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MATE X, the Most Affordable Fully-Loaded Folding eBike, is Coming

Copenhagen siblings Christian and Julie set out to show the world that there was more to cycling than people assumed, and they created the MATE foldable electrically-assisted bike a few years ago.
The MATE X eBike is coming at the end of 2018 6 photos
Photo: IndieGoGo.com / MATE X
The MATE X foldable eBikeThe MATE X foldable eBikeThe MATE X foldable eBikeThe MATE X foldable eBikeThe MATE X foldable eBike
Today, the MATE is the most successful crowfunded eBike in the world and the two are looking to bank on that to bring the latest version of it to mass-production. It’s aptly called MATE X and it’s bigger, stronger, more powerful and infinitely more cooler than its predecessors.

The good news is that crowfunding for it was a smashing success, just like it happened with previous campaigns. As of the time of writing, the duo have over $5 million in pledges from bike lovers from all over the world – way over the $50K initial goal. The bikes will start shipping to their new owners starting December this year.

What the X brings new to the table is a wider array of customization options, more power, increased reliability and more control. In other words, the X is bigger and better (and prettier) than what we’ve seen so far, and it’s also equally suitable for the city or rougher roads.

The bigger and longer forged aluminum alloy frame is fitted with wide-rim, fat, puncture-resistant tires in 2 options: all-terrain, and city and sand. The motor is more powerful, as is the 48V lithium-ion battery, which guarantee easy climbing and acceleration capabilities, a 20mph maximum speed and up to 80 miles on a single charge.

The X comes in 5 color options: Subdued Black (Matte), White Ice, Burnt Orange, Desert Storm (Matte) and a special FOUNDERS EDITION “Unicorn” coating. Like its predecessors, it has a built-in USB charger that you can use for your phone, with the only difference being that it’s now found on the seat and not on the handlebars.

It can be easily folded to fit into narrower spaces like the trunk of a car (including the pedals), and includes a Shimano 8-speed cassette with improved easy-gear shifting, a computer display, Tektro braking system and full suspension.

The bike weighs about 50 pounds (26 kg) and can be further customized with several cool accessories: aluminum fenders, thumb throttle, extra battery to achieve longer distances or rear-rack with built-in lights.

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About the author: Elena Gorgan
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Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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