Every now and then, a company launches something that doesn’t fit neatly into any existing category. Not because it’s obscenely powerful or flaunts conventional safety, but just because it doesn’t fit the mold that we’ve grown accustomed to. That’s exactly what the Infinite Machine Olto is.
Call it an e-bike, call it an electric moped, call it a scooter with pedals – everyone is going to have a different opinion. But after spending several weeks riding the Olto around town, I can confidently say one thing: it’s unlike anything else currently on the market.
I’ve had my eye on this one from the day it debuted, rolling out like a quirky, rideable backslash.
The Olto may have a set of functional pedals, but it obviously isn’t trying to compete with budget electric bicycles or even really with typical e-bikes at all, because it just isn’t designed like a conventional bicycle.
Instead, Infinite Machine has built what feels more like an automotive-inspired urban mobility platform than a traditional bicycle. It weighs around 175 lb (80 kg), uses a removable 1.2 kWh battery with a 35-mile (56 km) range, seats up to two riders, and yet still ships as a Class 2 e-bike with a 750W limit and 20 mph (32 km/h) top speed.
Depending on local regulations, owners can unlock additional performance through the app, with speeds reaching around 36 mph (58 km/h) in unrestricted mode. More on the legality of that later, because it’s fuzzier than you might think.
And yes, that extra performance is noticeable.
From a stop, the Olto is genuinely quick. The initial acceleration is punchy enough that I may or may not have found myself ahead of a Tesla for the first three seconds leaving a traffic light. (To be fair, I’m not entirely convinced they knew we were racing.)
Like most electric two-wheelers, acceleration starts to taper as speeds climb. By around 20 mph (32 km/h), the shove becomes less dramatic, though it still pulls strongly into the mid-30 mph (48 km/h) range. It never feels slow, just less explosive than those first few seconds of punchy 2 kW acceleration in unlocked mode.
One feature I didn’t expect to appreciate as much as I did was reverse. It sounds gimmicky until you’re trying to back a 175-pound machine up a slight incline to wiggle into your garage or a tight parking area. Instead of awkwardly waddling backward while cursing yourself for not doing your squats and lunges lately, you simply press the reverse button and let the motor do the work.
The braking deserves praise, too. The hydraulic discs are powerful with good modulation, inspiring confidence without feeling grabby. They feel more like motorbike brakes than bicycle brakes, which is what I want to see on a ride that already straddles that line. If you’re going to sit on the fence, at least have your safety components on the correct side of that fence.
Design that’s guaranteed to divide opinions
When it comes to the aesthetic, there’s simply no getting around it: the Olto looks weird.
Personally, I mean that as a compliment.
It looks like someone took a minimalist industrial sculpture, folded it into the shape of a small commuter vehicle, and decided to sell it.
Some people absolutely love it, and others absolutely won’t. Either way, nobody ignores it. It’s a head turner everywhere I go. I personally like the design mostly because it’s different, and I love things that are different and unique.
The seat also deserves mention because it looks less comfortable than it actually is. I assumed it would feel like I was sitting on a travel pad in the visitor’s bleachers, but it’s actually better than I expected. It’s firmer than a plush scooter saddle but far from uncomfortable. You’re not sinking into a La-Z-Boy recliner, but I never found myself wishing for a break during normal city rides. I could ride as long as I wanted to, and my rear end never complained.
The mirrors are another pleasant surprise. Unlike the blurry vibration generators found on many inexpensive scooters and e-bikes, these stay remarkably stable, making them genuinely useful at speed. Again, I’m glad to see quality parts chosen when it comes to safety components.
Thoughtful touches everywhere
The more time I spent with the Olto, the more little details I appreciated.
Removing the battery is wonderfully smooth. It slides out easily, and Infinite Machine’s optional charging dock turns what could have been a chore into something oddly satisfying. I love charging docks for batteries. It’s a small thing, but it’s just nicer to lay a heavy battery down and charge it all in one motion, instead of then fishing around for a cable to plug into it.
You also get both USB-C and USB-A charging ports, which feels refreshingly practical, keeping all your cables usable.
There’s a small storage compartment between your feet that’s surprisingly handy, and if you don’t want it, the side panels can be removed entirely to create an even lower step-through frame.
I also appreciate that Infinite Machine included bag hooks, though I’m not a fan of the placement. I’d prefer they stuck to convention and instead had one positioned on the downtube instead of relying mainly on the hook beneath the seat, but having cargo hooks at all is better than many competitors.
Since this is a great errand-running machine, the ability to toss a shopping bag between your feet and clip it onto a bag hook is a major win, and it’s one of several reasons that people love scooters to begin with: they make great utility vehicles.
The display itself is fairly basic. It shows speed, battery status, and the essentials, but doesn’t overwhelm you with information. If you want more detailed ride data, the included phone mount and companion app handle that nicely.
Security that’s probably overkill… in a good way
The one design decision I found a bit odd is the physical U-lock attachment point integrated into the kickstand. It works, but it feels like a somewhat awkward location and is obviously just two angle grinder slices away from being liberated from the vehicle entirely.
That said, it’s really just one layer in an impressively comprehensive security system.
The Olto automatically locks its steering when parked. The motor immobilizes itself. A loud alarm sounds if someone starts moving it. You’ll receive real-time notifications through the app if it’s tampered with. Built-in GPS tracking continues working even if the main battery is removed, thanks to an onboard backup battery, and you can remotely disable the vehicle if it’s stolen, right there from your phone.
Once you look at the whole system, that U-lock becomes more of a third line of defense than your primary anti-theft solution. Infinite Machine’s co-founder Joseph Cohen explained to me that most riders don’t even use a physical lock on their Olto, instead relying on the automatic wheel and steering locks, loud alarm, GPS-tracking, and the fact that dragging away a non-rolling 175 lb modern art sculpture is less than practical (that last part is more my words than his).
Pedals… sort of
One question I had going into testing was whether the pedals were actually usable or simply there to satisfy legal definitions.
The answer is… both.
With a dead battery, you absolutely can pedal the Olto home. Thanks to fairly low gearing, it’s possible. I pedaled it a couple of hundred feet (70 meters?), and while it wasn’t the most enjoyable experience, it was doable. If I had to pedal it for twenty minutes, I could grit my teeth and do it.
But I think it’s fair to say that it’s something you’ll hope not to repeat often. You’re still pedaling nearly 180 pounds, and physics remains undefeated.
Fortunately, Infinite Machine made switching between bicycle and scooter modes easy. The pedals can be disengaged from the drivetrain without tools by jamming your finger up under the crank and sort of tickling it in the right spot (I’m not kidding), then the pedals can be folded forward into comfortable footrests in just a few seconds, held in place magnetically.
The elephant in the room: legality
The Olto is almost certain to spark debate over where it legally belongs.
In its factory Class 2 configuration, it’s limited to 20 mph with a 750W output, allowing it to fit within standard Class 2 e-bike definitions in many jurisdictions. However, some areas may take issue with the fact that it includes built-in unlocking functionality for higher performance. Some states, like California, have famously tightened their rules, meaning that if a bike can be modified to exceed legal limits, it no longer falls into legal categories even when unmodified.
On the other hand, the vehicle also includes features that may help owners register it as a moped or motorcycle where appropriate, including integrated turn signals and a VIN-equipped frame, which may be enough to smooth-talk your local DMV desk clerk into stamping a plate for you.
Ultimately, it’s up to each owner to understand their local laws and decide how they intend to use the vehicle. Infinite Machine provides flexibility, but that flexibility also shifts some responsibility onto the rider. Since the US is a proverbial patchwork of laws, you’ll have to check your local patch for compliance.
And while we’re talking about classifications, I’ll spend a brief moment addressing one other issue: terminology. I can already tell you that you’ll find some folks in the comment section below this article getting red-faced and white-knuckled as they bang out a diatribe about how this is not an e-bike. The problem is simple: they’re wrong.
This is an e-bike because the term is so broad that it encompasses just about every electric two-wheeler. It’s a colloquial term, not a legal term. The word those folks are looking for is “electric bicycle”, a legal term that we can have a real debate over. But an e-bike is as broadly defined as a “bike”, which can be used to describe a toddler’s tricycle or a Hell’s Angels’ Harley. The word “e-bike” doesn’t even appear once in all of California state law, for example. So let’s drop the pointless argument of whether or not something is an e-bike, since e-bike is such a broad and fuzzy term. If you’re worried about legality, then the term you’re looking for is electric bicycle.
And again, whether or not the Olto qualifies as an electric bicycle will depend on your state laws. But it’s as much of an e-bike as my 250W Dahon and my 80 kW LiveWire.
Safety matters
One thing I tried to keep in mind throughout testing was matching my gear to the way I was riding.
When using the Olto in its standard Class 2 electric bicycle configuration, I generally rode as I would on a normal e-bike: jeans, boots, and a T-shirt. I’m not saying that’s the most advisable fit for a 20 mph journey, but it’s become my standard, for better or for worse.
When unlocking the higher-speed modes, however, I treated it much more like the lightweight electric motorcycle it begins to resemble. That meant reaching for my Beyond Riders armored hoodie, a proper full-face Ruroc EOX 2.0 helmet.
Just because a vehicle can legally be ridden like a bicycle in some situations doesn’t mean it should always be treated like one. When you’re zipping around at 35 mph (56 km/h), a bit of extra abrasion protection and body armor are nice additions.
Final thoughts
To sum it all up, I’d say the Olto isn’t trying to replace your commuter bike; it’s not really an exercise vehicle, but rather a transportation-first type of vehicle. In that way, it’s more like it’s trying to replace your second car. And with a $3,495 price tag, that positioning makes even more sense.
After living with it for a while and using it for all types of errand rides, commuter rides, and fun rides, I think that’s actually the right way to view it. It’s comfortable enough for daily transportation, quick enough to make city riding genuinely fun, and packed with thoughtful technology that most e-bikes simply don’t offer. Plus, it’s just really enjoyable to ride.
Sure, there are things I’d tweak. I’d add another cargo hook and maybe make the display a bit richer. But those are relatively small complaints on an otherwise remarkably polished first attempt at a line-straddling e-bike.
The styling will inevitably be polarizing, and the legal gray area surrounding unlockable performance modes won’t disappear anytime soon. But if you can get past those hurdles, the Olto is one of the most interesting urban electric vehicles I’ve ridden in years.
It doesn’t feel like an e-bike pretending to be a scooter. It just feels like someone started with a blank sheet of paper and asked, “What if we reinvented urban transportation from scratch?”
That still doesn’t mean everyone will want one. But I have a feeling plenty of people will. I sure did!
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