Ride Review Newsletter for December 22, 2022

This post was originally published in the weekly Ride Review Newsletter. For more consumer-driven dispatches, highlighting the best news, opinions, and reviews about electric scooters, bikes, boards, and buggies, subscribe here.

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🏆 There’s less than 30 days left to cast your vote for your favorite companies in the industry as part of the Rider’s Choice Awards. Will your team take home a trophy? Find out live at the virtual awards ceremony at Micromobility World on January 19, 2023. Tickets are free for a short time.

Today’s newsletter is brought to you by… Civilized Cycles

Civilized Cycles is an engineering and technology company bringing automotive ride comfort and integration to the ebike platform. With innovative, patented technology including auto-leveling suspension and expandable hard-shell panniers, the Model 1 is able to comfortably transport adult passengers and lock cargo ‘in’ the bike -  and could replace your second car.

Civilized Cycles’ products are currently available for purchase online as well as through select dealers. For investor inquiries, get in touch here.

What You Need to Know

Asking for a friend… are electric scooter laws actually enforced?

This teen is riding an old-school unicycle from Maine to Florida to raise funds for the East Coast Greenway, a 3,000-mile pedestrian and bicycle path that connects the two states.

BREKR, a Dutch micro-EV brand, will expand its product lineup next year with the moped-inspired Model F. This fat-tired, belt drive-equipped ebike certainly looks fun to ride. It’s too bad that restrictive European regulations will limit its speed to 15.5 mph and its power to 250W.

Good news for people who preordered the SONDORS Metacycle (or at least ~½ of them). The highly hyped, budget-friendly electric motorcycle is now shipping to 27 out of 50 U.S. states, with more coming soon.

This unassuming folding bike on Indiegogo promises an astounding 150 miles of range per charge, thanks to a battery, controller, and motor that “are optimized algorithmically” to know when to conserve and release energy.

Club Car, one of the largest golf cart makers in the U.S., recently unveiled the Car Cru, a luxurious NEV that has a living room-like interior with swivel seats, bench seating, a table, and more. When it’s not being used as a mobile family room, the semi-enclosed Car Cru can reach speeds of up to 25 mph, perfect for cruising around the neighborhood.

Mash, a French motorcycle brand, unveiled the commuter-oriented E-City 4.0, a Chinese-made electric moped that, in terms of power, is akin to a 125cc gas-powered model.

A new study shows that bike-related injuries are actually declining in the U.S., yet sadly bike fatalities are still on the rise.

While the world awaits more information about Polestar’s forthcoming ebike project, the electric carmaker has revealed a new Sky Blue color variant for its limited-edition moped, which is a collaboration with fellow Swedes at Cake.

Planning on taking your ebike out this winter? You may want to brush up on a few tips and tricks for riding during the coldest, darkest months of the year.

Or you could just turn your ebike into a snowplow, like this guy did in British Columbia.

Better yet, check out Daymak’s recently announced Combat, an electric dirtbike that can be converted into a snowmobile in as little as an hour. For those who live in colder climates, this rugged two-for-one machine will hopefully free up some extra space in the garage.

PS If you’re in the SoCal area, come join us on January 8th for a day of fun micromobility-related activities at Cyclovia Encinitas. A broad swath of South Coast Highway 101 will be closed to cars from 10a to 2p. It’s a great opportunity to take your bikes, boards, and scooters out for a ride. Learn more here.

Guides

👜 The Best Bags for Ebikers: There is a wide variety of ebike bags on the market, which may cause some confusion when it comes to choosing the one that is right for you. To help with your search, we have made a list of some of the best ebike bags available.

⛑ The Best Helmets for Your Ebike: If you’re an avid ebike rider, you know that one of the most important pieces of safety gear is the helmet. Choosing the right helmet can mean the difference between being safe and having a serious accident. That’s why it’s essential to know what to look for when shopping for one.

💡 The Best Lights for Night Rides: If you haven’t tried night riding, you are missing out on a lot of excitement. Having a good ebike light is essential though, as it will not only help you see better but also make you more visible to others, ensuring your safety.

Reviews

The Gazelle Medeo T9 is a high-quality city bike that is perfect for those looking for a fast and comfortable ride. This bike features a lightweight aluminum frame, Shimano shifters, and powerful disc brakes that make it easy to stop on a dime.
The Medeo T9 also comes with a comfortable seat and an adjustable stem, making it easy to find the perfect riding position.

With dimensions of 13.78 x 8.27 x 9.45, the CoFit detachable bike basket comes off your bike easily and can serve multi-functional uses as a pet basket or pet carrier or extra storage space for groceries or personal items when commuting. At a max weight capacity of 5 kg (11 pounds), this bike basket is ideal for smaller dogs – but you probably wouldn’t be putting a German Shepherd in a bike carrier basket, anyway.

If you're looking for a fast, reliable electric scooter that won't break the bank, look no further than the TurboAnt X7 Pro. This model offers great performance and functionality at an affordable price, making it the perfect choice for anyone looking to get around town with ease and style.

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