Zoomo Sport: meet the Australian-made e-bike that’s easy to ride but hard for others to steal

It’s the Australian electric bike made for commuters but this smart transport comes with plenty of pro-level antitheft features.

There is a sweet spot nestled between zippy, quad-popping, professional delivery riders and ambling, Saturday afternoon peddlers into which Zoomo’s latest e-bike fits perfectly.

Though the Aussie company is best known for making and hiring electronic bikes for couriers, its new Sport model suits the rest of us.

It’s designed for commuting rather than delivering, steaming up hills rather than avoiding them, and comes with enough safety features to make lapsed cyclists fall in love with two-wheeled travel again.

Australian e-bike company Zoomo released a Sport model suitable for commuters.

The $2999 Zoomo Sport’s look signals its place in the market, with a step-through design, a built-in rear rack, and a surprisingly solid aluminium frame.

What’s not immediately obvious, however, is how many advanced features have been added to make trips comfortable. They include front suspension to dampen the bumps, puncture-resistant tyres to withstand them, efficient hydraulic brakes, and a light so bright you’ll have to take care not to frighten passing traffic (we lowered it for the safety of others).

Zoomo’s consumer-friendly bike also improves on its last model, the Zero, by offering nine gears rather than three, as well as five levels of power from its 250 watt motor.

That motor is hidden on the back wheel and, with some momentum, it can help propel you up to a speed of 25km/h with less effort than you might expect.

The Zoomo Sport e-bike comes with an easy-to-read speedo and clamp for a smartphone.

There can be some issues with rear-mounted motors but Zoomo’s model is gentle to take off (perhaps a little too gentle on hills — you’re better off starting on the flat and staying in a low gear).

The motor is powered by a battery that will sustain it for about eight hours or 80km, along with a display that will show you how fast and far you’ve travelled.

The bike also features a host of antitheft features you could only expect from a company known for hiring and renting its fleet.

Riders must tap a security fob to start it, use a key to remove its battery, and a security system kicks in if they don’t, locking up the tyres with its serious braking power.

The e-bike can also be tracked if someone puts it in the back of a van, and Zoomo offers three recovery missions in 12 months and will launch tracking via app in future.

This system, along with its grunt and the ability to rent the bike for $39 a week, could cure the cold pedalling feet of former cyclists and ensure they stay there.

Originally published as Zoomo Sport: meet the Australian-made e-bike that’s easy to ride but hard for others to steal