Onyx Motorbikes owner James Khatiblou passed away suddenly, leaving behind unfulfilled orders and unpaid debts. Now, the brand has been brought back to life by its original founder.
Founder Tim Seward announced the revival of Onyx in a LinkedIn post on Monday, stating, “Onyx is back to the future now!”
The company is starting by selling around 100 RCR electric dirt bikes. It’s unclear if these are newly produced units or part of the previous batch held by the Chinese supplier after Khatiblou’s passing.
Seward, known for designing e-bikes for Bird and Ubco, initially created the RCR in 2016. After transferring ownership to Khatiblou, who struggled to manage the company, Onyx faced legal and financial challenges following his death.
Oxygen Funding, a creditor owed $2.2 million, attempted to take control of Khatiblou’s estate to recoup its losses. Despite ongoing legal proceedings, Onyx’s revival under Seward caught creditors by surprise.
Kenneth Ames and Troy Smith, part owners of Onyx LLC, also have a stake in the company’s revival. Their involvement in the brand’s resurgence remains unclear as TechCrunch seeks further details.
