Mondraker Grommy: the world’s first e-balance bike?
Balance bikes are a vital stepping stone for your kids to progress to a ‘proper’ bike, allowing them to develop basic handling skills and become confident on two wheels. Mondraker took it upon themselves to totally level up what a balance bike can do, and develop what they claim to be the first-ever e-balance bike. Enter the Mondraker Grommy! With a maximum 250 W of assistance and a top speed of 17.7 km/h, this e-balance bike looks like crazy fun! Equally as insane is its € 749 price tag.
The Mondraker Grommy in detail
At the heart of the Mondraker Grommy is a 6061 aluminium frame and fork, available in two sizes: the 12” wheel size (weighing 7.5 kg) is aimed at kids aged 3-5 years, and the 16” option (weighing 8.5 kg) is aimed at groms aged 6-8 years. Providing up to 250 W of assistance is Mondraker’s own brushless motor, which is powered by an 80 Wh battery. The battery has a run time of up to 60 minutes, which may not sound like a whole lot. However, it recharges in the same amount of time. The system has three modes (Balance, Fun and Advanced) which offer top speeds of 8.1 km/h, 12.1 km/h and 17.7 km/h respectively. The motor is controlled by a throttle grip which should offer modulation and control, according to Mondraker.
The Mondraker Grommy at a glance:
Available in 12” and 16” sizes
6061 alloy frame and fork
Three power modes: Balance (max 8.1 km/h), Fun (max 12.1 km/h), Advanced (max 17.7 km/h)
250 W assistance
80 Wh battery – up to 60 minutes run time, 60-minute charge time
Tektro mechanical rear disk brake 140 mm rotor
Is it an ebike? Is it a scooter? Is it even legal?
Being a throttle powered balance bike, the Mondraker Grommy falls into a grey area between e-powered categories. As it’s technically not a pedal-assisted bike (like the Woom UP 6 we recently reviewed), some may argue that it’s closer to an electric scooter than a kids’ eMTB. To add to the confusion, some countries (like the UK) have a law that prevents children under 14 riding ebikes. We recommend you check your own country’s laws and regulations thoroughly before treating your youngsters to a Grommy!
Our thoughts on the new Mondraker Grommy e-balance bike
Let’s face it, the Mondraker Grommy looks a tonne of fun! However, while we can’t dispute the obvious riding fun, we are somewhat sceptical of the Grommy’s necessity. Do kids really need e-balance bikes? What’s wrong with the tried and tested leg-powered design that encourages youngsters to use their whole body when learning to ride a bike? Then there’s the price: at €749, the Grommy is certainly not cheap, especially when you consider that a balance bike is nothing more than a tool to help your kids progress to a ‘real’ bike, which they will outgrow very quickly.
For more info check out mondraker.com
Words: Photos: Mondraker
