This post is a practical ONYX Playbook built from real-world riding, ownership, and community experience. It covers how to live with an ONYX day to day, including riding setup, security, weight and dimensions, charging at home and at EV stations, battery care, 12V accessory power, and smart guidelines for new owners. The goal is to help riders get the most out of their ONYX while avoiding common mistakes and unnecessary wear.
Living with an ONYX
One of the main reasons people choose an ONYX is the ability to move through traffic quickly thanks to its instant torque, which feels safer for commuting and adds to the fun of riding.
Getting around on an ONYX is more fun and convenient, whether you’re commuting or running errands, without the hassle of parking. Locking it up is quick and easy, and with the right gear you can ride year round. Outlets are easy to find, the removable battery makes charging simple, and if you ride in wet conditions, proper riding boots are a must.
Spend the first 50 miles in Normal mode to practice acceleration, braking, and handling. After that, move into Sport mode. When accelerating, lean slightly forward and keep no more than 20 pounds of weight on the handlebars to reduce wrist strain and maintain faster control.
New ONYX 80V owners should avoid modifications for the first 30 days to make sure the bike is solid and to protect the warranty. After 30 days, you can copy the ONYX warranty link into ChatGPT, describe the modification you’re considering, and ask whether it could affect the warranty.
Securing Your ONYX
Storing your ONYX indoors overnight in a garage, shed, home, or storage space is the safest option. A lock and cover alone on the street will not prevent theft. When parking away from home, use a disc brake lock, a chain lock, and a cover together for added security.
- A motorcycle cover in the 75 to 90 inch range fits best.
ONYX Weight & Dimensions
The all aluminum ONYX 80V was redesigned to provide a more natural riding position, especially for taller riders. It has a 33 inch standard seat height, with a 31.5 inch shorty option. Maintenance is easy. It can be washed with car wash soap and dried with a cloth, or you can choose the dual sport version with full front and rear fenders to help keep it cleaner.
| Bike | Weight | Long | Wide | Tall | Shorty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ONYX 80V | 150 lb | 69" | 27" | 40" | 38" |
| ONYX 72V | 145 lb | 68" | 27" | 40" | 38" |
- 80V: 115 lb without a battery
- 72V: 110 lb without a battery
ONYX Battery Charging
With proper care, an ONYX battery can last over 35,000 miles or about 4 to 6 years.
- Charge only when the battery is between 32°F and 100°F (0°C to 38°C). Riding in freezing weather is fine, but store the battery indoors overnight.
Battery BMS App
Monitor battery temperature and health using the BMS app.
EV Station Charging
Most public EV charging stations used by ONYX riders are J1772 stations, commonly rated 6.24 kW, which means they are 30 amp Level 2 chargers supplying 208 to 240 volts.
To use these stations, riders often rely on J1772 to NEMA 5-15 or 5-20 adapters, which only provide 110 to 120 volts. Because the ONYX 80V charger uses a NEMA 5-15 input, there is no true 220 to 240 volt charging option in stock form, even when the charger is set to 220V mode.
As a result, the ONYX 80V 10 amp charger will still draw about 8 to 10 amps, not 4 to 5 amps. The lower current draw only happens with a true 240V source and a properly rated connector, which the stock charger does not use.
Running two ONYX 80V 10 amp chargers on a single J1772 to 5-15 or 5-20 adapter can draw 16 to 20 amps at 110V, which is too much for continuous use. The same risk applies to 20 amp aftermarket chargers, which are unsafe on 5-15 adapters and only acceptable on 5-20 adapters if limited to 16 amps or less.
The 110V 220V switch is for charger protection, not speed. It improves compatibility with EV stations but does not convert a 110V adapter into a true 220V supply. To get true 220 to 240 volt input, the ONYX 80V charger would need a physical input change from a NEMA 5-15 to a 240-volt connector like a NEMA 6-30. The switch alone cannot do this because the connector determines the actual voltage supplied.
| Charger | Voltage | 220v Mode | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80V 10A | 110v / 220v | Manual Switch | |
| 72V 10A | 110v Only | None | |
| 72V 5A | 110v Only | None | |
| 80V Variable | 110v / 220v | Automatic | Set to 16 Amps |
| 72V Variable | 110v / 220v | Automatic | Set to 8 Amps |
220V Variable Chargers
- Choose either the 40V–120V 0–20A model or the 40V–110V 0–30A model.
12 Volt Accessories
The easiest place to tap 12V power on both the ONYX 80V and 72V is from the headlight or taillight wiring to power 12V accessories like LED lighting, speakers, GPS trackers, heated jackets, and more.
- The ONYX 80V and 72V both use a 10 amp DC converter rated at 110 watts, with about 85 watts continuous. It is recommended to stay under 7 amps when drawing from the 12V system, unless the DC converter is replaced with a higher-amperage unit.
80V 12V Wires
| Color | Designation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Head Black | Negative | |
| Head Red | Day Time | Always on 12v |
| Head Yellow | Low Beam | |
| Head Blue | High Beam | |
| Tail Black | Negative | |
| Tail Blue | Tail light dim | Always on 12v |
| Tail Red | Tail light brighter |
72V 12V Wires
| Color | Designation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Head Black | Negative | |
| Head Yellow | DLR Circle | Always on 12v |
| Head Blue | High Beam | |
| Tail Black | Negative | |
| Tail Blue | Tail light dim | Always on 12v |
| Tail Red | Tail light brighter |
Winter Riding
An ONYX can be used in winter, including below freezing, without harming the bike or battery. Cold temperatures reduce battery output, causing a temporary 10–15% range loss below 32°F that recovers in warmer weather. Avoid long idle stops of over four hours in freezing conditions.
For storage periods longer than a month, disconnect the battery and store it at 60–80% charge. Minor self-discharge over time is normal. Batteries should not be stored below freezing, and artificial heat sources should be avoided due to the risk of uneven internal warming.
In short, winter riding is manageable, but proper winter storage has the greatest impact on battery longevity.