Off-road specialist Sonder has teamed up with fellow British innovator Skarper to equip Sonder’s line of Camino gravel bikes with the DiskDrive ebike system.
When I tested the Skarper in October 2024, I said it had the potential to render the lightweight e-road and e-gravel bike redundant. Well, it seems now Sonder has taken up the challenge by adding a ready-to-ride Skarper-equipped option to its Camino range of gravel bikes.
We’ve been impressed with the Camino in the past, awarding it a 4-star review, and pairing this capable gravel bike with a Skarper unit makes a lot of sense to me.
You can have a quality ebike to commute on during the week, but come the weekend, you still have a non-assisted gravel bike for more adventurous riding. It's a solution that does away with the need for another bike, such as an electric commuter, taking up valuable space and extra expense.
Two bikes in one
The move into OEM (original equipment) from Skarper is a bold one, and not something we’ve seen from any other ebike conversion kit brand.
Neil Sutton, product manager at Sonder, says: “Our riders value simplicity, reliability and adventure. Skarper’s neat, removable drive keeps a Sonder feeling like a Sonder, while adding the confidence to go further. It is a natural fit for how our community rides.”
Ean Brown, Skarper’s CEO, explains: “Riders want freedom and flexibility, not a second heavy bike. With Sonder, we bring click-on power to award-winning frames through a partnership celebrating British design and innovation.
"The result is one bike that covers the city and the wild, with no compromises on ride feel. For the Skarper brand, this is an exciting step forward as we develop new partnerships that bring to life a new use case for our product – an integrated bundle that goes far beyond being just an additional product to buy for an existing bike you own.”
With bikes starting at £2,649, the Sonder x Skarper range compares favourably to current electric gravel bikes on price, and has the advantage of giving you both a non-assisted gravel bike and an ebike.
The Skarper kit's standalone price is £1,495, so the upgrade to the Sonder has a discount over buying the bike and kit separately.
Where to buy the Sonder x Skarper
The three-model range is available from today from Alpkit stores or directly through Alpkit’s website. The Sonder x Skarper bikes are also available now from Selfridges in London.
Sonder x Skarper range details
The partnership launches with three ready-to-ride Sonder x Skarper bundles, available both in-store and online:
- Camino Apex 1 Flat Bar × Skarper: £2,649
- Camino Al GRX1 × Skarper: £2,999
- Camino Ti GRX1 × Skarper: £4,249
Existing Sonder owners can also purchase Skarper add-on kits with free professional installation at participating Alpkit stores.
