Super73 Inc., the self-described American lifestyle adventure brand specializing in electric motorbikes headquartered in Irvine, CA, has been setting a blistering pace of late for product development and innovation.

The company was founded in 2016—by Legrand Crewse (now CEO), Michael Cannavo (now CMO), Aaron P. Wong (now CBO), Alix Armour (Now Head of Sustainability), and John Kim—to fuse motorcycle heritage with youth culture. It was inspired by the small vintage motorcycles made popular by fabricators in Southern California in the 1970s. The first Super73 bikes were all hand-built and fabricated by a small team in Orange County, CA.

Super73 has quickly grown into an electric vehicle (EV) brand with a passionate customer base and enthusiastic financial backers. For instance, the company announced in February 2021 that it had closed a $20 million investment from Volition Capital, a Boston-based growth equity firm.

“Super73 has all the ingredients to become a great consumer brand—fanatical customers, insatiable demand for its products, and a distinctive design philosophy,” said Larry Cheng, Managing Partner, Volition Capital. “It is one of the fastest-growing companies we’ve ever invested in and [is] poised to build a great new American brand as it leads the e-bike market for years to come.”

After an impressive launch on Kickstarter, the company aimed to become a “content-driven lifestyle brand that inspires adventure and creates community.” In 2017, it went viral after redesigning its first-generation e-bike to resemble a pair of Star Wars speeder bikes. The company’s popularity grew, and soon it attracted the attention of big-name celebrities, athletes, and performers. The brand’s moto-inspired culture has created a new generation of “bikers,” who not only self-organize into regional SuperSquad rider clubs but have also embraced the custom modification subculture.

“We have always known that there was something special at Super73,” said Crewse. “It wasn’t just about creating a fun electric bike, it was about building a gateway to unlimited adventure and cultivating a true community. Volition Capital not only saw that same vision but believed in it.”

For Super73’s most recent reveal last week of its biggest expansion plans to date, the company showed the new C1X concept at the high end and two new production e-bikes—the new Z Miami entry-level model and a new Youth Series kid’s bike.

 

C1X concept above RX flagship

The headliner is undoubtedly the C1X concept, which the company says is designed to reformat and redefine the line between e-bike and e-motorcycle. The street-legal concept provides a “step-up” vehicle from the current Super73 offerings, previewing a production bike achieving motorcycle performance with dramatically reduced size and weight.

The C1X’s development is the result of feedback from existing riders, a large percentage of whom expressed interest in graduating to a street-legal motorcycle. The concept represents a significant leap forward in the company’s development program to enable a transition from the existing RX flagship model.

With a targeted top speed of more than 75 mph (120 km/h), the C1X production version will require a rider to have a motorcycle endorsement on their driver’s license, vehicle registration, and have full insurance. However, its 31-in (790-mm) seat height and minimal footprint mean the concept is lightweight and maneuverable for riders wanting to pass their riding test.

From the company design team’s research in studying the current crop of production motorcycles, it determined that among its customers one of the top priorities was a reduction in the overall footprint of a typical motorcycle. The downsizing was accomplished with the introduction of 15-in wheels versus the typical 17-in motorcycle counterparts.

The team also took a novel approach by mounting the motor rearward of the swingarm pivot point. This architecture permitted an agile 51-in (1295-mm) wheelbase and removed the chain slack issues of conventional motorcycles. Further enhancing the concept’s agility is a mass-centralized chassis/battery configuration, the specification of which is under wraps until further testing is completed.

The C1X’s battery provides a city range of about 100 mi (160 km). The concept introduces a fast-charging solution that will enable an 80% charge in less than an hour.

The design program began more than a year ago, development for production is well underway, and the company is now accepting reservations for a late 2023 production date. A $73 reservation for the e-motorbike will allow customers to secure their place in line and give them an opportunity to provide feedback and stay up to date with development progress as the C1X moves closer to production.

 

New entry-level Z Miami

The Z Miami is an evolution of the Z1, one of Super73’s original products and its most successful e-bike to date thanks to its accessibility in terms of seat height and cost. The bike’s 28-in (710-mm) seat height accommodates riders between 4 ft, 6 in, and 5 ft, 11 in.

The entry-level model features significant improvements inspired by community feedback.

These include a new frame using aircraft-grade 6061/7005 aluminum alloy with improved ergonomics. The frame’s material and construction help to reduce weight, making it the lightest bike in the Super73 full-size lineup at 59 lb (27 kg), with a weight limit of 325 lb (147 kg).

A removable battery expands charging options, and a new motor provides greater performance and a pedal-assist option. The internally geared brushless DC hub motor is capable of 750 W nominal and 1200 W peak power. A 10-speed Shimano Zee rear derailleur is sold separately.

The 615-W·h removable battery provides more than 30 mi (48 km) of range at 20 mph (32 km/h) under throttle-only operation or about 50 mi (80 km) of range using Eco pedal-assist mode. A 2A charger gives a 6-7 h charge time.

Bluetooth connectivity via the Super73 phone app enables the user to change rider settings. Additionally, the bike will be supplied pre-wired for easy installation of optional accessory lighting.

 

Youth Series for more family togetherness

The development of the new Youth Series is the result of customer requests, giving children “their first form of e-bike freedom.” The new platform came about because research revealed that a large percentage of existing Super73 riders had young families and they were looking at ways to transform their riding experience into a family activity. This was particularly apparent during the COVID-19 lockdowns, where families were spending extended time together and needed regular “screen breaks” to keep the learning process fresh.

Super73 is seeking to create a new children’s e-bike market segment with the Youth Series, with ergonomics optimized for children 4 to 8 years old, a moto-inspired seat, and modular foot controls. As riders grow, the company says they will be able to graduate from the Youth Series to another model within its lineup such as the new Z Miami.

“We’re excited to create a new market that will allow families to spend more time together,” said Cannavo. “We know the experience children gain will give them more confidence and independence, helping them to develop and to explore their environment. The Youth Series is the first in a number of new products aimed at younger riders.”

Styling cues for the Youth Series pull from existing Super73 DNA as well as nostalgic BMX frame elements like the gooseneck and looptail design. The lightweight aluminum frame is designed to provide agility, performance, and easy carrying by parents. The e-bike features stylish fat tires, a removable battery for charging convenience, and a red twist throttle in place of pedals to clearly communicate the control input to novice riders.

The Youth Series will be available in late 2022. Customers can pre-order and secure their place in line with a $100 deposit at the introductory price of $995.