The new HONBIKE 20″ folding commuter e-bike looks a bit like a concept bike. It has no externally visible drivetrain, motor or battery, plus sleek integrated lighting, a flush integrated computer display, and one-sided rear swingarm and matching fork. But it is in fact real, and already riding around cities in Japan. And while a crowdfunding campaign is kickstarting the project into global reality, the organizers have already far exceeded their funding goal by 1430%, and are on track to broadly deliver their e-bikes this summer.
HONBIKE integrated shaft-drive folding e-bike
There’s really a lot to say about this little alloy 20″ magnesium tri-spoke folding commuter e-bike.
There’s a single-sided swingarm that hides a shaft drive inside, and a single-sided fork to match. The tiny 250W motor in the front hub and central 216Wh battery are so small you might not even notice them.
Plus, the single-leg fork & chainstay each get a full-coverage fender for the 20″ x 2.125″ tires with neatly integrated lighting, and there’s even a wild noseless saddle.
Oh yeah, and it folds in half to take up less space at home, in the office, or on the go.
Tech details
This HonBike HF01 folding e-bike is meant to be an almost maintenance-free commuter, so it gets a fully-enclosed shaft drive said to last 40,000km between servicing. And no greasy chain to worry about.
In addition to 5 assist levels, plus a walk mode, on-board sensors power the front-wheel-drive HonBike with a Hill Start Assist mode to deliver immediate power support going up steep hills. Combining gyroscope, torque & speed sensors, it also adjusts the real pedal-assist level to suit terrain and rider input. All models are limited to 25km/hr pedal-assist.
The folding e-bike is available in a single size, but said to still fit a wide range of riders from 1.5-1.9m (4’11” – 6’3″) tall with 24cm of seatpost adjustment. It has a max rider+gear load limit of 100kg (220lb).
The HonBike is quite compact, folding down to 99x45x85cm (39x18x34″), but it’s no lightweight at 20.8kg (45.9lb) complete. Although, it does have a pretty good-looking built-in handle.
Approximate cruising range is 40km (25mi), and the battery can be recharged on the bike or removed and charged separately in 3.5-4 hours.
The Indiegogo project also offers the ability to buy a second discounted battery so you can ride one while the other is recharging.
HonBike e-bike pre-order pricing & expected availability
The HonBike HF01 e-bike is available for preorder in an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign now, from $1499 in North America or 1639€ in Europe. An extra battery is available for $199, including a case to carry it on a longer ride. Some local e-bike micromobility subsidies may be available to help trim that cost even more.
The HONBIKE PRO (or HF01) now being offered direct-to-consumer in Europe & North America has already passed all relevant testing and is currently in serial production. HonBike anticipates deliveries of pre-orders to ship in June 2022. And full retail sales are expected from mid-April.
