Fun + Street Legal = The Bandit

Mopeds are back and are hitting the streets in an evolved/electric form. Unfortunately, federal/state guidelines in the USA are getting more complicated as the influence of electric vehicles spreads. 

• Around the country there has been a rise in the 2hp (1,491 Watt) standard. This guidelines seeks to be the equivalent as the old 50cc rule for gas motors in many states. Our team spent two years developing a geared hub motor within this specification so that you don't put yourself in legal jeopardy. 
• The design is also programmed to keep within all 50 states' speed guidelines: (20, 30, or 35mph depending on state)
• We then took it a step further and worked with the DOT to register the design for VIN's and added all required safety features such as mirrors  and turn signals.
• As a result, you can stay within the guidelines and not need a motorcycle license! 

Customizable with a Right to Repair

We understand that moped and motorcycle enthusiasts love to customize their rides. Every design decision on the Bandit was made with the intention of easy modification and repair. A simple example was our decision to use a thumb throttle over a twist throttle. The reason: we wanted to give you the ability to add custom bike grips and swap out handlebars. All parts on our design maintain this philosophy and allow them to be tuned up by any classic bicycle shop! 

The Challenge

When creating a unique bike frame, manufacturers develop special tools that make high volume production possible. These tools are extremely expensive, but drive the cost way down for the consumer. Our current volume puts us in a category where all of our frames must be hand welded, driving up cost. If we can meet our funding goals, our team will be able to afford these tools and knock down costs. As a sign of confidence, we have priced the Bandit at a mark that reflects this high volume goal.

Design Background

Our team began working on the concept for an electric moped back in 2018. At the time, our budget was very tight and we needed a stepping stone. We decided to create a short run of the first version using a 500 watt motor to be sold along our other electric bikes. This allowed us to gauge customer interest and decide if the project would be worth pushing further. We quickly sold out of the 500 watt  and decided to commit to a second generation in the moped category. Our engineers soon developed a unique prototype called "Project Scorpio." This design simulated our target power through the use of a dual hub design (front and rear motors). By late 2019, our design had been completed and an order for our first small batch of frames was submitted. They arrived in June 2020 and we were able to produce our first six consumer ready models for our campaign launch. We're now attempting to tool up for large production runs and need your support to make our price target a reality.

Specs

Our Team 

We're a small team with a headquarters located in Branford, CT. Come on by for a visit! You can also check out our Youtube channel to see custom build videos with the team members!