A clip-on motor turned my bicycle into an e-bike
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CLIP attaches to the front wheel and turns an ordinary bike into an e-bike. Photos: Joann Muller
I'm usually test-driving electric cars, but lately I've been playing with a fun alternative: a clip-on electric motor that converts an ordinary bicycle into an e-bike.
Why it matters: CLIP is billed as a common-sense solution for urban commuters, making it easier for people to switch from driving to bicycling for short trips.
- With pedaling assistance from a simple friction drive system, it's less complex and a lot cheaper than a fully electric bike.
Zoom in: Half of all urban trips are 3 miles or less, which is CLIP's target market.
- These commuters don't need a powerful e-bike with lots of range — they just need a little extra oomph for the occasional hill, say CLIP co-founders Som Ray and Clement de Alcala.
- For many commuters, an e-bike is over-engineered and expensive, they argue, with prices ranging from around $1,500 to $5,000.
- CLIP's "plug & play" device, starting at $499, offers many of the benefits of an e-bike at a fraction of the cost.
What they're saying: "What we really want to do is make it easy for people to ride every day for their commute to reduce emissions," de Alcala tells Axios.
- "There are 100 million bikes in circulation in the U.S. Why not make them more convenient to use each and every day?"
How it works: The slickly designed device has a spring-loaded clamp that attaches to the forks of the bike's front wheel, just below the brake calipers.
- Propulsion is provided when the unit's roller comes in contact with the front tire, matching the torque of the wheel up to 15 miles per hour.
- A Bluetooth controller that attaches to the handlebars provides an added boost at the push of a button. A second button acts as a digital brake and can recharge the battery on downhill glides.
By the numbers: CLIP provides 6 to 18 miles of range, depending on the battery size, and recharging takes less than an hour.
- It's available in two models: the $499 Commuter, with a 98 Wh battery, and the $599 Explorer, with 192 Wh.
My thought bubble: CLIP is a brilliant idea and makes sense for short jaunts around town.
- I tested the Explorer model and used it to bike to church and to a couple of meetings, and didn't feel sweaty or out of breath when I arrived.
- I felt the CLIP's pull at the very beginning of my ride as the mechanical roller synced up with the bike's tire, but most of the time I was pedaling at a steady rate in "auto-roll" mode.
If I got tired, or had to ride uphill, I pressed and held the remote button on the handlebars to accelerate effortlessly.
- The unit I tested weighs just under 10 pounds and is not difficult to attach, but takes a little practice to get it right.
- I like that you can detach it and carry it by the handle or in a backpack.
- There are other DYI e-bike conversion kits, but CLIP is simple to attach or remove without any tools.
Yes, but: My family has four bikes in the garage, and the only one it would fit was a 40-year-old Motobecane racing bike that's gathering dust on the wall.
- The forks on the other bikes were too thick, or have a shock-absorbing suspension on the front wheel, so the company loaned me a tester bike as well.
- CEO Ray tells me the CLIP is designed to fit most basic urban commuter bikes — including rental bikes — but the company is working to expand the line for other types of bikes.
What's next: CLIP wants to democratize access to e-biking worldwide, and plans to pilot a $100 version in India later this year.
- It's also developing a vending machine concept that would allow people to rent a CLIP along with a bike.
