A new vintage-style e-bike courtesy of French brand Velair has broken its funding target on Kickstarter: and with its classy looks, clever design and impressive price point, it's not difficult to see why.
"Can you believe it's an e-bike?" is the question posed by Velair on their campaign page, and the disguise of the battery fully concealed in a smart leather case behind the saddle and a rear hub motor means it's pretty much indistinguishable from a manual fixed-wheel commuter. Weighing less than 16kg with all the add-ons, the BikinTime has a sturdy molybdenum steel alloy frame and full leather saddle, bar ends and that classy battery pack. The lithium battery can be stuck on or off in a matter of seconds, has up to 45km of range and charges fully in a little over an hour. The 250W motor that allows for speeds of up to 25km/h is concealed in the hub, which Velair say is easier to maintain and change if you have any issues. There are five levels of assistance, and everything is controlled via a big multifunction LCD screen that displays speed, mileage, external temperature and remaining battery. What's more, the USB plug to connect your smartphone up will even charge it at the same time.
With the battery removed the Bikin'Time is a simple fixie, with a 46/16 set-up that should be enough to reach a healthy maximum speed on the flats or downhill.
The Kickstarter campaign has already seen all the bikes reserved at the super-earlybird €750 price, but you can still get one for €850 which is 50% off the €1700 RRP. This doesn't include import duties from France, but Velair will ship anywhere in the world.
We're seeing a current trend for low hassle removeable batteries and converter kits here at eBikeTips, (check out the Swytch system and Rubbee X as examples) and given the extra versatility you get from being able to use the bike without assistance in a flash, it's one we're a fan of. It means you get the advantage of assistance with spoiling the lines of the bike, and the Bikin'Time appears to have nailed it aesthetically. The Bikin'Time has an estimated delivery date of April 2018, and we'll be hoping to get our hands on one in the new year to put it to the test - check out their website for more details.
