The Køben - Kickstarter bike from Karmic Bikes

[ollopa]

It never ceases to amaze me what will pop up on Kickstarter:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hongquan/the-kben-a-modern-electric-bike-for-the-human-race/video_share
http://indefinitelywild.gizmodo.com/what-s-wrong-with-electric-bicycles-1702986234

A new electric bike — the Koben, from Karmic Bikes — promises to fix what ails the electric bicycle industry.

Yup -- A Bafang 250W mid-drive is what we've been waiting for. That < 10Ah battery is also a deal-sealer.

 

[dogman dan]

Well, at least it's at a price they can be expected to actually deliver one, and the company existed before this campaign, and the bike itself is not a $150 BSO.

Better than expecting a $500 bike, and getting a t shirt.

 

[The fingers]

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/05/whatswrongwith-electric-bicycles/
Clean looking new ebike.

 

[tahustvedt]

It's clean looking, but it needs a black chainring. That dent in the right chain stay is weird. The anodized color looks horrible. I wonder why they went the 48V route, as the cadence will be high.

300 Wh will take you pretty far on an efficient bike. I get minimum 30 km with 180 Wh on my BBS01 250W bike with max assist and hilly riding with me doing a minimum of work. By efficient I mean aerodynamic riding position and bike, low rolling resistance and using it like a bicycle, not a moped.

 

[voicecoils]

Just read that the rebuildable 18650 battery pack won't make their production bike. That's a disappointment as it was one of the only novel features on the bike.

Neal Saiki (Zero Motorcycle's founder) was initially involved through his new company NTS Works, but no longer.

NTS Works Has No Relationship with Karmic Bicycles
5/30/2015
NTS Works was initially going to supply technology to Karmic Bicycles for their electric bicycle on Kickstarter, but now none of the proprietary NTS Works technology will be used by Karmic Bicycles. Furthermore, Neal Saiki and NTS Works will have no involvement with any products produced by Karmic Bicycles.

http://ntsworks.com/

 

[sk8norcal]

interesting, 48v and 28mph max on the S model.

I believe they raised the most amount for an ebike on kickstarter.
$260K
140 bike sold.

 

[d8veh]

A bit strange that they go on about unsprung weight in the wheels and why you shouldn't fit a hub-motor there, then they put a 3kg Nuvinci in there that weighs more than many modern 250w hub-motors.

I like the idea of the upgradeable battery. Does it use that clip-in cell holder system that we discussed a couple of months back?

 

[voicecoils]

A bit strange that they go on about unsprung weight in the wheels and why you shouldn't fit a hub-motor there, then they put a 3kg Nuvinci in there that weighs more than many modern 250w hub-motors.

I like the idea of the upgradeable battery. Does it use that clip-in cell holder system that we discussed a couple of months back?

The Nuvinci is an option, the other version of the bike comes with a singlespeed hub. The Nuvinci is a little odd for the reasons you mention and the singlespeed is equally odd in negating one main benefit of a mid-drive setup!

As for the upgradable/rebuildable battery, good idea but not offered on the Koben anymore. The NTS design is apparently patented. I'm not sure in what way it's sufficiently novel but it is a compression type:

http://www.santacruztechbeat.com/20...ildable-battery-technology-mini-48v-patented/

 

[LockH]

http://ecomento.com/2015/06/16/karmic-koben-electric-bicycle-debuts/

I never even really thought about getting an electric bike, but I tried one on a whim last year and thought it was awesome – it was really fun.

 

[LockH]

Anybuddy in the San Francisco bay area (Santa Cruz)?

Electric Assist Bike, Karmic, $1,899.00 reg price, New! - $1700:
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/bik/6188599677.html

It was just used to demo the product, so it hasn't really been "ridden" yet. The battery is new, overall perfect condition. Just because it was shown off, I'm giving it a $199.00 discount.