An AP report for 2007 found that over 10,000 electric bikes were sold last year (a 6000% increase from the year before).  So, are they worth it? The newest effort from Giant just might be.  Originally slated for May of this year, the Twist Freedom DX will now reportedly be available this coming fall. Only a few test reviews have surfaced, but what initially made us confident about the Twist is its reputable ancestry.  The Twist is the phoenix from the ashes of Giant’s first electric bike, the now-discontinued Giant Lite.  Upon the Giant Lite’s 2005 debut, this model was widely reviewed as the lightest, most nimble and all-around best electric bike on the market.

The first thing Giant wants you know about the Twist is that it’s not an electric bike! The Twist represents a new innovation in hybrid biking, what Giant calls “Hybrid Cycling Technology”.  The concept is a fully integrated, motor-assisted riding system that employs Giant “RideControl”.  The Twist has sensors hidden in the pedals that register the amount of power generated by the rider and tells the motor how much assistance to provide.  The result, ostensibly, is an ultra-smooth commute that takes you farther (75 miles per charge, according to Popular Mechanics) with less effort.  That means all the greenness of biking with half the sweat. Check out the Giant website for more details or get the brochure here.

Buy: $2250 (Fall ‘08)