It all started back in 2014 when two creative, techy types moved from a product research studio in Scotland to the tech-agency scene of London. Each morning they dropped down their respective escalators, diligently minding the gap [on the London Underground}, ready to embark on their daily pilgrimage via Londons expansive transport network. This pilgrimage soon became a penance.
"I grew up in the Northern Irish countryside where the cows had more elbowroom on their way to the market than the commuters on the Central Line. Cows don’t even have elbows!"
But Nav saw light at the end of the underground. He got a bike and saw his commute shrink by 20 minutes and with his leg day sufficiently un-skipped, was feeling pretty good. But there are practical issues with cycling 10 miles each morning, such as having to fill at 30L rucksack each morning with a supply of fresh clothes, towels and beard oil (when you know, you know).
Nav and Jack with an early AM1 Prototype
Jack had also sought refuge in two-wheeled transport. His commute was consistently inconstant; producing journey times anywhere between 45 minutes and 2 hours. His upgrade was a 40-year-old single speed bicycle with some questionable modifications. The time saving was addictive. He wanted more. Jack became Nav's co-conspirator of various personal electric concepts; good, bad and the unsafe.
In true engineer-cum-entrepreneur fashion Analog Motion emerged from a spare room over years of evenings and weekends. The goal: to design an electric form of transport people actually want to ride, rather than have to ride, at the right price and in fitting with city lifestyles. The challenge was to bring the weight to an electric bike to that of a manual, while still offering a powerful electric assist.
Over a dozen prototypes later, with multiple failures and scar bearing injuries, the designs for each component were sent to multiple factories around the world who had decades of experience producing electric vehicles.
The first round of production prototypes were put in the hands of beta testers who were challenged to put them through hell and this feedback informed the next iterations. We updated the frame geometry, drive chain, cable routing, handlebars, saddle and control electronics.
In the summer of 2018 we launched the AM1 on Kickstarter, raising £330k (430USD) and another £30k on Indiegogo Indemand.
After weeks out in Asia production has kicked off and we're on track to deliver our bikes starting in December 2018.
It's been an incredible journey getting this far and we're so appreciative of the support we've received from everyone to get to this point.
For updates check out our blog.
Nav & Jack