If there is one firmware update that completely changes the character of the ONYX RCR 80V, it is the introduction of Cruise Tune and Thrill Tune. But what exactly changed, and why is everyone talking about “The New Normal?”
I recently joined Tim Seward and Ari in ONYX Motors’ “The New Normal” firmware reaction video, where we discussed and demonstrated the latest firmware update while putting it through its paces on the streets and mountain roads of Los Angeles. One thing became immediately clear: this is not simply a firmware update with higher speed limits. It represents a different philosophy for how the bike should ride.
Beyond the reaction video, I spent an entire week riding the same firmware during ONYX Week LA. Between city streets, canyon roads, repeated mountain climbs, and earlier mountain riding around Portland, I experienced firsthand what this firmware was designed to accomplish.
The result is a bike that genuinely feels like two bikes in one. Cruise Tune delivers a smooth, confidence-inspiring ride that is ideal for commuting and sharing with friends or family, while Thrill Tune unlocks the full performance potential of the RCR with responsive, linear power delivery that transforms the riding experience.
Summary
- Cruise Tune creates a smoother, more approachable riding experience.
- Thrill Tune unlocks the full capability of the ONYX RCR 80V.
- Normal mode becomes the everyday performance mode.
- Eco mode is now practical at real-world traffic speeds.
- Updated thermal management allows sustained responsive riding while protecting the motor.
- The bike feels more responsive without sacrificing control or confidence.
- Switching between Cruise Tune and Thrill Tune is simple from the display.
Two Bikes in One
The biggest takeaway from this firmware is that it no longer asks riders to compromise.
Instead, you choose the riding experience that best matches the moment.
Cruise Tune is designed for riders who want predictable power delivery, comfortable commuting, and a bike that is easy to share with friends or family.
Thrill Tune is designed for riders who want to experience everything the RCR 80V is capable of while maintaining smooth and controllable power delivery.
This is not simply a matter of increasing speed.
It is about changing how the bike responds to the rider.
Cruise Tune changes how the power is delivered.
Thrill Tune changes what the bike is capable of.
Together, they make the ONYX RCR 80V feel like two distinct riding experiences built into the same platform.
Switching Between Cruise Tune and Thrill Tune
One of the best parts of the new firmware is that switching between Cruise Tune and Thrill Tune is simple.
You do not need to reflash the bike or change anything complicated.
- Bring the bike to a stop.
- Put the bike in Park.
- Press and hold the Settings button.
- The display will switch between Cruise Tune and Thrill Tune.
- Repeat the same process to switch back.
That means you can leave home in Cruise Tune for a relaxed ride or commute, then switch into Thrill Tune when the road opens up or when you want the full RCR 80V experience.
That flexibility is what makes this update feel so important.
The same bike can be calm and approachable one moment, then responsive and performance-focused the next.
Cruise Tune
Cruise Tune may end up being one of the most underrated features of the update.
Cruise Tune was not created to make the bike less exciting. It was created to make the RCR more versatile.
Rather than emphasizing outright performance, Cruise Tune emphasizes confidence.
Power delivery is softer.
Torque comes on more gradually.
Throttle inputs are easier to modulate.
For newer riders, this creates a much more approachable bike.
For experienced riders, it becomes an outstanding commuting mode.
It is also the mode you can comfortably use when introducing someone else to the bike.
Whether it is a family member, a friend, or another experienced rider who simply has not ridden an ONYX before, Cruise Tune provides a predictable and confidence-inspiring experience without exposing them to the full performance capability of the RCR.
One of the things I appreciate most about Cruise Tune is that it does not make the RCR feel like a different bike in a negative way.
The handling, balance, and overall character are still there.
What changes is how the power is delivered.
It becomes smoother, easier to manage, and much more approachable.
That makes Cruise Tune a great choice for everyday riding, relaxed cruising, commuting, and sharing the bike with someone you trust.
The bike remains every bit as enjoyable.
It simply delivers its performance in a calmer and more relaxed manner.
Thrill Tune
Cruise Tune and Thrill Tune both use the same four riding modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, and Hyper, and each mode shares the same top speed. The difference is not how fast each mode can go, but how the power is delivered. Cruise Tune emphasizes smoother, softer power delivery for relaxed riding and everyday use, while Thrill Tune recalibrates those same modes with stronger torque and a more responsive feel that unlocks the full performance potential of the ONYX RCR 80V.
| Mode | Top Speed |
|---|---|
| Eco | 45 mph |
| Normal | 55 mph |
| Sport | 65 mph |
| Hyper | 75 mph |
These performance figures were verified during testing using a Dragy performance meter, a purpose-built performance measurement device designed specifically for accurate vehicle speed and acceleration testing.
Those numbers tell only part of the story. The real improvement is not the additional speed alone, but how much more refined and usable each riding mode has become. What surprised me most was not the higher speeds, but how naturally the bike accelerated. Power delivery feels remarkably linear, with no sudden surge or abrupt transition. Instead, the bike simply continues pulling harder while remaining composed and predictable, making it easier to ride quickly because the rider always feels connected to the throttle.
Thrill Tune is not about making the bike difficult to control. It is about making the RCR more responsive while preserving confidence, and that is a big distinction.
The New Normal
One phrase kept coming up throughout the reaction video.
“The New Normal.”
After riding this firmware extensively, I completely understand why.
Previously, many riders naturally found themselves reaching for Sport mode.
Now, Normal mode has become exactly what its name suggests.
Normal has enough power for everyday riding.
It accelerates confidently through traffic.
It climbs hills effortlessly.
It provides enough passing power that Sport mode becomes something you reserve for those moments when you truly want maximum performance.
That is a significant change in how the bike feels during daily use.
Normal no longer feels like a compromise.
It feels like the mode many riders will use most of the time.
That is why “The New Normal” is such a fitting description.
Eco Mode Finally Feels Complete
Eco mode also received one of the most meaningful improvements.
Rather than feeling overly restricted, Eco now comfortably reaches 45 mph.
That means riders can commute, keep pace with traffic, and maximize efficiency without constantly feeling limited.
It strikes a much better balance between economy and practicality.
This matters because many real-world rides do not require Sport or Hyper.
In normal city riding, commuting, and light-to-light traffic, Eco can now provide enough speed to stay useful while still helping preserve range.
That makes Eco feel less like a limitation and more like a real riding mode.
Riding Through Los Angeles
The reaction video does an excellent job demonstrating the firmware in real-world conditions.
Instead of focusing only on isolated speed runs, the ride covers approximately 15 miles of continuous climbing before returning downhill.
The route includes city traffic, canyon roads, sweeping turns, elevation changes, and repeated overtaking opportunities.
Throughout the ride, the discussion naturally shifts from firmware specifications to what the bike actually feels like.
That is where the update really shines.
Rather than talking only about numbers, you begin talking about confidence.
How stable the bike feels.
How naturally it carves through turns.
How easy it becomes to manage the throttle.
How enjoyable the ride becomes.
The ride also shows why Normal mode matters so much.
A mode that can cruise, climb, pass, and still feel predictable becomes the mode you naturally want to stay in.
Ari’s Reaction Says a Lot
One of my favorite parts of the reaction video is watching Ari’s response during the ride.
There are moments where specifications are not really needed.
The smile says enough.
That is important because the firmware is not only about data.
It is also about feel.
When a bike feels predictable, responsive, and composed, the rider reacts to that immediately.
Ari’s reaction throughout the ride reflects what I was feeling as well.
The bike feels alive, but not nervous.
Fast, but not abrupt.
More capable, but still manageable.
That balance is what makes this firmware special.
My Week with Thrill Tune
Having the opportunity to ride this firmware throughout ONYX Week LA gave me a much deeper appreciation for what ONYX accomplished.
The first thing I noticed was the responsiveness.
The bike responds immediately without ever feeling abrupt.
Acceleration builds smoothly.
Power feels linear.
Everything simply feels more refined.
That refinement translates directly into rider confidence.
Whether navigating traffic or climbing steep canyon roads, I never found myself fighting the bike.
Instead, the bike always felt composed and predictable.
It encouraged me to ride it rather than forcing me to manage it.
That is one of the best compliments I can give this firmware.
It makes the bike easier to ride quickly because the response feels natural.
My experience during ONYX Week LA also reinforced what I had already felt during earlier mountain riding around Portland, where climbing toward roughly 4,000 feet showed me how important smooth power delivery and thermal consistency are on long sustained grades.
Verdugo Mountain
One of the best demonstrations of the new firmware came during repeated rides up Verdugo Mountain. Throughout ONYX Week LA, we spent days challenging the bike on demanding climbs, giving us plenty of opportunities to see how the revised thermal management performed under sustained load.
Most of the week, including the Ridge Ride, the highest motor temperature I ever saw was 126C, even while riding hard. The one exception came during a full-power climb up Verdugo Mountain. After climbing from sea level to more than 3,000 feet of elevation and pushing the bike hard the entire way, I finally encountered Error 12 when I was about 99 percent of the way to the summit. Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better result. The bike had already done almost all of the work before the thermal protection stepped in.
Power delivery remained strong throughout the climb, performance never felt compromised, and yes, I even managed to catch some air near the summit. It was one of those unforgettable moments that reminds you why these bikes are so much fun to ride.
Thermal Management That Works
One of the most important additions to the firmware is the live thermal display. Instead of leaving riders guessing, the bike now continuously displays motor and battery temperatures so you always know what is happening.
What impressed me most is where ONYX chose to set the new thermal threshold. At approximately 145C, I think they found an excellent balance between performance and long-term reliability. If I were choosing the threshold myself, I probably would have chosen around 150C, so landing at 145C feels right where I would expect it to be.
The experience on Verdugo Mountain reinforced that opinion. The bike allowed me to push hard for an entire climb to over 3,000 feet before finally displaying Error 12 just before reaching the summit. To me, that is exactly how a well-designed thermal protection system should behave. It lets you enjoy the bike’s full capability, then steps in only when it genuinely needs to protect the hardware.
Another interesting characteristic discussed during the ride is how much airflow contributes to cooling the motor. As long as the bike is moving, airflow naturally removes heat. If you stop immediately after a hard climb, temperatures can briefly rise because that airflow disappears. Once you’re moving again, the motor cools quickly. Having the live temperature display lets you watch all of this happen in real time instead of relying on guesswork.
The end result is a bike that can sustain responsive riding far longer than previous firmware while still protecting itself when necessary.
Stability Inspires Confidence
Another recurring topic throughout the ride was stability.
The ONYX RCR has always been a remarkably stable platform, but the revised tuning complements that chassis exceptionally well.
Confidence grows because the bike feels predictable.
Whether carving through canyon roads, overtaking traffic, or simply cruising through the city, the bike remains composed.
The smoother, more linear power delivery encourages rider confidence instead of demanding constant correction.
That matters because more performance is only useful if the rider can trust it.
This update makes the RCR feel more responsive, but also more refined.
That combination is what makes it so enjoyable.
A Better Way to Show the Experience
Another aspect that stood out during the reaction video was the filming itself.
The new camera angles and 360 footage do a much better job communicating what riding the bike actually feels like.
For the first time, viewers can appreciate the spacing between vehicles, the rhythm of traffic, and the pace of the ride.
It feels less like watching a bike video and more like riding along.
That perspective adds a level of immersion that traditional action camera footage often struggles to capture.
This matters because the firmware is difficult to explain only through numbers.
The 360 footage helps show how quickly the bike moves through the environment, how stable it remains, and how naturally the riders interact with traffic and the road.
It gives context to the phrase “The New Normal.”
You can see why Normal mode feels different.
From Previous Generations to Today
Longtime ONYX owners will appreciate another important point.
Earlier generations often required significant upgrades to achieve this level of performance.
Today, much of that capability arrives from the factory.
Combined with the new firmware, the 80V platform feels like the natural evolution of everything riders have been asking for over the years.
The RCR 80V already brought a major hardware step forward.
Cruise Tune and Thrill Tune make the software feel worthy of that platform.
That is what makes this update so important.
It does not just raise numbers.
It helps the bike feel complete.
Final Thoughts
Cruise Tune and Thrill Tune represent far more than revised speed limits.
They give the ONYX RCR 80V two distinct personalities.
Cruise Tune delivers a relaxed, confidence-inspiring experience that is ideal for commuting, everyday riding, and sharing the bike with friends or family.
Thrill Tune unlocks the full capability of the platform while maintaining the smooth, linear, and responsive power delivery that makes the bike such a pleasure to ride.
After spending a week riding this firmware myself, I came away with the same conclusion reached during the reaction video.
“The New Normal” is more than a catchy phrase. It accurately describes how the ONYX RCR 80V now feels every time you throw a leg over the bike.
It accurately describes how the ONYX RCR 80V now feels every time you throw a leg over the bike.
Cruise Tune makes the ONYX RCR 80V easier to live with every day.
Thrill Tune reminds you why you bought it in the first place.