Propella ebike on Indiegogo

[LockH]

And they're off:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/propella/#/

Seen here:
http://www.geekwire.com/2016/local-engineers-launch-design-centric-ebike-startup/

SAMSUNG Li 36 Volt 6.6 Ah driving a 250W rear hubbie w/Single-Speed freewheel.

 

[Chalo]

I guess nobody told these guys that fixies jumped the shark in 2005 or so-- by 2012, it was mainly grade school aged boys and 40-something men who came into my shop asking about fixies (most of whom didn't even know what a fixed gear was). So four years later, these stupendously clueless dudes introduce a "design centric" e-fixie?

That's amazing.

Maybe next year they can introduce a solar flip phone, or a pedal powered Segway. .

 

[Wheazel]

Clueless people selling half-crappy stuff to other clueless people. But then again the sondors bike appealed to alot of people because of the low cost.
And if you are clueless and dont want to spend for a better engineered ebike, then ofcourse it might be intresting. I think that the pitchpoints for the propella are BS.
I dont agree on the elegant claim, a naked fixie can be elegant, or a bike with some thought through lines, but the fat colored rims and the battery blob takes away any elegant impression from the otherwise stiff fixie look. Lightweight, yea somewhat, but nothing special. Reliable, maybe but I am not convinced.

Either they have had a hard time finding unique pitchpoints, or they simply dont exist and they say what they think the clueless dudes wanna hear.
Probably in hopes of making big cash like the sondors camapign. Thats what I think.

 

[ecycler]

yawn

 

[LockH]

Currently $10,540USD (26% of $40,000 fixed goal) w/21 backers so far.

So remains to be seen (as my uncle the Funeral Director used to say).

 

[LockH]

Currently $10,540USD (26% of $40,000 fixed goal) w/21 backers so far.

Today/now "$29,307USD (73% of $40,000 fixed goal) w/57 backers...

And a nod from the Treehugger site:
http://www.treehugger.com/bikes/propella-e-bike.html

"... could be the entry-level electric bicycle we've been waiting for."

 

[macribs]

I guess nobody told these guys that fixies jumped the shark in 2005 or so-- by 2012, it was mainly grade school aged boys and 40-something men who came into my shop asking about fixies (most of whom didn't even know what a fixed gear was). So four years later, these stupendously clueless dudes introduce a "design centric" e-fixie?

That's amazing.

Maybe next year they can introduce a solar flip phone, or a pedal powered Segway. .

Yeah not hot anymore. But then again at 599 (799$ regular price) you get yourself a ready to ride e-bike. Personally I think their price at least in the campaign will secure enough backers to go into production. So fixies not cool anymore? For that price who really cares. If they would present this in my neighborhood I would for sure back them just to have an inexpensive daily bike to use to the store, going around town or other small chores.

Or imagine you don't have time to dick around in the garage or totally lack the skills to put together anything. An e-bike like this just might be what the doctor ordered. Ready to run.

 

[LockH]

Cough Cough upgrades (<- fine print)

 

[LockH]

81% of $40,000 fixed goal
64 backers

 

[LockH]

"Minimalist approach powers Kirkland-based Propella"
http://www.kirklandreporter.com/news/371792441.html

(Printed March 11)

Founded by Ben Tarassoli, Propella’s recent Indiegogo campaign was able to reach its fundraising goal of $40,000 in two weeks. So far, they have raised $45,487, 114 percent of their original goal.

"On its own, the bike is capable of going 20 miles per hour using a 250-watt rear hub motor and a 36 Volt 6.6 Ah battery, yet the entire bike weighs less than 36 pounds."

Hehe... "the sweet spot in battery capacity." (May help to have a lighter-weight vehicle.)

 

[2old]

Check Electric Cyclery's (not associated with them) Everly 250w rear hub motor, gears, 37 pounds, great styling if you like steel frames, $1199.

 

[dogman dan]

One thing that shocked the hell out of me when I started working the on line chat at E bikekit, is how many people out there have no intention of riding that thing more than 5 miles round trip. They use a car for a longer trip. The don't RIDE. Not like I do, or any other person from the bike culture. These are ordinary people, not bikers.

So though it would be useless for me, with nearly every thing I could want at least a 10 mile round trip, a low power motor and small battery for cheap does fit their needs perfectly, unless their ass is not small.

As for the fixie styling, how many of you ride your e bike only in the tallest gear? Raise your hands,,, yup, most of us. So nothing really wrong with one gear. Bear in mind, the number one e bike customer rode a bike last 40 years ago, before those newfangled bikes with shifters came along. Or,, they rode bmx, and still never saw a shifter before. Again, they are not bikers, they didn't ride single track, or ride the road bike with the groups on weekends. They need shifting gears explained to them.

 

[LockH]

"... riding that thing more than 5 miles round trip. They use a car for a longer trip."

Hehe... Watts it referred to? A "5 mile" trip? (Consulting ES Bible manual.) Thought for some the "longer" trip was from the door to their horseless carriage parked in their driveway. Or the road. Or somewhere (whereEVer their vehicle sits parked most of the time. "Work" parking lot for those 9-5 etc, the "mall"... the garage... the gas station (hehe) etc (long list) ). Yah. Found a little-er-ish bettery more convenient for removing... recharging, warmth, security... and stuff. Swap for freshie and so on.

 

[Chalo]

As for the fixie styling, how many of you ride your e bike only in the tallest gear? Raise your hands,,, yup, most of us. So nothing really wrong with one gear. Bear in mind, the number one e bike customer rode a bike last 40 years ago, before those newfangled bikes with shifters came along. Or,, they rode bmx, and still never saw a shifter before. Again, they are not bikers, they didn't ride single track, or ride the road bike with the groups on weekends. They need shifting gears explained to them.

Such people need a more passive riding position than fixie fashion allows. They might think cruisers look dumb, but that's how they ride. At the least, the bars should be a few inches above saddle level.

I built my first e-bike with a single gear for ruggedness and simplicity. I have since de-electrified it, but it's still simple and attractive and fit for purpose, not like a gauche fashion statement from a decade ago.

I remember working in bike shops in the early '90s, during the absolute supremacy of the MTB fad. Every so often I'd get someone fitted on their new 21 speed mountain bike, only to have them ask, "could you just put it in a good gear for me?" I wanted to say, but never did, "I could have saved you 400 bucks about ten minutes ago if you'd said that then." But they just had to have a mountain bike even though they had no intention of ever changing gears.

 

[2old]

DD, to confirm what you said, it seemed like half of the "riders" at the e-bike expo in San Diego had not ridden a bike in a looooong time.

 

[dogman dan]

Oh, I agree Chalo, no need to hunch over flat bars with a motor helping. It is stupid. I just meant the gearing might be ok. But the company is after sales, and Pedego already has the cruiser market pretty well locked down in the US. They are hoping for sondors like success, in a much smaller niche who's popularity is over with.

It's very sad to me, while chatting with folks at work how much they are attached to a certain bike image. Not me on a pee wee herman bike!!! I have to look cool. Whatever,,, They are not real wheelmen, who are perfectly happy to ride anything, anything at all with two wheels.

What really surprises me, is the lack of crowdfunded chopper style or stretch cruiser e bikes. Maybe that fad passed too though.

Interestingly, the e bike gathering the most attention at interbike last fall was an electric boardtracker style. Talk about a style that passed,,,

 

[macribs]

But there are some awesome boardtrackers build lately. That really goes back in time.
I could really picture myself on one of those for a daily driver ebike. But prices are too high still for those kool retro boardtrackers.

Spoiler: Cool retro

 

[LockH]

Fixie E-Bike tricks in Seattle

Propella goes after the "Fixie" biz...
[youtube]qdYeXhkPHcg[/youtube]

$82,193 USD total funds raised
172% funded on March 19, 2016

 

[MadRhino]

Why they call it a fixie. Sure it has a freewheel with a motor. It has brakes too. I see nothing of a fixie, and it is a good thing for safety. Fixies are for suicidal freaks. To assemble cheap Chinese crap and fund it with the public, is telling a lot about general ebike knowledge.

If my 20 Kw commuter had a fix cog,
I would ride with my feet on the handlebar,
for the crank would be freaking dangerous.