Jax has had several 16-inch balance bikes to test and none have been as powerful as the Beta E-Kinder 16 Pro. In full power mode, it’s not the top speed of the E-Kinder 16 Pro that excites Jax, it’s the way the power is distributed. It’s quite aggressive with a nice big power hit any time you twist the throttle (benefits of electric motors) and Jax can pull a wheelie whenever he wants. He loves it.
The downside to this much abrupt power is that the mechanical disc brake has copped a flogging and has had a hard life. The cable has stretched and the adjusters are chewed out, just like the brake did on the Kawasaki Elektrode Jax had. So I’ve opted to steal my wife’s hydraulic brake from her mountain bike and put it on the E-Kinder 16 Pro.
It fits quite well and the brake line is easy to route down the frame. The only issue is that the original brake has a brake switch that stops the motor from working when pulled in. This is problematic because the brake system I’m putting on doesn’t have that switch. So, in order to bypass the switch you need to cut the wires and keep them separate then hide them behind the front number plate.
This works well but now I’m nervous Jax will pull the brake on and turn the motor which could burn it out. Time will tell I guess! As for the hydraulic brakes, they’re now excellent! They skid with Jax using just one finger and because they’re hydraulic I haven’t had to adjust them.
Beta E-Kinder 16 Pro
RRP
$1199
WARRANTY
None
DISTRIBUTOR
Beta Australia
INTERNET
SO FAR
50 hours
MODS THIS MONTH
Hydraulic brake
MODS NEXT MONTH
None
