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sharp milano
sharp milano
& Vanpowers CITY VANTURE
May 09, 2024
Only the concept of an almost entirely dismountable smart ebike remained, and here it is!
Vanpowers CITY VANTURE
Carried by the SHARP brand in Europe, it is found branded as VANPOWERS in the USA & UK. This unique ebike is inspired by the mortise and tenon technique, known to be reliable for millennia primarily in woodworking.
Sharp MILANO
Photo credit: SHARP & VANPOWERS
"Hello, Sharp Customer Service, my ebike was delivered in spare parts !"
It will delight bike mechanics enthusiasts, indeed it's about twenty steps to assemble and then adjust it.
The Vanpowers website presents this DIY ebike concept in more detail, while Sharp will present step-by-step assembly in one of its user manuals...
Photo credit: SHARP & VANPOWERS
Each component can be ordered separately for replacement via the Sharp Life app. For Vanpowers, no application is mentioned (for the moment).
Photo credit: SHARP & VANPOWERS
While in the USA and the UK, Vanpowers offers the possibility to receive the CITY VANTURE either as a kit to be fully assembled by oneself or pre-assembled, an additional battery as well as other equipment, on the other side of the Atlantic, in the Old Continent, Sharp seems quite timid and unfortunately does not have such enthusiasm with the MILANO whose price is tripled, even outrageous, for a very limited on-board technology.
Sharp's website is for now not very convincing since we note the absence of information regarding the delivery of a kit or pre-assembled model, and for now the store has nothing more than two colors and a void in terms of additional equipment while Vanpowers offers its model in five color variations and add-ons.
Vanpowers CITY VANTURE 's range of available colors
Infinite Silver
Shining Black
Neon Purple
Chalk Blue
Ruby
Sharp Black
Sharp Silver
Nonetheless, this smart ebike in its SILVER version caught my eye: the frame is not as sleek as other urban models with a monobloc design, it is just minimal, a discreet non-removable LG battery housed in the downtube, and the visible screws related to the mortise & tenon technique are not so shocking.
a non-removable but replaceable LG battery
Lightweight, made in aluminum, at 34.17 lbs./15.5 kg, its performance is limited to commuter use.
With a range of 50 to 80 miles/80 to 130 km (if one is lucky enough to be American or British to procure the additional battery), its components are still of good quality even if they are mid-range: Tektro hydraulic brakes, Kenda Kwest 700c/ 28c tires, a Unitek G250RS motor, a maximum torque of 40Nm (alas), a CDN Carbon Gate belt, a beautiful Foxconn Voltaira color screen for the display of basic data (mileage, gears, battery level, max speed...) and a 20 lux front light to be mounted by oneself, a pity it is not integrated into the frame.
For comfort, there will be either a Selle Royal® Saddle or a Justek® Urban Saddle.
Sharp indicates that its model is manufactured in China and assembled in Bulgaria.
Belt Gates® CDN™Carbon Belt, Chainwheel Gates® CDX™63T, Cassette Gates® CDX™22T, Single-speed
UNITEK G250rs Motor
UNITEK G250rs Motor
The Motor offers five Bike Assists Models: ECO, NORMAL, TOUR, POWER and BOOST.
Photo credit: SHARP & VANPOWERS
We also regret the unique sensor present which is a cadence sensor. However, there is also a problem to see that we have a quite basic bike. The problem also comes from the fact that it has a small Chinese motor which is not bad at all. Unitek, a Chinese manufacturer that has already proven itself. But it can only offer a maximum of 40 Newton meters, so this is really for commuter use, essentially urban use on flat terrain and in an environment not exceeding a 30 km range...
UNITEK G250rs Motor specsheet
UNITEK G250rs Motor specsheet
Installation location
Rear
Wheel size (Inch)
20-28
Rated voltage (V)
36/48
Rated power (W)
250
Maximum torque (n·m)
40
Efficiency
≥80%
Color
Black/Silver
Weight (kg)
1.7
Noise level (dB)
<55
Working temperature (℃)
-20-45℃
'Dual battery' at Vanpowers:
'Dual battery' at Vanpowers:
The LG Extra battery has a capacity of 252 wH, weighs 2.5kg, with dimensions of 25*8*8(cm), in two colors Black or Silver.
A small note on the extra battery, reading the user manual available on the Vanpowers site, it is almost certain that it will be available in Europe for the Milano model by Sharp, the battery having been submitted by a company in charge of certification in Germany.
The little plus is a USB port (unspecified type) surely dedicated to powering the rear or front lights.
The big 'Minus' lies in the complexity of its installation where it will be necessary to dismantle, install, and reassemble some cables located in the frame.
And unfortunately, apart from the usefulness of a bottle holder fixed on the frame, the extra battery is not equipped with an anti-theft security.
For this type of ebike with an elegant design, I would have liked not to see the attachment of plastic cable ties (see "Extra battery instruction" video).
Two batteries are integrated into this ebike, can you guess where?
The external battery is cleverly contained in a water-bottle-shaped case
A USB port!
Don't dream of recharging your mobile there, this USB port is instead intended to power the headlights.
Display & App
Display & App
from user manual
Activation is carried out via a QR code available in the Menu interface of the on-board screen which refers to downloading the application.
Sharp MILANO
Vanpowers CITY VENTURE's view of the dashboard, a Foxconn Voltaira color screen. Rated IP66,. With a good visibility in full sunlight.
The app will also provide more extensive data including direct contact with the support service to order spare parts and the locking of the ebike.
MILANO Specifications
MILANO Specifications
Release Year : 2023
Colour
Silver Metallic / Black Matt
Frame:
21" Aluminum Alloy
Front Fork
Rigid Front Fork Aluminum Alloy with Disc Mounting, Thru-Axle
Tires
700C ×28C Kenda® Tires
Front Hub
3/8 ×13G ×36H Thru-Axle
Brakes
Tektro® HD-M285 Hydraulic Disc Brakes with 180mm rotors
Brake Levers
Tektro® HD-M285
Drivetrain Type
Belt Gates® CDN™Carbon Belt
Chainwheel
Gates® CDX™63T
Motor Power Supply
36V 250W
Battery:
7 Ah 36 V
Charging Time (h)
2-3
Maximum Assist Speed:
25 km/h
Five levels of driving assistance
Maximum Range (km)
up to 80
Sensor
Cadence
Display type
IP66 Waterproof TFT Color LCD
Bluetooth & App
Yes - Sharp Life App control
Auto Power Off
Yes
Unit Weight
(kg) 19
Dimensions (W x H x L in mm)
93.4 x 96.8 x 175.0
Max Load (kg)
120
Rider height:
170-190 cm
CITY VANTURE Specifications
CITY VANTURE Specifications
Release Year : 2023
Colors
Shining Black, Infinite Silver, Neon Purple, Chalk Blue, Ruby
Assist Speed (US)
Up to 25 mph (40 km/h) (5 levels of assist)
Assist Speed (EU/UK)
Up to 15 mph (25 km/h) (5 levels of assist)
Net Weight
34.17 lbs./15.5 kg
Mileage
50-80 miles/80-130 km (with extra battery)
Charging Time
2-3 Hours
Max Load
120 kg
Motor
36V 350W (US)/36V 250W (EU)
Battery
36V 7Ah/252Wh LG Cell Lithium-Ion Downtube Battery
Sensor
Cadence Sensor
Display
IP66 Waterproof TFT Color LCD Display
Charger
100V-240V/2A Smart Charger, US Standard or EU Standard
Frame
21" 6061 Aluminum Alloy Frame
Tires
700C × 28C Kenda® Tires
Rims
Aluminum Alloy Double-Wall
Front Fork
Rigid Front Fork Aluminum Alloy w/ Disc Mounting, Thru-Axle
Brakes
Tektro® Hydraulic Disc Brakes
Handlebar
Promax® Aluminum Alloy
Stem
Aluminum Alloy w/ Integrated Display
Brake Lever
Tektro® HD-M285
Belt
Gates® CDN™ Belt Drive
Chain Wheel
Gates® CDX™
Front Hub
3/8 × 13G × 36H Thru-Axle
Saddle
Brown Justek® Urban Saddle/Black Selle Royal® Saddle
Seat post
Promax® Aluminum Alloy, 30.4 mm w/ Offset
Pedals
Wellgo®
Frame Size 21 inches (53 cm) - Suggested Rider Height 5’8”–6'3" 170 cm–190 cm
A Seat Tube Length 21 inches 533 mm - B Reach 15.3 inches 389 mm - C StandoverHeight 31.9 inches 810 mm - D Wheelbase 40.7 inches 1034 mm - E Bottom Bracket Height 11.4 inches 290 mm
To wrap things up...
To wrap things up...
I have chosen to present the MILANO-CITY VANTURE as a smart ebike, not for its embedded technology or the presence of multiple sensors, but rather for its successful design despite the assembly technique that could have compromised the fluidity of its lines. The MILANO-CITY VANTURE is a lightweight ebike, limited to urban use, equipped with mid-range components.
Its SILVER version is the most successful in terms of color balance, and it is truly attractive.
However, its concept of a detachable ebike is not going to attract many people. One might question the availability of spare parts over time; indeed, despite the idea of a “sustainable” ebike by offering separate components to buy and replace oneself, isn't this logistics harmful to the environment both in terms of shipping and the lack of recycling for worn parts?
All ideas that generate innovative concepts for the user and the environment are welcome, but unfortunately, the long-term reality is often quite different...
J.V Mini-J
My thanks to SHARP & VANPOWERS for their courtesy in allowing me to use their photos.
More details by visiting SHARP website & VANPOWERS website
Sharp - Vanpowers - Sharp MILANO - Vanpowers CITY VANTURE - smart ebike kit - DIY -
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