Most e-bike conversion kits require some form of modification to the bike, even if it’s just running wires from a battery pack to a hub motor and control switch on the handlebar. Even the Evelo front wheel motor/battery unit required running a sensor to the bottom bracket to detect pedaling cadence. The GeoOrbital simplifies it one step further by eliminating any additional sensors and using only a simple throttle switch that quickly snaps onto the handlebars.
That’s right, throttle. Unlike the Evelo’s pedal-assist design, the GeoOrbital front wheel motor can pull you along without any effort on your part. Pedal if you want, coast if you don’t…
Everything but the throttle switch is contained inside the wheel. And since the only thing spinning is the actual rim and tire, non of it adds rotational weight to suck battery life or throw off your handling.
Available for 26″ and 700c wheels, it simply snaps into your fork using a standard quick release dropout. The unit’s body uses Velcro straps to fix its position to the fork, and then you clip the throttle to your handlebar. The battery is removable, so you can bring spares to extend the range, and it has USB ports to charge your phone (ideally when parked, but the temptation is there…).
The front tire is filled with a high density foam that they say rides and weighs the same as a traditional tire and tube but won’t go flat. The rim is shaped like normal, so it works with your bike’s existing front brakes.
The promo video above was uploaded on January 1, but now the full Kickstarter campaign is live…
…and completely funded many times over with 37 days to go (as of this story posting). As in, more than half a million dollars have been pledged, blowing past the $75,000 ask. And all the super early bird deals are gone, too, but you can still grab one for $699 before it ends, which is a steal compared to the planned $950 MSRP. Check the Kickstarter campaign here, and their website here.
