Ebike conversion kit company Boost has released its first-ever bike, simply called the Mini-Bike.
The new miniature city bike takes inspiration from Boost’s work on its Brompton conversion kit. Available as a pedal-powered or electric bike, the Mini-Bike can be folded away thanks to its quick-release stem and Brompton-like folding pedals.
Boost’s chief marketing officer Matt Dowler says the Mini-Bike is designed to “make riding a bike fun again” while providing a practical way to get around.
“We all remember the sense of joy and freedom of messing about on bikes as a kid, and we've tapped into that with a ‘BMX-inspired’ design,” says Dowler.
BMX-inspired but practical
We’ve seen several electric BMXs in recent years, including bikes from GT and Zooz, but Boost’s take on a bike in the 20-inch format brings greater practicality to the mix.
The quick-release stem and folding pedals mean the Mini-Bike folds down to less than 25cm wide, according to Boost, so it won’t hinder your non-cycling family or housemates if you keep your bike indoors.
Boost has also worked on the bike's geometry, suggesting that a lot of small-wheeled bikes can have quite twitchy steering. To counter this, the Mini-Bike’s head angle and fork trail were chosen to mimic the stability of an endurance road bike.
The practicalities continue with hydraulic disc brakes, a kickstand, mudguard mounts, rear rack mounts, multiple bottle mounts, and mounts on the fork legs.
Boost says the bike is also made with no proprietary parts and follows established industry standards.
“Being unable to repair a bike a few years down the line because parts are not available is just not acceptable,” adds Dowler.
Two models and lots of options
The Boost Mini-Bike is available as a pedal-powered bike (£600) or as an ebike (£1,250). You can convert either model to the other.
The electric Mini-Bike uses the same rear hub motor and bottle-style battery as Boost's ebike conversion kits, which allow you to turn a pedal-powered bike into an electric bike.
Boost says the electric Mini-Bike’s motor provides 42Nm of torque and 250 watts of continuous power. It can be controlled via Boost’s free smartphone app, or with an optional wireless display (£59).
The bike’s battery has a capacity of 252Wh, which Boost claims should be good for 20-25 miles in ‘Boost’ mode or 30-35 miles in ‘Eco’ mode.
Dowler says ebike battery safety is currently a “hot topic” and Boost has therefore “gone above and beyond” to keep customers safe.
“We've partnered with BatteryIQ to use their smart Battery Management System, which offers industry-leading battery monitoring and protection,” says Dowler.
The BatteryIQ app connects to the bike’s battery via Bluetooth, so you can see the condition of the battery. WiFi scanners are also available to monitor the battery remotely.
The Boost Mini-Bike is available to order now, with stock arriving in stores and online in the autumn.
