OPTIBIKE 800Li

Why don't you use Hub Motors?
Hub motors are designed for people who prefer value over performance.  A hub motor runs at a fixed gear ratio and is unsuitable for climbing hills or for heavy riders.  The Optibike’s patented Motorized Bottom Bracket (MBB) drives through the 9 speed derailleur gear system so you can blast up the steepest hills you can find without sacrificing efficiency.  Using a hub motor, you are fixed at a single gear ratio - imagine driving your car in only one gear:  The transmission would be cheaper, but your performance would be uh…interesting. 

My Electric Bike goes 60 miles on a charge and is much lighter?
There are electric bicycles with advertised ranges of 60 miles and extremely lightweight.  If you have one, and you find it actually goes 60 miles as advertised- congratulations, you have violated the laws of physics. 

How noisy is the Optibike?
Riding the Optibike is a very pleasant experience, the humming sound from the gears is attributed to the high speeds you are traveling at and Optibike riders tend to enjoy it.

My Bike has a 1000 watts, how can the OptiBike be as fast?
The Optibike is the most efficient electric bike produced - over 75% of the battery power is transferred to the wheel.  Many other electric bikes are around 30% efficient.  So while the Optibike has 850 watts of power, the other bikes actually have far less.

Why is the battery 36V?
The higher the voltage, the greater the efficiency of the system so Optibike uses a 36v system over a 24v system and is much more powerful and efficient as a result.  A 48v system, while more powerful, is a potentially lethal voltage in the event of an electrical malfunction.

How many amp hours does the battery have?
The Optibike 800Lil comes with a standard with a 20ah, 36v LiCO battery system backed by a 3 year, 30,000 mile warranty. The Womens model comes with a 13ah, 36v LiCO battery system and also backed by a 3 year, 30,000 mile warranty.

How long does the battery last?
The proprietary Lithium battery system offered NEW in 2008 is backed by the longest warranty in the industry, 3 YEARS or 30,000 miles. 

How far will the Optibike go?
The range depends on the model you select, your weight, the terrain you are riding on, the amount you pedal, and a variety of other variables.  The ranges posted in the model descriptions are based on a 180lb rider on basically flat ground.  The ranges we advertise are guaranteed under those conditions.

Can you ride the Optibike like a regular bicycle?
Yes. The motor and drive system produce no drag when pedaling like a standard bicycle. The Optibike only weighs 57 lbs, about as much as a full suspension downhill bicycle, so pedaling as normal is a blast.

If the Optibike is electric do you really get any exercise?
Yes. Because the Optibike is electric, riders actually get more exercise. How? Due to the integration of the Motorized Bottom Bracket (MBB) the rider pedals as he/she normally would a regular bicycle. The Optibike just adds about 20 mph to whatever the rider pedals, making cycling much more fun! Imagine having Lance Armstrong’s legs, that’s what the Optibike does. When riders are having fun, they want to ride longer, and get more exercise in the process.

Do you have to pedal?
No.  However, pedaling increases the speed and hill climbing power.  Federal regulations limit electric bicycles to 20 mph under electric power alone without pedaling.