Bike [NZ Post Version 3 Prototype E-Bike]
Maker and role
Reiker Cycles, Manufacturer
New Zealand Post Limited, Commissioned by
Production date
2009
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
2020.36
Production period
Description
NZ Post version 3 prototype E-bike.
The bike's frame is painted red with white text. Along the top tube is the text, "New Zealand Post" with the NZ Post logo. This is repeated on both sides of the tube. On the down tube is the text, "REIKER" also printed in white. This too is printed on both sides. On the down tube is a black drink bottle holder. Metal wiring runs along the underside of the down tube. The seat tube is also red with a red sticker with white text, "Powered By / electricbikes.co.nz / put some vital in your cycle / and ride the future". On the seat post is a black and blue sticker with the text, "4130 / CrMo / TUBES". Attached to the top is a black leather seat with white text on either side, "VISCOUNT". A silver seat height adjuster has "TIRELEVER / CLOSE" engraved. The chain stay and seat stay are also red, connecting at the hub of the back tyre. On the right-hand side of the back tyre are the electric connections with the text, "SRAM P5" and chain which connects to the pedals. Printed in white on a black background along the chain stay is the text, "HAND MADE IN NEW ZEALAND". Black plastic casing protects the chain. Around the hub carp of the back tyre is embossed text, ""SRAM P5".
The pedals are silver with orange reflectors on each side and "VP" embossed on the ends. "VP-565" is embossed on the metal. On the pedal crank arm is the text, "HUZZEFELT" embossed in metal and "HOWITZER" printed twice in white. Beneath the pedals is a black, forked bike stand with rubber feet.
The front wheel, made of rubber, is connected with a fork, also painted red. Along both sides of the fork is the white text, "Powered by / DaaHub.com". Printed on both of the rubber tyres is, "SCHWALBE M MARATHON PLUS TOUR Performance Line / SmartGuard". Embossed in the rubber on both sides of the front tyre is "50 - 559 126 x 2 . 001 HS 404" and "SCHWALBE". Inside the rim is a small orange valve and a black sticker with white text, ""Y3030 / [...] / XRIMS". Etched into the silver hub is the text, "Rated Speed 200r/min M123FD3618 B1LH 1007A102 Rated Voltage 36V". Hand-written in black pen on one side of the rim is "108432". Black, electrical wiring runs from the hub to the down tube. Above both tyres is a black rubber guard plate.
At the top of the head tube are black handlebars with textured rubber grips with "odi" printed in white at the ends. There is a silver handbrake on the left-hand side. The handbrake has the text, "AU[...] / eco", and, "MINERAL OIL". Attached to the handlebar on the left-hand side is a small control panel with two buttons and the text, "EMPTY / FULL / LOW / MED / HIGH". Below the handle grip is a small green button. Between the two handlebars is a wire holder. On the right-hand handlebar is a dial with, "2 / 1 / PS / SRAM".
Attached to the front of the bike is a black plastic basket held in a square metal frame. At the front of the basket is the NZ Post logo in reflective material. On either side of this is an orange reflective strip. Three orange reflective strips decorate the two sides of the basket. The basket is held in place to the frame with two black straps which can be adjusted and held in place with a black plastic buckle. Covering the basket is a yellow reflective wet weather covering which is held in place with metal clasps. The top of the covering is clear to allow visibility to the contents within. Inside the basket are two zip pockets. Attached to the basket's frame is an open red pouch.
Held inside the basket is a black batter charger. This is rectangular in shape with a blue and black sticker along the top which reads, "LI-ION BATTERY CHARGER [...]". On the side of the charger is another sticker with the text, "BATTERY CHARGER / CAUTIION: CHARGE ONLY LI-ION TYPE RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES OTHER TYPE OF BATTERIES / MAY BURST CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY AND DAMAGED / [...] 10A 125V/250V FUSE / MADE IN CHINA". At one end is a knob with the text, "FUSE" and has a single pronged plug connected, the other end has a power switch with a removable cord which has a three pronged plug at one end.
On the back end of the bike are two panniers. These are attached to the frame of the bike with elastic, plastic clips and bolts. Each pannier has a yellow reflective wet weather covering. On the top is a printed black section with white text, "Maximum Loading / 7.5 kg". At the front of the panniers are four orange reflective strips, with three more on the sides and four on the back. A reflective NZ Post logo in red and white is also on the back of the panniers. At the rear of the bike's frame is a red light and a silver plaque with the text, "This bicycle is the property of NZ Post / and is not to be resold or used by any / person that is not a NZ Post employee. / Any queries please contact 0800-501-501 / NZP108547 / 50cm". Above this is the long, rectangular black battery which rests on top of the frame and is covered with black straps and has a velcro attachment on the top. A small port on the rear allows the battery charger to be connected.
The bike's frame is painted red with white text. Along the top tube is the text, "New Zealand Post" with the NZ Post logo. This is repeated on both sides of the tube. On the down tube is the text, "REIKER" also printed in white. This too is printed on both sides. On the down tube is a black drink bottle holder. Metal wiring runs along the underside of the down tube. The seat tube is also red with a red sticker with white text, "Powered By / electricbikes.co.nz / put some vital in your cycle / and ride the future". On the seat post is a black and blue sticker with the text, "4130 / CrMo / TUBES". Attached to the top is a black leather seat with white text on either side, "VISCOUNT". A silver seat height adjuster has "TIRELEVER / CLOSE" engraved. The chain stay and seat stay are also red, connecting at the hub of the back tyre. On the right-hand side of the back tyre are the electric connections with the text, "SRAM P5" and chain which connects to the pedals. Printed in white on a black background along the chain stay is the text, "HAND MADE IN NEW ZEALAND". Black plastic casing protects the chain. Around the hub carp of the back tyre is embossed text, ""SRAM P5".
The pedals are silver with orange reflectors on each side and "VP" embossed on the ends. "VP-565" is embossed on the metal. On the pedal crank arm is the text, "HUZZEFELT" embossed in metal and "HOWITZER" printed twice in white. Beneath the pedals is a black, forked bike stand with rubber feet.
The front wheel, made of rubber, is connected with a fork, also painted red. Along both sides of the fork is the white text, "Powered by / DaaHub.com". Printed on both of the rubber tyres is, "SCHWALBE M MARATHON PLUS TOUR Performance Line / SmartGuard". Embossed in the rubber on both sides of the front tyre is "50 - 559 126 x 2 . 001 HS 404" and "SCHWALBE". Inside the rim is a small orange valve and a black sticker with white text, ""Y3030 / [...] / XRIMS". Etched into the silver hub is the text, "Rated Speed 200r/min M123FD3618 B1LH 1007A102 Rated Voltage 36V". Hand-written in black pen on one side of the rim is "108432". Black, electrical wiring runs from the hub to the down tube. Above both tyres is a black rubber guard plate.
At the top of the head tube are black handlebars with textured rubber grips with "odi" printed in white at the ends. There is a silver handbrake on the left-hand side. The handbrake has the text, "AU[...] / eco", and, "MINERAL OIL". Attached to the handlebar on the left-hand side is a small control panel with two buttons and the text, "EMPTY / FULL / LOW / MED / HIGH". Below the handle grip is a small green button. Between the two handlebars is a wire holder. On the right-hand handlebar is a dial with, "2 / 1 / PS / SRAM".
Attached to the front of the bike is a black plastic basket held in a square metal frame. At the front of the basket is the NZ Post logo in reflective material. On either side of this is an orange reflective strip. Three orange reflective strips decorate the two sides of the basket. The basket is held in place to the frame with two black straps which can be adjusted and held in place with a black plastic buckle. Covering the basket is a yellow reflective wet weather covering which is held in place with metal clasps. The top of the covering is clear to allow visibility to the contents within. Inside the basket are two zip pockets. Attached to the basket's frame is an open red pouch.
Held inside the basket is a black batter charger. This is rectangular in shape with a blue and black sticker along the top which reads, "LI-ION BATTERY CHARGER [...]". On the side of the charger is another sticker with the text, "BATTERY CHARGER / CAUTIION: CHARGE ONLY LI-ION TYPE RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES OTHER TYPE OF BATTERIES / MAY BURST CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY AND DAMAGED / [...] 10A 125V/250V FUSE / MADE IN CHINA". At one end is a knob with the text, "FUSE" and has a single pronged plug connected, the other end has a power switch with a removable cord which has a three pronged plug at one end.
On the back end of the bike are two panniers. These are attached to the frame of the bike with elastic, plastic clips and bolts. Each pannier has a yellow reflective wet weather covering. On the top is a printed black section with white text, "Maximum Loading / 7.5 kg". At the front of the panniers are four orange reflective strips, with three more on the sides and four on the back. A reflective NZ Post logo in red and white is also on the back of the panniers. At the rear of the bike's frame is a red light and a silver plaque with the text, "This bicycle is the property of NZ Post / and is not to be resold or used by any / person that is not a NZ Post employee. / Any queries please contact 0800-501-501 / NZP108547 / 50cm". Above this is the long, rectangular black battery which rests on top of the frame and is covered with black straps and has a velcro attachment on the top. A small port on the rear allows the battery charger to be connected.
Brief History
With changes to mail deliveries and longer postal routes looming, New Zealand Post first started looking for e-bike options in 2003. It was not until 2009 that they found what they were looking for in a prototype developed by John Shaw from Reiker Cycles, who had manufactured bikes for NZ Post since the early 2000s. The e-bike prototype was made from a standard manual postie bike equipped with an e-kit that comprised a motor, battery, controller and wiring.
SmartMotion founder Anthony Clyde teamed up with John Shaw to develop the customised e-kit for the NZ Post e-bike. The e-bike features a ‘boost button’ allowing the postie to get the bike moving, while on a hill or in mud, without having to pedal.
NZ Post regularly updated its e-bike fleet as technology changed; this bike is a prototype of Version 3. While it looks like a normal bicycle, the frame and fork are made from Chromoly, a low alloy steel. This allows the bike to carry up to 150 kilograms and means it is rugged enough for heavy commercial use; one year of postal delivery use is equivalent to 10 years of ‘normal’ e-bike use.
NZ Post was the first New Zealand company to use e-bikes commercially, with a fleet of 300 operating in 2017.
SmartMotion founder Anthony Clyde teamed up with John Shaw to develop the customised e-kit for the NZ Post e-bike. The e-bike features a ‘boost button’ allowing the postie to get the bike moving, while on a hill or in mud, without having to pedal.
NZ Post regularly updated its e-bike fleet as technology changed; this bike is a prototype of Version 3. While it looks like a normal bicycle, the frame and fork are made from Chromoly, a low alloy steel. This allows the bike to carry up to 150 kilograms and means it is rugged enough for heavy commercial use; one year of postal delivery use is equivalent to 10 years of ‘normal’ e-bike use.
NZ Post was the first New Zealand company to use e-bikes commercially, with a fleet of 300 operating in 2017.
Marks
New Zealand Post / [NZ Post logo] Logo
REIKER Logo
Powered By / electricbikes.co.nz / put some vital in your cycle / and ride the future Sticker
4130 / CrMo / TUBES Sticker
VISCOUNT Printed
TIRELEVER / CLOSE Engraved
SRAM P5 Printed
HAND MADE IN NEW ZEALAND Printed
SRAM P5 Embossed
VP / VP-565 Embossed
HUZZEFELT Embossed
HOWITZER Printed
Powered by / DaaHub.com Printed
SCHWALBE M MARATHON PLUS TOUR Performance Line / SmartGuard Printed
50 - 559 126 x 2 . 001 HS 404 / SCHWALBE Embossed
Y3030 / [...] / XRIMS Sticker
Rated Speed 200r/min M123FD3618 B1LH 1007A102 Rated Voltage 36V Etched
108432 Hand-written
odi Printed
AU[...] / eco / MINERAL OIL / EMPTY / FULL / LOW / MED / HIGH Printed
2 / 1 / PS / SRAM Printed
[NZ Post Logo] Printed
LI-ION BATTERY CHARGER [...] Sticker
BATTERY CHARGER / CAUTIION: CHARGE ONLY LI-ION TYPE RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES OTHER TYPE OF BATTERIES / MAY BURST CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY AND DAMAGED / [...] 10A 125V/250V FUSE / MADE IN CHINA Sticker
FUSE Printed
Maximum Loading / 7.5 kg Printed
[NZ Post Logo] Printed
This bicycle is the property of NZ Post / and is not to be resold or used by any / person that is not a NZ Post employee. / Any queries please contact 0800-501-501 / NZP108547 / 50cm Maker's Plate
REIKER Logo
Powered By / electricbikes.co.nz / put some vital in your cycle / and ride the future Sticker
4130 / CrMo / TUBES Sticker
VISCOUNT Printed
TIRELEVER / CLOSE Engraved
SRAM P5 Printed
HAND MADE IN NEW ZEALAND Printed
SRAM P5 Embossed
VP / VP-565 Embossed
HUZZEFELT Embossed
HOWITZER Printed
Powered by / DaaHub.com Printed
SCHWALBE M MARATHON PLUS TOUR Performance Line / SmartGuard Printed
50 - 559 126 x 2 . 001 HS 404 / SCHWALBE Embossed
Y3030 / [...] / XRIMS Sticker
Rated Speed 200r/min M123FD3618 B1LH 1007A102 Rated Voltage 36V Etched
108432 Hand-written
odi Printed
AU[...] / eco / MINERAL OIL / EMPTY / FULL / LOW / MED / HIGH Printed
2 / 1 / PS / SRAM Printed
[NZ Post Logo] Printed
LI-ION BATTERY CHARGER [...] Sticker
BATTERY CHARGER / CAUTIION: CHARGE ONLY LI-ION TYPE RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES OTHER TYPE OF BATTERIES / MAY BURST CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY AND DAMAGED / [...] 10A 125V/250V FUSE / MADE IN CHINA Sticker
FUSE Printed
Maximum Loading / 7.5 kg Printed
[NZ Post Logo] Printed
This bicycle is the property of NZ Post / and is not to be resold or used by any / person that is not a NZ Post employee. / Any queries please contact 0800-501-501 / NZP108547 / 50cm Maker's Plate
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Reiker Cycles et al. 2009. Bike [NZ Post Version 3 Prototype E-Bike], 2020.36. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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