A new company called DRYFT1 is sliding its way into electric mobility on the wheels of a new hybrid product that mixes a BMX bike with a skateboard. The DRYFT Board is a hybrid board cross (HBX) that has combined the best elements of BMX and skateboarding into a one-of-a-kind all-electric product that gives riders the freedom to freestyle on roads in ways we haven’t seen before. You’ve gotta see this thing in action in the video below.

DRYFT1 is a new company with roots in Venice, California, a renowned area it credits for inspiring its dedication to motion and creativity. The company is just coming out of stealth mode and is fully funded, reiterating to Electrek that this is “not a Kickstarter.”

DRYFT1 describes its company ethos in one word: “freedom.” Recreational riders in Southern California have already taken to land and sea with surfboards, bikes, and skateboards, many of which have gone electric.

However, DRYFT1 has created a new one-of-a-kind product that allows riders to paint their local pavement in a new way. Today, the company introduced its flagship product, the DRYFT Board, an electric bike and skateboard hybrid that looks like it brings a new level of fun and expression to an already creative mobility segment.

The design of the DRYFT Board may raise some eyebrows at first glance, but once you see what an experienced rider can do on it, you’re probably going to want to take on for a spin yourself.

DRYFT1 launches a unique electric bike/skateboard combo

Per DRYFT1, its new “board” is all about the slide. The BMX bike/skateboard hybrid has been equipped with an electric motor that replicates the indescribable glide of a drift and has opened up access to that feeling to anyone, anywhere. DRYFT1 described the goal of its product:

Taking the coveted feeling that was once limited to those in these worlds of action sports, pushing their limits of speed and friction, and bringing that sought-after movement to the slide to anyone.

With the heart of an e-bike and the soul of a flat-track motorcycle, the DRYFT Board arrives in a category all its own (just don’t call it an e-scooter). Its skateboard deck is comprised of bamboo, fiberglass, and carbon fiber to deliver durability and resilience through slides and other sleek maneuvers on the road.

It is powered by a 500W front hub motor that can propel the board up to 20 mph, and the bike/skateboard hybrid’s battery can deliver 17 to 20 miles of all-electric range. Those are important stats for commuting, especially in a straight line, but that’s not what the DRYFT Board was designed for.

The electric skateboard/bike hybrid features a custom-engineered independent suspension truck system made from aluminum alloy, complete with 51mm springs to enable controlled sliding, carving, and drifting. Those maneuvers stem from the board’s center caster wheel, which is supported by proprietary polyurethane edge wheels for grip and drift performance.

Riders can choose between two ride modes: “Slide Mode” for smooth sliding on the pavement, and “Carve Mode,” which locks the center wheel for smooth cruising. While sliding, carving, or just cruising, riders can control the speed and acceleration of the electric skateboard/bike combo with a right thumb throttle on the handlebars.

Other features include a front hydraulic disc brake and high-quality grip tape on the rear deck. DRYFT1 also designed the board to disassemble into two components for easier transport and storage. The DRYFT Board electric bike and skateboard hybrid debuts in two colors – “Dryft Blue” and “Asphalt Black.”

The Dryft Board is available for purchase at Dryftboard.com beginning today and is priced at $3,500.

As previously mentioned, it’s impossible to truly grasp the capabilities of this unique new form of electric mobility without seeing it in action, so we recommend checking out DRYFT1’s launch video below.

As powerful electric motorbikes such as those from brands like Sur Ron and Talaria become more popular, especially with teens, police departments in the US are increasingly cracking down on their use on public roads.

One of the latest examples comes to us from the Manhattan Beach Police Department in Los Angeles County.

The MBPD has seen an uptick in juveniles riding Sur Ron-style electric motorbikes, which fall far outside the regulatory limits of electric bicycles. These higher-performance vehicles can reach speeds twice as fast as legal electric bicycles and often feature 5x the power level. Critically, they also lack pedals and thus function more like light electric dirt bikes.

According to a recent post shared by the MBPD, the police department has continued to come across these vehicles being ridden by juveniles around the city. “Parents, please make sure those Christmas presents are being used legally and responsibly,” the MHBP stated, “so we don’t have to play the role of the Grinch.”

Further clarifying, the police department explained that such motorbikes aren’t legal for use on public roads or bike paths. “Talaria, Surron, ERidePro, and other similar-type electric motorcycles are not safe or legal for operation on city streets, sidewalks, or The Strand. A few juveniles have learned the hard way and found their ‘bikes’ on the back of a tow truck.”

The MHBP also shared an image below of multiple electric motorbikes being towed away. Ironically, one of the police vehicles at the scene is a police-issue electric-assist patrol bicycle.

More teens turning to high-power electric motorbikes

These powerful e-motorbikes are often marketed as electric bicycles, despite falling well outside the line of electric bicycle regulations. But because they’re readily available online, easy to ride, and are often improperly marketed as not requiring a license or registration for street use, they’ve proven popular with teens and young riders.

California recently passed new legislation more clearly delineating electric bicycle classifications, further underscoring the illegal nature of riding these types of vehicles on the road without proper motor vehicle registration.

However, many riders, particularly teens, are unaware that these bikes do not meet the legal requirements for bike paths or unlicensed street use, leading to traffic stops, fines, and sometimes even confiscations.

Law enforcement officials, as well as community watchdogs, often cite concerns about pedestrian safety, traffic violations, and the risk of accidents.

We’ve seen these crackdowns increase over the years as more police departments are forced to tackle the growing phenomenon of powerful electric motorbikes being ridden on public streets and bike paths as if they were normal electric bicycles.

The crackdown underscores the need for better education regarding these high-powered electric motorbikes, as they continue to rise in popularity among younger users.

via: MBNews