Any reader of this column knows I’m a fan of electric bicycles. I believe they are viable alternatives to cars, for short commutes. They have zero carbon footprint, enhance a rider’s health, and best of all, they perpetually flatten out hills and quiet the wind as you ride.
This past week, I’ve been able to test out BESV’s JS1 ($3,700, besv.com). The incredibly kind people at Let It Be Electric (LetItBeElectric.com) -- Southern California’s premier dealer of the bike -- brought it to me, showed me how to use it, and let me check it out for the week.
It truly is like a Cadillac among e-bikes. Weighing 57 pounds, its step-through aluminum frame is complemented by front and rear disk brakes. The JS1 is all pedal assist. That means there’s no throttle -- for what I was told was safety reasons. And I understand: With throttle models, when you’re standing still maybe at a crosswalk, you can easily and accidentally turn the throttle on the handlebar and start jolting forward. Not with the JS1. To move this bicycle, you just start pedaling. The assist kicks in instantly and the bike just smoothly thrusts away. As my son noted, he felt bionic because he put in whatever effort to pedal and the bike started accelerating at the equivalent of several times faster than the energy he was putting in. That feature is part of the bike’s advanced proprietary “Algorhythm” power drive system.
The ride is stealth-like quiet and very comfortable, too. Battery range is roughly 50 miles for someone of average weight -- your mileage will vary. But that’s the beauty of such a smooth bike: If you run out of battery, you can still set the 10-speed model to whatever’s comfortable and ride away. When you do have battery, though, you can set the pedal assist on the display anywhere from 0 (pedal assist off) to 3 (maximum help) -- or you can put it in Smart Mode, which learns from your riding style and then calculates the level of assistance you need for optimal ride comfort. It intuitively and intelligently adjusts the power while you ride -- again tapping into that proprietary power drive..
By the way, the battery takes four hours to recharge, but you can get an 80 percent charge in an hour. I took this bike out everyday on a different path. One happened to be on a very hilly road. I actually sweated a little bit on the way back, as the wind gusts slapped me head-on. And the battery drained about 40 percent on just a six-mile ride. But this was a unique situation. In fact, the remaining battery life lasted me about 35 miles in flatter, more calm conditions.
And the bike looks so sleek. Once I parked it at a coffee shop, then glanced outside while waiting for my drink. Two people within a minute stopped to gawk. I love the integrated details, as well, such as a built-in headlight, reflective tire sidewalls, and the way it houses its modular battery right into the frame.
There’s no question that electric bikes have a very bright future in America -- much the way they’re popular in other parts of the world. And if you’re in the market for one, or even want to test one out for fun, I highly recommend trying this model.
