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The Luna Talaria xXx blew our minds when it was announced earlier this year at an introductory price of $3000 shipped – and we hope you got in on that when we exclusively reported it. That price has gone up slightly to $3550 ($3250+$300) shipped, but it still represents an amazing deal on an incredibly well-built electric motorcycle, but where does this thing really fit in? Let’s find out…

You might want to get a bib because these Talaria xXx specs are drool-worthy:

  • Motor: 6kW peak, 3kW nominal. 95% efficient quiet EPM motor
  • Battery ~2.4kWh, 40ah (38.4 nominal) 60 volt battery. 21700 LG cells
  • Battery charger: 120VAC input, 67.2V max output (60V nominal), 10amp charge rate. 
  • 4 piston hydraulic brakes on giant 220mm brake rotors front and back
  • 125lbs total weight or 57 kgs
  • 17 inch Super Moto wheels – 70/90-17 front tire on a 1.6” wide rim 90/80-17 front tire on a 2.15” wide rim
  • LENGTH: 1840mm
  • WIDTH: 770mm
  • HEIGHT: 1070mm
  • SEAT HEIGHT 810mm
  • MINIMUM GROUND DISTANCE: 300mm
  • WHEELBASE: 1235mm
  • MAXIMUM LOAD WEIGHT: 250LBS

Talaria xXx – Out of the Box

Luna has procured a special Matte black version of the Talaria xXx with. The Talaria is available internationally with two battery options and a bunch of other configurations as well. Luna’s is a great spec (see above) and still comes in at 125 lbs. Somehow even with that huge battery and huge motor, it is in the ballpark weight of some of the beefier fat tire ebikes we’ve tested. Lifting this into the back of a truck isn’t easy, but it also isn’t impossible for one person to do. I wouldn’t expect to take this up a flight of stairs on a regular basis, however.

The shipping container was a wood micro-pallet on the bottom and wrapped with a Talaria labelled cardboard frame. Impressively, it was delivered by FedEx without a scratch. I think Luna’s staging helps here.

It took about 30 mins for my son and I to put on the front wheel, handlebars, the pegs, and to connect cables. If you’ve ever put together a typical e-bike from a box, this is the same. Luna recommends you check the torque on all of the bolts. Ours were all tight.

One thing that makes a huge difference here: Talaria uses a motorcycle chain, not a bike chain. While it makes a lot more noise while riding, especially with the mostly silent motor that will regen, I’m not worried about all of the torque melting the sprockets.

Talaria xXx’s little brown wire

I’m fully aware that a lot of Luna’s customers plan on cutting the brown wire, but Luna tells you not to, lest it will make the bike illegal. I’m not sure if there is a “wink wink, nudge nudge” in there, but we have to take Luna at its word that it wants to sell a bike that stays under 30 mph (20 mph in eco mode) and is legal to be sold in the US; even if it is sold with enduro road tires rather than off road tires like it’s Talaria Sting big bro. Off road wheels/tires are available for a very reasonable $400 extra or as a $150 option.

For me, 30 mph is fine and I did want to let my 15 year old son try it, though Luna’s site does say that you should be at least 16 years old to ride this bike. At under 30 mph this is mostly legal as a Class 3 e-bike in New York State with the Kaniwaba pedal kit (seen below).

Of course this looks like a light motorcycle so understand that you will likely get pulled over if that’s not something your local law enforcement is okay with. I’ve been riding it under 30 mph in my municipality for a month without incident, but mileage will certainly vary here. I wouldn’t take this to New York City for instance.

Incidentally, I know someone who cut the brown wire and basically has a whole new type of bike. It goes 50 mph on gravel and absolutely rips. I understand the temptation, but I’m keeping mine legal – for now, anyway. It is nice to know that in the future or when it is time to sell or laws change that there is a 50 mph rocket hiding in this 30 mph e-motor/bike.

A more realistic future for this bike may be homologating it either as a moped or motorcycle and getting plates. Some owners have had luck getting DMVs to recognize these bikes like the one below found on Facebook. Obviously, a 50 mph moped is going to turn some heads. It will also probably need a turn signal kit at the very least.

Electrek’s Take

Look, I understand that many people are going to mod this bike to go a lot faster than it is sold and for them, this is a great package and super freakin’ fun. But illegal.

But I got this bike to use as Luna is selling it, like a Class 3 pedal e-bike, with lots of acceleration.

For that, it is a great package. We live in a very hilly area, and its 4 levels of “Luna-tuned” regeneration is fantastic for not using the amazing 4-piston, 220mm brakes and also pumping some energy back into that battery.

As for range, this thing is off the hook. Because it is set to 30 mph and I often travel a lot slower, I can exceed the 50 miles that Luna says it can get. I’d estimate about 65 miles which is enough to get me to New York City and back and will be great for many commutes.

At 6-feet tall the 31.5-inch height initially seems a little small, but I’ve had riders up to 6’5 on here without issue. After 50 miles the seat hurts a bit, but for shorter trips it is super comfortable.

I haven’t taken this off-road but on gravel and dirt roads, this really flies. The off the line acceleration is faster than any e-bike I’ve tried, and it even beats Sur Rons and other light motorcycles. Also for hill climbing, it loses almost no speed going up steep hills.

What’s really impressive are the components here. I’ve talked about the brakes, the motor, and the chain/sprockets, but that same quality is everywhere on this bike; even the charger is 10 amps which will take this from totally empty to full in under four hours.

If there is one downside (besides legality), I would have like to see a bigger display. I need glasses to read the left handle mounted tiny display and about the only thing I can read while driving without glasses is the speed. I’d love to see a bigger, center-mounted display option here in the future.

Bit small potatoes here. The Talaria xXx is a phenomenal and super fun e-bike, even before it is tampered with.

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Here’s what TSLA analysts are saying about Tesla’s big delivery miss

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Here's what TSLA analysts are saying about Tesla's big delivery miss

Most Wall Street analysts covering Tesla’s stock (TSLA) badly misread the automaker’s delivery volumes this quarter. Some of them have started releasing notes to clients following Tesla’s production and delivery results.

Here’s what they have to say:

According to Tesla-compiled analyst consensus, the automaker was expected to report “377,592 deliveries” in the first quarter.

Tesla confirmed yesterday that it delivered only 336,000 electric vehicles during the first three months of 2025.

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  • Cantor Fitzgerald was the first analyst firm to issue a note after the release. They reaffirmed their overweight rating with a $425 price target. As we previously reported, Cantor has some major conflicts of interest with Tesla and CEO Elon Musk.
  • Truist Securities maintained its hold rating on Tesla’s stock, but it greatly lowered its price target from $373 to $280 a share. They insist that while their earnings expectations have crashed because they overestimated deliveries, investors should focus on Tesla’s self-driving effort, which they see as “much more important for the long-term value of the stock.”
  • Goldman Sachs lowered its price target from $320 to $275 a share. The firm expected 375,000 deliveries from Tesla in Q1 and therefore had to adjust its earnings expectations with almost 40,000 fewer deliveries.
  • Wedbush‘s Dan Ives, one of Tesla’s biggest cheerleaders, called the delivery results “disastrous”, but he reiterated his $550 price target on Tesla’s stock.
  • UBS has reiterated its $225 price target which it had lowered last month after adjusting its delivery expectations in Q1 to 367,000 – one of the more accurate predictions on Wall Street.
  • CFRA‘s analyst Garrett Nelson reduced his price target from $385 to $360 a share.

Electrek’s Take

I find it funny that most of them are maintaining or barely changing their expectations after they were so wrong about Tesla in Q1.

If you were so wrong in Q1, you should expect to be incorrect also for the rest of the year, and readjust accordingly.

But Cantor is invested in Tesla, and the firm is owned by Elon’s friend, who happens to now be the secretary of commerce. Truist still believes Elon’s self-driving lies, Goldman Sachs overestimated Tesla’s deliveries by the equivalent of $2 billion in revenues, and Dan Ives is Dan Ives.

Covering Tesla over the last 15 years has confirmed to me that most Wall Street analysts have no idea what they are doing – or at least not when it comes to companies like Tesla.

Do you know any who have been consistently good lately? I’d love suggestions in the comment section below.

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Fintech stocks such as Affirm, PayPal plunge on concern Trump tariffs will hurt consumer spending

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Fintech stocks such as Affirm, PayPal plunge on concern Trump tariffs will hurt consumer spending

The global market rout on Thursday, sparked by President Donald Trump’s announcement of widespread tariffs, had an outsized effect on fintech companies and credit card issuers that are closely tied to consumer spending and credit.

Affirm, which offers buy now, pay later purchasing options, plunged 19%, while stock trading app Robinhood slid 10% and payments company PayPal fell 8%. American Express and Capital One each tumbled 10%, and Discover was down more than 8%.

President Trump on Wednesday laid out the U.S. “reciprocal tariff” rates that more than 180 countries and territories, including European Union members, will face under his sweeping new trade policy. Trump said his plan will set a 10% baseline tariff across the board, but that number is much higher for some countries.

The announcement sent stocks reeling, wiping out nearly $2 trillion in value from the S&P 500, and pushing the tech-heavy Nasdaq down 6%, its worst day since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

The sell-off was especially notable for companies most exposed to consumer spending and global supply chains, including payment providers and lenders. Fintech companies that rely on transaction volume or installment-based lending could see both revenue and credit performance deteriorate.

“When you go down the spectrum, that’s when you have more cyclical risk, more exposure to tariffs,” said Sanjay Sakhrani, an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, citing PayPal and Affirm as businesses at risk. He said bigger companies in the space “are more defensive” and better positioned.

Visa, Mastercard and Fiserv held up better on Thursday.

Dan Dolev, an analyst at Mizuho, said bank processors such as Fiserv are less exposed to tariff volatility.

“It’s considered a safe haven,” he said.

Affirm executives have previously said rising prices might increase demand for their products. Chief Financial Officer Rob O’Hare said higher prices could push more consumers toward buy now, pay later services.

“If tariffs result in higher prices for consumers, we’re there to help,” O’Hare said at a Stocktwits fireside chat last month. Affirm CEO Max Levchin has offered similar comments.

However, James Friedman, an analyst at SIG, told CNBC that delinquencies become a concern. He compared Affirm to private-label store cards, and pointed to historical trends in credit performance during downturns, noting that “private label delinquency rates run roughly double” in a recession when compared to traditional credit cards.

“You have to look at who’s overexposed to discretionary,” he said.

Affirm did not provide a comment but pointed to recent remarks from its executives.

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Mazda’s $20,000 Chinese EV is about to launch overseas and a new SUV is up next

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Mazda's ,000 Chinese EV is about to launch overseas and a new SUV is up next

Wait, Mazda sells a real EV? It’s only in China for now, but that will change very soon. The first Mazda 6e built for overseas markets rolled off the assembly line Thursday. Mazda’s new EV will arrive in Europe, Southeast Asia, and other overseas markets later this year. This could be the start of something with a new SUV due out next.

Mazda’s new EV rolls off assembly for overseas markets

The Mazda EZ-6 has been on sale in China since October with prices starting as low as 139,800 yuan, or slightly under $20,000.

Earlier this year, Mazda introduced the 6e, the global version of its electric car sold in China. The stylish electric sedan is made by Changan Mazda, Mazda’s joint venture in China.

After the first Mazda 6e model rolled off the production line at the company’s Nanjing Plant, Mazda said it’s ready to “conquer the new era of electrification with China Smart Manufacturing.”

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The new global “6e” model will be built at Changan Mazda’s plant and exported to overseas markets including Europe, Thailand, and other parts of Southeast Asia.

Mazda calls it “both a Chinese car and a global car,” with Changan’s advanced EV tech and Mazda’s signature design.

Mazda-first-EV-overseas
Mazda 6e electric sedan during European debut (Source: Changan Mazda)

Built on Changan’s hybrid platform, the EZ-6 is offered in China with both electric (EV) and extended-range (EREV) powertrains. The EV version has a CLTC driving range of up to 600 km (372 miles) and can fast charge (30% to 80%) in about 15 minutes.

Mazda’s new EV will be available with two battery options in Europe: 68.8 kWh or 80 kWh. The larger (80 kWh) battery gets up to 552 km (343 miles) WLTP range, while the 68.8 kWh version is rated with up to 479 km (300 miles) range on the WLTP rating scale.

At 4,921 mm long, 1,890 mm wide, and 1,491 mm tall, the Mazda 6e is about the size of a Tesla Model 3 (4,720 mm long, 1,922 mm wide, and 1,441 mm tall).

Mazda said the successful rollout of the 6e kicks off “the official launch of Changan Mazda’s new energy vehicle export center” for global markets.

The company will launch a new SUV next year and plans to introduce a third and fourth new energy vehicle (NEV).

Although prices will be announced closer to launch, Mazda’s global EV will not arrive with the same $20,000 price tag in Europe as it will face tariffs as an export from China. Mazda is expected to launch the 6e later this year in Europe and Southeast Asia. Check back soon for more info.

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