Smalo Is Looking To Change the E-Bike Industry With the Plush and AI-Operated PX2

Folks, recent years have shown us the bicycle in many forms, styles, and speeds. However, the next step seems to be the introduction of AI into your cycling experience; this is precisely what Smalo has set out to achieve and actually made happen.

Now, Smalo is a rather new brand on the cycling scene. However, they're an off-shoot brand of BESV, a cycling manufacturer with not a whole lot of cycling history but a will to become one of the best around. Heck, they've won countless awards since their initial inception, and technology has always been the name of the game.

Well, recently, Smalo hit the scene, and in order to give us an idea of what this brand is all about, they're pointing out that their first two machines harness the power of AI to offer an unrivaled riding experience. You recently met the LX2 on our website, and now, it is the PX2's turn.

Upon seeing this trinket for the first time, I thought I was looking at some sort of weapon meant to appear in the next blockbuster; the wheels were the only thing to bring me back to reality. However, there's a method to Smalo's madness, and that's what we're here to discuss.

First of all, the frame is designed as such because this bugger is meant to be a compact solution to getting around town while leaving your car at home. In all, we're looking at a 46.4 lb (21 kg) bike, which is a tad under the average e-bike weight on the market. Light enough to take up a flight of stairs and small enough to fit in an elevator.

Another aspect of the frame design is comfort. I say this because Smalo includes not one but two suspension systems on the bike. At the front, there's a bump-absorbing fork, and at the rear, a shock has been integrated into the design, bringing some MTB comfort to your urban escapes.

However, the big ticket item that the PX2 and LX2 both sport is Smalo's proprietary Smart Mode. This is where the whole AI bit comes in, and what it's been designed to do is offer the perfect power output no matter the terrain you encounter. Best of all, it's designed to adjust without you ever doing anything.

Yet, on the PX2, all Smart Mode does is regulate the power output of the motor. It does this while also intercepting data from a torque sensor. However, if you want to see Smart Mode in full swing to see how it also shifts gears for you, then you have to check out the LX2. It's equipped with a Shimano Nexus 7 internal hub, and Smart Mode controls that gear, too.

Overall, the rear hub houses a 250 W motor with the ability to reach a software-limited 20 mph (32 kph), so enough to give you a taste for speed while keeping you safe, and a 365 Wh battery good for up to 50 mi (80 km) of range. Sure, this is in a test setting, and the real world is bound to reduce this number by around 30%, but it's still within the range the average American travels by car daily.

As for when you're all out of juice, from 0-100%, it'll take up to 3 hours and 20 minutes for a full recharge. If you happen to start recharging at 20%, 2 hours and 5 minutes is all you'll have to pull over for. Yet, I have a question: have you been able to spot the pack yet?

This is one aspect of the PX2 that I enjoyed: the way Smalo seamlessly integrated the battery back into the design. If you haven't seen it yet, it's that little pack hiding right underneath the top tube and along the down tube, or what could be considered a down tube.

As for the rest of the PX2, Smalo equips it with simple but essential gear. For example, an integrated headlight ensures you see what's coming up at night, and hydraulic brakes ensure quick and controlled stops. Did I mention the built-in e-lock?

But, if someone does manage to unlock your bike and run off with it, Smalo makes sure you just show up at that someone's home with the police, and you get your bike back. As part of the Smart system this manufacturer has created, an app is available. With it, you can track diagnostics, check range, plan trips, and, above all, recover your stolen goods. Why even have a lock? After all, everyone loves a good, police-filled adventure.

Now, at this stage, Smalo is still a start-up, and as such, they've opened up preorders for their bikes - the PX2 is to be delivered in 2024 - they're asking for $2,580 (€2,417 at current exchange rates). It's a bit more than what the average Joe is willing to pay for a city-dwelling e-bike, but there's plenty of reason as to why this price tag. After all, technology isn't cheap. Are you looking to join the e-bike wave with the freshest gear around?