SONDORS Metacycle First Impressions: Is It Worth It?!

The SONDORS Metacycle is finally rolling out to early reservations holders and I took a test ride to see what makes this electric motorcycle tick. To learn more, read my full write-up on Electrek at: electrek.co/?p=264380
⛑️ My safety gear:
Bike helmet: amzn.to/3bn4g6J
Motorcycle helmet: bit.ly/Good_Helmet
Scooter helmet: bit.ly/Scooter_Helmet
Mesh jacket: bit.ly/Mesh_Jacket
Armored jeans: bit.ly/Riding_Jeans
Armored boots: bit.ly/Riding_boots
Armored gloves: bit.ly/Riding_Gloves
🎥 My filming gear:
Pretty product shots: amzn.to/2F4BNqQ
Invisible selfie stick camera: amzn.to/3Pmu5ad
Chest mounted camera: amzn.to/3P1NJsc
GoPro: amzn.to/3c9mjCk
Drone: amzn.to/3lnxwyQ
Handlebar phone holder: amzn.to/3JmDMmf
🚲 My favorite e-bikes:
(Budget-friendly) Lectric XP 2.0 $999:
(Low-cost fast commuter) Ride1Up 500 Series $1,399: bit.ly/Ride1Up500Series
(Mid-level) Aventon Level: bit.ly/Aventon-Level
(Premium e-bike) Priority Current $2,999: bit.ly/Priority_Current
(Something for EVERYONE!) Rad Power Bikes:
(Power!) Juiced Bikes: bit.ly/Juiced_Bikes
🛴 My favorite e-scooters:
WideWheel Pro: bit.ly/WideWheelPRO
Mantis Pro: bit.ly/FFR_Mantis
Dualtron Thunder: bit.ly/Dualtron_Thunder
Turbowheel Lightning: bit.ly/turbowheel-lightning
Emove Cruiser: bit.ly/Emove_Cruiser
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links: 9to5mac.com/about/#affiliate

[@tedphillips1099]

Excellent first impression video, Micah. I bailed out of my paid up Metacycle order a couple months ago because of too many changes to the original prototype. Now I'm holding out hope that Super73 comes thru with the C1X at a reasonable price and performs as advertised.

[@jeremycurle6880]

same

[@Electric-Rideables]

Wow! Great coverage. Thanks for the latest deets on the Metacycle. And that Prius pickup is hilarious. Go LA!

[@frogmandave1]

I enjoyed this video very much. Thanks for the update Micah. I think it would be very cool to own one of these.

[@steven_baconbits]

Thanks for the ride review, I really have been waiting for it from this channel. Patiently waiting for my Arctic White 🥶

[@Electrek]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@arleneallen8809]

The white ones were apparently the last ones to get shipped. I'm supposedly getting mine next week. First thing out, I'm going to try to get the local shop to find a fairing that works. Sonders has no plans or partners for those.

[@Xatzimi]

This is a great review. I ended up cancelling mine because I honestly had no idea when I would see it. I think you hit the nail on the head with your description, though: it is a perfect upgrade for an ebike rider, and perhaps a transition for a motorcyclist to get into ebiking.

[@Cesar-cm4if]

If you're riding an ebike you should def wear an nta helmet like xnito or bern hudson, those cpsc helmets don't really protect you

[@Xatzimi]

@@Cesar-cm4if thanks? I don't ride ebikes myself

[@ticenits1926]

I don't see how this is an e-bike whatsoever, it's clearly meant to fill the motorcycle segment. You better learn how to ride a motorcycle before you sit on this thing.

[@madwatchstudios]

That moment with the Harley guy was so great. Hope he get his. Also hope I get mine. lol

[@xpndblhero5170]

I'd love to have one of these in my little town, I bet people would be chasing me down and asking questions every day because there's only a couple of electric bikes around town and this is one of the best looking electric bikes.... I guarantee if I rode this around for a couple of months I'd start seeing them pop up all over the place. 😊

[@houseofintent]

I hope they make the battery swappable if and when they come out with a bigger battery in the future. The number one reason why I want to get this bike is the frame. It looks like a futuristic beast but the number one reason why I've been holding off is the range.

[@Xatzimi]

Supposedly the void space is supposed to fit a second battery pack. I'm not sure that's still the plan given the other changes, but keep your eye out for that

[@joshmuirhead1154]

I’m on the same fence you are for the same reason. I’m hopeful that as I save up for it they will make some upgrades and the aftermarket will catch up

[@notanavrageloser]

I’ve seen a few “first ride” videos of this thing now. The impression I’m getting is that, if you forgive that it’s not as good as we were promised two years ago, it’s still good. …but I’ll probably never have the chance to ride one anyway 😅

[@bj97301]

I own a repair shop and I loathe dealing with Sondors to get parts. Takes forever and they ended up sending the wrong part.

[@Xatzimi]

How often have you had to deal with this bike so far?

[@bj97301]

@@Xatzimi I work on everything from scooters to atvs so I don’t specialize in just bikes but it’s been about 6% of my customer base.

[@EatOffTop]

Nice test drive video... I would wait a few more years for these competitors to start outperforming eachother and make better products. Performance, price, and value of gas powered motorcycle still seems way better.

[@justjohn7529]

I think that was the range and speed we all guessed it would be.

[@knowen87]

I see people bagging on saunders for this bike and that's totally justified because they over promised and under delivered. But, this is the first bike in between an e-bike and a motorcycle that is road legal. It comes with a VIN. Something that most high speed electric bikes do not. I converted my dad's 77 Honda and it has almost the same specs. At the time it was the only way I could get an electric commuter motorcycle. This is a solid option for anyone who wants to commute and get around town.

[@DCart007]

It is too bad they took away the removable battery, where I live it is a necessity because of the cold temperatures. I would opt for the Ryvid Anthem over this one even though it is more expensive. Great review 👍

[@quadzilla2854]

Check out LANDMOTO .

[@OneWheelMan]

@@quadzilla2854 Looks like a lot more $ for less. $7,800 and you get 1.8kwh...so $1,300 more for less than half the battery. If you want to bump it up to 3.6Kwh (still less battery) you're paying $9,400.

[@carlll6101]

I have electric bike that had removable battery and at first it was awesome, util I my bike almost caught fire 2 times and I found out that single latch that keeps one of 2 batteries is almost brokes. So no... oh and those 2 batteries were 3,6kWh total for 22+kg. I gutted the bike, removed battery tray, retention system etc. Dropped 20S1P 36kg lifepo4 stack that gives 6,72kWh... and well I'm way more happy now. If not this I would scrap that bike. Also cost 2k+ UST for 2 batteries vs 2,5 for build in one that is more than 2x bigger and will last way longer

[@jarekr2884]

if its cold its no sense to have one. cold is kiling that shitty motomopedostuff. comunists will advertized that junk anyways.

[@Xatzimi]

How much do you ride in the cold? It is still removable with a little effort, if you want to store the battery inside during winter it's totally doable

[@GabrielDeVault]

Really excellent 1st look video. Would love more info on range.

[@crxk20r59]

I’ll stick to my 2007 Honda CBR 600RR that I paid $3,000 for & very easily hits highways speeds. Good video none the less 👍

[@davidgesell]

Right? My 2022 Z400 costs less than this and puts a big fat grin on my face every time I ride it. Also after leaving the pump for like $10 and about 30 secs of filling my tank.

[@ebonstar4461]

Totally different market than an e bike

[@crxk20r59]

@@ebonstar4461 they’re marketing it as a motorcycle.

[@slimdunkin117]

@@crxk20r59 no they’re marketing it as an electric motorcycle..it’s brand new, dead quiet, doesn’t reek of oil and gas. The battery tech is still poor tho overall

[@crxk20r59]

@@slimdunkin117 well I’m glad my old motorcycle doesn’t leak a drop of oil or gas & my battery is pretty cheap when I do need to buy a new one. I was initially interested in the metacycle but once I saw the reviews, changed my mind about considering to purchase one….However I’m sure to some people it will be useful. Take care & thanks for responses 👍

[@atolliver91]

I almost got one…til I started reading what it was really saying…and you confirmed what I understood…🎉

[@MegaJustice]

Thanks for investing and writing in this review. With respect, I am so glad I cancelled my order. My 2015 Zero S is simply perfect.

[@CarbonKid621]

Reminds me of how the onyx RCR stated they could do 60 mph. But it never lived up to the speed. At least this bike CAN do its claim.

[@connelly6375]

It looks cool but I wish they made better use of that peak through, like put sides on it, widen it a bit and add a top hatch and turn it into a nice storage container, like the nc700x does

[@Samuraisnowy]

Excellent review! I am quite glad I canceled my pre-order, and spent the planned money on an RE Interceptor 650. The meta cycle, while great for some, just doesn't hit the mark for what was needed.

[@rickbullock4331]

I really like the look of that bike. Where I live this bike wouldn’t be too practical but neither is any motorcycle once the winter months hit. I live in Ontario Canada and snow and cold hit pretty good come October or so.

[@tayh3168]

Nice review and info about the top speed......There are lots of stretches along I-5 where the speed limit is posted 70 and people go 80 mph for about 10 or 12 miles at a time at least. It's probably best to get off the highway and travel by city for these stretches....but honestly for this price tag you have to bend a little and it's very much worth it in my opinion. I'd love to have one of these bikes in the future....

[@MichaelMoore-bx6st]

I got into motorcycles after having an e-bike that did 30 mph on a good day. First bike was an expensive electric motorcycle, then a scooter (that I still have) and third is a Honda Grom. If I knew what I know now, I would have got the Grom first. It's so fun and I made it practical with adding storage. After the first two days I don't even think about the clutch anymore. I know this bike can go faster, but I wouldn't take it over a Grom after my experience.

[@KoroWerks]

Maybe when Honda makes an Electric Grom or Ruckus...

[@TheBrianCalhoun]

A lot of people ride small electrics vehicles because we don't want the noise of an ICE bike.

[@MichaelMoore-bx6st]

@@TheBrianCalhoun I get that if you mainly ride at slower speeds, but above 40mph? I don't hear either of my ICE bike's stock exhausts anymore, I just hear wind noise.. as someone who has ridden and owned both gas and electric, I dont really understand that argument. For E-bicycles I get it though.

[@lukewalker1051]

A Grom is a far superior motorcycle for less money. Sorry you had to learn the hard way. As a mechanical engineer, I could explain in depth. Physics.

[@lukewalker1051]

@@TheBrianCalhoun A small gas motorcycle with a good muffler is barely audible on the road. By contast, many electric bicycles and motorcycles have a shrill, high pitch harmonic that is hard on the ears like a Sur-Ron.

[@greensavant2573]

Great review! I too canceled, not only because the 80mph / 80 mile range was very suspicious, but after putting down the deposit, it dawned on me that 3 years, 20 shares of stock, and a deposit later, I was no closer to the Model Sondors (3-wheel EV) and, they stopped giving updates, and stopped answering emails. I'll consider a new Sondors product AFTER they deliver on the Model Sondors.

[@JustinCrediblename]

does the wind direction affect the non-sportmode top speed appreciably?

[@mantan_rtw]

Is the secondary 3kwh battery that is supposed to fit in that big gap still an option?

[@singlespeed2760]

shape looking bike. Glad you got pictures of the Prius pickup, wonder what the story on it is.

[@Electric-Rideables]

That Prius pickup...

[@O1dmanwalker]

I've been seeing alot more ebikes around lately. My brother and his neighbors ride to the market and other errands alot. I went the other way and got that honda automatic motorcycle

[@nikita_kraev]

OMG I think i saw you the other day in Playa Vista! Saw the bike and i was like "oh wow, they're already shipping to customers"

[@user-pq4by2rq9y]

I want a few things on this bike: storage, a better seat, and a big manufacturer behind it.

[@mikelivingood7797]

What about the Kolter ES1-S? With Sondors being heavier not as fast etc.

[@doubleklik1]

You rode both the ryvid anthem and now the metacycle which do you prefer and why?

[@HokkaidoSan]

They need to come out a longer range or a bigger swappable battery and a rear cargo basket for your dog. Since this is more for city riding. A cargo basket or a grocery basket is a must.

[@andromedach]

the open air space should have been setup to hold a custom bag so that you could take some goods while commuting

[@guineapigzed]

Or more battery

[@Xatzimi]

They stated that the plan is to include modular components for either storage or more battery, but with the number of changes made it's hard to say if that's still for sure

[@Altema22]

It looks cool, but I'm not sold with the changes and all. An option that I think I'd prefer is the Lyric Voodoo. Only 65mph top speed, but can peak at 18,000 watts and has a better power to weight ratio.

[@ibjacked]

Why not use some of that gaping hole in the frame for more batteries? You could have longer range or be able to maintain turbo-mode longer.

[@lizzam]

The seat is quite short, is there any way to fit in a pillion rider?

[@doolittlegeorge]

Really interesting spokes and hub/rim.

[@shy2papa]

Looks awesome

[@SmartMart1658]

Looks great - great design.

[@theknifedude1881]

Well, I’m in the first batch,allegedly. Been in it for over a year, so we’ll see. I’m glad to hear you thought it was a good deal.

[@jimji2774]

That is in interesting e cycle and looks pretty edgy. I bet we start seeing these things modified in upcomming movies.

[@makeitgrand]

Gotta love that Harley dude!

[@IntricatelyUrs-xn2zq]

We have a Harley and absolutely too big for me. My husband bought this years ago and we are finally getting it this month. This one I can ride so I am excited

[@noisycarlos]

Looks like a fun bike!

[@sitechca70]

Anyone know what the seat height is for this thing? Looked all over their site. A bit leery of their financial situation. Pay now, expect to get Dec 2023 or next year. Will they even still be around?

[@daroldhunter]

Slowly rolling out, that's a good one!🤣🤣

[@shawnw6486]

My question is, what do you have to do legally. Does it require you to have a motorcycle endorsement to drive and does it have to have a license plate or is it like a moped where neither are required?

[@robertbandusky9565]

What happens to range in hilly towns?

[@wonderwall135]

hoping for a gen 2 product in the next year or two that upgrades the power and fixes the quirks

[@goodreason3123]

What is lifespan of battery and cost of new one?

[@user-go2ko4bq5z]

I paid for the bike more than a year ago Im waiting for more than 1 year for my metacycle. I wonder how much longer I have to wait.

[@leafqi]

Just got my supermassive today, still charging it, can’t stop looking at it

[@woodsculptor675]

I would purchase one if it had an 'off-road package'...so I could use it to hunt the legendary Yeti😋...Great vid.

[@iainamurray]

It looks amazing, and regardless of what was promised, they've seemingly delivered something special. Definitely interested if they come to the UK! (Incidentally, could you put weight and measurement conversions on the screen for the non-US crowd? I can work out 80mph ok, but no idea what 300lbs is without searching - having the figures on the screen would be handy!). Thanks for the review!

[@Xatzimi]

I understand that the EU requires ABS, which is one of the features unfortunately cut from the Metacycle. Does the UK require it as well?

[@iainamurray]

@@Xatzimi Good point. UK still maintains a majority of the EU rules. Even if they didn't then it's hard to see why a manufacturer would differentiate - if they sell to Europe then it will have to have ABS and they are unlikely to change that just for the UK market. One caveat is that if the bike is less than 125cc or equivalent then linked brakes are OK instead. Not sure what the cc equivalent would be. Probably more if you can cruise at the speeds mentioned.

[@SweBeach2023]

1 kg is 2.2 pounds, making converting easy. To move from 300 pound to kg split 300 by 2 and we get 150. Remove 10% of 150 or 15. Subtract 15 from 150. Giving us 135. which is within a 1 percent margin of error which is normally more than good enough. And it won't take more than a few seconds to make the estimate.

[@Xatzimi]

@@iainamurray The US model was sold as having ABS and regenerative braking, both features (among others) which were cut from the production design. They said they would add them for a "second version" EU model, but I imagine it's a long time out

[@iainamurray]

@@SweBeach2023 I'm aware of all of this, but I'd rather listen to the review than do maths.

[@jeanterine4712]

With a second battery, more power and a bigger frame for tall guys it would be perfect. Maybe it is doable to a certain point. Changing controller, adding a second battery... Or buying a zero directly

[@hlagunes]

Thanks for the review, I am waiting for my Supermassive, 2rd, I know it’s not the fastest but it’s great for around town and my 15 mile commute to work, for the weekends I have a Tuono V4 just for kicks, a Varla eagle one scooter and a Lectric bike, that’s how I roll.

[@ItsLiZavi]

How long is delivery

[@TheDwightMamba]

I feel like the gaping hole was a missed opportunity to double the range of this thing.

[@sergentcolon1]

Silence 01 60mph 80mile range and an easily removable battery. It also has underseat storage.

[@georgekrpan3181]

There's a lot of good gas motorcycles available for under $6500. I just got a Husqvarna Vitpilen 401. It's as beautiful as the Sonders, it's quiet, it's quick, it's comfortable, weighs 340 lbs, gets 50+ mpg, and there's no range anxiety. The advantage of the Sonders is that there's no shifting through the gears and it doesn't burn gas. Gas or electric, motorcycles wear out tires quickly and they're expensive. I actually think motorcycles are not a very thrifty means of transport. Buy a $6500 motorcycle to save gas? Even at $6 a gallon, $6500 buys a lot of gas.

[@abdishakzsomar]

Where can I buy this

[@outovtoon]

Is a separate motorcycle license required to ride the Metacycle?

[@chris-vn6sw]

Any plans to sell the bikes in the UK 🇬🇧 ??

[@theitconsultant]

Well, we have come full circle, it seems!

[@andrewsmactips]

5:17 You know, it really is a good idea to stay on your own side of the road.

[@ckodezpohio5944]

How does this compare to suron

[@oicangiram2694]

Can you review Novus bike

[@AB-lm6dy]

The fact they advertised the removable battery and the production not have it suxs! I planned on buying this for riding to work and charging the battery at the office lol

[@gandmemoney]

What is the charge time

[@donnytheflow]

6:05 apply generous ointment to the burn area

[@DanielLopes-jt8yl]

Didn’t like the look when it first presented in 21 but it’s growing on me. And when yeah it’s time to upgrade maybe it’ll be better then it is now.

[@toddtonis]

Interesting design decisions. The empty space just forward of the seat could have been a great place for "purchased items" storage since it's central to the bike mass and relatively low on the bike. Second, it seemed like the rider display was leaned way to far forward instead of back toward the driver. Bad idea dropping the removable battery box. Other company's have done this successfully. Seat height seems high as do the footpegs which they probably did for lean angle. $6500 seems too high.

[@bighou2359]

We all know this vid was gonna be a banger.

[@GroovyVideo2]

how was suspension ?

[@mjweissman6309]

Thanks for the review!! I wonder if Hucks or ONYX RCR is better choice overall?

[@chimnibff]

I canceled my order for metacycle in June and got an Onyx RCR instead because I didn't want to miss another riding season. I'm glad I did but Onyx is not made for the highway.

[@quadzilla2854]

Check out Landmoto distric. More money . Just my opinion. Hoping to see a review on this channel.

[@AffectiveApe]

Do not get an onyx. Source: am onyx owner.

[@midorian12491]

@@AffectiveApe why not?

[@AffectiveApe]

@@midorian12491 only a 30 day warranty on the bike (this alone should be a HUGE red flag), cheap parts that fail, if you are not technically oriented and live anywhere other than NYC or LA good luck finding folks to help you troubleshoot. Basically, its a small company that doesn't have control of the quality control of many of the parts they source, so if you look around youll find many riders have bikes that have had controller failures (myself included) who basically end up with the option of spending hundreds on new components or having a $6000 paper weight.

[@cybair9341]

The hub motor allows a very neat, uncluttered installation.

[@mikeb1039]

and the cheapest way by far ;)

[@GingerPiston]

And a HUGE amount of unsprung weight in the wheel.

[@cybair9341]

@@GingerPiston - Unsprung weight makes the ride more comfortable.

[@GingerPiston]

@@cybair9341 Nope.

[@jonsek]

@@GingerPiston Unsprung weight is a controversial issue. It makes a difference, but Lotus Engineering said suspension redesign can mitigate the effects.

[@maciejpsyk]

Best advice ever on the very end!

[@VinCent-il8ob]

Does the bike have any kind of audible for pedestrians or animals to hear? Before they unfortunately step out in front of it

[@theodorehaskins3756]

So this is a fantastic bike/meta-cycle, it’s too bad that the quick removal of the battery was sacrificed, as well as not having level 2 charging capability, is definitely a dealbreaker for me. The other thing is it has no utility function, as it is only good for just riding for pleasure. I mean you can’t go to the grocery store, as you have no place to carry anything on the bike so hopefully they will think about that as an accessory as they continue to roll these puppies out. Cheers 🥂

[@joetrump5844]

I like the fact that this project has come to reality…… also, I like that hole 🕳️ on the bike………. As battery 🔋 technology improves…. Maybe adding more battery power , will quench the desire of the many. I love ❤️ the looks 👀 of the body. 🤩

[@ricardodiaz2848]

How tall are you?

[@goobfilmcast4239]

First viable accessory: Quality Rain-proof, fully fitted custom cover (I live in FL)

[@WillyEarl098]

I already got a trailerable, cover for mine at Walmart...it was on sale too...will cinch too get tighter fit...a Sondors aftermarket is likely years away, haven't even done extra battery or storage...slow and will likely be overpriced aftermarket stuff.

[@thejehosahphatexperiment]

My EUC has a 3.6kwh battery…crazy that this is a whole motorcycle with the same battery capacity.

[@bobbybecker80]

Good preview, great (IMO) design, too small for me (6'1") AFAICT, way too expensive. I'll get an ICE if the need arises.

[@himanologanor4093]

awesome !

[@views4rmthasix596]

By the time us regular ppl can get one Honda, & other mc companies will have their own versions of EMC’s. With local dealers to service them too. I’ll wait

[@buckybarnes3803]

Sonders tagline: "over promise and under deliver"

[@VAARRR1]

Need rear fender to protect in rain

[@toyotaprius79]

2:30‼️ Is that a Prius truck? A pruck? A prick? Now that's worth some interest!

[@Regdor]

Sur ron Storm Bee isn't much more money, and the Ultra Bee will probably be the same price as this. I think there's going to be a lot of competition in this price range very soon.

[@jonsek]

Those Surron's are both nice designs but sold for off-road. Gvien the Surron's curb weights and battery sizes, the Metacycle's weight is disappointing.

[@HubbaJamo]

@@jonsekYou can always swap out the tires and make it a street bike .

[@christopherfeiler551]

@@HubbaJamohow can you swap out the tires?

[@actionkey8042]

AWESOME

[@adaboy4z]

Mayne Gen 2 will get it right. I'm in the same boat I've out grown electric bike speed. I want to zip I around town with traffic.

[@dariusx4829]

Sondors knew full well that $5K/ 80 mph / 200lbs was a pipe dream from the get-go. Expecting Santa down a chimney would have been more realistic...

[@jonsek]

Yeah. Very disappointing that it weighs over 300 lbs.

[@neo1267]

Like GM promising a $30,000 Equinox EV. It's fiction.

[@mikeshafer]

It's a shame Sondors went tits-up, but I was really hoping to get the Metacycle someday. I still like the specs but I also love the look of it. I don't want an e-motorcycle that looks like a regular motorcycle.

[@Strungrat]

Thanks for what appears to be an unbiased review. Just lacking performance to me. When they said performance of a 300cc bike. This is more like a grom. Maybe the Can-am will do it for me. They just wont reveal details till next summer. Hope that doesn't turn out to be a big moped like this ended up being.

[@ellestar2306]

What was the final price on the Metacycle?

[@USNEM]

6500

[@muruganjayavel8229]

Nice bike

[@johnzeb9510]

Just like 1 TB storage USB is available in a tiny device they need to make tiny batteries which provide more miles less space