The California-based electric bike manufacturer ONYX recently unveiled its newest model, an ebike designed to overcome obstacles like jumps and rocky terrain. The brand-new ONYX LZR is being marketed as the ideal ebike to hit jumps and electrify the air and is available with two different engine combinations.
It will have a strong 900W Bafang M600 mid-drive system that can reach speeds of over 30 mph and provide over 1,000 peak watts. Also, as you can see from the photographs, ONYX chose a frame-integrated battery (504Wh) with a range of 30-65+ miles per charge, depending on how much pedal assistance you need.
Pre-orders for both electric bikes are now being accepted, with deliveries expected to commence in 6–8 weeks. The ONYX LZR retails for $2,799 and has a significant early-bird discount of $1,999. It comes in two colors. Just the Myst Pearl (blueish) color choice is available if you decide to spend the extra money on the LZR PRO, and it costs $3,399. You better act quickly since the first 100 orders will receive this amazing bike for only $2,799!
ONYX LZR Pro: Design and Build Quality
I’m not sure about you, but I believe these brand-new electric bikes look fantastic. Simply avoid attempting those tactics at home. Obviously, the most expensive model is the ONYX LZR Pro. This bike has a 6061 aluminum frame and an adjustable front fork with 100mm travel, making it ideal for urban streets or jumps.
It’s vital to remember that neither model has a throttle because ONYX anticipates riders to hit jumps, spin the handlebars, and perform other acrobatics. They are totally pedal-assisted bikes, though.
The tough hard-tail e-bikes in the new ONYX LZR series, with their flawlessly balanced, performance-tuned, and power-boosted mid-drive powertrains, are intended to “own the streets and conquer the hills.” On the website, the business even refers to these bikes as “dirt jumpers,” implying that they are suitable for any terrain. Simply watch the launch video to see what I mean.
It’s a stylish bike with a recognizable tapered top tube that, at least in photographs, appears to be incredibly thin where it connects to the seat tube. In person, it appears and feels solid enough; in comparison to a light road bike, it feels more like a tank at 25 kilos.
It sports a lock-out for road riding and a hard-tail frame with an unbranded front suspension fork. There is only the color you see here and one frame size available. It’s perfect for shorter riders at 16.5-inch. According to ONYX, its recommended height and weight ranges are 5’3″ to 6’7″ (160-200 cm) and up to 120 kg (rider + luggage).
There are mechanical disc brakes; however, only the 170mm brake discs are included in the Tektro MD-M311 brake system listed in ONYX’s specification list. The brake levers are unbranded, although the actuators (and likely the pads as well) are produced by Zoom.
The back wheel, which houses the Bafang engine, has bolts while the seat and the front wheel have fast release clamps. The motor has lots of power reserve despite having a nominal power rating of 750W; more on that later.
The battery is usefully detachable so that you may remove it from the frame, where it is located in the down tube, and charge it independently from the bicycle.
The ONYX LZR Pro sports a front LED light with a fairly loud horn built in, similar to many other Chinese bikes. There is no rear light; instead, a reflector for the seat post is included in the box.
A rear mudguard and a throttle are also included in the box (with the UK model, at any rate). If you only plan to ride on private property, you can install this along with the shorter handlebar grip that is included. This converts the bike into an electric moped so you can use the motor without pedaling. The ONYX LZR Pro’s top speed in Europe is capped at 28 mph (45 km/h), just like all electric motorcycles.
ONYX LZR Pro: Motor and Battery
It’s wonderful to see a Bafang motor because it’s of higher quality than what you often buy at this cost. If a problem does arise, it should be repairable in addition to being dependable.
But be aware that ONYX only provides a 12-month warranty (two years only on certain components). You can choose from five different power modes on the handlebar-mounted display, in addition to a 0 option that completely turns off the motor. That’s helpful if you’re making slow, precise maneuvers and don’t want the motor to start, knocking you off balance and into the ground.
And trust me, it will accomplish that. The ONYX LZR Pro saves money by choosing a cadence sensor instead of a torque sensor, which is used by more expensive bikes to determine when and how much power to provide. As the motor has no way of knowing how hard or gently you are pedaling, it will start when you pedal, which is typical of most inexpensive e-bikes.
Holding the + and – buttons while pressing the power button will bring up the U menu, where pressing the – button will change the speed from km/h to mph.
As soon as you go from the Volt Pulse to the ONYX, the ride comfort is noticeably different. Given the price differential and the fact that the Pulse is not a mountain bike, this shouldn’t come as a surprise, but when I rode both bikes down my neighborhood’s Big Hill, the ONYX seemed much jitterier and unstable.
It was uncomfortable, even if it might have been partially caused by the fact that I had purposefully left the tyre pressures quite low, which is what you want for off-roading.
The ONYX LZR Pro performs admirably on dirt paths, where it is most at home. Although I would prefer it to be a little lighter, once you get used to how the power is delivered, you can predict the power setting you will need for any given inclination.
The large 26-inch Kenda tires are puncture-resistant and provide good traction. The budget fork is excellent at absorbing bumps, but because it is so inexpensive, it might not be able to handle serious downhill mountain biking, especially if the courses have jumps and aren’t rollable.
Remember that the Shimano gears are entry-level equipment, and the restricted ratios aren’t ideal for particularly steep off-roading, but they work just fine for casual forest rides.
Beyond this, the brakes may use some improvement, as they aren’t incredibly potent. The orange reflectors, which make it appear like a child’s bike and are not required by UK law, should also be taken off, in my opinion.
If you’re pedaling, ONYX claims that the ONYX LZR Pro can travel 70 miles between charges. You can travel up to 40 miles solely on the motor, but only if the throttle is installed and you are permitted to ride it in this manner.
Both are obviously the best-case circumstances on a flat, warm road. Considerably shorter range is to be expected for actual mountain biking. Also, because of how heavy the bike is, save the battery power for when you truly need it to climb the steepest inclines; once the battery is dead, your legs won’t enjoy the added work.
You’ll literally get different results. While you’re pedaling hard, you can expect to travel between 30 and 50 miles on a full battery with a combination of on- and off-road riding.
ONYX LZR Pro: Conclusions
If you live in the UK, you might opt to purchase a Carrera Vengeance E at Halfords. For warranty repairs, it is equally expensive and provides the security of brick-and-mortar establishments.
The fold-up, fat-tire M1 of Fiido is an additional option. Although it has front and rear suspension, the ONYX LZR Pro is a little more maneuverable and easier to control. But it folds up to save space in storage, and it has a great design.
In the end, the ONYX is a good buy. Certainly, there are inexpensive parts like the fork and others, but the 750W Bafang motor, and other name-brand parts offer reasonable value.
Don’t buy any of these to ride on the road, but the ONYX LZR Pro delivers for the money when it comes to off-road enjoyment.
