Review by Enzo O. de los Reyes
Every boy's dream is to have a bike. But with scooters and motorcycles zooming around everywhere, imagining oneself whizzing past your friends on their bicycles with a twist of the wrist can be quite entertaining.
Unfortunately, my parents have not been initiated to the joys of two-wheeled motoring (What did you say? - Ed. aka father of this writer). More specifically, they're scared out of their wits with what can happen when you unleash an 11-year old boy on a motorized contraption. Now I know how young boys in the late 19th century felt. (
Really now. - Ed.)
But one thing I learned from my 11 years of experience is that persistence pays off (i.e. "I want a bike! I want a bike!"). Which is how I eventually found myself behind the handlebars of this slick and stealthily silent two-wheeled testosterone
machine. (Those are actually my adjectives. - Ed.)
Obviously my father is not the type to have wool pulled over his eyes. (You got that right! - Ed.) That's because the electric motorbike you see here has a top speed of a ho-hum 16kph, which is hardly enough for me to outrun our neighbor's dog. However, it is, in my mom's words, "safe." With that kind of top speed, even my grandparents can run after me. That is, if they have the stamina to outlast this bike's claimed 16-km range on a full charge. (It doesn't have an odometer - nor a speedometer - so I can't tell how far I really drove back and forth our street.) Size-wise, the P10,000 Bismarktech Electro Racer is perfect for 8- to 12-year-olds, although older teenagers and even smaller adults can sit on it somewhat comfortably (the seat height is adjustable and the bike has an 85-kg weight load capacity) - as effectively demonstrated by my dad, the world's oldest teenager.
The Electro Racer looks small and spindly - until you carry it. Suddenly, it's the work of an adult (or two boys) to carry the bike up or down steps. It's claimed to weigh 22 kg, but it feels much more than that. My dad says it's because of the 12-volt lead-acid batteries. The tires probably contribute some weight, too, because they're of the solid-rubber type. Being relieved of the need to monitor and inflate the tires is offset by the jarring ride caused by the solid tires. Proof of the harshness is the fact that the plastic wheel rim's lip crumbled, dislodging the tire. There was a crack on the lip when we got the demo bike so maybe an undamaged wheel would prove to be much more durable.
Charging time ranged from 3 to 6 hours but since I used the bike for just an hour or two during weekends and only on short hops, I often found the green LED (full charge) lighting up after less than two hours' charging time on a 110/220V outlet.
Scooting away is really this bike's forte. It might have a lowly top speed but it accelerates from a standstill much quicker than some of my hardest-pedaling friends on their racer bikes. The absence of sound makes it seem even faster. There isn't even any of the chain/gear noise you'd hear on bikes or motorcycles because this electric bike transfers its power via rubber belt. The cable-actuated (via left-hand lever) brake works on the rear wheels and does a good job of slowing down the bike.
No boy would want to go back to his bicycle after this. Did you get that, dad?
GRINS
? surprisingly quick off the line
? no noise and no smoke means no bothering the neighbors
? loud horn for a small bike (probably a "Grimace" for neighbors)
? reasonably priced
GRIMACES
? looow top speed
? plastic wheels
? flashlight-like headlights
THE LOWDOWN
A cheap, silent, effortless, pollution-free, and noise-free way to feel the breeze on your face.
