POWER IN THE POWDER

POWER IN THE

POWDER!

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF MOONBIKES, COMBINING THE MOBILITY OF A MOTORCYCLE WITH THE ON-SNOW

CAPABILITIES OF A SNOWMOBILE. by Kelli Delaney Kot @KDHamptons

Leave the skis and snowboard behind and explore your favorite winter wonderland in comfort and style riding on a MoonBike, the slick new electric snowbike that features a ski up front and a track at the rear. The bike is amazingly agile and boasts a small motor powered by a pair of removable batteries which will allow you to hit speeds of 28 miles per hour! Thanks to MoonBike’s high-efficiency propulsion motor, it can be ridden in both fresh snow and on groomed trails. With an innovative design, MoonBikes blur the lines between transportation and recreation to provide a truly unique experience.

The idea for MoonBikes grew in entrepreneur Nicolas Muron's mind in 2015, at his grandparents' home in the small village of Saint-Nicolas-de-Véroce, in the French Alps. That winter, Muron made a simple observation which ignited his invention: in the summer, mobility solutions are infinite (car, bike, scooter, skateboard etc.), while the winter season is is too reliant only on cars and snowmobiles, which have a large impact on the environment. “With my passion for the outdoors and my background in engineering I wanted to offer a new solution to get around, explore, or have fun.” The mountain and tech lover set out to build a solution, the MoonBike, which is now the coolest news to hit the hottest slopes around the globe.

MoonBike founder Nicolas Muron, 36, grew up in Paris and splits his time between the MoonBikes offices in Annecy, France and Boulder, Colorado.

HOW LONG DID THE WHOLE PROCESS TAKE TO CREATE THE MOONBIKE?

Nicolas Muron: I worked at this concept for years, applying my engineering knowledge and love of snowboarding and the outdoors to create what is essentially a hybrid between a snowmobile and an electric bike. After much research and testing, we partnered with Michelin and Bosch to build the two first batches of MoonBikes in France to ensure quality and safety and officially launched in 2018.

WHAT IS YOUR ENGINEERING BACKGROUND AND WHAT INSPIRED THE NAME MOON-BIKES?

Nicolas Muron: My background is in aeronautical engineering at Dassault Aviation. I worked on designing business jets, military aircrafts, and drones. The name MoonBikes was inspired by NASA’s Rovers - my goal was to make MoonBikes similar in numerous ways - minimalist in design, ultralight weight, electric, and as silent as space. Furthermore, the moon is white like snow, and beloved by everyone.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE GREATEST CHALLENGE IN YOUR JOURNEY TO CREATE MOONBIKES?

Nicolas Muron: The first three years I was designing the MoonBike by myself in my kitchen and garage! I had tons of issues and failures while creating the propulsion system at first but finally succeeded… the system now is two times more efficient than the standard snowmobile system and tech patented. I love having the great team that I do now to face the challenges that arise while we grow as a company - it’s a fantastic adventure.

WHERE ARE MOONBIKES CURRENTLY MOST POPULAR? WHERE CAN WE RIDE THEM IN THE US?

Nicolas Muron: MoonBikes are the most widely available in Europe since that is our birthplace, but we have a presence in close to 20 countries around the world. We currently are in ten U.S. cities at resorts and certain ski and e-bike retailers. In November, MoonBikes became available to guests of The Resort at Paws Up in Montana, our newest partner, as a special excursion experience for an exploration ride through the Resort’s 60 square miles of forested winter wonderland. We will be announcing others soon for the winter season.

ARE MOONBIKES ALLOWED ON MOST SKI SLOPES?

Nicolas Muron: Right now, MoonBikes are only allowed on ski slopes for utility purposes for resort staff. We are working with several ski resorts in the U.S. who want to diversify their winter activities and offer MoonBikes as a fun and sustainable addition. Our goal is to have more ski resorts offer MoonBikes Parks, which are designated where riders can get the experience on a closed track or trail and rent MoonBikes like they would skis or snowboards.

WHAT ARE THE BEST CONDITIONS FOR MOONBIKES?

Nicolas Muron: The MoonBikes have a top speed of 28 mph and the ability to handle powder up to 12 inches deep. The low center of gravity and light weight, under 200 lbs with a single battery, make it extremely easy to ride, and the 28-inch width makes it easy to transport. It can run up to 3 hours with two batteries in temperatures as low as -13°F so it's equally as capable in the French Alps as it is in the Rockies, or just cruising through a snow covered field.

ARE THERE UPCOMING MOONBIKES EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR THE WINTER SEASON?

Nicolas Muron: We will be attending CES Las Vegas and Outdoor Retailer in 2023. We will also be holding public demos throughout the US and Europe this upcoming winter. Please keep an eye on our social media to find out more about our demo schedule @moonbikesmotors.

WHERE CAN MOONBIKES BE PURCHASED PRIVATELY?

Nicolas Muron: We’ve had an overwhelming response to online sales through our website moonbikes.com with customers who want to own one themselves. The number of bikes that will ship to North America is limited so anyone in the market wishing to buy one should act quickly. We recently opened our first American office in Colorado. The bikes cost $8,900 (excl. tax and shipping from the French Alps where they are made), and can be ordered on our website (www.moonbikes.com) and delivered to the customer's door. Enjoy the ride!