"That's a very difficult question. I really don't know if I would dare to do it again" - says Janez Grasic in summer 2015 - when asked whether he would tackle the e-bike adventure again with the experience he has gained. Grasic started the company Jaal Cycles in 2009. Today, he produces one of the most expensive e-bikes in the world.

One instead of five
The "Dedo" electric bike changes hands for 17,900 Swiss francs. You could buy about five conventional e-bikes for that price these days - but they wouldn't have the unique DNA of the "Dedo". Grasic invests three to four days in the final assembly of the bike. Almost all parts are manufactured in-house in Switzerland. The parts that are not produced in-house will make bike connoisseurs' mouths water, for example the Chris King hubs or the Hope brakes. Grasic also makes the leather coverings on the bike itself by hand.

The twin-tube frame is the heart of the electric bike

Produced in Switzerland
For the 46-year-old, it was always clear that he wanted to produce in Switzerland. "If you earn your wages here, then you should also buy here and produce here whenever possible," is Grasic's credo. At the same time, he is convinced that a small series would not have been possible abroad, for example in the bicycle manufacturing Mecca of Taiwan, or would have been more expensive than in Switzerland. "You can't name the product after a grandfather and then produce it abroad, that's just not possible," says the e-bike manufacturer about the Swissness of his bikes.

The designer has come a long way over many stages to reach the current status of the series of 22 "Dedo" bikes, some of which have been sold this year. "I was known as a committed downhill athlete and in 2009 Hans Furrer, then a developer at Flyer, asked me if I could test a fully prototype". Grasic was enthusiastic about the technology, "but I didn't like the design. My thought: I would prefer to have a motor like that - and do everything else myself."

Many milled parts and borrowings from mountain bikes, for example with the Fox shock and Hope brakes

Friendly financing in the start-up phase
Grasic tells his best friend Alex Hauri about his idea - and he just wanted to know how much it would cost. Grasic begins the calculation: "I did the math, a first prototype cost around 30,000 francs. Alex was there and said: let's do it."

From then on, Jaal Cycles is also a story of friendship and trust: "Alex employed me from December 2009 to the end of October 2010 - and I had time to design the first prototype. Alex believed in me and I was able to get started without any fixed goals. This starting point not only awakened the designer in me, but also the artist, and I gave the Dedo these predispositions. The trust Alex placed in me was incredible. The first development phase was completely financed by Alex from his own private resources. The pressure was great, knowing that I was spending a lot of money from my best friend".

Lots of attention to detail and craftsmanship

The first model of the Jaal electric bike was made from Lego technology in 2009. "Alex is from the world of finance, I'm from the mechanic side. So that he could imagine exactly what I had in mind, I built my first Lego technology model. It was clear to me right from the start that we wanted to manufacture all the parts in Switzerland, so in 2010 I made the first parts and welded the first frame."

Happy times
From prototyping in 2010 to the product ready for sale in summer 2015, the experienced downhill athlete had a "very tough and exhausting time". Grasic first produced a pre-series of seven bikes for his sponsors. The frames are constructed from the precious material titanium, which necessitates an unpopular decision: "I had to agree to a certain extent against my will, because we would never have been able to pay for this in Switzerland if we had employed a titanium welder". After this pre-series, an investor had to be found for the next development stage of a series of 22 bikes. After a long search, Grasic finds what he is looking for, takes frame production back to Switzerland and tackles the 22-bike series.

The "Dedo" offers a unique riding experience that is reminiscent of a downhill bike: a full road and cornering position, very good center of gravity, a lot of safety and fun handlebar behavior

Sales are underway
In addition to designing and assembling the bikes, Grasic is now also involved in marketing the high-end, high-priced e-bikes. He describes the clientele: "Our customers appreciate a certain timelessness, high-quality materials and a long-term guarantee of 10 years. The beauty of the bike is fascinating."

Once the entire 22 series has been sold, Jaal Cycles is planning another "Dedo" edition with a price tag around 3,000 francs lower. "We then want to work with options so that the customer can help determine the equipment and also the price."

Not all copies of the 22 series have been sold yet, here is number four of the current edition

Bike construction resembles a summit assault
When asked again whether he would repeat the Jaal Cycles company with the experience he has gained, the e-bike artist says: "The last five years have been like a very steep climb to the summit. We knew that the weather could change on the way. Now, with a final effort, we are just before the summit. It sometimes seems very close - and yet it then recedes into the distance again. The last five years have been exhausting. But I have no regrets, not an hour, not a second."

The mastermind behind Jaal Cycles: Janez Grasic

On the inventor of the Dedo e-bike:
Janez Grasic is a gifted and experienced mountain biker and competed nationally and internationally in the downhill discipline from 1991 to 2005. The 46-year-old was the first downhill racer to sign a contract with Red Bull. Grasic competed in the Downhill World Championships from 1994 to 2000. In 1994 Grasic rode to second place in the Swiss Uzimo Cup, in 2001 he was classified as the winner of the Swiss Dual Cup, in 2003 he was the winner and in 2004 third in the Red Bull Trailfox. Grasic also finished third at the 1998 Swiss DH Championships in Verbier.

www.jaalcycles.com