A Silent Invasion: The Top 10 E-Bikes of EICMA 2018

We count down our top 10 electric two-wheeler picks from EICMA 2018

Dozens of exciting new models were unveiled in Milan this year, but EICMA 2018 saw more electric models debut than any year previously. As the motorcycling world begins to increasingly accept the shift towards electric powertrains, manufacturers are taking the segment — and technology — more serious than ever before, dedicating vast amounts of time and resources to developing electric two-wheeled offerings. So after another year of R&D behind closed doors, let’s unpack our ten favorite eBikes from EICMA 2018…

10. Ducati’s Electric Mountain Bike

Though Ducati has yet to add an electric motorcycle to its lineup, the Bologna-based brand has joined forces with various bicycle companies to collaborate on creating pedal-powered two-wheelers worthy of baring the Ducati-name. The latest partnership is with fellow Italian outfit, Thok E-bikes, with the two companies teaming up to make the Ducati MIG-RR electric mountain bike. With an MSRP of just over $7,000, the MIG-RR’s price exceeds the vast majority of entry-level motorcycle models, placing it squarely in the elite-category typically associated with the Ducati brand.

Built as the next step in Thok’s MIG range’s evolution, the Ducati RR-spec is powered by a 250-watt Shimano Steps E8000 mid-drive motor — that generates a cool 51.6foot-pounds of torque — paired with a 36V, 14Ah tube-style battery. Other highlights include high-end Fox suspenders that offer more than six-inches of travel fore and aft, carbon fiber handlebars, and Shimano quad-piston hydraulic disc brakes and 11-speed gear-set. In total the two-wheeler weighs in at less than 50lbs (or 22.5kgs). The MIG-RR is almost certainly more of an exercise in marketing and collaborative branding than it is a fruit of meaningful R&D, though I’d be surprised if a fully electric production model hasn’t left the factory in Bologna in the next half-decade.

9. The SX-E 5: KTM’s Pocket-Sized eMXer

Largely overshadowed by its updated big-bore SuMo and ADV-related offerings, KTM’s new SX-E 5 didn’t quite get the attention it probably deserved. Based on the Ready To Race Brand’s existing 50 SX two-stroker, the pint-sized SX-E 5 is a high-performance, fully-electric motocrosser designed for young riders. At the heart of the little runner is a 5KW electric motor — comparable to a 50cc mill —paired with 84 lithium-ion cells (housed in die-cast aluminum casing) that offers anywhere from 25-minutes to two-hours of riding, depending on the pilot’s weight, the type of riding, and how hard he or she goes. Fortunately, a complete recharge is possible in only an hour’s time via any standard 110 or 230V socket. In addition to being practically silent and giving off zero emissions, the eMXer’s air-cooled electric power plant is also virtually maintenance-free.

An adjustable seat-height allows youngsters to grow, without out-growing the ebike, plus KTM offers an optional suspension lowering kit to bring the seat-height down even more. The eMXer’s WP suspension is also adjustable front and rear. Further bolstering its kid-friendly-nature is the SX’s six different ride modes, each offering varying levels of power (there are parental controls to prevent scamps from upping the power), and the bike features a wrist-worn lanyard that acts as a kill-switch should the rider and machine unexpectedly part ways. The KTM SX-E 5 is scheduled to hit North American showrooms sometime around Fall of 2019. (Note: Husqvarna, which is subsidiary of KTM, also unveiled its EE5 ebike which appears to be identical to its parent company’s SXE-5, albeit rebadged in a different livery. )

8. Vespa Elettrica Scooter

More than seven-decades after the company opened its doors, (and two-years after it was first announced), it’s debuting the Vespa Elettrica. Also comparable to a 50cc scooter, the new electric Vespa offers 4kW of peak power (roughly equal to 5hp) and a claimed range of just over 60-miles on a single charge. In addition to a slick modern livery adorning the iconic scooters’ bodywork, the Electtrica also gets a 4.3” TFT display and smart-phone connectivity.

While this one technically wasn’t unveiled at EICMA 2018, the Piaggio Group nonetheless made sure Vespa’s inaugural electric model had a presence at the annual show. Though Vespa started accepting preorders for the Euro market in October, North American (and Chinese) buyers will have to wait until the first or second quarter of 2019 to get theirs, though at $7,300 — nearly double the price of some of Vespa’s ICE-powered models, and greatly exceeding the cost of your average budget scooter— the vast majority of customers will be of the more affluent variety. What we’re really excited about from the Italian brand is the gas-electric-hybrid model, the Elettrica X, though no new info has been released since the concept debuted last year.

7. Harley-Davidson’s Production-Ready Livewire

Though Harley’s been promoting the Livewire since t̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶a̶w̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶i̶m̶e̶ 2014, it wasn’t until this week that the Moco pulled the cover off the final production-ready version of the brand’s first-ever electric motorcycle. Slated to hit dealerships in 2019, the Livewire is a major departure from Harley’s status quo. Housed in an aluminum frame and utilized as a stressed-member, the Livewire’s power plant is what H-D calls a “RESS” (Rechargeable Energy Storage System, comprised of lithium-ion cells in a finned aluminum casing. Other highlights include fully-adjustable Showa suspension fore and aft, a TFT dash, and ABS-linked Brembo monoblock calipers.

While there’s no denying that the Livewire is novel territory for the brand, the model does retain some of Harley’s classic visual DNA. And like the rest of Harley’s offerings (not including the Street Rod I guess), the Livewire will command a premium price, making it a more elite product. It’s unclear exactly who the Livewire is for and how it will sell (and more interestingly how it will affect existing customers’ view of the brand), but I commend Harley for at least trying something new instead of repeating the same failure of a formula year after year (as of late).

6. The Super Soco TC Max

Chinese manufacturer Super Soco took the opportunity to debut its new, higher-spec sibling of its existing TC ebike; the TC Max. Though the Max-variant is visually identical to the base model TC, the new upgraded version is powered by a 72V, 45Ah lithium ion battery and offers an impressive 125 ft-lbs of torque (all of which is on tap at any point thanks to the electric powertrain) and a top-speed of 62mph — 16mph faster than the previous gen TC. While a single charge’s range is limited to just under 70-miles, the power-cells are removable and can be swapped out on the fly for a fresh unit.

The belt-driven TC Max features surprisingly high-spec running gear considering its €4,499 ($5,100) MSRP — with spoked rims offered for an additional $228. The Max-spec’s brakes are comprised of hydraulic Brembo units that feature Super Soco’s “Combined Braking System” (or CBS) which allows both the fore and aft units to be activated via a simple depression of the right-hand lever. While the TC Max is slated for mass production in the first-quarter of 2019, Super Soco has yet to get the thing approved for sales in the US, though the wheels are supposedly in motion to change that.

5. Curtis Reveals Zeus Bobber and Cafe Racer

In September of 2017 Confederate Motorcycles announced it would be experiencing a major rebranding overhaul, changing the company’s name to the less controversial, Curtiss Motorcycles. The even bigger part of the announcement was that the boutique high-end outfit would be pivoting from internal-combustion engine-powered models to fully-electric offerings, the first of which was unveiled at the 2018 Quail Motorcycle Gathering in the form of the 2020 Zeus concept.

Fast forward to present day and the revamped manufacturer has just pulled the cover off what are said to be production-ready versions of the Zeus, albeit both variants lack the bits necessary to be street-legal (mirrors, indictors, etc), and the power plants look surprisingly different from the prototype’s motor. The first of the two is the Zeus Bobber, a minimalistic e-model with a long-wheelbase and an aesthetic that blends classic American bobber-style with modern, technologically driven, sic-fi-inspired visual-themes. The second bike is the Zeus Cafe Racer, an equally sparse version of the muscular two-wheeler, only this time given the cafe-treatment. While official specs haven’t been released, Curtiss says its anticipating something in the ballpark of 145ft-lbs of torque, a 2.1-second 0-60mph, and an almost 300-mile-range.

4. The Arc Vector: Luxury On Two-Wheels

Next up we have another futuristic muscular ebike from another boutique high-end brand with the Arc Vector. The Vector began as an EV born out of Jaguar’s White Space Division (a skunkworks arm that focuses on unorthodox concepts projects) which was at the time headed up by Mark Truman, who later went on to found Arc. Truman then organized a crack team of specialists — including a MotoGP chief engineer — to lend their various expertise to the Vector project. Six-months after its inception (approximately two-years-ago), Arc was founded on the strength of the investment firm that currently backs fellow British outfits Land Rover and Jaguar.

The Vector tips the scales at just 220kgs while generating a cool 133hp, a whopping 292ft-lbs of torque, and a 3.1-second 0-60mph time. The battery offers a 362-mile (urban) range, and can reportedly be fully charged in only 45-minutes. The Vector’s running gear is comprised of top-shelf hardware; Ohlins suspension, Brembo Stylema brakes, BST carbon fiber wheels, etc. Each bike is also custom built and comes with a jacket and a helmet which features a HUD that is responsible for most of the bike’s real-time data, though the Vector does sport a speedo and idiot lights for road-legality purposes. Of course all this trick machinery doesn’t come cheap, and the Vector will sell for steep £90,000 (or $115,700).

3. Kymco’s Bold New SuperNEX Concept

One unexpected treat from EICMA this year was from Kymco, which pivoted from its utilitarian-style scooter and small displacement motorcycle offerings to present a new performance-focused electric sport bike. Dubbed the “Super NEX”, the new model from the Taiwanese manufacturer will surely change the way a lot of people see the brand. In addition to its sub-three-second 0-60mph, its 155mph top-speed can be reached from a standing start in less than 11-seconds.

These lightning-fast launches are possible thanks to what Kymco calls its new “Full Engagement Performance” adjustable electronics suite — essentially a launch-control, wheelie-control system that also offers braking assists (rear-wheel-lift-mitigation, slide-control, etc). Interestingly, despite its electric powertrain, the Super NEX features a six-speed transmission. Another unusual move Kymco opted for on the Super NEX is the electric mill’s amplified sound, making the motor’s whirling markedly louder as you can hear in this promo video. Kymco hasn’t commented on if or when the Super NEX may see production — or what its MSRP will look like if it does — but based on the trouble the outfit must have gone through to develop the prototype, it’s not crazy to think we may get a slightly watered-down version of the Super NEX — or a less-Super NEX if you will — by 2020 or 2021.

2. Fantic's E-Cab Concept

Fantic Motorcycles is a small, boutique, Italian manufacturer that unfortunately doesn’t export its stylish offerings to North American shores. But back in 2016 the marque pulled the cover off the retro-inspired Caballero 500 street tracker and scrambler models. Powered by 43hp, 449cc, four-stroke singles, the Cab 500s were praised for their clean appearance and touted as proper examples of vintage-meets-modern styling done right.

In addition to unveiling the new Caballero Rally 500 at EICMA 2018 — a slightly reworked version of the Scrambler with longer-travel suspenders, a higher fender, number-plate, headlight shroud, and a lightly modified exhaust — Fantic also debuted a second new Caballero model; the E-Cab. The new electric concept very closely resembles the existing street tracker Cab 500, albeit with an electric powertrain. The e-concept features an 11kW motor and a 7.5kWh battery — that afford the protobike a 90-mile-range and a 70mph top-speed — housed in a new frame designed specially for the electric mill. Not only is the E-Cab supposedly A1 (license) compliant, but it weighs in just shy of 325lbs (147kgs) all ready to go, making it a great entry-level options — and a sexy one too.

1. Energica X Samsung’s E-Bolide Smart-Bike

Not just one of the coolest electric offerings from EICMA 2018, but easily one of the overall coolest machines to grace the Italian trade-show was Energica’s E-Bolide (“Bolide” being Italian for “Fireball”). The prefix “Smart” gets tossed around pretty willy nilly these days, but the E-Bolide is more than deserving of the title. Developed in collaboration with Samsung, the electric two-wheeler boasts advanced tech that improves rider safety and day-to-day convenience.

A set of cameras — one facing forward and one pointed towards the rear — link to a bevy of sensors and keeps an eye out for hazards on the road, not unlike the systems in modern cars. The system is also accompanied by a pair of smart-mirrors with HUD technology that alert the pilot of potential hazards on the road, as well as displaying GPS directions and whatnot. The bike also utilizes Near-Field-Communication, and the machine to link to a Samsung Galaxy Watch and dedicated app. The E-Bolide also allows video and metrics from any given ride to be recorded, saved, and/or shared online. Based on the MSRP on the rest of Energica’s lineup, we can safely assume this markedly more technologically advanced model will boast an exorbitant price, though these features may eventually trickle down to budget models, making motorcycles a safer, more attractive offering as a whole.