TM-B on Display at Seattle Rivian
Stopped by the Rivian store at University Village in Seattle and saw they were setting up a Launch Edition TM-B on display, in case anyone wants to see one in person. Their regional marketing manager was also there answering questions today, though I'm not sure how long she'll be around. They'll be getting five bikes at each test ride location over the next three weeks and will start offering test rides at the end of the month.
Some info from my conversation, from memory:
Service & parts
- They have a service relationship with VeoRide for at-home service in VeoRide markets, and will partner with service centers in other markets
- They plan to sell parts directly to bike owners
Brakes & drivetrain
- Regenerative hydraulic brakes
- Pedaling can provide some charge to the battery, but it's not going to fill it anytime soon
- The front brake includes a sensor that reads holes on the inner ring of the brake disc, providing feedback to the computer for traction control. Rear rear speed is computed from belt speed/motor instead.
- Throttle goes up to 20 mph; pedal assist up to 28 mph
- Throttle also works when walking the bike (e.g., up stairs), with limited speed
- Belt is easy to replace and tires easy to change by the rider
Stem & customization
- Swappable stem is serialized; the computer detects which stem is inserted and automatically loads the corresponding user profile and settings
- The Seattle display model has the standard stem and comfort handle
- Performance characteristics are highly customizable. Pedal-by-wire can be adjusted from very light to heavy resistance — kind of like a Peloton you can ride around. You can set it to prevent sweating on the way to work but give you a heavy workout on the way home, with assist levels configured independently
- Pedal provides haptic feedback for "gear shifts"
Security
- Sends a notification if moved while the alarm is active, sounds a siren if moved vigorously, and has GPS + LTE for location tracking
- I wasn't sure whether the wheels can be forced to move when the bike is locked
- Their goal is to make riders comfortable NOT locking the bike on the street
Connectivity
- LTE included for the first year, then a "small nominal fee" for cell service after that — but it's not required; Wi-Fi will still work without it. They also said they won't charge for other features or put anything behind microtransactions
- Pairs to phone and headphones via Bluetooth
- All bike sounds (navigation, music, etc.) route through Bluetooth to headphones — nothing plays on a speaker except the bell and siren
- Has a bell
Charging & power
- 240W USB-C charger included, but will also charge from a standard laptop or phone charger
- USB port on the frame can charge phones or charge the bike
- Battery is removable and has its own USB ports — can charge phones, laptops, etc.
Lights & visibility
- Rivian headlight on the front
- Turn signals on the front and rear lights
- Part of the rear light projects downward to illuminate the pedals, making it clearer to drivers that it's a bike
Other
- Rivian battery cells inside
- Adjustable suspension — looked like a physical knob on the rear
- Only 11 of these bikes existed nationwide until now; with production starting, they're sending five to each test ride location
- Their regional seattle office is on Stone Way near Brooks, and they will be opening a storefront on the ground floor there in the near future that will also offer test rides.
- ALSO helmet is expected to be released in the fall, will integrate well with the bike.
I'm sure I'm forgetting things, talked to the rep for about 30 minutes, so questions may trigger my memory further...