E-Road Bike Lotus Type 136: Only the Price Weighs Heavy.

Have you ever wanted to feel a bit like an Olympic cycling champion? Then you can theoretically do so in the near future. With the Type 136, the British manufacturer Lotus is launching an ebike on the market that is largely inspired by professional track bikes. In practice, however, this experience will remain out of reach for most of us.

We’ll get to the sobering part of the story soon enough. Before that, the Lotus Type 136 absolutely deserves to be celebrated. Ebikes are often generally given a dressing down. Too clunky. Too heavy. Too much tractor than charming means of transport. This e-road bike lets all these prejudices roll off its back – or rather fly past it. Because it looks so streamlined that such clichés could never stick to it.

Competitive spirit part of the DNA

Some of you may associate the name Lotus with the automotive industry. However, the company has also been involved in cycling for more than three decades. It is responsible for several track bikes with which it has equipped the British national team at the Olympic Games as well as the World and European Championships. Experience gained from working on legendary models such as the Lotus Type 108, the Lotus Type 110 and, above all, the bike for the 2020 Olympic Games has been incorporated into the new Lotus Type 136.

This is most evident in the wide, outwardly protruding seat stays of the e-road bike. They are not as high and are not as aggressively shaped as on the original model. Nevertheless, the parallels are more than obvious. The V-shaped stem, which merges into the handlebar tube, is also noticeably reminiscent of the bike with which the British team won medals in seven out of twelve disciplines in Tokyo.

New lightness in everyday life

The carbon frame of the Lotus 136, which is handcrafted in Italy, nevertheless manages the elegant balancing act of becoming a bike for ordinary people who want to use it on the road. The fork, head tube and down tube are less extreme and could also be found in a similar way on another e-road bike.

Nevertheless, the Type 136 retains its decidedly sporty character. If only when you look at its weight. At just 9.8 kilograms, it is one of the lowest we know of an ebike. Only the HPS Domestique is likely to be even lighter. According to the manufacturer, it even remains under the nine-kilogram mark.

Top values – only in another category

The proximity between the two ebikes is no coincidence. Both use the same ebike system. With the Watt Assist drive from HPS, the term “minimal assist” is apt. Its peak power is 230 watts. Other systems provide 600 watts and more for short periods. Even in continuous operation, the Watt Assist only produces 200 watts instead of the usual 250 watts. In terms of torque, the system is even lower than the Maxon Bikedrive Air and its 30 Newton metres. HPS achieves 20 Newton metres.

On the other hand, the e-drive scores with its extremely low weight. Bosch exceeds the total weight of 1.2 kilograms with its additional PowerMore battery alone, for example, which weighs 1.6 kilograms. When the motor is followed by the figure of 300 grams, it becomes clear why its performance cannot keep up with that of other mid-drive motors. On the other hand, they are about ten times heavier.

Limited to the essentials

The drive is operated using just two buttons. These are positioned on the inside of the drops. The system can be operated in the two riding modes Peloton and Attack. There are three or six sub-stages in each mode. At least this is how HPS offers the drive as standard. It is not clear from the published information whether Lotus has also integrated it into the Type 136 in this way.

Incidentally, you won’t find a display on the Lotus Type 136. The HPS Watt Assist makes do with an ANT+ interface. This allows the ebike to be connected to suitable bike computers. Models from Wahoo and Garmin, for example, are supported. With these devices, you can also see which assistance level you are currently riding at.

Ebike or regular bike?

The system includes a battery that looks like a water bottle. What its 193 watt hours of capacity means in terms of range depends on the known weather conditions and route characteristics. HPS and Lotus both promise at least three hours of electric assistance. A few quick steps are all it takes to remove the battery. This removes by far the heaviest component of the drive. All that remains is the almost feather-light motor, the buttons on the handlebars and the regular road bike. Basically a perfect 2-in-1 solution.

Lotus is still keeping a very low profile when it comes to the rest of the equipment. Only the wireless and electronically shiftable Super Record groupset from Campagnolo is mentioned by name. The Bora Ultra WTO 60 wheelset also comes from the same company. From the pictures available, the Pirelli P-Zero tyres can also be spotted as the chosen tyres.

An absolute niche product

The components on the bike that have not yet been named are unlikely to have much influence on the purchasing decision of prospective buyers. Finally, there is the fact mentioned at the beginning, which will automatically ensure that hardly any of us will consider buying one. We are talking about price. In the version just outlined, the Type 136 is being produced in a limited edition of 136 units. This gem in the colour Black Gold costs a whopping 25,000 euros. So. And now let’s all take a deep breath.

But that’s not all. Lotus has also announced a production model of the Type 136. It is expected to go on sale in spring 2024 and pictures of it are already available. In our opinion, its yellow and black paintwork emphasises striking parts of the frame even better than the limited premiere. The equipment is a little less exclusive. DT Swiss supplies the wheels. A Sram Red is used as the shifting group. This brings the price down to 19,950 euros. The entry-level model with a Sram Force is even lower. This will be available for 17,950 euros. Now that’s a bargain.

 

Pictures: Group Lotus Ltd.