LONDON (BRAIN) — Six years since its introduction at the Taipei Cycle Show, the distinctive Gocycle e-bike is available for distribution in the United States.
“The profile of a successful bicycle shop for us is usually one that’s into different niche categories. They may have super-cool urban bikes, folding bikes and e-bikes. Those people do very well with Gocycle,” company founder Richard Thorpe said.
The small-wheeled folding bike, now in its second generation, is unusual in many ways. Called the G2, its frame and wheels are made of magnesium. A small, 500-watt front hub motor pairs with a pedal-powered rear hub.
Its 20-inch wheels, which Gocycle calls Pitstopwheels, are equipped with disc brakes and are side-mounted, so they remove quickly for compact stowage. Small doesn’t mean slow; the wheels were used to set a human-power speed record of 81 miles an hour in 2013.
A Shimano Nexus 3-speed internal gear rear hub shifts electronically. A smartphone app allows the cyclist to modify the bike’s performance parameters.
“Gocycle is an award-winning product. It’s revolutionary in many different ways. It’s portable. It’s one of the lightest e-bikes in the world. It has a place in an e-bike dealer’s shop — if they are serious about e-bikes,” Thorpe said. The bike weighs about 35 pounds.
Gocycle works directly with retailers, but has partnered with Advanced Sports International to handle warehousing and order fulfillment in the U.S.
Apart from electric bicycle dealers, Gocycle has had success selling through the marine and luxury yacht markets, Thorpe said. That in part reflects its premium price: $4,999.
The company chose an unusual venue for its U.S. debut: the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, where it hosted a soft launch of the G2. Thorpe said Gocycle has also found success in the RV, aviation and “supercar” channels.
Interested retailers can contact Gocycle’s sales director, Craig Nairn, at sales@gocycle.com.
