ALSO TM-B Pedal-by-Wire E-Bike Review: Living with a Drivetrain Without a Chain

By Helen Stokes — Helen Stokes has covered consumer technology and automotive innovation for over a decade. She saw three different companies try to crack wireless in-car projection before it actually worked, and she remembers when noise-cancelling headphones cost $400 and sounded like a pillow pressed against your ears. Her writing is dry, precise, and draws on category history to give readers context that press releases never provide. Our Editorial & Safety Standards →

The ALSO TM-B is a high-end personal electric vehicle featuring a fully electronic pedal-by-wire drivetrain, retailing for $4,500 USD direct from the manufacturer’s official website, engineered for urban commuters and technology enthusiasts seeking a gearless mechanical design. Historically speaking, micromobility manufacturers have occasionally attempted to separate rider input from rear-wheel propulsion using electronic linkages, yet earlier iterations routinely foundered on reliability hurdles and subpar energy regeneration. This engineering approach eliminates physical chains and traditional derailleurs entirely, substituting them with copper wiring that translates human pedaling into electrical impulses for the rear hub motor.

Analyzing the manufacturer spec sheet reveals an ambitious vehicle architecture designed to simulate conventional shifting through proprietary software algorithms. The distinction matters here because removing the physical chain transforms the fundamental thermodynamics of cycling, forcing the electrical system to shoulder 100 percent of the mechanical load. Early adopters tracking real-world performance, such as Launch Edition owner Aaron Draczynski documented on Reddit, have begun probing the precise operational margins of this drive-by-wire ecosystem. When battery reserves deplete during active transit, the absence of a fallback mechanical drivetrain forces the vehicle into unconventional operational states that merit rigorous inspection. Initial product disclosures and reporting were tracked via Electrek.

According to technical documentation published with this release, the omission of physical components enables advanced assistance profiles, including a Level 10 boost mode capable of multiplying human pedaling input by a factor of ten. Yet this reliance on pure electronic orchestration raises substantial engineering trade-offs regarding energy consumption, standby battery drain, and emergency operation when the primary power source fails. Understanding the long-term viability of the TM-B requires a granular examination of initial capital outlay, underlying hardware specifications, and the fine print governing its daily operational ecosystem. Beyond the headline features, prospective buyers must evaluate how the lack of a mechanical backup fundamentally alters urban commuting strategies, particularly when navigating unpredictable battery profiles or unexpected traffic delays that extend saddle time far beyond initial route projections.

The absence of oily chains and greasy derailleurs fundamentally redefines the tactile experience of handling, storing, and transporting the machine. Without a protruding derailleur cage or tensioner arm, loading the device into the trunk of a car or maneuvering it through narrow apartment hallways becomes a clean, snag-free endeavor. However, this minimalist exterior conceals an intensely complex internal nervous system, where every keystroke of pedaling effort is scrutinized, measured, and translated into digital commands by an onboard computer module. This digital dependency means that software updates, calibration routines, and firmware patches hold just as much sway over the bike’s ride quality as tire pressure or brake pad alignment did on traditional legacy bicycles.

Upfront Investment & 2-Year Total Cost of Ownership

Securing the ALSO TM-B requires an initial capital expenditure of $4,500 USD purchased directly through the Launch Edition reservation portal. When calculating a comprehensive two-year total cost of ownership, prospective buyers must factor in more than the sticker price alone. Premium urban e-bikes in this tier typically incur annual maintenance costs averaging approximately $150 USD for brake pad replacements, tire wear, and hydraulic fluid servicing, though the absence of a chain and derailleur eliminates traditional drivetrain tune-ups and chain replacements that normally add $100 USD yearly.

Insurance coverage for a high-value micromobility asset represents an additional recurring expense, with specialized micromobility policies averaging roughly $300 USD annually. Factoring in the purchase price, estimated insurance premiums over twenty-four months, and baseline maintenance yields a projected two-year ownership cost of approximately $5,350 USD. This financial commitment places the TM-B firmly in the luxury tier of commuter transportation, requiring buyers to weigh the novelty of a gearless electronic architecture against the substantial ongoing financial investment. Furthermore, out-of-warranty electronic repairs—such as servicing the bottom bracket generator or replacing the integrated handlebar computing unit—can introduce unpredictable service expenses that standard bicycle repair shops are ill-equipped to diagnose, potentially necessitating specialized shipping to authorized regional service hubs.

When analyzing the cost-benefit ratio of this luxury micromobility investment, owners must also consider potential residual values in the secondary market. Because pedal-by-wire technology represents an emerging, unproven frontier in consumer transportation, depreciation curves remain entirely speculative. Traditional premium e-bikes retain value reasonably well due to standardized off-the-shelf components from brands like Bosch, Shimano, or Gates. In contrast, a proprietary electronic ecosystem with tightly integrated software locks could experience accelerated depreciation if subsequent generations render first-generation firmware obsolete or unsupported. Buyers treating this machine as a long-term investment must be prepared to absorb higher proprietary maintenance costs while enjoying the uncompromised sleekness of a truly wire-driven ride.

What You Actually Get: Core Features & Build Specs

Unboxing the TM-B reveals a sleek, minimalist aluminum frame housing an integrated handlebar touchscreen, hydraulic disc brakes, and an integrated rear hub motor connected to the bottom bracket exclusively via copper wiring. Rather than utilizing a physical cassette or belt drive, the bottom bracket incorporates an integrated generator that converts pedaling cadence into electrical current, routing that energy directly to the motor control unit. This architecture supports software-simulated gearing, allowing riders to cycle through predefined electronic resistance profiles that mimic multi-gear transmissions without mechanical shifting components.

The integrated battery pack supplies power to both the propulsion system and the onboard computing suite, featuring an active management system designed to throttle electrical assistance progressively as capacity diminishes. Field observations confirm that as charge levels drop from 23 percent down to 13 percent, the system automatically curtails maximum boost from Level 8 to Level 5. Below 4 percent charge, conventional electric assistance ceases entirely, triggering an emergency operating mode designed to keep the vehicle functional through pure human exertion. The frame geometry itself favors an upright, aggressive urban commuting posture, featuring internal cable routing, puncture-resistant commuter tires, and powerful integrated LED lighting that draws directly from the main high-capacity power cell without requiring separate charging routines.

Ergonomically, the cockpit puts a heavy emphasis on digital integration, presenting speed, battery percentage, assistance level, and virtual gear ratios on a bright, crisp handlebar-mounted display visible under direct sunlight. The hydraulic disc brakes offer sharp, confident modulation, which is particularly crucial given the vehicle’s substantial curb weight—a mass driven largely by the heavy-duty battery pack and the robust hub motor assembly. Handling characteristics feel remarkably planted and stable at high urban speeds, absorbing potholes and uneven pavement seams with composed confidence thanks to the rigid, highly engineered aluminum frame structure that avoids the flex points often found in folding or multi-part commuter frames.

Hidden Costs, Ecosystem Dependencies & Fine Print

Examining the fine print of the hardware documentation reveals critical ecosystem dependencies, particularly concerning connectivity and standby power management. When left parked in areas with poor cellular reception, the TM-B attempts to maintain network communication through its integrated cellular module, resulting in severe parasitic battery drain that can deplete the pack from 70 percent to 18 percent over a forty-eight-hour window. This aggressive background power consumption can trigger low-voltage lockouts where the vehicle fails to recognize its own installed battery, requiring owners to manually actuate a physical reset button located underneath the frame.

Furthermore, when the battery drops into its terminal low-power state, the vehicle enters what field reports describe as Infinite Turtle Mode, disabling manual electronic gear selection entirely. On flat terrain, this mode functions similarly to a crank-powered generator, offering resistance equivalent to pedaling a standard bicycle in fourth gear. However, encountering even a slight incline transforms the experience into a grueling physical ordeal, as the lack of virtual shifting leaves the rider locked in a heavy resistance ratio resembling seventh or eighth gear, effectively stranding commuters on hilly routes. These edge cases underscore the reality that removing mechanical redundancies shifts a significant burden onto the software algorithms and battery management systems.

Beyond standby drain and low-battery limitations, riders must navigate the software ecosystem governing the mobile companion application. Firmware updates pushed over the air can occasionally alter power delivery profiles, throttle responses, or display layouts without prior warning, introducing sudden behavioral changes to daily transit. If a software glitch causes the handlebar console to freeze or disconnect from the central motor controller, the rider is left with zero telemetry and limited operational control until a hard system reboot is successfully executed. These digital vulnerabilities emphasize that owning a cutting-edge electronic commuter is fundamentally different from operating a traditional bicycle, requiring a mindset more akin to troubleshooting a smartphone or tablet than adjusting a mechanical derailleur.

Smarter Alternatives at This Price

For buyers hesitant to embrace the unproven reliability of a completely gearless pedal-by-wire system, the premium e-bike market offers established alternatives with conventional mechanical or belt-driven redundancies. The Priority Current, retailing for $3,299 USD direct from Priority Bicycles, provides an exceptional mid-drive commuter experience utilizing a Gates Carbon Drive belt and an enviolo automatic shifting hub. Its primary strengths lie in its near-silent maintenance-free belt drive and sophisticated torque-sensing motor, though it lacks the futuristic novelty and pure electronic architecture of the TM-B.

Alternatively, the Rad Power Bikes RadRunner 3 Plus, available for $2,299 USD on Rad Power Bikes, offers a utility-focused platform with hydraulic brakes and robust cargo capacity at roughly half the financial outlay. While it features a traditional chain-driven hub motor rather than advanced drive-by-wire technology, its proven mechanical reliability and lower price point make it a pragmatic choice for daily commuters who cannot risk being stranded by software anomalies or parasitic battery drain. Choosing between these mature alternatives and the ambitious hardware from ALSO ultimately depends on whether a rider prioritizes bulletproof reliability or uncompromised technological novelty.

Another strong contender in the premium urban commuting space is the specialized belt-drive lineup from brands like Specialized and VanMoof-successors, which blend sleek integrated aesthetics with reliable torque-sensing assistance and standard mechanical backups. These models manage to conceal their electrical components cleanly within the frame without completely abandoning the fundamental security of a physical drivetrain connection. For urban riders who frequently navigate steep gradients, varying weather conditions, and areas with spotty cellular coverage, these hybrid approaches deliver the aesthetic minimalism of the TM-B while eliminating the risk of sudden software-induced immobilization.

Final Buyer Verdict: Is the Investment Worth It?

The ALSO TM-B represents a fascinating engineering milestone that successfully proves the technical feasibility of a completely wire-connected, chainless bicycle drivetrain. However, the real-world compromises revealed by deep-discharge testing—ranging from unpredictable gear shifting near depletion to aggressive standby battery drain and grueling low-battery hill climbs—suggest that drive-by-wire technology in micromobility still requires substantial software refinement before it can rival the bulletproof reliability of traditional mechanical or belt linkages.

Ultimately, this vehicle is best suited for early-adopting technology enthusiasts with flat daily commutes who value cutting-edge industrial design and are willing to tolerate first-generation software quirks. Everyday commuters navigating hilly terrain, and riders requiring absolute mechanical dependability without the risk of cellular standby drain or battery lockouts, should pass on this Launch Edition and opt for a mature mid-drive alternative.