Review: I rode the ALSO TM-B E-Bike: Rivian Micromobility Startup’s First EV

[BrentInCO]

Excellent write-up and clears up a lot of misconceptions from haters (if they bother to read). How heavy is the bike?

I asked ALSO customer service that question and they said 80-100 lbs, depending on configuration. My existing e-bikes are 65-75. It’s hard to find an e-bike hitch mounted carrier for more than 2 e-bikes at 75 lbs each.

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[SwampNut]

I asked ALSO customer service that question and they said 80-100 lbs, depending on configuration. My existing e-bikes are 65-75. It’s hard to find an e-bike hitch mounted carrier for more than 2 e-bikes at 75 lbs each.

That’s almost a motorcycle. Sheesh.

But I think the market for these is city commuters who would never put them on a carrier.

 

[R1S88]

I would love to see a version using carbon fiber. It could be half the weight, but probably twice the price.

 

[SwampNut]

Carbon saves very little weight. The other parts are the majority of the weight, such as motors and batteries. I have a high end CF bike but the savings compared to alloy is minimal according to the manufacturer.

 

[1stPlace]

With a removable battery and seat attachment, you probably drop the weight down to ~50lbs so maybe that's enough for the typical hitch mount.

 

[savethemanual]

With a removable battery and seat attachment, you probably drop the weight down to ~50lbs so maybe that's enough for the typical hitch mount.

Correct, they stated drop approx. 25 lbs. removing the battery and top mount if you need to lift it. There's no getting around these are heavy, that's par for the course with this class of bike. The cargo rack is rated to carry 75 lbs.

 

[DD4ST]

I haven’t seen anything on the comfort of the standard Solo seat. I’m not a fan of narrow seats and prefer more cushioning. Did they address whether the actual seat part is removable and can be replaced with a different seat type?

 

[Dave Cundiff]

I haven’t seen anything on the comfort of the standard Solo seat. I’m not a fan of narrow seats and prefer more cushioning. Did they address whether the actual seat part is removable and can be replaced with a different seat type?

I can't find specifics, @DD4ST, but I'd be surprised if the optional alternatives for the seat assembly didn't include a variety of seat widths when released, or soon after.

Best wishes!

 

[thrill]

I can't find specifics, @DD4ST, but I'd be surprised if the optional alternatives for the seat assembly didn't include a variety of seat widths when released, or soon after.

Best wishes!

Does anyone ride anything other than scooters with a “bench” seat? It seems it’d be the most comfortable if you were likely to be frequently stopping and needing to put your feet down, but it’s been too many years since I rode a bike with a banana seat to remember if it was comfortable while pedaling.

 

[DD4ST]

I took from their website and videos that this seat is intended for people that want to ride the Also like a scooter. It looks to be too low for anything else.

 

[Yota2R1T]

With a removable battery and seat attachment, you probably drop the weight down to ~50lbs so maybe that's enough for the typical hitch mount.

Good point!

 

[Gigabit]

I like your enthusiastic about the bike, and your article is good for someone that is seriously considering spending used Honda civic money on a bike. But having an overview or getting to the point quicker would have been beneficial for this reader. I understand why you didn't. Overall looks like a product that will come and go if I'm being honest. Value proposition is real low.

 

[R1S88]

I like your enthusiastic about the bike, and your article is good for someone that is seriously considering spending used Honda civic money on a bike. But having an overview or getting to the point quicker would have been beneficial for this reader. I understand why you didn't. Overall looks like a product that will come and go if I'm being honest. Value proposition is real low.

Why not use an AI service to summarize? The rest of use can enjoy the in-depth version. I think the value proposition is very good, but the target market may be narrow.

 

[Gigabit]

Why not use an AI service to summarize? The rest of use can enjoy the in-depth version. I think the value proposition is very good, but the target market may be narrow.

I figured if the author wants to be summarized by AI they could have done that and posted a tldr. Its ok if the article is too long, it wasn't intended to be written for a reader such as myself.

 

[UhOh]

As someone who rides a cargo bike to the grocery store and to take the kids to/from school every single day, let me say: the ALSO bike is very compelling.

The price is great. Two of the best reviewed and best selling bikes in the cargo bike category are the Tern GSD and the HSD. The GSD is $7000 properly spec'd. The HSD is $5000.

The smart features are great. There isn't a bike out there that would allow me to walk up to it, see where I'm going on the map, and then walk away and not have to fumble with my massive lock. With two little kids in tow, that is super appealing.

The drivetrain is innovative. Every electric cargo bike out there is a hybrid of old school bike tech with new battery drivetrains bolted on after the fact. This seems like the first from-the-ground-up electric cargo bike. Compare a Rivian or a Tesla with any of the battery-in-engine-bay cars.

Seating is lmited. My biggest complaint is that it's small. This thing is great with one kid, but I don't see how I could have both kids on the bike. It's not going to replace the bigger cargo bikes like mine (a Bullitt). My only hope is that one day they will expand the offerings.

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