Any longtime cyclist will no doubt appreciate the boost in power offered by pedal-assist ebikes. With that said, not everyone is partial to the appearance of these modern-looking, battery-assisted bikes. Enter Detroit Bikes, which has just broken the mold, delivering the best of both worlds with a pedal-assisted ebike that sports the appearance of a traditional bicycle.
Known as the Detroit Bikes Electric — or DB-E — the ebike is pieced together around a regular-looking rigid bicycle frame that houses an all-in-one Zehus motor, hub, and battery combo in the hub of the rear wheel. Welded, powder coated, and assembled in the city of Detroit, the bike’s European-made motor generates 250 watts of pedal assistance at speeds of up to 15.5mph. The bike’s battery also offers 20 miles of range in its highest power mode (or 35 miles in Eco mode). Produced in small, medium, and large frame sizes, the DB-E is being offered in gloss black or emerald green powder-coated color options.
Alongside connectivity to the Bitride Connect app, the DB-E also boasts four power modes (no assist, Eco, Turbo, and Turbo Custom) and a braking setup that benefits from an integrated Kinetic Energy Recovery System. Sending power to the wheel is a Veer belt drive with case-hardened, nickel-plated cogs — an item that is twice as strong as a steel chain, last four times longer, and weighs 7oz less. Even more impressive is the fact that the entire ebike weighs just 32lbs — battery and motor included.
Available for preorder now requiring a deposit of only $500, the Detroit Bikes Electric DB-E has been priced at $2,599 (plus a $99 freight fee), with deliveries scheduled to begin in mid-March.
