Using the bikes is really easy and although the surrounding countryside is pretty flat, it is nice to have to electric motor if you fancy taking a breather or on the slight rises. Sissinghurst is a brilliant place to visit – the house, gardens and estate are beautiful and well presented. With the electric bikes, it makes for a really great day trip from London (1hr on the train from Charing Cross and 45mins on the bike to Sissinghurst). Without the battery, the Kent Torpedo is easy enough to pedal, though it will definitely feel a bit heavier than a typical kid’s bike.
There’s even a six-speed transmission that makes the bike extra pedal-friendly even without any electric assist. A fully fitted service centre supports our commitment to your safe cycling where all bikes (not just electric bikes) can be serviced, repaired and overhauled. A collection and delivery can be arranged with prior notice as can a loan bike.
The V-brakes similarly aren’t incredibly high quality, but then again, they work just fine. This is a $498 kids e-bike after all – not a $17,000 S-Works for lycra-clad dads. With a front suspension fork that isn’t much to write home about but still works just fine, the bike is somewhat sporty. We built a classic front yard ramp and had fun seeing who could get the most air.
The e-bikes will be assembled in Kent’s South Carolina factory and sold in North America and Europe. Panasonic intends to announce partnerships with other U.S. and European brands in the coming months. If there’s one thing worse than running kent road bike out of battery before you’re home, it’s surely your young child’s heavy e-bike running out of battery before you’re home. Kent reckon the battery is good for 15 miles of range, but that will obviously depend on terrain and power usage.
Its top-of-the-line GX0 system, used on both Van Dessel models, weighs 2.95 kilograms (6 pounds, 8 ounces) and generates 90 nM of torque. He said the Univega models have the potential to sell up to 10,000 units, and the Van Dessel models up to 3,000 units in the U.S. and 20,000 worldwide. Kent eventually plans to sell a complete line of “deluxe e-bikes” under the Van Dessel brand in the U.S. and Europe. “On an item that’s going to be $2,500 or $4,000, the non-e-bike components are only a few hundred dollars at most. If we have to pay an additional tariff on that, it’s not a big deal,” he said.
We have hired electric bikes before and wanted to do it again. Marcus offered to be our guide which was great and meant we didn’t get lost. We joined him on a vineyard tour and the two younger kids were towed on their tag a long bikes. Marcus sorted a flat easy route that my son loved as he didn’t pedal once! We hired the bikes for a day to travel from Staplehurst train station to Sissinghurst Castle. Marcus was exceptionally helpful when I was arranging the hire.
An led battery meter is mounted on the handlebars that also houses the power mode selector. The motor doesn’t add any assist unless the rider is pedaling, and the assist cuts out immediately when pedaling stops. The brake levers that control a pair of v-brakes also have sensors to cut motor power any time the brakes are pulled. The motor is supplied by an adorable little 24v 5.2Ah battery. In low power mode, the battery is sufficient for 15 miles (25 km) of range. Of course, if the battery ever runs out, the e-bike simply turns back into a standard pedal bike.