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Is it riddled with surveillance like their car-sized EVs?
I hope manufacturers can come out with something with about twice the power of this, with a dual-sport dirt bike configuration, while still being fairly inexpensive.
:)
set to go on sale in the Japanese market next month
:(
"No motorcycle license" where?
Presumably Japan, which appears to be the only market in which this will be sold. In the US this would absolutely fall into the legal limbo where most low-output electric two wheeled things are inevitably mired, which will result in most/all states refusing to plate them.
If you're going to have to ride dirty anyhow, you may as well just rice out a Surron and at least have a hope of outrunning the cops on it.
In California, the largest motorcycle market in the USA, this would be regulated as a moped (CVC Section 406), since it is electric, has a motor less than 3 kW (4 HP in old money), and a top speed of less than 30 MPH (48 kph).
Riders wouldn't need an M1 motorcycle license, but instead an M2 moped license would suffice. An M1 license allows riding anything that needs an M2 license, such as this moped. The process for an M2 is classroom instruction, and then a brief practical exam. There is no annual registration for mopeds, but there is a one-time plate fee, to obtain a plate from the DMV. There is no insurance requirement for mopeds.
A moped can be ridden in either traffic lanes and bike lanes (but not shoulders, which only bicycles are permitted to use). Whereas bicycles are obligated to use a bike lane when present (with a few obvious exceptions), a moped is not forced to use a bike lane. When riding in a traffic lane, a moped must keep to the right-most lane if slower than all other traffic.
IANAL, but all of this can be verified in the CVC. The result is that mopeds (a vestige of the 1970s oil crisis) could absolutely make a comeback if priced correctly, since ebikes already provide similar mobility.
yeah, my motor is 750W (right under 1HP), top speed 28. it has a throttle so it's class 2 electric, no license needed.
i really want to figure out how to change the max speed on the throttle to something lower so i can get better mileage and maybe go someplace a little further, but i'm not entirely sure how the math maths on that one (friction and air resistance y'know) and not have to buy an extra battery, but we'll see
If you have a question about your own ebike and not the Honda moped in the OP's post, you should start a new post so that other people can try to answer.
That said, at least in California and many other states, 28 MPH is not allowed on a Class 2 ebike. Only a Class 3 ebike can do 28 MPH, but a throttle is not allowed on a Class 3. Class 2 tops out at 20 MPH.
oh i've got the manual and all that, i just can't get the change to commit for some reason. and you're right, it's set at 20. i've got a flat and it's been raining for a while so i haven't taken her out for a month or so. brain fog and all that.
If it wasn't for the icy roads around here during the winter, I would absolutely love one of these.
Wondering when they'll start making two-wheel drive motorcycles. Something trivially easy for EVs. Not so for gas.
They exist. They are specialty, and expensive, and their handling characteristics are decidedly strange. Especially at road speeds. To the very last one they're intended for use in mucky off-road conditions.
See also:
The Rokon Trail-Breaker (not street legal, at least not here)
Also the various Christini 2WD conversions, which have been around for ages.
I believe there are also some concept street bikes from the Japanese makers with proposed electric/hybrid part time 2WD systems mostly intended to allow you to launch the things off the line faster without flipping over onto your arse.
I've taken a few dirt bikes for a spin but never a motorcycle. Can you describe what makes the handling strange?
On a traditional motorcycle (or bicycle, for that matter) the rear wheel pushes the front. A two wheel drive bike allows the front wheel to pull also, which if you have the front wheel turned significantly and then power is applied to it, i.e. under acceleration, it tends to make the whole bike try to make itself stand upright unexpectedly and throw you to the outside. This has the net effect of widening your turn, which at speed is one of those things that's likely to result in you making friends with a tree. Or oncoming traffic, depending which way you were turning relative to the road.
You can already wash out the front wheel on a bike by braking, but on a two wheel drive machine there's also the new and exciting possibility of washing out the front under acceleration, as well. Losing traction on the rear while the front is still pulling in slippery conditions, i.e. those where a two wheel drive machine is most likely to be used, winds up with both wheels ultimately pulling in different directions, especially if the rear hooks up again unexpectedly. This will probably result in an unrecoverable tip-over unless your bike is very light or you're going very slowly. This may go some way towards explaining why that Rokon bike linked above has a top speed of 35 MPH.
You can sidestep all of this malarkey by getting a sidecar equipped bike with a driven wheel on the sidecar like the various Ural models. These have a freewheeling front like a traditional motorcycle, but a solid axle in the rear that drives both the bike's wheel and the sidecar's wheel for snow traction. It's certainly not impossible to tip over a sidecar bike (especially on the side that hasn't got the sidecar attached to it) but it's certainly a damn sight harder than a bike without one.
Very interesting! I'm thinking that the disadvantages you outline are a problem that could be overcome with experience. After all, by definition AWD gives an extra lever of control to the rider. Obviously the crashes by new riders have to be factored into the cost-benefit equation.
Great explanation, thank you. I "felt" the forces and get how it'd cause problems.
If money grew on trees I'd totally get sidecar bike. I'm sure my dog would love it
There used to be sidecars with dogs wearing goggles far more often. That would feels so faraway.
That could be me if they'd just rig the lottery like I've been asking
If you have space, why not get this for the majority of the year and then car for the rest?
Instructions unclear. Have a car, also wound up with seven motorcycles.
I wonder if studded tyres would work out on them. It's quite effective on bikes, I'm able to bike through winter in Stockholm safely with them.
Gogoro has had this since 2015: https://www.gogoro.com/gogoro-network/
It would be nice if they offered that in the US. I know the market is different here, but I think there is a market for these types of vehicles in city and rural area both. Just not the charging stations, probably.
this post was submitted on 20 Feb 2026
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micromobility - Bikes, scooters, boards: Whatever floats your goat, this is micromobility
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