying the same thing Sparta, Batavus and Gazelle are doing for years. I believe a front hub motor and luggage carrier battery provide a terrible weight distribution on a bicycle, with over half of the weight of the bike situated on its far extremities.

By: Atul Sharma

Atul Sharma — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:45:47 +0000

A nice addition to the market, and very similar to BionX PL-250 light, which also reduces power and battery capacity to create a lighter commuting system. While I’m thrilled to see the marketplace expand, should we really be gushing over a derivative product that even steals its slogan (“an e-bike has to be a bicycle”)?