I’m not trying to be sexist, but in my experience men either go for bikes with a top bar (not step-thru) or a step-thru with 20″ wheels, often of the fold-bike variety. Women often like something that resembles a real bicycle (larger diameter tires) and step-thru, not step-over, AND light-weight. Also, simplicity when it comes to design and controls. Guys seem to revel in complexity, and more bells and whistles are OK. SO, if I haven’t overdone the stereotyping, I’d like to present THE PERFECT LADY’S E-BIKE: [drum roll please]
Introducing the *Class 1 Momentum Lafree E+ Hybrid e-bike.
What makes THIS bike so special is that it’s SO SIMPLE to operate. The secret sauce is this:
No display to distract, just a simple control. Press one button to start. Press another pair to adjust pedal assist levels up or down, OR press and hold either pedal assist button for a couple seconds and everything else is ‘automatic’. The computer figures out what pedal assist level is best and you don’t need to do anything else except pedal.
This e-bike uses a technology called ‘torque sensing’ where the more work you put into pedaling, the more power that’s delivered to the rear wheel via the mid-drive motor, which is the other ingredient in the secret sauce.
This is the $700 mid-drive Yamaha motor. This is amazing tech you won’t find on any budget e-bikes, but the $2400 Momentum has it, and boy does it make a difference! This motor is smooth and predictable, and the 250 watt motor is powerful enough for most riders. Perfect in every way for someone who doesn’t care how sausage is made, but just wants to enjoy the meal.
Put all this together with a good 8-speed derailleur, good hydrologic breaks, good battery life, and a well-crafted step-thru frame with a spectaular paint job (I call this color ‘Mazda’ red), and you have an e-bike that is best in class for this demographic.
Note: The bike shown above is a slightly used 2022 Momentum Lafree E+ with a ‘small’ frame I have on consignment and which should fetch ~$1200 in the resale market considering its condition and the quality of materials. This is just a really great e-bike looking for a new owner that appreciates quality, but doesn’t necessarily want (or need) all the bells and whistles that so many e-bikes have these days.
Here are some more photos and specs to satisfy your curiosity:
These act as turn signals and/or caution lights with control from the handlebar.
Theft alarm, detects motion and is VERY loud. Control via key fob.
*”Class 1 electric bicycle” means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the electric bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
PS – What’s ANT+ you might ask? ANT+ is a wireless technology similar to Bluetooth, primarily used for sport and fitness applications to connect devices and share data. Well is just so happens that the LaFree E+ controller supports ANT+ which allows your smartphone to interact with your e-bike and capture data like cadence, speed, power, etc. via a free app like IpBike. Since the Lafree doesn’t have a display of its own, this is a great option if having this information at your fingertips is important.
Add-ons list:
- ROCKBROS Bike Phone Holder ($15)
- MTB Bike Pedals ($21.50)
- Bike Alarm ($19)
- Turn Signals ($20)
- Handlebar Bike Mirror ($17)
$98.05 w/ tax