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Rivian's TM-B electric bike

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190 points hasheddan | 2 comments | 22 Oct 25 18:00 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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jlhawn ◴[22 Oct 25 19:04 UTC] No.45673660[source]▶
a full suspension e-bike, 500+Wh battery, with a belt drive for $4,500 is honestly a really good deal. There is a shortage of options when it comes to full-suspension bikes that are good for commutes. Compare this to any e-bike with the Bosch e-bike system. The big risk here for consumers if whether they can match the service, support, and reliability that Bosch has. There appears to be a class-2 e-bike option which is something that significantly differentiates it from bikes with the Bosch system.
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qwytw ◴[22 Oct 25 19:19 UTC] No.45673862[source]▶
I really don't get what the point of the pedals on a thing like this, though. I guess mainly to satisfy some sort of regulations which separate bikes and motorcycle like vehicles? Considering that they aren't even connected to the drivetrain...
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1. jlhawn ◴[22 Oct 25 19:26 UTC] No.45673967[source]▶
In the U.S., there are 3 classes of e-bike: Class 1: pedal-assist only up to 20mph (helmets optional for adults) Class 2: same as Class 1 but with optional throttle to 20mph Class 3: pedal-assist only up to 28mph (helmets required, adults only)

There's also a maximum power rating of 750 watts for all of these. I'm not sure where the "pedal by wire" feature is from a regulatory perspective, but to me this fits into either class 2 or 3 depending on what option you get.

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2. SoftTalker ◴[22 Oct 25 21:03 UTC] No.45675113[source]▶
My state doesn't even require helmets for motorcyclists. I am guessing any regulations on e-bikes date back to the days when 2-stroke "moped" bikes were briefly popular.