Lyric Graffiti X Review: Big Power, Surprisingly Quiet, and Tuned for Real-World Riding
May 27, 2024
I’ve ridden a lot of moped-style e-bikes, and the Lyric Graffiti X immediately felt different in two ways: it’s extremely quiet, and the power delivery feels intentionally tuned instead of just being “as much as possible.” It has the presence of a small motorbike, but the ride feel is more refined than I expected—especially at low assist.
Below is how it went for me living with it, setting it up, and putting real miles on it.
First look and setup
The Graffiti X has that moto-moped silhouette with a long bench seat, integrated lighting, and a key ignition. The frame packaging around the battery is one of my favorite design touches—it almost looks like a built-in speaker enclosure, but it’s actually the removable battery with an integrated handle.
That handle matters, because the battery is not light. I appreciated being able to grab and lift it confidently without awkward finger pinches.
Controls are straightforward and moped-familiar: a full twist throttle, switches for lighting and signals, and a color display in the center. The display gives nine levels of pedal assist, which set the tone for what this bike is about: range and control, not just a single “go” setting.
The ride position: comfortable and confidence-inspiring
Seat comfort is a standout. It’s wide, supportive, and long enough that I could scoot forward or back to get the stance I wanted. With the bars where they were, I naturally settled into an easy cruising posture—upright enough to be comfortable, but still braced well for speed.
Fit-wise, I’m on the shorter end and I was able to get my feet down without feeling like I was balancing on tiptoes. That goes a long way on a bike that can accelerate this hard.
Quiet, smooth power (the belt drive is the star)
The single biggest “wow” moment for me was the silence. The belt drive makes the drivetrain feel clean and smooth, and it seriously cuts down on that mechanical noise you get from chain-driven moped-style bikes.
It also changes the vibe of the ride. When I rolled on throttle in a parking-lot test, it didn’t feel like the bike was announcing itself. It just moved—smoothly.
Pedal assist that feels natural (especially in the low levels)
I always start low, because that’s where you feel a company’s tune.
On pedal assist level 1, the Graffiti X didn’t do that annoying on/off surge some high-power bikes have. Instead of feeling like it was dumping power the moment the sensor detected pedaling, it ramped in a way that felt predictable and easy to ride casually.
Bumping up through the levels, the bike got faster quickly—but it didn’t feel unruly. Even when I jumped to level 5 and then level 9, the differences didn’t feel chaotic or “night and day” in a bad way. The increase felt progressive, like the mapping was designed to be usable across the whole range.
And yes, it gets moving. Even in a confined lot, it was easy to find yourself at speed without trying very hard.
Throttle feel: powerful, but not twitchy
This is one of those bikes where the power is obviously there, but the throttle isn’t trying to throw you off the back.
The ramp-up felt smooth and controllable, which makes the bike more welcoming for newer riders—while still being genuinely exciting for experienced riders who want that hit of acceleration.
Braking and regen: a really smart implementation
The braking setup feels serious, and the regen behavior is one of the more interesting parts of the whole ride.
What I like is how the regen can be triggered with a light tap—so you can scrub speed electronically before you fully engage the hydraulic braking. In practice, it felt like a gradual, controlled slowing effect rather than a harsh “motor locking” sensation.
At low speed, it was easy to feel the regen gently pulling speed down. At higher speed, it still felt composed—more like a smooth drag brake than an abrupt bite. And if I needed more stopping power, squeezing the levers brought the mechanical brakes in immediately.
It’s a cool way to reduce brake wear and add another layer of control to the ride.
Suspension and tires: built for imperfect streets
Real roads aren’t perfect, and neither are parking lots.
Rolling over speed bumps and rough patches, the suspension did what I wanted it to do: take the edge off without feeling mushy. The overall comfort is helped a lot by the moto tires too—they fit the personality of the bike, and they make it feel planted.
Lighting and road presence
The front headlight is legitimately bright with a low beam and high beam, and the integrated turn signals add to the “small motorbike” feel.
One thing I noticed: the rear light setup doesn’t function as a brake light in the configuration I tested. Personally, I’d still rather have regen than give it up for brake-light integration—but it’s something I’d want to think through depending on where and how I ride.
Legal mode vs off-road mode
This bike has a legal mode and an off-road/unlimited mode, and that choice changes the whole conversation.
In legal mode, the bike is clearly aiming to behave like a compliant e-bike. In off-road mode, it becomes something else—closer to a lightweight electric motorbike in feel.
Because laws vary a lot, I treat this as a “know your local rules” situation. The power and speed potential can easily put it into a gray area depending on where you live.
What We Like
Extremely quiet drivetrain thanks to the belt drive
Power delivery feels tasteful and controllable, not twitchy
Nine assist levels make it easy to ride casually or aggressively
Regen braking is genuinely useful and smoothly implemented
Comfortable moped seat with lots of room to shift position
Suspension and tires help it feel stable over rough pavement
Things To Consider
It’s a heavy machine (around 120 lbs), which impacts portability and storage
Fixed seat height won’t fit every rider perfectly
High power/speed capability may affect legality depending on your area
Rear lighting doesn’t function as a brake light (at least on the one I tested)
Final Thoughts
The Lyric Graffiti X feels like what a lot of people were trying to build when they started modding moped-style e-bikes—except this shows up stock with the power and, more importantly, the tuning to make that power usable.
What surprised me most wasn’t that it was fast. It was how calm it felt while being fast. Between the quiet belt drive, the natural-feeling assist at low levels, and the smooth regen, it comes across as a high-performance bike that still knows how to behave.
If you want something lightweight to carry upstairs, this isn’t it. But if you want a planted, comfortable, seriously capable moped-style e-bike that doesn’t sound like a toolbox full of chains, the Graffiti X is worth a real look.
Links
Lyric Graffiti X (use promo code RUNPLAYBACK for $100 off): https://lyriccycles.com/RUNPLAYBACK
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Bell Super 3R MIPS Bike Helmet: https://amzn.to/3TJ1vTR
Fox Racing Bike Gloves: https://amzn.to/40P5SyQ
Hafny Handlebar Bike Mirror: https://amzn.to/3FVubmN
Veeape Electric Air Pump: https://amzn.to/3LPLTf9
Denlix Military Sling Bag: https://amzn.to/3LTKN2c
Lamicall Bike Phone Mount: https://amzn.to/3LXmD6O
Onvian Wireless Bike Alarm: https://amzn.to/42KUgyE
RunPlayBack Merch: http://shop.runplayback.com/