Avoid locks and roll into work with the folding, electric bike from Airwheel

By Garrett Hulfish Published December 14, 2016

Often the hardest part of commuting by bicycle is finding somewhere to lock it up. Even if you find a place, there is always that chance of someone swiping it. With the Airwheel R5, you can avoid this problem altogether by folding it up and bringing it with you.

Don’t write this off as a simple compact bike. The Airwheel R5 is a folding, electric smart bike that aims to make your commute as easy on you as it is on the environment. These features and more allow this bike to be one of the most forward-thinking examples of bicycle tech available.

Recommended Videos

There are three modes to choose from while riding the R5. Like any traditional bike, you can pedal normally. By activating power assist, the electric motor will kick in to ease off about half the effort required. If you get to a big hill or simply wish to take a break, you can switch over to the electricity-assisted mode for the motor’s full power.

1 of 5

airwheel folding electric bicycle r5 1 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

airwheel folding electric bicycle — Image used with permission by copyright holder

airwheel folding electric bicycle r5 3 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

airwheel folding electric bicycle r5 4 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

airwheel folding electric bicycle r5 5 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

After roughly 60 miles of power assistance, the removable battery will need recharging. This can easily be done whether the battery is attached to the bike or not. The battery also features a USB port for easy charging of phones and tablets, A full charge of the Airwheel batter should grant you 70 full charges for your smartphone. This may come in handy since the bike can also connect to your phone through the Airwheel app. Here you can check your speed, position, battery, and more.

Eventually, all rechargeable batteries start losing their ability to hold a full charge. If this ever becomes a problem, batteries can be ordered separately without the need of purchasing a new bike.

These features alongside the foldable design make this one of the most practical electric bikes around. Currently, the Airwheel R5 is not on the market. However, you can contact their online support to request a sample unit for $400. More information should arrive at CES 2017 in January.

Garrett Hulfish

Contributor

Garrett is the kind of guy who tells you about all the tech you haven't heard of yet. He also knows too much about other…

Topics

Emerging Tech

Juiced Bikes sold at auction for $1.2 million, report says

The Juiced Bikes Scorpion X2 adds more power, upgraded tires, and an improved battery to the popular moped style e-bike.

Juiced Bikes, the San Diego-based maker of e-bikes, has been sold on an auction website for $1,225,000, according to a report from Electrek.Digital Trends recently reported how the company was showing signs of being on the brink of bankruptcy. The company and its executives had remained silent, while customer inquiries went unanswered and its website showed all products were out of stock. In addition, there were numerous reports of layoffs at the company.Yet, the most convincing sign was that the company’s assets appeared as listed for sale on an auction website used by companies that go out of business.Now, it appears that Juiced Bikes’ assets, including a dozen patents, multiple URLs, and the company’s inventory in both the U.S. and China, have been sold at auction, according to the report. It is likely that the buyer, who remains unknown, can capitalize on the brand and the overall value of the 15-year old company. Founded in 2009 by Tora Harris, a U.S. high-jump Olympian, Juiced Bikes was one of the early pioneers of the direct-to-consumer e-bike brands in the U.S. market.
The company had quickly built a reputation for the versatility of its e-bikes and the durability of their batteries. Over the years, the popularity of models such as the CrossCurrent, HyperScrambler, and RipCurrent only bolstered the brand’s status.Last year, Digital Trends named the Juiced Bikes Scorpion X2 as the best moped-style e-bike for 2023, citing its versatility, rich feature set, and performance.Juiced Bikes’ getting sold quickly might be a sign of what consulting firm Houlihan Lokey says is a recovery in the North American e-bike market.
The industry has had a roller-coaster ride during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: A huge spike in demand for e-bikes had combined with disrupted supply chains to create a supply/demand mismatch of “historic proportions," Houlihan Lokey said.

Branded Content

Adventure time: SUPCASE has the ultimate gear for outdoor enthusiasts

A variety of outdoor gear options for the ultimate wilderness enthusiast.

Scenic view from inside a tent while camping.

You might know SUPCASE for its excellent collection of durable and rugged phone cases. But as it's in the industry of making tough gear for the adventurous sorts, it should come as no surprise that the brand also has a valuable collection of outdoor gear. Just to provide some examples, a multi-functional pocket tool, a rugged and water-resistant equipment case, a durable yet spacious backpack, or even a sleek yet reliable bottle opener.

In fact, there are quite a few options, so many that it could be tough to nail down just one tool or outdoor item you'd need. Naturally, we put together this guide to explore some of the ultimate gear, but you can always peep at them yourself, as well.

Branded Content

Aventon Abound SR combines thoughtful design, enhanced security, and smart connectivity

Aventon Abound SR hero image with couple on the e-bike

Electric bikes are nothing new at this point, and while there are many styles, few purportedly do-it-all, and even fewer actually offer smart or more advanced features. They tend to do one thing particularly well, like cruising, carrying cargo, or sightseeing -- like city riding -- but the biggest way they push the envelope is by offering that long-range electric power. The Aventon Abound SR, a new do-it-all bike, goes far and beyond anything that's come before it.

For starters, it's the first bike equipped with Aventon's electronic control unit (ACU) which empowers intelligent safety features. That gives you 4G and GPS tracking built-in, plus remote locking, an alarm system, and much more. But also, this top-of-its-class bike is incredibly versatile and is suitable for everything from commutes to tough exercise rides and daily routines. It features a top speed of 20 miles per hour, has a range of up to 60 miles per charge, and can carry a payload of up to 440 pounds. Impressive, indeed. Let's take a closer look and get a little more friendly with it, shall we?