In some ways, the OSET 24.0R was an inevitability. The electric-bike manufacturer has steadily grown alongside founder Ian Smith’s children. When his son, Oliver, outgrew his 20.0R, Smith went back to the drawing board.
“It’s always better to develop out of a need,” Smith says. “The products are better that way.”
The resulting machine shares just a handful of components with the rest of the company’s lineup and nudges the electric trials-bike company ever closer to competing with gas-powered rivals.
Battery
The 24.0R abandoned the four 10Ah AGM batteries found in the 20.0R for a single 20Ah lithium-ion battery. The change allowed OSET to incorporate a diagnostic port.
“Electric bikes struggle with range in most motorcycle applications—but not with trials. We can come in after a lap at a trials event and see people filling their tanks, and we’re good to go for another lap.”
Motor
“Trials is not about speed—it’s about torque and light weight,” Smith says. “The goals of a trials bike are better met with electric power, especially on the smaller bikes.”
To that end, the 24.0R uses a 1,400-watt, 48-volt motor, but its compact size helps the bike weigh in at just 112 pounds.
“The power is linear, so it’s not too hard to get the hang of. Because the bikes are so light, the idea of throwing it around comes in, so the rider can have a bigger impact from their body movements than on a normal gas bike.”
Suspension
OSET turned to a telescoping spring fork with compression adjustment and oil damping up front. The bike uses an oil-damped rear shock with adjustments for both preload and compression.
“In the U.K. we get a lot of competition trials riders from 10 to 13 years old on the bike. In the States the core is adults out for fun,” Smith says. “One of our core philosophies is ‘taking fun seriously’—that riders will learn by simply spending time on bikes and having fun.”
Impact
OSET has always focused on what the company calls nondisruptive motorcycles, that is, bikes that are quiet, approachable, and relentlessly fun. Where neighbors may frown on a kid turning laps on a CRF50 in the backyard, no one bats an eye at the near-silent electric OSET. The 24.0R is that idea grown large. Officially, the bike can accommodate a 198-pound rider. No surprise, then, that the machine is now one of the company’s best-selling models.
