About Us
Hi everyone!
Welcome to our website. E-trails Kenya started as an e-bike rental in 2020. We quickly realized that ready-made “recreational” electric bicycles were no match to Kenyan roads and started developing our own bikes based on 3 criteria: affordability, durability and ease of maintenance.
The end result caught a lot of attention and we gradually started selling our concept of fully modular electric bicycles. Meanwhile one of us took up an international job – which made rentals impossible - and the shift to sales became complete.
E-Trails Kenya is the brainchild of Ward Tanghe and Daisy Muthamia. Ward is a long time e- bike enthusiast and former aid worker who lived in some of the most remote places - with no skilled mechanics around. He doesn’t have any engineering background himself, but he often had to become his own mechanic and his limited engineering skills made him value systems that are easy to maintain.
The Electrical Engineer
Who does have an engineering background, is Daisy. She is an award-winning electrical engineer who provides E-Trails with advice when things get too technical.
The Mechanic
In the course of 2021, Brian Otieno joined the quest for the perfect e-bike. He is the owner of Bison Bike Shop in Karen and one of Nairobi’s most talented bicycle mechanics. Together, they experimented with different mechanical/electrical set-ups and created the DURABIKE retrofitting process.
Electric Bicycles
There's a wide variety of pedal-assistance systems. In the course of 2021 we tested several and worked towards the perfect combination of components. We prefer retrofitting individual electrical components on existing bikes (vs. getting fully integrated e-bikes) for a variety of reasons:
- the mechanical quality of European second hand bicycles is far superior to that of entry- level e-bikes;
- maintenance of a modular electric system is much easier than a fully integrated one;
- the rider gets a frame that actually fits his/her size/gender vs the one-size-fits- all approach of entry-level e-bikes.
In Kenya, most new bicycles are of questionable quality and the only new bike we can recommend in terms of mechanical reliability is World Bicycle Relief's "Buffalo Charger" - a heavy duty cargo bike that uses simple/high quality parts and is virtually indestructible. For those who don’t like the austere looks of a Charger, we recommend ex-Switzerland trekking bikes.
Until recently we offered both hub- and mid-driven electrical systems, but the latter got phased out because it is more fragile and harder to maintain. In a European context it might seem the better choice, but in Kenya it just becomes a headache.
Our DURABIKE electrical set-up consists of a selection of EN15194-certified components - supplied by manufacturers that work for some of the biggest brands in the bicycle industry. In addition to working with world-class suppliers, we apply the highest safety standards by limiting the maximum speed, swapping the brakes during the installation process and adding instant brake levers to the package. Lastly, all components are interconnected with EP66-rated plugs - so every single part can easily be unplugged for repairs or replacement.
Technical Specifications
The Motor
We use an EN15194-certified motor with an average of 250 and a peak output of 540 watts. With its class-leading 40 nm torque and 83 % efficiency, it should not come as a surprise that this same motor can be found on some of the world’s top e-bike brands. Combined with a sine wave controller, it provides a very smooth ride and gets the rider an excellent range of 50 (maximum assist) to 120 (minimum assist) kilometers per charge.
The Battery
One of the most important components in every electric vehicle, is the battery. Our batteries are supplied by Amazon's biggest battery maker - and are much bigger than what you will find on ready-made e-bikes (15 and 17 AH).
The Accessories
One of the things that makes our system stand out, is that it is fully modular and that all components are connected with EP66-rated “julet” connectors. This may seem irrelevant, but many of our customers are hundreds of kilometers away from Nairobi and because of this plug & play setup they are able to do their own repairs without having a trained mechanic around.
You might wonder why we chose a boring LED-display over a flashy LCD. The answer is “durability” - LED-displays are virtually indestructible, whereas LCD displays need replacement every 1-2 years. Looks are not our main concern, but we did make sure to provide our customers with integrated controllers, so they don't have to deal with an awkward appendix hanging from their bike.
In terms of safety, our system is one of the best because it has instant brake levers, a bright integrated bicycle light and it is pedal-assist only. The latter might seem boring, but Kenyan traffic law explicitly outlaws throttle on a bicycle. Once the police starts to check for this, bicycles with throttle will become a law-enforcement target on Kenyan roads.
Mechanical Parts
As for the mechanical parts we provide, we make sure that our customers get the very best: the bicycle's existing brakes are replaced by brand new Tektro-brakes, the new spokes are heavy gauge stainless steel, the rims are dual wall and the tires are Kenda e-bike specific.
The quality of the host bike will determine the longevity of the end product. We are always happy to assist customers in finding something fitting, but the general advice is to combine sturdiness (frame and front fork) with readily available/easy to install wearing parts (tapered bb vs PF/HT; freewheel vs cassette; mechanical vs hydraulic brakes; …).
ABC Bicycle in Arusha is the main importer of ex-Switzerland bikes in the region and has several retailers in Nairobi. Switzerland is Europe's richest country and their second hand bikes are usually of excellent quality. It is not uncommon to come across a retired high-end trekking bike or a semi-professional 26 inch mtb.
For customers who insist on retrofitting pedal-assistance on a brand new bike, we always refer to World Bicycle Relief's “Buffalo Charger” a bombproof unisex mtb that easily carries loads of 50-60 kgs and has a service life of several decades.
Spare Parts
Drivetrain
Other wearing parts
Accessories
Tires
If you are a mechanic or shopkeeper who would like to receive our price list, you can request it via WhatsaApp on +254 751 648 114.
Contact Us
In our short history, we have sold electric bicycles to dozens of commuters and delivery riders, but also to a wide range of institutions like Fairmont Hotels, UNMISS and several flower farms.
If you are interested in getting one for yourself, you can come check out a sample at Bison Bike Shop in Karen, talk to Baiskeli Centre Nairobi or simply reach out to us on whatsapp via on +254 751 648 114.
Because our bicycle rental struggled to get good quality spare parts, we started buying them ourselves – and eventually selling them too. Our cycling tours are off-road and many of our customers are inexperienced riders, so our rentals are a great testing ground for reliability and durability. Our spare parts are neither high-end nor low-end. They were selected in order to serve the needs of our bicycle rental, so they combine sturdiness with value-for-money.