LIONHEART: a golden electric rickshaw with a lion-face basket, cheetah fur and a velvet bench for two, at sunset over Austin

LIONHEART

A golden lion rickshaw for two. Velvet bench, cheetah fur, glowing eyes. Built in Austin by Stardust Garage.

2.1 mito Barton Springs
14 mindoor to water
2babes, belted
$6,999all in · cap $7K
▶ Watch the pitchThe build list

The pitch

66 seconds · sound on

The ride

Base: Oh Wow Conductor Plus

Class

Class 2 e-bike · 20 mph · throttle + pedal

Motor

750 W rear drive · 130 Nm

Battery

48 V 20 Ah · 26+ miles

The Den

Bench for two · retractable seatbelts

Payload

465 to 500 lb

Brakes

Hydraulic disc, 180 mm

Size

88″ long · 34.5″ wide · 176 lb

Gears

7-speed · rear differential

Why a trike, not JC's bike plus trailer: no trailer sold is rated for two adults (Tern tops out at 419 lb, Bikes At Work 300 lb, cargo only). The Conductor is built and belted for two, with JC's strong motor.

Routes

From home in Zilker · bike routing

Go out by Rabb Road, come home by South Lamar: the climb home is gentler. The route lines start a few blocks from the house, so the address stays private.

Build list

Prices checked Nov 14, 2026 · nothing bought yet

ItemShopPrice

Rules of the road

Texas and Austin, plainly

Legal

No license, plate or insurance

A Class 2 e-bike in Texas is a bicycle (Transportation Code ch. 664).

Legal

Two passengers

Texas allows riders up to what the bike is built for (§551.102). The Conductor is built for two. Belts on.

Legal

Sidewalks, gently

Austin allows sidewalk riding at a careful pace; people on foot go first. Downtown, take the street or bike lane: it's 34.5″ wide.

Legal

Night lights

White headlight seen at 500 ft, red rear light. Included, plus the flag and flashing taillight.

Check

The 750 W label

Texas says under 750 W. Get Oh Wow's Class 2 label in writing before buying.

Care

Butler Trail

E-bikes allowed at 10 mph, but a wide trike on a busy trail is a grey zone. Ride it off-peak.

Care

Free rides only

Taking tips makes it a pedicab, which needs a city permit.

Care

Helmets

Required in Austin under 18. Keep two in the Den for anyone who wants one.

Not legal as is

Garett's IRGC40

A 60 V bike with no pedals is a moped in Texas: title, plate, insurance and license, and never on sidewalks or trails. Lionheart doesn't use it.

The lock

Lives on the ride

Chain

Kryptonite Fahgettaboudit 1415: 5 ft of 14 mm chain, top security rating. Coils in a fur pocket under the bench.

Tracker

An AirTag sewn into the Den's fur, where a thief won't find it.

How to lock

Through the frame and a rear wheel, around a fixed rack. Take the battery key with you.

Garett's build

Star is the GC · Stardust Garage builds

  1. Skins: pattern and sew cheetah fur covers for the Den, canopy and frame, on velcro so they come off for rain.
  2. The lion: carve the lion-face basket in foam and resin, mane in long pile fur, LED pods as the eyes.
  3. Light and sound: amber underglow and eyes on the 48 V to 12 V reducer, speaker set in the Den's face, flag and taillight.
  4. The canopy: a hoop over the bench in cheetah fur with gold fringe.
  5. Ride test: two riders, loaded, day and night, before it's called done.

Labor: $1,350 is my estimate until Garett gives a fixed bid. Pay in three parts: skins done, lion and lights done, road-tested.