Orbea have launched their first kids e-bikes, called the eMX. It's lightweight at just 15.5kg and intended for kids aged between 6 and 10, with child-friendly geometry and simple yet robust components specced throughout.
Orbea have built the bike around their Minipro geometry, with 24 inch wheels, short chainstays and a sloping top tube. The handling is built to be easy, and there's just a single chainring for simplicity and ease of use.
You'll notice that the eMX doesn't look like an e-bike at all, and that's thanks to Orbea's Enough Energy battery concept that provides sufficient power without being a bulky addition to the frame. As well as the discreet and light battery unit, Orbea have specced a custom hub motor setup that they say "provides enough smooth and reliable assistance at levels designed to enhance rides, not dominate them."
Orbea have also added their CAN (Controller Area Network) integrated port that provides a single interface for charging, system diagnosis or attaching the external backup battery. Orbea say the eMX's PAS sensor provides balanced assist that activates via a sensor in the dropout that detects 20 magnets in the cassette's lockring. It monitors pedalling output and adjusts power accordingly.
Banned in Blighty
As some of you may or may not know, the bad news for UK-based e-bikers is that due to an old ruling that hasn’t been superseded by EU law, under 14’s aren’t allowed to ride e-bikes in the UK (check out our feature on Electric Bikes and UK law for more rules and regs)… which means this bike or any other junior e-bikes are out of the question on our shores currently. eBikeTips’ founder Dave Atkinson didn’t hold back when I asked him what he thinks of the UK’s extra stringent rules banning youngsters from using e-assistance:
“Unfortunately, this is a prime case of nanny state-ism on the UK’s part – although this law might be an old one that was brought in to cover old school pedelecs with a throttle, there’s no reason whatsoever why under 14’s can’t safely ride modern electric bikes which are limited to a pretty conservative 15 miles an hour anyway. Our rules should be brought into line with the rest of the EU, even if we might not be part of it for much longer!”
The eMX is priced at £1,699, available in black and red or black and green colourways. If you and your young ones live outside/regularly do bike trips outside of the UK and you reckon it looks like the real deal, head over to Orbea’s website for more info and buying options.
