Your experiences with Sushi Bikes
That's what other customers say
"Then I saw the brown Maki SUSHI BIKE and was instantly in love"
Benjamin, 37, from Northern Germany, reports on his experiences with the SUSHI Maki:
How did you find out about SUSHI BIKES?
Through my job as a car salesman for a brand that is currently investing a lot in e-mobility, I was literally infected with the electric bug a few years ago. I was looking for a suitable e-bike and quickly found SUSHI BIKES. Since I have always liked Joko Winterscheidt as an entertainer, the start-up immediately caught my attention. Then I saw the brown lemur and fell in love instantly.
What made you decide to buy your SUSHI BIKE?
It took a few months before I actually bought it. I had never ridden an e-bike before and had a lot of unanswered questions. How powerful does the motor have to be? How long does the battery last? Do I need gears for my tours? But I found myself putting the bike in my shopping cart again and again and being tempted to just order it. I particularly liked the extremely cool and simple design. At some point, I had the opportunity to test drive the e-bike at a trade fair. I definitely wanted to take this chance, but then the lockdown came and the trade fair was cancelled. That's when I thought: That's enough! I didn't want to wait any longer and ordered two urban e-bikes straight away. The beloved brown Maki for me and a California Roll for my wife.
What positively surprised you about your SUSHI BIKE?
Although I had never been able to test ride the e-bike before, I was not disappointed. Both bikes are, to be honest, amazing! The Maki is light, quiet and powerful enough. I liked the ride so much that I only did all my errands in town on the e-bike. I even escorted our son to school every morning on the bike and we went on bike rides together, something we had never done in such large numbers before.
For what purpose did you buy your SUSHI BIKE?
Basically, I bought it for everyday and leisure trips. Where the e-bike has really proven itself is in my voluntary work - the volunteer fire department! When the fire department's pager rings, I'm always one of the first to get to the fire station thanks to the e-bike - and without getting sweaty. Since I no longer have to commute by car this year, I'll now also manage my commute to work with the SUSHI BIKE. The battery is sufficient for this without any problems.
Have you replaced components on your SUSHI BIKE?
I had upgraded my Maki with mudguards and a luggage rack . But I removed both again a short time later. In this case, the clean look of the e-bike was more important to me than its functionality. After all, what are backpacks for? You can also use them to transport things. When the + upgrade was launched later, I jumped at the chance. The new battery and the new computer with speedometer were particularly cool developments.
I am still completely satisfied. The ride and the price-performance ratio are incredible. The battery is also sufficient. I no longer own the brown Maki from the first generation. I sold it and ordered the new Maki 3.0 . I am really looking forward to it. Unfortunately, my wife's California Roll was stolen, but a replacement is already being planned for that too.
“The Maki saved me from going to the gym”
Katrin reports on her experiences with her SUSHI Maki:
When did you buy your SUSHI BIKE?
I pre-ordered my Maki right at the launch in summer 2019. I was more impressed by its design than the California Roll. At first I was hesitant about buying a bike without a test ride . But at the time there was no other e-bike that was both affordable and light enough to be carried up several flights of stairs. A few months later, by chance, the opportunity arose to take a test ride. It turned out that I should have chosen a different frame size. When I sent my request for a change by email, SUSHI BIKES founder Andreas Weinzierl responded promptly: "No problem, the main thing is that you're happy." And that's exactly what happened.
For what purpose did you buy your SUSHI BIKE?
At the time, I wanted to have a city e-bike so I could commute to work every now and then (the total distance is about 35 kilometers). But after a short time, I was riding it almost every day because it was so good for me. It meant I could save myself the trip to the gym. My health and fitness have noticeably improved and I arrive at work much more balanced.
What positively surprised you about your SUSHI BIKE?
A huge plus point after all these years is actually the lack of gears. A broken chain or misaligned gears - these are issues that I never have to worry about. The e-bike with the motor can manage most inclines without gears. Even inclines that require a little more effort are still much more pleasant to climb than with a bike with gears but no assisting motor.
The battery range was also perfectly fine for my purposes. When I got home from work, the battery usually still had three out of five bars. The e-bike was then charged overnight. I had bought a spare battery for longer journeys.
Have you replaced components on your SUSHI BIKE?
The lack of suspension was particularly noticeable on longer tours. So I gradually gave my Maki a few upgrades. I put on wider tires, changed thehandles , mounted a suspension stem and installed a different seat post. All of this was manageable even if I was left-handed. I gave SUSHI BIKES a lot of credit for making these upgrade components, which were available together with the new + models, available to existing customers with first-generation e-bikes. I don't know of any other manufacturer that does this. Later I treated myself to the new display (which was finally equipped with a speedometer) and the new brake handles.
What is your test conclusion for your SUSHI BIKE Maki M1?
By now I've probably done around 10,000 kilometers with my Maki - and the e-bike is still a lot of fun! Nevertheless, I'm going to sell it in the summer. I've decided to switch to the successor, the Maki 3.0 (with quick release - yeah!). Over the years I've read up on the market for lightweight urban e-bikes and tested a few other models. But even though there's now a lot more choice, no other provider can offer this combination of low weight, clean look and removable battery (for longer tours) at an affordable price. The price-performance ratio is just right. That's why I'm actually still very happy with my decision to buy SUSHI BIKES. Especially when cycling with friends, I noticed again and again: one gear is more than enough on an e-bike!
