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The Owlet: A New Form Factor for the E-Bike

No tubing, no problem

By Rain Noe - July 29

in Bikes

While I think the aesthetics are slightly wonky, this Owlet is an interesting design departure for the e-bike form factor:

It's sort of like, if you were in a manufacturing facility and wanted to make a bike, but didn't have access to the right materials.

At this point, details are light; the eponymous startup producing the Owlet hasn't got a price or production date locked down yet. But here's what we can glean from their Spartan website:

The wheelbase, which looks awfully short to me, is adjustable from 25" to 40" ("Sportbike" and "chopper" modes, in the company's language). It's not clear whether you can make the adjustment on-the-fly, or if it's something you do in your garage with tools. As for why they offer such a short wheelbase, the company points out that "Owlet fits seamlessly into elevators, integrating into [the] urban living lifestyle."

The Owlet has no pedals, just footrests; I suppose that technically it's a scooter rather than an e-bike, though the latter is how the company is marketing it.

It tops out at 30 mph, and the company says the removable battery is good for 40 to 60 miles of range.

It looks pretty strange on the road:

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What do you think of the form? I find the proportions jarring, but can't take my eyes off of it.

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simon a.

4 months ago

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It probably looked good on paper and as a CAD model. Poorly executed (you can't just scale things up), the proportions look very odd. What with those short handlebars?

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Dee An

4 months ago

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For wet climates: No mud guards - so any puddles will necessitate waterproof trousers.
For sunny climates: No pannier rack, so rucksacks will make the user hot.
A big plus of ebikes is that their extra weight has been used for quality-of-life additions such as storage and mud guards.
Their website is scant on details, but does mention the rake angle of the forks being 6° or 10° - this will play a part in the adjustable wheelbase.

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Stevie VanBronkhorst

4 months ago

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I love him.

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