{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Designing Disruption: Electric Motor Bikes for Your Lifestyle w\/ Tim Seward of Onyx Motors - AZ TRT S07 EP05 (287) 3-15-2026","description":" Designing Disruption: Electric Motor Bikes for Your Lifestyle w\/ Tim Seward of Onyx Motors - AZ TRT S07 EP05 (287) 3-15-2026       Things We Learned This Week Friction Creates Opportunity - Tim\u2019s parking problem in San Francisco sparked the entire company. Build the Prototype First - Instead of over-pitching, he built it, rode it, and let the market validate it. Disruption Requires Bold Engineering - If you want to be different, you must push boundaries \u2014 not make marginal upgrades. DIY Communities Are Innovation Labs - Study enthusiasts for insight \u2014 but build for the everyday consumer. Lifestyle Brands Sell Identity, Not Function - You don\u2019t market the commute. You market the freedom.       Timothy Seward https:\/\/timothykevinseward.com\/   Tim Seward is dynamic design visionary. A lifelong tinkerer and moped enthusiast, he began experimenting with electric conversions in 2012, transforming gas mopeds into sleek, powerful prototypes. With a background in industrial design, his portfolio includes work for mobility innovators Bird, Scoot, UBCO and FREEBORD and consumer lifestyle brands with Sonos, Google, Nike, Samsung, LG, HP and Intel viewable at timothykevinseward.com and his current roles as the founder and chief design officer of ONYX Motors.   In 2017, Tim launched ONYX through a breakout Indiegogo campaign, introducing the RCR\u2014bike that redefined the category with their raw performance and timeless design. He\u2019s redefining what electric mobility feels like through design, nostalgia, and emotion. Today, he leads the design of every ONYX bike, blending cyberpunk grit with California swagger. His vision is clear: create machines that are not just modes of transport, but vehicles of self-expression and rebellion. Under his guidance, ONYX continues to push the boundaries of electric two-wheeled design, giving riders around the world the freedom to unleash their restless alter ego. He is a frequent speaker and podcast guest on design and transformation.       \ud83c\udf99 Podcast Notes Tim Seward \u2013 Founder & Chief Designer of ONYX Motorbikes Segment 1 \u2013 The Product & The Vision Company Overview \u00b7         ONYX is an electric motorbike company based in Los Angeles. \u00b7         Small but focused team (15 employees). \u00b7         Tim Seward is the owner and chief designer. \u00b7         Positioned as both a product company and a lifestyle brand. The Bike \u00b7         Flagship models: RCR (RCRA Vault) and ADV. \u00b7         High-speed electric motorbikes inspired by vintage gas-powered mopeds. \u00b7         Can travel up to 80 miles per day. \u00b7         Speeds reach 50\u201360 mph. \u00b7         Battery-powered, quiet, no gas required. \u00b7         Syncs with phone and headset while riding. Primary Use Cases \u00b7         Daily commuting \u00b7         Weekend fun and excursions \u00b7         RV or camping \u201csatellite vehicle\u201d \u00b7         Light business use \u00b7         Easy parking and navigating traffic Market Presence \u00b7         Ships nationwide across the U.S., including Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Alaska. \u00b7         One of the largest markets: New York City. \u00b7         Expansion plans: Canada, then the EU. Origin Story Tim got the idea while living in San Francisco, where parking was nearly impossible. Even motorcycles were cumbersome in dense cities. A smaller electric motorbike could: \u00b7         Park on sidewalks or near bike racks \u00b7         Navigate crowded urban areas easily \u00b7         Remove the friction of city commuting Segment 2 \u2013 From Corporate Designer to Entrepreneur Corporate Background Tim previously worked at LG Electronics in product development and industrial design in the U.S. Projects included: \u00b7         Smart appliances (early AI-connected products circa 2015) \u00b7         TVs for hotels (mass production) \u00b7         Connected devices \u00b7         Early smart-home integrations Inspiration While visiting the Nike design studio, he began thinking about rideshare bikes and electric mobility. He initially pitched a bike rideshare concept to LG \u2014 it was turned down. LG focused on mass production, not lifestyle brand creation. So instead of pitching the electric motorbike idea, Tim: \u00b7         Built a prototype \u00b7         Rode it to work \u00b7         Generated organic interest (people constantly asked where to buy it) Funding Journey \u00b7         Met an investor (deal fell through) \u00b7         Launched an Indiegogo campaign \u00b7         Officially launched ONYX in 2017 \u00b7         Raised nearly $1 million That\u2019s when it shifted from idea to full business. Key Philosophy To be disruptive: \u00b7         You must push boundaries \u2014 not just improve something incrementally. \u00b7         Study the DIY community to see what enthusiasts want. \u00b7         Build better than DIY\u2026 but sell to everyday riders. Ironically, the DIY crowd inspires innovation \u2014 but most buyers just want to ride. Segment 3 \u2013 Brand Strategy & Lifestyle Marketing Design Challenges \u00b7         Re-imagined moped-style frames \u00b7         Combined inspiration from the Honda Hobbit and Austrian Magnum styling \u00b7         Engineered a stronger, modern electric frame Tim intentionally avoided chasing approval from traditional gas-moped enthusiasts. Lifestyle Over Utility The Chrome bag analogy: People don\u2019t want to be bike messengers \u2014 they want the aspiration of that lifestyle. ONYX follows the same model: \u00b7         You market the adventure \u00b7         The freedom \u00b7         The weekend escape You don\u2019t sell: \u00b7         \u201cCommuting to work\u201d (boring) You sell: \u00b7         The Saturday ride \u00b7         The outdoor escape \u00b7         The aspiration lifestyle people imagine 1\u20133 times per year People are bored at work. They don\u2019t want to be reminded of their commute. They\u2019re waiting for the weekend. ONYX markets the dream \u2014 not the routine.     Tech Topic: https:\/\/brt-show.libsyn.com\/category\/Tech-Startup-VC-Cybersecurity-Energy-Science  Best of Tech: https:\/\/brt-show.libsyn.com\/size\/5\/?search=best+of+tech   \u2018Best Of\u2019 Topic: https:\/\/brt-show.libsyn.com\/category\/Best+of+BRT      Thanks for Listening. Please Subscribe to the AZ TRT Podcast.     AZ Tech Roundtable 2.0 with Matt Battaglia The show where Entrepreneurs, Top Executives, Founders, and Investors come to share insights about the future of business.  AZ TRT 2.0 looks at the new trends in business, & how classic industries are evolving.  Common Topics Discussed: Startups, Founders, Funds & Venture Capital, Business, Entrepreneurship, Biotech, Blockchain \/ Crypto, Executive Comp, Investing, Stocks, Real Estate + Alternative Investments, and more\u2026    AZ TRT Podcast Home Page: http:\/\/aztrtshow.com\/ \u2018Best Of\u2019 AZ TRT Podcast: Click Here Podcast on Google: Click Here Podcast on Spotify: Click Here                    More Info: https:\/\/www.economicknight.com\/azpodcast\/ KFNX Info: https:\/\/1100kfnx.com\/weekend-featured-shows\/   ","author_name":"AZ Tech Roundtable 2.0","author_url":"https:\/\/brt-show.libsyn.com\/","html":"