Change is the only constant.

We will always move forward.

I’ve been quiet for the last week or so because there’s been some changes made to the project. We also had to make a change to our team. But Tim and I are still committed to delivering the Koben to you. And we will still deliver.

Change is hard. Some people change when things get tough, and that’s okay. We have to adapt to anything that gets thrown at us. We have to overcome any new obstacles placed in our way. The minor setbacks won’t stop us. Karmic was always supposed to be more than a bicycle company. Karmic is about a way of thinking, a way of living, a way of interacting with the world. At its core, Karmic is all about the community, our backers, our believers.

Karmic is so much bigger than any one individual.

The battery technology we had planned to use can’t make it to production. We are going to design a new battery pack with similar specs and range. It will no longer be rebuildable, but that doesn’t affect the ride, the range or the Karmic Experience. We are also working to make the battery pack more aligned with the LEV industry standards. Using the Rosenberger connector will add a lot more cost, but it is a marked improvement and helps with future-proofing the bike. We will continue to use the highest quality cells from Samsung or Panasonic. We understand if some of you will change your minds, if the promise of a rebuildable pack was the reason you backed us.

We aren’t happy to have to make these changes mid-campaign, but these are things that typically happen many months after a Kickstarter closes. Unexpected changes create painful delays in most campaigns. We were just trying to do everything at the same time to hit our ambitious delivery dates. Developing a new battery pack will likely delay Koben deliveries 3–6 months. We can’t change the dates on the reward tiers that have been backed, but we will update the timeline as we know more from our partners and suppliers.

Most backers have told us a winter delivery isn’t ideal for them, so maybe this is a blessing in disguise. We would now be on track for spring deliveries for all Kickstarter bikes. We understand if the new schedule is an issue for you. We want to give backers a chance to decide for themselves, before the campaign closes. We want to be as upfront and transparent as possible so that you know everything we do, and understand any additional risks.

Thank you again for your support. We hope you continue to believe in Karmic, and stay with us on this journey, despite these bumps in the road.

-Hong