The Revolve Imp Folding Electric Bike - Bike Review

The Revolve Imp: Convenience Meets More Convenience. Folding Bike With Electric Assist Gets You From Point A to Point B Faster Than Ever Before!

Today we're going to look at an electric bike from a company called Revolve. They've been around for about seven years - a long time in the electric bike business. The bike we are reviewing is called the Imp. What's unique about the Imp over other bikes is that it is an electric folding bicycle. It is designed for people living in apartments, commuting by train, or traveling.

Let's first take a look at the folding aspect. It is really very simple. Just unlock it, pull the lever, and it folds up small. If you need it even smaller, you can fold the pedals and the handlebars in. No tools are required. The pedals fold in really simply and the handlebars just need to be unscrewed and taken apart. Just a couple simple steps and this bike is ready to be stored in the closet at home or work, taken with you in the car, or sit next to you on the train.




 The battery pack is over the back wheel and comes with a typical wall charger for added convenience. It takes about four to five hours for a full charge and you can charge it with the battery disconnected or still mounted to the frame. The charger is relatively small, making it very easy to take the charger with you should you feel that you will need it on longer rides. The battery also powers a built-in headlight for night riding. The control panel up top on the handlebars shows you how far you've gone, how fast you're going, and how much charge you have left.




The motor is installed on the hub, making this a rear drive electric bike. In addition to a throttle on the right handlebar, the control panel also allows for five levels of pedal assist in case you do still want to exercise a little bit. The pedal assist is also great for effectively conquering even the largest hills. Simply put the pedal assist all the way up, pedal away, and be at the top of huge hills in no time without breaking a sweat. This bike tops out at 20 mph, allowing you to get most places in a very convenient amount of time. So instead of taking the car on your next errand, you can take your electric bike and away you go.

Revolve Easy Rider II Electric Bike Review

High Performance Electric Bike Disguised as High Performance Scooter... For a Fraction of the Cost!

The model we will be looking at today is the Revolve Easy Rider II. At first glance, it looks much more like a moped than a classic bicycle. This bike is actually somewhat of a hybrid between the two, but technically we can refer to it as an electric scooter. What differentiates the Easy Rider from other scooters is the fact that it does still have pedals, making it legally classified as a bicycle. This means that, at least in California, it doesn't need to be registered, you don't need a driver's license, and you don't have to have insurance. This is a huge plus in my opinion when comparing the bike to gas powered scooters.

What I like about this bike is a design that very much reminds me of mopeds and Vespa scooters. You can just get on it, put your feet up on the platform, and hit the throttle. It has very high performing front and rear brakes that will slow you down in a heartbeat. Its advantage over Vespas and other mopeds is that it is electric, so you stay much more ecologically friendly. It also has mirrors, lights, turn signals, and a horn; all the things you would expect when dealing with motorized transportation. There is a display in the middle of the handlebars that has a speedometer, odometer, and charge life, making your ride easy and informative.

The battery is hidden under the seat and is locked to prevent theft. You can unplug and remove the pack to charge or just simply lift the seat and plug it in to the wall. Just plug it in when you get home, and the next day you can go 25-35 miles on a single charge - which should take about four to five hours. It has a small little luggage rack on the back, as well as a back seat with pegs if you'd like to take a passenger with you.

This bike is great for getting back and forth to school, work, or running errands. You can lock the handlebars from being able to steer, but I would recommend also getting a good u-lock to lock up the rest of the bike. This scooter is only $1399 which is a bargain for what is basically a no hassle, ecologically friendly Vespa.
For basic transportation without added expenses, this is a great vehicle to have in the garage.

Populo Lift Electric Bike Review

After 100 years of selling bikes, we are now in the electric bicycle business. We feel their time has come. So I want to take a minute and show you the Lift from a company called Populo.

This bike has an all aluminum frame with what is called a "step-through frame" design, making it much easier to get on the bike. A lot of people at first think that this kind of frame means that it's a girls bike, but this is not the case anymore. These days, with all the different bikes out there, the step-through design has become unisex. And that's good news, because step through bikes are very convenient and comfortable. No longer will you have to swing your leg over the frame every time you want to get on the bike, and no longer will you be left incredibly uncomfortable every time you stop at a traffic light.

The motor on this style of electric bike is on the rear hub. The advantage here is that it's hidden in the wheel, and it is a very simple and reliable design. The battery pack on this bike is stored in a rack compartment over the back wheel. It can be charged inside the rack or be removed if you happen to live in an apartment or condo complex or just want to leave your bike in the garage and take the battery inside. The battery rack is aluminum, making it very durable, and it also comes with a bungee cord. This makes it really convenient for running small errands like a quick trip to the grocery store or carrying things like extra gear or clothes. One of the features I like about this bike over some of the other electrics is that it's just a good all around bicycle. It has a Shimano derailleur with seven gears. It's a lightweight frame that you could ride without the electric assist and it would be a perfectly good bicycle. It also has front and rear disc brakes from Tektro - a reputable brand name for disc brakes. As far as safety and night riding, it has reflective side walls on the wheels and a set of built in lights that are powered by the electric battery.

Now let's take a look at the electric components. As we know it is powered by a battery in the rear and a motor on the rear wheel. On the handlebars is a control panel. This control panel gives you tons of information like how far you've gone, how fast you're going, remaining charge on the battery and pedal assist. As you're pedaling, the motor will kick in and assist you depending on how much effort you want to put out or how much assist you need. The pedal assist has eight levels for a full range of usefulness. Going down a flat road you may only need the pedal assist at two or three to be going a comfortable 15 miles an hour, while cranking it up to eight going up a big hill will get you there in no time. There might be an instance where you just want to get to the store and back or it's hot out and you don't care about pedaling. For that, this bike does have a throttle on the left hand grip. Without pedaling, this bike's max speed is 20 mph, allowing you to get where you need to go quickly and efficiently.

It's a very high quality bike with good components and electronics. For a bike for the average person who wants to exercise with a little help or just wants to run to the store or work, grab your electric bike and go!