Brammo Empulse R
Another electric bike sparks into life – time to go on a big charge then...
Previous battery-powered bikes we’ve ridden have often resembled mountain bikes with spindly, sparrow-limbed components. This new Brammo Empulse R, however, is different, packing real substance – as well as the first mass-produced lecky gearbox.
Fresh from racing in the Isle of Man's TT Zero event, the American-built Empulse R had a UK press launch at Top Gear’s Dunsfold test track, organised by the UK’s importer, Goingreen. See what they did there? I managed to blag a few laps onboard the naked electric beast and, Clarksonesque, it pains me to say it’s very good.
Starting the bike involves turning the key, hitting the starter button and powering it up. Other than a brief electrical buzz and a light on the dash, there’s nothing to let you know she’s alive. Pull away without a hint of clutch and you’re rewarded with a wave of instant power. Because of an electric motor’s insane ability to dump all its power in one hit, I was questioning the existence of a gearbox on the Brammo. The firm says the 'box allows a smaller, lighter electric motor, and it does all work, supplying a petrolpowered bike’s sensation – and it’s seamless in function. The only strange glitch is neutral sitting between second and third. And things were going so well...
Is it fast? In a word, yes. It’s fast enough. Before the ride, the PR bods were likening the Brammo’s power to that of a 650cc v-twin, and they’re not far off. The power dies off during the last quarter of the range, but that’s the beauty of the gearbox as you just feed it another cog. Head down, bum up, I saw 95mph on the dash with another gear to go.
Although the Brammo has six gears, you’ll only realistically need three. The motor’s versatility and wide spread of power means you can effortlessly pull away in third without crippling the clutch. Anyway, slipping the clutch only produces an horrible metallic noise...
The throttle itself is deliciously smooth, although the Empulse R suffers from horrendous transmission slap from closed to open throttle – something I’m sure can be dialled out with some work.
So does it corner? Oh, yes. Purists will slate the lack of noise, fumes and character, but anyone into riding will fall for the Empulse R’s handling. Those of you hot on your Italian tuning brands will have heard of Accossato. The Americans contracted the Latin marque to manufacturer most of the chassis; the frame, swingarm, subframe and 'bars. Brammo/Accossato has obviously worked with tried and tested geometry, as the Empulse R instantly feels sharp. 213kg puts it on par with a BMW F800 R, although the luxury of having batteries means a more focused weight distribution.
The Empulse R slings to its side with ease and steers with supreme ability, aided by a fine choice in rubber – Continental SportAttack 2s. There’s a real sense of togetherness with the chassis. I tried my damned hardest to upset the Brammo, but it just kept responding with supreme ability and stability, controlling its weight beautifully with both ends planted into the Tarmac. The only shortfall in its handling arsenal would be the shoddy ground clearance. Other than scraping pegs and levers, the Empulse R will out-corner any naked sportsbike. That’s a bold claim, but its aptitude really shocked me. The whole ride is taut and responsive. Nothing rattles. Nothing feels like it’s going to fall off. The lack of engine clatter doesn’t mask any substandard engineering. Oh bugger, I really like this bike.
With 6,300 power points in the UK, the charging infrastructure is growing. And you can now charge a Brammo from the luxury of your own home. Calculations suggest it’ll cost you, on average, £1.60 to fully charge a Brammo. That’s £1.60 for around 100 miles, and a full charge will take around three and a half hours.
The only real dynamic downer for the Brammo (and all electric bikes on the market), is range. At a constant throttle at 70mph, you’ll see around 60 miles from the tank, rising to 80 miles for ‘combined’. Urban riding is claimed to give 120-ish miles, boosted by a KERS-type regenerative system that works under braking.
As with most new technology, the big negative is the price. I don’t care how good the Brammo Empulse R is, or if it brags Accossato, Brembo, Marchesini, Marzocchi and Sachs components, £15,350 is too much. A Panigale it most definitely ain’t.
Yes, it’s a huge initial expense, but the Empulse R is an ideal commuter with heaps of fun and frolics on offer. And it’s a cinch to ride for any pilot. Whether you like it or not, electric bikes (of some sort) are the future. Whether or not the transition will happen during our lifetime remains to be seen, but if bikes like the Brammo continue with this sort of progression, I won’t be complaining if we're forced on them. In the meantime, I’m off to burn a hole in the Ozone layer!