Optibike

Optibike designs and assembles electric bikes in Colorado for riders looking beyond short assisted trips. Its lineup spans urban bikes, mountain models, and long-range adventure platforms, along with custom builds. The differences go beyond styling: the company organizes its range around speed, distance, climbing, and the kind of terrain each rider wants to cover.

The story begins with founder Jim Turner, whose background includes advanced engineering studies and work in Ford’s Advanced Vehicle Controls Division. A former motocross competitor, Turner began developing his first prototype in the late 1990s. The company dates the sale of its first bicycle to 2007; it says assembly and testing have since taken place in Colorado.

The product families make that focus easier to understand. The Urban series is intended for everyday travel; the eMTB line covers electric-assist mountain bikes; and E‑Venture is aimed at long rides and demanding terrain. At the high-range end, Optibike advertises up to 300 miles per charge for the R22T Everest. The G2 Altus is listed with a claimed maximum range of 130 miles.

Those figures need context: the company ties them to test conditions that include a 150-pound rider, flat ground, moderate pedaling, and a top speed of 15 miles per hour. Real-world distance changes with wind, speed, elevation, carried weight, and rider input. That caveat matters when comparing a daily commuter with a bike designed for extended touring.

Several models use the PowerStorm MBB mid-drive motor, which Optibike describes as an in-house system built to deliver torque on climbs and sustain performance over longer efforts. Its long-range page lists 190 Nm of torque for the G2 Altus and up to 1,600 watts of continuous power in off-road mode. The company also says the electronics gradually reduce output if temperatures rise too high.

The buying process is framed as a conversation about fit, terrain, and riding goals, rather than simply choosing a catalog specification. The team invites customers to design a custom bike and offers a quiz to help narrow the options. The site also lists refurbished bikes, parts, manuals, and financing, useful resources for riders weighing a new purchase against maintaining or upgrading a bike they already own.

Optibike is based in Paonia, in western Colorado. The company lists weekday afternoon hours for sales, service, and test rides, as well as phone support and help with parts and maintenance. For riders seeking an electric bike that can combine everyday use with long distances or steep terrain, the draw is the performance-focused engineering and the ability to tailor a build to its intended use.