When it comes to electric bikes I don't usually do long build projects because I've built a lot of them over the years and I like to build and ride fast. But VanPower's VanTrue City had a twist that satisfied my curiosity, and it came out a few weeks ago. Instead of the simple procedure of adding a front wheel and pedals, which usually takes 15 to 20 minutes on most bikes, the City VanTrue is very nicely packaged in a small (for a bike) box. Make no mistake, this is a single-speed city electric bike with 26-inch wheels and a regular 2T frame, air fork and more; This is not a compact folding bike or a small wheel.
The interesting assembly process is based on a Chinese woodworking technique called "punch and tenon". The bike comes in a disassembled box, especially when it comes to the frame. The aluminum frame parts slide together at the junction (spike) with the spur (clip) and fit very precisely. Each joint is fastened with steel screws. Other technical aspects such as wiring, wheels and brake lines are already included, but the manufacturers must install the brake levers and handles.
There is a good physical and financial reason behind this unique semi-DIY approach. Most e-bikes with an aluminum frame are welded together, and most companies don't have the time (or money) to polish the welds, they just paint them. Welds between aluminum parts were often the weak link in the chain. Thanks to VanPower's unique mounting process, you replace the welding with a few screws at the frame mounts, but overall it looks very neat, if unique. This disjointed LEGO or IKEA assembly method is very durable even after you put it together. With the bike assembled, I was able to better adjust small comfort items like the position of the brake lever and the position of the front and rear seats.
Plus, because the rider assembles it from "parts," buyers can get creative by mixing and matching colors for a unique bike without having to paint or disassemble it. In my review the bike was all black (which I like above) and the shiny bolts made for a visually striking bike. The Infinity Silver color scheme is also very attractive. As mentioned, the bike comes in a box half the size of a regular bike. This reduces material costs, transport costs and box waste.
VELABBUD
I took my time building the City VanTrue. Assembly took almost 90 minutes and was a pleasure. With all the parts disassembled and installed (above), I used good quality tools, mostly a wrench/hex wrench and the VanPower instructions, to assemble the bike on a sunny summer day while listening to music and enjoying a frozen drink. per day. All parts are perfectly aligned with each other, with no play or deflection, and each is numbered for clarity (labels peel off neatly). VanPowers Dropbox sent me a 15 minute build video which I thought was too quick (of course you pause the process) and I felt it was missing some of the more technical, particularly important parts of the build. through installing and tensioning the carbon belt, but luckily the manual is very detailed and avoids the Chinese to English translation problems I often see in other manuals. The manual also has torque specs for many of the bolts used to mount the City VanTrue that weren't in the video, which is important to know in order to assemble the bike as it is. A torque wrench is not included in the VanPower tool kit, but I recommend it if you decide to build this (or any) bike.
The US version of the City VanTrue is a Class 1 e-bike that only provides pedal assist from a 350W rear axle motor that offers five levels of assist and step assist. A small and very bright built-in color LCD screen built into the top of the pole provides quick information on speed, support level and battery level. Three small buttons on the left panel activate Power, Options and Display. Recharging the battery is easy with the charger, which charges the battery to 100 percent in two hours.
Time on the road
The City VanTrue is a very light e-bike, my bike weighs 35kg on the scales and it's hard to tell it's an e-bike. The 36-volt, 7-amp-hour lithium-ion battery is located in the bottom rail of the frame, which is not much larger than the other frame tubes. The illusion is supported by a rear axle that stands like a "normal" bike. Most people I showed it to thought I was joking when I told them it was an electric bike until I let them ride it.
And with any e-bike, it's all about the ride. I felt like I was pedaling over 20 mph, which is pretty quick for a single-speed street machine with skinny 700 x 28cm Maxis tires on black DT Swiss aero spokes. The hydraulic disc brakes do a good job of slowing front and rear and are virtually silent, as are the small but powerful pedal motors. Driving quality is excellent; It's a fun and precise bike that's a joy to ride even over long distances. I found the frame size to be a good fit for this big 6'1" rider and the seat was comfortable. One gear requires maximum assistance on steep hills, including the pedals, but I had no problem testing a 700-foot grade, and the City VanTrue confidently climbed down at over 30 mph.
The City VanTrue also had a quality coilover but no lights. I just added the LED strip and LED taillights from my personal bike light collection, but if only they would match the bike, especially a black motorcycle riding at night. It's a small thing, but many motorcycles are now equipped with some kind of light, and if I could order every motorcycle to be equipped with a light, I would. I see (or don't see) too many riders relying on reflectors at night instead of real lights. LED lighting kits are cheap and efficient, and Vanpower offers them as an option. Please place the kit in the box. The City VanTrue includes a set of reflectors. A wide range of accessories are available, including racks, screens, extra batteries and more.
Closing
I've been looking at quite a few single-speed electric city bikes lately because they're growing in popularity, and for good reason: if you don't need off-road ability, these stylish bikes are perfect for cruising around town. and they are ideal for commuter bikes with fat tires or medium weights. it's much sportier than that. Overall, I'm very impressed with the City VanTrue eBay for $1,699. It appeals to my minimalist cycling sense and I love making things that go together. It's a fast, stylish and gorgeous e-bike that's a joy to ride and I had no assembly problems after assembly, but now I'm noticing stiffness again (which was good). Like I said, I wish VanPower had a torque wrench with some basic lighting fixtures (they briefly used one in the promo video), otherwise I recommend the VanPower City Venture.
I had fun building the bike and if you like owning a City VanTrue but don't really want to build it, it can be pre-assembled for an extra $150 to get you going even faster But personally building the City VanTrue gave me a little more confidence that sounds stupidly, but that's how it was.
And that's a good thing for VanPower: it looks like there will be more bike models (with a simpler design), including an electric mountain bike with tires that will be very interesting. I look forward to trying it when it becomes available.
