ONYX Motors’ new RCR 80V electric moped boasts 65mph top speed
Technically it’s a moped. In practice, it’s more exciting than that.
Los Angeles-based ONYX Motors has just released the ONYX RCR 80V - an updated version of its electric moped. This new model is faster and more powerful than previous versions, and pushes the definition of what a moped is.
To that point: traditionally, a moped has pedals, the word coming from the combination of “motor” and “pedal.” Here in the UK, some people have veered away from that definition to loop in just about any motorised two-wheeler with a top speed of 30 mph or so.
The RCR 80V is only a moped in the first sense. Its makers say its 80V battery system makes it capable of achieving a blistering 65 mph.
Acceleration has improved over ONYX Motors’ previous attempt, the RCR 72V. It can reportedly hit 30 mph in 1.7 seconds. Claimed range is 55 miles in Sport mode and 130 miles in Eco mode.
Weight is a metric conveniently omitted on the spec sheet provided by ONYX Motors, but it’s a good guess you wouldn’t actually want to use the bike’s pedals for long. Especially uphill.
The moped combines design elements from bicycles and motorcycles. It has an aluminium frame and hydraulic disc brakes with 220mm rotors, plus regenerative braking. It uses 17-inch cast aluminium rims with 4-inch fat tires. You get a 16-inch bench seat - not quite enough space for two - an LED headlight, an LED tail light, and turn signals. A TFT touchscreen display allows phone mirroring for sat-nav directions. An alarm is standard, and a physical key locks the battery cover for charging.
Whether this thing would be legal in the UK is anybody’s guess. It exists in a grey area of US law.
Many US states have laws that make special exceptions for mopeds or motor-driven cycles when it comes to licensing and roadworthiness. Because they are traditionally not very powerful, mopeds aren’t always subject to the same regulations as full motorcycles.
In some states, you don’t even need a license to ride a moped. Where I grew up, if you saw an adult riding a moped it was usually assumed that the person had racked up one too many DUI convictions and that their driving license had been revoked.
That’s less the case these days. Fast, two-wheeled electric transport is becoming popular among young adults in the US, who see them as fun and affordable alternatives to cars. But machines like the RCR 80V blur the lines by being capable of highway speeds.
ONYX founder and Chief Design Officer Tim Seward told the website Electrek that his company is eager to work with lawmakers to ensure that two-wheeled transportation continues to grow in popularity.
The ONYX RCR 80V starts at US $4,699, which is about £3,440 as of this writing. It comes in three colours - via removable side panels: Lunar Silver is standard, while Space Black or Cosmic Gold panels are $50 extra.
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Chris Cope is a fourth-generation journalist, originally from Texas. He has lived in the UK for roughly two decades and has been writing about motorcycles for most of that time. He has written for dozens of publications and websites in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
