Dawes
Dawes has a long history going back to the start of the 20th Century. The business has always been based in the West Midlands - though these days, manufacturing is an international affair.
There are two Dawes electric bikes - both marketed under the name 'Boost'.
The base bike is called the City and comes in both a gents frame (with crossbar) and step-through frame (sometimes called a ladies frame as it is easier to ride if you are wearing a skirt).
Both versions of the bike (different frame versions shown above and below) have a motor mounted in the hub of the rear wheel and a battery mounted under the rack. This model has Shimano 6 speed derailleur gears and as well as providing a pedal assist mode (the norm on electric bikes) there is a throttle only operation which can get you going on the level but will not carry you up a steep hill.
The bike has a range of around 25 miles when operating in pedal assist mode. This is more than adequate for most commutes - though it should be noted that all estimates of battery capacity based on distance are approximate and will vary according to the weight of the rider and any luggage being carried, the terrain and the riding style.
There are two different frame sizes for both the gents and step through versions: 18" and 20" for the gents and 15" and 17" for the step through.
The more expensive Dawes model is the Suburbia which has a very similar look to the City but has an upgraded battery and increased capacity to around 40 miles - availabilty is currently a bit limited.
The Suburbia has three levels of assist ranging - you can ask it to give a little help in 'eco' mode or a lot of help in 'sport' mode. The Suburbia has a better control display too showing speed as well as the amount of power left in the battery.
All versions of the bike come with suspension forks to give a smoother ride.
The Dawes e-bikes come with a one year warranty on the electrical components and three years for the frame.
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