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If you want to talk about an impressive array of electric bicycles then you really don't need to look much further than Optibike. This electrical bicycle company is the brainchild of a man by the name of Jim Turner who had an inspiration to combine dirt bike riding with the fitness benefits of riding a bicycle. By the time Mr. Turner was 16 years old he had won a motocross racing championship and had big dreams of having a business involved with this particular sport, even if he didn't understand exactly how. Because of his interest in motocross racing, Turner decided to go to Stanford University to study engineering. After Jim graduated, he went to work at Ford motor company to engineer shocks for cars all the while keeping bicycles in the back of his mind as the how they would relate to the projects he was working on. However, Jim did not feel that he was able to use his creative talents while working as an engineer at Ford and he spent much of his time competing in athletic events like triathlons while working at Ford.
After working at Ford Motor Company, Jim Turner worked in chemical dispensing any even patented Revolution chemical dispensing system which was use around the world however, cycling was still his passion and athletics was something he was involved in. In 1990 he began around the world cycling trip and later worked in Silicon Valley working on semi-conductors, but it wasn't until 1997 the Jim Turner purchased his first electric bicycle which was manufactured by a company called Zap.
Since Jim had a lot of experience in the integration of athletics as they are involved with mechanical products, his passion for bicycling as it pertained to the electric bicycle began to grow. In 1998 he decided to develop a motocross bicycle that would be the worlds best electric bike, which he called the Optibike. Fast-forward to recent history in the year 2008 California Academy of sciences called the OB1 which was a limited edition of the OPTi bike, "The future of transportation."
About the Bikes from Optibike
The OB1 - At the very top-of-the-line, this electric assisted bicycle is built as per customer specifications and there is a limited quantity built every year of about 24 e-bikes. These are handcrafted, high - quality electric assisted cross-country style bicycles that are absolutely a world-class model.
If Batman owned an electric bicycle, this would be the one! The components of these electric bicycles unconsidered the top-of-the-line in the industry. This is one of those situations where high quality is worth every single penny. Combining the American motorized bottom bracket along with a German designed speed hub the OPTi bike 850- R provides you with the maximum confidence that you will need to ride on and off the road. This model also uses oversized avid hydraulic disk brakes, front and rear Fox suspension, as well as carbon fiber handlebars to give you the ultimate in precision for a maximum riding experience. With its sleek monocoque frame, the OPTi bike 850-R encases all of its electronics and battery components inside of the frame so that wind, water and dirt cannot affect it.
This is one of the few electric bicycles on the market that has this kind of innovation. With light wheels, low center of gravity wherein the battery and the motor with their weight are low centered offering the best in handling capabilities. Also the tires are Kevlar reinforced Schwalbe which will protect your bike on the toughest roads and trail conditions. Another great feature are the 850-R's disk brakes, which perform well in many wet conditions as well as dirt – soaked mud situations. As you may already know, brakes are very difficult to deal with when they get really hot due to off road use, and with this electric bicycle you can travel at speeds of over 30 miles an hour. Since these brakes will be extremely important to your safety, hydraulic disk brakes can be applied with just a mere finger's operation. There are also front and rear fenders keep the mud off your back at all times as well as a great lighting package picking give night riding electric bikers an evening ride they soon won't forget. At all of that to the fact that you can get a lithium ion touring package to extend your ride and you're ready to have a real blast!