Revolutionizing rider safety: The protective jacket every e-biker should consider
If you’ve followed my writing or videos, you’ll know I’m a “life on two-wheels” kind of guy. If there’s an electric motorcycle, e-bike, scooter, or anything else remotely rideable out there, I’ve probably thrown a leg over it at least once. Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to learn how each type of vehicle comes with its own unique personality and enjoyment, but also its own risk profile. And without the benefit of 5,000 pounds of murderous steel around us, out of necessity we motorcycle riders become masters of balancing risk.
But could the perceived risk of different types of rides, such as e-motorcycles versus e-bikes, cloud our judgment on personal protection? I think it might, at least for me. And so I’ve been on a hunt for the right gear to fix that.
To put it a different way, when I’m on my motorcycles, I prescribe pretty heavily to the ATGATT doctrine of All The Gear, All The Time.
You’ll never find me on a motorcycle without a quality full-face helmet, and 99% of the time I wear motorcycle-specific armored jackets and gloves. I’m talking full back armor, shoulders, elbows, and sometimes chest armor or even built-in airbags depending on the jacket. I take safety fairly seriously on motorcycles, I ride conservatively, and I gear up.
That being said, I’ll sheepishly admit that out of convenience I often skip my armored riding jeans in favor of my vulnerable Levis. And to be fair, I do frequently forgo my armored riding boots while opting instead for my daily work boots. But I’m never in shorts or sandals, that’s for sure.
There’s just something about my motorcycles that instills that sense of important adherence to safety gear, to (mostly) sticking to ATGATT. Though here’s a little pro tip: I learned the hard way not to fly on motorcycle trips while wearing armored jeans when I ended up standing in an airport in my underwear with two TSA agents poking around the knees of my pants looking for drug bags. Damn body scanners instead of metal detectors. Anyway, I digress.
So yeah, motorcycles always equal “gear up” in my mind.
Then there are my scooters. I’m not talking cute little Razor scooters. I’m talking faster machines, like my 60 MPH Gogoro electric scooter. Or the even faster Gogoro Pulse I just tested in Taiwan.
They’re every bit as fast as my motorcycles when riding in the city or even on urban highways. Yet for some reason, they seem to give me some false sense of security. Stepping through my scooters causes me to allow myself a looser interpretation of my own safety gear rules. I’ll don a 3/4 helmet instead of a full-face sometimes. I’ll roll out in a T-shirt instead of leathers or an armored jacket. I’ll ride in khaki shorts instead of pants. And yes, I’ll even wear sandals sometimes in the hot Tel Aviv summers.
Just a couple days ago I was bombing down a mountain road on an electric scooter in Taiwan – the same road motorcyclists would love to carve up – with nothing but my signature black tee between me and the Taipei asphalt. And for some reason it didn’t strike me as strange, even though I’d surely be in an armored jacket if I was doing that run on a motorcycle.
I don’t condone this type of nearly-nude riding (especially not the sandals thing, even though they’re practically the equivalent of dress shoes here in the Middle East), but I’m also going to be honest with you about how I ride. As someone who doesn’t own a car and thus rides daily out of necessity, it’s a big part of my life and I want to be transparent about what that means.
And then there are my electric bicycles, where for some reason it all goes out the window. Sure, I’m at least almost always wearing a bike or skate helmet, but that’s pretty much where I’ve drawn the line for myself. If I’m wearing a t-shirt, that’s an upgrade over a tank top. Hell, sometimes my sandals are there just so the summer asphalt doesn’t burn my feet.
I’m not saying this is a good idea – in fact I know it’s a terrible idea. That’s why you may notice I never film my videos like this to avoid showcasing poor protection practices – I almost always film my electric bicycle videos in pants and boots. And yes, I know about degloving accidents (please don’t google that). But for some reason, even though I know academically that being hit by a car on a motorcycle would be just as bad as being hit by a car on a bike or scooter, I never really think of it that way when I go out to ride. I allow myself to be a lot more laissez-faire with my gear when on a scooter and especially when on an e-bike.
Lately though, I’ve been giving this concept a lot more thought. Why do I gear up on one type of two-wheeled vehicle but not another? I’m riding the same streets with the same obstacles and at the same speeds (at least while in the city). For a while now, I’ve been wondering why there isn’t a better solution. Sure, it seems a bit silly to mount my e-bikes wearing all the same massive gear from the motorcycle end of my small section of the closet that my wife permits me to use. But why isn’t there gear that can protect me like my motorcycle gear without making me look like I’m a Valentino Rossi wannabe?
As it turns out, there already is. It’s called Beyond Riders.
Fortunately, I’ve finally discovered the answer I’ve been looking for. I found the gear that offers the moto-level protection I want on my electric bicycles without the same over the top moto-look.
Beyond Riders specializes in full-protection riding gear that looks like casual wear. They’ve got riding shirts that look like plaid hipster lumberjack shirts. They’ve got canvas jackets that look like a classic Carhart work shirt. They’ve got mesh jackets for full protection from a slide while still getting a breeze down to your cotton undershirt in hot weather. They’ve even got pullover hoodies for a soft, warm winter feel-good shirt!
And all of these have special pockets for holding motorcycle armor to protect different combinations of your elbows, shoulders, spine, chest, and more. Imagine that, a comfy winter hoodie that also protects you in a crash.
Many of the models have other important features too, like reflective panels that illuminate at night, belt loops to keep the jacket down in a slide, hidden pockets for gear, vent panels to avoid overheating, gussets to help the shirts expand at the shoulders when you reach forward for the bars, and more.
The canvas jacket I’ve been wearing lately even has a built-in microfiber cloth in the lower inside flap for a quick way to clean your riding glasses.
The aramid fiber material is protective against sliding across the asphalt, (not to mention the hidden Level 2 armor pads I have in there for impact protection), but the jacket is also light enough that I can throw it over my shoulder or into the crook of my arm and walk into a coffee shop. My wife even likes the way it looks on date nights – a test none of my other motorcycle gear has ever passed.
Basically, the jacket gives me that convenient and comfortable protection I’ve been looking for so that I can convince myself to actually wear it while riding my e-bikes. That’s the key piece here, because it only protects me on my e-bikes and e-scooters if I’m actually wearing it.
And it’s not just jackets either, but Beyond Riders also has riding pants that look like normal pants, fingerless skate gloves, protective hoodies, and more.
Then there are the color and pattern options, which seem endless, and the size range includes XXS to literally 8XL and everything in between.
After I dug a little deeper, I discovered how they can offer what seems like a thousand combinations and permutations of sizes and styles. Beyond Riders produces its clothing to order, which means it takes a few extra days (sometimes up to a week), but each shirt or other garment is produced after you order it on the website, made to the exact specifications you selected.
That surely helps them be more efficient by cutting down on stocking massive inventory, yet they can still produce just about any color or size combination quickly.
The more I researched, the more I learned. It makes sense that there’s a big motorcycle community around these jackets, but it turns out they’re popular in other riding sports like electric unicycle groups and for high-speed electric skateboard riders. So it makes perfect sense to turn it into my e-bike jacket.
Of course this stuff doesn’t come cheap, and compared to a distressed denim jacket from Target, the prices are significant. But if you’ve ever looked at the main motorcycle gear brands like Rev’it and Alpinestars, you’ll see the prices are actually pretty decent compared to leading motorcycle protective garments.
My favorite of the two Beyond Riders jackets I got is the canvas riding jacket, which was $179 with included Level 1 pads, but I chose to add the $59 Level 2 pad upgrade for better production. The canvas jacket is certainly not a winter coat, but it keeps me warm enough in the moderate Florida and Tel Aviv winter I’ve been testing it in.
But now that temperatures are rising, I’m getting more use out of my Beyond Riders reflective mesh shirt that costs $229. It’s black (see above photo), but the reflective layer means that it’s still visible at night. And for price comparison, my Rev’it Eclipse 2 motorcycle jacket I’ve been wearing up until now was just shy of $200, so these prices are fairly par for the course when it comes to protective gear.
I definitely prefer the look of the canvas shirt better, but the mesh shirt is great for getting the same protection in hot weather.
While this stuff ain’t cheap by any stretch of the imagination, frankly neither is surgery. And growing back a significant portion of skin on your back, sides, or arms is something that most people would gladly have paid a few hundred bucks to have avoided once they are in the thick of it. I’ve still got some scarring from going wheels up on an electric skateboard back in 2018 – my most serious crash of my career that fortunately only left me donating more skin than I would have preferred to the asphalt. But you never forget that feeling, and so having those aramid fibers of the jacket around me (not to mention the armor) adds some significant peace of mind that my black cotton t-shirt just doesn’t provide.
And the beauty is that while I’m comfortable wearing this gear on my electric bicycles, it’s found its way onto my motorcycle rides too since it’s built with that level of protection in mind.
My tried and true Rev’it motorcycle jacket has spent a lot more time on its hanger now that I’ve got the Beyond Riders gear in my quiver.
After years of dismissing protective clothing on my non-moto rides, I’ve finally found a way to take my appreciation for safety gear on my motorcycles and apply it to my electric bikes, scooters, and other rides in a way that is convenient enough that I actually do it.
To me, that’s the real kicker. You can have the best gear in the world, but if you don’t wear it because it’s too bulky, hot, or otherwise feels like overkill on your bike, then it’s only going to protect your coat hook.
The gear that you’ll actually wear because it’s comfortable and looks good (even on a bicycle!), that’s what will truly protect you.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Investors fled to safe-haven assets Friday after a series of Israeli airstrikes on Iran marked a major escalation of conflict in the region.
The scale of the attack, which Israel said was targeting Iran’s nuclear program, took markets by surprise, pushing up prices of assets thought to offer protection in times of heightened volatility.
“The news has led to significant fears about an escalation and a wider regional conflict,” Deutsche Bank strategists said in a note early Friday. “The effects of the attack have cascaded across global markets, with a strong risk-off move for several asset classes.”
Gold hit an almost two-month high on the news, although pared some gains as the morning progressed. Spot prices of the metal were up 1.1% at $3,420.24 at 7:42 a.m. London time. Gold futures for August delivery were 1.3% higher at $3.446.
Gold
U.S. Treasury prices also rose, pushing yields lower. Yields on the 30-year, 10-year and 2-year Treasury notes were all down around 3 basis points.
European stocks are poised to open sharply lower, meanwhile, with U.S. stock futures also falling.
Investors flee to safe-haven assets during times of uncertainty to protect their money from volatility and find stability when risk assets tumble.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country had launched a “targeted military operation” against Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program. Iran said it launched around 100 drones targeting Israel in retaliation.
“This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat,” Netanyahu added.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the attack on Israel was “unilateral” and made without U.S. support. “We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio said in a statement.
In currencies, the U.S. dollar, Swiss franc and Japanese yen — all considered safe havens — rose.
After a tricky few months following policy uncertainty sparked by the Trump administration, the U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of major peers, was 0.36% higher.
The Swiss franc and Japanese yen both climbed against the dollar earlier Friday, but were broadly unchanged by 6:50 a.m. London time.
Oil prices soar
The most dramatic market reaction was seen in oil, as investors worried about retaliation from Iran and potential oil supply disruption.
Crude futures jumped as much as 13% following the airstrike, setting them on course for their largest single-day gains since 2020.
Brent crude
U.S. West Texas Intermediate was trading 7% higher at 7:48 a.m. London time at $72.76 per barrel, while global benchmark Brent surged 6.8% to $74.04 per barrel, both off earlier highs.
“Looking forward, the focus is now shifting to what form Iran’s retaliation might take. It’s also unclear whether talks between the US and Iran over their nuclear programme will continue,” the Deutsche Bank strategists added.
Environment
This new electric moped is coming for your streets and bike lanes, and that’s a good thing
Olto, the second electric two-wheeler model from the mobility startup Infinite Machine, was just unveiled as a bike lane-ready moped ready to conquer US cities. Combining slick design with high-tech features, it brings many automotive-level hallmarks to the e-bike market.
After the Cybertruck-looking Infinite Machine P1 was revealed nearly two years ago, offering a nearly highway-capable electric two-wheeler, the company is now back with a much tamer model designed to be easier to produce… and to purchase.
The result is still just as futuristic as we’d expect, given Infinite Machine’s penchant for those metallic body panels and slick design scheme. But the performance is more muted, allowing it to fit into Class 2 e-bike regulations for full compliance with bicycle lanes in most cities and eschewing any pesky licensing or insurance requirements.
That means it has a top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h) and functional pedals, even if they aren’t likely to get used very much. Infinite Machine seems to understand that point, designing a magnetic leveling feature that holds them flat to better serve as footrests when they’re being used as, well, footrests. The top speed matches Class 2 e-bike regulations, though it can be unlocked in “Off-road mode” to reach 33 mph (53 km/h).
The UL-certified battery is a 48V 25Ah pack with 1.2 kWh of capacity – or enough for a claimed 40 miles (64 km) of real world range.
The battery is easily removable, with the clever design allowing it to be dropped into the battery compartment in any orientation. Unlike a typical electric bicycle battery that needs to be carefully aligned on small guide rails, the Olto’s battery can simply be plopped into place in whatever orientation is most convenient based on where the rider is standing.
A home charging dock allows the battery to be similarly plopped onto the charger, with fast charging bringing the battery back up to 50% charge in just an hour or fully charged in three hours.
If that’s still not fast enough, a second battery could presumably be kept on the charger to be swapped in while the first is charging, though 40 miles (64 miles) is likely plenty of range for most urban commuters. The 20 lb (9 kg) battery is light enough to be carried indoors to charge at work or another destination if a planned route is expected to exceed 40 miles round trip.
High-tech features throughout
Despite the electric bicycle-level performance, the Olto carries technology and features that seem more at home in the automotive world.
For example, the anti-theft features are numerous. On the electronic side, they include GPS and LTE tracking with movement notifications to the owner’s phone, as well as a dedicated AirTag slot for added peace of mind, plus an electric lock that prevents the motor or rear wheel from turning. A second auxiliary battery in the vehicle ensures these features still work even when the main battery has been removed for charging, and the major components like the motor and battery are electronically locked to the Olto. On the physical side, turning off the moped engages a steering column lock that prevents the handlebars from being turned, and a special U-lock mount has been built into the scooter for even more secure parking.
The Olto includes several physical designs that go above and beyond what we generally see in bike lane-ready vehicles, such as totally hidden wires and suspension (oh right, it’s got full suspension for both the front and rear), insertable sidewalls for the step-through portion to enable more cargo carrying capacity, and a long enough bench seat with hidden pop-out rear passenger footpegs and grab handles for carrying a second rider (though the bench doesn’t look like the most comfortable seat I’ve ever seen). Two helmet hooks built into the under-seat storage area allow riders to leave their helmets hanging yet securely locked to the moped, similar to a motorcycle. Bag hooks, like on a seated scooter, make it easier for riders to carry light cargo between their legs.
Unlocking the Olto can be performed with the owner’s phone using Bluetooth proximity unlocking (or an NFC card, if your phone is out of battery or not with you). That digital unlocking feature also allows riders to share temporary or permanent access with friends or family so they can also unlock and use the moped from their phone. Speaking of phones, there’s a secure compartment with USB charging so riders can charge their phone while it’s safely locked on the moped. The high-visibility LED lighting system includes high and low-beam headlights, daytime running lights, and a full turn signal package. There’s also a genuine motorcycle horn – not one of those weak e-bike “meep meep” horns.
While the high-tech features feel more automotive-level, the Olto still draws inspiration from the e-bike industry, especially with its line of bolt-on accessories. From utility racks and baskets to child carriers, the add-on accessories feel very much like the type of gear you’d add to a traditional electric bicycle to gain even more functionality from it – though Infinite Machine’s versions certainly do look a bit sleeker.
Is the Olto an electric bicycle or an electric motorcycle?
It’s fairly obvious that the Olto is walking a fine line when it comes to legality. The whole point of this vehicle is that it is intended to fit into electric bicycle regulations, allowing its use in bicycle lanes instead of being limited purely to surface street use, as well as free riders from the licensing, registration, and insurance requirements of motorcycles. And to achieve those goals with a vehicle that is as “grey area” as they come, the spec sheet walks a fine line as well.
For example, the rear hub motor is listed as 750W nominal, though is capable of 2 kW in “off-road” mode. The Olto’s top speed is 33 mph (53 km/h), though again, only in off-road mode. In the on-road mode, which riders presumably are expected to pinky promise that they’ll stick to when riding in bike lanes and city streets, the speed is limited to 20 mph (32 km/h), or the same as a Class 2 electric bicycle.
Then there are the pedals. They are fully functional, though they aren’t exactly necessary. That’s not different than a typical Class 2 e-bike, at least on the surface. It’s common for electric bicycle riders in the US to treat pedals as stationary footrests, relying instead on the throttle for power. But the difference with the Olto is that the pedals have a feature to magnetically level them for more comfortable footrest-like use by riders who don’t care about the charade of “well, I could pedal it if I wanted to…”.
So again, everything here checks the box to make it a street-legal electric bicycle in nearly every jurisdiction in America. But the Olto is also obviously designed to make it as convenient as possible to ride as a scooter instead of a bicycle.
The company put it well, describing the Olto as a mobility tool that gets more people out of cars and onto more efficient, city-friendlier vehicles. “We believe the best way to get around cities is with smaller, smarter vehicles. We started Infinite Machine to build the best of them. Olto is our second product—and for many, their first step beyond cars. A Class 2 e-bike built for the bike lane. No insurance, no registration—just freedom. A product and a tool. Infinite Machine isn’t about autonomous vehicles. It’s about autonomous humans—tools that let people carve their own path.”
But if it has e-bike performance, then what’s the point?
Priced at US $3,495 (and now taking $100 reservations for delivery later this year), the Olto is either a cheap moped or an expensive e-bike, depending on how you look at it. And since it has e-bike performance, I can see many people asking why they would expect to pay so much more for a 20 mph ride.
And that’s the exact question I posed to Joe Cohen, the CEO and co-founder of Infinite Machine. As he explained, it’s all about what the Olto provides that conventional electric bikes have missed out on, and how all of those feature combine in a single vehicle.
“What makes Olto special isn’t any single feature—it’s how everything comes together,” Joe told me. “Rather than retrofitting a bicycle with a battery and motor, we started from first principles to build the perfect bike-lane vehicle: it is snappy and quick, sturdy, nearly impossible to steal, and beautiful. It has automotive-grade components (hydraulic brakes, horn, turn signals, lighting) and technology throughout (LTE/GPS always-on tracking). It prioritizes real-world use cases with a hot-swappable, high-capacity battery, seating for two, and a modular accessory system. But in the end, when you’re riding Olto, you forget about all of these details—it all just works.”
Electrek’s Take
Here’s the thing. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this concept of two-wheeled vehicles designed to act like bicycles, but I think it’s the most elegant example yet. And I also think it’s the most ethical example yet. Most of the time, we’re talking more about Sur Ron-style bikes that are effectively 50 mph e-dirt bikes with bolt-on pedals used as a cheap attempt to skirt the law. But this isn’t that. In this case, Infinite Machine has built something that is halfway between an e-motorcycle and an e-bicycle, but instead of giving it motorcycle performance with e-bike parts, they’ve given it e-bike performance with motorcycle parts. And that’s the key to making this type of vehicle actually work in our cities, both on the street and in the bike lane.
If we look at the legal side, this is absolutely, 100% a street-legal Class 2 electric bicycle (in most places in the US). But they’ve managed to bring so much of the design, manufacturing, and technology used in electric motorcycles to the e-bike world that riders are now getting an e-bike that offers 10x what it used to. Hidden locks, GPS tracking, full-suspension, steering lock, tamper notifications on your phone, secondary battery to power anti-theft measures when the first battery is removed, fast charging dock, designed to be left outside in the elements, locking storage, motorcycle horn, real mirrors, motorcycle grade hydraulic disc brakes, upright scooter-like riding position, and so much more. Your e-bike might have a couple of these features, but I can guarantee it doesn’t have all of them.
And at the same time, let’s be honest: most people are going to put it in off-road mode on their first day and never see the 20 mph speed limit again. That will allow riders to better pace car traffic in big cities, something that we at Electrek have long felt is a safety feature for two-wheelers. Being able to keep up with traffic on an e-bike or scooter, even if that means going a few miles-per-hour over the legal limit, means fewer interactions with cars and a safer environment for everyone. However, with appropriate emphasis added, 33 mph on a 176 lb vehicle is much too fast for a bicycle lane, and it would be egregiously irresponsible for riders of a vehicle like this to endanger other cyclists in the bike lane like that. So I hope that riders can be responsible enough to realize that, and only use off-road mode where it is safe to do so. But considering we let anyone over 16 years old choose how fast they want to drive a 6,000 lb vehicle, I’m not exactly going to overexert myself suggesting that it’s the sub-200 lb, sub-35 mph two-wheeler category where we should be focusing our regulatory or enforcement efforts just yet.
Long story short, bravo, Infinite Machine. You knocked it out of the park on this design. Now, you just have to deliver on your promises. Good luck, we’re all watching.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut