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

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

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:

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

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

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

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...

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