The Dryft Board is the strangest rideable the Freshly Charged team has tried out in a while, and for the right person, it is also one of the most fun. A 500W front hub motor, switchable carve and drift modes, and a flexible bamboo deck combine into something that rides like a powered snowboard and demands real throttle discipline to control. The throttle curve is too aggressive and tire wear is a genuine ongoing cost, but Andrew was a big fan. If sketchy, physical, and skill-dependent sounds like a good time, this one might be for you.
After more than 100 ebikes tested, Andrew on the Freshly Charged team calls the Cannondale Flying V the most refined and agile ebike he has ridden. The full carbon fiber build, Gates carbon belt drive, Bosch mid-drive motor, and adaptive auto pedal assist combine into something that feels less like a powered commuter and more like a genuinely exceptional bicycle that happens to hit 28 mph. The criticisms are minor: a front light that needs more output, a rear light that does not double as a brake light, and no throttle option. At a premium price, the Flying V earns it.
The Gspace Mars GTR hits 70 mph in real-world testing, carries a 72V 45Ah Samsung-cell battery, and undercuts comparable hyper scooters by $200 to $800. The ride is stable, smooth, and genuinely fast. The criticisms are real, particularly the inadequate horn, the jumpy battery meter, and a below-par unboxing experience, but none of them change what the scooter delivers once you are on it. For riders who want top-tier speed and range without the top-tier price, the Mars GTR makes a strong case for itself.
The Nosfet Aeon is a direct evolution of the Aero, sharing the same compact magnesium alloy form factor but stepping up with a 2200W motor, 8000W peak output, 1300Wh Samsung 50S battery cells, and a 64 lb curb weight. The headline improvement is high-speed stability: both a lighter rider at 165 lbs and a heavier rider tested it past 28 mph with zero speed wobble or shimmy, even under hard braking. Bidirectional independent suspension, a versatile 3.0x12" off-road tire, and a thoughtful accessories package round out a well-executed package. The main criticisms are a limited app, curved body panels that restrict pad compatibility, and a trolley handle that is genuinely hard to engage with gloves on. For riders at 180 lbs and above who want the Aero's portability with meaningful gains in power and composure, the Aeon is the obvious choice.
The Aventon Level 4 REC is one of the most complete commuter e-bikes the Freshly Charged team has tested at this price tier. A near-silent 750W hub motor, functional regen braking, app-based security with 4G GPS tracking, integrated brake lights, and a selectable torque/cadence sensor make for a spec sheet that most competitors cannot match point for point. The criticisms are minor: no auto-canceling turn signals, composite pedals over metal, and no included bell. For urban commuters who want a smart, quiet, and well-rounded daily rider, the REC should be on your list to check out.
The Bonnell 775 MX is the rare machine that genuinely earns the "best of both worlds" label. It climbs like an eMoto, descends like a true downhill bike, and looks enough like a mountain bike that nobody on a shared trail gives it a second glance. That last point matters more than it used to, given how aggressively Surron style bikes are being pushed off public trails and out of communities. The 775 MX fills that void without asking you to compromise on fun, and with Bonnell already fielding bikes like the 805 and 902 that are winning races at venues like Glen Helen Raceway, it is increasingly clear this is not a one-hit brand. The 775 MX is a strong product from a company that looks like it is just getting started.
The Ausom L1 is a budget electric scooter that punches well above its price tag in ways that are hard to ignore. The Freshly Charged team took it out for a full real world range test across the trails of southern Utah, and what came back surprised us. If you are looking for genuine speed and range without breaking the bank and you live somewhere reasonably flat, this one is worth your attention.
The Antic from Future Motion is the first production ready self wheelie bike on the market, and after two separate sessions including one crash that served as a hard learned safety lesson, the Freshly Charged team came away with a nuanced take on a product that is genuinely exciting but not without its rough edges. The wheelie system works, the speed is real, and the experience of doing something most people assumed they could never do is as rewarding as advertised. But the stock tires are a notable compromise, the seat design becomes uncomfortable during extended wheelie sessions, basic accessories are missing at a price point that should include them, and the mode indicator system is not prominent enough to prevent the exact kind of accident Jimmy experienced firsthand when he forgot wheelie assist was disabled. Stacked against the Wheelie Fun Bike prototype the team also tested, the Antic trades a more polished ride experience for immediate availability and a lower price point, with Andrew favoring the Wheelie Fun Bike for safety feel and ride comfort, and Jimmy leaning toward the Antic for its real world accessibility. If you want to understand the full picture of what this bike gets right, where it falls short, and whether it belongs in your garage, the following review is worth the read.
The Wheelie Fun Bike V1 is the world's first self-wheelying mini bike: a 72V electric mini bike built by The Float Life around a dedicated self-balancing wheelie system that does exactly what the name promises. Press and hold the wheelie button, the front wheel lifts, and the bike's self-balancing technology holds you at a controlled angle indefinitely, with a smooth, gradual let-down when you release. That means no looping out, no sudden drops, no consequence for getting the balance point wrong. Claiming 30+ mph and 30+ miles of range (with real-world testing confirming 31 mph sustained uphill), the bike is legitimately capable as a mini e-bike on its own merits, but the headline is the riding experience: a flow-state, weight-shifting, hip-controlled skill that feels somewhere between an electric unicycle and a dirt bike wheelie, and that total beginners can meaningfully progress on within a single session. It's not the most practical thing we've ever tested — it's not trying to be — but as a pure experience machine that makes one of riding culture's most aspirational skills genuinely accessible, the Wheelie Fun Bike V1 is one of the most uniquely fun products to come through the Freshly Charged garage.
The Aventon Level 4 ADV is a mid-drive commuter e-bike built around a fundamentally different philosophy than most of its competition: instead of chasing the biggest numbers, it chases a smarter ride. The Aventon Ultro S mid-drive motor (750W rated, 100Nm peak torque) paired with a Shimano CUES 10-speed electronic drivetrain and the bike's AutoShift and Auto Mode pedal assist systems work together to create a riding experience that autonomously manages gear selection and power output in real time, leaving the rider to simply pedal and enjoy the scenery. The 800Wh Samsung battery, 100mm suspension fork, Tektro hydraulic brakes front and rear, 50mm suspension seat post, integrated GPS security with remote lockdown capability, and dual UL certifications (UL 2849 and UL 2271) round out a spec sheet that justifies the premium price point. Plus there is Aventon's extensive dealer network for real-world service support. The absence of a brake light is a genuine safety oversight that needs to be addressed, the throttle is an optional add-on rather than included, and the price will give budget-conscious buyers pause... but for the daily commuter who wants a refined, intelligent, theft-resistant bike that rides more like a high-end road bike than a utility hauler, the Level 4 ADV should be a contender.
The Velotric GoMad is a short-tail cargo e-bike that bridges the gap between utility hauler and legitimate commuter, built around a 750W rear hub motor (1,300W peak) with 85Nm of torque, 20x4" Kenda fat tires, and a custom ride mode that unlocks throttle up to 20 mph and pedal assist up to 28 mph simultaneously, a combination that's rare in the cargo segment. The 802Wh battery, RST Guide hydraulic suspension fork with 100mm of travel, Tektro hydraulic brakes, TFT LCD display, and 500 lb payload capacity round out a spec sheet that punches well above what most compact cargo bikes offer, and Velotric backs it all with dual UL certifications, IPX6 water resistance (IPX7 battery), Apple Find My integration, and a 1,200+ dealer network for real-world service support makes the GoMad worth a long look.
The NAVEE UT5 Ultra X is a flagship-tier electric scooter that makes a strong case for itself on build quality, ride stability, and smart feature integration, even if the price-to-battery ratio gives some buyers pause. Powered by dual 1,200W motors peaking at 4,800W combined, riding on 12-inch tubeless self-healing tires with hydraulic suspension and 130mm hydraulic disc brakes at both ends, it's a mechanically capable machine that proved itself in real-world testing, hitting a GPS-verified 42.9 mph and handling rough road surfaces at speed without drama. The app ecosystem is one of the better implementations in the segment, with adjustable traction control, regen braking tuning, scheduled charging, and Apple Find My all onboard. The gold colorway is genuinely sharp rather than gimmicky, the build is rattle-free and solid, and the UL certification adds a layer of safety credibility that matters at this price point. The weak spots — an outdated display, underwhelming headlight and horn, limited suspension travel, and a 22.3Ah battery that feels modest for a $2,499 ask — are real, but for riders cross-shopping the Kaabo Mantis who want something more structurally confidence-inspiring, the UT5 Ultra X is a compelling answer.