Quick, what do the Lone Ranger and the Sprite IE e-bike from Raleigh have in common?Answer, they are both great rides on Silver. Okay, admittedly there are a few differences. The Sprite is low step, Silver was a pretty high climb. The Sprite runs on a battery, Silver ran on hay.
The e-bike business is on the upswing. Even before the industry meets next month in Las Vegas for Interbike, there’s anecdotal evidence that sales of electric assist bikes are picking up, especially for the 50+ market. One reason is some new bikes that are largely built for us. Among them the Raleigh Sprite IE.
Hi Ho Silver, Away
The first two things you notice about the Sprite are it’s low step design, easy for anyone to get on and off, and the beautifully designed silver frame. 
This is a work of art in aluminum. It uses a Currie Electro-Drive® centerdrive motor. There’s a nicely crafted chain guard so you can keep your pants grease-free, a great idea for bike commuters or even weekend warriors. The 48V Lithium Ion battery does have a bit of heft but it sits well protected on a rear mounted rack, which easily supports a bike bag. It has external bars to support a set of panniers, though there’s no easy lower attachment for a bungee or spring clip. The rack is solidly built to handle just about any reasonable load. The battery takes 4-6 hours for a complete charge.
Despite the location of the battery, I didn’t have any sense that this bike was top heavy, primarily because of the mid drive motor at the cranks. The battery offers up plenty of range as well. If you nurse it in the lowest of the four power settings, it’s pretty easy to cruise 50 miles on a single charge. Maximum speed on the flats is the federally limited 20 mph.
While the Lone Ranger’s Silver was always quick off the mark, you might want to add the optional $50 boost switch to do the same for the Sprite IE. The four stage pedal assist does a great job on hills and flats, but I like the idea of being able to hit the switch to get going from a red light or from the bottom of a hill. The boost is an aftermarket product so you may also have to pay for installation.
Them’s the Brakes
Gearing is in a 7 speed Shimano cassette using standard levers. Even on steep hills, I found I really didn’t not have to run through a lot of gears to maintain upward momentum given the power of the motor. I have generally found you don’t need quite the same power on a mid-drive as you do on a rear drive motor. Brakes are traditional caliper style. I actually like this because disc brakes are subject to more problems than the less-complex calipers.
The electronic controls were easy to read and easy to use. The read-out gives you trip distance, odometer, speed, and the level of power assist. One very nice feature is that you can see how the remaining range changes as you change power levels. The big leather seat was comfortable – even for a 25 mile ride. The hybrid tires offer good traction for off-roading while minimizing friction on flat pavement. Both the choice of brakes and the lack of front suspension appear to have been trade-offs to keep the price within reason. Current retail for the Sprite IE is $1900, a very reasonable price for an e-bike with this much going for it.
Bottom line – I found the Sprite IE a real pleasure to ride, with plenty of range and plenty of power to handle the hills. And I think the price makes sense for folks looking for an everyday e-bike for comfort or commuting. Hi Ho Silver, Away!
The post If You Remember Hi Ho Silver, This Raleigh Sprite’s For You appeared first on Tech50+.