I'm back in Las Vegas for AIMExpo, the largest powersports tradeshow in North America. This is the 10th year for this expo, bigger and better than ever, or so they tell me; this is my first year attending, and I'm having a blast so far! I've interviewed exhibitors, tested new products, and even competed in the Super73 Throwdown e-bike race. Watch the video for the full story, and keep reading here for the highlights.
ENVO brought their UPT, a modular electric quad platform that can be transformed into... well, just about anything! Suggested uses include plowing snow, lumberjacking, adventure riding, transporting an incapacitated human on a stretcher, and more. ENVO is making a bunch of their own accessories, but what I find really exciting is how open the platform is; a great fit for tinkerers who have their own modifications in mind.
Super73 brought an entire fleet of electric bikes to show off, many of which were ridden on the test track for the Throwdown E-Bike Race event at the end of the night. I rode in the media division, and made it to the semifinals before being knocked out. It was a blast! I also spent some time at the S73 booth, checking out both the classics and new models. They had the prototype of the C1X, their dual sport electric motorcycle that is nearing production. Here's hoping they send me one of those to review...
GasGas - yes, the motocross company - has started making e-bikes and they are truly impressive! They have a wide range of enduro, all mountain, and trail e-MTBs, and brought some of their premium models to display. I was impressed with their quality components, flawless design, and of course GasGas's signature bright red colors. They also have two scrambler-style minibikes, with Class 2 drive systems and long enough banana seats to carry a passenger if you add some footpegs.
Future Motion brought the latest iteration of their Onewheel, the GT-S Series. It's lighter than the GT and has massive amounts of power, able to reach a top speed of 25 mph (40 kmh). More importantly, it feels a lot more stable and capable at mid-to-high range speeds. I've owned both an original Pint and an XR, and I was simply blown away by how good the GT-S feels; sturdy, responsive, and powerful. Sadly I only got in a short test ride before the entire show floor was evacuated due to a fire breaking out at one of the exhibits... but I'm going to try for another run tomorrow!
Other companies featured in the video: Taizhou Zengui Co, SoverSky, Soul Fast E-Bikes, Yamaha.
