Could you imagine the size of the Ti downtube to hold the battery/motor though. It would cost an arm and a leg.
Why titanium? Just aesthetics? Can't say I've seen any ti eBikesNow that 10k is "normal" spending for an eBike, i bet someone in China could find a way to make it economically viable to produce a tube. I know you can get 50mm downtubes from China currently... but maybe it's wishful thinking...
Why titanium? Just aesthetics? Can't say I've seen any ti eBikes
Why titanium? Just aesthetics? Can't say I've seen any ti eBikes
Nice bike! Stealthy too. I don't mind the assist speed restriction on my fs emtb but on a gravel bike, I fear it would bother me as on gravel trail, thats a more typical speed on mine. I guess it's a much lighter bike so pushing past the 25 km/h limit will have a completely different feel? Have you ridden anything similar before?
The Fazua drive disengages at 25kmh and I've ridden the Focus Paralane2 with the same system and you can't feel it disengaging or any drag at all when you go over the limit. It's a very natural feeling. One thing I hated about my E8000 motor was the drag after 25kmh. There's no such problem on the Fazua.
The Fazua drive disengages at 25kmh and I've ridden the Focus Paralane2 with the same system and you can't feel it disengaging or any drag at all when you go over the limit. It's a very natural feeling. One thing I hated about my E8000 motor was the drag after 25kmh. There's no such problem on the Fazua.
I'm soooo tempted with one of these. I was looking at the Paralane2 but this looks much better for me. I saw the Cairn video on Bike Radar and was in love but didn't think they were this close to shipping.
It does look like the Cairn is heavier than the Paralane2. I've seen a report of 16kg and one of 18kg for the Cairn. The Paralane2 is 13.5. I'd be using this bike for a mix of touring and as my eRoad bike. I'm not a super roadie so I don't think it would matter much for the extra weight. Or would it? I would ride it once a week with a social group (very social) on a 40km flatish ride without the motor. And probably a couple of longer rides a week with the motor. I suppose when I take my fat arse into account 3kg is nothing.
The Paralane2 felt about 15kg with the battery and motor installed when I picked it up. So maybe 13kg with it removed. Could be wrong though. The Bike Radar review of the Cairn claims 16kg with everything installed. At 95kg I’m not too fussed by 2-3 kg weight difference on a bike but I do find 23kg plus emtb’s a bit of a handful on technical rides but then I can only compare them to my Cannondale Trigger 2 carbon full susser at 14kg and that’s not fair!
@gunshot72 @flash and anyone else who has one:
How are you guys finding your Cairn bikes? They have recently joined the UK cycle scheme so I'm considering getting one for my commute and some country lane and forest road use in my spare time.
Wow thanks Gordon, that's over and above what I was expecting as feedback, really appreciate it.
Like yourself I mostly want it for hills and standing starts. I've had a hardtail MTB for donkeys years and whilst I was looking at e-mtbs for the riding I do I think a gravel bike would be more than enough. I also don't have a car so riding to places on the road and for my commute to work it seems to make the most sense. I was originally thinking of just getting a road bike and had never heard of a gravel bike until I went into my local shop.
For your neutral points, they have ditched that old fashioned looking handlebar remote and it's now integrated into the down tube. I think you can get the handlebar remote as a separate accessory and I believe Fazua are bringing out a newer smaller version too at some point. (Here's the integrated down tube remote for those interested New Fazua Touch Remote ) This could be a bit of a hindrance if you are using a frame back under the top tube (which I might do at some point) but it's probably still workable and doubt I'd come off eco mode that much anyway. I had some some speculation about Fazua releasing a software update with compatibility with GPS units etc, so perhaps this would also allow for mode changes at some point.
The removable battery for charging is actually a plus for me and the main reason I was looking at them over getting something like the Orbea Gain. I'd have to bring the whole bike into my small house for charging otherwise, it also means I can keep it warmer than leaving it in the shed. I can see how some would be put off by this though and then there are others who are meh either way.
Weird to hear that the advertising text made it onto the frame, I presume you gave this as feedback to them? I wonder if they have changed it since your purchase.
I was considering a dropper post upgrade, though I'm pretty short and not sure if it would drop enough for my to warrant the extra cost. I'm going to their HQ for a test ride later this month, so hopefully I can find out. I'm a bit more local to them than you are!
I was also thinking about asking about shimano GRX though having never had a road bike before or ever ridden a drop bar bike I'm not sure if I'll bother. I believe shimano will have shifting up and down on both levers (which I may find easier) rather than sram which does both on one as far as I know. That means you can have a dropper post connected to the other sram lever unless I'm mistaken. I'd also imagine both systems would run a lot smoother than my MTB currently does...
From all the research I've been doing I'd pretty much nearly talked myself into it already and your report has just reinforced the idea. Thanks again for the time you put into that, hopefully others will find it useful too.
Jon
As an extra have you updated it to the new Fazua Black Pepper firmware?
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