The Definition of Electric Luxury
E-Lux (short for Electric Luxury) Electric Bikes, is known for its comfortable, upright riding positions. Their new, modern take on the cruiser brings comfort, sleek lines, and a whole lot of speed. Cruisers are designed for people to take it easy, hang out at the beach and ride to your friend’s place. Now, E-Lux has added a 500W motor to their new e-bike cruiser that will take you from Santa Monica to Malibu and back with room for a coffee stop in between. In fact, it’s even called the E-Lux Malibu Sport.
The Juicy Details:
The Malibu is set up for all-day riding. It’s fitted with a nine-speed Shimano Altus derailleur. A lot of electric bike companies are skimping on the gears and going with 6 or 7 speeds instead. Understandably, people get used to using the throttle, and therefore, gears aren’t essential for some. The problem with that is if you’re left out in the middle of nowhere with a dead battery, you should be able to pedal the bike regularly. Having a wider variety of gears gives you that ability. The benefit of the Altus derailleur comes out when the electric motor kicks in. Having the option for a higher gear means that you can push to the speed limit whenever you want! Late for work? No problem! When you’re zipping by cars that are stuck in traffic, you’ll be grateful you left your car at home.
We Have Options
Since we carry many different bikes at The Bike Shop California and The Bike Shop Santa Monica, we like to try commuting on everything from race bikes to mountain bikes and e-bikes. It gives us a better idea of how each different style of bike will benefit your needs as a customer. That being said, taking the E-Lux Malibu for a ride home after work was satisfying! Why? Well, commuting in the morning typically means you have to come back at night when having lights are necessary.
The team over at E-Lux kept that very thought in mind while producing the Malibu. It’s essentially “commuter proof” because they’ve included the front headlight and rear taillight. In other words, you don’t have to worry about charging up your lights and forgetting them at home. Also, if other riders or cars are right on your tail, there’s an integrated brake light. That brake light is one of the most utilitarian aspects of the bike!
It’ll Take You to Malibu and, well, Anywhere Else You Need to Go!
Adding to the bikes already capable platform is a Zoom adjustable stem clamped onto a nicely swept-back handlebar. Hovering over the stem is the Bigstone C600E-USB 3.5” Backlit LCD Display w/ USB Charger, Pedal Assist Level, 3 Level Power Adjust, MPH, Voltage, Battery Life, Trip Distance, Ride Time, & Odometer. It’s everything you need in the most practical and visible place – straight ahead. On the left side of the handlebars, you’ll find the controls to adjust your modes and settings. Putting the e-bike in “Eco” mode will extend your range by 25-30%. Typical range is around 35-45 miles, and with the optional 21ah long-range battery, you can expect to see 60-70 miles!
Power when You Want It!
Strapped to the rear wheel is the 48V 500W motor with a peak output over 900W! Charging the 14ah battery will take about six hours and, as mentioned above, can be swapped for a larger 21ah battery that extends your range noticeably! The Malibu’s electric-assisted top speed goes up to 24mph. Once you get over 20mph, you’re cruising. No pun intended… 20+mph is simply an excellent speed to ride around. Without, good bike handling skills, anything above 25mph can get tricky in certain situations.
The Tektro Auriga Hydraulic Disc Brakes with 203mm front rotor, provide smooth braking modulation and will stop you in a heartbeat. Those big, powerful brakes bring quite a bit of confidence while riding. Something to be aware of is, at 60 pounds, The E-Lux Malibu is not the lightest e-bike around. So, save your back, and leave it charging in the garage. The battery is easily removable, and you can charge it in your home or office.
Why Ride when You can Glide?
The Zoom front suspension provides comfort for those minor road imperfections. We talk about bumps and cracks in the road a lot, but the suspension is also suitable for overall comfort. When you pair the front suspension with the suspension seat post, it plays a crucial role in the total comfort of the bike. You can forget about a sore bum after a long ride. 2.125” Schwalbe Big Apple Tires w/Double Layer Nylon Puncture Protection will help steer you away from flats and closer to your next destination as well.
Weekend Cruiser and Daily Task horse
If you work, run errands, want to save money on gas and commuting fares, or want to enjoy a beautiful day on the coast in Santa Monica or Malibu, The E-Lux Malibu will do it all, plus some! At $2295, it’s very affordable for a feature-rich electric bike. Their slogan is “Miles of Smiles” for a reason. Riding this bike makes you feel happy, and no matter what you put it through, you know you’ll arrive with a smile on your face.
Pros
- Extremely comfortable on long rides
- The three levels of power help to moderate speed and battery use. It can be beneficial for a long day out.
- The optional upgraded 48V 21ah battery will drastically improve overall mileage, which was very convenient for commuting to and from work.
- Although the weight is in the hub drive motor, it doesn’t feel like you’re pulling the bike along.
- Motor inhibitors cut the power when you brake. One of the best safety features on e-bikes
Cons
- There’s not much travel on the suspension seat-post, so if it’s essential to your ride, we offer others from Suntour and Cane Creek.
- It’s slightly heavier than other commuter bikes.
Look out for our review of the new E-Lux Malibu GT coming soon! “Ultra Comfortable – High Powered – High Speed – Long Range”
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For more information and detailed specs on the E-Lux Malibu or their other range of e-bikes, you can head over to the links below:
https://www.eluxbikes.com/malibu-electric-sport-bike
https://www.eluxbikes.com/malibu-step-thru-electric-bike
Give us a call at (310) 838-9644 or come on by the shop to set up a test ride.
If you’re looking for an electric bike shop online, then head to our webshop here Bike Shop California https://bikeshopcalifornia.com/shop/
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Author: Mitchell Dick, LiveTravelCycle.com
