The wonderful thing about electric motorcycles is just how creatively funky some designers get to be when it comes to giving the segment a shot. After all, the usual components such as the clutch and transmission levers, the exhaust system, and the multiple fluid conducts aren’t in the way, allowing companies all the freedom their creative hearts desire.
This has given birth to some pretty funky, physics-defying designs that give us a peek into the future of motorcycles and what they might evolve to look like. Sometimes, it’s scary, but other times, it's awesome.
This has given birth to some pretty funky, physics-defying designs that give us a peek into the future of motorcycles and what they might evolve to look like. Sometimes, it’s scary, but other times, it's awesome.
Cake Ösa
There’s something fascinating with the Cake Ösa. It’s not exactly a handsome design, but its neo-retro, almost overly simplistic design makes it irresistibly cool. Swedes sure have a knack for clean lines and aesthetics, something reflected in everything they create from furniture to architecture, and now also in motorcycles.
Cake introduced the Ösa at the beginning of 2020 as a new city-friendly option. The company followed the usual dirtbike path with its first model, the Kalk, so it needed a more urban silhouette to appeal to the commuting-type of rider.
The Ösa’s entry-level model, the Ösa Lite, is offered with what Cake refers to as a “medium size battery” but buyers have the option to upgrade to a larger battery pack for $1,000, which ads almost thirty miles of combined range. Cake recently announced that the Ösa is now available for U.S. deliveries and pricing starts at $6,500 for the base model and $8,500 for the Ösa+.
Damon Hypersport
Since it was introduced at CES in January 2020, the Damon Hypersport has been one of the most hyped electric motorcycles of the year. Not only does the project model feature impressive technological innovations—including Shift, its modifiable ergonomics system—and specs, but it’s also drop dead gorgeous. Between the LED headlights and the flowing silhouette, the bike has some serious sex appeal.
Damon also claims that its first bike will offer a range of 200 miles combined, produce 200 horsepower, and have a top speed of 200 mph (easy to remember!) The company is not only developing its own weight-baring battery pack, it’s also loading the bike up with high-tech features including a 360-degree safety system dubbed CoPilot that will include blind spot monitoring and emergency braking, among other things.
Now, if only it could hit the production line...
Pursang E-Track
There was a time when Bultaco was a popular Spanish dirtbike maker. After 25 years on the market, the company fell off the map until a few years ago, when it was revived as an electric bicycle company.
Back in the day, Bultaco produced some of the most iconic models on the off-road scene, including the Pursang. After Bultaco’s demise the name Pursang was picked up by a startup who recently introduced its first two electric motorcycles: the E-Track and the E-Street.
While the two models are very much alike, except for a few subtle design differences, the E-Track's black color scheme with tan saddle is the most striking of the two. With its cantilever saddle, wire-spoke wheels, side plate, and tall handlebar, the design seems to blend a bit of the scrambler and flat-track aesthetics (though the designer refers to his design as a scrambler).
If you like what you see, however, you must act quickly as only 60 units will be produced. If you missed out, don’t worry, the Pursang E-Street will follow and estimated pricing will be around $9,300.
Energica Eva Ribelle
With a new Energica rolling out for 2020, the model obviously had to be included in our favorites—the Italian firm has yet to produce an ugly bike. At EICMA 2019, it unveiled the striking new Eva Ribelle, the company’s first streetfighter.
In addition to offering one of the best (advertised) ranges in the industry, the Eva Ribelle has the power figures to match the look. It doesn’t just look aggressive—it actually is. Energica claims that the bike produces 145 horsepower, 159 ft-lb of torque, and can reach a top speed of 125 mph (electronically limited). The model’s price point and availability have yet to be announced but considering the entry-level Eva EsseEsse9 is priced at $23,400, expect the Ribelle to cost a pretty penny.
Saroléa N60 MM.01
Saroléa has done it again! In 2018, the Belgian firm unveiled the absolutely stunning Manx7 deserving of a spot in our first, 2018 top 5 favorite electric bikes designs with its elegant café racer aesthetic. It was hard to imagine that Saroléa would have been able to top the Manx7, yet it did.
In March 2020, the company unveiled its second electric motorcycle, the N60 MM.01, a streetfighter clad in carbon fiber galore. The model is based on the same chassis as the Manx7 but adopts a stripped-down aesthetic instead of a bubble fairing.
When you buy the N60, you not only get a top-sheld motorcycle, but you also receive a matching, slim cut Café Costume riding suit (right up John Wick’s alley), a Hedon Carbon Heroine MM.01 carbon fiber helmet, as well as a commemorative Damascus knife. Talk about a package.
See more at: RideApart
