Getting from point A to point B in larger cities can be a real problem if said city doesn't have a solid infrastructure for public transit or you happen to luck out and hit rush-hour traffic. But neither issue has any relevance if you're willing to commute by bike.
If there's one thing to come out of the terrible, absolutely horrendous, we'd-rather-forget 2020, that's the boom on the e-bike market. As public transport was no longer a valid option for those who didn't own or wouldn't drive their personal cars to and from work once the world opened up again after the wave of lockdowns, e-bikes suddenly became the easiest, most comfortable, and most convenient alternative. Green, too.
Cycling presents countless advantages over commuting to work by car or public transport, from encouraging a healthier, more outdoorsy life to having a fragment of the carbon footprint of these two other options.
It's true, cycling will also get you sweaty and/or wet, exposing you to the elements, and it's still highly dependent on a decent infrastructure for it to be comfortable. It's also a one-person solution at best, though that can be changed with the right bike and the right accessories.
Photo: Hornback
But this isn't a debate on which means of transport is the best, or about weighing and comparing the pros and cons of any of them. It's a fact: post-2020, the e-bike segment boomed because demand for such a product was suddenly sky-high.
Now nearing the end of 2023, demand is stalling, which could get you to think that we've seen all the innovation we could see regarding a machine of this kind. Not really, as it turns out: here we have the world's first diamond-frame folding e-bike, which also happens to be the world's first e-bike that ships fully assembled.
This is the Hornback X1, which was first introduced to the public in the spring of 2022 but only made its debut in the current, mass-produced form a couple of months ago. The X1 is an electric bicycle, as made obvious by the battery sitting in its own rack over the rear wheel, where a cargo rack would be located. But it's also a full 28-inch-wheel bike that folds, and that's the novelty of it.
Photo: Hornback
Folding bikes abound on this already-crowded segment of the market. While some manufacturers have recently started using folding frames on cargo units, full-size bikes with folding frames don't exist, which gives this startup, Hornback, bragging rights for a world first.
The X1 folds in and out in four simple moves. In folded form, the rear wheel is brought sideways next to the front one, and you can lock the two together and roll the bike as you would a (more sizable) piece of luggage. To that same end, two cartwheels attached to the battery rack add stability and allow you to roll it without scraping that sensitive part on the ground.
The spec list is pretty standard for an EU-marketed e-bike: a 250W rear hub brushless motor that delivers a top speed of 25 kph (15.5 mph), a Li-Ion 36V 7.65Ah battery good for 45 km (28 miles) in pedal-assist mode, IP65 weatherproof electronics, five levels of pedal-assist, disc braking, seven-speed Shimano gearshift, headlight and horn, mudguards, and a backlit display for stats. Less usual for the EU market is a throttle that allows you to ride it without pedaling.
Photo: Hornback
The X1 has a steel frame for maximum durability, which is exactly the phrase you want to read when it comes to a bike that features hinges where you wouldn't normally have them. The downside to that is that it's heavier than its aluminum alloy counterparts, tipping the scales at 24.5 kilograms (54 lbs). Maximum rider weight is just 70 kg (154.3 lbs), which is also a downside.
Then again, life is all about compromises, so this is probably the price you pay to get the world's first diamond-frame foldable e-bike. Hornback also claims to deliver the first and only e-bike that you can simply "unbox, unfold, and ride," which is very convenient even in the current context, in which assembly is minimal even with the cheapest e-bikes out there.
Pricing is another high-selling point of the X1, as it sells for the equivalent of $540. Were it available in the U.S., this would probably qualify it for another record. As things stand, it's not. In fact, it's not available anywhere outside its home country, India, and no plans have been announced for deliveries outside national borders as of this writing.
Photo: Twitter/Anand Mahindra
Hornback – and the X1 in particular – have backing from none other than billionaire Anand Mahindra of the Mahindra Group. He says the X1 is "35% more efficient than other foldable bikes" and more stable at higher speeds, praising it for offering the possibility to simply roll it on the ground after folding. Mahindra is not just a fan of the X1 but also an early investor in Hornback.
A bunch of IIT Bombay guys have made us proud again. They’ve created the first foldable diamond frame e-bike with full-size wheels in the world. That makes the bike not only 35% more efficient than other foldable bikes but it makes the bike stable at higher than medium speed. And… pic.twitter.com/U1HHGD6rfL
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. Full profile
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