As Optibike approaches its 20th anniversary, founder Jim Turner sat down with Brandon Mason to reflect on a journey that began long before ebikes were a household name. This isn’t just a story of motors and batteries; it is a story of a motocross champion’s vision, a Stanford engineer’s precision, and a family’s dedication to building the best bikes in the world from their shop in Paonia, Colorado.

From Motocross Championships to Ebike Pioneering

Jim Turner’s obsession with high-performance handling didn’t start in a lab; it started on the national motocross circuit. A three-time National Champion, Jim spent his youth riding “Works” bikes—bespoke machines hand-built by factory teams specifically for their riders.

“In racing, the bike has to be perfect. It’s a very human-machine interaction,” Turner says. “I’ve always tried to emulate that in Optibike by giving people an experience where the bike is truly tuned for them.”

The Corporate Defector: Leaving Ford for Creative Freedom

After graduating from Stanford with a degree in design engineering, Jim landed a prestigious role at Ford, working on electronic shock absorbers. Despite having unlimited resources, he found the bureaucratic environment stifling.

Jim realized that in a large corporation, innovation is often slowed by a fear of failure. He chose to trade the unlimited budget of the corporate world for the freedom of a small business, where he could prototype, fail, and iterate in real-time. This “bulldog personality” allowed him to weather the 12-year gap between his first prototype in 1995 and his first commercial sale in 2007.

A Family Legacy in Paonia, Colorado

Today, Optibike is a true family affair. Jim’s sons, Austin and Nicholas, have grown up in the shop and now bring their own specialized expertise to the G Series and the R22ET Everest:

• Austin: An expert in suspension and linkage design who intuitively understands the “feel” of a bike on technical trails.
• Nicholas: A specialist in electronics who manages the complex systems that make Optibike motors world-leaders in continuous power.

Working together in Paonia, the Turner family ensures that every bike is more than just a sum of its parts. “We build one at a time,” Jim explains. “It’s like a fine restaurant versus a fast-food chain. We know what every bolt is supposed to do and how the final product is supposed to feel.”

Life-Changing Experiences

The true measure of Optibike’s success isn’t found in sales figures, but in the stories of the people who ride them. Over the last 20 years, Jim has heard from customers who have used his bikes to:

• Lose Weight: One customer avoided a “fat farm” and lost 50 pounds, reclaiming his health and extending his life.
• Recover Mobility: Optibike has built custom solutions for riders with fused knees and heart conditions, allowing them to return to the trails they love.
• Find Adventure: From retirees riding from New Mexico to Florida to mountain bikers tackling 10,000-foot climbs in the Rockies.

The Next 20 Years

Jim Turner remains as passionate today as he was 30 years ago when he first imagined a bike that could assist a rider up a steep hill. While the market has grown and changed, Optibike remains committed to being “Rocky Mountain Tough,” building machines that are designed to be rebuilt, not replaced.

Experience the history and the future of Optibike.

• View our full range of ebikes: Optibike Models Overview
• Contact us to schedule your own test ride in Paonia: Contact Optibike

In this article we review the ranges for the Optibike R15C electric bike. The maximum range is 181 miles on a charge which makes the R15C the leader in long range touring. The tests show the ranges at 15, 20, 28, and 36 mph. Range tests are made with both pedaling and not pedaling. Optibike is the only company to list ranges with and without pedaling, and at all the different speeds, removing the uncertainty for determining how much the rider is pedaling in range tests on electric bikes.

The R15C is a very reliable and versatile E Bike, able to ride both on and off road. The five power level settings have unique power, torque and speed limits. It is like getting 5 bikes in one with incredible versatility. Whether tour riding for 180 miles or flying along trials at 36 mph, the R15C can do it.

Riders can use the ranges for pedaling and not pedaling to get an idea of how far they will be able to go in real life conditions. Optibike also does the range tests with a 220 lb rider, which is more in line with the average American rider. Many companies do tests with ultra fit 160 pound riders. Optibike also tests with knobby tires, which reduce range by 10-15%. Other companies test with ultra skinny road tires with high pressure. These tires are not practical and safe for the average rider.

Chart and Results

In the chart below you wills see test results for 15, 20, 28, and 36 mph, done both with and without pedaling. The top range of 181 miles is achieved with pedaling at 15 mph. At 36 mph, the range is 28 miles.  The speeds were chosen because they are common speeds for electric bikes. The speed 15 mph is often the speed limit on bike paths. The 20 mph speed limit is the speed limit of Type 1 and Type 2 electric bikes in USA. The speed limit of 28 mph is the speed limit for Type 3 electric bikes in USA. The speed of 36 mph is the speed limit set in the R15C in Power Level 5.

Ranges at Different Speeds

15 MPH

Riding at 15 mph with pedaling gives the longest range at 181 miles. If you ride at 15 mph without pedaling then the range is 104 miles. Most bike paths have a speed limit of 15 mph and so this is a great test for bike path riding. The R15C in Power Level 1 is limited to 15 mph and the test was done in this power level.  This is also the most subjective range, as it is essay to pedal at 15 mph and get infinite mileage. Tire friction is also a main factor at this speed, so a road tire would give a 100% improvement in range.

20 MPH

Riding at 20 mph with pedaling gives an amazing range of 126 miles. At 20 mph without pedaling the range is still an astounding 77 miles. The test at 20 mph is an important one as this is the speed limit for Class 1 and Class 2 E bikes in USA. In Power Level 3 the speed is limited to 20 mph, so test was done in this power level.

28 MPH

Riding at 28 mph with pedaling the range is 56 miles. If you do no pedaling the range is still 44 miles. At 28 mph wind resistance is playing a much bigger role. It takes twice as much power to overcome wind resistance at 28 mph versus 20 mph and 3.5 times the power of 15 mph. The speed of 28 mph is the seed limit for Type 3 electric bikes in the USA and this test was done in Power Level 4 which has a speed limit of 28 mph.

36 MPH

The speed of 36 mph is really flying and for off road use only, on private or OHV land. The range at 36 mph with pedaling is 28 miles and without pedaling 25 miles. You see the rider pedaling input has very little effect on range at this speed as it take so much power to travel at 36 mph. The R15C has a 36 mph speed limit in Power Level 5, so the tests were done in this power level.

Pedaling Versus no Pedaling

In the chart you will see that tests were performed with both with pedaling and without pedaling. This gives a clear indication of range you can expect. At 15 mph, pedaling has a large effect on range, while at 36 mph pedaling has very little effect. This is due to the amount of power required to go 36 mph.  Due to wind resistance, the power required to ride 36 mph is 6X the power to go 15 mph. What is truly amazing is that the bike can go 104 miles at 15 mph without any rider pedaling! The range increases to 181 miles with rider pedaling, mainly due to the motor doing  little work as it is very easy to pedal at 15 mph without motor assist. In these test the rider is putting in about 100-125 watts of power.

The 3 Top Reasons the Optibike R15C has the Longest Range

The R15C is the longest range electric bike by careful design. The R15C has the largest battery, the award winning Rohloff wide range 14 speed gear system and the Patented high power Optibike Motorized Bottom Bracket drive system.

The Optibike R15C electric bike has one of the largest batteries available and has 3X the capacity of the 2019 Bosch CX system. This results in longer ranges than any other bikes and eliminates range anxiety.

The R15C uses a German Made Rohloff 14 speed internal gear hub with a very large gear change of 540%. This enables the R15C to climb grades over 50% and still travel at 36 mph on the flat. The R15C is able to climb 12% grades at 16 MPH for almost one hour; an amazing achievement!

Another secret to the amazing range of the R15C is the Optibike designed and patented Motorized Bottom Bracket (MBB) drive system. The MBB has the highest power to volume ratio in the world and allows the bike to produce 5X the power of the Bosch CX motor in a smaller space. The MBB is designed and hand built in Colorado by Optibike.

Optibike Motorized Bottom Bracket (MBB)

Large Capacity Optibike R15C 1500 Watt Hour Lithium-ion Battery

Factors that will affect your actual range

There are several factors that will affect the range you will actually get riding your R15C or any E Bike.  Therefore, your results may differ from the results listed here.

1.  Your weight. Your weight will affect the range because it creates more friction on the tires and if you’re climbing hills it will take more power to climb hills.

2. Speed.  Speed will greatly change the result of your range. As you go faster the wind resistance is a major factor and is a square of the speed. At 20 miles an hour you have four times the wind resistance at 10 miles an hour and will use four times as much power.

3. Tires. Tire choice tires will affect the range 10 to 20%. The full knobby used in this test are less efficient on the road surface. If you’re using a high pressure road tire you’ll get better range.

4. Road Surface: The road surface will affect the range. If you’re riding on a smooth asphalt road will get better range than on a gravely road or dirt road.

5. Body Size and Clothing: A larger body has more frontal mass and will reduce range as will baggy clothing that catches in the wind.

6. You Pedaling Power: If you are able to put in more pedaling power, your range will increase.

7. Gear Choice: Riding in the correct gear on the bicycle will increase range. Riding in the wrong gear will reduce range.

8. Temperature: Temperature affects the range. These tests were done at 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If it’s very cold you will get less range than in these tests as the battery is less efficient when cold.

9. Riding Position: If you ride in a very upright position you’ll have more wind resistance then if you ride in a very flat position this is more true when you’re riding at higher speeds like 36 miles an hour.

Class 2 Electric Bike in Power Levels 1-3

In Power Levels 1, 2 and 3 the R15C is a Class 2 Electric Bike. This means that it is limited to 20 miles per hour and 750 watts. In most states a Class 2 E Bike is allowed on bike paths. Consult your local laws as all states and cities have varying laws.  Power Levels  4 and 5 are for off road use only.

Five Bikes in One

The Optibike R15C has different speed limits, power limits and torque limits in each of the five Power Settings. This makes the bike have five  completely different personalities, which gives you lots of variations in riding, all on the same bike.

Optibike builds the worlds leading high  performance electric bikes one at a time in the mountains of Colorado. As the oldest maker of electric bikes in America, Optibike is dedicated to quality, performance and hand built quality. Each bike is built to customer specifications and is an incredible experience to ride.

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The Optibike R15C Electric Bike is designed to fit a wide range of rider heights and weight. The versatile frame has the lowest stand over of any bike with a huge 1500 watt hour battery. The frame is slim and easy to ride. Other E bikes with larger batteries have very high stand over and are fat, making them difficult to mount and ride. The weight of their battery is also high so handling is not as stable or precise as the R15C. Optibike personally works with each rider to design the fit of the bike to the rider’s particular needs.

Optibike has found from over a decade of working with E Bike riders that most riders want a different riding position from a regular bike. They often like the handlebars higher, seat a bit lower and the reach shorter for a more upright riding position. They are looking for comfort first so the long rides are fun.

On a regular bike, the riding position is often configured for maximum efficiency, without an emphasis on rider comfort. With an E Bike, a little efficiency loss is offset by the motor and rider comfort becomes the main target.

R15C Frame Fit Dimensions

Rider Height

The R15C will fit riders from approximately 5’5″ to 6’6″. Riders shorter or taller may still fit depending on their body dimensions. Each bike is custom adjusted to the riders riding style, height and weight.

Stand Over

Stand over is the height of the frame where you are straddling the bike with feet on the ground. The R15C ultra low stand over is only 28 inches, so riders with a 29 inch inseam are able to have their feet flat on the ground when standing over the bike. (Your inseam is typically your pant size. For a better measurement, put a book against your crotch and measure from top of book to the ground with your shoes on. This will give your inseam. Watch video on this method)  Generally you want the stand over 1 inches lower than your inseam. Stand over varies about 1 inch based on tire size and fork travel chosen.

Reach

Reach is the distance for the center of the seat to center of the handlebars. This can be adjusted by changing the height of the seat, the position of seat on seat post and the handlebar stem. The R15C has a very shallow seat angle, so as the seat is adjusted higher, for taller riders, the reach increases. The reach can be adjusted from 24 to 30 inches on the R15C. There is no exact formula for reach versus rider height. Riders that want a more upright riding position will want a shorter reach.

Handlebar Height

Handlebar height can be adjusted with the spacers under stem, the stem angle and the rise of the handlebar. With the R15C, the handlebar height can be adjusted over a range of 5 inches. Riders that want a more upright riding position to relive pressure on shoulders an back will want a higher handlebar height.

Seat Height

Many riders like to have lower seat height to feel comfortable. The Fox dropper seat post on the R15C has an adjustment range of 5 inches. The height of the seat is quickly adjusted while riding with a lever on the handlebars. We often use a lower seat height in town, whee we have to dismount a lot at stop signs and a higher seat height on the open rode. The minimum height of the R15C seat is 36 inches with the dropper seat post. If a rigid seat post is used, then the minimum height is 34 inches.

In Summary, E bikes are different. Optibike focuses on designing the best rider comfort in E bikes and works with each rider to make the bike a perfect fit.

For the complete guide on choosing the perfect E Bike Click Here.

Visit the R15C Page

About Optibike: Optibike hand builds high performance electric bikes one at a time in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Learn more about the amazing history of Optibike

The bike was AMAZING! Unfortunately, we didn’t have great weather, it rained and was pretty windy and cold both days. Luckily, I had the right gear so I was pretty comfortable (well, the rain all over the face/glasses wasn’t too much fun).

The bike handled very well. I liked the twist throttle a million times better than the old thumb throttle. Although my hands were sore from all the shifting and twisting, I got used to the bike quickly and felt comfortable within a few good training rides. I did replace the seat with a bigger (think beach cruiser) one. It was just more comfortable for me.

The internal battery took me to about mile 42 on the first day. I switched it over to the external (which I named Tron) and it worked wonderfully. I charged the internal overnight and did the same thing on Sunday. I’m glad I had the back up for sure. I even found a cool case to strap on to it to hold my goodies. I also attached a water bottle holder on the handle bars, it was the only place for one without having to harm the bike with screws, etc. Again, perfect!

The route from Irvine to Carlsbad on Saturday (50 miles) was pretty hilly. Downhill I got up to 43 mph – I tried not to think about the slick roads and just trusted my ability and the bike. The second day from Carlsbad to Mission Beach (50 miles) was pretty wet along the coast. The infamous Torrey Pines was harder than any other climb, but I stayed at a steady 9 mph pedaling pretty hard.

I was worried about leaving my team in the dust, but thankfully we had about four serious riders that I kept up with… Wait, maybe they kept up with me!

The Optibike got a lot of attention. People thought it was beautiful and wouldn’t stop staring – it’s an eye catcher for sure!

Without it, there would be zero chance of me completing even 10 miles.

Here is a picture of me chilling  at a rest stop.

I can’t thank you enough Optibike. I checked something off my “bucket list” this past weekend. 100 miles of pedaling for a cure!

Best,
Tricia Chandler
www.LoveMyMSLife.com

The truth is that batteries actually outlast cars and that’s with only a 1,000 cycle life battery. A 2,000-cycle battery has a 600,000 mile range. That’s why batteries in delivery vehicles are becoming so intriguing for UPS, because they can last a million miles and can pay for the upfront cost after 80,000 to 100,000 miles of driving, at which point the battery pack is paid for in terms of gasoline costs.

It’s the same with a battery for a bicycle. At Optibike, our batteries are rated at up to 1,000 cycles. So if you can ride 50 miles on a charge in “eco-mode,” then that battery is good for 50,000 miles. That’s a lot of miles, and that’s only at 70% of battery capacity.

I’m going on a little bike ride in a couple weeks.

OK, it’s not a “little” bike ride — it’s a very, very long bike ride. In fact, the longest bike ride of my entire life!

I’m talking about a 100-mile ride along the Southern California Coast, from Orange County to my hometown of San Diego.

It’s the National MS Society’s Bike MS Bay to Bay Tour 2012, Oct. 201, and it’s one of the society’s biggest fundraisers of the year. More than just collect cash for the cause, the event also raises public awareness, which is so important to me.

Usually I participate in the event simply by being an “inspiration” for my longtime friend Matt’s team, Land Rover San Diego. Of course, I’m flattered by this year after year and I’m so proud of what the team accomplishes — Matt puts in so much work as team captain! I also serve as one of the MS Champions for the event, sharing my MS story and providing a face to the cause for riders who don’t personally know someone with MS.

But this year is not like the rest. I am actually going to ride.

You may be wondering why — and more importantly, how — I’m going to accomplish this major physical feat. One word: Optibike.

If you’re not familiar with Optibike, it’s been referred to as ”the Ferrari of electric bikes.” I can attest that it’s pretty fun to ride! Built and distributed out of Boulder, Colorado, this high-end bike uses a lithium battery as a backup to pedaling, making it possible for someone like me who has MS to ride 100 miles over the course of two days. Special thanks to Jim Turner, president and founder of Optibike, for lending me one of his company’s amazing machines to use for the event and the extensive training that leads up to it (which is currently in full force).

This is what I’ll be proudly wearing on my back during the ride…might be useful for other bikers who are wondering why I get a special electric boost!

Without this specialized bike, I obviously couldn’t even attempt a ride of this magnitude. Because I have MS, normal activities that people take for granted, like riding a bike or simply walking through the mall, prove difficult as my legs and feet experience pain and numbness after a short time.

Even with the Optibike, this ride isn’t going to be easy. Ahem, it’s 100 miles! For me, that’s a huge deal — like scary huge!

My hands, which suffer from spasticity, will be using a half twist throttle to make sure my bike keeps up with the team. My left knee and right shoulder will also be an issue for sure. I’ve had numerous cortisone injections over the course of the past year to try to relieve some of the discomfort I’ve been experiencing in those areas, and I’m not overly optimistic that they won’t act up during the ride. In fact, I fully expect it.

Still, I am determined to pedal through the pain and to ride for those who can’t. As I always say: “I want to do as much as I can, as long as I can, as best as I can.” That is certainly my goal with this bike ride.

As a rider, I am responsible for raising a portion of the funds needed to cover the costs associated with this premiere Southern California cycling event. Please consider helping to fund my participation and support research that will benefit other people living with MS.

Thank you in advance for your support, financial or otherwise. It means more to me than you’ll ever know.

Stay tuned for a post detailing my experience participating in Bike MS! I’ll be doing my best to update my blog and I may even share a video so you can see the awesome Optbike in action! Wish me luck!

It does rain where I live. Do the fenders provide real protection from wheel splash, or are they more for style?

Thanks,
Aryeh

Thanks for your questions.  The Optibike fenders were designed with both function and style in mind.  So in short, yes, they work great in wet conditions.  

The Optibike battery is removed by turning the bike upside down, removing the rear shock, and removing the battery cover.  This job is virtually impossible while the bike is securly locked to a bike rack.  Further, the whole operation takes about 30 minutes- more than most thiefs want to spend on a project in public.  

Cheers, 

Craig Taber

Optibike