From AI bicycles to sustainable tyres: 7 tech trends from Taipei Cycle Show

Sustainability, technology, plenty of eBike-related developments and more. Werner Müller-Schell lists some of the big tech trends from Taipei this year…

More than 1,000 exhibitors came to the Taipei Cycle Show, which just ended at the weekend. Although the trade fair is traditionally organised as a B2B trade fair with a strong focus on sales talks and networking meetings, many manufacturers took the opportunity to present their latest innovations to the public.

At the 2023 edition of the trade fair organised by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the focus mainly was on four topics: the continuing rise of the eBike, the digitalisation of the bicycle, gravel biking and the efforts of the bicycle industry to achieve more sustainability.

We went on a walk around the exhibition halls and picked out some of the tech highlights for you.

1. TRP: Partnership with Bosch and new MTB groupset

The eBike ABS is one of the big tech trends these days. With Taiwanese brake specialist Tektro, another company entered the field. The braking system of Tektro’s performance mountain bike brake brand TRP will be available for all Bosch-powered eBike types optimised for specially developed ABS modes (ABS Touring, ABS Allroad, ABS Cargo and ABS Trail).

This was, however, not the only news from Tektro at this year’s Taipei Cycle Show. With the TRP EVO, the Taiwanese component manufacturer presented a high-end 10-11 speed MTB groupset and now aims to become the third supplier for OEMs sourcing for high-end drive-train components. 90% of the groupset is produced by Tektro, only the chain is supplied by Tainan-based specialist KMC.

2. Smalo by BESV: AI enters bicycle technology

Thanks to Internet-of-Things technologies, bicycles are becoming more and more digital. The current state of the art was presented by the Taiwanese brand BESV with its Smalo project. Smalo stands for “smart” and “velo” and describes smart eBikes that are intended to bring the technologies of the future to the bicycle. At the Taipei Cycle Show, the “LX2” showed what this looks like in practice: The bike comes with AI-driven functions such as automatic shifting, a smart bike lock, GPS tracking and automatic lights.

3. Hyena E-Bike Systems: A 10 kg eBike

Taichung-based e-bike system manufacturer Hyena highlights a prototype e-road bike equipped with its E-Road AIR Drive System. The motor itself weighs only 1.3 kg and delivers a torque of 30 Nm on rear hub. The company stated the total bike weight to be just 10 kg. Founded in 2013, Hyena mainly focuses on drive systems and software solutions and already has strong partnerships such as Trek and Cannondale.

4. Neodrives: New compact eBike motor

German rear motor manufacturer Neodrives used the Taipei Cycle Show to present a first sample of a new compact motor for light eBikes. The system, consisting of a hub motor and a slim battery, is said to weigh less than 4 kg and will, thanks to its compact design, be used in the class of light urban e-bikes.

5. Giant: The new Revolt X gravel bike

Even though the bike had already been announced four weeks before the Taipei Cycle Show, the Taiwanese industry leader Giant presented its new Revolt X gravel bike live and in colour, making the bike one of the eye-catchers in the sporty high-end segment. The model includes a short-travel suspension fork designed specifically for gravel riding with 40 mm of front travel. Additionally, riders can choose between three seat post options: an included dropper post, a proprietary D-Fuse seat post for more compliance, or a traditional 30.9 mm round seat post.

6. FSA: Aero for adventure riders

Aero bars have been used in ultra-distance races for many years – on the one hand because of the aerodynamics, but on the other hand mainly because of the more comfortable seating position. With the “K-Force Loop AGX” and the “Pro-Wing AGX”, FSA showed two handlebars especially designed for adventure riding, gravel racing and cyclocross, including time trial extensions that should make life easier for long-distance athletes. The “K-Force Loop AGX” is a carbon handlebar that can be combined with a matching extension. The “Pro-Wing AGX” is a one-piece set made from aluminium.

7. Sustainability, sustainability, and more sustainability

Not a single product but a more outstanding trend: Many companies at the Taipei Cycle Show 2023 highlighted their commitment to more sustainability. The Taiwanese bicycle chain specialist KMC showcased its corporate social responsibility initiatives with the goal of reducing the carbon footprint of bicycle chain production. French repairable battery manufacturer Gouach picked up a Green Design Award for their idea to create a system that can use those old battery cells and easily replace them.

Taiwanese tyre producer Maxxis presented its SeawasteX programme, where old fishing nets are fished from the sea and processed into nylon threads, which in turn are used for tyre production. And the Taiwanese brand Giant presented a complete life cycle analysis of its MTB model “Stance 291” which indicated that the bike causes a carbon footprint of 159 kg CO2 over its lifespan.

Photo credits: Werner Müller-Schell