OHM cycles urban XU700 review

I had received the OHM Urban XU700 to test a few months ago and this bike has probably seen the most abuse of any other bike I’ve tested. I’ll get into the test procedures later.

My time spent on this bike is a mixture of bike commuting to and from work, errands as well as taking the occasional Saturday morning rides through town.

The OHM XU700 offers a variety of riding options:
1.There are 3 other levels of assist from this bike. 1 being the lowest amount of assist from the motor and 4, being the greatest amount. I spent most of my time on level 4, no pedaling required.

2. Regenerative braking. You read it right. Basically what this means is you can adjust your motor from the control panel to generate electricity and recharge your batteries while going down the hill. Regeneration also works by adding resistance to your pedal stroke. This allows your to pedal and recharge at the same time.

If you take a gander at the detailed spec sheet found HERE, you’ll see that the OHM XU700 is outfitted with some decent parts such as hydraulic Tektro brakes, Shimano Deore drivetrain components and many more. I do have to note that the Suntour NCX fork was pretty plush and when combined with the Suntour suspension seat post, this bike rode like a dream. Pot holes, bumps and any imperfections of the road or trail were quickly absorbed.

Power for the headlight and tail light was generated by the Shimano dynamo hub. Keep in mind that this is more of a “be seen” light rather than one to see with.

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty of the OHM Urban XU700. There are a few things that most people would want to know about an e-bike. I’ll break it down in various sections below:

Battery life between charges-I was averaging about 20 miles per charge. Keep in mind, that I was at the highest level of assist, meaning I barely pedaled while riding. So I relied heavily on its battery power to move my 206lb body.

How long does it take to recharge?-Once the battery is fully depleted, I recharge it and that cycle takes about 5 hours. Typically what i do is when I arrive at my office, I remove the battery pack and charge it. By the time I head out to get some lunch, the battery is about 3/4 charged. Once I return, the battery is back on the charger. By the end of my day, it’s fully charged and ready to go.

How does it handle?-There’s no difference in the way the OHM rides than any other bike out there. The geometry suggests a more relaxed stance and has a comfort bike feel to it.

How fast can it go?- On flats, I was able to take it up to 21mph.

How does it work? -”In auto assist mode, the system automatically provides boost proportionate to the rider’s pedaling effort. The harder the rider pedals, the more the boost the system will provide. Alternatively, rider can use the throttle to propel the bike without pedaling. Note: throttle can only be engaged after 2 km/h.”

Stopping power?The hydraulic brakes make stopping on a dime easy.

Is it user friendly?-Yes, it’s very easy to use. Turn it on, set your pedal assist level, then ride!

Is the bike reliable? In a short and simple answer, yes. The OHM Urban XU700 has been down trails that it wasn’t meant to go on and I’ve tested its durability in more ways than one.

For starters, the bike did well on the street. Not once did I have any problems with it. The electrical system worked as designed and it made my commute easier because I hardly had to pedal. As far as testing its durability, I took this bike through various mountain bike trails as well as a Super D and Downhill course at the Southridge Challenge back in November. The photo below was taken moments before a downpour. I have purposely left the bike out in rain to see if that would cause any problems. To my surprise, everything worked perfectly. The drivetrain has never needed any sort of tuning or adjustments.

In fact, when I rode it down the Super D and DH courses, people would stop and stare because they couldn’t believe that this e-bike was able to handle the abuse I was giving it. I tried to beat up this bike, but the only thing I did to it was a pinch flat and it caused the rear wheel to come out of true. Other than that, the bike is in great shape!

I’ve gotta admit, the OHM Cycles Urban XU700 has me very excited. It’s an absolutely entertaining bike to ride. Everyone that has tried it simply falls in love with the pedal assist. During one of my Saturday morning, 15 miler rides with the OHM, I had stopped at the local 7/11 and a gentleman came up to me asking about the bike. He said that he was in the market for an e-bike, but had never tried one. So I offered him the OHM to ride in the parking lot. Much like the responses that people have when they ride the OHM, he too fell in love. He made it a point to write down the brand and model name.

Fortunately, this bike does come with some accessories that a large number of our readers love: fenders, rack, and lights!

In closing, the OHM Cycles Urban XU700 has been a very fun bike to test. It has taken me on some great adventures and its durability has been pretty stellar. But the question is, would I buy one at the price of $3299? If I had the cash laying around — yes, I would.

Review Disclaimer

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Urban bad weather commuting

Josh King lives in Seattle, where he commutes by bike of every day, rain or shine. Earlier in this year he joined full time commuting each speed; Can his thoughts on the gearless www.singlespeedseattle.com go read

Start commute throughout the year and you'll have to make some adjustment for crappy weather. When I started working, my rainy day adjustment riding was easy: take the bus instead. And when I finally decided to ride to try home in the rain, it was frightening in one word.Seattle is very dark us in winter and dark plus rain equal to some seriously suboptimal Reitzustände.Aber as I gradually geared up and because accustomed that I grew up riding in the rain to enjoy - and even occasionally look on you.

I know twisted. Anyway, a few thoughts about town, when bad weather riding:

Is visible and predictable is never more important than riding in the rain. Driver visibility is limited. Pedestrians are hard to see, and often scurrying. And people, to cover the emerging from parked cars - often in a hurry you could be also invisible. So this is get lots of lighting key.But comfortable take the track is equal wichtig.Sie be out the door zone that makes much more visible in all areas. Plus, you have to maneuver room running someone helter-skelter across the street for the sanctuary of an awning. Always a powerful taillight has miracle to make me confident that I would get hit from behind, when to take the track in the rainy dark.

Because it is hard eye contact in the rain and darkness making I tend to slower and defensive driving much more if it regnet.Die commute most of my runs through heavy pedestrian areas and drivers are often between Pack peds right turns make dart or links transformed in Parkplätze.Ich always to see for slowing traffic (because many cars not signal), and make sure that I stop room or a way out. Passing on the right side of bike lanes, is risky as it really hard for drivers by dark you and rain-soaked window is visible. I try to avoid it unless it is nowhere to turn (including parking) for the car.

In addition to effective lighting, decisions made easier to manage a number of simple course horse riding in the rain a lot:

Basic gloves.My gloves cold weather were sodden when it came to drive time at home but I found that basic non-waterproof Microsfleece gloves with WINDSTOPPER material for my short commuting fine waren.Sicher to get my hands a bit wet but you never get misery. And the gloves are easy enough to make to dry way through time evening comes. Helmet cover. Not only it deters the rain, but always with illuminite substance into your head a beacon, when touch always a car headlight on it. Brilliant stuff. And because function on or off in seconds goes you can easily (it negatively affects ventilation) remove him for longer trips. Shoe covers. How many of the urban commuters ride I in work clothes. I would include except biking shoes is hard to do - but two years ago this was to find made of Oregon's J & G.Sie clunkiest of shoes shoe covers that fit over something.You will not cycle mode to win prizes with this mini hefty bags on your feet, but are durable and effective. My original pair is still strong.  Pack cover. Many people in Seattle in favor of waterproof location body bags, but I'm partial to my packaging provides more organization and laptop protection. This simple cover of CamelBak (usually available for less than $10) goes beyond my bag in seconds and transparency. Rain bike. Always a bike with full front Mudguard can help a lot, keep the street grit and reduce maintenance. That is my first attempt at a rain bike was a disaster. I bought a 1966 AMF Hercules three speed. It looked great, and the price was right... but the Steering was uncontrollable and the old brakes flat-out failed the first time I rode it during heavy rains. That when I sold it and bought the animal, a single speed 29er Marin.This brings me to make individual speed.My assumption of single speeding horse riding was born in dealing with issues of weather-related Derailler frustration.Slipped and broken chains and dodgy transmissions are not only annoying, but you can be downright dangerous if you need immediate performance.Single speed requires very little maintenance, and you must never slip gears or derailment if you do apply at the wrong time.Plus it's incredibly fun - as if first you ride a bike as a child.I have some thoughts (and charts) on selecting the right gearing for single speed together.

Respect your limits.It took a while before I felt comfortable riding in the rain, especially in the Nacht.Ich would not recommend, someone who I will not to drücken.Und still snowy or iced ride is bis.Das partly because my ride is so steep, but mainly because drivers in Seattle have no idea how these conditions to navigieren.Es happens only once every few years, but if it does, the streets are a Gerangel.Sie are unsure, on sidewalks, let alone in the Straßen.An I'm happy these days again the bus ride,.

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10 Rules for urban commuting

Josh King lives in Seattle, where he commutes by bike every day, rain or shine. Earlier this year he switched to full-time single speed commuting; you can read his thoughts on going gearless at www.singlespeedseattle.com

My commute through Seattle’s Capitol Hill and into the heart of downtown takes me through a maze of cars, pedestrians, and well-intentioned but not always well-thought-out nods to cyclists. But in this chaos lies the beauty of riding to work every day: It is simultaneously a workout, a mental challenge and, quite possibly, the most efficient way to get to work. But it’s not the same as riding on a placid trail somewhere, blissing out to the iPod. It’s not even like a fast group ride on a country road. It requires both heightened attention and a willingness to forget many of the “rules” of cycling. In their place, here are 10 things I’ve learned about daily commuting in the city:

Obeying traffic rules is not your first priority. There are traffic rules aplenty to deal with in urban riding – street lights, stop signs, one way streets, construction zones, bus lanes, etc. Obeying these rules is all well and good, but priority number one is staying safe. I will unapologetically admit to breaking at least a half-dozen traffic rules each way, every day. Roll through stop signs? You bet. Run red lights. Check. Disobey the “Construction – street closed” signs that have been blocking my route home for the last month. Absolutely. You see, while traffic rules have a certain logic, they are built around cars, not bikes. A moving bike is a safer bike, as momentum allows you to skirt obstacles and avoid danger from any direction. Sitting motionless in the road at a stop sign or light, a cyclist is at his or her most vulnerable. Better, then, to slow down, look carefully and keep moving if the way is clear. The idea is to be critical, to not slavishly accept and obey the traffic rules just because they are there. Recognize that your safety comes first.Don’t pay attention to bike lanes. Hell, nobody else in the city does. I routinely encounter buses, double-parked cars, delivery vans, wrong-way skateboarders and inebriated pedestrians blocking bike lanes. Always be prepared to take the lane. Plus, many bike lanes put you solidly in the “door zone” when you’re anywhere on the inner two-thirds of the lane. That’s not much of a problem when traveling uphill, but a major issue on downhill bike lanes. Always take the lane – not the bike lane, the whole damn thing – when traveling downhill.

Better aggressive than meek. While stupidly aggressive riding is problematic and dangerous, overly-cautious riding is also a problem. Riders who are afraid to assert themselves in traffic are a danger to themselves and other riders. Seeking refuge from traffic, they ride too close to the curb, where the pavement sucks, junk abides and car doors and pedestrians are apt to strike at any moment.. They give up their precious momentum when moments of indecision strike, cutting back on their options and imperiling riders behind them. Riders new to city streets should accept their trepidation and actively work to overcome it. As this study about traffic deaths among London cyclists found, an abundance of caution in riding is not a benefit.Pacelines are very bad. Riding on someone’s wheel is fine when you’re spinning out in the country, but not so good in the city. You’ve got no idea whether they’re a confident rider, or if they’re going to suddenly brake because someone’s puppy gets too close to the curb. Be cautious of other riders and give them a wide berth, particularly if they look skitterish or cautious.Variety is not the spice of life. Save the mixing it up for whatever else you like to do for fun. You’re riding a bike to and from work for chrissakes, isn’t that fun enough. You don’t need to alter your route just to add variety. Knowing your route – every pothole, blind right turn and nasty intersection of it – is critical to riding safely. Be predictable in your riding and your route. Get a tattoo or something if your route isn’t exciting enough.Don’t signal. Look, let’s be honest here – most bike riders don’t know what a right-hand turn signal looks like, let alone drivers.. Signaling is just not going to be useful most of the time, and engaging in the pointless pursuit means taking one hand off your handlebars. I’ll start signaling when I get nice smooth streets, but until then I’m keeping both hands on the grips.. Go ahead and signal if it’s helpful to a driver and you can do it safely, but dispense with that dumb-ass right turn signal nonsense. Just point where you’re going.

Don’t stand on your rights.Yeah, you’ve got a bike lane, or the right-of-way, or whatever. It doesn’t matter. The laws of physics trump all traffic rules. A bus is entering the bike lane to meet a stop right ahead of you. Don’t try to pass in the bike lane. Ditto for drivers making right turns, clueless pedestrians and lost dogs. Ride like your life is on the line. Do what’s safest and most predictable to others in the road, even if that means giving up “your” lane
or, God forbid, stopping.Take the lane. This is a key skill for all urban riders. Visibility and safety demand that you be able to take the lane any time. If circumstances feel the least bit dodgy, take the lane. It may piss drivers off, but better a honk than getting doored or run over. This is particularly true when it’s not fully safe for a driver to pass you with enough clearance. If there’s any doubt, don’t tempt drivers to pass you – take the lane and block them, even (especially?) if they honk.Don’t be a right-winger. I see this all the time. cyclists waiting at a red light, hanging at the right corner. Or passing traffic through a green light, on the right. Dumb, dumb, dumb. This is the number one way to get hit when riding in the city. The cars won’t see you as they’re trying to turn right, and they’ll plow right into you or pull across you when you don’t have time to stop. This is why cities like Portland have installed so many bike boxes. The safest place to be at a red light is at the front of the line of traffic. Failing that, take the lane and take your turn with the cars. Just don’t think you should use the right lane when going through intersection.Wear a helmet, stupid. I seem to see more helmets in Seattle than in Manhattan, where wearing one must be against the law. But still – too many fixie hipsters and other too-cool types are cruising around with helmets. I like that as much as the next guy when cruising on the beach or a resort bike trail somewhere, but the city is HARD. There’s lots of stuff that will jump up and bite you, and a crack in the pavement or an errant car door can smack your head before you know it. It’s too high a price to pay for fashion, and besides – there are lots of cool bike helmets starting to hit the market.Follow this trend on Twitter using this hash tag: #10RulesUrbanCycling

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Summer Program to learn Urban Planning

131415161718192021222324252627282930 « bike polo East Side Invitational    cops in LA listen »

“Bikesplorations” is a free summer program to teach young people about urban planning and design.
Velo City is hosting this program and have partnered up with Recycle-a-bicycle. They are looking for your support.
Here is a video from kickstarter.


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