Babymaker 2 review: This belt-drive electric bike is more than just an edgy name
Yeah, I thought the same that you did when I first started covering the Babymaker 2. Here’s a new e-bike from some bike bros that’s got more of a provocative name than actual substance.
But I was wrong. Because after getting the chance to spin the pedals on the Babymaker 2 and put some good honest miles on the bike, I realized that this is actually a very nice e-bike for a certain segment of the population. And not just the keg stand segment.
Black Friday update: it is now priced at $1,499!
The Babymaker 2 improves upon FLX’s original Babymaker in several ways.
First, there’s a larger battery that gives over 40% more range by boosting the 36V battery from 7Ah to 10Ah. It also comes with a more powerful charger to fill that pack in just three hours.
The bike also sports fancy parts like a Gates carbon belt drive, a thru-axle for higher strength wheel/axle and improved longevity, and a set of Magura hydraulic disc brakes, which are probably overkill on a 35-pound (16 kg) bike but are very nice stoppers to see included.
There’s a more complete spec list below, just after my video review. And you definitely want to watch my video, right…?
Babymaker 2 e-bike video review
Babymaker 2 tech specs
- Motor: 350W rear hub motor
- Top speed: 25 mph (40 km/h)
- Range: Claimed up to 70 miles (112 km)
- Battery: 36V 10Ah (360Wh)
- Weight: 35 lb. (15.8 kg)
- Frame: Aluminum alloy 6061
- Brakes: Magura hydraulic disc brakes
- Extras: Gates carbon belt drive, minimalist LED display including speedometer, battery gauge and PAS level indicator, kickstand, four color options, two size options
- Price: $1,749 (or $1,499 on Black Friday)
More than a name
It’s hard to look past the name, but let’s try. Because there’s a lot to like here.
The Babymaker 2 is so light and easy to ride that you’d swear it is more powerful than the 350W motor lets on (and the fact that the motor peaks at 500W might have something to do with it). But even with that tiny motor in back, the svelte e-bike simply hops up to speed easily and quickly.
It also does so silently. Every time I hopped on the Babymaker 2, I just couldn’t believe how quiet it was. Between the small motor and the Gates belt drive, there’s just nothing to make any sound. I could barely hear the bike.
I went back and replayed some of the video clips I had recorded while riding, and the only thing I could hear was wind noise. As far as stealthy bikes go, this is it. If a ninja needed an e-bike, this is the one he’d choose.
And speaking of that Gates belt drive, that thing is a beauty. It’s so smooth, so quiet, so simple, and just so perfect. I never have to oil it. I never have to clean it. I can just forget about it and it always works perfectly.
For a commuter bike that I use everyday and want to know I can rely on it even if I’m not the best about keeping up with maintenance, it’s hard to beat. And when you add in those Magura hydraulic disc brakes, the low-maintenance design of the bike is further underlined.
The only downside of the belt drive and rear hub motor combination is that it turns the bike into a single-speed. There’s no such thing as a deraileur for belt drives.
To switch gears you’d either need an internally geared hub (which you can’t have with a hub motor — usually), or you’d need a front gear box, which is a super expensive piece of kit.
Even so, I found that I didn’t miss the gears. To be honest, I usually just leave my e-bikes in the highest gear anyway. I mostly ride in either Florida or Tel Aviv, which are both known for the flat terrain and elevations that can be measured in the single digits.
If you live in a hillier area, then the lack of a low-gear option might be more noticeable. But remember that the electric assist usually makes up for the lack of a low gear by helping you power through those first few pedal rotations that can be a doozy without motor assist.
The front wheel also uses an actual thru-axle instead of a quick release skewer.
It’s still quick release so you can remove the wheel without a tool in a snap, but it’s a stronger axle with a better-quality design normally found on more expensive bikes.
Keep in mind that this is a Class 3 electric bike without a throttle, so if you’re used to throttles, you’ll be disappointed. As much as I love my throttle e-bikes, I must say that I still had a ton of fun riding around on the Babymaker 2 and pedaling up a storm.
If you’re even reasonably fit, then a medium level of pedal assist will be sufficient. For those that haven’t pedaled in a while, the higher level of pedal assist will help make acceleration and hill climbing much easier. And for cyclists who are used to doing all the work, even just pedal assist level 1 will give you a nice little tailwind all the time.
Just remember that you’re not going to get anywhere near the advertised range if you don’t keep the bike in pedal assist level 1. They say you can get up to 70 miles (112 km) of range, which is maaaaaaaybe true in level 1 where you’re doing most of the work. But few people will ride this e-bike in the lowest pedal assist power level. If you’re using the higher levels, it wouldn’t be surprising to cut that range in half.
But that’s par for the course with e-bike companies. Most advertise the best-case-scenario range when operated in low power, and very few give you realistic real-world range data for every power level.
The bike now also comes with a ‘logo delete’ option that removes the giant Babymaker 2 name printed on the frame. I don’t have any evidence for this, but I’m guessing they offered that option because there was enough demand from folks that wanted the bike but didn’t want the name plastered on the side for everyone to see.
One last thing I love about the bike that has nothing to do with its nice ride and its surprisingly decent power are the options you get for size and colors. Most e-bikes, especially at this price level, come in a single size. The ones that offer multiple color options usually give two choices. If you’re lucky, there’s a third option. But the Babymaker 2 gives you four color options and two sizes to choose from. For a bike that will be pedaled 100% of the time, multiple size options are important to ensure you fit the bike as closely to optimal as possible.
Does that make up for the lack of included fenders and lights? Ehhh, I’m not sure. As a commuter e-bike, I always feel like those parts should come standard. Even if not the fenders, then the lights should be included as mandatory safety equipment.
You can add the company’s “touring package” to get lights, fenders, a rear rack, a bottle holder, and a phone holder – but it’s going to be an extra couple hundred bucks (and the lights don’t even run off the bike’s main battery). So that’s a bummer in my opinion.
But for $1,749, you’re still getting a lot of good parts here. That Gates carbon drive isn’t cheap. Neither are Magura hydraulic disc brakes, as Magura is one of the highest-quality brands on the market. On the other hand, the low-power Aikema motor and small 360 Wh battery actually are pretty cheap, at least in terms of what they cost the company. And so I could have seen the bike costing a bit less.
When it pre-launched at $1,222, that was a great deal. At the current sale price of $1,749, it’s still a pretty good option, but nowhere near as tempting as that launch deal. Black Friday update: now at $1,499!
Even so, there just aren’t too many e-bikes out there in this category of lightweight belt-drive commuter e-bikes. So if that’s what you’re looking for, the Babymaker 2 is still a good option to consider.
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Ride1Up has carved out a name for itself in the e-bike world by delivering sleek, well-equipped electric bikes that punch well above their price tag. Their latest model, the Ride1Up Vorsa, takes that formula and beefs it up into something more versatile… literally.
The Vorsa is Ride1Up’s answer to the growing demand for SUV-style e-bikes – those do-it-all electric rides that can handle your commute, your grocery runs, your kid-hauling trailer, and your backroad detours without flinching. And at $1,595, the Vorsa might just be the most affordable ticket into that category right now – at least for an e-bike that still includes a pile of interesting and high-value tech features.
To see what I mean, check out my video review of the Ride1Up Vorsa below. Then keep reading for the full details on this highly versatile ride.
Ride1Up Vorsa video review
Ride1Up Vorsa Tech Specs
- Motor: 750W and 95Nm rear hub motor
- Top speed: 28 mph (45 km/h) on pedal assist or 20 mph (32 km/h) on throttle
- Range: 30-60 miles (48-96 km)
- Battery: 48V 15Ah (720Wh) UL-certified with Samsung 50GB cells
- Weight: 65 lb (29.5 kg)
- Load Capacity: 440 lb (200 kg)
- Frame: Aluminum alloy 6061
- Brakes: Star Union hydraulic dual-piston disc brakes on 203 mm (front) and 180 mm (rear) rotors
- Extras: Shimano Acera 8-speed derailleur, new highly-detailed color LCD display, two frame styles of step-over and step-thru, semi-integrated rear rack with optional rack extender, and a wide range of other accessories
- Price: $1,595
Goes anywhere, does almost anything
E-bikes are getting more versatile, but the Vorsa takes versatility to the extreme.
This is already a powerful e-bike capable of 28+ mph Class 3 speeds (though ships out of the box with a Class 2 setting of 20 mph) from its 750W motor capable of a heart-thumping 95 Nm of torque. That means its a fast hill climber and ready for just about any challenge that a high-performance e-bike should be.
But then, on top of that, the bike’s design allows it to tackle very different styles of riding, from cargo needs with its semi-integrated rear rack to touring and trekking style rides with its 27.5×2.6″ Schwalbe touring tires.
That means the same e-bike you use to take the kids to school at in the morning can transform into your commuter bike to work and then into your single-track bike for weekend recreational riding.
And with a 720 Wh battery (UL-compliant, no less), you’ll have plenty of charge to do all of those things in the same day!
It’s par for the course at Ride1Up, something I learned when touring their factory last year and seeing firsthand just how important a combination of quality, practicality, and affordability are to the company. It’s obvious that the folks at Ride1Up want to give us riders as much battery, as much performance, and as much versatility as they can while keeping the price reasonable.
Packed with tech, but only the good stuff
It’s fun to see more tech enter the e-bike space, but some companies don’t seem to understand that more isn’t always better. It’s only a net benefit to me if it’s stuff I’ll actually use. Ride1Up has eschewed smartphone apps and other things that don’t add much usability and has now given us the stuff that actually matters.
For example, the new display on the Vorsa is much more involved, with more than just a higher-resolution color display. It shows metrics that actually mean something to me, like how much time I spend in different riding modes. This helped remind me to not only use the highest power modes but also drop the pedal assist down a few notches for more exercise.
There’s also built-in Apple FindMy tracking now, which is a HUGE added value for me. It’s not a guarantee that you’ll get your bike back if it’s stolen, but it’s a major headstart in recovering it. It may not be as helpful for you Android phone users out there, but for us iPhone folks who are held captive by Apple’s golden handcuffs, it’s a great system for finding just about anything, especially your e-bike. From my phone, I can see where my Vorsa is, and I can find it if someone tries to abscond with it.
Then there’s the new torque sensor from MiVice, which is honestly one of the most responsive torque sensors I’ve ever had the pleasure of pedaling. It’s fast, and it feels like my legs are just extra strong that day. Throttle-only riders won’t really benefit from it, and in fact may want to use the sensor selector option to put the bike back in cadence sensor mode to enable more of a ‘foot throttle’ feel, but most of us will prefer the torque sensor because of how impressively dialed in it feels.
Hardware design
That technology is nice, but it needs to complement good hardware, not replace it. In this case, the design of the Ride1Up Vorsa complements the tech, adding versatility and value without jacking up the price.
The semi-integrated rack is a really cool design that helps the bike achieve its 440-lb weight capacity. There’s even a rack extender that helps turn the bike into a longtail cargo bike, even if that tail sticks out in a slightly funny way.
Then there are the other nice upgrades over the usual suspects we see on $1,500-range electric bikes. Instead of plastic fenders, we get nice metal alloy fenders that look and feel better quality. Instead of a cheap 7-speed Shimano Altus derailleur, we get a nicer 8-speed Shimano Acera derailleur. Instead of a basic suspension fork, we get a longer travel 100mm fork. Instead of a compliance stem, we get an adjustable stem to dial in the handlebar angle to our liking. You name it, the upgrades are there.
The LED lighting, including the fender integrated lights, is also clearly higher quality than you’d expect on a value e-bike, making this an even higher value.
What’s not to like?
Don’t get me wrong, the Ride1Up Vorsa is great. It sets a new high watermark in what can be delivered at this price, especially considering the rampant inflation in e-bike prices brought on by new tariffs. But I can always complain about something, and so why stop now?
The Ride1Up Vorsa brings us a lot of cool tech and new hardware, but it comes at a cost, and that cost is weight. At 65-70 lb, depending on how many of the cool add-ons you install, the bike isn’t lightweight. You’ve got chunkier tires, a bigger battery, a more powerful motor, a more robust frame, a larger fork, metal fenders, and other parts that all add to the weight.
Next, Ride1Up has again played it incredibly conservatively with the color options. Your typical dark gray is there, then you get a fairly nice blue, and lastly, you’ve got a slightly confusing two-tone sage grayish-green option. There are no bright colors to choose from, which isn’t a departure for Ride1Up, but still a bit disappointing to me. Go wild, guys! Throw caution to the wind! Hit me with some color someday!
And lastly, Ride1Up continues to ship in smaller boxes that require the fork to be installed by the owner. This isn’t a complicated task when you’ve done it 100 times like it’s your job, which it is for me. But most people have done this zero times, and the ones who have can probably count the instances on one hand. This is an essential step in bike assembly and one that has very little margin for error, so most new owners would be advised to have a bike shop do it if they aren’t comfortable following Ride1Up’s clear and welcomed assembly video.
So I have my complaints like normal, but none are insurmountable. And to be honest, at $1,595, the price is so fair that I can overlook the limited color options and the longer at-home assembly. When it comes to the weight, that’s just the price we riders pay to have more performance and features included in our bikes.
I absolutely recommend the Ride1Up Vorsa to anyone looking for a ‘normal’ style e-bike (i.e., not a folder or a moped) but who wants the versatility to head in highly divergent directions, including everything from cargo hauling to recreational riding and daily commuting. It’s a winner and they stuck the landing on the Vorsa.
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Ford is sweetening the deal for EV buyers in the UK with free home chargers and more, just as its best-selling car, the Puma, gets an electric upgrade. The new incentives are part of Ford’s push to boost EV sales and gain market share overseas.
Ford is giving free EV chargers to buyers in the UK
The “Ford Power Promise” was initially launched in the US last October. It includes a free Level 2 home charger with any Ford EV purchase, including the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning.
Ford will also cover the cost of standard installation, along with some other goodies to sweeten the deal, like 24/7 live EV support, roadside assistance, and an 8-year, 100,000-battery warranty.
The American automaker is now extending the offer as it looks to win back market share overseas. On Tuesday, Ford launched the Power Promise in the UK to help make owning an EV easier.
Ford’s promo includes a free wall box home charger (with standard installation), an up to 10,000-mile home energy bonus, and an 8-year and 100,000-mile battery warranty.
Other incentives include a free five-year service plan, free five-year towing assistance, and access to over 33,000 public charging stations across the UK through Ford’s Blue Oval Charge Network.
Saving time and money
The offer is available across Ford’s EV lineup, including the new electric Puma Gen-E. Ford’s electric car lineup in the UK includes the Explorer Electric, Mustang Mach-E, Capri EV, E-Tourneo Custom, E-Tourneo Courier, and the new electric Puma. If you already have a home charger, you can opt for a £500 ($650) cash bonus.
Ford EV buyers will also benefit from its partnership with Octopus Energy, the UK’s largest energy supplier. Using “Intelligent Octopus Go,” you can save up to 70% on energy costs by charging overnight (7p/kWh).
According to Ford, charging the new electric Puma Gen-E can cost as little as £3.23, or less than $5. Ford launched the Puma Gen-E, the EV version of its best-selling car in Europe, starting at just €36,900 ($38,800) in December. In the UK, the Puma Gen-E Select starts at £30,795 ($39,300).
Since launching the program, Ford has extended the offer to Canada. In the US (and Canada), Ford’s Power Promise runs until June 30, 2025.
According to Ford’s research, the 2025 Mustang Mach-E eAWD extended-range battery can save $26 compared to filling up a gas tank. The 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat could save you up to $55 compared to a similar pickup.
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The US solar industry is used to tariffs, but President Trump’s latest round of tariffs is still expected to wreak havoc, like in many other sectors.
But homeowners still have time to go solar, thanks to developers building solar panel stockpiles in the US.
During his first term, President Trump imposed many tariffs that affected the US solar industry.
Since then, the industry has adapted with some domestic solar module manufacturing, but most solar products still come from overseas. Chinese manufacturers moved some of their factories to other Asian countries to adapt, but now Trump’s sweeping tariffs also target those countries, like Vietnam.
But solar developers, who have experience with tariffs, have been savvy enough to build stockpiles of solar panels in the US over the last year.
Some estimates put the current stockpile at 50 gigawatts, which is roughly what the US deployed last year. However, 50 GW does not include all the solar energy deployed in the US last year, residential, commercial, and utility-scale, and most of the stockpile is estimated to be equipment for rooftop solar.
Tariffs coming into effect tomorrow will certainly impact the industry, but the stockpiles are likely to reduce the impact and give homeowners more time to go solar this year without price increases or with smaller price increases.
The timing is good as US homeowners are increasingly turning to solar to reduce their energy costs, which are also expected to increase.
The trade wars started by Trump are increasing the electricity rates in states that get electricity from Canada.
The President is also expected to sign a new executive order boosting the nation’s coal industry this week. The order is expected to involve reductions in environmental requirements to help save coal plants due for retirement.
However, most coal plants are being retired because they are uncompetitive, not because of environmental concerns.
In addition to tariffs on solar panels and inverters imported from overseas, the new tariffs are expected to greatly increase the cost of home energy storage, which is often installed with rooftop solar power systems.
We previously reported that home battery packs, like Tesla’s Powerwall, use battery cells from China, which is about to be hit with massive new tariffs.
If you are interested in going solar, now is the time, and we suggest using EnergySage. It’s a free service that will enable you to get quotes and compare them without any hassle, and you only talk to someone when you are ready to move forward with your project. They work with a great number of solar installers and help you get the best price.
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