Daily motorbike news, views & reviews
Electric motorcycles are the next big thing. The market is currently dominated by cheap scooter imports from China, but boutique electric motorcycle companies such as Zero and Brammo are making better-quality products. They are about to be challenged by the established motorcycle companies such as BMW, Harley-Davidson, Victory, Yamaha and KTM. We bring you the latest developments in battery technology, government subsidies and other news about electric motorcycles. We have also ridden several electric motorcycles and review them for performance, handling, range, comfort and styling.
No, it’s not the 1970s again — Furion Motorcycles of France plans to resurrect the Wankel rotary engine for their hybrid M1 motorcycle that also has an electric motor. Rotary engines were big news in the 1970s, most notably in the Mazda RX-8. There were also many motorcycles with rotary engines. Norton had several models. …
Curtiss Motorcycles is taking $US6000 deposits for their electric Zeus Bobber and Cafe (above) models and inviting supporters to invest in the American company. Zeus Bobber and Cafe Zeus Bobber and Cafe will each cost $US60,000 (about $A83,000, £46,845, €53,000) with a holding deposit of $US6000. The aluminium and carbon bikes have 140kW of power, 196Nm …
This 3D-printed electric motorcycle has several features that could come to future bikes including airless tyres, forkless steering and a flexible bumper. The NERA E-Motorcycle prototype was made by NOWLAB manufacturing laboratory which has locations in Boston, Berlin and Singapore. 3D printing They claim it is the world’s first fully 3D printed working e-motorcycle. Other …
Australia’s first electric motorcycle company, Savic Motorcycles, will launch their electric Cafe Racer prototype at the Melbourne Moto Expo on Friday (November 23, 2018). Melbourne rider Dennis Savic, 26, spent more than 650 hours designing and building the prototype. The three Cafe Racer production versions will be made in Melbourne and Taiwan. They will be available …
Will rear-facing cameras and screens one day replace conventional motorcycle wing mirrors and will a smartwatch replace your ignition key? This is the vision of Italian electric motorcycle company, Energica, which will supply the electric bikes for the MotoE series in next year’s MotoGP season. Their Bolid-e concept motorcycle is a joint project called Smart …
The best thing about the Vespa Elettrica electric scooter is that it is almost a complete mirror of the iconic petrol-powered retro model. And, of course, just like the standard Vespa, it is twist-and-go-throttle so there is one less hurdle among scooter riders crossing over from an internal combustion model to an electric. Vespa Elettrica …
Kymco may have the answer to one of the biggest problems with electric motorcycles by allowing riders to dial in their own motorcycle sound! The Taiwanese scoter company is branching out with their SuperNEX electric sports bike concept unveiled last week in Milan. They have produced this video which is actually quite useless as it …
Imagine a motorcycle jacket that vibrates when it senses you are about to have a collision or delivers that disco bass rumble in your gut when you play music in your helmet? The Origin “haptic” jacket will come as part of a package with a Zenith head-up display helmet (HUD) when you buy the coming …
Harley-Davidson Australia finally confirms that the electric LiveWire being released next year around the world will arrive in Australia and New Zealand in late 2020. The bike made its European debut at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan overnight where tech details were released. However, there was nothing new that we had not heard when we …
Husqvarna Motorcycles has unveiled the production Svartpilen 701 flat tracker as well as the Vitpilen 701 Aero retro sports bike concept and the EE 5 electric minicycle at EICMA in Milan. Svartpilen 701 Husky calls the Svartpilen 701 a “street explorer”, but it is inspired by flat-trackers which are all the rage, especially since Indian …