A new company called DRYFT1 is sliding its way into electric mobility on the wheels of a new hybrid product that mixes a BMX bike with a skateboard. The DRYFT Board is a hybrid board cross (HBX) that has combined the best elements of BMX and skateboarding into a one-of-a-kind all-electric product that gives riders the freedom to freestyle on roads in ways we haven’t seen before. You’ve gotta see this thing in action in the video below.
DRYFT1 is a new company with roots in Venice, California, a renowned area it credits for inspiring its dedication to motion and creativity. The company is just coming out of stealth mode and is fully funded, reiterating to Electrek that this is “not a Kickstarter.”
DRYFT1 describes its company ethos in one word: “freedom.” Recreational riders in Southern California have already taken to land and sea with surfboards, bikes, and skateboards, many of which have gone electric.
However, DRYFT1 has created a new one-of-a-kind product that allows riders to paint their local pavement in a new way. Today, the company introduced its flagship product, the DRYFT Board, an electric bike and skateboard hybrid that looks like it brings a new level of fun and expression to an already creative mobility segment.
The design of the DRYFT Board may raise some eyebrows at first glance, but once you see what an experienced rider can do on it, you’re probably going to want to take on for a spin yourself.
DRYFT1 launches a unique electric bike/skateboard combo
Per DRYFT1, its new “board” is all about the slide. The BMX bike/skateboard hybrid has been equipped with an electric motor that replicates the indescribable glide of a drift and has opened up access to that feeling to anyone, anywhere. DRYFT1 described the goal of its product:
Taking the coveted feeling that was once limited to those in these worlds of action sports, pushing their limits of speed and friction, and bringing that sought-after movement to the slide to anyone.
With the heart of an e-bike and the soul of a flat-track motorcycle, the DRYFT Board arrives in a category all its own (just don’t call it an e-scooter). Its skateboard deck is comprised of bamboo, fiberglass, and carbon fiber to deliver durability and resilience through slides and other sleek maneuvers on the road.
It is powered by a 500W front hub motor that can propel the board up to 20 mph, and the bike/skateboard hybrid’s battery can deliver 17 to 20 miles of all-electric range. Those are important stats for commuting, especially in a straight line, but that’s not what the DRYFT Board was designed for.
The electric skateboard/bike hybrid features a custom-engineered independent suspension truck system made from aluminum alloy, complete with 51mm springs to enable controlled sliding, carving, and drifting. Those maneuvers stem from the board’s center caster wheel, which is supported by proprietary polyurethane edge wheels for grip and drift performance.
Riders can choose between two ride modes: “Slide Mode” for smooth sliding on the pavement, and “Carve Mode,” which locks the center wheel for smooth cruising. While sliding, carving, or just cruising, riders can control the speed and acceleration of the electric skateboard/bike combo with a right thumb throttle on the handlebars.
Other features include a front hydraulic disc brake and high-quality grip tape on the rear deck. DRYFT1 also designed the board to disassemble into two components for easier transport and storage. The DRYFT Board electric bike and skateboard hybrid debuts in two colors – “Dryft Blue” and “Asphalt Black.”
The Dryft Board is available for purchase at Dryftboard.com beginning today and is priced at $3,500.
As previously mentioned, it’s impossible to truly grasp the capabilities of this unique new form of electric mobility without seeing it in action, so we recommend checking out DRYFT1’s launch video below.
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