The new Bacchetta e-assist-only model is called Pronto

Just before the American recumbent bike show Cycle-Con, news came from Hollywood that Bacchetta is adding a new Pronto recumbent bike model to its portfolio. Its specific feature is that it is e-assist-only. In this case, with the Bafang M510 mid-motor, 250 watts and 95 Nm. More details about the bike itself can be found below in the press release from Bacchetta, however, I’ll add my two experiences from Cycle-Con, where I had the opportunity to speak with Dana Lieberman, the current owner of Bacchetta, and also ride the Pronto.

I’ve only done three test circuits with the Pronto, but I can say that its geometry with a 20″ front and 26″ rear wheel is perfectly tuned, the bike is stable even at higher speeds, and it’s easy to maneuver. It also rides well. Both with and without assistance. I found this out for myself when I went out on the track, and after a while, I felt that the engine had stopped working. I tried changing the assist level from minimum to maximum and back again, but still, nothing happened. Then I realized that I was going over 20 mph all the time, which is the speed at which the engine automatically cuts out. And the Pronto still rode with such ease that I couldn’t tell the engine had disengaged, and I was riding without its assistance the whole time.

The photos show the Pronto equipped with a Shimano Alfine hub gearbox with Di2 electronic shifting and XT Di2 derailleur. You can see the small battery of the entire electronic shifting system neatly mounted on the back of the seat.

The second change with the Bacchetta is the “official pronunciation.” The brand name comes from Italian and means stick, but previous owners used the English pronunciation. I have a short story related to this pronunciation when a friend in the Czech Republic educated me that Bacchetta was not pronounced in English but in Italian because it is an Italian name, and then when I came to visit Bacchetta’s headquarters in person, many years later, I was surprised at how everyone used the English pronunciation and laughed a little. This year at Cycle-Con, however, Dana Lieberman came up with the idea that he would like to see the brand name actually pronounced in Italian and that he would do so. If you want to know what the correct pronunciation is, type the word Bacchetta into Google Translator, and you can then play the pronunciation for that word thereafter.

And that’s it from me. Below is the official press release about the Bacchetta Pronto electric recumbent bike.

The official press release:
It was first seen back in 2019…vague images and video of a rider cruising on a Bacchetta recumbent with electric assist. Dubbed the e-Giro, many riders got excited, eager to finally have an e-assist 2-wheeled recumbent. But as the pandemic unfolded, the project never made it to production.

Fast forward to 2022. Bacchetta has been purchased by Bent Up Cycles, and the team immediately got to work bringing this recumbent project back to life! Now, September 15-17, 2023, at the Cycle-Con in Xenia, OH, we are please to debut the Bacchetta Pronto to the world!

The first fully integrated motor system on a two-wheel recumbent!

The Bacchetta Pronto e-assist recumbent features a frame re-welded by our friends at Terracycle, locally sourced powder coating featuring one of our vibrant new colors (Dirty Magic, a vibrant purple with metallic blue flecks throughout, shown in these pictures), and meticulous worksmanship as it is painstakenly wired and assembled here at Bent Up Cycles.

The Bafang M510 motor provides 250w of power and an exceptional 95Nm to give any recumbent rider enough power to cruise in any kind of terrain at the push of a button and stroke of the pedal.

Customize your recumbent

Like all of the Bacchetta recumbents, this one can be custom-built to feature the components that riders crave. From the SRAM GX derailleur drivetrain to a Rohloff Speedhub, from aluminum to carbon fiber forks, a selection of three different seats, and a selection of wheels featuring strong and durable wheels hand-built by Velocity USA in Michigan, there are enough choices for everyone!

Bacchetta bikes can be loaded up with a variety of accessories to meet your riding needs. Carry up to four panniers with the Universal Rear Rack and/or the Terracycle EasyReacherunder seat rack. Kickstands, fenders and mirrors are readily available. And for shorter, day rides, Bacchetta offers a variety of bags.

So many colors!

The Pronto is one of the first Bacchetta recumbents to feature our new custom-paint options. Pick from one of our standard, bright colors or go full custom with an endless list of color choices. You can truly make this exactly the bike you want it to be.

With our first batch of bikes shipping the second week of November, now through September 17th, we are offering an amazing deal on these beautiful bikes. Get these free upgrades: