Huck cyclesa North Carolina electric moped manufacturer, finds that its off-road optimized electric moped is also proving very popular with city dwellers.
It’s a surprising find, considering the bike was originally designed for hunters, campers and other outdoor enthusiasts who wanted a powerful yet (relatively) lightweight electric two-wheeler.
The bike was inspired by the classic Honda Motra, itself a popular recreational mini-bike from the 1980s.
Far from being a heavyweight electric adventure bike, the 145-pound (65 kg) Huck Overland is a smaller, more agile vehicle. It comes with a 3 kW nominal motor and a 6 kW peak motor, and packs a 3 kWh battery with a range of 64 km.
As founder and CEO Brett McCoy explained to ElectrekIt’s not just hunters and anglers who have taken the Overland:
“I was shocked at how many people in big cities like NYC, LA and Miami jumped on this model as daily commuters. Apparently Mad Max’s rugged look suits city dwellers as well.
Like other Huck Cycles models, the Overland is street legal and comes with a VIN and certificate of origin from the manufacturer. This is one of the benefits of handling manufacturing locally in North Carolina, from welding bare frames and the management of each step of the assembly. As a manufacturer, Huck Cycles can guarantee regulatory compliance.
Not everyone will need to register the bikes, as they have a limited-speed “moped mode” that allows them to classify as a 49cc scooter or moped in many states. In other states, a motorcycle endorsement may be required and bikes may need to be registered as motorcycles. In this case, unlocking the higher speed ability allows riders to get the most out of bikes after registering them as complete motorcycles.
It’s a move we’ve seen from other companies like ONYX explore toowhich allows cyclists to stay legal and use their bikes responsibly within the limits of different state laws.
With multiple gear modes, Huck’s bikes can reach speeds of “45+ mph,” that plus sign likely doing some heavy lifting. Owners have reported exceeding that 45mph figure with room to spare.
As urban rides, these roughly $5,800 machines offer a legal upgrade over 28mph e-bikes without entering full heavy e-motorcycle territory. They are essentially a re-imagining of the 1970s heyday of 50cc mopeds.
As popular as the Overland has proven for urban cyclists, the Rebel remains the company’s bestseller after its debut several years ago.
With a more traditional moped design, it uses a top tank style frame, with the contents of the “tank” replaced by a 3kWh battery. The more recognizable style is probably better suited to riders who aren’t looking for the Mad Max vibe the Overland offers.
The $5,400 rebel actually has footpegs instead of pedals, which means many of my more pedantic readers will soon be blasting my comments section to blame me for misusing the “ped” part of the word “moped”.
Most states happen to have moped laws that include what we sometimes call “nopeds”, or bikes like these that are the size of a moped but feature pegs instead of pedals. And so the word moped has grown and evolved over time, now widely used for a class of vehicles between heavy electric bicycles and light electric motorcycles, with or without pedals.
Whatever you call them, Huck’s electric two-wheelers certainly capture classic moped charm while applying a 21st century twist.
But for those who want something a little bigger, the Huck Stinger pushes the brand into lightweight electric motorcycle territory with a bigger, more capable bike.
Should cost between $6,500 and $9,500 depending on the load, the huck stinger will arrive in the fourth quarter of this year.
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