"World’s lightest" electric bike launched

10 comments
By BikeRadar | Thursday, Aug 13, 2009 12.29pm

British manufacturing company Modern Times Ltd have launched a 13.6kg motor-assist singlespeed bike, and claim it’s the world’s lightest full size electric bicycle.

Based in Winchester, Modern Times Ltd fit power assistance systems to mainstream bikes from the likes of Ridgeback, Genesis and Claud Butler and for their latest project they’ve installed a power-assist system to Cannondale’s Capo singlespeed bike. They’ve also applied the power-assist motor to a Genesis Day One singlespeed bike.

Related articles

Related links

BikeRadar is not responsible for the content of external websites

Aimed at the growing commuter market, the £1650 Cannondale Capo Cytronex conversion will help with hill climbing and is a fast accelerator, kicking in with only one pedal stroke with the added benefit of being light enough to carry if necessary.

With a range of around 25 miles per charge, a sensor continually monitors pedalling speed so that just the right amount of power is applied.

Channel 5's Gadget Show will be featuring the bike in an upcoming show. More info www.cytronex.com

Given the increasing popularity in electric bikes, would you ride the new power-assist Capo? Leave your comments below.

You can follow BikeRadar on Twitter at twitter.com/bikeradar and on Facebook at facebook.com/BikeRadar.

You might also like...

User Comments

There are 10 comments on this post

Showing 1 - 10 of 10 comments

  • Would I ride it? No! Thankfully I don't need the motor!

    Would I buy one were I not fit enough to get up the hills under my own steam? Definitely!

  • What's the point to have an electrified single-speed ?

    I understand the need of some to have an electric help to their rides, but involved bikes are multi-speed full equiped commuters. I also understand the pleasure of others to ride single-speed bike. I don't understand at all the will to fit an electric motor to a physical demanding kind of bike.

  • Obviously, for me and you, a single speed is mostly a training bike, or a punishing bike. Truth is that they're cheap and that some people might prefer to get a SS and convert it to an electric bike because of the lower price. With an electric motor, the SS is more accessible especially to the common "cannot-climb-a-2%-grade-hill" folks.

  • I ride for exercise/fun, so no, I don't see myself riding an electric bike, though I can see how it can help improve/increase commuting options. Kinda cool!

  • Personally i can't stand electic bikes but they are slowly getting better. How long does it take to charge? and also how much does it cost to charge??

    The main thing that i can't undertand about buying electric bikes is that if anyone buys a half decent normal bike and commutes for a few weeks their fitness will be fine to match the speed of any electric bike, and they get the fitness benefit too.

  • PissedOffCil, no, I don't consider single speed bikes only as training or sportive bikes, but this Capo seems not to have "multi-purpose" as main characteristic.

    If the objective was to get the lightest electrified bike, why not use an ultralight full carbon road bike ?

  • Nice bike!

    Here's another idea for Cytronex - swap the chain drivetrain to a Carbon Belt Drive system to shave some more weight! It's a singlespeed anyways so no need for IGH.

    ---

    Abio Bikes

    Chainless folding bikes

    http://AbioBikes.com

  • It'll go a long way to beef up the commuting by cycle population. A lot of people will be interested in this here.

  • Which joke shop does Jason Bradbury get his specs from ?

  • Great idea and a very neat installation. Might be able to get to work without breaking a sweat, it'll cheer you up when faced with a headwind or long climb anyway.

    Hopefully it's all quick release so you can remove it for safe keeping or fit a standard wheel for a proper ride.

Post a Comment:

You need to login or register to post comments.