# Asus Bike Booster Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/asus-bike-booster/ 13 people recommended Asus Bike Booster in Hacker News comments, 11 had mixed feelings and 48 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 1 of 12 months, in 1 thread. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule. 13 of the 13 people who recommend it commented in one thread, “Asus Bike Booster”. **Verdict:** Criticized more than recommended: critics say it suits only certain bikes and riders, and the most common caveat is that it is a stopgap product; those who recommend it see it as a removable, low-cost way to add electric assist to an existing bike without permanently converting it. Summary written by Claude from the comments below. ## What people warn about - Added weight and inefficiency (3 comments in the sample): "This is an inherently inefficient design, where that inefficiency means increased 1) battery use and 2) tire wear." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49316894)) "It just feels like a solid bike in that mode, a bit heavy, of course." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49321075)) "adding a motor to rear triangle alters weight distribution and adds unsprung weight" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49321834)) - Stopgap for casual riders (2 comments in the sample): "It feels like a great product but targeted at a surprisingly transient customer base." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49317281)) "$2k makes sense only if the bike underneath it is valuable enough that you specifically want to keep riding that bike" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49318043)) - Only fits bikes without fenders (1 comment in the sample): "this won't work on any regular bike that has a fender, which is most 'regular' bikes people would use for city-driving/daily commutes" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49318213)) ## Why people recommend it - Removable, bike stays a bike (3 comments in the sample): "The interesting part of this thing, at least to me, is that it doesn't permanently turn your bike into one" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49373237)) "it's removable enough that your bike can still just be… a bike" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49318013)) "Attaching and detaching it looks relatively simple, though - removing it for downhills doesn’t look arduous." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49318460)) - Adds e-assist to existing bike (3 comments in the sample): "People who already invested in an expensive traditional bike and want to have the option to add electric support" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49316596)) "That might be the easiest ebike retrofit/conversion I've ever seen." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49315868)) "This would be great to add to my 9 year old's bike." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49316739)) - Easy to attach and detach (2 comments in the sample): "easy on, easy off, easy to fence." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49318613)) "this looks really well designed and easy to use" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49316947)) - Cheaper than buying an e-bike (2 comments in the sample): "Decent enough I think to make it worth it for the space and cash saved." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49321916)) "Given the size of it and the significantly less weight it adds to the bicycle" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49316505)) ## The badge A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged. ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Asus Bike Booster", https://hackerapproved.com/p/asus-bike-booster/ (13 recommend, 11 mixed, 48 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026). Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.