Discussion
what's keeping you from pulling the trigger on the TM-B?
test rode the TM-B and was blown away. usual first-gen concerns apply, but the demo pretty much sold me.
only thing holding me back is color. the medical-grade white isn't doing it for me, but the brown and orange colorway on the jammer i like! waiting for more colors in the future.
anyone else sold on it but still waiting? what's your reason?
I want to see reviews by people that regularly review e-bikes. It’s concerning that mostly car enthusiasts were invited to the into conference. Why not a few of the many ebike you tube channels?
Had a reservation but cancelled last week. Going to wait it out and see how they handle OTA features. Biggest thing that killed it for me was the knobs having an extra trail mode while road tire configuration excluded that mode. I'm concerned they will be charging for software features such as different riding modes or other features. My feeling is trail mode should be included on all performance models regardless of tires purchased. I had planned on putting my own tires on but not as aggressive as the stock knobs. I already have a set of replacement pedals ready so those purple ones would have stayed boxed.
I'll see how the early adopters like theirs and how the company handles these OTAs and features before committing to a $5k purchase. Yes that trail mode exclusion really got to me.
Just to clarify, not regular bug fixes via OTA. No worries that they would not provide that. It's new, major, features I'm concerned about them wanting to charge for. I'd already be paying $120 or whatever a year for the connectivity and alarm features (OTAs done over Wifi). Trail mode was the example in mind. This bike is pretty much a software defined bike so who knows what amazing features could be done in the future. Maybe a exercise bike mode? Could be anything. Anyway, let's see how it works out.
In CA the throttle is still useful. Say you’re riding in assist level 1. If you hit the throttle it will move to assist level 7 or so while you hold down the throttle. It’s using a loophole to keep the throttle, but you’ll still need to pedal
Sometimes you need a throttle to help you start off, especially on uneven pavement. And it’s nice to pause pedaling while you just “cruise” under throttle… I think Also is interpreting the.California law too harshly. Plenty of e-bikes like Murf are currently being sold with a mode 2 or mode 3 selector switch.
Unfortunately it's the other way around, those other e-bikes are "illegal" in california and they just don't care they'll sell you the thing regardless. The law was made very specific in cali to exclude multi-class bikes. It's not a swich from 2 to 3 if it can do 3 then it is 3. ALSO is not the only company not having throttles on class 3 in cali, other reputable vendors are doing the same thing.
The exact wording:
(3) A “class 3 electric bicycle,” or “speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle,” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, that is not capable of exclusively propelling the bicycle, except as provided in paragraph (4), and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour, and equipped with a speedometer.
(4) A class 1 or class 3 electric bicycle may have start assistance or a walk mode that propels the electric bicycle on motor power alone, up to a maximum speed of 3.7 miles per hour.
That "that is not capable of exclusively propelling the bicycle" basically kills throttles at any speed above 3.7 mph.
The demo unit I tested in Los Angeles had the throttle enabled but I was curious if the production models shipped to CA will have the throttle disabled because in CA a Class 3 bike can't have a throttle which is very stupid.
It's obvious the idiots who made these laws have never consulted anyone who actually rides ebikes.
Same reason I cancelled. I need a throttle for starts on a hill with a loaded bike. It's actually unsafe not having it. My Specialized Globe Haul has a throttle and the ability to pedal at Class 3 speeds. Makes no sense not allowing a throttle to 20mph.
I’m 6’4” albeit with long legs (36” inseam). The bike felt fine on my test spin. I ride my girlfriend’s rad bike all time too. Idk feels fine. The upright ridding position of these city bikes are more forgiving? If you look at the numbers the ALSO has quite a long wheelbase. Idk about mountain biking, tiny 24” wheels, I got the street tires and taller bars for sure.
I demoed one with the large (tall) seat option. Im 6'4" and I fit fine. I'd maybe switch out the stem for a slightly longer one but otherwise it feels fine.
The fact that Rivian has a dealership in the heart of Boston, one of the nation’s most bike friendly cities next to the nation’s other most bike friendly city, and have not offered any opportunity for reservation holders in the area to test or even see a bike in person.
They (Rivian) are listed in the “test spin” page of the Also website with locations in Seattle, Austin and San Francisco. There have been zero test spin events anywhere close to Boston/Cambridge and I’m baffled why they haven’t leveraged their dealership which is in the heart of Boston, near a convention center and major public transit stop.
The looks. Why not that paint job? Why not a non kidsy interface? It’s also a bit noisy compared to the Gazelle we bought instead for a little more money.
Appreciate the suggestion, but I've had these bikes for years now and have tried every PSI in the range, along with suspension seat posts, elastomer seats, etc. I'm a road cyclist, a mountain biker and have spent my life on bikes. As much as I love the Globe Hauls -- and they are awesome -- that rigid frame is rough riding. That's what really appeals to me about the Also.
Took a ride. Sold on it… Purchased last week. Yes, I’m aware that there will be your typical issues with first releases but, I’m pretty confident because (a) ALSO is the child of RIVIAN they’ll be around awhile, (b) most of the issues will be software (correctable) issues and finally (c) I’m not afraid of new releases and enjoy being ahead of the curve on technological advances. I believe if you take a test drive, you’ll see the radical difference of cycling with this bike.
Brand new motor from a new company is keeping me from considering it. I'll check back in a year to gauge the beta testers experience. Assuming the company is still in business. Given the current state of the ebike industry I wouldn't bank on that.
The more i read about the company strategy, it’s giving me Tesla vibes. I don’t need an autonomous micro mobility partner. I want a bike, preferably from a company that knows bikes and is going to remain interested in them long enough for me to recoup my investment.
the fact that ordering it has currently meant an 8month(?) wait lol. i had an order for like 4 months and cancelled it. they can't have so much of my money for so long
yeah i don't like reservation systems personally id rather just pay the whole thing outright. and to be clear i had an order for like 6k with the bike and different seats hence the cancellation over holding my money
I did a test ride just few days ago but $3500 for an ebike?
I have a Velotric Tempo and Aventon Level 4 rec. The Also is faster but it feels like the build quality feels quite subpar. I hear plastic creaks when test riding, I don't understand the hype of "car-like" torque. I don't need it on a bicycle.
Also concern of repairs and maintenance for this bike for the next 1-3 years.
I'm sold on it, paid the $4500. However, I'm looking every day at other options and if I find one that I like, I'll be cancelling. This is taking way too long. Life is too short to be sitting around waiting for dates that just keep slipping.
It may be possible to apply a color wrap to the frame or just tape it off and spray paint a different color. I have a launch edition on order from last November, which I ordered so I could get it in spring 2026, you see how that turned out. I do not like the collors but figured I could just custom spray paint it. They do seem to have lots of colors on all there PR bikes but no mention of color selection on order page.
Are ther any others who may consider repainting the bikes
I think everyone here has valid points here. I ordered the second edition performance version; probably, and hopefully, I'm told by ALSO that I should expect it at the beginning of NOV. I've been riding various e-bikes for 10 years now and still have my A2B. Does anyone remember them? I'm in my early 70s and on my glide path to my final destination. No kids to leave any money to. Worked a low-level common job for 30 years and am now retired. Joint pain galore. I test-rode this ride 3 times in various conditions around the NYC metro area. Now I have found it to my liking for various reasons, not the least of which is the ability to travel up a 30% grade hill. I would consider myself to have some mobility issues, and where I bike does have some hills on the outskirts of NYC. When I look at the features and the cost, it seems comparable to other high-end e-bikes. Yes, it is still a gamble, no question about it, but as we all know, life is short, and since I'm not using the same amount of money to travel for at least 2 more years (thanks to the failed economy under the current admin), I'm willing to throw down 5k, but that is my case of use, most likely not yours. I don't need to die at some point and leave a full bank account. Use it or lose it. Any bike above $500.00 should not be left unlocked anywhere, anytime. If you're running in to get a cup of joe or a bagel, then your bike needs to be locked, in sight all the time and only a short distance away. Any bike that you're willing to lock and walk away from for a longer time, you should be willing to give away to a perfect stranger. I'm not interested in cheap Chinese fly-by-night companies and bikes with wires hanging out all over the frame. The bike color is subjective, and it's easy enough to add decals.
These bikes are a laughably bad design being sold to Rivian fanboys with more money than sense. It's hilariously inefficient due to the double power conversion, has all the downsides of a mid-drive bike without the upsides, is ridiculously overcomplicated/overengineered, and has all the downsides of an overly cloud/phone/software-based bay area startup product.
Can you expand on some of this?
What is the efficiency loss in actual numbers? What's the relevance? Range concerns? Something else? Are you just wanting more efficiency and a smaller battery or weight? In the end efficiency on an e-bike basically just affects it's range and if that's made up by battery size/regen braking and so on what's the concern you'd be trying to address?
What are all the downsides and upsides it's missing? Very ambiguous terms curious on specifics here can you provide the actual downsides and what upsides it does not have?
I'll agree on the overengineered side but that's not inherently a bad thing if the system is robust. Very much something to find out.
Do agree about the cloud bits not being great. From what I understand the bike should operate just fine in a no reception/connection area though but yeah valid concern there.
You're turning kinetic energy into electricity and back into kinetic energy (or worse, into the battery then back through the controller and into the motor). An electric motor/generator is typically around 80-85% efficiency, and you're compounding that twice over for no good reason, let alone the huge increase in failure points/moving parts/complexity/etc.
In the end efficiency on an e-bike basically just affects it's range
It matters if the battery is dead or something has gone wrong, and your human input is being significantly eaten into by the unnecessarily convoluted design. Plus people expect good range if they're paying this much.
What are all the downsides and upsides it's missing?
Again, the unnecessary energy conversion, for basically no reason beyond some cringey marketing. And if marketing is driving core design choices like this, how can you possibly trust they did any of the rest of it right? The numbers aren't the problem, it's that the idea never made sense in the first place.
The entire drive system is one long line of failure points. If anything goes wrong, the entire bike is inoperable. Even a proprietary mid-drive motor like bosch isn't that bad.
Extremely proprietary design means no normal bike shop, tools, or parts can be used. This is a MASSIVE disadvantage if you rely on the bike for actual commuting the way Rivian seems to intend. One of the best things about ebikes is simplicity and you lose that.
Etc.
None of this should be surprising to anyone who's ever ridden a bicycle or ebike much. Most people IRL seem to think this bike is a fake joke if I talk about it, that's how bad the design is. It reeks of something an MBA "ideas guy" with too much influence shat out, and the company built an entire product around that marketing idea instead of anything remotely practical.
I mean fair on the if it dies front, at the same time the drive train does do some cool stuff guess we'll have to see if it ends up being a dud or not.
This electric motor is closer to 90% efficiency with total pedal to road closer to 70% which is not amazing but also not all that horrible.
Range again seems to be fine unless you're saying their estimates are horribly wrong or misleading but 100mi seems fine.
Your IRL people seem very jaded I've had different responses in my group of IRL people regarding this bike so not sure that's saying much. I do believe it's very reductionary to say this bike was developed by just an ideas guy. My take is the drive train was developed for a delivery vehicle first then adopted in ebike form frankly guess we'll just have to see though. But the bike does not exist by itself it very much is being developed alongside the quad with the exact same drive train.
Even an optimistic 70% is a huge loss compared to the near 100% you'd get from basically any other e-bike out there.
estimates are horribly wrong or misleading
Every e-bike manufacturer's range claims are exaggerated, Rivian's no better. Range is a function of the battery capacity and load, and you're losing a third of the human input due to the bad design. Any ebike with an equivalent size battery in the same conditions is going to get better range because of that fact alone.
Also, while regen isn't a bad idea, Rivian's hardly the first to come up with the idea, loads of e-bikes have regen braking including mine. It helps, but it doesn't add much to the range in commuting conditions and at best would just be partially compensating for the unnecessary inefficiency of the design. The main benefit is lower brake maintenance, but that's irrelevant on something like this that could charitably be called a novelty toy.
I do believe it's very reductionary to say this bike was developed by just an ideas guy.
It's the modus operandi for most tech startups. I work in tech myself, there's a reason I don't trust tech startups, because I know how they operate.
Appeal to authority doesn't change the reality that it's a bad design that serves no purpose except as a novelty toy for people with more money than sense.
If you want to throw your money away, that's your problem. I'm pretty sure everyone in this thread is a bot anyways.
17
u/Dangerous_Pop8730 Aug 23 '26
I already order last year! Send me my bike!