Style, the next phase for ebikes

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A few years ago, there were very few selections when it came to electric bike kits. Now, it seems there is finally a kit for every type of build that you can imagine. So what’s next?…Style! Personalizing your ebike to match who you are, and what you do with it.

This article is not about anything practical in ebike design. It’s all about FUN!…it’s about how your ebike looks, and about how it makes you feel. The reason this facet of ebikes has been on my mind is that…some of the kits that are out now are very easy to install, so new ebikers don’t have to learn a lot about electrical components to be able to have an ebike.

Turn-key factory ebikes are starting to add “some” variety of style to their line-ups (like the Vintage Cycles Cruz), but…they can’t stray too far from the median average of public taste, or they risk having a lot of unsold ebikes. This means that a builder adding a kit to a bicycle that they already like, will usually be the best route…if you are a creative personality, and you want your ebike to really stand out.

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What style is the best style?

Fashion is what everyone is doing, style is what you do.

Your style doesn’t have to be outrageous, but…it can be. Style means putting together something a little different than normal, to show what YOU like. This means that the thing that one builder loves…it’s the same thing that another builder hates!

There is no “best” style, there is only YOUR style. If you have a vision in your head that you absolutely LOVE?…don’t let anything slow you down or hold you back. When you post pics of the finished product, be aware some responders will laugh at it…and others will say that it’s the most beautiful thing they’ve ever seen. Just remember, the only opinion that matters is YOUR opinion. You may not be able to afford a customized car or motorcycle, but anyone can afford to customize a bicycle. Then, making it into an ebike with a kit is another way to create and add something truly useful to your life.

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Pre-War Motorcycles

The ebike below is the Italjet Ascot, and I fell in love with it when I researched it to write our article on it back in September of 2015. This type of leather saddle was made famous by the Brooks company. There is a wide variety of leather grips and also chrome teardrop headlights to choose from that are similar. This style of fork is sometimes referred to as a “Monark springer”, after the bicycle from the 1940’s that made it famous. If you are shopping for a Monark springer style of fork, do a lot of research. Some will have a mount for a disc brake, and some do not. The strength and quality of the different manufacturers varies widely, so beware.

These tires are 26 X 3.0-inch Kenda Flames, and they come in a variety of colors.