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Welcome to Flywheel, a weekly exploration of owned and used micromobility. Each newsletter will highlight an observation of trends emerging in the industry and feature five of the most interesting vehicles/hardware in micromobility.

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The observation of the week benchmarks Boston’s secondary ebike market in light of Massachusetts’s recent efforts to launch a statewide ebike rebate program. This week’s featured vehicles are a family-oriented Indian emoped, a folding ebike with shockingly high-speed performance, two cruisers, and a carbon fiber all-terrain ebike.

Observation of the Week

Benchmarking Boston’s secondary ebike market

Some exciting new ebike subsidy news: Massachusetts is currently in the process of launching a state-wide ebike rebate program. Last week, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (MassCEC) issued an RFP to find businesses that can help the state run an ebike incentive program that is expected to launch this summer. The program is designed to focus on low and medium-income households. Low-income households (<225% of federal poverty line) can receive a rebate of up to $1200 or 90% off the total cost of a vehicle, while medium-income households (<400% of federal poverty line) can receive a rebate of up to $800 or 75% off the total cost of a vehicle. An additional $150 will also be made available to buy safety and theft-prevention accessories. Interestingly, the rebate doesn’t have any special provisions for cargo bikes, which has been a common facet of rebates in other cities and states. All eligible ebike must be bought at physical retailers that are part of the program.

In light of Massachusetts’s efforts to launch their own ebike program, this week’s Flywheel benchmarks the secondary market of the state’s capital and largest city: Boston.

• Average Number of Active Listings per Week

Boston is one of the smaller ebike markets compared to its peer US cities. It has an average of 19 active used ebike listings per week, which is ~21% of the average number of active listings per week of the largest market (SF - Bay Area).

• Average Resale Price

Boston’s used ebike market is the second most expensive market amongst its peers, with an average resale price of $1,873.34. This is ~$150 higher than the national average resale price of $1,727.84.

• Average Mileage

Shockingly, despite being a highly seasonal market with severe winters, Boston has the highest average mileage of used ebikes amongst its peers. Clocking in at 518.74mi, Boston beats out its nearest competitors (Seattle and SF - Bay Area) by over 100mi. This is a a testament to the excellent cycling infrastructure work that Boston has already done, as well as the city’s strong ebiking culture that has been fostered by its successful Bluebikes bike share program.

• Breakdown of Vehicle Type

The most common ebike form factors in Boston are Sport and Commuter, which respectively make up 34.4% and 25.6% of the city’s used ebike market.

• Top 5 brands

There is a relatively even split of ebikes from Dealer-Network brands (54.2%) vs. D2C brands (45.8%). The top 10 most commonly listed ebike brands in Boston’s secondary market are:

Specialized, as expected, is the most popular brand in Boston’s used market. However, Rad Power is shockingly only the 10th most popular used ebike brand in Boston. This is a long way down from the number 1 or 2 spot Rad Power tends to hold in most other major US cities.

For more observations and resources on owned and used micromobility, check out rideflywheel.com/resources.

Featured Vehicles of the Week

1. Ather Rizta | $1,317 | India

India is the largest powered two-wheeler market in the world, and its electrification journey has largely played out within the moped segment. There’s many major competitors in this vehicle class, from incumbents like Hero and TVS to new-age entrants like Indian rideshare giant Ola’s unbelievably ambitious EV brand Ola Electric or commercial/cargo-focused startup River. Amidst them all is Ather, which has been a pioneer of the segment for over a decade and has positioned itself as the Tesla for India’s mopeds. Just two weeks ago on April 6, Ather launched the Rizta (a play on the Hindi word “Rishta” that means relationship). Branded as “the scooter that’s made for your family,” the Rizta is Ather’s second model line. While Ather’s first model line, the 450 Series, is their nimble and fast Tesla Roadster, the Rizta is their larger and more family-oriented Tesla Model Y. It comes in two variants, the S and the Z. The S is an entry variant featuring a 4.3kW (22Nm peak torque) motor and a 2.9kWh battery pack. The Z is a premium trim with the same motor and either a 2.9kWh or 3.7kWh battery pack, as well as several upgrades around the seat, frame, and software. In line with the vehicle’s family-utility focus, the Rizta has an impressive 56L of storage space and one of the largest seats found on emopeds today. This is rounded out with a telescopic fork, rear monoschock suspension, and 12” tires to make the vehicle comfortable to ride and easy to control even when transporting the whole family. One of the hallmarks of Ather vehicles is their excellent software functionality, and the Rizta is packed to the brim with state-of-the art safety and UX-minded software features. Notable are the Rizta’s 7” displays, a Magic Twist throttle (twist down to accelerate and up to slow down), AutoHold to halt on inclines without using the brakes, Reverse Mode to get out of parking, SkidControl, live location sharing for passenger safety, several tow and theft alerts, emergency stop signals, a FallSafe that shuts down the motor automatically if the vehicle falls, WhatsApp integration, and integrated navigation (Google Maps or Turn-by-Turn navigation). Ather even recently launched a neat accessory called the Halo Bit, which is a module that you can attach to your helmet for intercom, music sharing, and other smart features. The Ather Rizta retails for $1,317. Remarkably, even though this MSRP is lower than that of most ebikes in the US market, the Rizta still isn’t the cheapest emoped available in India. Deliveries of the Ather Rizta will begin in June 2024. Listing can be found here.

2. Juiced JetCurrent Pro | $2,499 | USA

Launched just this last Wednesday, the Juiced JetCurrent Pro is a class-2/class-3 rocket of an ebike that effectively squeezes emoped performance into a folding ebike form factor. It’s a vehicle that pushes the boundaries of what folding ebikes are capable of. As Juiced CEO Tora Harris puts it, “the folding e-bike category is dominated by toy-like products, so we saw an opportunity to redefine what was possible.” The JetCurrent Pro has an ultra-high performance powertrain with impressive software and safety functionality. It features a 105Nm NeoBlade hub motor that is custom designed by Juiced and Bafang, as well as a 998.4Wh battery pack. The motor controller, which determines pedal assistance with both a torque sensor and a cadence sensor, is externally mounted on the bike’s frame. This is a clever design choice that frees up more space for a bigger battery and gives the controller better cooling. The ebike system is certified to UL 2849 standards, and the battery is SGS certified to UL 2271. While the JetCurrent Pro is limited to class-2/class-3 speeds out of the box, it has a Track mode that unlocks up to 30mph with the throttle and 34mph with pedaling. Rounding out the vehicle are strong 4-piston hydraulic brakes, a front suspension fork, integrated lighting (front, brake, and dual-facing turn signals), and a quick-release rear rack. It also has an integrated motion alarm system and a wireless remote for theft-prevention purposes. The JetCurrent Pro is 15 years in the making, and it is, without a doubt, the highest performance folding ebike I’ve come across. JetCurrent Pros are currently available for pre-order on Juiced’s website and are expected to ship in June. Listing can be found here.

3. Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser | $900 | Boston

The Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser is a multi-purpose class-2/class-3 city cruiser that is, as the seller aptly puts it, “one of the most versatile and functional eBikes money can buy.” It seamlessly blends traditional cruiser attributes — like a plush wide seat and swept-back handlebars — with the practicality, nimbleness, and cargo capabilities of an urban workhorse. The Cafe Cruiser’s powertrain features a strong 60Nm Bafang rear geared hub motor and a 720Wh battery pack that is UL 2271 certified. It also has a front suspension fork, hydraulic disc brakes with motor cut-offs/inhibitors, and specialized 3” wide tires that maximize comfort and control for riders. The Cafe Cruiser even has a sturdy integrated rear rack with a payload capacity of 150lbs, which can be combined with Ride1Up’s $125 Passenger Kit (quick-release rear seat, wheel covers, and foot pegs) to carry a child or small adult passenger in the rear. This is a rare capability among cruiser bikes, and exemplifies Ride1Up’s commitment to integrating innovative, city-friendly features into the classic and beloved cruiser form factor. This listing is for a step-over variant of the Cafe Cruiser in like-new condition (Flywheel estimated mileage of 209.01mi), and is listed for almost $300 less than the model’s average resale price. Listing can be found here.

4. Heybike HERO | $2,399 | USA

The Heybike HERO is a beefy class-2/class-3 carbon fiber fat-tire ebike designed for adventurous all-terrain riding. Its monstrous powertrain features a 100Nm rear hub motor (controlled by a torque sensor) and an 864Wh battery pack, and is paired with a 9-speed Shimano transmission. The HERO is also available in a 160Nm mid-drive variant which retails for ~$400 more. In either case, both ebike systems are TÜV certified in accordance with UL 2849. The HERO is capable of max speeds up to 31mph, which you can shockingly reach with just the throttle alone. Most notable about the HERO is its carbon fiber frame, which is kitted out with full-suspension (front suspension fork and rear horst link suspension) and has a 400lbs payload capacity. The carbon fiber frame itself only weighs 2.8kgs (~6.17lbs), but the HERO still weighs a hefty 75lbs given its big suspension and powertrain parts. That being said, the Hero is still significantly lighter than other ebikes with this kind of componentry. Rounding out the HERO are 26”x4” fat-tires and competent hydraulic disc brakes. The HERO is currently available for pre-order on Indiegogo for 47% off. It’s currently in the prototyping stage, but production is expected to begin in May 2024 and shipping is expected to begin in June 2024. Indiegogo products can sometimes be a bit of a mixed bag, but Heybike is a reputable brand that is almost a decade old and has shipped a dozen or so different models of bikes. Listing can be found here.

5. Himiway Cruiser | $800 | SF - Bay Area

The Himiway Cruiser is a class-2/class-3 heavy-duty cruiser and the 11th most popular ebike model in the used market. Although it’s described as a cruiser and has some of the typical finishings of a cruiser, it’s really an all-terrain fat-tire ebike with some serious performance. Its powertrain features an 80Nm geared rear hub motor and a 840Wh battery pack made of Samsung/LG cells, and is paired with a 7-speed Shimano drivetrain. Rounding out this vehicle are 26”x4” fat-tires and a front fork suspension to make it plush to ride when going over bumpy terrain. However, the Cruiser’s mechanical disc brakes don’t have the best deceleration capabilities and are a potential point of concern given the vehicle’s 350lb payload capacity. The Cruiser’s closest competitor is Rad Power’s RadRover Plus. Even though the Cruiser costs ~$100 less than its peer, I would probably still recommend a new RadRover Plus over the Cruiser given their hydraulic brakes and UL 2849 certification. This listing has a mileage of 350mi and is being sold because it’s too big for the seller. It has a significant depreciation from its MSRP despite its low mileage due to the $500 sale Himiway currently has on the model on their website. Listing can be found here.

That’s it for this edition. Thanks again for joining, see you next week!

- Puneeth Meruva