Review: The first SUSHI BIKES 📦

How the time flies!

Two years ago this month, the first SUSHI BIKES arrived in Rotterdam. Naturally, Andy and Vera couldn't wait and immediately set off on their journey. Once there, the two were shown the first SUSHI BIKES in a small warehouse, barely bigger than a garage. To save time, they shipped the first bikes to end customers right there on the spot. Andy and Vera also packed over 500 goodie bags themselves and manually corrected an error in every single instruction manual. The two even took a few bikes with them to Munich, as many as would fit in the Sprinter van... 🚐

If you've read this far, you're probably curious to know what that special day was like for Andy and Vera and what's changed since then. Then we have a fascinating interview with the two of them for you!

You'll surely remember such a special day for a long time, and sometimes these memories can't even be put into words. Try it anyway: Describe your day in Rotterdam in 3 words:

Andy:

Nervousness: On the way there I was a little nervous because I didn't know if there would be any problems or if everything would be as I had imagined.

Overwhelm: You know that feeling? You see something in your mind, but you still can't quite believe it. I felt a bit like that.

Relief: After taking a closer look at the bikes, my nervousness gradually subsided and was replaced with a feeling of relief. After all, the production order had been a long process, and I was finally seeing the result!

Vera:

Anticipation : I don’t think there’s much more to explain about this word.

Confrontation: You suddenly find yourself standing in front of the product you have worked on for a long time and are confronted for the first time.

Common mission: That actually describes the day and the memories of it pretty well.

 

By now, you've probably ridden countless kilometers on your SUSHI BIKE. Can you still remember your very first ride?

Andy: When we arrived back in Munich, Vera and I naturally didn't want to miss out on a first test drive, so we drove through Lehel late in the evening. The driving experience was just as good, if not better, than I had imagined!

Which SUSHI BIKES did you ride?

Vera: I was on the brown Maki and Andy was on the black Maki when we drove around the old office area.

What have been your biggest learnings since that day in Rotterdam?

Vera: What I never imagined before was that a product like an e-bike could be so emotionally charged and that you could have so much commitment to it. I always remember fondly when one of our first customers sent us sushi-shaped gummy bears to the office to help us stay on track. In general, it's incredibly interesting how much feedback and diverse opinions we get from the entire community. Be it positive, negative, or simply the fact that people are exchanging ideas in the SUSHI BIKE Owners group on Facebook.

Andy: I ​​can only agree. Most of what we learn about SUSHI BIKES satisfaction comes from the community. We received initial feedback from customers as soon as the first bikes were released, and we've been listening ever since. We try to respond to every email or post in the SUSHI BIKE Owners group and have incorporated many insightful arguments into the development of the next generation: In September 2021, the + models were released, incorporating the concentrated feedback of the SUSHI BIKES community. A big thank you for the shared dialogue and all the honest opinions!

I have one last question: What is different about the + models?

Andy: At first glance, the bikes actually look pretty much the same as the first generation. In short, they now have more range, more comfort, and a multifunctional LCD display.

Thank you for sharing this review!