The Friend E-Bike Launch by Popcycle

Leading a new wave of e-bikes in the Philippines is none other than Popcycle.

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Last October 4, 2025, the popular e-bike distributor in Metro Manila launched their newest model, the Friend e-bike. The launch started at 7am with a community ride from their branches at Venice Grand Canal in Taguig and Sct. Rallos in Quezon City, both heading to their Promenade Greenhills branch in San Juan.

After coffee and pastries from 1C, we took our seats as the program began. In a video, Angelo Lacson, co-founder of Popcycle, opened the program with three descriptors: Lightweight, long-range, trifold. The audience thought it was three separate e-bikes, but, no; these all describe one e-bike.

The Friend e-bike.

This is Popcycle’s first branded e-bike, distinct from their Fiido line.

During the product overview, Leandro Mangubat, Marketing Manager and Product Specialist for Popcycle, said that he and the rest of the team had to keep this model a secret for five months until launch date, but the hush-hush leading up to the launch was worth it.

Leandro continued to talk about the specs of the e-bike. The Friend can cover up to 45 km of power-assisted pedaling on flat terrain, but likely only at about 15 kph. On paper, it can reach up to 28 kph on flat terrain. With a range extender—sold separately—it can go as far as 135 km, tripling its range. What most of us appreciate is that it comes with Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, so stopping is both safe and powerful. Folding it is easy, and bringing it around town even easier.

With the product overview done, guests were treated to test rides along the second floor of Promenade. A few had even bought their own units on the first day!

The unveiling was well received by the bike commuting community, and we are all excited to have our own Friend!

A person riding the Popcycle Friend e-bike on a smooth surface, with palm trees and a modern building interior in the background.

Priced at P65,000 for just the e-bike and P80,000 with the range extender, the Friend e-bike is set to enhance the experience of bike commuting and multimodal transport here in the Philippines.

The Friend is now available in all Popcycle branches.

Are you going to get one? Chime in the comment section below!

What the Community is Saying

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“The Friend is such a game changer. It ticks a lot of boxes that bike commuters want in a bike. Portable. Appropriate for multimodal travel. Has the pedal assist to save your life. And best of all, relatively affordable. I mean, it’s cheaper than a Brompton and has the e-motor!”—Jay-Em Estrella

“Popcycle gave it a pretty cool name! It’s like one would really want go everywhere and anywhere with a reliable FRIEND! Who are you going with? My friend! Where are you off to? Off on a bike ride with my friend! Go the distance with such a cool FRIEND! Looks? Attractive, sleek and handsome! It’s fold? Uncomplicated the way friendships should be!” — Karen Silva Crisostomo, Bicycle Friendly Philippines

Honestly? I’m super biased because the Friend pretty much was made for me, it feels like… In every other way, this is the trifold I’ve wanted to have for the past decade. Good rolling carrier wheels, hydraulic brakes, trifold, RD shifting system, electric assistance… These are the reasons why I bought it on the spot. I’ve wanted this bike before I met it.” — Lawrence Celestino

“I like it… Makes during the busway and [MRT] tenable. I think papatok sa students like Ateneo and UP hahahaha but it’s just a guess…” — Willhansen Li, Sakay.ph

“I have a soft spot for foldies, so biased ako. I love everything about it. Hahaha” — Gerry de los Reyes

“The Popcycle Friend e-bike is everything you need to be mobile in this busy city. It’s a trifold that’s light enough so you can carry it when you decide to go bimodal and quite compact so you can weave through heavy congestion.“ — Joy Rodriguez

“This is the e-bike I’ve been waiting for! This is love at first sight. With the Friend, I’d finally have the perfect stable: a steel bike for touring, a performance bike for Audax, and a trifold e-bike for my trip chaining journeys around Metro Manila. The Friend is one I know I’ll rely on constantly for smoother everyday city travel.” — Myta Santiago, Mobility Blogger for The Trip Chainist