But Why Small Wheels?

Wheel size has always been a trade-off.

Back in the day, the penny-farthing — that wild-looking bike with the giant front wheel — used size for speed. No gears, just one big circle per pedal. It worked, but it was awkward and, honestly, quite dangerous.

The "safety bike" came along in the late 1800s with a chain and gears, shrinking bikes into something rideable and way easier to live with.

Since then, wheel sizes have mostly stayed in a narrow range. Big wheels (think mountain bikes) roll over stuff better and carry momentum. Small wheels accelerate faster and handle tighter but don’t coast as long.

Electric changes everything.

The Higbee Martini runs 20″ wheels because we don’t need to coast forever — you’ve got a motor for that. Smaller wheels mean quicker starts, sharper turns, and a bike that fits your life and your stairwell.
Compact. Nimble. Easy to live with.

The usual trade-offs? Gone. The battery and motor handle momentum, and you get all the upside.

So yeah, small wheels aren’t a compromise: they're the point.