Portland’s First Electric-Bicycle-Only Store Opens

Not the only store! A new dealer for electric vehicles has just opened for business in Tigard. Oregon X-Treme Electric Bikes and Scooters carries the product line of X-Treme Scooters, a manufacturer and importer of several models of electric-powered vehicles, including an electric mountain bike and a Vespa-style scooter, both powered by high tech lithium-polymer batteries. These state-of-the-art batteries provide light weight, superior range, and increased service life when compared to standard lead-acid or nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. Either of these products would be ideal for commuters or for running errands around town, says Oregon X-Treme owner Craig Dirksen, as they both offer ranges between 20-35 miles between charges, depending upon terrain. Both units, including the scooter, qualify as Electric Assisted Bicycles, which means they do not require either license or registration or vehicle insurance, and can be operated in bike lanes and paths. Oregon X-treme also carries a line of stand-up style scooters, also electric, that would work well for college or high school students looking for inexpensive transportation around campus and the neighborhood, as well as those commuting shorter distances. These scooters fold up into a compact package that would fit under a dorm bed or inside another vehicle, which also makes them useful to RVrs and campers.
Craig said the dealership came about as a result of his search for an electric bicycle for his own use. “I didn’t like any of the electric bikes I could find locally”, he said. “Either the battery packs were bulky and intrusive, or the look of the bike was “strange”. I liked the X-Treme Scooter’s electric bike that I found on the internet, but the nearest dealer where I could see it and take it for a test ride was in Phoenix. I said to myself, ‘Hmmm…there’s a business opportunity here’. With the bicycle culture we have here in Portland plus the green aspects of electric vehicles, I think people are going to be excited about these products.”
In addition to an on-line store, Oregon X-Treme offers models for test rides before you buy, as well as dealer prep and local delivery in the Portland area. You can find Oregon X-Treme on the web at http://oregonxtremeelectricbicycles.com, and you can contact Craig at (503) 310-3659 for more information and to make an appointment to inspect and try out his products.