The same company that builds iPhones is now ready to make electric motorcycles for Evoke. You can pre-order an Evoke Urban S today with delivery expected in July, according to Electrek. A minimum $200 pre-order down payment will hold the price at $9,400.
Evoke plans to sell about 2,000 Urban S motorcycles in China and the U.S. combined during 2017. This bike is the first model Evoke plans to release this year, having upgraded components from an earlier version for increased range. A new battery pack with Samsung SDI cells stores 9 kWh of power, for a revised range of 124 miles in the city and 74 miles on the highway. Previously, the ebike was rated at 83 city miles and 50 highway miles ranges.
The Urban S’s 19 kW hub motor generates a maximum 86-foot pounds of torque and has an 81 mph top speed. According to the Evoke website, the 397-pound Urban S will jump from a standing start to 31 mph in 2.5 seconds — so we’re not talking highway on-ramp blasting here, but from stoplight to stoplight in busy cities? Yeah, that works. And the bike’s chainless design means minimum maintenance expense.
First-time riders should find learning to ride the Urban S easier than most motorcycles. There is no clutch and no shifting. Unlike traditional motorcycles where the rear brake is foot-operated and the front brake is controlled by a lever on the right handgrip, the disc brakes for both wheels (two-discs on the front wheel, one on the rear) are located on the handlebar. Just remember, brake the rear wheel first so you don’t find yourself in the air as you tumble forward.
Chances are you will know where you are going in the city, but if you venture into the countryside — or a new part of town — the Urban S has a standard GPS-based navigation system with a 5-inch display.
Evoke is located in China and was founded by European, American, and Canadian expats living in Beijing. The Urban S isn’t the only Evoke electric bike on the way. The company plans to introduce two more bikes later in 2017: A cruiser and a cafe racer.
Hints about the additional models on the company’s website are limited to a Project Kruzer page showing a mostly blacked-out image and the name, Kruzer. Evoke says the Kruzer will have 30 kW of peak power (up from 19), 126- foot pounds of torque (instead of 86), and Tesla-esque “Ludicrous” acceleration. The Kruzer is promised to have a 143-mile overall range and to accelerate from zero to 60 in “sub-5.0 seconds” — the measurement isn’t stated, but in this case, we’re guessing they mean 60 mph, not kilometers. Other goodies slated for the Kruzer include an aluminum frame, a 7-inch touchscreen, and mobile phone connectivity.
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