Just in... New Raleigh Electric Bikes with Shimano STEPS Mid Drive System

[Croxden]

This is interesting http://electricbikereport.com/raleigh-electric-bikes-shimano-steps-video/

Only in USA at the moment.

 

[flecc]

Thanks for the link Croxden, interesting how it shows the market differences since they think it's Raleigh's first e-bike.

Here we've had the Raleigh gmbh bikes from Germany's Derby Cycles company which were near Kalkhoff clones, and of course the Powabyke X6 and X24 models were a joint venture by Raleigh UK and Powabyke.

This looks good though, very neat, and I like the stress on silence. The last STEPS system which had a front hub motor lacked power, but this being a crank unit won't be too afflicted by having moderate power.
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[Martin@e-bikeshop]

Looks good, I rode the STEPS in Germany a few weeks back and it was a clean simple to use system. Pretty much does what it says on the tin. Feels very similar to the Panasonic drive.

I was most impressed with the integrated electronic shifting, it felt like a good all in one system and worked together seamlessly.

FYI - The Raleigh bikes in the link have nothing to do with the UK Raleigh bikes. Apart from a licence to use the name...

Regards
Martin

 

[flecc]

FYI - The Raleigh bikes in the link have nothing to do with the UK Raleigh bikes. Apart from a licence to use the name...

Regards
Martin

The licencing of the Raleigh name increasingly seems to be an open to anyone affair!

There's Raleigh UK, Raleigh gmbh as part of Derby Cycles gmbh in Germany but within the Dutch Pon Holdings group, Raleigh within the Dutch Accell Group who now make the Raleigh hub motor e-bikes sold in the UK, and now this US Raleigh venture.

If I started a Raleigh brand, I wonder how long it would take them to notice!
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[Martin@e-bikeshop]

Ultimately Accell Group are on top.. Got 3/4..
Don't forget the latest, Raleigh Canada..
Its much like Raleigh USA... But don't tell em I said that!

 

[RobF]

I wonder why the Di2 hub gear bike needs what looks like a twin sprocket derailleur.

The chain doesn't need to move sideways, and a single sprocket tensioner would be enough to tension it.