Just a few years ago, we saw dozens of new e-mobility startups flood the market. Each of them had their own groundbreaking ideas, wide-eyed and bushy tailed with the hopes of revolutionizing the way people got around. Fast forward to the present, and a lot of these companies have gone under.
It’s a sad reality that’s plaguing the electric motorcycle world, and one that might be painting a realistic picture of what people actually want. You see, a lot of these EV manufacturers have been trying to sell us an idea.
That idea, for the most part, is a tech-laden high-performance electric two-wheeler, which quite frankly, is trying to be too many things at once. The result is a bike so expensive that pretty much no one can justify buying it. And so, companies are unable to follow through with their promised deliverables, all while submerging themselves headfirst in unpayable debt.
With all that being said, there is a ray of hope. Lately, we’ve been seeing simpler, much more focused EVs hit the market, from both new entrants and more established names in the industry. One of them is the Silence S05 Weekender, and it’s a compact, fun-looking electric motorcycle that just might be what the market needs right now.
We’ve talked about Silence quite a bit in the past. The Spanish EV startup has a selection of commuter and urban-focused electric scooters in its lineup, and even teamed up with Nissan for an electric urban micro-car. And now, it has a new electric two-wheeler dubbed the S05 Weekender, and yes, it’s the brand’s first electric motorcycle.
On paper, this thing is really simple. It’s small, compact, and no-frills. It has a claimed top speed of 75 miles per hour, and can cover around 82 miles on a single charge. It has a rather massive seven-inch touchscreen display which will undoubtedly boast some sort of mobile phone connectivity.
Silence took a cue from its electric scooter range and decked the S05 Weekender out with some practical features, too. It has a helmet compartment underneath where the fuel tank of an ICE bike would be, as well as ample seating space for a passenger or rear-mounted luggage.
Even better still, Silence has also launched a simpler version of the S05 Weekender with a lower top speed of 62 miles per hour, as well as a more basic tech package.
According to the folks at Silence, the S05 Weekender was designed to be a practical daily commuter that could also be used for leisure rides and adventures on weekends. So yeah, clearly, its main job is that of an urban commuter, so it’s a bit odd that they decided to call it the Weekender.
But hey, assuming they price this thing right, who knows, it might just be a hit. It looks simple enough to be used by utility-minded folks looking for practical mobility, and fun enough to be appreciated by enthusiasts looking to try something electric.
As of the moment, Silence has yet to announce pricing details for the new S05 Weekender. But when it does, we’ll be sure to update this story. How much would you be willing to pay for an electric motorcycle like the Silence S05? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Motorionline
