“Yikes! A true fixie e-bike.” I have been ridding a fixie for the past few years in the ‘fixed’ mode with the Hill Topper kit and it is a lot of fun. It takes a little getting used to and the extra acceleration and speed makes you slide around a little when you have to stop in a hurry but it is a blast to ride. No reason to combine the two other than it is really fun. Give it a try and like Pete recommends I would add a front brake.

I only used the freewheel mode. A true fixie e-bike…..yikes!

This experiment was put together because a fixie is a simple and economical bike and so is the Clean Republic e-bike kit. The target market probably wouldn’t be the average fixie rider but someone who is looking for a simple, low maintenance, and economical e-bike.

Ted makes a great point below that the Clean Republic kit is easily removable for someone who doesn’t always want electric assist.

There are plenty of other bikes that could be used with the Clean Republic kit.

Those who do not pedal at all could cause a side effect, it could aggravate people who do not want human powered two wheels on the roadways let alone “powered” bicycles.

Just another excuse to license and regulate bicycles. I have read the multiple reasons for not licensing bicycles, the cost to benefit ratio, discouraging the very behavior needed to conserve fuel, improve health, etc., etc. High powered hubs could be the make or braking point for licensing e-bikes just like putting a motor on a sailboat makes it a motorboat.

At 250 watts, this hub is not going to be “pedal free.” I have no problem with anyone using a 250 watt hub of any kind because it is definitely an assist and not a sole source of propulsion.

In many ways it fits with the “fixie” mentality, when everyone else needs a 750 watt hub to do their hauling, true fixies get by with 250 watts.

Fair enough.

@Rockfish: Personally, I’m a fan of both coasting and gears. But the reason I own a Ridekick is because some days I want power assist for hauling, and other days I don’t.

Similarly, one of the nifty things that I see about the Hill Topper is that it is so easy to remove — especially of you buy a solid axle quickrelease with the system.

Imagine someone who lives in a city, and only wants to own one bike; someone who needs occasionally to haul cargo and groceries, maybe up hills.

I can imagine using the e-bike-plus-Travoy mode for cargo days, and the clean fixie mode for all of the other days.