We sell and service Human Power Augmented a.k.a. Electric bikes and ride them enthusiastically ourselves. See also our folding bikes at Folding Bikes West.
Our Seattle store sells assembled bikes for pick up in the store. Come in and place your order, phone or email us.
Electric Bikes Northwest
4810 17th Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107 - Map
ph: 206/547-4621
Email form
March Hours:
Mondays thru Fridays: 11–6
Saturdays: 11–4
Sundays 7, 21 & 28th: Noon–3
Sunday 14th: Closed, visit us 10–4 at Seattle Bicycle Expo.
Sales, which started to drop off in Fall '08, continued to merely limp along in '09.
Now there is even some talk about 'an ebike bubble that burst'. While '08 was our best year ever (since 1996) there was no ebike sales bubble.
There was rather an ebike importer, distributor and dealer bubble. Self proclaimed 'green entrepreneurs' et al declared that the time had come for ebikes to happen in the U.S. Their ardent, wishful declarations just did not make it so. Many of those folks have now fallen on hard time as have customers who bought bikes for which support is failing.
The 'green veneer' of most of us consumers is, after all, thin. When everything about health, energy use, environment, our children's future etc is said and done a good deal more is said than done. And of course even those persons with good intentions do come up against realities such as disposable income during what is euphemistically referred to as a mere economic downturn.
In '09 the market continued to see more 'legal loophole' bikes, i.e. ebikes which, while they may more or less comply with the letter of current legislation, are as clunky, awkward to pedal and heavy as they are indeed powerful. Many a cyclist shall have difficulties recognizing and enjoying them as bicycles. Overseas legislation typically categorizes them as motor vehicles (i.e. a moped or motor scooter) rather than bicycles.
The market saw of course a continued influx of bikes from China and while several are looking OK at first glance, some are offered at prices so low that one may in instances wonder about ridability, quality, durability and service follow up. A couple of highly accomplished Euro bike also arrived but at prices so high that one may in instances wonder about value per dollar.
In the meantime we continue (since 1996) our own focus on superbly riding, pedal activated, bicycle akin bikes of great value, reliability and durability. Giant Bicycle Company's fourth generation Twist Express ($1,500) is our latest addition.
In '09 we continued to be blessed with mostly independent thinking, inner directed and motivated customers seeking to incorporate an electric bike in his or her life. We probably came across but a few identity, life style or impulse buyers.
By now most of our sales may come from word of mouth referrals by current customers. Of course these result unglamorously (as compared to 'creative marketing') from our striving to do our best one customer at a time with information, providing test rides, pricing, ongoing support and service.
But what about those who do not know yet that they want an electric bike? How do we reach them? Here we simply cannot rustle up sufficient presumption to suggest what others may want or need. And—how ever much we enjoy riding our own electric bikes—if some people don't ever become aware of the electric bike we shall gladly allow that their lives may still turn out OK.
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