We live in interesting times. The $4000 bike is nice for casual riders, but serious people will need to spend more. Huh.
Harley Davidson has really no choice but to branch out in directions like this. If they stayed true to their decades old business model and make nothing but large road bikes, they would become as irrelevant that’s Chrysler Dodge. A company that hasn’t made a new automobile in decades.
‘ a more rugged clientele’ would be those actually using their muscles to go places. Not the button pushing pansies.
The BASH/MTB features Michelin E-Wild knobby tires and an SR Suntour NCX seat post offering 50mm (2 inches) of travel, but the e-bike goes without front and rear suspension.
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Only seat post suspension? More of a gravel bike than a MTB.
Furthermore, it is hard to understand their target market with this bike. Mountain bikers enjoy fitness as well as the adrenaline rush (much like skiers and snowboarders) and would be embarrassed to ride such a sissy bike. On top of that, this bike doesn't appear to have front suspension (though that might be available).
However, if the target for this bike is the dual-sport or dirt bike market, the price is a disadvantage in that it costs about as much as a Honda CRF300L at $5,399 and the Honda is street legal and handles fine at highway speeds driving to the trails.
Don’t have bikes for the exercise ,LOL
How many pedestrians are going to get killed, disabled, or maimed by electric bikes on the sidewalk?
These things are lethal weapons when operated by teenagers.
I have had four close calls in the last two years.
Most recent - almost stepped into a crosswalk in front of an electric bike in the bike lane running the red light at full speed.
Apparently, these things have 20 mph speed governors on them. Still fast enough to kill pedestrians.
I assume made in China.