 |
FUTR.tv PodcastAuthor: FUTR.tv
FUTR.tv is a weekly interview podcast talking with the innovators who are building the future, focusing on technology, sustainability and social responsibility Language: en-us Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship, Technology Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
Listen Now...
Moped Gangs Are Back - And They're Electric!
Episode 183
Tuesday, 17 February, 2026
Send a textTim Seward built a 65 MPH electric moped in his garage to one-up his buddies. People wouldn't stop asking where to buy it. So he started Onyx Motors, raised almost a million bucks on Indiegogo in 3 hours… then sold the company for $1. When his successor died unexpectedly, Tim came back to rebuild from scratch. This is that story.The RCR 80V is a 91-volt electric motorbike that hits 65–75 MPH, goes 130 miles on a charge, runs Apple CarPlay, and costs about 75 cents to charge at home. It's built on a metal tube frame with swappable aluminum panels — designed from day one to be customized, modded, and made your own. Think less iPhone, more Lego kit.Tim breaks down the moped gang culture that started it all, why Americans are 20 years behind the rest of the world on two-wheeled transport, what he learned designing scooters at Bird, and why Gen Z might never buy a car.CHAPTERS0:00 – Cold Open0:00 – Intro: Who is Tim Seward?0:01 – Why Build Something That Lasts?0:03 – Moped Army & Moped Mondays0:05 – Moped Culture: US vs. the World0:07 – The Scooter Armageddon (Bird & South by Southwest)0:09 – Working at Bird & the Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicle0:11 – Red Lights & "It's Not For Sale"0:13 – The Indiegogo Campaign ($920K in Hours)0:15 – Selling Onyx for $10:18 – Losing James & Resurrecting the Brand0:21 – Starting a Company Twice0:22 – The RCR 80V: Size, Speed & Power0:25 – Regulations & Licensing0:26 – Metal vs. Plastic: Design Philosophy0:28 – Built to Customize (Not Lock Down)0:31 – CarPlay, Navigation & Built-In Tech0:33 – Mounting Points, Mods & Steady Garage0:36 – Swappable Panels & Custom Builds0:40 – Favorite Mods: Back to the Future Build0:43 – The $245B Electric Vehicle Market0:46 – Gen Z Doesn't Want Cars0:49 – Park It on the Sidewalk (or Your Desk)0:52 – Speed Modes & Motorcycle Registration0:54 – What's Next for Onyx Motors0:56 – Where to Buy + OutroLINKSOnyx Motors → https://onyxmotors.comOnyx on Instagram → https://instagram.com/onyxmotorsSteady Garage (aftermarket accessories) → https://steadygarage.comOnyx Garage (custom builds gallery) → https://onyxmotors.com/pages/garageClick Here to Subscribe: FUTR.tv focuses on startups, innovation, culture and the business of emerging tech with weekly podcasts talking with Industry leaders and deep thinkers.Occasionally we share links to products we use. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases on Amazon.
