VIT-S Features

VIT-S is the first bike in the world to use the new powerful Nidec motor

Here are some reviews so far:

eBikeTips First ride: Momentum Electric VIT-S

Pedelecs & E-Bikes VIT-S von Momentum Electric mit Kampagne auf Kickstarter [German]

Momentum Electric brought several firsts to the market. The first electric bicycle to use the SRAM AUTOMATIX hub. The first affordable bottom bracket torque sensor electric bike under £1000. And now, we are the first to launch an electric bike using the new Nidec motor, the most powerful 25km/h / 20mph pedelec motor in the world.

VIT-S is the result of the smallest electric bicycle company in Europe and the largest motor manufacturer in Japan.

Watch Ying, the founder of Momentum Electric, talk about the history of the company and the features of VIT-S:

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VIT-S has been designed for speed, efficiency and comfort. Designed around the powerful motor, high-end components were specified to match the vision of a sleek design and complete electric bike. The form of the frame draws its inspiration from the feeling of speed and is hydroformed in order to remain true to its design intent.

360 view of VIT-S during design development

Designed around the powerful, efficient, durable and quiet motor, the entire bike is well-balanced and handles well, the riding position is aggressive yet comfortable.

The front forks are made from carbon fibre and super lightweight.

Super lightweight carbon fibre front fork

The carbon fibre handlebar is shock absorbing with 20mm of travel reducing fatigue from the road vibrations.

Shock absorbing handlebar is flexible downwards, rigid upwards

The gears shifts seamlessly with the NuVinci N330 continuously variable transmission.

Seamless shifting with the NuVinci Continuously Variable Transmission

The transmission is a clean and lightweight Gate Carbon CDX belt drive that never needs adjusting.

Gates Carbon CDX belt drive

The Miranda e-Bike Carbon Crank has a super strength to weight ratio and is the lightest e-bike crank on the market.

Lightweight Miranda e-Bike Carbon Crank

The brakes are very important for this fast and powerful bike and it uses the award-winning Magura MT5 hydraulic disc brakes.

Magura MT5 hydraulic disc brakes

The integrated seatpost lights that turn on automatically complete the sleek look of the bike.

Integrated seatpost lights

Listen to what our partners who helped make VIT-S a reality have to say about the development of the bike:

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As a small company, we have invested a lot of resources into the development of this high-end bike and we require your help to bring it into production. In return, you get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy a powerful top of the range mid-motor electric bike at the price of an average electric bike, well below next years retail price of £4000. We promise that riding this ultimate urban machine is as much fun as you imagine.

About The Motor

The most powerful and legal electric motor: 700W max power and 95Nm of torque

Under European and some US regulations, there is a restriction on the maximum continuous rated power of 250W and 350W for electric bicycles. There is sometimes some confusion for the average consumer between maximum continuous rated power and maximum/peak power. Continuous rated power is a measurement done within a specified temperature rise and time following a set standard. Maximum/peak power is the highest measurement at an instantaneous point, a peak corresponding to a steep slope or pulling a heavy load. Simply put, the rated power wattage of the motor does not equate to how powerful the bike is. The Nidec motor, like any other European approved motor, has a maximum continuous rated power of 250W but peaks at a much higher 700W when climbing steep slopes or pulling heavy loads. It has a significantly higher peak power and more torque than the nearest competitor and is more efficient at the same time. A benchmark test done against a main European brand showed higher efficiency while travelling at a higher average speed.

Powerful. Lightweight. Efficient. (Did we mention powerful?)

A new motor designed from the ground up as a joint venture between the largest company in Japan and the world's number 1 in precision motor manufacturer would not be done in half measures. Itochu (market capitalisation US$22 billion) and Nidec Copal came together in 2012 to design a new motor for the electric bicycle market. The result is the Nidec motor which is more powerful (700W max/95Nm) and more efficient (2.3Wh/km / 3.8Wh/mile) than competing German and Japanese motors yet, at the same time, lightweight (3.5kg).

Range anxiety? Go from Paris to Brussels on two charges!

Cycle from Paris to Brussels on two charges and a cost of 11p!

VIT-S is so efficient that you could cycle from Paris to Brussels (316km/196mi) with just two full charges of the battery. The total cost of electricity for the trip would be 11p/14¢.

Advantages of the Nidec motor over other mid-drive motors

It has the most power and torque of all legal pedelec motors

of all legal pedelec motors There is an angle sensor that helps the motor determine the amount of assistance when riding and moving off on a slope

that helps the motor determine the amount of assistance when riding and moving off on a slope There is freewheel in the crank that makes it the lightest mid-motor when pedaling without powered assistance

that makes it the lightest mid-motor when pedaling without powered assistance It has the smallest Q-factor among mid-motors which makes riding comfortable

About Momentum Electric and VIT-S

Momentum Electric was founded in 2012 by engineering-trained product designer, Ying-Tsao Tan, and is known for its widely praised front hub electric bicycles with a good ride feel.

Noticing a change in the market in 2013, Momentum Electric started sourcing for a mid-motor supplier and also began to think about what consumers really wanted in a mid-motor electric bicycle.

Momentum Electric has always believed in lightweight electric bicycles and knew from design research that weight has always been one of the main complaints about electric bicycles from consumers. The main advantage of a mid-motor is power but unfortunately, it comes with a weight penalty.

Momentum Electric reached out to Nidec Copal in 2013 after seeing the early prototype motor at Eurobike. With an initial projected weight of less than 3 kg, the motor was a perfect match.

The motor evolved through various iterations, as did the design of the bicycle. Having the luxury of starting the project in the early development of the motor, Momentum Electric was able to guide the project around the motor, maximising its potential. A close working relationship was forged and long-lasting friendships were formed.

The name for the bike, VIT-S, is play on the French word, vitesse, for speed. The S emphasises both speed and the form of the bike. The bike takes its cue from S-Pedelecs making full advantage of the most powerful motor at its disposal but without the hassle associated with S-Pedelec ownership.

The final version of the motor focuses on power. Designing an extremely silent motor required high torque characteristics tuned down but, at the request of customers, Nidec tuned the motor up for torque and is proud to produce the most powerful 25km/h pedelec motor.

Today, with the launch of VIT-S, Momentum Electric will be known for its widely praised front hub AND mid-motor electric bicycles with a good ride feel and continue its philosophy of “moving everybody”.

Watch Olivier Vander Elst, founder of GreenAer and distribution partner of Momentum Electric, speak about working with Ying and VIT-S:

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The Rewards

Reward #1 A big thank you! [£1]

A big THANK YOU!

Reward #2 Really useful smartphone mount [£10]

Really useful smartphone mount

Reward #3 Stylish Momentum Electric VIT-S T-Shirt [£25]

Cool Momentum Electric VIT-S T-shirt

Reward #4 Shock absorbing Baramind BAM City Handlebar [£50]

Baramind BAM City shock absorbing composite handlebar

Reward #5 Momentum Electric VIT-S Lite EARLY BIRD [£2200 || LIMITED]

VIT-S Lite (with composite Baramind BAM City and cold forged alloy crank)

Reward #6 Momentum Electric VIT-S Lite [£2500]

VIT-S Lite (with composite Baramind BAM City and cold forged alloy crank)

Reward #7 Momentum Electric VIT-S [£2900]

VIT-S (with carbon fibre Baramind BAM MTB and Miranda e-Bike Carbon Crank)

Reward #8 2x Momentum Electric VIT-S TWIN PACK [£5200 || LIMITED]

2x VIT-S (with carbon fibre Baramind BAM MTB and Miranda e-Bike Carbon Crank)

Please note that backers are responsible for any sales tax and import duties outside of the European Union which will vary according to the country which the reward is shipped to.

VIT-S Specifications

Motor system Nidec mid-drive motor with quadruple sensors motor system 48 V 250 W (rated), 700 W (max), 95 Nm (max)

Nidec mid-drive motor with quadruple sensors motor system 48 V 250 W (rated), 700 W (max), 95 Nm (max) Battery Panasonic cells 380 Wh

Panasonic cells 380 Wh Size 48.5 cm

48.5 cm Weight 20.9 kg

20.9 kg Range Eco: 160 km, Norm: 120 km, Hi: 100 km, Power: 80 km

Eco: 160 km, Norm: 120 km, Hi: 100 km, Power: 80 km Recharge time 4-6 hours

4-6 hours Display LCD Eco: 60 %, Norm: 120 %, Hi: 200 %, Power: 300 %

LCD Eco: 60 %, Norm: 120 %, Hi: 200 %, Power: 300 % Frame Aluminium 6061 hydroformed

Aluminium 6061 hydroformed Fork Carbon fibre lightweight fork

Carbon fibre lightweight fork Drivetrain NuVinci N330 with Gates Carbon Drive CDX 55T / 24T

NuVinci N330 with Gates Carbon Drive CDX 55T / 24T Wheels Schwalbe 37-622 Alexrims ATD 490 Shimano Deore HB-M525

Schwalbe 37-622 Alexrims ATD 490 Shimano Deore HB-M525 Brakes Magura MT5 hydraulic disc brakes Storm HC 180 mm

Magura MT5 hydraulic disc brakes Storm HC 180 mm Handlebar Baramind Bam MTB shock absorbing handlebar 710 mm ( Lite Baramind Bam City shock absorbing handlebar 620mm)

Baramind Bam MTB shock absorbing handlebar 710 mm ( Baramind Bam City shock absorbing handlebar 620mm) Grips Velo VLG 1605 Kraton ergonomic grips

Velo VLG 1605 Kraton ergonomic grips Stem Satori Stealth 6 110 mm 3D forged one bolt stem

Satori Stealth 6 110 mm 3D forged one bolt stem Crank Miranda e-Bike Carbon Crank ( Lite Lasco EB-07 cold forged alloy)

Miranda e-Bike Carbon Crank ( Lasco EB-07 cold forged alloy) Headset Neco H-373C full integrated

Neco H-373C full integrated Saddle Velo VL6307 Double density comfort saddle

Velo VL6307 Double density comfort saddle Seatpost LightSKIN with integrated rear light

LightSKIN with integrated rear light Pedals Wellgo M111

Wellgo M111 Front light AXA Blueline 30

AXA Blueline 30 Warranty Frame: 5 years, Electric system: 2 years

Frame: 5 years, Electric system: 2 years MSRP £4000 (Lite £3500)

Timeline

The Team

Questions? Ask away!

Thank you for checking out the Kickstarter campaign for Momentum Electric VIT-S. If you have any questions concerning the VIT-S, please email us and we will answer any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you!

E-mail: vit-s@momentumelectric.com

The Momentum Electric Team