Cheap Electric Thrills – Ryvid Outset is Actually… Good?
Look, I’ll level with you. I love electric bikes as much as the next car-crazed gearhead, but only with four wheels, a healthy dose of horsepower, and the smell of gasoline permeating the air… No, not really, I actually love motorbikes whether they are gas or electron-powered. And when I came across the Ryvid Outset “scrambler-style” electric motorcycle, well, my heart kinda skipped a beat. I felt like I was trying to resist a puppy at the pound – sure, it’ll be a pain, but I gotta see what all the fuss is about.
First things first - the price tag on this thing is insane. Ryvid is selling it for $5,995! That’s almost as cheap as the fuel I’ll inevitably waste on some dinosaur-era sportbike this summer. And they also just dropped the price on their first model, the Anthem, all the way down to $6,495. Apparently, scaling up production in sunny California really does come with its perks.
Alright, enough about dollars and cents – let’s talk about the bike. Ryvid has built the Outset (and the Anthem, for that matter) on some kind of weird, folded metal frame meant to be super light. And it really is – the whole frame apparently weighs just 12 lbs (5 kg)!
Numbers-wise, you’re looking at a 72-volt system and a 4.3 kWh battery pack. Ryvid claims this will take you about 70 miles (112 km) if you’re gentle, but we all know that ain’t happening. The real-world range is probably closer to a quick commute to work and back. Not touring material, folks!
Here’s where things get interesting. Despite this little bike’s diminutive size, it’s got a 10 horsepower motor (7kW) that can briefly spike to 20 horses (14 kW) and puts out 53 foot-pounds (72 Nm) of twist. Plus, it’ll hit 75 mph (120 km/h) – not too shabby for something that looks like it barely comes up to your knee.
The best part about electric motors? Aside from not needing gasoline, that is. They’ve got regenerative braking and - praise the gods of parking lots - reverse gear! Anyone who’s ever pushed a bike uphill will understand why that’s a huge win.
While there’s lots of shared bits between the Outset and the Anthem (smart move to cut costs, Ryvid), this scrambler ain’t just a copycat. It sits higher with a 33-inch (84 cm) seat that somehow still manages to be comfy, and they’ve moved the pegs and given it a wider handlebar. The off-roading possibilities suddenly seem a lot more tempting.
Look, I'm as surprised as you are. I came across this expecting to roast another flimsy attempt at getting commuters buzzing around on two-wheeled blenders. But honestly? The Ryvid Outset looks like a solid, affordable electric bike that's actually got some adventure potential. It's no replacement for my fire-breathing superbike, but damn if it wouldn't be a fun way to zip around town. Just maybe keep one of those goofy helmets handy if you get any ideas.
