Ribble is no stranger to lightweight e-bikes. Now the company’s latest model, the Ribble Endurance SL e Hero, is pushing the brand even further as it becomes one of the lightest e-bikes in the world.
The true title of lightest e-bike is a bit hard to nail down.
Technically the 6.872 kg (15.15 lb) Freicycle electric bike likely takes the cake, though it was a one-off DIY build.
The HPS Domestique is probably the current lightest production electric bicycle at just 8.5 kg (18.7 lb).
Hummingbird has the lightest folding e-bike at 10.3 kg (22.7 lb), while Trek claims to have the lightest full-suspension electric mountain bike at 15.75 kg (34.72 lb).
Those e-bikes are extreme examples of lightweight e-bike design, but Ribble’s newly unveiled Endurance SL e Hero holds its own against them with an impressive weigh-in of 10.5 kg (23.1 lb). While it won’t set a new record, that’s still lighter than plenty of pedal-only bicycles.
Ribble achieves that lightweight design with a combination of the minimalist Mahle EBM X35 motor and e-bike system as well as an ultra lightweight carbon fiber frame. The carbon fiber doesn’t end there though – it continues into the handlebar, stem, and wheels as well.
That Mahle X35 e-bike system is a popular one for ultra lightweight and high-performance e-bikes, such as those designed by cycling legend Gred LeMond.
As you can imagine, shaving off those extra few pounds adds to the price… significantly. The Ribble Endurance SL e Hero is priced at £6,999 (approximately $9,700), though the standard Endurance SL e that weighs slightly more at around 12 kg (26.5 lb) is price at £2,999 (approximately $4,160).
And if you’re okay with a comparatively hefty 13 kg (28.6 lb) e-bike, the aluminum-frame Ribble Endurance AL e is priced at a much more reasonable £2,699 (approximately $3,740). Even 13 kg is still quite respectable for an electric road bike.
While the fancier and ultra lightweight Ribble Endurance SL e Hero commands such a high price due to its lightweight design, it still features a few extra high-end components such as Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 electronic shifting and tubeless carbon-wheels.
And sure, you could still slap a DIY e-bike conversion kit on an Amazon road bike to create a 20 kg (44 lb) ride for barely $900. But anyone wanting to experience these crazy low weights in an e-bike will still have to pay to play, and the entry price isn’t cheap.
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Author: Micah Toll
Source: Electrek
