Bring on the Electric Mopeds!
[First, the mini-rant - every bike with a motor and pedals is a moped. Whew, I got that out of my system.]
This post is about electric bikes that closely resemble those gas-powered mopeds of the early '70s. I both love those bikes (they have wheels!) and I hate them (all those nasty two-stroke gas/oil emissions). I have fantasized for years about converting one to electric, but now I don't have to. Woohoo!
The Five Four Big Contenders (No more CTY)
Okay, I admit it - I have a positive bias for each of these machines even though I've never seen any of them in person. I've been watching and admiring the Monday for several years now and I find the dual voltage setup very interesting. I ride and enjoy a Juiced bike several times per week and I'm amazed at the Scorpion's introductory price. Rad makes the Radwagon - 'nuff said! And Onyx is the little-known underdog that's making it happen with two one sweet 'ped.
One of our earliest electric moped posts - the Monday
The Juiced Scorpion
Yes, it may sound funny, but Juiced has surprised me with new models so many times that I thought they couldn't surprise me anymore, but this one shocked me. With an intro price of $1299, an impressively large 52 volt battery, 750 watt powertrain, and host of legit moped features, this thing is downright delicious. If you're looking for most bang for the buck, act soon on this impressive machine. (For reference, $1299 is not much more than you'd expect to pay for a quality 52 volt/13 amp-hour batterypack - it's almost buy a battery pack and get a moped free!) Normal retail price after launch is reported as $2199 - which still sounds pretty cheap for a 28 mph moped with all these features and this much power.
The Bigger, Badder Scorpion
(For you hot-rodders out there, be sure to check out the Hyper-Scorpion. It has a 52 volt/19 amp-hour battery and a 1000 watt powertrain. $1999 intro price and $3499 after that. 30+ miles per hour.) When comparing the Scorpion and the HyperScorpion, pay close attention to the number of accessories that come standard on the Hyper model but cost extra on the standard model. Both bikes weigh around 80 lbs. Shipping is $99 with the introductory models.
The Monday Motorbike
(Early Version of) The Monday Motorbike
Love that big mid-drive motor!
The latest version - The Gen7
With its huge battery, huge power, and legit moped components, this one can be considered an ebike, but it's really a beast that happens to have pedals. (This is the only bike here with a mid-drive motor.) Besides the beastly power, the Monday also has an impressive number of modern electronic goodies to make the tech-iest of geeks very happy.
If you've been struggling to decide between motorcycle, moped, or e-bike, this thing is all three. It is a 20 mph e-bike that can become a 45mph motorcycle at the flick of a switch. The Mondays are now in their seventh generation (and the Gen 7 costs less than the Gen 1 did). At $4500, (but $3999 for a very limited time) it is the most expensive (and heavy duty) bike in the pack, but it's also the most substantial (170lbs) machine on the list. You might even call this one the bad mamma jamma! So cool! (Plan to pay $400-ish shipping in the lower 48.)
The Onyx Mopeds RCR
While Juiced and Rad are well-established and very successful e-bike companies and Monday has thrived in their high-end e-moped niche, Onyx is an up and comer that's making a dent with two one very cool and fast moped.
$3899 gets you a lot of power in a sweet package!
(Plan to spend $300-400 to ship this 120lb bike in the continental US)
The RCR is the fastest bike here - up to 60mph. While the frame is pretty similar to the Monday, the powertrain is very different. The Onyx uses a 72 volt battery and a rear hub motor. Handling, weight, and weight distribution should make these two handle very differently. (If anyone needs a heads-up test rider, let me know!)
From the original MH Post (love the looks of the CTY)
Like the Monday, this bike is a bit of a chameleon at the flick of a switch. It can be a 20mph e-bike, a 30mph e-moped, or a 60mph moped on steroids.
Sweet! (but gone)
[When Onyx first launched, they offered two models. It seems that everyone wanted the RCR and not the CTY. So, the CTY has been discontinued. I've always liked the looks of top-tank mopeds better, but this is one case where I like the step-through styling better. Au revoir, sweet moped!]
Rad Power Bikes RadRunner
At first glance, this bike seems the least impressive of the bunch until you take a closer look.
Wired and Electric Bike Review are sure impressed
The RadRunner specs
If you look at the stats (impressively large battery, pretty good range, great power, impressive weight capacity, low-ish speed) it looks pretty good, and I do love the integrated lights and rear rack. At $1299 (shipped!) it's very impressive. But a few other specs seem less impressive in this crowd - no front or rear suspension, only a single-speed chain-drive system. However, as long as you're staying on the road, the fat-tires definitely lessen the need for suspension (and its added weight).
The RadRunner Seat (and optional frunk)
[My own personal plus and minus list for the RadRunner is all about pedaling:
- Plus - this is the only bike with a seat that looks like you could comfortably pedal it
- Minus - the single-speed chain-drive would limit pedaling
- Have I mentioned that having and using pedal assist is my favorite part of e-biking?]
Right on, Yehuda!
So let's discuss the speed issue
One thing Rad has done (across their line-up) is keep their bikes limited to 20mph. This has a few very big advantages. First, these bikes stay legal (almost) everywhere that e-bikes are allowed. It also keeps a lot of hoonigans out of the hospital builds in a great level of inherent safety. Automobile drivers have had 100 years of programming telling them that bicycles don't go over 16-20mph. In traffic, they misjudge bikes traveling faster than that, especially if that bike is traveling like a bike instead of a motorcycle - i.e. riding in a bike lane rather than riding in the center of the lane. This misperception leads to motorists frequently cutting-off e-bike riders - a situation which really sucks!
A Lubbock "Bike Route" across uber-busy Indiana Avenue
In Lubbock, (the not-yet-bike-friendly place where I commute,) I've learned that keeping my e-bike at 20mph or less means very little drama. Speeds closer to 25mph lead to constant drama and a fair amount of danger.
The Big Question(s)
So, before you choose your e-moped, answer one small question for yourself - are you going to ride it as a bicycle on the side of the road/bike lane or are you going to ride it like a motorcyle and take up a whole lane most of the time? In simpler terms, are you going to ride beside traffic or with traffic?
Another question you may want to answer
Do you have any self-restraint? Many e-bikers feel the need to always run as fast as their machines will go. If you're the speed-demon type, you may consider showing restraint in the purchase so you don't have to show so much restraint when riding.)
If you answered "beside traffic", look at the RadRunner and the Scorpion. If you answered "with traffic", check out the RCR, the Scorpion/HyperScorpion, and the Monday.
What would I buy?
There is no question in my mind that I'd enjoy every e-moped listed above. While the Monday tops my list as the coolest by far, I'd order a black Scorpion for my wife (who always wants to be the fastest) I'd order a green RadRunner for the kid (who's really been bugging me about an e-bike) and I'd order an orange RadWagon for me (because I'm cargo-bike obsessed and am looking for every excuse to leave the car at home.) At $4200 (shipped) we'd have a whole fleet for a little less than the cost of the Onyx or the Monday. [In case, you haven't figured it out, I've become old, boring, and financially conservative.]
Well, that's about it for the e-mopeds. Thanks for reading along.
May you find just the right set of pedals (or shoes, skates, etc.) to green up your commute and keep you away from the gas pump. Be well, friends!
PS. The DIY Sidebar
The Indigan Rolling frame from 1977Mopeds (for y'all build-yer-own types)
(Stinky motor not included!)
Because I am both a moron and a dreamer, I really want one of these. Just add an electric running gear and battery pack to this $1550 (before shipping) motorless moped and you can have something mechanically similar to the Monday and the Onyx RCR, but you'll be missing out on all their product testing and development, cool gadgets, and the peace of mind that someone smarter than me put the thing together.
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