Review: Infinite Machine Olto

If Elon Musk’s Cybertruck didn't exist, I think I'd like Infinite Machine’s Olto even more. On the first outing with this electric bike, someone came up to me in a coffee shop and asked if I was the owner of the bike outside. “It looks like a Cybertruck!” Another time, at a stoplight, a man on the crosswalk with his baby in a stroller paused to ask about my ride. “It's so cool!" Followed by another Cybertruck mention.

As I rode through New York City, eyes locked onto my ride as I cruised through the streets, and all I could think of was the unfortunate parallel with the Tesla pickup. I don't blame them; it's the first thing I thought of when I saw the Brooklyn company's ebike last year. The Olto undoubtedly looks like it was ejected from a Cybertruck ready to blow up, à la the Bat-Pod blasting off from the Tumbler in The Dark Knight.

If you don't mind the Cyber connotation and Apple-like construction, then there's a lot to like with this $3,495 vehicle. It's rated as a Class 2 ebike that can hit 20 miles per hour, though you can set it to Class 3 to unlock a top speed of 28 mph. You'll have to comply with local ebike laws—for example, in New York City you'll have to stick to 15 mph whether on a bike lane or a road. The Olto might look like a moped—with room for a passenger and all—but you do not need a license to ride it in the US. There are pedals you can unlock from the frame to enable pedal assist like a normal ebike, though that won't stop the annoyed looks from fellow cyclists in the bike lane.

Cyber Bike

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

It is so fantastically simple to get going once the Olto is in your possession. The company dropped off the bike for me in a van, and this delivery option is available in the NY metro area as well as in Los Angeles and Orange County. Other cities will be added soon, but if you're not in those markets, the company says the Olto ships fully assembled in the box. The delivery folks will unbox and remove the packaging, so all you need to do is plug in the backup battery (more on that later).

Pair it with the companion app (Android, iOS), and you're more or less ready. (There's not much to tweak in the settings.) The company warned me that the Android app was buggy and recommended the iOS version, but I didn't have any trouble. I primarily used the included NFC card to unlock and start the Olto by tapping it on a specific spot on the handlebars. However, you can use the app or the auto-unlock feature, which will unlock the Olto as you approach with your phone.

There are accessories you can add on to customize your ride, like a kid carrier, rear rack, rear basket, or even side mirrors, but I mostly stuck with the phone mount ($28). I also opted to use Infinite Machine's Olto Charging Dock ($168), which allows me to take the 20-pound battery out from below the seat and drop it on a charging dock inside my house, no need to wrangle a cable to plug it directly into the 1.2-kWh battery or bike (though you can do that if you want). I also paired it with the Super Charger ($248), which cuts charging time from five to three hours (you can go from zero to 80 percent in 90 minutes).

There's not a ton of storage—just some plastic dividers near your feet to store a bag between your legs. There's also a pop-out compartment below the handlebars for storing a phone or sunglasses. Some of these components are very plasticky and feel cheap. I'd probably snag the rear rack if I were buying it.

Infinite Machine gave me a Kryptonite U-lock and an integrated mount ($28) to store it on the Olto when it's not in use, but the mount broke off the bike's frame the second time I tried to remove the lock. The company's cofounder, Eddie Cohen, tells me the initial version I tried was a flimsy 3D-printed prototype, so the final version should be stronger. Sure hope so.

This is a 176-pound ebike, so you're not going to carry it up your walk-up to keep it safe. Instead, you'll have to live with the fact that you have to park the Olto on the curb or street; you can lock it up just like any other bike.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

But you don't need to secure it, as there's a lock for the motor and steering that's automatically activated when the bike is turned off. There's also a very sensitive alarm that roars to life if someone tries to tamper with the bike (it could stand to be louder), with a backup battery that can run for weeks, keeping the Olto's GPS and alarm alive. If someone does manage to haul it away, you can track its location via the app. (This backup battery recharges itself when you pop the main battery back under the seat, but if you leave the Olto unattended long enough and it dies, you won't be able to track the vehicle's location.)

I did a mix of both. I locked the Olto to public bike racks, but I also left it freestanding between parked cars several times (usually for two to three hours). One time, I got an alert in the app that someone had triggered the alarm, but I checked the location and the bike hadn't moved. I suspect someone may have touched it, heard the alarm, and freaked out. I took a deep breath and went about my day, and thankfully, when I came back to the Olto a few hours later, it was there.

I am fortunate to have a backyard in Brooklyn, New York, with access to a security gate, which allows me to keep the Olto in a safe spot overnight. That greatly helped with my anxiety about someone stealing or vandalizing it, but it's also far from the norm. You will have to trust in Infinite Machine's GPS, alarm system, and your favorite bike lock, and hope for the best when you park it outside your apartment. (Maybe get it in black, which stands out less.)

Edge Runner

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

I am a sucker for old-world charm—I drive a Fiat 500 and desperately want to own a Maeving RM2—but I don't have a motorcycle license yet, so the Olto fills in that gap. It feels more robust than a normal ebike but isn't as powerful as a motorcycle. Truly, even if it goes for the cool-toned, sleek, and monolithic industrial look, I can't help feel like I'm on the Amalfi Coast about to hop on a Vespa when I don my open-face helmet.

You can't adjust the seat or handlebars, so it will take a ride to figure out the best sitting position. I liked sitting close to the front edge of the seat and was comfortable. The ride is very stable and smooth. Seriously, I rode the Olto on some terrible roads in Brooklyn, even cobblestone, and it's one of the smoothest experiences I've had on a two-wheeler (having tested dozens and dozens of electric bikes and electric kick scooters).

The controls on the handlebars are easy to access and intuitive—after tapping the brake once to get out of Park, twist the throttle on the right handlebar to go. There's a nifty Boost pusher if you want a little more torque, very handy when the light turns green and you want to start moving fast to get past some cars. The Boost is limited to a few seconds, and you can't keep pressing it over and over again immediately, as it takes a few seconds to charge up.

I do have a few gripes. I wish the turn signals would automatically stop after a few seconds instead of having to manually push the button again. The button itself isn't very satisfying (you flick it left or right, then push it in to stop the blinker). Also, the horn (which is very loud, thank you) is a little too easy to press, especially when you're moving the bike into a parking spot. My heart leapt a few times when I was trying to park the thing. Finally, there is a small display that shows your speed and battery life, but I wish it gave me a specific battery percentage rather than the vague status bar. It'd also be nice to have an odometer. I didn't have trouble reading it in sunny conditions, though.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

The Olto's 750-watt rear hub motor never felt too powerful—just right—nice for newbies who want to safely get from point A to B. Going up the incline on the Williamsburg Bridge, it dipped to around 12 or 13 mph, but otherwise it didn't have any trouble maintaining its speed. The hydraulic brakes are also solid. There were a few instances where I had to hit the brakes hard, and the bike skidded slightly, but I was able to maintain control and move out of the way (drivers, please check the bike lane before turning).

Range has also been very satisfactory. On a busy day, I rode it just over 18 miles and had 8 percent left in the tank by the time I got home. Now, that doesn't quite track with the company's 32-mile claim at 20 mph, but I'm a 6'4", 240-pound guy, so you might be able to eke out a few more miles if you're shorter and lighter. (Range estimates rarely line up with what the manufacturer claims.)

The Olto has a weight capacity of 353 pounds, and you can have a passenger sit behind you. I convinced my wife to ride with me to the theater to watch Project Hail Mary, a 30-minute ride (around 9 miles round-trip), and the Olto had around 62 percent left after we got home. My wife, who is afraid of riding a bicycle, also had some notes. She thinks the pegs for her feet tend to slide in and out a little too much and could be wider, and she also wishes the seat-end were angled upward so she wouldn't have to feel like she was going to slide off.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

While she didn't stop yelping here and there during the ride, especially in narrow bike lanes, she eventually conceded, “It wasn't that bad,” going so far as to say she liked riding it with me. (Score!)

I liked my two weeks with the Olto, too. I did feel some guilt riding this thing in bike lanes, when it so obviously looks nothing like a bicycle, even if I was riding the speed limit. But that's a broader problem for public transportation officials to figure out—creating safer pathways for electric two-wheeled vehicles in the city, which are better for the environment and take up less space than cars.

That said, you also don't need to spend anywhere near $3,500 to get an experience similar to the Olto. A normal ebike can get you where you need to go for far less cash. You'll probably have an easier time with repairs and servicing, too, though Cohen tells me Infinite Machine has a “robust nationwide service network, and regular bike shops will be able to fix it and order parts.” What happens if the company folds in a few years, like many ebike brands before, and parts are harder to come by?

Still, if you want to ride with a passenger, and you're jealous of how cool motorcyclists look, then there's a place for the Olto. Riding it feels more fun than most ebikes I've tried; you'll just have to live with the fact that someone will inevitably bring up Musk's Cybertruck.