E-Bikes in Japan - just a little article

[ebikemom]

I think that Rad is right on track with their marketing approach. I would like other ebike makers to be thinking UTILITY--beyond cargo, to commuter and errands--and be marketing bikes that way, to draw attention to new and exciting ways of living and being in the world beyond the automobile and with more freedom/flexibility than public transport. I understand the appeal of making road and mountain type bikes and working to market to that demographic, or making "cruiser" style bikes and marketing to retirees, but I really want to see a monumental shift in how people get around. I would like ebike sellers to think bigger... to think how they can change transportation in this country. It won't be "bike share" that does that. It'll be folks having ebikes in their garages or on their apartment balconies or decorating their living rooms, ready to go on their next adventure, with "adventure" meaning their commutes, trips to the store, medical appointments, rides to school, etc., not just their recreation. With an ebike, every day, every ride, is a new adventure.

 

[Alex M]

But I kind of feel like Rad provides good customer service and decent quality though.

Yes. And, where they lack quality, they make it up to you in responsive exchange-returns service. Reasonable prices for entry-level bikes. I would not rate it a disposable.

Walmart sell anything from bikes to furniture, aiming at wide customers base at the lower end of prices. Products ranging from average to disposable. Generous return policy

 

[shiruba]

I don't know about the range, but I'm sure they were NiCd powered back in 1970s.
Also they didn't have brushless motor back then, so I'm sure the brush had to be maintained or changed.

1979 Panasonic EC2

1976 Panasonic Electro Boy Z
(It was sold under the division of Panasonic, the "National" brand.)

Just FYI, while I would love to have one of the Electroboy bikes, they are not eBikes in that they don't have any motor. They have lots of gaudy lights instead.

 

[Asher]

Wow, what a fantastic thread, and agree with the posts here.

I think the most likely path for US adoption of ebikes for *utility* purposes is through exposure - either through buying an ebike for recreational purposes, and then they slowly find it useful for non-recreational purposes too. Or, they use ebikeshare (like JUMP) intermittently, and decide they want to use something like that daily. (Like ebikemom, I don't see ebikeshare outdoing ownership in ride volume, esp. since the cost per ride over time will be much higher, and the lack of customization and proximity.)

Speed sells in the US, so I think speed pedelecs will play a bigger role here than in Europe or Japan. (Eg the popularity of Juiced.)

 

[Dewey]

There's a NYC importer of Yamaha Mama-Chari bikes http://kaerubikes.com/home/products/ offering a 1-year motor/battery warranty but you would be reliant on the importer for parts. In a recent podcast interview Arleigh Greenwald asked the Yamaha Power Assist Bicycles US brand manager when will they introduce a step-through to their line up but he was evasive. This is a pity because their 3-year transferrable warranty helps used values.

Regarding Pedego, I guess the emphasis on family cycling differs between dealers, fwiw my local Pedego dealer in Alexandria VA has Yepp seats fitted to showroom step through models, always has the Stretch, and organizes friendly no-drop rides.

 

[Dewey]

Wow I just saw their promotion video.. Yamaha should give them a medal for promoting this bike in America!

Too bad it costs $2,300... in Japan the MSRP is 144,720 yen ($1,311) but according to kakaku.com retail stores are selling it for 114,500 yen ($1,037)
And we know that price is one of the factors why people in the US do not use ebike as a car replacement.

I don't know if this bike is an exception though.. even other brands like Pedego, Volt, Biktrix, Juiced, etc.. if you were to purchase them in China we know that they will be substantially cheaper.

Kaerubikes price is on par with what Kyoto bike shop owner Shuichi Kobayashi was asking in 2012 to export Bridgestone and Angelino (now Bikke) brand electric mamacharis to the US, Source: http://mamabicycle.blogspot.com/2012/11/blog-post.html. You'd be paying haz-mat shipping from Japan plus 11% import duty, $2300 is competitive with other compact cargo bikes with smaller wheels. Be cheaper still to import a mamachari pedal bike like a Maruishi Frackers (see pp.30-35), they're only $400 plus shipping (wouldn't need haz-mat shipping for a pedal bike) and could be converted here with a kit motor.

I've seen one or two around DC, almost always imported by Japanese expats or US diplomatic or military families who have relocated to the area.

There are some nice design features, my favorite is the locking headset connected to the wide sturdy rear wheel kickstand. Yamaha could sell these in the US and Canada maybe starting with specialist family/utility cycling retailers like G&O Family Cyclery, Bike Shop Girl, Bicycle Belle, J.C. Lind, Urkai, etc.

 

[ebikemom]

I agree. They might need to make the bike a little bit longer to accommodate taller Americans, but I do hope it is only a matter of time before they bring the mamachari ("mom bike") to the US!

 

[Sloth]

I agree. They might need to make the bike a little bit longer to accommodate taller Americans, but I do hope it is only a matter of time before they bring the mamachari ("mom bike") to the US!

Anyone tried to ask them about this possibility?

 

[Dewey]

Anyone tried to ask them about this possibility?

Arleigh Greenwald in her podcast interview with Yamaha Power Assist Bicycle US brand manager did ask “where is your step through”? Later she commented this is why she doesn’t carry Yamaha at her Colorado family cyclery.

 

[ebikemom]

Later she commented this is why she doesn’t carry Yamaha at her Colorado family cyclery.

I think this is what will communicate with Yamaha--dealers who don't want to carry their bikes because they don't meet customer interests and needs.

 

[ebikemom]

I checked the Bridgestone website and their ebike marketing is pretty similar to Yamaha.

The bridgestone ads are interesting--they are using dual-drive on their bikes. And I think their list of what's important to ebiking moms applies to US parents also--safe/easy to put kids on the bike, being able to carry both passengers and cargo, and an appealing color!

 

[Dewey]

bridgestone are using dual-drive on their bikes. And I think their list of what's important to ebiking moms applies to US parents also--safe/easy to put kids on the bike

Re: dual drive - A blog post on the manufacturer site about dual drive Source: https://www.bridgestone.co.jp/blog/2016101201.html
Re: easy to put kids on bike - absolutely, the kickstand activated steering lock is a feature I haven't seen on any other bike but makes so much sense for carrying little children on front seats.

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

 

[shiruba]

Interestingly enough, I started this thread, but none of my bikes are utility style. I have mountain bike style bikes, which are better for me since I ride mainly on the road and longer distances. They don't have baskets, but I do have a back pack. Interestingly, panasonic does have a very similar commuter with the fenders, baskets and all, but still with the sporty motor (the xu-1?)

 

[Dewey]

Another thread about ebikes in Japan, interesting that production was moved to China and Taiwan, keeps the prices affordable https://electricbikereview.com/foru...es-coming-from-japan.29807/page-2#post-240425

 

[Ken M]

Personally I don't think the industry has produced a truly good urban mobility ebike for the US market. Frey and Luna came closer to good solutions recently but they are still clinging too much to being appealing to traditional cyclists and not really focused on being idea urbam mobility solutions.

 

[MarkF]

It seems EBR has members from all over the world except Japan. I'm surprised we don't see any Japaneses members chiming in on whats really going on over there.

 

[Alex M]

Ebikes in Japan are going out of stock.

Due to Covid 19 pandemic, Panasonic, Yamaha and Bridgestone aren't able to manufacture their ebikes.

Although electronic components were made in Japan, the frames were made in China.

I wonder American ebike companies will lose their stock too.

There are interruptions, likely temporary. China is not a kind of country that would stop doing anything for long, short of a complete nation-wide disaster like economic blockade with no fuel and raw materials coming from anywhere. But in this day and age such a scenario would be unrealistic. Several US companies have posted a notice "bikes on pre-order, available in 60 days" or similar.

 

[FlatSix911]

Love the Ron-Sur... https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=89902

 

[Mister B]

I spend a lot of time in Japan and love the bike culture there. Their use of bikes are often necessitated by the lack of parking spaces for cars. Even in suburban areas, most Japanese homes can only accommodate one car (often barely one). Thus the utility bike is like a second car for shopping, taking kids to school, etc. and often just finding a place to park those bikes are just as problematic in the cramped towns of Japan with most being tucked snugly in between houses.