IN BRIEF
French brand Pi-POP is launching the Horizon, an electrically assisted bike that recharges as you ride rather than from the mains, like the rest of its range. The system uses supercapacitors rather than a battery, for 250 W and 50 N·m of assistance which, according to the manufacturer, is enough to climb up to 300 metres of elevation gain without ever plugging the bike in. At 18 kg on the scales, the Horizon is announced from €1,990 incl. VAT, in three operating modes (automatic, manual, unassisted), with delivery within three months.
| Price | From €1,990 incl. VAT |
| Weight | 18 kg |
| Motor | 250 W, 50 N·m, rear wheel, assistance up to 25 km/h |
| Energy recovery system | Supercapacitors, no battery and no mains charging |
| Achievable elevation gain | Up to 300 m |
| Frame | Aluminium, sporty geometry |
| Recommended rider height | 1,60 m à 1,90 m |
| Maximum load | 120 kg |
| Brakes | Mechanical discs |
| Tyres | 700 x 40 |
| Drivetrain | Shimano Altus, 7-speed |
| Equipment | Integrated front and rear lights, mudguards |
| Operating modes | Automatic, manual, unassisted |
| Warranty | 2 years |
Since its beginnings, Pi-POP has built its electric bikes around an unusual bet: doing away with the battery altogether. The Horizon, the newest addition to the range, applies that principle in a lighter, sportier version.
Supercapacitors instead of a battery
The Pi-POP Horizon works on the principle that made the French brand’s name: supercapacitors, built into the down tube of the frame, store the energy recovered while pedalling, on descents and under braking, then release it to assist the rider. So there is no lithium battery to charge from the mains, and no loss of capacity as a conventional battery ages. The motor, housed in the rear wheel, puts out 250 W and 50 N·m of torque, with assistance cutting out at 25 km/h, as on any road-legal electrically assisted bike in France.
Three ways to manage the recovered energy
The Horizon offers three operating modes: an automatic mode that handles energy recovery and release on its own, a manual mode that lets the rider meter it out via a trigger and a speed regulator, and a purely unassisted mode. On paper, the brand claims 300 metres of elevation gain is achievable on the stored energy.
18 kg and a €1,990 price tag
At 18 kg, the Horizon is meant to be lighter than the rest of the Pi-POP range. The aluminium frame with its sporty geometry is recommended for riders between 1.60 m and 1.90 m tall, for a maximum load of 120 kg. The bike comes as standard with integrated front and rear lights, mudguards, mechanical disc brakes and a 7-speed Shimano Altus drivetrain. A rear rack is available as an option, at €60 incl. VAT.
The Horizon starts at €1,990 incl. VAT, with delivery within three months: assembled and set up to the right size for an extra €100 incl. VAT, or free to collect from the brand’s workshop in Olivet, in France’s Loiret département. More details on the official Pi-POP website.
