CA-based electric motorcycle manufacturer Ryvid has partnered with custom bike builder Cristian Sosa of Sosa Metalworks in Las Vegas to re-interpret Ryvid’s Anthem, his first attempt at a custom battery-powered motorcycle. Sosa’s collaboration with Ryvid started at the One Motorcycle Show in 2023, where he met Anthem and founder Dong Tran.

“What really stood out to me was the steel frame design,” said Sosa. “I’d been interested in building an electric bike and knew I could do something cool around the frame.”

With the Anthem, Sosa focused his design around the Anthem’s ultralight folded stainless steel frame and removable battery pack.

“These elements dictated the use of sharper, straighter lines compared to the curved designs I often use,” he explained. “Stepping outside my comfort zone was what made this challenge so much fun.”

While steel is favored for classic motorbikes, Sosa prefers aluminum for modern machines, and that material fits the Anthem redesign theme better because it’s lighter, helping overall performance.

“Aluminum is harder to work than steel because it requires welding on both sides, but it’s softer and easier to shape,” he said. “I also really like how hand-polished aluminum looks; I try to avoid mirror-polishing anything because I feel it loses its soul.”

He did most of the work on the project by hand, but also incorporated my fast-cut CNC table into the design and build process, which he’s never done before.

“Once every part was cut, I shaped them by hand on the power hammers,” said Sosa. “Hammering requires a lot of time, but it’s my favorite part of the process because I can get into my zone.”

Thanks in part to the technology used, the entire build took about three weeks to complete, including the design process.

“It can be difficult to find a design direction, but once it was decided I then practically built the bike twice; first as a design buck, which allowed the templates to be created, and then replicated it in aluminum,” he said. “I couldn’t believe how well it came together and how good it looked. It has a classic feel but the lines make it appear very aggressive and slightly futuristic, which I wasn’t expecting.”

The new bodywork retains the Anthem’s unique height adjustable seat, which allows a broad range of riders to comfortably fit the motorcycle and its removable battery with an integrated charger. The Sosa seat unit flows from the central spine and can easily be raised and lowered with Anthem’s electric system. The bike’s side panels can be removed to access the battery’s latch system, allowing it to be lowered and removed for remote charging if required.

After Sosa got involved in the Anthem project, Ryvid launched its second model—the Outset—at the 2024 One Motorcycle Show. Based on the same frame, battery, and motor as the Anthem, the scrambler-style Outset is taller with a multi-road tuned suspension, has a narrower and longer dirt-bike-style seat, and wider handlebars. It might be Sosa’s next electric project.

Potential customers wanting to recreate the Sosa Anthem can contact Sosa Metalworks directly via sosametalworks.com. However, he only builds one bike at a time so it might be a long wait.

The Anthem and Outset are available to order now from ryvid.com, with the $6495 Anthem available for immediate delivery and the newer $5995 Outset deliveries beginning in the summer.

The Anthem and Outset—weighing just 313 and 315 lb (142 and 143 kg), respectively—share their architecture and low center of gravity. Major components positioned at axle level make them easy to change direction at high speed or maneuver at low speed.

They share a 12-lb (5.4-kg) backbone frame, TFT instrument display, removable 4.3-kW·h battery with integrated 3.3-kW charger, 72-V air-cooled brushless DC motor, controller, and sealed belt drive. With a motor rated at 7.5 kW and a peak of 14 kW, with 53 lb·ft (72 N·m), both are capable of a top speed over 75 mph (120 km/h) top speed and provide a range up to 70 mi (113 km) for the Outset or 75 mi (120 km) for the Anthem.

The battery can be charged quickly from 110- and 220-V supplies. Charging times at 110 V are 0-80% in 2.3 h and 0-100% in 3.25 h and at 220 V with a Level 2 adapter are 0-80% in 1.3 h and 0-100% in 1.85 h.