“George was actively engaged in design for sustainability and lobbying the government to improve regulations for electric transportation. He was a true inspiration for me and when he passed away I decided to change my path working towards a contribution to this movement.”Ī few years later, Tim began working with Rufus Ashford, the founder of vintage Honda parts shop Four-Into-One. He worked very closely with George Schnakenberg, the lead industrial designer for the original Boosted Board, among other impressive products. Tim’s inspiration to begin ONYX came from two sources in the personal electric vehicle industry. Inspiration for sustainable electric transportation However, laws vary by state and you might need to apply for a custom vehicle designation. The RCR also comes with a VIN if you want to try registering it as a street legal motorcycle to ride full speed on the road. When riders hit private property or head off-road, they can shift back into no-limits mode. With a flip of a switch they can be governed back to 750 W and 28 mph (45 km/h), making them street legal Class 3 e-bikes. The CTY and RCR were originally available for pre-order on Indiegogo for $1,625 and $2,299 plus shipping, respectively.īoth models have multiple riding modes. While the CTY is a super fun bike that can reach upwards of 30-35 mph it just doesn’t have the raw power of the RCR that most of our customers are after.” People are looking for something more powerful than the current offerings on the market, and the RCR kicks that out of the park for most people. “The RCR has been 10 fold more popular than the CTY. Between the two, Tim says that the RCR has gotten by far the most attention: Its 72 V and 1.66 kWh battery provide up to 75 miles (121 km) of range at 20 mph (32 km/h).īoth mopeds feature removable batteries, hydraulic brakes, full suspension and integrated LED halo headlight and LED bar tail light. The RCR is more in line with 125cc motorbikes and pushes the boundaries of the word “moped” with a 60 mph (96 km/h) top speed thanks to its more powerful 5.4 kW (7.2 hp) rear hub motor. The removable 48 V and 768 Wh battery is sufficient for up to 40 miles (64 km) of range at 20 mph (32 km/h) and closer to 25 miles (40 km) at full speed. Its 2.5 kW (3.35 hp) rear hub motor provides a 30 mph (48 km/h) top speed. The CTY is closer in performance to the original 50cc mopeds of the 80’s. They come in two models: the entry-level yet not-so-timid ONYX CTY and the flagship ONYX RCR. The mopeds are impressive, to say the least. Now that work has paid off as the company began making deliveries last week.Īnd like a true founder, Tim has been delivering the mopeds personally to the early reservation holders. Ever since, Tim and the team at ONYX have been working nonstop to meet the demand. Almost 500 backers shelled out nearly $1M to get their hands on one of Tim’s electric mopeds. Like many entrepreneurs, he took to Indiegogo to raise the money he needed to produce the electric mopeds. Tim started ONYX with just a few thousand dollars and an idea. This time, mopeds are going electric!Įlectrek caught up with ONYX founder Tim Seward in between personal deliveries of his company’s new electric mopeds. San Francisco-based ONYX Motorbikes is bringing mopeds back in style, with a twist. But with the unyielding march of time, mopeds eventually went the way of the mullet and the 8-track. With most reaching speeds of 30 mph (48 km/h) stock, yet tunable to higher speeds, mopeds were seen as a fast and efficient way to get around. The feel of a motorcycle, yet as manageable as a bicycle (and without the need for a moto license), mopeds were the ultimate freedom vehicle. In their heyday during the 70’s and 80’s, mopeds were one of the coolest ways to get around.
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