New Super73 MZFT Details, Guardian Calls for MORE Tariffs, Bafang’s Upcoming Anti-Theft Features | TWR Ep 53

After we covered Super73’s recently teased e-bikethe brand’s Chief Marketing Officer and co-founder, Michael Cannavo, reached out to offer us an interview. He shared details about the new bike and Super73’s new direction as a company, which veers away from its once-held reputation as a maker of overly-speedy and powerful e-bikes.

Cannavo explained that the company had, relatively recently, been in dire financial straits. He worked to streamline Super73’s operations, successfully cutting operating costs by 60%. He also realigned the company with its goal of innovating and shifted its focus toward making its products safer, more strictly adherent to e-bike laws, and more accessible to the masses.

The brand’s latest e-bike, the MZFT (Mizfit?), is the first in a string of upcoming models to exemplify this ethos. Case in point: while the MZFT boasts Super73’s characteristic moto styling, it is a Class 2 e-bike with throttle and pedal-assisted speeds of 20 mph that cannot be increased.

According to the bike’s spec sheet, it’s equipped with a 52V electrical system, a 500W rear-hub motor, and a 520 Wh battery with resin-encased cells. It has a modular battery system, with the accompanying power source slotting into place inside the bike’s locking storage compartment beneath its saddle. A second battery can be purchased separately and added behind the standard unit to double the bike’s capacity while leaving some empty storage space.

In a departure from Super73’s usual full-size models, the MZFT is a “mini” e-bike with a 36” wheelbase that should provide playful, nimble handling. With a 27” seat height, the bike fits riders of short to average height (4’6” to 5’11”) and has a total payload capacity of 250 lbs.

Additionally, the bike features 2-piston hydraulic disc brakes, a single-speed drivetrain, and mag wheels with a thru-axle design, allowing for easy removal of the motor. It will be available in two colors upon its release in early November, with a wider selection planned for next year. The bike is set to be priced at or below $2,000.

Our Take: We’re grateful for the opportunity to speak with Michael Cannavo, and pleased to see the new direction of the company and its products. We were highly encouraged by the news that the brand has been working with schools and law enforcement to teach e-bike safety classes and to aid riders in getting permits for their bikes in areas where they are required.

The MZFT seems to be a promising e-bike that should offer all of the expected fun of a moto-style e-bike. With its adherence to Class 2 limitations, the bike should be friendly to youthful riders and all who live in areas where e-bike speeds are heavily monitored and/or restricted.

Guardian, a Direct-to-Consumer bicycle manufacturer headquartered in Indiana, has filed a request with the Bureau of Industry and Security at the US Department of Commerce. The comment calls for 50% tariffs to be applied to all imported steel and aluminum components in bicycles and e-bikes, with the goal of encouraging domestic manufacturing.

In its request, the brand stated that, “A scaled domestic supply chain for bicycles will spur demand for domestic steel and aluminum, as well as metal fabrication, welding, tool and die making skills necessary for reindustrializing the nation. Many existing machine shops and component suppliers currently serving the U.S. automotive industry are well-positioned to transition into manufacturing precision high-volume metal fabrication, welding, and component production could be leveraged to rapidly scale domestic bicycle component manufacturing.”

Depending on how tariffs are interpreted and applied, this could add small amounts of cost based on the value of only the steel and aluminum material included in the bike and its components (calculated by weight). Alternatively, it could add hundreds of dollars if the cost of the components themselves is taxed instead—potentially doubling the cost of some e-bikes.

If Guardian’s request is approved, the additional tariffs would add to those already in place, including the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariffs (which affect nearly all countries to varying degrees) and the Section 301 tariffs which affect Chinese imports at a rate of 25%.

The proposal is currently in a 2-week comment period. People for Bikes is urging its members and anyone in the industry to respond and oppose the request by the end of this period on October 21st.

The organization sent out an email saying “PeopleForBikes will submit comments in opposition to these two requests and work with allies to do the same, but we need your help if we are to have a reasonable chance of stopping these new, crushing tariffs.” It also assembled a template letter that brands can use to help explain how the tariffs would impact their businesses.

Our Take: My fellow reviewer Griffin said it best: Guardian’s proposal is the equivalent of someone building a bomb shelter, then, without regard for their neighbors, saying “let the missiles fly!”

While the interpretation of the proposal’s language could have little effect on e-bike prices, it also has the potential to devastate the industry. As Section 301 tariffs and the Trump administration’s reciprocal and material tariffs have been implemented and changed over the past year and a half, we have seen numerous brands—including prominent e-bike makers such as Electric Bike Company—close their doors.

As proponents for e-bikes and their numerous benefits, we strongly oppose Guardian’s proposal. We urge our readers and viewers to comment and express their concerns to ensure that the request does not become law.

Bafang, one of the largest manufacturers of e-bike motors, has collaborated with an IoT (Internet of Things) company called Comodule to develop new security features for its 2026 lineup. New motors will pair with an app and have an electronic motor lock feature, allowing the lock to engage when the connected phone goes out of range.

On mid-drive motors, the system prevents the drivetrain from moving when the lock is activated. With hub motors, the system stops the bike’s entire wheel from turning. The locks will still remain engaged if the electronic IoT module is removed during an attempted theft.

New systems will also have motion detection and alarm systems, and will notify the paired phone if unusual activity is detected. Over-the-air (OTA) updates will be available, ensuring that the programming and features of new drive units can be kept current, and the new systems can also provide a wide range of ride data and diagnostics.

Whether these features are baked in or optional is uncertain, but a quote from Comodule’s Chief Product Officer, Sten Soomlais, suggests the latter: “Open ecosystems are the key to transforming e-bikes into smart bikes. They unlock digital rider experiences, new business models, and give OEMs true freedom of choice over their products and services they offer.”

Our Take: While motor locks and alarm systems were previously features limited to premium-tier e-bikes, we’ve seen many similar elements added to significantly more affordable models in Aventon’s lineup, beginning with last year’s Abound SR model.

Considering that Bafang’s motors appear on a wide range of e-bikes at various price points, we’re excited to imagine a future where anti-theft features will be available to most riders regardless of their budget. After all, e-bikes can be a significant investment, and while a couple of heavy-duty bike locks can help, they often aren’t enough to deter determined thieves.

Built-in security systems, such as those implemented by Bafang and Comodule, would better prevent theft and offer peace of mind to consumers; a win for everyone!