European commuter biking start-up Diodra has a easy new bamboo S3 metropolis ebike, they’re calling the ‘World’s Lightest’ ebike manufactured from wooden. Weighing just below 15.5kg, the Diodra S3 is constructed round an EU-made laminated bamboo body paired to an all-in-one motor & battery within the rear hub, with both Gates belt or standard chain drive. And for riders on the lookout for a fair lighter pedal-powered runabout, there’s an everyday M8 commuter bike possibility with an Alfine internally-geared rear hub as an alternative of a hub motor…
Diodra S3 light-weight, easy bamboo ebike
Designed and manufactured in Romania, Diodra isn’t exactly a start-up. As a substitute, it’s the newest evolution of a bamboo commuter bike venture that’s been brewing since round 2018. Beforehand below the title Veltra bikes with rim brakes. The idea stays, however the bikes have change into far more refined on this newest iteration. What you get now is a straightforward single-speed disc brake body made primarily from laminated bamboo body, with cut up stays that you simply run a belt or chain.
Then, all you need to do is decide both ebike or bike. From both the self-contained ebike powertrain in a rear hub, or an 8-speed Shimano geared hub with out a motor.
Tech particulars
The Diodra S3 ebike construct is the standout mannequin, at a claimed 15.45kg for a dimension M. A {custom} Taiwanese-made 500W brushless motor and 300Wh of batteries powers the 46x16T single-speed – all contained in the rear hub. Stepped all the way down to 250W and pace restricted to 25kph to adjust to EU guidelines. There are 3 pedal-assist modes, with the eco mode stated to ship an 80km vary. Diodra tucks all electronics – from the torque sensor to wi-fi Bluetooth communication to the charging port – into the hub making for an extremely glossy setup.
And a custom-developed smartphone app controls all of it – for Android or iOS.
The body itself is manufactured from a light-weight hollowed-out laminated bamboo construction. Then, bonded to a 7075 aluminum headtube and aluminum seattube with an hooked up backside bracket. Out again, machined slider dropouts dial-in chain pressure, mount the rear brake, and permit for chain or belt compatibility. Diodra claims this building delivers all the sturdiness a metropolis bike wants, plus “distinctive vibration absorption” from the pure traits of the bamboo.
The bamboo body is available in three inventory sizes (S-L), rated for riders as much as 100kg. Diodra ensures their body & fork for five years, plus 2 years for all of the elements.
The Diodra M8 construct is a extra standard metropolis bike. It swaps in a mechanical shift 8sp Alfine hub instead of the motor, and a 46x23T chain drive. And knocking full bike weight all the way down to a claimed 12.8kg.
Each builds characteristic Shimano hydraulic disc brakes with internally routed brake traces. And 700c alloy wheels wrapped in “puncture-proof” 42mm Continental Contact Velocity tires.
Diodra ebike & bike – Pricing, pre-order availability & choices
Formally each the Diodra ebike and bike can be found now for pre-order, for the primary 100 frames within the 2024 manufacturing batch. This early hen costs begin at 2200€ for the Diodra S3 ebike, and from 1600€ for the 8sp Diodra M8 metropolis bike. Upgrading both from chain drive to Gates carbon belt drive provides an additional 200€. Diodra says that’s greater than 700€ low cost off the ultimate retail pricing.
Diodra will handle gross sales of those first 100 bikes or ebikes individually with the early adopters. They estimate supply to those first patrons in roughly 3 months.
