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Electrolyte Front Wheel Drive EBike Offers Innovative Style, Significant Weight Savings

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No, that’s not a Lefty, it’s a fully enclosed and integrated motor, battery and controller which allows Germany-based Electrolyte ebikes to offer significant weight savings over their competitors.  The Ricochet pictured above, for example, weighs about 35 pounds, not much more than many commuters I’ve pedaled.  More specs and models after the break.

Einarmiger-Bandit

The 250 watt motor featured in Electrolyte’s unique swingarm known as the One-Armed Bandit can be operated in a turbo mode or four supporting modes up to 25 km/hr.  The 36 volt, 320 watt hour battery is said to last 60-100 km while being better protected from the elements due to its mode of enclosure and placement on the bike.  How does it handle, though, one must wonder.

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The One-Armed Bandit can be found on three models, the aforementioned Ricochet, the Street Sweeper, pictured above and also available in a ladies version, and the Arsonist.  Each features Magura MT-4 disc brakes, internally geared hubs, belt drives, and a mix of Syntace and FSA componentry.   The Ricochet and Street Sweeper will set you back about 4,000 euros.

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The Arsonist, shown here with optional Tubus Vega rack, Supernova E3 lighting system, and CLite Curana mudguards, retails at 4,750 euros and offers an 11-speed Shimano Alfine hub, while its sisters come with a Sturney-Archer 2-speed.

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Electrolyte also offers a more conventional ebike in the slick looking Vorradler, available in three colors for 3,750 euros.

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dea 1276
dea 1276
10 years ago

E-bikes are the enemy!

29only
29only
10 years ago

The prices if these bike are close to electric cars!
Good luck selling it

Rico
Rico
10 years ago

That is a sweet design idea. Not sure how it rides at all but cool in the sense that you may be able to use that front end/fork/motor on any existing bike.

JimmyZ
JimmyZ
10 years ago

A good enough design for early adopters to feel good about and for people like me to aspire towards getting the cheaper version later.
How much would the fork and hub assembly cost without the bike? I’ve got a frame I would convert.

Rico
Rico
10 years ago

It’s hard to say how the handling would feel. I want to test one.

Robo
Robo
10 years ago

If e-bikes get more people on bikes and more motorists paying attention to bikes, then I’m all for it; not everyone needs to be a wannabe bike racer. This looks like a pretty great idea and I really like that the weights getting more reasonable.

Rico
Rico
10 years ago

It is a great point you make Robo. I was anti-ebike for a while but I prefer these WAY more than cars! And they do seem fun.

Out for a Ride
Out for a Ride
10 years ago

I wonder how much this will affect traction during a turn… is there a potential for more lowsides or am I imagining this to be worse than it is? Seems front wheel available grip is much less predictable than the rear… No one takes their weight off of the rear wheel, but front wheel…?

Ahh the perks of being a keyboard engineer!

Topmounter
Topmounter
10 years ago

At least this design should keep these e-bikes off the local single-track.

Commuter
Commuter
10 years ago

I could see this as an option for commuters that don’t have or want to shower at work. Run the motor into work and pedal home.

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