ALSO TM-B e-bikes reach first customers after long delays — SkimNews
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- ALSO (Rivian spinout) began delivering Launch Edition TM-B e-bikes to first customers after months of delays and missed delivery windows, with the bikes priced at US $4,500
- TM-B uses ALSO's proprietary DreamRide drive system with a pedal-by-wire setup — no mechanical drivetrain connects the pedals to the rear wheel, letting ALSO tune the system largely through software
- Early owners posted largely positive first impressions, with one describing the bike as "a home run" and another praising the unusual thumb throttle, which only boosts assist while pedaling rather than acting like a traditional independent throttle
- Real-world range testing by one owner yielded just 30 miles (51 km) on a full charge while using maximum assist on hilly, headwind-heavy terrain — well short of the advertised 100-mile (160 km) claim
- The bike progressively reduces maximum assist as the battery drains, dropping from the 10x setting to 9x at 40% charge and stepping down to 2x by the time the battery reaches 6%
- ALSO attributed the repeated delays to hardware component supply issues and regulatory approval challenges for the bike's battery and high-power USB-C charging system
- TM-B features include swappable top frames and the company-unusual throttle, which the industry context notes matters as e-bike throttle rules increasingly vary by state
Why it matters: ALSO's pedal-by-wire architecture represents a genuinely different approach in an e-bike market crowded with conventional designs, and the US $4,500 price tag sets a premium expectation. But with one early rider covering just 30 miles on a full charge under aggressive assist versus the 100-mile marketing claim, ALSO now faces the same credibility gap that has long dogged the e-bike industry — where advertised range figures rarely match what riders actually experience.
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