Sorry Eric, Yamaha gets my money when the time comes...https://www.yamahabicycles.com/bikes/crosscore/
I think electric assist bikes have a very bright future and Buell's bicycles look actually pretty cool. He's kind of late to the game, but this looks pretty good, if a little on the heavy side.
Was in the mountains last weekend and electric and pedal assist mountain bikes are huge moneymakers in the rental market. People can get places via bike they normally wouldn’t be able to pedal or would need to drive. Places were sold out all 4th of July weekend in Mammoth. We hiked to normal spots and then drove to some further out hikes, but it would’ve been cool to ride an e-bike to ge to some of the further ones. Now I know for next time.
Gates drive systems are dope. I had one on my fatty. It’s a carbon belt that stretches less than a chain and weighs nothing. There’s some friction resistance but it’s a fair trade.
And when it breaks on a ride, you can't take it to a bike shop to have them throw on a chain. Or use your chainbreaker to adjust it past the break.