Electric bikes have come a long way in recent years, and the latest models from FUELL, a company founded by world-renowned motorcycle designer Erik Buell, are certainly raising the bar in the industry. The new e-bikes, known as the Flluid-2 and Flluid-3, not only boast the longest range options on the market, but they are also offering a unique riding experience that sets them apart from the crowded e-bike industry.
As CTO Erik Buell explained, these bikes are designed to be true car replacements for many riders: “We used the knowledge gained from our initial foray into the electric bike market with Flluid-1 to develop a superior urban transportation solution, making sure that Flluid-2 & 3 are true and viable alternatives to cars.”
With an ultra-long-range powerhouse and a single 1 kWh battery option, the Flluid-2 and Flluid-3 respectively offer impressive ranges of up to 225 mi (362 km) and 110 mi (177 km) on a single charge. Both models are equipped with throttle-enabled 750 W continuous-rated Valeo mid-drive motors, with the motor being one of the strongest mid-drives available on retail e-bikes, providing 130 Nm of torque. The e-bikes are designed to fit a range of riders from 5’1″ to 6’5″ (155 to 195cm) and are “geometrically optimized to provide stable, confident, yet incredibly nimble steering and handling.”
Buell explains that his goal with the design of the new bikes was to create a high-performance two-wheeler that would be as easy to use as a car and with a similar range: “The creation of the FUELL Flluid-2 & 3 e-bikes was a complex and demanding journey that took many years of research and development. We faced a lot of challenges on our way such as creating e-bikes that comfortably fit customers from 5’ tall all the way to 6’4” tall, packing 2,000 Wh of battery into the frame without getting it too massive, providing a ‘just right’ balance of agility and confident handling to the riding experience, etc. I am proud to announce that we have successfully overcome all these challenges, developing e-bikes that meet the needs of today’s urban commuters.”
Both models come standard with low-maintenance components, including hydraulic disc brakes and belt drivetrains. The e-bikes also feature automatic shifting with a 450% gear range, electric bike-specific road tires, integrated LED lighting, front suspension, fenders/rack package, and a Gates Carbon Drive belt-drive setup instead of a typical bicycle chain.
FUELL’s latest e-bikes are launching on Indiegogo via a crowdfunding campaign, with early bird prices starting at US $3,999 for the Flluid-2 and $3,699 for the Flluid-3. These prices are over 30% off of the MSRP for each model as part of the promotional launch pricing. While we generally don’t cover products launching on crowdfunding campaigns unless they come from reputable companies that have already demonstrated the ability to deliver products to customers, Erik Buell’s reputation in the motorcycle industry and the success of FUELL’s Flluid-1 electric bike delivery program over the past two years provide reason for optimism.