The Diodra e-Bike Comes With a Bamboo Frame and the Title of World's Lightest

In the looks department, Diodra is a winner even from afar. It helps that, once you get close enough to it, you see that it also delivers on the quality and performance side, turning this product into one worthy of consideration, if not your hard-earned money.

e-Bikes are a dime a dozen these days, provided you're interested in switching to a motor-assisted two-wheeler for the daily commute. Depending on your budget and your daily needs, you can get anything from a cheap e-bike that'll do for a while to the most high-tech machine with modern features, solid performance, and top-of-the-line parts.

The e-bike market has seen an unprecedented boom over the past 4 years, and even though analysts are saying the bubble has nearly burst, growth remains constant. The context is a win-win one: bike companies and suppliers are winning because of booming sales, but customers are also winning because more products means higher competition, which, in turn, means higher affordability and quality.

That said, with all the progress in design and battery tech, e-bikes are still on the heavier side. Even those that are promoted as lightweight are still heavier than a traditional, non-powered version. This isn't an argument for the sake of it: a heavier e-bike means less convenience for those who represent the target customer, city people living in small apartments with or without elevator facilities.

In fewer words, when you have to carry your e-bike at least one flight of stairs daily, even 1 kg (2.2 lbs) extra can make the difference. There are light e-bikes on the market, it's true, but they usually come with carbon fiber elements or the entire frame, which makes them expensive.

The Diodra S3 is able to check both these boxes (lightweight form factor and affordability) with a surprising approach: a bamboo frame. Bikes with wooden frames, whether wood or bamboo, aren't a rarity, but you don't see one at every corner, either. That's because crafting a bike frame out of wood takes talent and knowledge, as well as more time than working with aluminum or even carbon fiber.

In the case of the Diodra S3, the choice of bamboo paves the way not just for the most striking design that turns it into a rolling piece of art but also for a possible new record. Romanian startup Diodra claims that the S3 will be the world's lightest e-bike once it starts deliveries. Exactly when that should happen isn't mentioned.

The Diodra is available in two variants: the S3 electric version and the M8 pedal-powered model. You would probably not be able to tell the difference between the two from a distance, and that's because the S3 packs an in-wheel hub with both motor and battery. Per-charge estimated range is a solid 100 km (62 miles), which would put it on par with similar e-bikes with large, protruding batteries on them.

The S3 would tip the scales at just 15 kg (33 lbs), which would, indeed, rank it among the world's lightest e-bikes, if not the lightest of the lot. We're assuming that record is possible with the bike as presented in the photos, with no kickstand, no mudguards, no lights or bell, and no display. Sabin Damian, founder of Diodra, tells autoevolution that accessories will be made available at a later time, so riders can turn the rolling work of art into a suitable commuter.

The absence of these accessories helps with the streamlined, absolutely gorgeous look of the machine. Cables are wired internally to maintain the sleek silhouette, and the display is rendered useless by the use of the rider's phone, paired to a dedicated app and mounted on the handlebars.

The 300-Wh 25Ah Li-ion battery powers a 500W motor limited electronically at 250W for EU countries, so capable of maxing out at 25 kph (15.5 mph). For countries with less strict regulations on e-bikes, the Diodra S3 will be capable of hitting 20 mph (32 kph) with motor assistance, but given its weight and geometry, it's not like you couldn't ride it like a traditional bike with ease.

Features include hydraulic braking, puncture-proof Continental tires, and Gates carbon drive for easy maintenance. A full charge is achieved in 3.5 hours. Diodra says that the S3 is made to live in the city regardless of the quality of the infrastructure because the bamboo frame will ensure bump-free rides by absorbing vibrations.

The Diodra S3 will be offered in three sizes (S, M, and L) and just one colorway – laminated, waterproofed bamboo.

MRSP is set at €2,899 ($3,123 at the current exchange rate), but if you're convinced by what you read and feel like taking a leap of faith today, you can pre-order it at a discount for €2,199 ($2,370). Only 100 bikes at the discounted price will be available. While that's still more than what you'd pay for a mid-level e-bike, it's more affordable than what you'd pay for a premium, carbon-fiber frame model.