Haibike XDURO Fatsix Review

The Haibike XDURO Fatsix arrives in America Spring 2015… just after the snow melts. The good news is, this bike delivers a couple things that are really unique in the world of fat style electric bikes; a premium mid-drive motor system for power and efficiency in sand or snow as well as a light-weight air suspension fork with remote lockout. The frame on this bike had to be custom built to accommodate the wide 4″ fat tires (Schwalbe Jumbo Jims) but despite this custom fabrication it’s going to be made available in three sizes to fit a wider range of riders! In terms of rideability, I love the step-down top tube that makes standing over the bike easier on uneven terrain.

The rear dropout (where the rear wheel mounts) has been customized so that the fatter wheel and a 10 speed cassette would fit. Having 10 gears to choose from makes the bike easier to ride on hills, flats or off-road conditions. The bottom bracket and spindle were also widened so the chain would align properly and these are not minor changes… They definitely add to the price but the aesthetic of the Fatsix remains in tact and it’s actually priced the same as one of the other Bosch powered fat bikes this including the LEBOWSKe from Felt. Note that the Fatsix is roughly five pounds heavier, but you get the suspension fork. I personally love the camouflage and fun orange accents on the Fatsix, including the tire that appears vividly through the weight saving holes in the Alex rims (pictured below). The front and rear wheels also feature thru-axles which are sturdier and stiffer than standard skewer axles, making them better at managing the high forces of large tires on rough terrain. In short, this is a premium electric fat bike that’s very capable of power and distance and isn’t just a novelty play on the fat form factor which has become popular in recent years.

Despite the larger tires which increased friction and starting-inertia, the Haibike Fatsix reaches 20 mph almost as easily as its trail oriented ebike cousins from Haibike that use more traditional sized tubes (like the RX 29″ or the FS RX 27.5″). The motor on all of these bikes offers 350 watts of power in a geared configuration that leverages the same gears that you do as a rider. That means the motor can operate more efficiently and go further on limited battery capacity. The controller on this bike measures the bicycle rolling speed, your pedaling speed and your pedaling force roughly 1,000 times per second to activate and de-activate quickly and smoothly… but when it does go, it delivers a lot of force. You get up to 60 Newton meters of torque (which is higher than the average 40 Nm on most 350 watt geared hub motors). So efficiency and power are nice but the other advantages of this mid-drive are that it keeps weight low and centered on the bicycle frame, which is important for stability when going off-road, and it also makes servicing the wheels and tires easier. This is always a “nice to have” feature on any bike but with an extra-large fat bike it becomes a lifesaver. The Fatsix will be much easier to fit into a car or pickup bed with one or both of the wheels removed because they’re just so wide. In the picture below, note the custom bottom bracket and spindle that were widened to align the chain as mentioned earlier.

The battery pack used with the XDURO Fatsix is a 36 volt 11 amp hour Lithium-ion configuration that’s light weight and durable (expect 1,000+ charge cycles if you take care of it). It’s removable for easy charging or multi-pack use on longer distance rides. Even though the official specs say 25 to 35 miles my experience is that it’s capable of going much further (depending on the terrain and level of assist). While the Fatsix isn’t as efficient as road style haibikes like the XDURO Race, it’s pretty impressive just how far it can go on a charge on flat hard terrain. As soon as you get into snow or sand however, expect the range to drop off and pay attention to the range readout so you can adjust pedal assist accordingly and make it home alright. I’ve created a video overview of the Bosch Intuvia system here that explains the range menu. The pack itself has a nice LED indicator on the side that displays its charge level even without turning the bike on (or even having it mounted to the bike) and that’s great if you’re storing the bike in the garage. The pack mounts low and center, just like the motor, but does take up the space where a bottle cage might have otherwise been mounted. That’s one of the drawbacks to this electric bike and note that there aren’t bosses on the rear seat stays where you might mount a rack or fenders either.

The display unit on the Haibike Fat six is large and easy to use. The screen is backlit and shows speed, distance and assist and you can interact with it using a stand-alone button console. This means you can keep your hands on the grips at all times (critical for trail riding on bumpy or dangerous terrain). The button pad is pretty easy to use, even with gloves on, and only has three buttons which are sort of oversized and tactile so you can hear or feel them click with each press. The assist-only operation of this and other Bosch powered electric bikes eliminates the chance of accidental acceleration based on squeezing the grips harder (for stability or in a tense moment) and the centerdrive is so responsive as mentioned earlier, just note that this bike doesn’t have a throttle… you must always pedal to make it go. Back to the display panel, it can be taken off of the frame easily for storage just like the main battery and the button pad has a little USB outlet for charging devices (though I’m not sure the voltage is high enough for iPhones). The LCD screen and accompanying system are water resistant and modular so if something does break you can get replacement support and keep on riding, it’s also backlit and there are some shops out there who will wire in lights to run off of the main battery and operate through the display pad. Very cool stuff.

The Fatsix is a fun bike to operate and show off… It’s a bike that makes people smile but really is rugged and capable. With tough locking grips, nice oversized disc brakes, a solid warranty and lots of shops who will be carrying it I expect it to be a hit. It’s easy to recommend any electric bike with the Bosch second generation centerdrive motor and battery system because it has proven itself on so many other ebikes I’ve tried. whether you’re a heavier person or someone who is climbing steep terrain, I believe this motor will still impress. The fact that the frame is going to be made in three sizes is just amazing to me because so many electric bikes aren’t and that can be a deal killer for some tall guys and girls. The Fatsix is a leader in its class and as someone with a sensitive back and neck, I love the suspension fork. Being able to lock and unlock remotely is awesome when transitioning from road to trail and the oversized tires already add a lot of cushion. You could always go extreme and get a suspension seat post for this thing as well! As mentioned earlier, the real drawbacks are no bottle cage or rack mounts and a higher price… and possibly not having a kickstand :)

How to choose video glasses: the units’ pros and cons

It’s devilish hard to write something thoughtful about video glasses! It appears as if these devices are quite familiar to us, and the manufacture of such video gadgets is going swimmingly thanks to hi-tech industry giants… But we still lack something!

First, millions of users can hardly distinguish between video glasses, stereo helmets and visors of augmented reality. This terminology confusion turns the discussions in forums into something incomprehensible.    

Second, we can’t say that the video glasses are now the part of our routine life. Though many geeks are really keen on such devices, all these technologies are still regarded as something exotic, that is why we lack the information from buyers and users.  

To put it shortly: this review is devoted to video glasses only, i.e., a compact gadget intended to watch films at home, in plane or car as well as play modest experimental games. Together we will examine the main parameters of up-to-date holographic lenses, their cons and pros.

WHAT FOR ARE THEY NEEDED?

Before getting acquainted with new technologies in video sphere, you should first determine how you will use the unusual glasses and how much you are ready to spend on them.

To buy ordinary video glasses is not the reason to overpay. In case you are looking for a road-gadget to watch films and look through photos in any private area in plain or train, you may save money and pay minimally. In case you are in search of high quality and 100% video immersing, you have to pay much more.

WHAT DOES THE PRICE OF 3D VIEWERS DEPEND ON?

Let’s examine the price range. Drop in any large on-line market and you will see: today the price of video glasses varies from 75$ to … 3000-4000$ (as a rule, the latter models really possess the home cinema functionality). There are even more expensive models, but their price can’t be regarded as reasonable.

For 75 – 400$ the buyer will get an ordinary variant: spectacles with internal memory, SD card slot and minimal complete set. Light and compact models (MOULTRIE HD VIDEO GLASSES model, and others are among them) can’t be customized at will and you are certain not to get a high quality picture.  Nevertheless, they may be an optimal road gadget for many users. We advise to buy models with AV interface, e.g.  Av-in and WGA.

From 400$ the range burst begins. Here are flat glasses which direct the ready image to the eye retina, more classic small screen glasses, adjustable diopter glasses, and real mini-helmets. Their functionality exceeds greatly that of “road models”.  Among them the following models are especially worth of mentioning:

• Home cinema glasses, a real alternative to TV set;
• glasses for gamers with the total in-game effect;
• «remote displays» for different devices which can be useful for IT-specialists, designers, programmers, …and film fans again;
• universal products covering the functions of video glasses, augmented reality visors, etc., and claiming to compete with Google Glasses.

KEY PARAMETERS OF UP-TO-DATE VIDEO GLASSES

Some key parameters are common for all models including the cheapest ones, so every potential purchaser should be aware of them. Let’s look closer at them.

1. Virtual screen size

The size of virtual screen is very important as it is the screen which you will have before your curious eyes. By the way, do you know that in the majority of models the “picture” is transmitted to each eye separately?

Commonly, the video glasses work with 52, 72, 84 and 98 inch format. However, there are models that make you believe that you watch many meter plasma or even movie screen.  It’s true that you appear to see it from the distance of some meters. It is normal, otherwise you would cast your eye over the whole screen “body”.  

2. Video screen resolution

We can’t avoid the problem of video screen resolution. The higher the resolution is, the more distinct and smooth the picture is. It is clear, though some producers have already begun to provide their low resolution glasses with image “special” smoothers. The most market models permit 640х480 resolution. It is not very cool, is it? But they have their own purchasers, and even very delighted ones (sometimes you may read their reviews like this “Oh, I simply can’t play at ordinary comp any more after having tried this thing!»)

However, at the moment you may buy video glasses with 1280х720 resolution and even FULLHD format. Among them there are Avegant Glyph, Epson Moverio BT-200 and others. Warning! The price range strikes not less than the picture quality difference.  

3. Size and autonomy

Both weight and size of such gadgets are very important as well as the ability for off-line operation. First, nobody can ignore the comfort! You can hardly like the gadget which is able to turn you into an old ruin with pain in the neck and the nose bridge rubbed sore for just a couple of hours. Second, energy blocks of some recent models resemble the backpacks of Ghostbusters!   

So heavy and big, they will entangle your legs and arms with cables: many video glasses can’t function off-line. Even the expensive model Sony HMZ T3 is tightly connected with a power block. This is a great annoyance!

3. Whom the video glasses don’t suit

Finishing our examination of «main parameters», we can’t conceal that some people can’t use any video glasses. The weak vestibular system and poor vision can make you suffer badly when using this gadget. So, check the video glasses for yourself without fail before purchasing it.  Otherwise you may be greatly disappointed.

How to Utilise Web Scraping Tools to Bolster Real Estate Business

The real estate market can be a volatile place for the novice newcomer. Reaping the benefits of the lucrative opportunities that it offers can be a dauntingly complicated task without the right assistance. Unfortunately for many, this help often comes in the form of expensive consultancy that can add an additional price tag to an already costly venture.

When we think of real estate, the idea of online or digital tools will rarely come to mind as a source of informative advice and analytics. However, there are an abundance of rarely discussed sources of information for those hoping to reap the benefits possible with Australia’s ever-changing home market.

Buying Your Dream Home

The Dilemma

Especially for those who are hoping to live in the home they purchase, as opposed to buying potential investment properties, finding the right deal on a home that meets as many of your requirements as possible is going to be the most exhausting of all the house hunting steps. If you are making a purchasing decision on this large a scale, it’s safe to say you are planning for a long stay in your potential property, so you want to get it right the first time.

How to Get Started with Enterprise E-commerce

If you want to take your standard e-commerce store to the next level, you will have to be prepared to enter the world of enterprise e-commerce. This generally means that you will be offering multiple types of products and/or services on your site, and the many departments throughout your business will end up using the same set of technical and financial resources, as well as the same general management team. In order to do all of that, you will need to invest in the right enterprise e-commerce tools that will help you succeed. Check out the tips below on how you can get started with enterprise e-commerce easily.

Invest in SAP Portals

Whether you are planning on selling directly to consumers or you are hoping to establish a store on which you will cater to fellow businesses, you will need to invest in a high quality SAP portal that will make it a breeze to shop on your site and allow customers to connect with you more easily as well. Check out this website for a list of SAP portals that will allow your suppliers and your customers to enjoy a consistent experience across every one of your e-commerce store’s touchpoints. With the right tools at your side, you will be able to reduce your reliance on your IT team, as well as decrease infrastructure requirements.

Small Business Owners: Outsource These Tasks to Succeed and Grow

What lessons can we learn from the great entrepreneurs? Was it just their incredible personalities and individual capacities that propelled them to success? Or is it something to do with the fact that they understood how to leverage the talents of others?

Seasoned entrepreneurs know that if they try to do everything, they’ll crash and burn. There simply isn’t enough time in the day, not to mention the fact that they’re not qualified to carry out half of the tasks that need doing in their business. But despite this, newbies seem to believe that they have to do everything, filling every minute of the day with one task or another. It’s a recipe for disaster.

Here, we’re going to investigate some of the ways that companies can reduce their workload and get experts in to manage certain aspects of their business. The solution is easy, outsource more, do less.

Managing Email

There’s an art to delegation, and it’s something all the top Fortune 500 CEOs do incredibly well. But despite the fact that they delegate nearly everything, they still have a special place in their hearts for their emails. No matter how high up they are in an organization, they feel the need to personally process every piece of correspondence in their inbox, causing them to waste time and money.