May we introduce to you the Saigon by Modmo, an Irish-founded bike-tech startup with a mission of replacing cars with electric bikes for urban transport. The creators of the Saigon developed it to address three core issues that keep people from wanting to use a bike for transportation; sweat, theft, and utility.
Here are a few highlights of the Saigon to whet your appetite:
- Fully integrated and removable battery with 200 km battery range
- 500 Watt front hub motor and optional Shimano Nexus 8 sp internally geared hub
- Smart handlebar display with BlueTooth & GPS
- Belt drive
- Lightweight – 14 kg
Modmo stands for “Modular Mobility,” and the Saigon epitomizes this. It’s a personal transport vehicle that can be modified to suit the rider’s needs and allows for dynamic movement around urban areas. Incorporated are front and rear rack mounts for carrying a wide array of slide-on accessories, such as panniers, boxes, and child seats.
It weighs only 14kg, but its 18.5Ah Panasonic battery integrated invisibly into the frame can give you up to a 200km (125 miles) range! The standard version comes in a single speed, but there’s the option of upgrading to an 11-speed hub.
The zero-emissions Saigon is smart too. It has an integrated touch-screen display in the handlebars with GPS and Bluetooth via the Saigon app in either Android or iOS versions. With this convenient technology, you’ll always know where you’re going, and you can see the map safely right in front of you. As well are integrated front and rear lights and turn signals.
The following interview dives deeper into the company’s motive. It should familiarize you with the bike a little bit better so you can consider it like a friend rather than an acquaintance.
Where did the name Saigon come from? Was it inspired by a trip to Vietnam and all the crazy motorbikes there?
The name “Saigon” was definitely inspired by how the founder of Modmo saw that motorbikes are used as the main mean of transportation in Vietnam. It also strengthened his ambition of creating a bike that is capable of doing everything. It is also because the Saigon is currently being manufactured in Vietnam.
We think the modular design aspect is a great idea; how much do the extras cost? How much weight can they hold (child, basket on the front)?
The modular accessories will cost approximately €8 each. On average, they are expected to hold 25 kgs.
How well does the bike work going uphill? Would a steep climb be too much for the motor?
The Saigon should be more than capable of going uphill. The motor is strong and we’re working on our own tracking control, so the motor will know not to spin too fast if it loses its grips while going uphill.
How much would it cost for a spare battery?
An extra battery will cost $500/each. It is of high quality, hence, we’d say that is it the most expensive part of the bike.
Will the bike come with a travel bag?
It doesn’t come with a travel bag. However, you can say that we have travel boxes which are planned to be made by Correx material that is reusable.
Has the coronavirus hindered your production at all, do you still plan on starting shipments in September?
The virus pandemic has actually increased our production capacity. Some other businesses have been revising their forecasts and reducing their quantity, which opened up more space for us. In fact, our quantity has been 10 times higher than previously expected for our first production round. Hence, we are still on schedule for the shipments in September.
Last but not least, we would love to have a beautiful quote from the creator(s) of the bike with a little back story on why the idea came about what sets your company apart from other electric bikes?
Jack O’Sullivan, the founder of Modmo, is a lifelong cyclist who always believed cycling is the best way to get from A to B. Before Modmo, Jack founded his first bike brand, Vital Fixes, a direct to consumer brand of single-speed bikes that were stylish but affordable.
The concept of Modmo came 4 years after Vital Fixes was founded. Being a cycling commuter himself, Jack understood and was aware that sweat, theft, and utility are the core issues that hold people back from commuting by bike. Jack then decided to develop a concept of an electric bicycle that can address these pain points and took a flight to Asia to build a team of capable engineers. Jack then ended up in Saigon with one focus in mind “We set out to create a bike that replaces your car for urban transport”. (quote from the creator)
As Modmo was found with one main focus of addressing the main issues that hold people back from commuting by bike, we spend more of our focus on making sure that the products we deliver to the customers are of high quality and are exactly what they are promised for.
It has never been a better time to start cycling as your mode of transportation. The climate crisis calls for more emission-free vehicles, and the coronavirus pandemic highlights how germy public transport is. Crises aside; cycling is better for your health and more fun! Many people agree… Modmo already has over 200 pre-orders from all around the world for its new Saigon e-bike.
