Riding in the city

• The manual’s minimum gear is a full-face helmet, gloves, long pants, a bright long-sleeve shirt, closed shoes, and a reflective vest.
• Keep your feet on the pedals and level through turns, and use hand signals.
• Release the throttle and apply both brakes together to stop. The manual says using both together prevents premature wear and loss of control.
• After hitting top speed, back the throttle off to about 3/4. Speed barely changes and energy use drops.
• Be careful on wet or sandy surfaces, and remember that e-bikes are quiet around pedestrians.
• Regen braking is strong but can be unreliable at a full charge, so do not count on it alone.

Locking up

Onyx recommends a heavy chain lock and a front disc lock, plus a GPS tracker. The bike has a 120 dB motion alarm armed from the key fob.

Rules

The CTY2 manual says the bike must be in Eco mode on public roads to meet the U.S. federal Class 2 electric bicycle definition. It says other modes may be prohibited on public roads unless local law allows them.

The manual advises checking local classification, registration, and insurance. The frame number (etched under the rear seat down tube) can be used for registration in some places. CONFIRM: current NYC and New York State rules