IF Reach DC Folding Bike - First Ride

by Larry Lagarde

My compliments to Pacific Cycles on their IF Reach DC. This bike rocks!

UPS finally delivered my IF Reach DC at 6:30 pm this evening so I took it for a 6 mile spin.

Although the sun was setting and the battery pack was just partially charged, I was too excited to wait another day to try out the bike. I removed the IF Reach DC from the shipping carton and packing materials, slid the hot swapable battery pack into the holster, turned the key locking it in place and hit the road.

Once I was atop the Mississippi River levee trail, I pressed a button on the handlebars (switching on the motor) and began pedaling. With a slight whir, the motor came to life. The pedal-assisted boost was noticeable but not jarring.

The IF Reach DC has no throttle. There are 2 power levels (Medium for normal riding; High gives more torque for hill climbing). A speed limiter cuts the motor at a certain cadence, acting as a signal when to up shift. Using this method, I quickly moved through all 8 gears and found myself riding at 21 mph. Maintaining that speed required significant effort (as required by law, the motor turns off just below 20 mph) so I backed off to see what speed the motor would provide with minimal pedaling. The levee trail turns constantly to follow the river so the cruising speed varied from 16.8 to 19.5 mph dependent on the wind direction. That's pretty respectable for minimal pedaling.

Using the cool Integrated Folding system designed by Mark Sanders, the IF Reach DC folds easily, quickly and with precision. With the forked kickstand located just below the motor and bottom bracket, the bike rests folded on 4 points, making it the most stable folding electric bike yet. Magnets hold the front and rear wheels together so the bike can easily be rolled folded.

Like the Xootr Swift folding bicycle, the IF Reach DC folding bike has the geometry of a full size road bike; however, it folds down to about the size of a Dahon Mu. In fact, the IF Reach DC even weighs and costs about as much as a Dahon Mu with the Bionx aftermarket electric kit installed. The difference is, the IF Reach DC is a fully suspended folder with a performance pedigree that's factory built from the start as an electric. The motor is centered and as low as it can be (below the bottom bracket), giving the bike great balance and a lower center of gravity. Plus, the suspension system and folding mechanisms are tops. Very impressive.

I'm charging the bike's 24 volt/9 amp hr. Lithium Ion battery now in anticipation of a longer ride tomorrow. Based on this evening's ride, I think it's going to be a blast.

By the way, the IF Reach DC weighs 42 lbs with the battery; slide out the battery pack and the bike weighs 38 lbs. That's incredibly light for an electric.