I had the pleasure of riding this bike a few weeks back and instantly fell in love. I wasn't sure what to expect as this was my first e-bike and was blown away. It just felt right.
For @quan: What are your next steps?
@650redhair We're still working on our battery design, but will be launching a Kickstarter soon so people can start ordering a bike, and we can kick off production in the next few months.
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@quan this is awesome! Do you plan on releasing a kit that can be installed onto other bike frames? Also, what inspired the name Koben?
@maroun Thanks Maroun! We've gotten a lot of requests for a kit, so it's definitely something we'd like to do. The complete bike is our priority, so we'll launch that first, but the motor and battery does make for a good kit.
The name comes from the Danish word "København", for the capital city we know as Copenhagen.
I absolutely love all things cycling, and recently, that's included "e-bikes" or electric bikes. Compared to the smooth aesthetics of classic bike frames, today's e-bikes tend to be clunky on the down tubes (where extra large batteries are fitted) and overall, look ugly.
@quan gave me a test ride of one of the early builds of the Karmic Koben a few months ago and it was hands down, one of the most delightful (and exciting) rides I've taken on a bike. A few "ahas" from the experience:
1. It was the first time I rode an e-bike. The bike is heavier than others I've ridden (whether that be a road or a commuter) but it's not terrible.
2. The thing is FAST. I rode around downtown SF and cruised to ~26 MPH without pedaling hard. It's a great way to get around town.
3. It's crazy fun.
I only rode this for a few blocks, but I can say unequivocally: it's impossible to ride this without grinning like an idiot.
I can hardly wait to get my hands on this,—and I live in the relatively flat Oakland.
@willimholte Thanks Will! People associate ebikes with hilly terrain, but as you've experienced, it's awesome for flat areas too. We like to say it shrinks your city!
Sweet! Question: can you use electric to drive the bike like a motorcycle without pedaling, or does the electric only assist you when you are pedaling?
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Super stoked for you @quan! I'm an owner of an OG Karmic bike (a non e-bike) and really love his passion and dedication around the biking experience. We bonded over startup tees a few years ago and it's been fun to see the gears in his mind literally shifting towards this space. He definitely has that surprise and delight mentally with his customers.
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