It's been about 25 years since electric assist bicycles became popular in Japan.

Initially, electric bicycles were thought to have nothing to do with sports bikes, but now, several "sports E-bikes" have appeared on the scene.

This situation is something that even us sports bike enthusiasts can't help but pay attention to, so let's organize the information a bit here.

These sports E-bikes are called "E-bikes" to distinguish them from conventional electric bicycles, and this article will follow that distinction.

The Significance of E-bikes

▲ICAN E-bike Carbon Frame E02

For sports bike riders, at least on flat roads, the necessity of an E-bike is not felt.

On uphill roads, E-bikes really show their true value, but as a trade-off, they require accepting a weight increase twice that of a sports bike, which seemed unbearable.

In my personal experience as an ICAN staff writer, someone brought an E-bike on a touring trip.

I was surprised, and at the same time, intensely interested, so my companions and I took turns riding it.

Compared to conventional "mamachari" (city bike) type electric bikes, it had incomparable power and improved maneuverability, which gave me a bit of a culture shock.

E-bikes feel a bit like cheating, but they allow you to maintain cadence and cover much greater distances, so isn't this also a valid form of sport? Once I started thinking this way, the existence of E-bikes suddenly caught my attention.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people using bicycles instead of trains and buses has dramatically increased. The shortage of cross bikes is a manifestation of this.

Especially for commuting, people want to minimize the physical loss from cycling before work.

It was at this time that the idea of an "E-bike express" finally made perfect sense to me.

The Current State of E-bikes

▲ICAN E-bike Carbon Frame E02

In Japan, Yamaha Motor first introduced electric assist bicycles in 1993.

At that time, the Road Traffic Act established assistance standards.

Up to 10 km/h, the assistance can be up to twice the human effort; as the speed increases from there, the assistance decreases, and from 24 km/h, the assistance becomes 0.

The "twice the human effort" assistance is quite vague, but in reality, recent power units have increased torque from 70Nm to 85Nm. Furthermore, there are reports that the speed range of power assist is geared more towards higher speeds, unlike "mamachari" type bikes.

Of course, bike performance also improves with weight and design, so the impression of increased power is probably not far off the mark.

Moreover, improvements in batteries and motors have extended the range per charge.

More and more models can travel over 100km. Some even have regenerative motors that enhance efficiency by returning energy to the battery during deceleration.

Overall, the unique running noise has also been suppressed, and the completeness of E-bikes has increased.

The problem is probably that they are more expensive than regular bikes.

However, there are models starting from around 100,000 yen, and depending on your perspective, you might consider them reasonable. The upper limit is around 300,000 yen.

Most types of sports bikes are now available as E-bike versions.

You can choose from various types of E-bikes, including cross bike type, MTB type, road bike type, and mini-velo type.

Structure of E-bikes

▲ICAN E-bike Carbon Frame E02

E-bikes have a structure where a motor and battery are added to a conventional bicycle, but there are various drive types mainly depending on their mounting position.

① Motor Mounting Position

・Front Assist

This type has the motor unit built into the front hub.

Advantages include easier weight reduction of the unit and greater stability as both the front and rear wheels are driven. This method is common in small-wheeled bicycles.

・Crank Assist

Power supplies from Shimano, Yamaha, Bosch, etc., use this method. Power is applied directly to the crank.

The center of gravity is concentrated in the center, and since the drive axle is the same as the pedal, a relatively natural feeling is obtained. This type also allows for future wheel upgrades.

・Rear Assist

The motor unit is housed within the rear hub. Since power is applied directly to the rear wheel, it is said to provide the most natural assistance feeling.

② Battery Mounting Method

・Directly attached to the frame

This method involves externally mounting the battery near the center of the frame.

Its characteristic is ease of battery attachment and detachment, making it convenient to handle.

It also allows for the installation of large-capacity batteries.

・Integrated into the frame

Mainly integrated into the downtube.

It provides a clean appearance and allows for a compact overall length of the bike.

The lifespan of a battery is generally considered to be 5 to 6 years, although this depends on storage methods and charging cycles.

Battery charging times are typically around 4 to 6 hours.

E-bike Upgrades

▲ICAN E-bike Carbon Frame E02

As you know, for sports bikes, wheel replacement is the most effective way to improve performance.

If the motor is located inside the wheel (in the hub), replacement is difficult, but if the motor is located in the bottom bracket (crank area), replacement is possible.

Please visit ICAN's website.

You will surely find the best solution there.

Summary

E-bikes have already reached a stage of maturity with many years of proven performance.

The achievable range has also been raised to a level that presents no problems for daily use.

If you take one for a test ride, you'll likely experience the same kind of culture shock I did. There are plenty of things in life to enjoy!