I know this may be a silly question, but had to ask.....
Are there any USA based companies that build something like the XB series Electric-assisted bicycles? I've found plenty of places that try to sound American based, but they are importers, or at best expidited drop shippers that never see the inside of the carton I would recieve. Best scenario: American made frames and high quality components;, meeting all US/Canada specs for safety and regulation. (yeah I can dream) I dont intend this as a slam to any businesses or brands, just wondering if there is an alternative to importing.
Check into to the Osiris Interceptor:
http://www.speedygokartshop.com/OsirisInterceptorRTSS.htm
Or any of the Pro-Series ETU electric bikes, you can buy them without the decals. I recommend the Security Edition. http://speedygokartshop.com/EcoTechSecurityEditionBicycle.htm
If it is not quality alternative transportation, you will not find it here...
http://www.SpeedyGoKartsandBicycles.com
http://www.OsirisElectricBicycles.com
I just wanted to add that as a dealer and part owner of Osiris Bicycles, if you are looking for a high quality, American built electric bicycle, Osiris and Eco-Tech are two of the best built e-bikes out there. Eco-Tech is considered to be the in the top 5% in the world in quality. Osiris has teamed up with Eco-Tech and has taken our line of bikes to the next level with higher quality components and extended warranties, making our bikes even higher in the percentile rate in quality.
The Interceptor is currently on display at:
Oceanworks
2703 10th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
And Coming Soon To:
Speedy Go Karts & Bicycles
5828 Forward Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
If it is not quality alternative transportation, you will not find it here...
http://www.SpeedyGoKartsandBicycles.com
http://www.OsirisElectricBicycles.com
We've gone over this in other posts ... you say "american built" but the product description on the page you linked lists parts from Shimano, Campagnola, Thomson and others. Those companies providing the parts are outside the U.S.
Sometimes "american built" means "assembled in America" with parts coming from wherever. That must be the case here, yes?
An unfortunate truth is the American bicycle industry essentially doesn't exist any longer. For example an e-bicycle kit dealer I talked with a couple months ago told me of the difficulty getting wheels built in the U.S. He wanted to get the hub motor made in China and then do wheel builds here. Wasn't able to find the expertise in the U.S. at all, much less getting the expertise at the production quantity and cost he needed. On the flip side electric bicycles sell by the million in China and for whatever it's worth the bulk of the electric bicycle industry is in China.
- David Herron, The Long Tail Pipe, davidherron.com, 7gen.com, What is Reiki
Everything comes out of China. :0
We build our bikes per order here in the US though and that is the next best thing rather than having something directly drop-shipped out of China to your door with the cheapest components.
If it is not quality alternative transportation, you will not find it here...
http://www.SpeedyGoKartsandBicycles.com
http://www.OsirisElectricBicycles.com
Ok, minor clarification:
While those are probably fine cycles, i was looking for versions or variants of the Xtreme XB-5xx, xb-600, xb-700 design, or "scooter style" ebikes, that still fall into the HR 727 range of "bicycle". I'm trying to avoid electrifying my Tour Easy recumbent bike, and the scooters having suspension, storage, and the possibility of carrying two passengers appeals to me. The insights have been helpful though. :-)