I spent the weekend exploring everything that Portland's One Moto Show had to offer, and long story short: It's an amazing event and you should definitely check it out next year! I saw amazing custom builds, daring stunt performances, and heart-pounding flat track races. I also met some amazing people and ate the most delicious corndog of all time - shoutout to all the amazing local food trucks who were in attendance! A lot happened at the show, but the builder showcase was the main attraction: custom built vehicles of every imaginable size, shape, and style. They weren't all motorcycles, either; I saw a Harley-Davidson quad ATV, Honda's Motocompacto suitcase scooters, and some truly creative minibike builds. Ride along with me in the below video for the full experience!
Motorcycle shows typically focus on ICE (internal combustion engine) bikes, and tend to be more about artistic and extravagant builds than they do about utility or environmental friendliness. That was mostly true for this year's edition of the One Moto Show in Portland; I witnessed ridiculous amounts of smoke from burning tires during stunt shows, and started getting loopy from exhaust fumes during the flat track racing event. Why the heck do they hold these things indoors?! It was still a ton of fun, and I was pleasantly surprised to see some electrified brands in attendance. The show attendees were generally curious and receptive to the idea of electric two-wheelers, and downright stoked once they got to test one out. Ryvid was the only electric brand offering demos, and they also unveiled a new model called the Outset!
The Outset extends the Anthem platform for adventuring off the pavement
While there were a handful of custom electric motos on display, Ryvid was the only electric brand with a serious presence. They had a proper exhibit on the show floor where they displayed the Outset, their upcoming model that builds on their wildly successful Anthem platform. The core of the bike --including the modular battery setup-- is unchanged, but the Outset has quite a few upgrades to turn it into more of a dual-sport moto:
Beefier suspension with 2" front / 1.5" rear additional travel
New body and seat
No more adjustable seat height! The new seat is fixed at 33" (on the Anthem it can adjust between 30-34")
Dunlop Mutant tires come stock (you can also get these on the Anthem if you want)
Wider handlebars with a bit of rise, plus grip guards
New headlight faring
Footpegs are positioned more forward
If you're an existing Anthem owner and wish you waited for the Outset, the good news is that you can simply acquire the needed parts and transform your Anthem accordingly.
Ryvid also offered test rides featuring their new controller
Last month Ryvid announced an ASI controller upgrade for the Anthem, available as a configuration option or post-purchase upgrade. It increases acceleration by 30%, and with a cost of $1,000 I've been on the fence about ordering it for my Anthem. All of Ryvid's demo ride models were equipped with the new controller, so of course I took it out for a spin and wow, it's fast! I felt like I was riding a completely different bike. Not only is there more acceleration, but the power response time is also much quicker, most noticeable when you're already moving at speed and twist the throttle more. Off the line it feels like enough power on tap to accidentally pop a wheelie if you aren't paying attention; by contrast the stock Anthem is a bit more fool-proof with a softer power curve.
I think the ASI controller is definitely worth the cost of upgrading; note that Ryvid is charging a pretty fair price for what you get, especially if you get it as a configuration option on a new Anthem for $800. I especially like how it felt in Eco mode, making it just zippy enough that I wasn't constantly tempted to sacrifice some of my range by bumping up to Sport. The ASI controller is already available in Ryvid's online shop, but you'll have to wait for the Outset (and it's related parts), expected to release sometime this summer. Stay tuned!
