The secret is in the Optibike exclusive patented Motorized Bottom Bracket (MBB) that allows both your legs and the motor to work in parallel, and take advantage of the gearing system so you can climb hills like a Tour de France winner.
For comparison, one of the steepest roads in the world is Baldwin St, at 35% grade.
The new Optibike R15C Full Carbon has 190Nm of torque, that’s 140 ft/lbs of torque at the motor! For comparison the average car has 200-300 ft/lbs of torque at the engine.
Tons of motor torque combined with a mid-drive system that runs through the rear gearing (14 speeds on the R15C) means that you can get started on essentially any hill with minimal effort.
Pikes Peak is a massive mountain and Optibike’s home test ground. This grueling 24.5-mile, 7700 foot climb up Pikes Peak lets Optibike develop bikes unmatched in the entire world for hill climbing ability.In August, 2011, a group of 7 Optibikes took 1-7th places in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb Event, climbing over 7,500 feet in 24.5 miles from Manitou Springs to the 14,100-foot summit. To this date, no one has broken this amazing record set by Optibike.
The first place bike was a beautiful custom painted Pearl White Optibike 1100R ridden by longtime Optibike Owner and Ambassador John Sagebiel, who beat his 2010 Pikes Peak record on an R8 by 40 minutes with a time of 01:06:45.
To give an idea of how fast the Optibikes were, the first road bike racer’s took twice as long as John. The first “other” brand of electric bike took over 3 times as long as John. The choice is yours: 1 hour or 3 hours. What is your time worth? The Optibike R11 can tame mountains for you too.
2011 Team Optibike (from left): Production Manager Kyle H., President Jim T., Ambassador John Sagebiel, Craig Taber, Service Manager Garrett O., Coach Traci B., and Ambassador Jamie
“Just wanted to express my thanks re the bike, it is truly awesome to get on this machine. While I’m still getting used to the way it rides, the power and suspension are noticeably better (than my other bike) as I averaged 27 mph uphill to Breckenridge [CO] on my ride in this morning. In addition to the improved performance, the look of this bike is fantastic… everywhere I go people are enthralled and I have been stopped and questioned repeatedly about it.”
“There were many firsts here. This was the first time I had ridden in Colorado, my first time to ride up a mountain, or on a mountain for that matter, the first time above 12,000′, the first time using the video camera, and the first ride with the new bicycle [Optibike]. Doubt about the performance of the bicycle never crossed my mind. It was only in hindsight that I realized all the firsts of this ride. The bicycle was absolutely magnificent, very clean in its operation, very smooth in its shifting and motor power, and absolutely impeccable handling, no shimmies or wobbles. Just clean tracking despite the heavy duty cracks in the pavement. Ascent time: 1 hour 59 minutes and 29 miles exactly. Descent, 1 hour and 4 minutes. Back home I only have two rides in so far, the longest 36 miles due to rain interference. It works perfectly. Thank you very kindly to the whole Optibike team!”
You'll also receive a free download of The Electric Bike Book by Jim Turner.
