When e-bikes first hit the market, they were rather drab, plain looking “hybrid” bikes with cheap parts (to keep the cost down), and a motor. Now that they have gained traction, many companies are putting in a bit more effort to put a little style into their bikes.If you’re into the retro motorcycles look, Vintage Electric’s Tracker looks like it just might squeeze its way onto someone’s want list.
Race past the break and check out some of the quality details and parts that went into this retro speedster……
One common bit of controversy that comes up with e-bikes is which side of the gray area do they sit closer to in regards of a being a bicycle vs. a motorcycle. Vintage Electric’s Tracker nudges it a little in one direction when they took the technology of an e-bike and put it into a design resembling the smooth low stance of a vintage “motordrome” race bike from the 20’s and 30’s. Vintage Electric not only made a cool looking e-bike, (who can argue with that), but the closer you look, the better it gets. Oh, and toss in the fact it’ll do 36mph.
The triple crown rigid fork flanking the motorcycle like headlight with the hand-made stainless steel swept track bars looks the part while keeping things really simple. It’s hard to tell by sitting on it but that aggressive looking stance looks like it would make you want to sneak it on to the local velodrome and make motor noises while banking hard into the turns.
The bike comes with Brooks leather grips and saddle further adding to the “vintage” look. Even the “throttle” control was designed to be simple and as out of the way as possible so not to take away from the bike’s clean lines. The bike comes stock with a non-pedal assist motor configuration, (yes, you can ride it like a motorcycle), and a pedal assist option is available as an upgrade for $129. Shimano Alfine hydraulic disc brakes control the speeds when needed.
Up front, the bike’s triple crown fork houses a top-shelf Phil Wood thru axle hub. Though the quality and craftsmanship that went into this bike makes it stand out, as expected, this isn’t going to be cheap.
The Vintage Electric Tracker’s patent pending aluminum battery box is designed and locally sand cast in Santa Clara, CA, housing the electrical components, including a 702 watt hour lithium battery. The housing is designed to help disperse heat allowing the system to run at lower temperatures, significantly increasing efficiency to provide a range of 35 miles. The Tracker’s 3,000 watt 3-phase brushless electric motor can be switched between a 250 to 750 watts in street legal mode to accelerate you up to 20mph. An optional “Race Mode” upgrade can be had for $149 providing you with 3,000 watts at the tap that is good for a whopping 36mph (which highlights one of the main concerns with eBike regulation). The motor also has a regenerative braking system that charges the battery under deceleration. The Traker’s range is up to 35 miles and recharges in just 2 hours.
The Vintage Electric Tracker is protected by a Kevlar-Guard paint, high grade powder coat available in 4 classic colors with custom colors available for $599+.
MSRP $4,995 USD
Warranty
Bike 1 year / 30,000 miles
Battery 1 year / 30,000 miles
VintageElectricBikes.com
