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Retrospec was founded in 2009 by the then 20-year-old Ely Khakshouri. As he studied Urban Planning and Sustainability at the University of Southern California, Khakshouri sought a bike to help him get around the city and the USC campus. Upon finding that the bikes he liked were too expensive, he decided to build a few of his own and started selling them to other students.
Since then, the brand has expanded to offer a wide range of outdoor products. The full Retrospec catalog includes paddleboards, kayaks, and other inflatables, longboards and skateboards, camping equipment, fitness products, hiking gear—and, as of April 2021, e-bikes.
All of the company’s products are intended to be affordable, thoughtfully designed, well-crafted, and functional. With its team of outdoor enthusiasts, Retrospec aims to make spending more time in nature accessible to everyone and making an active lifestyle more fun and appealing.
In our experience, the brand’s e-bikes live up to their goal. The company has an impressive lineup with models of all types, including beach cruisers, commuters, fat tire bikes, an electric trike, moped-style e-bikes, and more. Retrospec even offers some unusual options, including a BMX-style e-bike and a few styles with a limited edition Grateful Dead-themed paint job.
In addition to having a unique aesthetic and affordable prices that top out around $2k, Retrospec’s e-bikes come well-equipped for their purpose without being overly complicated. As you go through the reviews below, you’ll see that the company’s rides are solid in terms of their construction, performance, and value, offering style and substance without breaking the bank.
