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As one of the few people who can claim to now be in my third decade of living an electric bike-focused life, I’ve tested a lot of gear over the years. Between the gear I buy for myself and the piles of random stuff that shows up on my doorstep from overzealous PR agencies, I’ve gone through a wide range of tools, locks, clothing, accessories, and more. Here are my favorites of all the stuff I’ve tested this year.

I’ll start with locks because I’m a bit of a bike lock collector. I have boxes overflowing with them. That means if a lock has made it out of the boxes and into my regular-use collection, it must have some really good features and utility.

Foldylock Forever from Seatylock

Seatylock is one of my favorite lock companies due to the various products’ combination of security and value. The strongest lock that I use every day is my Foldylock Forever. It weighs around 1/3 of a high-security chain lock (just under 3.9 lb or 1.8 kg) and is much quieter than most folding locks due to the higher precision security rivets. It is rated Gold-Certified by the premier lock testing agency Sold Secure, and is resistant to the most common attacks of blades, bolt cutters, nut splitters, pry bars/jacks, and freezing attacks.

It opens wide to function like a chain lock, wrapping around wide objects like trees or small objects like sign posts, and I also really like the convenient holster that makes it easy to stow and grab one-handed. The wide design means you can also lock both the frame and a wheel, which is important if you want to have wheels on your bike when you come back to it.

This lock is actually quite fairly priced at US $99 on Amazon. High-security locks cost a lot because they are meant to protect expensive e-bikes, and this one is worth every single penny. And that’s even a great sale price, considering it normally costs $125.

I’ve also been testing a smaller version of the same lock, the Foldylock Compact. It comes in multiple colors, but I like the orange-accented one since it has that nice poison treefrog coloring to let thieves see it from a distance and remind them to move on to the next poor shmuck’s bike.

While this one isn’t quite as robust as the over-the-top Foldylock Forever above, the Foldylock Compact is smaller and lighter for those who don’t want a chunky lock. At just 2.2 lb or 1 kg, it’s almost half the weight and still features many of the same important security components like those patented high-security rivets.

This would be a great option for scooters, too, since it’s smaller and more compact for the lighter frames on scooters.

At US $71 on Amazon, it’s a more affordable version of the flagship Foldylock Forever lock.

The third and last lock from Seatylock that I’ve really taken a liking to is the Mason 220. This may look like a standard U-lock at first, but there are two main differences I really like about it.

The first is that it is wide enough to fit around the chunky battery downtube in all of my e-bikes. Most U-locks can’t fit around this wide part of an e-bike, meaning you’re more limited on locking locations. The Mason 220 has no problem fitting anywhere on my e-bikes.

The second thing I like is that the lock’s shackle has a pentagonal profile. That helps reduce weight while strengthening the cross-section compared to round or square bars. The engineering answer is that it puts more material further away from the center axis without wasting material where it isn’t needed. It also prevents thieves from having two flat surfaces on either side for applying various tools. But in layman’s terms, it’s just a more efficient profile for anti-theft.

On top of all of that, the lock is Diamond-certified 20/20 by Sold Secure, which is the highest possible security rating. It’s resistant to cutting, grinding, drilling, bending, prying, freezing, and basically every main lock attack.

At its current price of US $76 on Amazon, it’s a no-brainer.

I always recommend using two locks at the same time, and I often combine the Mason 220 with the FoldyLock Compact (since my wife tends to steal my FoldylLck Forever for her bike).

E-cuffs electric scooter lock

This one is a bit of a strange lock, but stick with me. These handcuff-style locks make great scooter locks, which is what they’re designed for. But in a pinch, you can also use it on an e-bike.

These aren’t the most secure locks out there, so I generally try to use them in conjunction with a second lock when possible, but the E-cuffs do have several good safety features as part of their design. The triple-ply steel is harder to cut and the tight locking cuff makes it hard to get a pry-bar inside of the lock for leverage attacks.

They also mount really nicely to the stem of a scooter so they can deploy quickly around whatever you choose to lock onto.

I used them on the VMAX scooter I was recently testing and found them to be a really convenient solution for quick and convenient locking.

Waterfield Vitesse waxed canvas backpack

For those of you who bemoan the lack of American manufacturing, here you go! The Waterfield Vitesse waxed canvas backpack is made in America. It’s also got made in America pricing at US $219, but hey, you said you’d pay for American manufacturing, right?!

This bag is a work of art, made of beautiful waxed canvas from an American mill that has produced it this way for nearly a century. The bags are sewn in San Francisco and feature a main open pocket with organizer pouches inside, a laptop sleeve that can fit up to a 16-inch laptop, and a pleated front pocket. The roll-top design also has a waterproof zipper, meaning you don’t have to roll the top if you prefer to stuff it fairly full. You can just zip it when you don’t have the extra material left over to roll it.

The neoprene-padded straps and leather-wrapped handle are comfortable and obviously built for years of wear, as this is a buy-it-for-life type of bag. I often ride on days when you never know what kind of weather you’ll have, and so the waxed canvas and waterproof zipper are key for cyclists who want a good-looking bag that still withstands the elements.

Remco electric lifting bike stand

This stand has changed the game for my bike work. I assemble a lot of e-bikes for reviews and am constantly doing work on my bikes, whether steady maintenance or major repairs. Lifting heavy e-bikes onto a stand isn’t fun, especially as many of the “e-bikes” I review are basically 100-lb light electric motorcycles.

That’s perfect since the Remco electric lift bike stand can support up to 100 lb models, and I actually put that to the test with multiple 100lb+ models!

It’s got a super stable (and heavy) base plate, and the lift itself can be programmed to remember various heights that are most comfortable for you.

The modular design lets you use your own clamp or theirs, meaning you can stick with your trusty Park Tool clamp if you prefer.

A little over a year ago I hurt my back (and had my first “OMG this must be what getting old is” moment), and so the use of an electric bike lift for heavy electric bikes is just such a nice addition to my bike workflow that I can’t imagine anymore muscling those 80 and 90 lb e-bikes into the air while trying to support them one handed and close the clamp with the other.

This is really meant for bike shops and professionals, but even folks like you and me who just tend to do work on one or more heavy bikes can really benefit from it!

Beyond Riders protected riding clothing

I’ve written before about the importance of wearing protective clothing, especially on faster electric bikes. Beyond Riders has become my go-to brand because its clothes look like typical everyday garments yet have hidden armor and are produced with heavy-duty fibers designed for abrasion resistance.

I’ve just started testing out their flannel shirt and cargo pants, which have options for Level 1 or Level 2 armor inserts to protect your shoulders, elbows, spine, hips, and knees. I’ll do a deeper dive on those soon.

Their canvas riding jacket is still one of my favorites too, and it doesn’t even look like a motorcycle jacket. It just looks like a nice canvas jacket!

My wife also likes that I don’t look like I’m heading out for a motorcycle ride, but rather I can wear this stuff on date night. While that’s not my primary concern, the “happy wife, happy life” doctrine always applies. So if I can combine safety and fashion in one, that’s the best option.

beyond riders canvas jacket micah toll
You can see the hidden back armor from the inside

The BEAM’s Virgo helmet

Helmets are obviously critical safety gear for e-bike riders, especially since we tend to spend more time at higher speeds. But no matter the technology included in a helmet, if it only sits on the top of your head, then there’s a whole lot of face material left flapping around in the wind.

The Virgo helmet is a full face helmet with added chin bar to add extra protection.

You pay handsomely for that protection, to the tune of US $299, but you get a lot more face coverage than your typical helmet. That means your jaw has a better chance of staying attached in a catastrophic impact with a vehicle or concrete curb. The included MIPS system also reduces torsional impact on your brain, which is becoming standard on all higher-quality helmets these days.

And for less disastrous crashes, you don’t have to worry about regrowing the skin on your face. If your face is how you make your money (or you just don’t want to look like a lasagna), a full-face helmet is a good idea. The chin bar here is a bit flexy, so it’s not going to withstand the same level of crash as my motorcycle helmets, but it’s also a lot lighter and more comfortable than my motorcycle helmets, making it perfect for cycling.

Even just the visor adds great benefits. I can’t tell you how many times I ride through a flock of gnats or a big dust cloud with one eye closed just in case it gets compromised and I need a backup eye. With a visor, you have eye protection even on the days you aren’t wearing sunglasses. And of course you can never predict the random rock that gets kicked up by a car tire and sent directly towards your eyes. You only get two eyes and they don’t heal the way skin does. Protect them!

There’s also the built-in rear light for added visibility, and of course, the several size and color options. There’s a lot to like here, even if the price is rather lofty.

Peak Design phone holder

I have tested many phone holders for e-bikes, scooters, and motorcycles. By far, my all-time favorite has got to be Peak Design’s phone holder.

I got the case for my iPhone, and now I have the matching holding on several of my e-bikes, as well as one on my Gogoro scooter and another on my LiveWire Del Mar motorcycle.

The basic concept is similar to Quadlock or other quick-release holders, except that there’s no twisting. A magnet guides the phone’s case onto the spring-loaded locking tabs, which snap into place in the back of the case and securely hold the phone. To release it, you can press a button on either side of the mount and your phone instantly pops off. It’s rugged yet easily released – a tricky combination to master.

I bought the $39 universal mount for my bikes and scooters and I have the $79 dedicated motorcycle mount on my LiveWire, but there are lots of different mount options available.

Tentsile camping hammock

I LOVE bike camping, and one of my newest acquisitions is meant to make e-bike camping all the more fun with a relaxing hangout. Tentsile’s tree hammocks aren’t your traditional hammocks, but rather oversized triangular hanging platforms that can take the form of tents or hangout hammocks.

I got the six-person giant hammock recently, but sadly I haven’t had a camping trip yet to try it out. So far it looks like it should work well though, as it’s nicely constructed and huge! That’s another nice thing about e-bike camping, you can afford the extra weight of gear like this because the battery helps take the pain out of the pedaling.

This is another one that ain’t cheap, at $384. But if you’ve got the luxury of adding fun gear to your recreational bike-camping setup, this is definitely one that will change the game. Instead of a bunch of folding chairs, you and your friends can all be lounging in the air, suspended from Mother Nature’s anchors – trees!

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This new wireless e-bike charger wants to be the future of electric bikes

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This new wireless e-bike charger wants to be the future of electric bikes

Forget fumbling with cables or hunting for batteries – TILER is making electric bike charging as seamless as parking your ride. The Dutch startup recently introduced its much-anticipated TILER Compact system, a plug-and-play wireless charger engineered to transform the user experience for e-bike riders.

At the heart of the new system is a clever combo: a charging kickstand that mounts directly to almost any e‑bike, and a thin charging mat that you simply park over. Once you drop the kickstand and it lands on the mat, the bike begins charging automatically via inductive transfer – no cable required. According to TILER, a 500 Wh battery will fully charge in about 3.5 hours, delivering comparable performance to traditional wired chargers.

It’s an elegantly simple concept (albeit a bit chunky) with a convenient upside: less clutter, fewer broken cables, and no more need to bend over while feeling around for a dark little hole.

TILER claims its system works with about 75% of existing e‑bike platforms, including those from Bosch, Yamaha, Bafang, and other big bames. The kit uses a modest 150 W wireless power output, which means charging speeds remain practical while keeping the system lightweight (the tile weighs just 2 kg, and it’s also stationary).

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TILER has already deployed over 200 charging points across Western Europe, primarily serving bike-share, delivery, hospitality, and hotel fleets. A recent case study in Munich showed how a cargo-bike operator saved approximately €1,250 per month in labor costs, avoided thousands in spare batteries, and cut battery damage by 20%. The takeaway? Less maintenance, more uptime.

Now shifting to prosumer markets, TILER says the Compact system will hit pre-orders soon, with a €250 price tag (roughly US $290) for the kickstand plus tile bundle. To get in line, a €29 refundable deposit is currently required, though they say it is refundable at any point until you receive your charger. Don’t get too excited just yet though, there’s a bit of a wait. Deliveries are expected in summer 2026, and for now are covering mostly European markets.

The concept isn’t entirely new. We’ve seen the idea pop up before, including in a patent from BMW for charging electric motorcycles. And the efficacy is there. Skeptics may wonder if wireless charging is slower or less efficient, but TILER says no. Its system retains over 85% efficiency, nearly matching wired charging speeds, and even pauses at 80% to protect battery health, then resumes as needed. The tile is even IP67-rated, safe for outdoor use, and about as bulky as a thick magazine.

Electrek’s Take

I love the concept. It makes perfect sense for shared e-bikes, especially since they’re often returning to a dock anyway. As long as people can be trained to park with the kickstand on the tile, it seems like a no-brainer.

And to be honest, I even like the idea for consumers. I know it sounds like a first-world problem, but bending over to plug something in at floor height is pretty annoying, not to mention a great way to throw out your back if you’re not exactly a spring chicken anymore. Having your e-bike start charging simply by parking it in the right place is a really cool feature! I don’t know if it’s $300 cool, but it’s pretty cool!

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Tesla launches new software update with Grok, but it doesnt even interface with the car

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Tesla launches new software update with Grok, but it doesnt even interface with the car

Tesla has launched a new software update for its vehicles that includes the anticipated integration of Grok, but it doesnt even interface with the car yet.

Earlier this week, CEO Elon Musk said that Tesla would integrate Grok, the large language model developed by his private company, xAI, into its vehicles.

Today, Tesla started pushing the update to the fleet, but there’s a significant caveat.

The automaker wrote in the release notes (2025.26):

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Grok (Beta) (US, AMD)

Grok now available directly in your Tesla

Requires Premium Connectivity or a WiFi connection

Grok is currently in Beta & does not issue commands to your car – existing voice commands remain unchanged.

First off, it is only available in vehicles in the US equipped with the AMD infotainment computer, which means cars produced since mid-2021.

But more importantly, Tesla says that it doesn’t send commands to the car under the current version. Therefore, it is simply like having Grok on your phone, but on the onboard computer instead.

Tesla showed an example:

There are a few other features in the 2025.26 software update, but they are not major.

For Tesla vehicles equipped with ambient lighting strips inside the car, the light strip can now sync to music:

Accent lights now respond to music & you can also choose to match the lights to the album’s color for a more immersive effect

Toybox > Light Sync

Here’s the new setting:

The audio setting can now be saved under multiple presets to match listening preferences for different people or circumstances:

The software update also includes the capacity to zoom or adjust the playback speed of the Dashcam Viewer.

Cybertruck also gets the updated Dashcam Viewer app with a grid view for easier access and review of recordings:

Tesla also updated the charging info in its navigation system to be able to search which locations require valet service or pay-to-park access.

Upon arrival, drivers will receive a notification with access codes, parking restrictions, level or floor information, and restroom availability:

Finally, there’s a new onboarding guide directly on the center display to help people who are experiencing a Tesla vehicle for the first time.

Electrek’s Take

Tesla is really playing catch-up here. Right now, this update is essentially nothing. If you already have Grok, it’s no more different than having it on your phone or through the vehicle’s browser, since it has no capacity to interact with any function inside the vehicle.

Most other automakers are integrating LLMs inside vehicles with the capacity to interact with the vehicle. In China, this is becoming standard even in entry-level cars.

In the Xiaomi YU7, the vehicle’s AI can not only interact with the car, but it also sees what the car sees through its camera, and it can tell you about what it sees:

Tesla is clearly far behind on that front as many automakers are integrating with other LLMs like ChatGPT and in-house LLMs, like Xiaomi’s.

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Robinhood is up 160% this year, but several obstacles are ahead

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Robinhood is up 160% this year, but several obstacles are ahead

Florida AG opens probe into Robinhood. Here's the latest

Robinhood stock hit an all-time high Friday as the financial services platform continued to rip higher this year, along with bitcoin and other crypto stocks.

Robinhood, up more than 160% in 2025, hit an intraday high above $101 before pulling back and closing slightly lower.

The reversal came after a Bloomberg report that JPMorgan plans to start charging fintechs for access to customer bank data, a move that could raise costs across the industry.

For fintech firms that rely on thin margins to offer free or low-cost services to customers, even slight disruptions to their cost structure can have major ripple effects. PayPal and Affirm both ended the day nearly 6% lower following the report.

Despite its stellar year, the online broker is facing several headwinds, with a regulatory probe in Florida, pushback over new staking fees and growing friction with one of the world’s most high-profile artificial intelligence companies.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier opened a formal investigation into Robinhood Crypto on Thursday, alleging the platform misled users by claiming to offer the lowest-cost crypto trading.

“Robinhood has long claimed to be the best bargain, but we believe those representations were deceptive,” Uthmeier said in a statement.

The probe centers on Robinhood’s use of payment for order flow — a common practice where market makers pay to execute trades — which the AG said can result in worse pricing for customers.

Robinhood Crypto General Counsel Lucas Moskowitz told CNBC its disclosures are “best-in-class” and that it delivers the lowest average cost.

“We disclose pricing information to customers during the lifecycle of a trade that clearly outlines the spread or the fees associated with the transaction, and the revenue Robinhood receives,” added Moskowitz.

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev explains 'dual purpose' behind trading platform's new crypto offerings

Robinhood is also facing opposition to a new 25% cut of staking rewards for U.S. users, set to begin October 1. In Europe, the platform will take a smaller 15% cut.

Staking allows crypto holders to earn yield by locking up their tokens to help secure blockchain networks like ethereum, but platforms often take a percentage of those rewards as commission.

Robinhood’s 25% cut puts it in line with Coinbase, which charges between 25.25% and 35% depending on the token. The cut is notably higher than Gemini’s flat 15% fee.

It marks a shift for the company, which had previously steered clear of staking amid regulatory uncertainty.

Under President Joe Biden‘s administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission cracked down on U.S. platforms offering staking services, arguing they constituted unregistered securities.

With President Donald Trump in the White House, the agency has reversed course on several crypto enforcement actions, dropping cases against major players like Coinbase and Binance and signaling a more permissive stance.

Even as enforcement actions ease, Robinhood is under fresh scrutiny for its tokenized stock push, which is a growing part of its international strategy.

The company now offers blockchain-based assets in Europe that give users synthetic exposure to private firms like OpenAI and SpaceX through special purpose vehicles, or SPVs.

An SPV is a separate entity that acquires shares in a company. Users then buy tokens of the SPV and don’t have shareholder privileges or voting rights directly in the company.

OpenAI has publicly objected, warning the tokens do not represent real equity and were issued without its approval. In an interview with CNBC International, CEO Vlad Tenev acknowledged the tokens aren’t technically equity shares, but said that misses the broader point.

JPMorgan announces plans to charge for access to customer bank data

“What’s important is that retail customers have an opportunity to get exposure to this asset,” he said, pointing to the disruptive nature of AI and the historically limited access to pre-IPO companies.

“It is true that these are not technically equity,” Tenev added, noting that institutional investors often gain similar exposure through structured financial instruments.

The Bank of Lithuania — Robinhood’s lead regulator in the EU — told CNBC on Monday that it is “awaiting clarifications” following OpenAI’s statement.

“Only after receiving and evaluating this information will we be able to assess the legality and compliance of these specific instruments,” a spokesperson said, adding that information for investors must be “clear, fair, and non-misleading.”

Tenev responded that Robinhood is “happy to continue to answer questions from our regulators,” and said the company built its tokenized stock program to withstand scrutiny.

“Since this is a new thing, regulators are going to want to look at it,” he said. “And we expect to be scrutinized as a large, innovative player in this space.”

SEC Chair Paul Atkins recently called the model “an innovation” on CNBC’s Squawk Box, offering some validation as Robinhood leans further into its synthetic equity strategy — even as legal clarity remains in flux across jurisdictions.

Despite the regulatory noise, many investors remain focused on Robinhood’s upside, and particularly the political tailwinds.

The company is positioning itself as a key beneficiary of Trump’s newly signed megabill, which includes $1,000 government-seeded investment accounts for newborns. Robinhood said it’s already prototyping an app for the ‘Trump Accounts‘ initiative.

WATCH: Watch CNBC’s full interview with Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev

Watch CNBC's full interview with Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev

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