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Welcome to Flywheel, a weekly exploration of the used side of owned micromobility. Each newsletter will highlight five of the most interesting used vehicles being sold in the market followed by an observation of trends emerging in the industry.

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This week’s features are two class-3 commuters, an electric cargo trike, a compact utility bike, and an iconic vintage Dutch pedal-bike. The observation of the week introduces the Flywheel Vehicle Value, a residual value model that helps understand the value, degradation, and suggested prices of used micromobility vehicles.

Top 5 Vehicles of the Week

1. Raleigh Redux iE | $1,399 | NYC

The Raleigh Redux iE is a speed-focused urban class-3 commuter. The Redux iE is actually a refresh of the old Redux model, with Raleigh switching to the Bosch Performance line motor from the old Brose Drive TF system. Redux iE’s new powertrain features a 350W motor with a 500Wh battery pack, giving riders ~45 miles of range. One of the other key changes Raleigh made is in the suspension, downgrading the old suspension to a stiffer set up. While this may be a nuisance for the average rider, the stiffness provides a more agile and responsive feeling that a lot of sports riders prefer. This specific listing is in like-new condition, and seems to have an unlocked top-speed limiter. Listing can be found here.

2. Butchers and Bicycles MK1-E | $4,500 | Seattle

The Butchers and Bicycles MK1-E is a Danish class-1 cargo trike. Butchers and Bicycles designed this vehicle as a reimagination of typical cargo bikes that gives riders the experience of riding a two-wheeled commuter despite carrying up to ~200lbs in payload. Most notable about this vehicle is its tilting mechanism, while allows riders to make sharp, tight turns without compromising safety or stability. The powertrain, featuring a Bosch Performance line 350W motor, 400Wh battery pack, and NuVinci continuous automatic transmission that can be shifted at stand-still also makes it really easy for riders to navigate the vehicle at low speeds and accelerate from a stop. Even the front cargo bin is designed to be modular in nature, and can be outfitted with a series of accessories (i.e. plastic door, bench seats, seat belts) provided by Butchers and Bicycles. One negative that often comes up is that the tilting mechanism makes turning a bit harder for smaller riders, but this is often the case with most cargo bikes. This specific listing has a number of upgrades over the stock model (NuVinci Harmony N360 transmission and Supernova E3 lights) but does not come with the Bosch 400 battery pack ($630 to buy new). Listing can be found here.

3. Benno Boost | $3,750 | LA

A Flywheel favorite, the Benno Boost is a class-3 compact cargo bike. Designed to be extremely utility forward, the Boost has a modular front and rear rack system that can be configured to everything from a hauling workhorse to a two-kid family bike. The Boost features a Bosch Performance Speed powertrain with a 250W mid-drive motor and a Bosch 500Wh battery pack. The 24” fat tires also lower the Boost’s center of gravity and make it more agile. This listing has a very low mileage (<300 miles), was mainly stored indoors, and comes with proof of purchase. Listing can be found here.

4.Ride1UP Roadster V2 | $850 | SF - Bay Area

The Ride1UP Roadster V2 is arguably the best budget commuter on the market. As a class-3 ebike that weighs less than 35lbs all while selling for a ~$1,100 MSRP, the Roadster V2 is a remarkably well performing and well-priced ebike. Much of the Roadster V2’s weight reduction comes from the fact that it is single speed, but the 350W geared hub motor provides a reasonable amount of support and torque on inclines. This vehicle is designed for stealth, with the 250Wh battery pack neatly integrated into the frame and the motor and cabling well hidden. Given that most other stealth-ebikes are typically class-1 or class-2 vehicles capped at 20mph, the performance specs of the V2 given its sleek design make it one of the best possible options for riders looking for a minimalist ebike. This listing has almost no usage (87 miles) and comes with an upgraded front brake that allows riders to more easily remove the front wheel for transport. Listing can be found here.

5. VanMoof 6.1 M2 | $500 | SF - Bay Area

This listing featuring a 2012 VanMoof 6.1 M2 is truly a rare find. Predating VanMoof’s shift to focus on ebikes, the M2 is actually a pedal-bike with a 3-speed internal transmission. The M2 carries a lot of the iconic VanMoof design elements that the brand is known for today. Front and rear lights are integrated into the frame (one of the first electric smart features VanMoof introduced), and the Dutch-style frame is made of the same aluminum tubing and geometry found on the VanMoof ebikes of today. An iconic vehicle from a pioneering company in micromobility, and a well maintained listing that would make for an awesome collectible. Listing can be found here.

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Observation of the Week

Introducing the Flywheel Vehicle Value: Residual value models for vehicles tracked by Flywheel.

Inspired by the Kelley Blue Book’s Blue Book Value, I am pleased to introduce the Flywheel Vehicle Value. The Flywheel Vehicle Value is a residual value model that helps solve the opaque and inconsistent pricing in used micromobility and helps understand the value, degradation, and suggested prices of different types of vehicles over their lifetime.

Currently, this model is primarily based on miles ridden, years since purchase, and vehicle condition self-reported by sellers as well as the Flywheel Price Comparison (comparison to average market resale price). As Flywheel grows and continues to track higher volumes of vehicles, I’ll be looking to incorporate more granular market data (i.e. pricing patterns by region, prices of new vehicles, and input from manufacturers, technicians, and other experts). The Flywheel Vehicle Value can be found in the caption of each listing image.

A fun fact: In 2022, the used value of bikes from Juiced degraded the least while the used value of bikes from Propella degraded the most.

Thanks to Nathan Stevens for brainstorming with me ways to extract ridership data from used listings, and check out his excellent thread summarizing his findings on used vehicle ridership.

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

- Puneeth Meruva

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