I suspect that one reason that e-bikes have not taken off is because millions of us have perfectly serviceable traditional bikes in our homes, apartments, and garages. By one account, there may be 100 million unused bikes kicking around in the U.S. alone. If that’s the case, why invest $2000 or more in a new e-bike just because the hills are getting a little tough? Most bike owners say they’d like to bike more, and many say it’s just those hills that keep them away from their neglected two-wheelers. 
Well, thanks to the newly announced GeoOrbital Wheel, you can keep your old bike and have a new e-bike for a relatively modest price.
GeoOrbital launched its Kickstarter campaign this week and in a matter of hours totally blew past its funding goals. And after seeing the wheel in action, I’m not surprised. The GeoOrbital wheel doesn’t have spokes. It has a battery powered motor in its center that propels the wheel from inside the rim. The company claims you can attach it in under a minute. And I watched founder Michael Burtov do just that on a chilly Manhattan street corner. The wheel uses a standard quick release clamp to slide into a standard front fork. You put it on, then attach the included caliper brake and strap on the control unit and throttle to your handlebars and off you go.
There are a number of advantages that the GeoOrbital wheel has over a rear wheel electric replacement such as the BionX kit. You don’t have to fuss with gearing and you don’t need any mechanical aptitude to make the changeover.
By switching out the front wheel, you still have access to all the gears your bike came with. And now you have an all-wheel drive bike – you drive the rear wheel with the pedals and chain and the front wheel with the motor, giving you better traction in wet or sandy conditions where traditional bikes may falter.
Another advantage of GeoOrbital is that it gives the rider the option of working out hard by leaving the original front wheel on the bike, or commuting or riding leisurely with the motorized wheel. The wheel is powered by a pretty chunky Lithium-ion battery, which charges in about four hours. It will get up to 20 mph on the flats and give you a range of 20 to 50 miles depending on factors such as hills, riding style, and the weight of the rider. The wheel is made from solid rubber, so you’ll never get a flat tire – one less worry.
Because of the added weight in the front, a GeoOrbital-equipped bike does not maneuver quite as easily as your traditional ride, but it’s not as clunky as some of the heavier e-bikes on the market. And unlike some of those bikes, this one can easily go on a bike rack or in the back of an SUV.
Burtov says the wheel, assembled in the U.S. primarily from locally crafted parts, will start shipping in November, though with all the money the company is bringing in, the company may be able to move that up. GeoOrbital is tempting Kicstarter backers with substantial discounts, ranging from about 1/3 or 1/2 off expected retail, which the company says will be about $950. My own suspicion is that, by the time it launches, that price will come down.
The system is throttle controlled, which means that just like a motorcycle you need to keep your hand on the throttle to make the motor go. That’s in contrast to a so-called pedelec or pedal assist system, which requires the rider to pedal in order to activate the motor.
Initially, the wheel will come in two sizes to fit most bikes – the 26″ version for most mountain bikes and the 700C version for most hybrids. Other sizes will come along as production allows.
There’s no question that GeoOrbital has re-invented the wheel. It remains to be seen if even with a new wheel, many of us will bring our old bikes out of the garage and pedal into the brave new world of e-biking.
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