First look at Electra’s new “Amsterdam” bike

Just got back from Amsterdam, and yup, that’s them!

Now if they only made those nice, simple bags they throw on the back rack. They were only 50 euro, and I’m really kicking myself for not getting one because I can’t find them here.

I don’t know why, but would be surprised to find a mainstream seller without a front brake. Though just a coaster brake seems perfectly suited to this handsome bike.

Looks like the bike of a lifetime for a lot of people, is aluminum up to this?

I’m both excited and disappointed. What’s with the three-speed? That seems like a serious misstep. And the generator lights — are they built in, like Breezers, or are they the tire rubbing kind. And the big question: will they fit on bus racks, and be easy enough to control to hang on MAX hooks? Because for some of us, that’s the sort of issue that makes the decision, are you cycling or driving this trip?

Still – Electra. You know it’s gonna look sweet, and I am overjoyed to see a coat guard. But probably not overjoyed enough to buy a three speed…

Are you going to Interbike, Jonathan?

I hadn’t noted the lack of front brake – the ones from NL have one – also 8 speeds – maybe I should just plunk down the bucks for authenticity . . . .hmmm

http://www.dutchbikes.us/

I strongly suspect if you are reading this you are not in Electra’s target market.

Sorry to be rude, but I like my bike better (Bianchi Milano). It has a Nexus 7-speed internal hub (new bikes have 8-speed), rear drum brake, front caliper brake, fenders and chainguard. I added a front basket, and front and back lights.

The only things on the Electra bike I don’t have are the “fully-enclosed metal chaincover, rear rack, and coat/skirt guard over the rear wheel”. Those things don’t matter that much to me.

I wonder if it would be harder to lube the chain with a fully-enclosed chaincover.

My wife and I both have Electras and love them. Mine has a Nexus 3 and while I suppose that it would be nice to have more gears, I’ve never really needed more than what it has. The gearing is nicely spread out so that it’s not unconfortable. Plus, you get the advantage of having all the gearing internal to the hub. There is virtually no maintenance and the shifting is very smooth. I used it on the Bridge Peal, and it was extremely comfortable. As far as Max goes, this bike doesn’t appear to have the Flat Foot Technology thing, so it would be the same length as a standard bike. If I was in the market for a new bike, I’d definately look at this model.

Cool ‘cept if you live in a hilly city like say, Seattle.

Yes, aren’t coaster brakes illegal?

What if you your chain breaks or you get muscle cramps and can’t engage the coaster brake, or you have a seizure or a heart attack. How will you stop the bike then?

Answer to post 1: If you’re looking for those classy rack bags in the Euro Style, look no further than Rivendell They may be currently out of stock of the “baggins” bags, but I believe you can backorder.

re post 11: it is indeed harder to lube the chain when the guard is on, but you just have to take it off. simple procedure. The guard does keep a lot of crap (including your pant cuff) out of the chain, though, so you don’t have to lube as often.

ME! WANT! NOW!

Wow, I logged into bp.o today to search for the other Dutch bike importer and ran into this. I’m having serious nostalgia for my biking days in Eindhoven. (It was also cute to see the Dutch girlfriend riding sidesaddle on the rear rack.)

I’m glad to hear about Brad’s 3-speed experience. That is my only qualm (aside from whether it is legal at all without handbrakes).

I’ll also check out that Bianchi that Cate mentioned. Who sells this model in Portland?

For lubing the chain, my Azor’s chain case has a tiny panel by the rear hub that snaps open to expose the chain. I have no idea how to remove the chain case – it doesn’t look easy!

I am so happy that a bike like this is hitting the market. It’s really set up to be able to ride in your work clothes, low maintenance, and has everything you need on the stock model.

My commuter bike has a full enclosed chain guard like this bike. What I’ve found is that I don’t need to oil the chain until it’s time to replace the chain. The new chain goes on lubed and then by keeping it away from the elements, stays nice. With the internal hub and drum brake, the only maintenance I’ve done on the bike over the past couple thousand miles is to adjust the front brake.

There are a couple of things I’d wish for on this bike. I wish they’d offer a true step-through model. The bike I ride came in a diamond frame, women’s, or step-through. I love having the step though for lots of reasons. One of the main ones is that it makes for an incredibly tall and relaxed geometry, that lets me easily mount and dismount. I’ve named this bike, my primary commuter, “Dreamy”.

A rear lock, generator hub, and luggage straps would also be nice. But, maybe this will be the first entry of many European commuter style bicycles. Maybe later models will make me even happier.

I think I paid about $1490 to http://www.dutchbikes.us plus $300 for shipping. This is for the deluxe model, i.e. 8 speed Nexus hub, front hub dynamo, Brooks B66 saddle, and also a frame-fixed front rack. I’ve carried maybe 50 pounds of groceries in my front basket – a Wald Giant Delivery Basket is a good fit – and the bike handles fine with that load.

Skid –
Electra has a number of bikes that have coaster brakes. Whether they’re legal or not, I have no idea.

I have a townie 3speed, with the feet forward design, and getting it on & off the MAX is a nightmare. It’s really hard to manuever, given that it’s long, and the bike just isn’t designed to be walked by the handbars. I can hang it on the hook, but my fenders are on the floor, and getting it off the hook is a something best done when the train is empty.

It is a shame. It’s very fun to ride.

I heard from Bike Gallery owner Jay Graves:

“Yes, we are aware of this bike and plan on ordering bunches of them. They haven’t started accepting orders yet but you can bet we’ll have a bunch.”

I hope to get a report from Interbike with more details from Jay about this and other cool news (since I unfortunately will not be there).

You’re my hero for posting this! I hadn’t heard of or seen anything about this. As much of a fan as I am of Empo and Gazelle citybikes, it would be AWESOME to see Electra’s idea catch on here in the states.

Check Jason’s posts on Bike Minivans in Copehagen.

Considering that the classic Dutch city bike is a heavy steel-framed single-speed with a coaster brake, adding a 3-speed, a dynamo, and (though I’m not a fan) an aluminum frame make this a step up. Sure, a front brake, an 8-speed, and a dynamo hub would be another step up, but I’d argue that those are unnecessary luxuries that, particularly in the case of the dynamo hub, just mean more stuff to break.

With the exception of some trailer-hauling, there isn’t a single ride I’ve been on here in Portland for which this bike would not have been suited. The range on a 3-speed is surprisingly wide.

The only glaring omission that I can see on this bike is a built-in lock, but Electra probably recognized that in throw-it-in-the-truck America, frame locks are a bit quaint (though aesthetically Electra usually embraces the “quaint” and nostalgic and this bike is no exception).

This type of bike is exactly what we need. Portland’s bike racks are smothered in mountain bikes and road bikes trying to be city bikes and, in one way or another, they all have unfortunate compromises. This bike is the right tool for the job.

Sweet!

Pashley also makes some great high-quality traditional style bikes:
http://www.pashley.co.uk/products/roadster-classic.html

Gilbert Anderson, at North Road Bicycle Co. imports them into the U.S.: http://www.northroadbicycle.com/
He’s got a lot of experience with custom set-ups for Dynamos, internal hubs, baskets, etc…

Here’s the thing a lot of “commuters” or “hardcore cyclists” don’t understand: not everybody wants what you want out of a bike. Some want utter and complete simplicity. Some want a bike that is comfortable that they can put along the waterfront with on the weekends. Some want to win the criterium. Some want to get to work in a certain amount of time and be dry. Some want a challenge and see bikes as soem sort quasi kinetic art sculture and practicality is not even considered. Some like to jump dirt mounds and fly high in the air…..

A similar bike which is already available is the Breezer Uptown 8. It has the Nexus 8-speed rear hub, front and rear brakes, rack, kickstand, chainguard (though not fully-enclosed chaincase), Nexus front hub generator driving headlight and taillight, and a built-in rear lock. It’s aluminum framed (oh, and has reflective-sidewall tires, too). It might even have a bell. It’s not as classic-looking as this Electra but is very functional.

There’s another photo here: http://rodale.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/electra_amsterdam.jpg

Unconfirmed/rumor pricing is ~$550.

I love the feet forward retro look, but I’ve heard that that design prevents you from fully using your quad muscles and thus deprives you of power. Not that I’m a power biker — just an in-city rider who occasionally hits the Springwater and trails like t hat — but is it really worth it to have to pump that much harder just so your feet touch the ground easily?

Don’t get me wrong — I love the looks of this bike, and Townies, and would consider getting one but I’d need to know how much harder it is to ride on Portland’s moderate hills than my current cheap Specialized hybrid, and what other advantages it offers, so please enlighten. thanks.

just got back from interbike. this bike is really great in person, and i think it could be a great way to turn non users into users, and provide super simple, reliable transport in most cities. it is true that the price is $550 for either model. there is a steel model that is equipped with a rack, coat guard, chaincase, and generator lights. the aluminum model does not have the lights, rack, or guard, but is the same price. the steel one is the steal.

the chaincase is not fully enclosed. it is open on the backside except near the chainring, which is covered in back too.

the rumor from the electra folks is that they intend to make the rack, and coat guard available aftermarket for the alloy version eventually. no date for that though.

they hope to have the bikes ready for delivery to lbs in time for christmas.

several colors for both models, more in ladies than mens. the usual suspects, maroon, black, dark green, cream, blue, etc.

i hope that boston can benefit from a bike like this. i believe it can. it may not be the ultimate commuter bike, but it is a great start towards changing the mentality of american city dwellers and their surgical attachment to their cars. i don’t know if it will change the world, but it is a good start.

Today’s Wall Street Journal has a nice article on the new generation of commuter biker, including the Electra Amsterdam *which is prices at $459).

It begins:

“A radical idea is sweeping the world of American bicycle manufacturing: building bikes that people will use for actual transportation.

After decades of pushing models designed for recreation, from full-suspension mountain bikes to ever-faster road bikes, industry heavyweights are now moving into commuters — rugged specimens made for riding to work. Nearly every major manufacturer has a new or revised commuter model for 2007. They may look like 1940s Schwinns, but materials like aluminum and carbon make the frames lighter, while technological advances mean better brakes, shock-absorbing seats, smoother shifters and even electric power. The models usually come with practical accessories, like racks for carrying briefcases, fenders for splash protection on wet roads, lights that turn on automatically at dusk and big chain guards to keep legs and clothing away from chain grease….. ”

I think it’s subscription only, but here it is:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB116010158918484570.html?mod=weekend_journal_primary_hs

Ooops… my bad. The price for the Electra Amsterdam is %550. I misread the article.

Brad, just FYI, I covered this program last year.

Here’s the article:

“French bike rental system shows promise”

Ok,,,It was like they had read my mind…..and there it was front page of Electra’s website…….I’ve had many layovers in Amsterdam as a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines…I’ve searched high and low in Portland for a Dutch simple style bike….I bought a Townie 8 and had a shimano front generator hub installed for front and back lights….and then……..they come out with it!!

Re: built in locks

In the Netherlands, having a built in rear wheel lock is a requirement for theft insurance. You need to present the key (normally held by the lock when open) when making a claim to prove that you locked your bike. I even remember some Dutch PSA’s on TV to remind you to lock your bike.

That said, are there any dealers in the US that sell an aftermarket rear wheel lock? My dad got one for his bike while on vacation in Europe.

P.S. It’s November. What’s the ETA on the Amsterdam arriving in town?

sorry if that came off a bit harsh. I was just really irritated by looking at the UK Cannondale 2007 offerings: they are exporting some truly beautiful, brilliantly designed city bikes which we don’t get here. I’m angry at our culture. But the Electra does really rankle me. I don’t think it’s really made for riding. I rode one in a parking lot once, and it was like, wow, that’s just like my sofa! only, you don’t want your bike to ride like a sofa. This bike is all show, no go. The Jamis, Breezer, and yes, the Bianchi city bikes impress me much more as bikes I could get around on and enjoy RIDIHG for a long time. (My current commute bikes include a converted mtn bike (Litespeed) and converted road bike (Jamis).

I have been THIS close to importing a Pashley from England or a Dutch bike from dutchbike.uk or even one from a Vancouver Canada company Jorg & Olif. So finding this bike is a dream. I have only ever had big Raliegh Cruisers my whole life, so no front brake or only 3 speeds is fine by me. It’s three speeds more than I’ve ever had. It’s light, it fits into my city’s bus racks, and it’s the same color as the Pashley. Reading the threads, you all seem to be way more in to bikes than this bike is geared toward. This bike is the alternate to my car, and I am not much of a driver, this gets me smartly from A to B and back again…

Hello:
So, the comment by Ronnie G. was acceptable, but my comment about the Electra being made in China was removed. What does that MEAN??????
Hmmm……….

I have the Bianchi now. I spent a little while gazing lovingly at the Electra’s but neith bicycle shop we went to had any on the shopfloor to show me. I suspected the Electra’s would be heavy too. My Bianchi is a very smooth and sturdy ride, very secure feeling. It’s pretty fast and I’m a bit of a lazy pedaller. It actually stands up properly on it’s kickstand.It looks gorgeous (mine is the black version with step through) The best thing for me though is that I can carry it up and down our 2 flights of steps with no problems and I am only 5’2″, so in terms of a best friend bicycle that goes everywhere with you and that you can easily carry, this would be good.

I looked at the Amsterdam, it was a disappointment. If you want a true Dutch bike, you’ve got to buy a true and genuine Dutch bike. The Amsterdam, at first glance looks fine but, as most things today, it is a pale immitation of the genuine article.

I just tried out the Amsterdam in Chicago. I’d say it’s a good get around town bike though I’m sorry they chose 3 instead of 7 internal gears. It’s certainly comfortable and the aesthetic says, “c’mon ride a bike!” I’m a nurse and I often ride in my whites, (too much hassel to change at work), so the low, front mudflap and full chain guard are perfect for everyday clothes. $550 is a good price for what it provides. It’s lighter than my Kronan. I don’t know about hilly-er cities but this one’s good for neighborhood living in Chicago.

This is an old thread but I have to comment on this bike. I am originally from Holland and hadn\’t biked for over 10yrs (it ought to be a sin but there you have it). When I first test rode this bike, it felt very wobbly, but I thought that was my bike version of sea legs..I just hadn\’t been on a bike for that long. Well, one of the previous commenters is right (Mike something)..this is far from the real thing. It looks the part, but after having bought it and having ridden it for two days, I hate it! It does not feel stable and when you\’re going slow, it is tough to stay on it. I was explaining to my American husband that as a kid/teen, sometimes you\’d yak with other kids on bike and could even do so standing still sitting on the bike, no problem…well, not on this bike. I can\’t put my finger on it why it is.. but it just doesn\’t feel right still.
I am going to return this bike and hope to be able to get something else. I like to be upright, but want something more stable. A City bike does not by definition have to be a thin wheeled bike that looks like this one. In fact, the old \’grandma\’ bikes had good thick tires.
alrightie, enough of the belly aching.. if only we had proper bike lanes here in Austin, not just only designated areas and the hike and bike trails..
adios portland..
Ingrid

Rolhoff hub….answer to any gearing problems…cool bike.

I test-rode one of these last weekend, and really didn\’t like the geometry.

I have a strongly negative physical reaction to the flat-foot \”technology\” (you sure it\’s a feature, not a bug, Electra?) thing. It feels wrong and inefficient and even dangerous, because I can\’t accelerate quickly or with control.

So, even though it\’s handsome, it\’s not the bike for me.

Just bought one the other day.

Just got mine last week…ladies white classic. I\’ve been lusting after one for months now an am satisfied now that I actually own one. I use a bike to commute in and out of Boston and for weekend rides. This bike performs the way I need it to…and it is easy on my lower back which I injured last year. Not to mention it\’s drop dead gorgeous. The only real draw back for me is I have a really hard time biking large hills on this hottie. I am new to cycling on a regular basis (started last year since my back injury now prevents me from running and gas just costs too much) and this bike is just what I needed/wanted to help get me started.

£500 in the UK. What a f******* rip-off!

TP- thank you for that comment. I\’m new to biking, and in love with these Dutch bikes, but not sure I want to fork over the $2K to have an Azor Swan shipped and assembled. I\’ve been looking at the Royal 8, but the comments were getting me down about it. (I am not what many seem to think the target market is either.) Glad to hear you like it!

I got the step-thru classic about a week ago- I LOVE it! This is my \”first time\” with a \”real\” bicycle, though I have had some in the past (of the wal-mart variety). I think it\’s a great \”about town\” bike because the upright seating position is good for the casual ride around town or down the streets, and whereas the bike itself is not meant to go super fast, it is big, comfortable, and a great bike for commuting or getting groceries.

I foresee the \”skirt guard\”, chain guard, and built in fenders coming in handy when it starts to rain here. And the fact that it comes with the front and rear light, and bell, and rack, are awesome for someone who might find it a hassle/ pricey to buy all of these separately (and get them to match!)

On the downside, this doesn\’t seem like the type of bike you want to get if just want reliable transportation or are not willing to learn about bikes and put some work into it. Because of all of the built in (some might say \”unnecessary\”) features, it is more likely that something will need tweaking or fixing. I think if you get this bike, you need to be willing to learn how to fix and adjust its components, or at least have a good maintenance plan that is close by. If that is a concern, you might want to go for a townie or something else instead, since they seem to be a little lower maintenance and will get the job done.

Another concern with the step-thru is mounting a lock. It\’s difficult to find a positioning that does not block or hinder the step thru. I eventually did with some help, but once again it\’s something that might frustrate someone new to biking.

And you will need a good lock, because believe me, people will be envious of your bike. Its good looks can\’t be beat. Just keep in mind that, like with a significant other, you have to put some time and effort in for the relationship to work!

Sure, great bike… but still way too expensive for the average person to feel good about buying.
I like what you said here: “If only Wal-Mart and Target were selling these instead of the plastic toys they call bicycles, maybe more Americans would take bikes seriously.” Unfortunately, Americans base too many of their choices on trends and then go from there. Biking in Portland is trendy and too cool for the average person to feel comfotable going into Clever Cycles or the Bike Gallery to drop severala hundred dollars.