Electric bicycles have become a staple of modern life, bringing freedom, utility, and fun to massively diverse groups of people. But if you’re like us, you probably look at the sea of small, rigid-frame ebikes and wonder: Are they worth the hype—and price? Motorcycles satisfy your need for speed and adventure, traditional bicycles keep you active, and a car takes care of daily commutes or errands. How does an electric bicycle fit into that puzzle? And if it doesn’t fill a clear gap, is it destined to collect dust in the corner of your garage? The last thing most of us need is more toys, especially ones that don’t get used…GasGas feels ebikes can be something more than that, and as a result, recently launched its Moto 1 and Moto 2 bicycles—a pair of 20-inch, BMX-style urban cruisers that the company says are for “maxing out fun on rides to work, the coffee shop, or for a rip around town with friends.”It’s an interesting departure from the core business, but after spending a few months with the Moto 1, we’d argue GasGas is onto something with its ebike lineup. We might add a few more uses to their list even. And no, “dust collector” isn’t one of them.

GasGas Moto 1 Hard PartsThe Moto 1 is the cheaper and more bare-bones option in GasGas’s lineup, though the Moto 1 ($2,599) and Moto 2 ($3,099) share a laundry list of components, including a hub-mounted Bafang H550 motor; aluminum frame; fat, 20-inch tires; disc brakes; and thumb-tap shift levers for manipulating the seven-speed cassette out back (there’s only one ring upfront).The bikes have a thumb throttle on the left side of the handlebar and are classified as Class 2 ebikes, meaning you can pedal the bike and get assistance from the motor or use the motor without pedaling, up to a maximum speed of 20 mph. There are five power modes for customizing the level of assistance and managing the settings is easily done through the bikes’ digital display, which shows speed, battery level, and power mode. Although not required, you can also connect the bike to Bafang’s phone app, which gives you a more detailed look at battery status and a long list of information related to the bike, or your ride.Related: GasGas Unveils New Ebikes With 2024 Supercross Team

Similarities taper off from there with the Moto 2 getting front and rear mudguards, a headlight, taillight, and higher-capacity 672Wh, 48V battery, which helps with managing the lighting system’s additional power requirements, while only increasing weight by about 2 pounds. For reference, the Moto 1 comes with a 504Wh, 48V battery. Both are removable, but can be easily charged while on the bike too.It’s important to say all this so that you know what you’re getting with the Moto 1 or Moto 2, even if none of these specs are exceptionally unique in the world of ebikes. The more interesting point is that these features are wrapped in a simple-yet-stylish package with tactful connections to GasGas’s off-road lineup. Already have an MC 450F or are a big fan of GasGas’ styling cues? Here’s a bike that blends those worlds through moto-style side panels, a motocross-esque bench seat, and a heavy dose of GasGas logos. In a category where everything looks pretty similar, it’s good to stand out, and the Moto 1 or 2 do that. Actually, we got more looks and questions when riding the Moto 1 than with any other motorcycle in recent history—a nod to the bike’s cool factor and ability to stand out alongside other ebikes.

GasGas Moto 1 On- and Off-Road AdventuresPerformance and usability remain the focus, and while it did take a few days to wrap our head around the bike’s potential uses, we quickly began finding new ways to enjoy the Moto 1. After a few months, we’ve ended up with a pretty extensive list that looks something like this:

That list will be different for everyone, but if you live near the beach or have hills or mountains nearby, you’ll almost certainly have “local exploration” near the top of your “main uses” list. For us, the Moto 1 was primarily used for riding the array of gravel roads that lead to the tops of nearby foothills, where we’d catch the sunset and enjoy simply being outdoors. Most of these areas are easily reached by pedal bike, but the Moto 1 required significantly less time and effort, meaning we were more likely to squeeze a ride in before the sun went down. Over the course of our time with the bike, that meant more rides, more adventures, and more time on two wheels.As with almost any electric car, motorcycle, or bike, range is an ever present hurdle, and we’ll admit to always wanting just a little bit more from the Moto 1 on our “big” outings. Those rides were 15 to 20 miles long and involved climbing 2,000-plus feet of local hills over the course of an hour-and-30-minute ride, which left us rolling into the driveway in the bike’s lower-speed, “battery conservation” mode. That’s more than the Moto 1 was intended for, but when you’ve got good weather and fire roads calling your name, it’s hard to not want to keep exploring.Related: GasGas SM 700 Review

Range is almost a nonissue when running errands around town and using the bike how GasGas intended, with the Moto1 going around 25 miles when using power level 2 and only using the motor for pedal assist—not as the primary form of forward momentum. This is to say that the bike is great for its intended use, and still plenty capable when you get a little too excited about exploring the outskirts of your city.The rigid frame detours from any hardcore off-road adventuring, but the big, 4-inch tires offer some suppleness while clamoring over cracks, crevices, and tree roots. Steering isn’t exactly “sporty” thanks to those tires, but in the cases where we did get a bit overzealous, the tires felt like a cheat code; their (and the bike’s) willingness to power through sand, ruts, and over rocks is seriously impressive, and in many cases, we couldn’t help but laugh at the places this little bike would take us.

The best part is that through all of this exploring, we never had any issues with hard parts. The throttle, shift lever, brakes, derailer, and all other hardware held up well to general bashings, which is what you’d hope for based on the price tag. The bike is plenty comfortable, too, with enough room to move around and even a little storage below the seat, if you get creative with “luggage” mounts.

Final ThoughtsPrice was, of course, the thing that kept us from jumping into the ebike world. We had a feeling we’d enjoy the added mobility, but would we use the bike enough to feel like it was a worthwhile investment? After a few months on the Moto 1, those concerns are basically erased, and more than anything, we’re bummed we didn’t jump on the ebike train sooner.As motorcycle people, we’re intimately familiar with how much freedom there is to be had on two wheels, and with an ebike, you’re getting some of the same benefits, just in a slightly different form. In our case, the Moto 1 was the perfect tool for avoiding short drives around town, for getting around a racetrack or campsite, and for sharing two wheels with family and friends, all while being entertaining enough that it satisfied our thirst for local exploration. Plus, as an added benefit, price seems to be somewhat flexible these days, with at least one local dealership quoting $2,200 for a brand-new Moto 1.If you’ve been putting off an ebike because you weren’t sure if they were just hype, you owe it to yourself to try one out. They are anything but dust collectors, and bikes like the Moto 1 really are as much fun as they look.

GasGas Moto 1 Specs