Established in 2025 as a spinoff brand of Future Motion, Inc., Antic Bikes is a light electric vehicle company specializing in retro-styled mini-bikes powered by self-balancing technology. The brand launched with a reimagined 1970s-style mini-bike that integrates the hub motors, batteries, and digital controllers from the Onewheel electric board into a seated, two-wheeled chassis. Unlike standard commuter e-bikes that prioritize utility, Antic’s product line focuses on urban recreation and accessible stunt riding. This is most evident in the brand’s proprietary "Onewheel Mode," which utilizes internal gyroscopes and accelerometers to automate and maintain rider balance during wheelies—a feature typically requiring significant manual skill.
Antic’s market positioning is defined by several key factors:
- Aesthetic Heritage: The frame geometry and "parallelogram" silhouette are a direct tribute to vintage combustion mini-bikes, replaced by a central electronics bay.
- Self-Balancing Stunt Integration: The inclusion of assisted wheelie modes leverages software-driven stability as a recreational feature rather than a purely safety-oriented one.
- Domestic Manufacturing: Products are designed and assembled in San Jose, California, targeting buyers who prioritize US-based production and quality control.
- Proprietary Ecosystem: Most core components are derived from Onewheel architecture, allowing for integrated app control over ride profiles and performance tuning.
In a professional context, Antic Bikes is recognized for shifting the electric two-wheeler conversation from commuting to recreational "play," though its pedal-less design and 35 mph top speed often place it in the legal category of "motorized scooters" or moped cycles rather than traditional e-bikes. While this removes the intimidation barrier for novice riders interested in stunts, the brand's reliance on specialized hardware and a lack of traditional bicycle components represent a distinct departure from the repairable, utility-focused commuters offered by other industry competitors.
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The Antic from Future Motion is the first production ready self wheelie bike on the market, and after two separate sessions including one crash that served as a hard learned safety lesson, the Freshly Charged team came away with a nuanced take on a product that is genuinely exciting but not without its rough edges. The wheelie system works, the speed is real, and the experience of doing something most people assumed they could never do is as rewarding as advertised. But the stock tires are a notable compromise, the seat design becomes uncomfortable during extended wheelie sessions, basic accessories are missing at a price point that should include them, and the mode indicator system is not prominent enough to prevent the exact kind of accident Jimmy experienced firsthand when he forgot wheelie assist was disabled. Stacked against the Wheelie Fun Bike prototype the team also tested, the Antic trades a more polished ride experience for immediate availability and a lower price point, with Andrew favoring the Wheelie Fun Bike for safety feel and ride comfort, and Jimmy leaning toward the Antic for its real world accessibility. If you want to understand the full picture of what this bike gets right, where it falls short, and whether it belongs in your garage, the following review is worth the read.