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Bolt M-1 : The Ultimate Urban Transporter

The world's most approachable motorcycle...and it's electric.

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Bolt M-1 : The Ultimate Urban Transporter

Bolt M-1 : The Ultimate Urban Transporter

Bolt M-1 : The Ultimate Urban Transporter

Bolt M-1 : The Ultimate Urban Transporter

Bolt M-1 : The Ultimate Urban Transporter

The world's most approachable motorcycle...and it's electric.

The world's most approachable motorcycle...and it's electric.

The world's most approachable motorcycle...and it's electric.

The world's most approachable motorcycle...and it's electric.

Joshua Rasmussen
Joshua Rasmussen
Joshua Rasmussen
Joshua Rasmussen
2 Campaigns |
San Francisco, United States
$222,884 USD by 104 backers
$205,934 USD by 97 backers on Oct 29, 2015
Highlights
Mountain Filled 2 Projects Mountain Filled 2 Projects


Inspired by the classic mopeds from the '70s and '80s, but with the technology of today, the M-1 merges software and hardware with retro styling.

Designed and built by Bolt Motorbikes in California


There is something inherently cool about motorcycles.  The M-1 delivers freedom and style with a twist of the throttle.  On an M-1, you feel like a superhero everywhere you go.  Hills flatten, distances shorten, and you don't have to pedal once.

The M-1 will turn heads and take you anywhere at anytime - just twist and go.  If you can ride a bicycle, you can ride an M-1.  There are no gears to shift, no clutch to grab, and the ride is whisper quiet.  Go faster and farther than any bicycle and get to places motorcycles can't.

The ride experience is at the heart of our design process.  As passionate motorcycle riders, we set out to make a motorbike that we were excited to ride, but also that anybody can ride.  We have riders who had never twisted a throttle hop on, and in seconds, they are riding like naturals.

Cruising in the park, commuting to work, riding doubles, or tearing up the twisties, riders find new reasons to get out on an M-1.  And the best part is that you can do it without a license, registration, or insurance.  

Playboy  - “Part of it is the cool factor.”

Cool Material  - “The perfect vehicle for the city dweller: an e-bike that effortlessly blends the style of a vintage motorcycle with the practically of a bicycle.”

Ferrvor  - “Password protected, a USB charger for your phone, and connect digitally through your smartphone, makes it one of the most hi-tech and functional electric bikes out there.”

Motorbike Writer - “A bike that gets it right with styling, practicality and technology.”

Engadget - “For urban environmentalists tired of showing up to work all sweaty, it could be the ultimate commuter.”

Top Speed - “There are a multitude of things to like about the Bolt M-1.”


The M-1 has rugged construction and is designed to handle mean city streets and off-road trails in all-weather conditions.

In Economy Mode, the M-1 is tuned to meet California electric bicycle regulations, but don't be fooled.  At 20 mph and with a range of 35 miles (city), you can ride all day, use the bicycle lane, and park anywhere.  You can even cruise into Golden Gate Park on Sundays when it is closed to vehicular traffic!

Sport Mode delivers pure power, style, and attitude.  Thrill-seekers and the adventurous can rip at speeds of 40 mph and have enough torque to climb the nastiest hills in San Francisco.  Feel the rush of a 110cc motorcycle without the responsibility of a 300+ pound machine.




100% electric (may contain traces of bicycle)

  • Steel frame
  • weight: 140lbs
  • carrying capacity: 2 riders (up to 350lbs)
  • Wheel size: 17 inches
  • Wheelbase: 45 inches
  • Seat height: 27 inches
  • Front brake: 220mm hydraulic disc
  • Rear brake: Regenerative / drum
  • LED headlight and integrated tail/brake light
  • Functional pedals

 

Keys are a thing of the past!  The M-1 is Bluetooth-enabled and connects to your smartphone.

  • Never lose your keys again
  • Share access with your trusted network
  • Remotely track activity
  • Crash detection
  • Listen to music (because now you don't have a loud engine roaring)
  • Navigation at your fingertips
  • Control security
With an internet-ready motorbike, you can do some very cool things!

If you lose your phone or your screen breaks (things happen), don't worry, because the M-1 is also password-activated.



Our 5-hour smart charger carefully manages battery health and ensures maximum range.  Simply plug one end of the charger into a standard wall outlet, the other into the bike, and press “GO."  Five hours and twenty-one cents of electricity later, you are ready to ride again.


We designed the M-1 with city-dwellers in mind.  No garage, no problem.  Our patented battery quick-release allows you to lock your M-1 outside, remove the batteries, and charge inside.



Let’s face it, getting around in a city can be a real pain in the butt.  The problem is that most trips are short, and existing options just don't cut it.

  • Cars are expensive / hard to park / stuck in traffic

  • Buses are slow / unreliable / stuck in traffic

  • Motorcycles are heavy / require a special license

  • Bicycles are exhausting / range-limited / slow

The M-1 solves these problems in a way that makes you look forward to getting around in your city, whether it is your trip to work, to get a burrito across town, or just for a joyride.  Don’t waste time in traffic or looking for parking; spend your time doing things you love...like riding your M-1.

In addition to the nuisance of parking and traffic, there is a need for renewable-energy-powered vehicles.  The M-1 is not only fully-electric, but it uses the most environmentally friendly lithium chemistry available, and our patented batteries are 100% serviceable and 100% recyclable. 




Nathan has a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and has always had a passion for reducing our environmental impact, including founding a non-profit A-Day-Without-Driving, a grassroots movement dedicated to educating the world about how we can decrease our carbon footprint.  He has brought products from concept to production in his last three startups including Intel-acquired Kno, electric motorcycle leader Zero Motorcycles, and wheelchair innovator Rio Mobility.  He has several patents awarded and more pending. 

Zach is a San Francisco native.  He has been building custom bicycles, mopeds, and motorcycles since he was 13 years old.  Creature Zach "Lee" Levenberg is known world-wide for his World Record setting 50cc moped ride from San Francisco to Tierra Del Fuego, a 13,000 mile and 6 month journey.  Zach was instrumental in the development of Lit Motors’ Kubo electric cargo scooter and the lead mechanic at 1977 Mopeds.  This guy can do anything!


Noah Sherman - Operations Manager

Noah has a background in business development and partner engagement specializing in growth strategy, emerging markets, management and public policy. He brings experience from small start-ups, large corporations and government.  He still loves his bicycle but can't wait to get his hands on an M-1. 

Kenneth White - Media & Strategy

Accomplished media producer, educator and social event designer with more than 15 years of experience and a proven track record of developing creative solutions that effectively inspire brand loyalty.  Ken is excited to be part of a team working on cleantech.

Stuart Philkill - Video Producer

Former founder of a video production company, Stuart has experience in business development, media and advertising management and creative direction. He's also a passionate environmentalist and avid motorcyclist.

Pearl Tin - Bolt Babe

Pearl has been a Bolt Motorbikes evangelist since its inception. She’s embraced Bolt’s culture and transformed her once wasteful lifestyle to one that is socially and environmentally responsible. She’s proud to represent Bolt and serve as COO of 501(c)3 nonprofit A-Day-Without-Driving. Pearl is a UCLA Bruin and has made a successful career in Business Development in startups of several verticals -  manufacturing, ad tech and gaming.

Steve Grigory - Strategy & Growth

Steve has been deeply involved in technology and creating consumer focused products for over 18 years. A veteran at Apple, Amazon and several funded startups, he has most recently been involved in App-based, On-demand Transportation. Steve received his B.A. in Electrical Engineering from Cal Poly, SLO. 


Marla Fong - Communications Liason 

Marla is a native San Franciscan who loves to eat and travel.  Her diverse background in tech journalism, communications, and organizing has brought her around the world.  After living in Beijing for three years, she returned to the U.S. to focus on social media management and web content development.


Don Hutchison - Advisor 

Don is a highly regarded principal, founder and advisor with a successful history of advising over 55 innovative start-ups.  He is the Founder & Chairman of Recurrent Energy, which raised $85M and then successfully acquired in February 2015.  We are lucky to have him on our team!

STARTER SWAG

 + Bumper Sticker + cool Bolt Mini-Stickers


M-1 STARTER PACKAGE

+ Bumper Stickers + Mini-Stickers


THE M-1 

 + 5-hour smart charger + 1 yr warranty



This limited run of 100 M-1 motorbikes is only shipping within the U.S.  For the rest of the world, don’t worry, your motorbikes are coming.  Even within the U.S., there is quite a range of shipping options, and we want to get you your M-1 as quickly and affordably as possible.  We will coordinate tax and shipping with each customer at the close of the campaign.

  • Bolt Labs pick-up in Brisbane, CA- Free

  • San Francisco Bay Area (within 100 miles of Bolt Labs in Brisbane) – $75

  • Everywhere else in the U.S. - we are negotiating nationwide shipping rates, but plan for $300 - $700 depending on your location and delivery arrangements.

We have seen a number of projects delayed for over a year due to poor planning and execution.  Many of these companies used too much smoke and mirrors in their campaign, and their design was not ready for production.  Others had a refined prototype, but their inability to scale to large orders resulted in long delays and unsatisfied supporters.

At Bolt Motorbikes, three years of nights and weekends have been devoted to developing the next generation motorbike.  For the last two years, our full-time efforts have been on the M-1 with a focus on design for manufacture.  We have created multiple prototypes, tested and refined our electronics, and we’ve had over 250 real people ACTUALLY RIDE our motorbikes. 

Our years of experience in product design has taught us that you don’t make 100 in the first run.  You make a handful to iron out the process.  The next 20 validate the process so that we can scale to 100 and more.  This scaling concept is embraced in our production plan and reflected in our rewards.

From now until our bikes roll off the line, we have a few areas of focus:

  • Refine the UI and Bluetooth connectivity

  • Develop cloud-based data logging

  • Package our charger solution

  • Order large batch of big-ticket items

  • Refine tooling for body and plastics fabrication

  • Assembly refinement

  • Production testing

  • First shipment


Bringing an electric vehicle to production has high up-front costs.  Your support will help bring production cost down by allowing for larger orders on big-ticket items. Your support will also help develop next-generation tooling and fixtures for ease of manufacturing and assembly.  This allows us to continue to offer the M-1 at the competitive price of $5,495.

Having proven the concept and technology of the M-1 with over 4,000 miles of aggressive testing, we want to get these beauties into your hands.  Your feedback will help us continue to make the best motorbike that meets the needs of real riders.

Support from the Indiegogo community also reassures us that we are on the right path.  It also uncovers deficiencies that we might have overlooked.  With such a diverse audience, Indiegogo is a great way to stay in touch with riders of all types.

Please share our campaign through social media and your friends.


The risks associated with this project are essentially the same as you would find taking any ambitious technological project to production.  We worked hard to minimize risk in all aspects of the project.

Reliability: Some projects fail because their products are not reliable or rugged enough for consumer use.  Our motorbikes have over 4,000 miles of real-world testing of the chassis, drive train, and electronics.

Sourcing: A risk that many hardware projects face is that of discontinued items. Our team has experience with production volumes in the thousands-per-week range.  We’ve learned the value of reliable sources and secondary suppliers for key items and embrace that philosophy in our motorbikes.

Safety: Particularly with electric vehicles, it is important to have redundant systems.  We only use quality electronics and assembly practices, and all of our motorbikes have redundant safety built-in.

Scalability: Another area many projects fail is inability to meet higher-than-anticipated demand.  Our suppliers can handle larger orders, and our assembly story leverages modular subassemblies to minimize downtime and switching between tools.  We have also implemented product lifecycle monitoring on all parts.

We have an aggressive execution plan, and are ready to face the challenges ahead.

How fast does it go?

To meet California electric bicycle regulations, Economy Mode is tuned for a top speed of 20 mph. For off-road use, engage Sport Mode to reach 40 mph and higher power.  

How far can it go?

In Economy Mode and cruising at 20 mph on a bicycle path, the M-1 can travel up to 50 miles (30-35 in city) on a single charge and WITHOUT PEDALING ONCE.  For the adventurous (and “for off-road use only”), activate Sport Mode for a thrilling 5.5kW, 40 mph ride for 20-30 miles.  

How do I charge it?

Our standard 5-hour smart charger carefully manages battery health and ensures maximum range.  Simply plug one end of the charging brick into any standard wall outlet, the other into the bike, and press GO.

If you live in an apartment and don’t have a garage, simply remove the batteries with the theft-resistant quick-release, lock your bike outside, and charge your batteries inside using our charging adaptor.

Really... No license required?

Correct!  The M-1’s Economy Mode is limited to a top speed of 20 mph and 1,000 watts to comply with California electric bicycle regulations.  Each state may have its own restrictions which you can view here.

In California, as long as you are 16 years or older and wear a bicycle helmet, you can ride an M-1,  and you don’t need a license, registration or insurance.

What do I do if I run out of batteries?

You can actually set the M-1 onto its center stand and charge the batteries by pedaling.  However, conservation of energy suggests that you are just as well off pedaling home.

How long do the batteries last?

Our patented Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries are rated for over 2,000 cycles before any noticeable reduction in performance.  What that means is that you can ride your M-1 30 miles a day, every day for 5.5 years.  Just like a Tesla, your batteries will last 5-8 years depending on how hard you ride.

What is the maintenance schedule?

Unlike vehicles with internal combustion engines, the vibrations that the M-1 experiences are far less, so nuts and bolts don’t loosen over time.  With no oil to change or valves to adjust, the M-1 saves you even more money.  Just like with a bicycle, periodic chain, brakes and tire maintenance are required.  The M-1 is smart enough to know when it is time to perform routine maintenance.

I've never ridden a motorcycle, will I be able to learn?

If you can ride a bicycle you can ride an M-1.  We have people who never twisted a throttle as well as experienced motorcyclists hop on and effortlessly ride away.

How does the M-1 handle rain?

The M-1 performs flawlessly in rain, though just as with a bicycle or a motorcycle, extra caution must be used for safety and maneuverability.  You can actually ride the M-1 under water (assuming it has very low ionic content), though it is not recommended.

Where is the M-1 built?

We are proud to say that the M-1 is built in the USA.  In fact, we just outgrew our home in San Francisco's Richmond district and will be moving to a sweet new home just south of San Francisco in sunny Brisbane.  It will serve as out new Bolt Labs for development and construction, showroom, and demo rides.  Drop by to say hello!

What does the 1 year warranty cover?

Our warranty covers all manufacturing defects and not parts with damage due to abuse or misuse.  We provide technical support and consultation.

This warranty is effective only if the product is used under normal conditions for its intended purpose and the product receives all necessary maintenance and adjustments.  We reserve the right to determine what damage is due to defective materials and what is due to product abuse or misuse.  All warranties are void if abuse or misuse is detected.  

This warranty extends only to the original customer and is non-transferrable.

Common wear items are not covered under warranty, such as tires, brakes, lights, rubber covers, seat covers, and other plastic parts. 

Does the warranty cover me if I don’t live in California?

The same as above.  However, if a shipment is required, you must pay for the shipment of the broken part to our service center via UPS, FedEx, or US Postal. When we receive the broken part, we will ship you a replacement part free of charge.

I'm tall.  Will this work for me?

We’ve had people as tall as 6'7" ride an M-1.  If you’re shorter than that, the M-1 is perfect for you.  Actually, the taller you are, the more like a supersport motorcycle it feels.  We are motorcycle riders and particularly love supersport, so that was our inspiration.  We think you will like it as well.

I'm short.  Will this work for me?

We've had petite 5'0" ladies hop on the M-1 and transform into total badasses (5'0" men do the same).  The M-1 is light enough to be comfortably managed by a smaller person.  We suggest riders are at least 4'11" to ride. 

Is this M-1 model the same for men and women?

It sure is.  Women and men love the M-1 equally and every test rider comes back with a grin that just won't quit.  

Is there a weight limit?

The M-1 accommodates 2 riders or up to 350lbs.  Passenger pegs are sold separately through our website.

What about theft?

There is no substitute for good judgment, and that includes where you lock your  M-1.  Nothing is theft-proof but we can slow thieves down.  First, the M-1 is keyless and password protected.  Only you and authorized users can start your M-1.  When locking outside, we recommend a 9" U-lock that you can buy at any bicycle shop, hardware store, or online.  Simply lock your M-1 to a bicycle rack as you would a regular bicycle, and your M-1 should be right where you left it when you return.

Can I customize my bike?

Not quite yet.  Currently, the M-1 Bolt Motorbike is available in Classic Black, but we're working on other color schemes and aftermarket upgrades including passenger pegs, storage and basket options, extra batteries, and more.  Everything not listed here will be available through our website, so stay tuned.  If you have specific requests or cool ideas, please contact us directly...we wanna hear from you!

From the team at Bolt Motorbikes, many thanks to all of our contributors and supporters along the way.  We would not be where we are without you!

We also want to give a little shout out to a few specific folks:

Wind River / HEXO+ / Slick / KID-Group / Treatland / Creatures of the Loin 
Elliot Ortiz / Monica Semergiu / Josh Franta / Quan Pham
Miguel de Ocampo / David "Ciao" Wajsfelner / Ace Levenberg 
Harvey and Donna /  P.O.V.

Most importantly, thanks to our partners for putting up with the long hours to date (and for those to come).

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Choose your Perk

featured

SWAG STARTER PACKAGE

$50 USD
Be the first to sport our exclusive design printed on a premium all-cotton T-shirt (S, M, L, XL) + bumper sticker "I'd rather be riding a BOLT” + Bolt Mini-sticker.
Estimated Shipping
December 2015
14 claimed
Ships to United States of America

Wall of Fame

$15 USD
A HUGE thank you and your name on the Wall of Fame on Bolt Motorbike’s webpage for ETERNITY!
Estimated Shipping
November 2015
20 claimed
Ships worldwide.

Experience the M-1

$200 USD
Come see where the magic happens. Join us for a tour and meet the team at Bolt Labs in sunny Brisbane followed by a 15-mile guided ride that you'll never forget.
Estimated Shipping
March 2016
2 claimed

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