We have them in the motoring industry with SUVs, so why not in the world of e-bikes too? Chinese newcomer Saigo has launched what it calls the world’s first ‘sports utility e-bike’ in the SUB, merging comfortable off road capability with city practicality.
Ostensibly, the new bike features a city bike frame married to fat-bike ruggedness, which could make it the only urban e-bike that you’ll ever need.
Of the new design, Saigo’s co-founder Ray Chow said: “We created the Saigo SUB line to bring the spirit of SUVs to cycling: convenient for everyday use, but rugged enough for play.
“We have combined state of the art technology with the latest features to create a stylish electric bicycle for off roading or commuting to work.”
Two (S and S+) versions have a 500w motor (a speed pedelec in the UK requiring registration), and two ‘Universal’ versions feature a standard pedelec 250w unit, attached to a version-specific battery with around a five-hour empty-to-full charge time using a standard charge unit. The bike also features a ‘Torque Sensor System’ that’s said to be capable of increasing these figures by 30%, with six assistance levels.
This yields a claimed 83.2-112km of range depending on the model you opt for.
The bike has a city bike step-through frame, with clearance for 26x4in tyres giving it plenty of go-anywhere capability this side of a mountain bike, hydraulic brakes in the more powerful versions, rear rack and plenty of integrated tech to boot.
There are USB ports to charge mobile devices in-situ, and integrated lock mechanism, an OLED screen to provide easy-to-read ride data as well as an optional push-assist feature. Automatic lights are integrated into the bike, incorporating a laser safety zone projection around the bike, along with indicators.
Saigo also provides an accompanying app (connected via Bluetooth) to monitor use statistics and important features like battery health, as well as customise aspects for the bike’s behaviour in given situations.
For more details on the SUB and its models, check out Saigo’s Indiegogo crowdfunding page, where you can still back the project and claim a discounted SUB.
