Stoic is a Classic City Bike Design with a Catch, It’s Actually an E-bike

One of those companies is Maxwell Motorbikes. All you need to know is that this team is looking to change the e-bike game. Sure, we’ve heard that before, but try and keep reading. This model is called the Stoic and it’s not even out yet. Estimated shipping is set for March 2021 as the IndiGoGo Early Bird special is happening now.

But what are we getting, and why is it such a big deal? Have a close look at it and then draw your own conclusions. My own conclusions are as follows. First of all, it looks like just your classic bike. No huge bulging frames or components. No weirdly shaped tubes, just a good old-fashioned bike design.

This is perfect as most bike use happens within city limits. It also makes sense to create a design that meets those needs, and the classic bike structure is already equipped for that. The real challenges were faced when the team had to begin incorporating electronics into such a frame.

One of the biggest problems when building an e-bike is weight. With components weighting as much as 15-20lbs. (7-9kg) or more for a battery, making a bike that is easily handled can be a real issue. And that’s not counting other components such as motors wiring brakes and cranks. This is the main reason why a 60lbs e-bike can be considered of average weight.

Even though the Stoic is a full-fledged e-bike with a classic frame, it only comes in at 38lbs. (17kg) with accessories on it. This is due to the use of 6061 aircraft grade aluminum in its frame's construction, and because of a few well-chosen components.

One of those components is a fully integrated 360wh 36V battery with Panasonic cells which has been hidden in the downtube. One thing we don’t know is how much this battery weighs on its own. But depending on the riding style, it’s able to give you a range of 20-80 (32-128km) miles.

As for the motor, the other important component on an e-bike, is surprisingly small. Putting out only 300W of power, this geared rear hub motor can get this baby flying at a top speed of 19mph. (30.5km). It may not seem like much, but for city riding, it’s enough. Trust me, you don’t want to know what it’s like to hit asphalt at 35+ mph (56kph).

But this doesn’t make any sense, how does an e-bike with such seemingly small components get such high stats? Through tender love and care, that’s how. Honestly, we don’t know. Maybe it’s the five different levels of assist the bike offers, or the Sinewave controller? Or is it the charger? It can’t be the charger, so we’ll just leave it at that, it doesn’t matter how it works, it just does.

With the help of an LCD screen for selecting your assist levels and keeping an eye on vehicle statistics, this bike is ready to go even in the dark. Speaking of lights, all lighting is integrated and powered by the main battery. A couple of standard Tektro 180mm disk brakes and you’re set for whatever in-town riding you may do. The addition of a pannier cargo rack makes carrying your goods that much easier.

As I mentioned earlier, it’s not out yet and you can still pick up a copy at your local IndieGoGo for $1,200. Personally, before I invest in an e-bike, I like to test ride it first. So I'm going to hold off on this one until next year.