Charging into adventure
Electric bikes could become tomorrow’s exploration machines
Could small, electric bikes be the adventure motorcycles of the future? Munich-based Black Tea Motorbikes certainly thinks so, with its new Bonfire X, which offers a range of just over 60 miles, or 75 miles if you opt for the moped version.
That might not sound like the ideal bike for adventures – certainly long-distance ones – but the manufacturer is billing it as such. “Our ambition has been to create a motorbike that would serve as a powerful exploration tool, but also as an everyday commuter without breaking the bank,” said Viktor Sommer, CEO of Black Tea.
The Bonfire X costs £3356 and uses two 1.8kwh batteries, an off-the-shelf rear hub motor, and a decidedly retro twin-shock rolling chassis.
The bikes are assembled in Germany, where production started late last year. The battery box is from Hungary.
The advantage of the small battery is a shorter charge time even when using a domestic supply – Black Tea claims a 0-80% charge in three hours and if that's true a 100-mile day would be possible, given a long lunch. And no searching for a hi-tech fast charger either, because the bike will charge anywhere where you can plug into a mains supply. Production is currently on a small scale, but the company is hoping to ramp it up to 2000 bikes in 2023 and follow up with assembly plants in Asia and North America later.
The Bonfire X is the top-range Black Tea bike, but there's also the Bonfire S with a single 1.8kwh battery, restricted to 28mph and so qualifying as a moped. The mid-range Bonfire E can top 50mph and the X makes 62mph. Weight being just 98-110kg ready to go, they should all be very easy to ride.
But will we be able to buy it in the UK? That’s certainly the aim of Black Tea. “We have submitted all documents,” said Viktor Sommer, “and are still waiting for a response from the VCA. I think we just have to be patient. As you know, it's just bureaucratic things that need to be done to get the EU approval of the Bonfire recognised in the UK as well. As soon as there is news, you will get an update.” www.blackteamotorbikes.com
The African Connection
Meanwhile in Africa, the budget-friendly Opibus surely fits the bill. The Kenyan company’s bread and butter is converting 4x4s and buses to electric power, but it also offers a budget electric bike.
Like the Black Tea, it’s based on a simple 125cc-size twinshock chassis and a small removeable battery – in this case 2.9kwh – and a claimed range of 120 miles if two batteries are fitted. Top speed is 56mph, and deliveries are expected to start later this year. It’s not exactly stylish, but the Opibus will be cheap – US $1400 in Kenya, so you’d get plenty of change from £1100. You wouldn’t pay that in the UK, but the company says it is planning to export globally. www.opibus.com
More to come
We have heard of a few different brands of electric bikes venturing into the adventure and off-road markets, so there will undoubtedly be more to come. We’ll keep you updated.