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Taking Charge
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Yamaha PAS City-C/Plusminuszero $2,194 / PAS City-C $1,131
FRAME: STEEL / GEARS: 3 / MOTOR: 240 WATTS / RANGE: 40 MILES / WEIGHT: 44.7LB
Yamaha was a pioneer of the electric bicycle movement, and its collaboration with designer Naoto Fukasawa is the latest example of 15 years of e-bike innovation. The Shizuoka, Japan–based firm works with the design department at Bridgestone’s bicycle division to create models that are technologically advanced, but simple to operate. Only 20 of Fukasawa’s edition were released last year, and they sold out quickly, but the bicycle it was based on, the PAS City-C, is available. My test ride revealed the Plusminuszero bicycle to be a very able round-town bike, but its single-pivot caliper front brake isn’t powerful enough to bring this bicycle, capable of high speeds, to a rapid stop. Another safety oversight: It boasts three LED headlights yet has no tail lamp.
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