The first production series has yet to start, but the Finnish company Verge Motorcycles has already launched the ultimate version of their electric power cruiser, the TS Ultra. Verge claims a top power of more than 200 hp with the TS Ultra, a weight of 245 kilos and a monstrous torque of 1,200 Nm.
The Ducati Diavel power cruiser has undoubtedly been the bike they were inspired by in Finland, but with an electric drive. The Verge TS has a similar geometry with a 245mm wide rear tire and two sets of footpegs, one for sporty styling and a second set of forward controls for those wanting to ride in a cruiser position.
The Verge TS has incorporated the electric motor into the rim of the rear wheel, which has some advantages, but also some disadvantages. The biggest drawback is the weight, which has a negative effect on unsprung weight and inertia. That is the reason why this has not been applied to an electric motorcycle before.
The advantage, however, is that there is not a need for a maintenance-requiring drive to transfer the power to the rear wheel (although you could also solve this by incorporating the motor into the hub), and there is more space for the battery.
The Finns themselves give that ample argument for the battery, but with a capacity of 20.2 kWh, that is not exactly impressive. Energica is already at 22.5 kWh and there the electric motor is simply in the conventional place.
The TS comes in 3 variants, of which the TS and TS Pro have already been announced and the TS Ultra will be presented at CES this week in Las Vegas. The TS and TS Pro, which have to do with ‘only’ 70 kW and 102 kW (95 hp and 139 hp), are small beer compared to the 150 kW (according to Verge 201 hp, but according to our pocket Japanese 204 hp) of the TS Ultra.
It should be emphasized here, because the electric motor is in the rear wheel, so this is the power at the rear wheel, with which this bike rivals all Hypernakeds. Especially when you look at the torque, which at 1,200 Nm is almost ten times that of the thickest combustion engines.
Although there is one caveat to note. Although an electric motor has a constant torque over the entire range, it is electronically limited in motorcycles. Must, because otherwise it cannot be driven. This already applies to the ‘ordinary’ electric motors from Zero and Energica, which have to do with ‘only’ 200+ Nm, and that applies especially to the 1,200 Nm claimed with the TS Utra.
That does not alter the fact that the Finns have won the pissing match with this Verge TS Ultra. Also allowed for the bare price tag of € 44,900 (which is already over € 55,000 in Germany, Italy and France, it is not yet available in the Benelux).
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.