ELECTRIC SPECIAL: THE COMMUTER SOLUTION
In the February 2021 issue (#176), we reviewed the Zero SR/F. The results were impressive, but as always the up-front cost was an issue for many. What if the difference in price was minimal?
According to research by eBike vendor Urban eBikes, in 2016 the average journey was just 17 miles, suggesting the kind of commuter run a small capacity bike handles well. There is little difference in price between petrol and electric at this size.
The Super Soco TC Max is intended as an urban solution, so I stuck to the roads around Urban e-Bikes’ location in Hackney.
I’ve been riding motorbikes for the best part of 30 years and ridden a couple of automatics (NC700 and DN-01), but neither of those prepared me for an electric bike. You have to unlearn a lot of what you’ve learned about riding.
I really like the looks; kind of sci-fi while retaining the essential ‘bike’ shape. Pegs are central, and bars dip slightly forward so you’re leaning into the ride. It’s small and slender; most will feel instantly comfortable.
To start the bike, blip the fob to turn off the alarm and start the bike. Press the power button on the ‘tank’, raise the centre stand, press a button on the right bar and it’s ready to go, no warming up. The instant power on tap takes getting used to, but it’s rewarding. You whizz away from the rest of the traffic, building speed briskly. There are three modes: 3 is full (60mph) power, 2 is town mode (30mph), and 1 is ‘limp back home when you’ve forgotten to charge the battery’. Talking battery, the Super Soco’s is removable.
Once on the road, the only sound is rubber on tarmac. It’s a bit strange to begin with, but after a while it’s rather nice, but it did lead to an incident where DumDum wandered into the road as he didn’t hear me coming (the horn is nice and loud).
Buzzing silently down the road, the TC Max is an enjoyable ride. It holds the road nicely, handling really well. You can carve broad curves or brake ‘n’ dip, it does both easily, holding it’s line perfectly.
Suspension is on the soft side, soaking up most lumps and bumps, but the odd bigger pothole jarred.
Braking? That was… strange. I rolled off the throttle… and zero engine braking. On a conventional bike (even a 125) the engine is helping. With little practice it’s easy to bring the TC Max to a halt with good feel from the front. Then I applied the rear… I’ll be honest, ‘conventional’ biking brain kicked in and I went to use the rear (left) lever like the clutch. And the Super Soco stopped like it hit a wall!
When you turn off the bike the alarm activates, also locking both wheels.
To get the most out of the TC Max I’d like to ride one for a week on local roads I know really well. It’s such a different experience that I’d like to be able to concentrate on the bike more and the ride less.