Not everyone was born with a bike between their legs, especially in large cities. While a few decades ago all children, or almost, received a bicycle very young, often synonymous with freedom and outings with “friends”, this is no longer really the case today. With the enthusiasm for cycling that we have widely echoed in our columns, many adults acquire a bike without necessarily being very comfortable. C du Cycle has therefore imagined a model that could suit them and give them confidence.
MoBY Cycle C
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The MoBy is an electric-assisted bike for urban use whose development went through consultation between the brand and its first customers. It emerged that the main pitfalls perceived by beginners were the difficulty getting on and off the bike during the frequent inevitable stops in town and the management of gears, which is sometimes tricky… including for the mechanics, already heavily stressed by the torque generated by electric motors.
A low frame
The answer to the first pitfall mentioned was easily found, by opting for a low stepover aluminum frame. Once you get used to getting on and off the bike from the front, the operation poses no problem, even for shorter cyclists. This architecture is also very practical for women in skirts or dresses. The brand announces that its bike will be suitable for people measuring between 1.55 and 1.90 m. It has also opted for a geometry offering a fairly upright driving position. Again, a choice that seems relevant to benefit from good comfort and a better view of the environment. A small dose of additional comfort is provided by the suspension seatpost and the fork, also with suspension. The design of the frame did not flow from source, in particular to maintain great rigidity and to integrate the battery into the central beam.
An automatic transmission
The second problem that C du Cycle wanted to remedy is the change of gears. The manufacturer turned to Chinese supplier Bafang and its new automatic transmission system fully integrated into the rear wheel hub. By a clever set of gears, this system offers three speeds which would therefore happen alone, without the cyclist needing to intervene. It is the centrifugal force generated by the bicycle when it rolls that will trigger the gear change. The range developed by this transmission is of course not as large as on a conventional 10-speed transmission, but it should be sufficient for urban use.
A salty note
For the rest, the MoBY relies on a 250 W Bafang M420 central motor capable of producing the high torque of 80 Nm. It is coupled to an integrated battery with a capacity of 490 Wh capable of providing the bike with a range of 70 km depending on the brand. As an option, it is possible to opt for a large 630 Wh battery. It will cost you 150 € for 30 kilometers more autonomy. The charging time would be 4 and 6 hours respectively. Braking is entrusted to Tektro hydraulic discs and the color LED screen has a USB-C socket to recharge a smartphone, for example. The MoBY is available in Midnight Blue or Water Green for €3,650, but it’s available for pre-order today for €3,400 with deliveries announced for September. Rather high prices.