The lightest weight e-bike I’ve ever examined

The Dahon Ok-Feather is a kind of electrical bikes that makes much more sense the longer you trip it. On paper, it seems somewhat low-power and low-capacity in comparison with the spec sheets for many e-bikes. In apply, particularly when used precisely as meant, it seems to be a remarkably well-executed city commuter that also feels refreshingly totally different years after its launch.

Launched earlier this 12 months by Dahon, a model finest identified for many years of folding bike expertise, the Ok-Feather was by no means meant to compete with high-power folding e-bikes loaded with throttles, suspension, and big batteries.

As an alternative, it goals for one thing far easier: a brilliant light-weight folding bike that simply occurs to have electrical help.

A light-weight e-bike, even by mild e-bike requirements

At round 26 lb (11.8 kg), the Ok-Feather is shockingly mild for an electrical bike, even by immediately’s requirements. Choose it up and it barely registers as an e-bike in any respect. That’s largely because of its extraordinarily minimalist design, highlighted by the cleverly hidden battery built-in into the seatpost.

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The 24V 5Ah battery affords roughly 120 Wh of capability, which is undeniably small, however it additionally avoids the cumbersome look and awkward weight distribution that many early e-bikes suffered from.

The result’s a motorcycle that feels balanced, straightforward to hold, and genuinely nice to reside with in an city surroundings. Folding it up is fast and intuitive, and carrying it up stairs or onto public transport doesn’t really feel like a chore. For residence dwellers, prepare commuters, or anybody combining biking with different types of transportation, this issues loads.

I’m undecided how else to say this with out beating a useless horse, however it’s simply extremely light-weight. Whenever you decide it up, your mind simply type of short-circuits because it fails to compute that that is nonetheless an electrical bike.

Easy, refined electrical help

Energy comes from a 250W rear hub motor that gives pedal help solely. There’s no throttle, no advanced show, and no try to show the Ok-Feather into one thing it isn’t. The help tops out round 15.5 mph (25 km/h), aligning extra with European-style pedelec limits than US Class 2 or Class 3 expectations.

For these accustomed to American-style electrical bikes, that will sound fairly sluggish. And in case you’re making an attempt to maintain up with visitors on the shoulder of a busy street, it’s sluggish. However this e-bike is extra designed for bike lane cruising, the place 15 mph means you’re simply maintaining with, or passing, most pedal bike riders.

The help itself is quiet and unobtrusive. It doesn’t leap ahead whenever you begin pedaling, and it doesn’t overpower the trip. As an alternative, it looks like a delicate push that smooths out stop-and-go metropolis using and takes the sting off quick climbs and headwinds. You continue to really feel such as you’re using a motorcycle, only a barely stronger model of your self.

The torque sensor undoubtedly does its job, approaching rapidly and successfully with out being lurchy, although it’s onerous for a 250W motor to really feel lurchy anyway. However with an efficient torque sensor as an alternative of a laggy pedal help sensor, the minimal help nonetheless feels good and pure, as in case you’re merely at all times pedaling with a tailwind.

That using really feel is a giant a part of the Ok-Feather’s allure. It doesn’t attempt to impress you with acceleration or brute drive. It merely makes city biking simpler, calmer, and extra approachable. It’s not a powerhouse, however somewhat a wise commuter.

The place the restrictions present up

There’s no getting round the truth that the Ok-Feather’s small battery and modest motor outline its limits. Vary is often quoted at round 15 to twenty miles (25 to 40 km), and that’s life like in case you’re using on comparatively flat terrain and contributing an inexpensive quantity of pedal effort. Begin pushing hills onerous or using aggressively, and that quantity will drop.

There aren’t a number of pedal help ranges, so it’s not like you may drop it into decrease pedal help energy to avoid wasting battery. As an alternative, vary largely comes right down to your weight, your using, pace, and the way hilly your terrain proves to be.

Equally, steep climbs will rapidly reveal the bike’s low energy output. This isn’t a hill crusher, and it’s not pretending to be one. The only-speed drivetrain reinforces that actuality, holding issues easy and low upkeep however limiting flexibility when terrain will get demanding.

The V-brakes look old-school, certain. However I wouldn’t truly ding them right here as a result of they appear to work nice. I had rim brakes for a protracted, very long time. And whereas I benefit from the stopping energy and low upkeep of hydraulic disc brakes, I can’t ignore the truth that after I yank on these stoppers, I rapidly discover myself stationary. So yeah, pooh-pooh all of them you need for being older tech, however they work.

And lastly, I do want the tail mild and headlight have been powered by the primary e-bike battery. As an alternative, they’ve their very own devoted rechargeable batteries. It really works, however it’s yet another factor to recollect to cost each once in a while.

For riders coming from American-style, high-powered e-bikes, these constraints may really feel vital. However context issues right here, and that’s the factor to bear in mind for anybody contemplating an ultra-lightweight e-bike like this. The Ok-Feather isn’t making an attempt to exchange a automotive or deal with lengthy suburban commutes. It’s designed for brief city journeys, last-mile using, and compact residing conditions, and in that position, its limitations really feel extra like trade-offs than flaws.

In its aspect: metropolis commuting

The important thing takeaway for me is that the Ok-Feather works finest as a runabout in a dense metropolis surroundings, which is the place it makes good sense. Quick journeys between neighborhoods, errands, commuting a number of miles to work, or using to a prepare station are precisely what it excels at. Its mild weight makes it straightforward to hold inside somewhat than locking up exterior, and its discreet look doesn’t scream “costly e-bike.”

In actual fact, at round US $1,299 relying on present pricing and gross sales, that’s a fairly darn good worth for an ultra-lightweight e-bike. We’re used to seeing e-bikes on this worth vary fetch increased figures within the $3,000 to $4,000 vary (and generally even way more) from unique body supplies and obscure drivetrains. However the Ok-Feather simply makes use of intelligent engineering that tracks with Dahon’s a long time of design legacy to create one thing mild but stiff, and with out breaking the financial institution.

The small wheels and compact geometry make it nimble in visitors, and the help smooths out frequent begins and stops at intersections. You arrive much less sweaty and fewer fatigued, however nonetheless really feel such as you truly rode a motorcycle somewhat than being carried by a motor.

That is additionally a motorcycle that appeals to riders who need electrical assist with out absolutely committing to the thought of an e-bike. It’s unintimidating, visually understated, and mechanically easy. For many individuals, that’s a function, not a downside.

Ultimate ideas

The Dahon Ok-Feather isn’t for everybody, and it actually isn’t making an attempt to be. In order for you excessive pace, lengthy vary, or hill-dominating energy, this isn’t the bike for you. I’d advocate that you just look elsewhere (and be ready to elevate a number of extra kilos).

However if you would like a genuinely light-weight folding e-bike that integrates electrical help in a refined, elegant manner, it nonetheless holds up remarkably properly. And folds up remarkably properly, too.

Utilized in its meant surroundings as a city-focused commuter and last-mile bike, the Ok-Feather works precisely as promised. It’s easy, refined, and quietly efficient, and that’s a mixture that is still surprisingly uncommon within the e-bike world.