Skarper, the British engineering company behind the click-on e-bike system developed with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, has announced that Ribble is offering Skarper to its customers.
By stocking Skarper alongside its range of integrated e-bikes, Ribble offers riders the flexibility of occasional electric assistance across its acoustic (non-electric) bikes. In addition, customers will be able to design their bespoke bike within Ribble’s renowned Bike Builder and add the Skarper drive system to their bike build.
Skarper is now available to buy both online and in Ribble’s four UK showrooms. Integration with Ribble’s Bike Builder will launch in February alongside test rides in selected Ribble showrooms.
Sean Hastings, CEO, Ribble states: “We love the idea of Ribble riders being able to use their acoustic bike but have the flexibility of occasional electric assistance, without it being a permanent thing. The Skarper system complements our award-winning range of lightweight integrated e-bikes, with the potential to bring a new lease of life to an existing bike and the benefit of being shareable across several bikes.”
Offering customers adaptable options
For the first time, riders can add a removable electric assist option to Ribble’s range of road, gravel, and adventure bikes – transforming a high-performance machine into a high-performance e-bike in seconds, and back to a pure acoustic ride the moment they choose.
One of Skarper’s great benefits is portability – a Skarper unit can be shared across multiple bikes, switching between bikes and riders as needed, whether that’s within the family or across your collection of performance and leisure bikes.
What are the benefits of riding with Skarper? Cyclists sometimes want help with hills, headwinds and those longer days in the saddle. They may want to keep up with faster friends and stay together on family rides. What they don’t want is to give up the bike they love. Skarper solves this.
On sharing news of the Ribble retail partnership, Ean Brown, CEO, Skarper reflects: “Ribble represents everything we admire: British engineering, beautiful design, and an obsession with ride quality. When a brand like Ribble – with 128 years of heritage and a world-class e-bike range already – chooses to stock Skarper, it validates our approach. We’re proud to be part of their offering.”
Skarper product highlights
- Form factor: 4.5 kg detachable drive unit with DiskDrive® rotor interface
- Power & control: 250 W nominal assist; Eco / Cruise / Turbo modes via app
- Top torque: 76 Nm for smooth, hill-friendly assistance
- Battery & charging: 240 Wh; 80% in ~30 min; full charge ~2.5 h
- Range: Up to 50 km assisted riding (mode, terrain and rider dependent)
- Protection: IP55-rated; remove unit for security
- Compliance: 25 km/h assist limit (UK/EU standard)
- Validation: 4.8★ “Excellent” on Trustpilot; Winner of Red Dot and iF Design Gold awards, and designed with Red Bull Advanced Technologies
